Dan Waintrup: Speaker, Author, former Tennis Pro

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Waintrup's book is a monumental accomplishment. Get a copy or two, if you have two good friends, January 2006 Reviewer:
Maximillien de Lafayette (New York Jewish Herald)
An intelligently hilarious and refreshing bouquet of passages of life of a Jewish tennis celebrity, cultivated and well depicted in a book written by a son of a rabbi, an entrepreneur and talented story-teller. Although, the book is a rainbow of jokes, its author tenderly imbibed it with wit, tragicomic wisdom and heart felt expressions. Most certainly, country clubs members, tennis players and Waintrup's father enjoyed the stories told in the book and Waintrup's entertaining style. But this is the beginning of the enjoyment, for the "humanistic" humour, and delightful narrative style of "It's Not My Fault" will appeal to a wider and multi-layered audience, Jews and non-Jews, tennis lovers and Mercedes owners, martini mixers, Bernard Shaw's fanatics and Donald Trump's groupies.

"It's Not My Fault" is fun, fun, fun....and entertainingly informative. The book is an umbrella for a stormy weather and a rod in an arid Sahara. It encompasses various and unexpected portraiture of life, usually un-depicted on the tennis court, such as growing up in a rabbi's house, getting paid to play tennis, celebrity correspondence, mingling with pretty girls on" the set", the ex-wife who begs to differ, how old pros never die, instead, they go to business school, a shrink's book and notebook, the art of winning, justice or lack of justice in the world. You name it and you will find it in Waintrup's tragicomic book. Of course, you will see the world according to Waintrup.

Waintrup has a lot of imagination. But he candidly admits that thousands of unique, often crazy students and friends provided him with "the inspiration for much of the material" of his book. This is a plus. For certainly, unique and crazy enthusiasts who believed in Waintrup could and would add an extra mile of laughter and excitement to this most wonderful "crazy and captivating" book. Waintrup's book is a monumental accomplishment. Get a copy or two, if you have two good friends.

Not just for tennis fans, hysterical book will have you laughing out loud!, December 7, 2005 Reviewer:
Michelle Dunn "Author, Consultant"
It's not my fault is a hilarious look at the life (so far) and experiences of Daneil Waintrup aka "The Wall." Though this book may appear that will only interest people who like tennis or religion, Dan has proven to me that this book will have anyone laughing even if they don't know anything about tennis or religion. You will get a kick out of the many humerous stories he tells, lists of excuses, and funny quirks about the people who take tennis lessons from Mr. Country Club Tennis Pro. Look into the world of affluence, big spenders and princesses who have money and seem to want to learn to play tennis. This book will have you laughing out loud.

No one is safe from his quick wit..., November 15, 2005 Reviewer:
D.L. Bolk (Reviewer for WordMuseum.com) (Severn, MD USA)
In his memoir, It's Not My Fault -or- can a rabbi's Son Find Happiness as a Tennis Pro? Daniel I. Waintrup employs a tongue and cheek approach to the telling of his life as a Rabbi's son, tennis pro, husband, and father. No one is safe from his quick wit, to include himself. As an instructor at a New England country club, Waintrup had a unique way of teaching. Throughout the story he introduces his readers to his various clients (whose only common ground seemed to be that they were rich) with a selection of letters. Reader beware he doesn't answer in Dear Abby style. His life makes a full circle as he takes the reader from high school to college to the country club, and then back to college again. Waintrup's style is all his own. His humor is at times biting, often sarcastic, but always entertaining. The reader need not be into tennis to enjoy this novel -- just being into life works. Between the laughs there is warmth that generates from the pages, perhaps it's Waintrup's love of family. WORD MUSEUM Bringing Authors and Readers Together

Buy this book, read it, laugh, then read it all over again., November 18, 2005 Reviewer:
Pamela Crossland (Reviewer for TCM Reviews)
It doesn't matter if you have ever played tennis, been to a country club, or are Jewish - this book will make you laugh. And without realizing it perhaps you'll learn a few things about life even if your serve never improves. Mr. Waintrup pokes gentle fun at the Jewish country club set, setting himself up as the target of a joke more often than not. Take for example, the Definitive List of Country Club Drills, number thirteen. "The 'Hit the Pro"' drill, or as it's commonly known 'Maim that Pro' ". Variations are "Aim for the Pickle" (nose) and "Mash the Matzah Ball". Daniel Waintrup offers himself up as a moving target for his student, relatives, and occasionally, even for his wife. Nothing is sacred - not even the cars in the parking lot as outlined in drill seventeen : "Hit the Mercedes, Hit the Porsche" drill. A junior student in this drill can also make points creatively by hitting a passing golf cart or setting off a car alarm. Buy this book, read it, laugh, then read it all over again. It's good for the spirit and if it improves your backhand so much the better. TCM REVIEWS TCM-CA.com

To Laugh At Oneself is a Sign Of Maturity, November 8, 2005 Reviewer:
Norman Goldman "Editor of Bookpleasures.com" (Montreal)
When we don't take ourselves too seriously and we are able to laugh at our faults, weaknesses and gaffes, then perhaps we can call ourselves mature, or to quote Eleanor Roosevelt, "You don't grow up until you have your first good laugh at yourself."

Daniel I. Waintrup spent fifteen years as tennis pro at one of the most prestigious Jewish country clubs in New England. According to Waintrup, when he applied for the job, there was only one other applicant. Fortunately for him the other applicant's interview did not go over too well with the hiring committee. Apparently, his competitor made the not too endearing statement that "he would do a good job here, and some of my friends are Jews. He then went on to say, "my family doesn't like `em much, but I can get along with them if I have to." So much for creating a good first impression! Waintrup certainly knows how to laugh at himself, as he devotes the bulk of his book, It's Not My Fault -or- Can a Rabbi's Son Find Happiness as a Tennis Pro, to the collection of numerous letters and notes he received from his students over his fifteen years as a teaching professional. Some of the replies as to why people take lessons from him are hilarious such as: they were bored and had nothing better to do; it's raining outside and the golf course is closed; it is a great way to work off a hangover; and even though I did not feel like coming, you would have charged me if I didn't. Several of his students commented on his inability to keep his mouth shut during their lessons. In fact, when he indicated to one of his students that if he were in Palm Beach it would have cost him $175 instead of $65 for a lesson, the student replied: "the only way I'd ever pay you $175 an hour is if you'd let me tie you up with duct tape, put an apple in your mouth, and see if I could smash it to pieces with my racquet!" As the author points out, teaching at an affluent country club requires remembering certain vital rules if you wish to succeed. For one, it is important to appreciate the fact that

you must give students what they want, not what you think they want. You must never force them to do something they don't want to do and thus your approach would be very tactful. For example, when telling a student to bend his or he knees, you must say, "bend your knees, if you don't mind", or if your are teaching them about their swings, you don't say "swing low to high on your ground strokes," you rephrase it and say: "swing low to high on your ground strokes, if that would be okay with you." What I found disappointing in the book was the cursory nature of the author's narration that at times lacked substance. It would have been preferable to include a chapter or two delving into the inner workings of the country club and its members pertaining to such topics as the nasty politics that often prevails than the boring chapter concerning his life with his second wife. Notwithstanding this weakness, the book is good for a laugh or two, particularly if you are a tennis buff. Norm Goldman Editor Bookpleasures

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