|
Monica Seles aims for comeback in 2006
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-14 11:03
"It's fantastically exciting," Seles said. "She's so young still and she was
so good. I'm a big fan of hers. She was a great No. 1 player. She was a chess
player out there."
Seles said she'll be satisfied with her career if it ends without a return to
the court. She's won 53 singles titles and more than $14 million in prize money.
"If I don't play ever again professionally, I'm happy," Seles said. "If I get
to play, it's all a bonus at this stage."
Edwin Moses, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 400-meter hurdles, is
the chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy. He introduced Seles as the
42nd member of the academy, founded in 2000 and based in London.
"Monica is a pleasant find," Moses said. "She came to Laureus as a supporter
two years ago. She's dedicated and willing to make a difference."
Laureus is the Latin word for laurel, the symbol of victory in sport.
"My motto is a healthy body, healthy mind," Seles said. "That's why the
Laureus Foundation fit me perfectly, because they do sports and kids. It's
fitting to what I want to be doing in the future."
Other academy members include John McEnroe, Seve Ballesteros, Nadia Comaneci,
Jack Nicklaus, Ilie Nastase, Boris Becker, Mark Spitz, Michael Jordan, Martina
Navratilova, Dan Marino and Katarina Witt.
The Laureus Sports for Good Foundation supports 39 global projects, and
members serve as volunteer ambassadors. McEnroe has visited three New York-based
programs in the past two years, and hosted a fundraiser at his Manhattan art
gallery, executive director John Miottel said.
Paintings of reclining females by DeNiro's father lined the back room of the
restaurant, yet Seles was anything but docile the day before. She tried some
jujitsu moves with youngsters in the Laureus "Fight Back" program in the South
Bronx on Monday.
"It was amazing to see these 5-foot-2 girls taking 6-foot-4 guys to the
floor," she said.
|
