Brian Sozzi bounces into action at the US Open Ballperson tryouts
Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi received a workout at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, NY, as he explored what it takes to be a ballperson at the US Open. Tryouts begin June 21st, 2021.
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
JULIE HYMAN: Well, Brian Sozzi apparently not content enough with his job co-hosting this show, has decided to audition for another job. The US Open taking place a couple of months from now, and apparently, Mr. Sozzi is going to try his hand at being a ballboy. Take a look.
BRIAN SOZZI: I escaped my apartment for the first time in a long time during work hours and ended up in Flushing Meadows, the home of the US Open. Before I was put to the ultimate test, I gathered a lot of advice on what makes a good ballperson on this grand sporting stage. Sal Chan has been a ballperson at the US Open since 1998.
SAL CHAN: They're quick, they're agile, they pay attention to everything that's going on on court, and they're not noticed at all by anyone.
BRIAN SOZZI: US Open ballpersons director, Tiahnne Noble says it's one of the best jobs in the world, as you have the best seat in the house amongst the greats in tennis.
TIAHNNE NOBLE: Have fun, hand eye coordination, speed and agility, and just focus.
BRIAN SOZZI: Charlotte Goldblum has been doing this for the past three years, and she says preparation is key.
CHARLOTTE GOLDBAUM: I definitely start by going on runs every day, making sure I'm staying fit, trying to get some biking in, to practicing sprints beforehand. Yeah, just keeping up that stamina.
BRIAN SOZZI: I have spent 18 months reporting on meme stocks for Yahoo Finance inside my kitchen. But, but, I have been training hard, training hard to be a ballperson at this year's 2021 US Open. I think I got the right stuff. I cranked up my Peloton workouts weeks in advance. I stretched extensively the night before the tryout I even meditated, envisioning ballperson success right off the bat. In the end, none of this prep mattered.
I quickly found myself severely out of breath after two passes at the net in nearly 100 degree temperatures. After four passes at the net while wearing a suit, I was ready to go back home to my kitchen and reporting in on meme stocks for Yahoo Finance. Being a ballperson at the US Open is absolutely brutal. You saw me try out. Do you think I could be a successful ballperson this year?
TIAHNNE NOBLE: Oooh.
BRIAN SOZZI: Be honest.
TIAHNNE NOBLE: Be honest, I'm not sure we can go with the get-up. I think you're going to be really, really hot out there. But maybe next year you can come back, maybe work on your rolling, work on your core ability, like the court movement and we could potentially see you in then.
BRIAN SOZZI: And yeah, here I am in the correct attire, folks, the official ballperson shirt of this year's US Open made by Ralph Lauren, whose stock is up about 20% year to date according to Yahoo Finance Plus data. Three things worth mentioning here though, among really, I'm just absolutely taking all in off that video. The deadline to submit to become a ballperson at the US Open, that is June 16. So if you want to try to be one like me, you could still submit one.
You do get paid for this. It's $15 an hour. That's not bad. That's right in line with some of the fast food wages out there and in retail. That's a good thing. And you have to be over 16 years old to be a ballperson at the US Open. But guys, if I learned anything from being here and spending the day there at the US Open, despite all my workouts, I guess I'm still out of shape. I mean, I'm still in pain. I'm still in pain. Major hat tip to the whole team at the US Open who makes this happen. It's brutal.
JULIE HYMAN: I have so many questions.
MYLES UDLAND: Where to begin?
JULIE HYMAN: Why? Why, why did you wear the suit? Why didn't you do it at all? And why did you wear the suit?
BRIAN SOZZI: Well, I'm all about driving efficiencies, Julie. So actually I got off set, I just put on a pair of shorts and I just went right to the court. You know, I tried to minimize time here, so I can spend more time at the court and practice my skills.
MYLES UDLAND: You know, watching that reminded me of something Rick Newman told me. We had a company bowling outing and Rick was like, you know, most people can't even bend over. And I was struck by that. And then watching that, I was like, that's right. You got to stay low, you got to stay fast. I mean, yeah, not for me, not for me.
BRIAN SOZZI: No, it's brutal.
JULIE HYMAN: It's not an easy profession on the knees for sure.
MYLES UDLAND: Yeah.
BRIAN SOZZI: Brutal.
MYLES UDLAND: The back.
[EXHALES]
JULIE HYMAN: All right.
BRIAN SOZZI: Not good. Hang in there. Go re-watch and share it with your friends.
