Dating Unreality

Someday two-time tennis Grand Slam finalist Mark Philippoussis will be a dad. Just like Rod Stewart and Larry Birkhead. In the meantime, "Scud," aka "Flip," is doing a dreamlike parody of the process of selecting a procreation partner.

"Age of Love," premiered last night on NBC. The premise of this reality [sic — can this accurately be written without giggly emoticons] show is that the 30-year-old will choose between "kittens" in their 20s and "cougars" with hot bodies in the spa of death's anteroom (i.e., at least age 40). It is unlikely these are the ages he is looking for.

A few years ago he was engaged to Australian teen popper Delta Goodrem, who was lost without him. And last year he broke off his engagement with Florida teen model/heiress Alexis Barbara. Search out his dating history and there does not seem to be a mention of "older" women. Poor baby?

By all accounts he is a nice guy and, there is no reason to doubt that like Stewart and Birkhead he will one day be a father — maybe even a good one. However, it seems unlikely this is the best training for that time, no matter how painful to watch or pleasurable for him.

** WD suggests mandatory reading, or even a podcast, on being a father. Philippoussis' dating is pretty much exactly what it won't be. **