Courier's aging stars aren't burned out yet

Isn't it time to get a real job?

Not if folks will still pay to look you over, and your name has a ring to it that says Wimbledon, US Open, Roland Garros, Davis Cup, or even ''You cannot be serious!"

That's the proposition to which tennis Hall of Famer Jim Courier has dedicated himself, playing a two-headed role as founder/promoter of the Outback Champions Tour and its leading man. He's the leading man so far, although John McEnroe will have something to say about that -- something about everything, most likely -- and so may the other six champs who roll into town for their second tournament Thursday through Sunday.

Actually, they are to camp in the wilds of Sudbury, at D.J. Bosse's sparkling Sports Club on Route 20, where the arena holds 2,500 bodies. While those are parking places on memory lane, Courier promises there is plentiful muscle and mobility in Mats Wilander, Pat Cash, Goran Ivanisevic, Todd Martin, Aaron Krickstein, and Mikael Pernfors, as well as himself and McEnroe. A welcome addition to the spring scene, they aren't relying on their accomplishments of yesteryear.

First prize of $48,000 for a long weekend isn't exactly chopped sirloin, says Courier, the playing promoter whose title sponsor, Outback Steak House, is committed for three years.

''A lot of guys wanted in, mainly because they're competitors and in superb condition," says Courier. ''But we can only use eight at a time. Michael Chang was heartbroken when he blew out an Achilles' tendon in our opener at Naples [Fla.]. But he'll be back in 2007.

''The requirements? Must be over 30 and fit into one of four categories: Hall of Fame. Winner or finalist of a major. Played on a Davis Cup winner. Had a No.1 ranking. Oh yes. In my case, the stipulation is that I have nothing to do with the draw or the schedule. I'm just one of the boys once we arrive. John Venison, my partner in our company [InsideOut Sports & Entertainment] runs the tournament."

McEnroe, 47, and the husky Swede, Wilander, 42, are the other Hall of Famers. Aussie Cash, 40, won Wimbledon in 1987; Croat Ivanisevic, 34, did likewise in 2001. Recently retired from the big league, Martin, 35, was an Australian and French Open finalist, and Pete Sampras's indispensable doubles accomplice the last time the United States won the Davis Cup in 1995. Pernfors, 42, French finalist in 1986, was the All-American Swede at Georgia, where he won the NCAA titles of 1984-85. Krickstein, 38, was a key ingredient in the United States seizing the 1990 Davis Cup, and is remembered around here as the green and keen 16-year-old winner of the US Pro at Longwood in 1984.

Courier, 35, says, ''Boston is historically a great tennis city, and deserves good tennis. We've got it. It's been a while." He last appeared here in 1999, the year Longwood faded away as a host. Martin, who has signed on with the Boston Lobsters of the July World Team Tennis season, and Courier were losing Davis Cuppers, game but beaten by Patrick Rafter and Australia.

Promoter Courier has his eye on Rafter, 33, and Sampras, 34, with a contract in hand any time they'd like some time off from diapers and domesticity.

Player Courier beat Cash, 7-6, 6-4, to take the tour's opening stopover, Naples, on clay. ''I'm working as hard on my game as I ever did," says Courier, who used to seem a masochist on the subject of training. ''But this schedule -- five events -- is much shorter and kinder."

Intact is his signature ''backside boogie" that took him to four major titles: French in 1991-92, Australian in 1992-93, and finals of the US in 1991 and Wimbledon in 1993. Improvising his own dance step, Jim quickly wiggled his tail to the left corner and delivered a devastating inside-out forehand. It may be a standard tactic now, but he was probably the first to use it so effectively at the upper level.

Promoter Courier acknowledges that his main man at the box office -- and quite possibly on court -- is senior strokesman Johnny Mac: John Patrick McEnroe Jr., the man with velvet touch and volatile personality. McEnroe heads Group B that includes Ivanisevic, Cash, and Pernfors for round-robin play. In Group A are Courier, Martin, Wilander, Krickstein.

''Johnny Mac lost to Cash at Naples, and he can't feel very good about that," says Courier. ''But he's a marvel. I wonder if there's ever been a better 47-year-old player."

Maybe such geriatric wonders as Bill Tilden, Pancho Gonzalez, Pancho Segura, Ken Rosewall. Or 49-year-old Martina Navratilova in her league. Nevertheless, McEnroe, recently the San Jose doubles winner alongside Jonas Bjorkman for his 78th big league title, is a genuine pheenom.

Just as you could count on ''I feel your pain" from Bill Clinton and ''Read my lips" from Papa Bush, McEnroe can be depended on for a ''You cannot be serious!" here or there. Rage is his shtick, which would be tiresome if he weren't such a monumental player.

''He sells tickets," says player-promoter Courier, who is enjoying his dual occupation immensely. But, in the big picture, he sees that continuity and success in this venture will mean that someday he'll have to fire Courier, the player.