Archive for May 10, 2007

Pain and suffering

2005-09-11-ankle.jpg     Andy called to notify the start of our Sunday morning game.  Chai is excited, ‘complaining’ that his arms are falling off too, due to his cute toddler son, lol.  I happened to see this picture taken September 2005 when I sprained my ankle while playing tennis.  Sequentially I met Andy’s group later that fall due to George’s frequently absent, so I filled in for him as sub while rehab my injured ankle.  You have to love something with zeal to ignore the pain and suffer the consequences.  It’s been 2 winter seasons and one summer with Andy’s group.  The second summer is to begin this Sunday.  On top of being nice group of players, I enjoy the short conversations with them a lot, which is very lacking with my decade long weekend morning group.  Hey, I’d like to have the cake and be able to eat it too, lol…. ok, cake might not be the right exmple since I’m not big on sweet, but you get the picture.

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Chauffeur

As if it’s on cue, Simon called last night needing a ride to the badminton, cause can’t find his key. Sure, np, right away.  But as I was leaving for him, he called again, tada ..found it.  In any case, I thought it’s more appropriated call for help, since our friendship is closer and felt comfortable in asking for such favors.

We didn’t get to play on Tuesday and thought there would be more players, but instead only Sunny, Jordan, Mike Sammy and his wife, which’s a surprise.  Great to see her again!  Jordan the junior (he’s only 15 and I once thought he’s in college) teams with Sunny is a formidable force, hard to beat.  Simon and I were leading 11:7 the first set, but ended up lost 15:13, hurtful, lol. The second set we won decisively 15:8. Simon played very hard, mostly was his effort. Good competitors would get that out of you.

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The server

2005-08-25-toss.jpgLesson with Craig ended last Sunday.  He didn’t bother with our serve till the last two sessions, and didn’t like my deep knee-bending motion,
“.. you’ll get tired by the first set.” 
I felt so awkward not bending my knees, lol. 
2005-08-25-serve-bk-pic.jpg One coach said no jumping;
Another indicated no bending .. now what’s left of my serve? lol …
I guess it’s really up to myself, absorb and utilize what works for me.  Thought my knee-bending fuels jumping and that gives me an extra height hence the coveted angle. The most vivid serve motion to me was that of Boris Becker, the boom boom who won the the Wimbledon at 17, not to say that Sampras and Federer aren’t, it just whenever I think about serve, Becker’s always comes on top, wholesome and clear.

Craig said he’s in training, starting a new job at a restaurant in the city, in Midtown east.  I didn’t ask what he’ll do, but wondered if he had many interest of private lessons, why didn’t he get concession somewhere like Kerner and teach full time? He’s a good coach, as far as I’m concerned.  Guess each pro has to find his or her niche and followings to sustain a coaching career, if they so do desire.

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