Wimbledon’s shift to ESPN sparked a big jump in the ratings. Unfortunately, one of those TV viewers was Bud Collins.

For the first time in 45 years, the colorful (emphasis on coloful as you can see) tennis analyst/writer missed the big tournament. Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal did a piece on Collins, 83, sitting with him at home while he watched the men’s final on TV. It included this passage:

Last fall, during the U.S. Open, Collins ruptured the quad tendon in his left leg in a fall in his New York hotel room. Surgeries followed, nine in total, to repair the damage and complications and what Collins described as “a lot of unsavory things.” He missed the Australian Open and the French, but not attending Wimbledon was the hardest.

He was feeling better, but he wasn’t in England.

“I really don’t allow myself to miss it,” Collins said.

“Be honest,” Anita said.

Collins shrugged in his chair. “Of course I miss it.”

Collins said he intends to be at Wimbledon in 2013. Let’s hope so. He’s an all-world nice guy.

*******

Nearly everything broke the right way for ESPN. Fans loved the live matches. ESPN then got some dream scenarios with Serena Williams winning the women’s final and the drama of Brit Andy Murray trying to make history against Roger Federer Sunday.

ESPN earned a 3.1 overnight rating for the finals, up 48% from a 2.1 last year on NBC for Novak Djokovic’ win over Rafael Nadal.