Hello from the Windy City, where it’s—whoa, just lost my headband! I’ll be right back.

There, firmly tied back in place. Sorry about that!

Yes, I’m in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., where I was born and raised – and clearly on High Alert for storm gusts!! After my adventure in New York City and then down to Florida, I needed to meet with the wonderful folks at Ty (makers of Beanie Babies) to discuss a little business. While Roger was hanging with Vogue editor Anna Wintour at the Oscar de la Renta show talking fashion, I met with my friends at Ty to discuss my attire. Here’s a picture of me taking a break from one of our meetings on the balcony of Ty. See the great view of downtown Chicago in the distance? It’s quite beautiful.

I decided to stick with the cyan T-shirt even though Roger is going back to a collared shirt for a while. I like the cyan, since it’s the color of UNICEF. Reminds me of why I’m around, and that with your support, we can make a difference for some needy children.

While in Chicago, we got some great news! Our friends at Ty agreed that for every bear sold on the internet $5 would be given to UNICEF! And with a cost of around $8, you can’t beat it. What can you get for $8 nowadays? A hamburger at a Chicago Bears game? (By the way, how ‘bout da Bears? 5-0. Wow! Pretty good… but Roger goes 5-0 most weeks he’s playing on the ATP circuit!!) So keep your eyes open this December to purchase me and help UNICEF!

Fortunately, I didn’t spend my entire time only talking shop with Ty folks; nothing against my friends at Ty, but Chicago is such a great city and I’m on the “Feder-bear Everywhere Tour”! I visited some of my favorite places here, including the Buckingham Fountain – no relation to Buckingham Palace and the royal family, but more often associated with the ‘80s show “Married…with Children” and the silly Bundy family! There’s this fantastic 20-minute water show every hour that features a 150-foot high water spout, and it just so happens that with the help of the wind, a lot of that water ended up not back in the fountain, but on me!! Luckily I managed to get a photo before my unexpected shower.

After I toweled off, I headed over to the Sears Tower, which is one of the tallest buildings in the world. Now, for a little guy like me, it takes a lot of courage to look down from the 108th story! I have to admit that my legs were wobbling a bit as I took in the bird’s eye view, but it was well worth it. Maybe one day, I’ll be able to join Roger when he plays in Dubai – they’re building a skyscraper there that’s supposed to be around 200 stories high when it’s completed. Based on the amazing pictures I’ve seen of Roger and Andre playing tennis on the helipad in Dubai, I’m sure the view will be spectacular from the top… Hopefully, I’ll be brave enough to look down!

Next stop on my tour was the Picasso statue at Daley Plaza. Isn’t the statue cute? I’ve always tried to figure out what exactly it’s supposed to be… There are lots of opinions out there, but I personally think it looks a bit like the funny baboon, Rafiki, from the Lion King. Maybe after seeing the two of us together in this photo, you’ll think it looks like my long-lost twin…. :)

Okay, gotta run. I won’t tell you where I’ll be next but it’s a pretty good guess it will be either Madrid, Basel, Paris or Shanghai (Roger’s next four stops). Tough life being a tennis player, huh?

Until then…

Peace out!!
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Hello everybody! After my official “unveiling” at the US Open, the “Feder-bear Everywhere Tour” took me to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where the ATP has its Americas offices. It’s right around the corner from the PGA Tour, where that Tiger fella who I met at the US Open apparently plays golf. All Roger now needs is to add a Lion to his entourage and we’re good to go to Oz! Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh my! Roger beat Marcos Baghdatis there this year in the final of the Australian Open. I’ve seen a picture of Marcos and he kinda looks like a lion when he doesn’t shave, don’t you think? I love those cherub cheeks!!!!!!!! (Dmitry told me to use lots of exclamation points in my blog because readers love them even if the ATP editors hate them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

In Florida, I wrote my blog and also served as Honorary Tournament Chairman for an ATP staff tennis tournament. Two nice people named Jorge and Davina beat Murray and Bram in the final, though it wasn’t exactly the Bryans vs. Bjorkman-Mirnyi out there. I like that Mirnyi guy, who I met in New York. I mean, he’s HUGE! Plus, everyone calls him The Beast, so he can join our animal posse…

Okay, enough with the animal references: This is about KIDS! After all, if you agree to purchase a Beanie Baby ® clone of me (I currently am the sole Feder-bear Beanie Baby ® until December, at which point I get mass produced and I no longer can call myself the sole No. 1 like Roger), proceeds will go toward the ATP’s ACE program. (By the way, why does tennis have so many acronyms? ATP, WTA, ITF, USTA, FFT, ITWA? Everything’s short for something, except Rafa’s pants, which are definitely not shorts in my book.) It’s important you know that ACE isn’t just something that Andy Roddick hits a lot but also Assisting Children Everywhere, a global partnership between ATP and UNICEF to help ensure the health, education and protection of children around the world. Good cause, right?

So Click here to get on the Mailing List and when Feder-bears are ready for pre-orders and delivery for the December holidays, you’ll be the first to know about it. I don’t know yet where I’ll blog from next, as the ATP’s travel agent is on vacation this week because the guys are playing Davis Cup. However, I hope to go to Tokyo with Roger and definitely end the year with the “Best of the Best” at the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai. Until then… follow me on this Feder-bear Everywhere Tour. Peace out!!!!!!

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