If you play us, you will lose...
You are correct! The bad guys (Scott - Buckeye) won 5-7 7-6 6-2. Thank you sir, may I have another?
I never make excuses, but the reason I lo….los…didn’t quite win vs these 2 cheaters was that yesterday, 3 of my relatives died earlier in the day. Then my dog got run over by a bus, my tire went flat on the way there and I slipped on the ice and broke my leg walking into the club. This was after I had to walk uphill the last 5 miles in sub-zero temps to get there, plus they hooked us on at least 7 calls, and finally…my other dog ate my homework.
I think it’s time to finally admit that I am OLD! This is not to take away from their victory tonight as they played brilliant at times; as I told them afterwards, maybe it’s time I join a senior’s, clay court social tennis club, where you can stop for a spot of tea between sets. Last night’s 3rd set pretty much convinced me that it is maybe time to stop playing these young hotshots and concentrate on the old guys in my age group. Next January (I turn 50 in June / 2008), I am eligible for the 50’s and I am thinking of maybe trying to make a run in some national or at least regional 50’s tournaments.
It’s kind of sad in a way, because my mind still plays a young person’s game, I’m just off a bit on a lot of shotmaking. Maybe I’m being a little too hard on myself, after all, we were up a set and 3-0 and 2 breaks in the 2nd, and merely a tiebreak away from winning 7-5 7-6, but I just can’t seem to put it all together. There are some flashes of the past, but not nearly enough (maybe if I played more than twice a week I would improve?). The forehand can still work a lot of times, but the serve, which I used to almost never lose in doubles (broken twice tonight and had only 2 or 3 aces all night long; very sad), was awful, especially my wide lefty serve in the ad court, which used to be nasty. I think my 1st serve % in the ad ct was about 8% (buckeye guessed 20%), either way…pathetic. I am depressed that I was not able to raise my game up to whatever level was needed to overcome some fine play by Scott and Buckeye. They played extremely solid all night long except for a stretch when they were up 5-4 in the first till they were down 3-0 in the 2nd. Damn, we won 6 games in a row and LOST! They hit next to zero double faults, volleyed great, hit good overheads, and scrambled to get a lot of balls back on points I thought we had won and ended winning themselves. Hat’s off fellows!
Now that I have whined a bit, it needs to be pointed out that Scott, Buckeye, and some of their other teammates have made amazing strides in a small amount of time, and are now VERY, VERY good players who have to take a backseat to NO ONE! I’ve seen them evolve in the last couple of years and improve more than about anyone I’ve ever seen. I am proud of these guys and I am flattered that they still ask the old man to play. My longest post ever is done. It’s time for my applesauce and toast. Out!
