Ever heard of the Ralston Rule? Many have not, in fact, some call it an urban legend, but the rule is intact today due to what Dennis did? Do you agree with the action he took?

Dennis Ralston paid a high price for life as the U.S.’s No. 1-ranked tennis player three straight years in the ’60s. The expectations that nearly crushed him were the least of it. Dennis has won and lost at Wimbledon, has been Ranked in the Top 3 in the world and has had the success a tennis professional could only dream about.

However all of that put aside, Dennis is a legend, a legend who is able to communicate the successes and challenges of life on and off the court. Dennis Ralston had the first of 16 knee operations when he was 18. The last two, a replacement for each knee, were a half-century later. As if that weren’t enough, tennis also took his left leg just below the artificial knee. The physical cost came to 16 knee operations, the first when he was only 18. The last two, a replacement for each knee, were a half-century later. The irony is that his parents encouraged him not to play football due to potential knee injuries.

Ralston was one of the so-called “Handsome Eight” who changed the face of the sport, taking it from amateur to professional. One of the original bad boys of tennis. He went from “Dennis the Menace” to captain and coach of champion U.S. Davis Cup teams. A member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The man who coached Chris Evert in the ’80s and Yannick Noah and Gabriela Sabatini in the ’90s and SMU for more than a decade. Ralston says he isn’t trying to prove anything by playing occasionally. He still hates losing. It annoys him that he can’t get to shots. But he’s glad he can play. He likes the notion that it might inspire the disabled.

He appreciates the opportunity to share his experiences and knwledge about his addiction, hoping that by opening up about his experience he can educate others. And he still loves tennis. Even after all it’s cost. As Dennis says, “I don’t ever want to retire. I couldn’t retire.”

Significant Credit to Kevin Sherrington, from SportsDayDFW and on Twitter @KSherringtonDMN for almost all of this story and biography. Well-written Kevin.