King of the Court

"John" is John McEnroe, the marquee player for the New York Sportimes. As part of their three-week moneymaking spree, marquee players are contractually obligated to attend news conferences, to offer youth clinics and to hobnob with bigwigs before the event, which is how it happens that Ein is introducing McEnroe and his agent, Gary Swain, to William Walton, the CEO of Kastles sponsor Allied Capital.

McEnroe is into promoting "healthy, active-living" things, says Swain.

"Like Clif Bars?" Walton wants to know. Allied has a stake in Clif Bars.

With that connection made, Ein looks for the next piece of business to oversee.

Another match, another night. After mixed doubles he springs out of his chair, quickstepping his way around the stadium and greeting the people who must be greeted.

"Hey!" to Laurent Menoud, the maitre d' of Cafe Milano. The team is thinking dinner there after the match. Got a table? Good.

Hey to the guys from the Pappas Group, brand identity firm/team sponsor. Can they get some match footage up on the Web site? Awesome.

Hey to Russ Thaler, local Comcast sports host, and Hey to some guy named Matt, who works with some guy named Paul. Remember him? Of course.

Hey to Ein's personal trainer, who sits as a guest in the owner's box directly across the court from Gene Samburg, CEO of Kastle Systems. (The reporter, slightly dizzy at this point, wonders: And Kastle Systems does what again? Later, a clue on the firm's Web site: "Our in-depth knowledge of the lower mainland means that our false alarm call-out rate is significantly lower than that of our major competitors." Gotcha.)

So, what does the trainer think of player Scott Oudsema's serve? Whew, right? Hey to Ken Brody, former Goldman Sachs chairman and Ein mentor, who himself financed the construction of the Junior Tennis Champions center in College Park. Brody and Ein chat until both receive e-mails. Then they BlackBerry in silence, side by side.

Hey to Elaine Freeman, executive director of the United States Tennis Association's Mid-Atlantic region. She's got a great publicity idea thing! Is Ein already a member of the USTA? Because if he's not, then they could get a photo of him signing up, right at the booth over there. He is already a member. Oh. Well, is Ein a lifetime member of the USTA? He is not. Quick, someone find an assistant to find the photographer, and everyone meet at the booth in five.

Celebrity guests on various nights include Mayor Adrian Fenty and Wizards' player Gilbert Arenas, but most of those in attendance have paid $40 for a bleacher seat, and spend the match getting used to the idea of doing the wave after a good serve.