Evert explains away illicit affair with Greg Norman so all is well!

Chris Evert, who married golfer Greg Norman in the Bahamas last month, publicly admitted for the first time that the two sports legends carried on an illicit affair culminating in a divorce from their respective partners.

As I wrote back in December of last year, the couple had known each other for many years as Greg was best friends with Chris' ex-husband Andy Mills. The 18-time Grand Slammer told Vogue magazine their attraction to each other was unstoppable and apparently unavoidable:

It was like an irresistible force. How do you explain something like that?

You would think Chris would know the answer to that question after three marriages, but I guess ignorance is bliss...for now.

(image via Getty)

THE LOW DOWN: Evert publicly responds to Richard Williams' controversial comments

Chris Evert recently spoke with ESPN.com's Bonnie D. Ford about the tennis season so far and her predictions for Roland Garros. The 18-time Grand Slammer also publicly responded, for the first time, to the controversial comments made by Richard Williams which included remarks directed towards herself:

Ford: Chris, there was a controversy earlier this year -- Richard Williams made some comments and you were included in those [at a tournament in India, Williams said his daughters were still not "accepted by tennis" and referred to Evert and Tracy Austin as "little white no-good trashers.''] I know your history with the family is a bit complicated, but did that bother you, or did you try to tune it out?

Evert: This is my history with the family. When Venus was, like, 9 years old, her father called my dad and said, "Could we come to your house, Venus would love to see Chrissie's trophies." She came to the house with Richard, walked around, looked at my trophies, had her picture taken with my Wimbledon trophy. The first year I had my Pro Celebrity [charity event], I invited Venus and Serena to play, they were like 9 and 11 and nobody knew of them. They came and they played a little exhibition.

They went on to be No. 1 in the world. Then when Serena was having some difficulty with her tennis and that beautiful game she has and her dominance, I wrote that letter, one of my columns in Tennis Magazine. I thought I was very positive in that article, encouraging her to dedicate herself and be the player she was meant to be, and all her other interests could wait a few years, and sometimes you have to devote yourself if you want to be No. 1. You could be the best player who ever lived. Everybody was rooting for her. I don't think they took it that way.

As far as Richard, the quotes, I don't know what to say. I kind of feel sorry for him if he is that angry and bitter about tennis players and about white tennis players. When people lash out like that, they must be miserable people. I'm not going to compound it. I think it's unacceptable. If my parents had come out with quotes like that, I think people would make a bigger deal about it. He has a history of saying things that are unacceptable. And I don't really think many people in tennis listen to him anymore. So if I make a stink about it, it's just going to draw attention to it. That's why I didn't say anything.

Yes, you can't justify comments from a person that's clearly off his rocker.

(image via Getty)

THE LOW DOWN: The inauspicious start to Chris Evert's relationship with Greg Norman

The marrying kind: Today tennis legend Chris Evert and golf legend Greg Norman, who got gushy on a recent NBC Sports show, announced their engagement; this will be Evert's third marriage and the second for Norman. The new power couple's relationship did not, however, have an auspicious beginning.

(Greg and ex-wife Laura with Chris and ex-husband Andy, 2001)

The couple have known each other for many years - in fact, Norman was best friends with Evert's last husband Andy Mills. This past August, Mills claimed Norman ruined his 18-year marriage to the 18-time Grand Slam champion in an interview with News Ltd. newspapers. The reason? Evert filed for divorce from Mills in November 2006 but the media were already spotting the new couple together in October. Mills told the paper,

“Greg Norman at one time was my best friend and a year-and-a-half ago I would have taken a bullet for this guy, [...] But I didn't realise he was the one who was going to pull the trigger.”

Evert and Aussie Norman publicly came out at the start of 2007 with a high-profile date at Doyles fish restaurant which is within sight of Sydney Harbour in Australia.

It's good to know Evert and Norman, who will have 5 marriages between them, are continuing to exercise their right to marry and keeping the institution of marriage alive and well. Who wouldn't want to have that right?

THE LOW DOWN: Chris Evert speaks out on Hingis controversy, "I'm not shocked, but I was very surprised," says Chris

Martina Hingis may have been named after the legendary Martina Navratilova, but her game resembled that of a different legend - Chris Evert. Chris, who famously called out Serena Williams in an open letter in TENNIS magazine, is the first high-profile player of the past or present to comment on the Swiss Miss' recent doping charges and subsequent retirement.

Chris, who is conducting a pro-am this weekend at the Boca Resort and Club in Florida with some other tennis stars including Mark Philippoussis and Jana Novotna, had these very interesting comments about Martina and the charges:

"I'm not shocked, but I was very surprised. [...] I think Martina in the past has always shown herself to be the consummate professional [...] But since she came back [from a three-year injury hiatus], I don't know her. I don't know her lifestyle, who she hangs out with. [...] You can't believe it, but you can't not believe it. [...] You know what, I don't like to make judgments about her [...] But, how many athletes have gone on and denied and denied and denied steroids and stuff. The truth always comes out."

Not shocked? Reading between Chris' very carefully chosen words, it sounds like there were signs people in the inner-circle of tennis were witnessing. Clearly Martina changed after coming out of retirement. Maybe that's why other players have been quiet about the accusations - no one is really that surprised.

+ TUESDAY NETCORDS: Nicole, Patrick, Roger vs. Nadal...Wilson goes green, TENNIS magazine gets caught and more

Arthur Ashe Stadium, USTA National Tennis Center

- Go green: Wilson Racquet Sports is following the green trend has launched a new Green Initiative that will work to develop and implement environmentally responsible products and manufacturing procedures across the racquet brand’s major product categories.

- Eye candy: A clip of a bunch of shirtless male tennis players for your viewing pleasure...

- SI's Jon Wertheim profiles the rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and compares them to the days of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova saying, "Classic rivals Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova became fast friends. Once, before they met in a Grand Slam final, one of them had her period, and together they scoured the locker room for a tampon. While Federer and Nadal aren't quite at that point yet (and not simply because neither menstruates), unmistakable warmth passes between them." That's T.M.I - too much info, Mr. Wertheim.

- Everything you ever wanted to know (and a few things you probably didn't care to know - favorite breakfast cereal?) about Nicole Vaidisova

- The USTA and JP Morgan Chase bank have signed a 5-year worldwide promotional partnership agreement to be the premiere sponsor of the US Open which includes naming rights to the electronic line calling challenge system and "Chase Review" branded replays on television broadcasts and on in-stadium video boards.

- Patrick McEnroe gives New York magazine his "Nine Rules for Watching the US Open". Our personal fave: 3. Watch the players from behind. That's never a problem for us...

- Checkmate: Chess bloggers wonder aloud: Did chess help Roger Federer?

- Tennis heads staying at The Ritz-Carlton in Cancun can now visit The Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center, a premier sporting facility offering world-class tennis programs all year round. Services range from private lessons and morning clinics, to group tournaments and corporate socials. Custom-designed classes using Drysdale-style and technical instruction take place at the three outdoor hard courts overlooking the Nichupte Lagoon and the Caribbean Sea.

- Busted: Is TENNIS magazine guilty of comment boosting on their blog (posting fake comments to boost readership numbers)? Tsk, tsk...