A native of Ohio, Collins came to Boston as a graduate student, attending Boston University upon the completion of his service in the U.S. Army.
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In 2015, the United States Tennis Association named the media center at its U.S. Open site in Collins’ honour.
“A legend and a gentleman with a unique style, Bud’s analysis and on-court interviews were must-see TV for millions of American tennis fans”, an NBC Sports spokesperson told TheWrap.
Collins was the recipient of the Red Smith Award, America’s most prestigious sports writing honor, and was inducted into the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 2002. The honors were both well-deserved, showcasing both his talent and dedication.
“Well”, Feinstein reported that Collins answered with a shrug, “the guy did play tennis”.
Rest in peace, Bud.
Collins covered Wimbledon 44 times, the first of them in 1968, making “Breakfast at Wimbledon” his realm during the years when the sport enjoyed its greatest USA interest.
Collins is survived by his wife Anita Ruthling Klaussen, eight children and stepchildren and 11 grandchildren. “I am heartbroken at the news of the passing of Bud Collins, a great friend to me personally and an irreplaceable presence in the sport of tennis”, USTA Chairman Katrina Adams said in a statement.
Enberg last talked to Collins about a year ago.
The sport of tennis will never be the same without the legendary Bud Collins.
Tennis Hall of Fame member Bud Collins (L) is helped up by fellow Tennis Hall of Famer Owen Davidson as he greets the crowd gathered for the Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island July 13, 2013.
He also wrote about other sports, including baseball and boxing. Our sport was most fortunate to be associated with a man of such character and class, and we were privileged to have had the chance to honor his lasting legacy to the sport by naming the U.S. Open Media Center in his honor a year ago.
A gifted tennis player in his youth, Collins would eventually find his calling in life as the voice of the sport he so dearly loved.
He wrote several books, including “The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book”.
Billie Jean King proclaimed that Collins was a person of rare significance.
Collins’ even-handed reporting did not always thrill some players, many of them unaware of Collins’ own tennis bona fides.
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Chris Evert wrote on Twitter: “Integrity, passion, intelligence, wit, compassion…. And no one had more friends than Bud Collins”.
