I have three things I want to do before I die. One of them was to play in the World Series of Poker, which I did in the Pot Limit Omaha Eight or Better event last year (and trying to save up again for a better run this year). Another was stoked by the booming serves of the newest Team PokerStars player Boris Becker.

While at the family cabin getting two channels to work took a lot of adjusting the rabbit ears up top of the Montgomery Wards color TV set. But, on breakfast at Wimbledon Men's final on Sunday morning I'd make sure that Boris' Backyard would come in as clear as possible. Of course hoping for Centre Court tickets for the Gentlemen's final would be way out of financial range for me, but just to walk the Wimbledon grounds and take in the atmosphere would be enough to cross off item number two off my list.

Becker now joins a team which he won't be able to simply blow 130mph+ serves pass his opponents, but add in some soft lops and drop shots while playing on a different surface. According to PokerStarsBlog's Brad "Otis" Willis :

Becker says we can expect to see him first on the European Poker Tour. He's planning to play at EPT Dortmund in his native Germany and the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo next Spring. The PokerStars blog will have all the news from Becker's experience on the felt as it happens, plus information on future events he will be taking part in, so keep checking back here for updates.

Maybe I should be hitting up those EPT satellites for a shot to toe the line with one of the greats and ask him how he could hit those serves so hard without slamming the racquet into his shin while following through (don't ask, tennis wasn't exactly my forte for athletic competition).