Archive for Saga

Lacrosse

Islanders best player at the moment, John Tavares’ uncle, also named John Tavares was the best lacrosse player in the world!

This pictures is John Tavares of the ice hockey Islanders.

Talking about the Lacrosse, the Long Island’s lacrosse is the best in the nation – taking four out of top ten. Out of tennis, swimming and lacrosse, my daughter loves lacrosse the most and captained her high school varsityteam.

Under Armour/Inside Lacrosse High School Top 25:

image1. Boys’ Latin (Md.)
2. Culver (Ind.)
3. Haverford (Pa.)
4. Smithtown West (N.Y.)
5. St. Paul’s (Md.)
6. Chaminade (N.Y.)
7. Salisbury School (Conn.)
8. McDonogh (Md.)
9. Massapequa (N.Y.)
10. Garden City (N.Y.)
11. Hill Academy (Ont.)
12. Georgetown Prep (Md.)
13. Gilman (Md.)
14. Landon (Md.)
15. Gonzaga (D.C.)
16. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.)
17. Ward Melville (N.Y.)
18. Malvern Prep (Pa.)
19. Brunswick (Conn.)
20. Trinity-Pawling (N.Y.)
21. Delbarton (N.J.)
22. Avon Old Farms (Conn.)
23. Deerfield (Mass.)
24. Salesianum (Del.)
25. St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.)

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Dr. Steak

Dr. Zheng is a masseurs – tuina 推拿 manipulative therapy, referred to me by a friend. Many tennis friends use him. He’s from Shanghai and reportedly was a doctor who charges $60 for an hour, expect no tips.

Pumpkin visited him three times and decided no more. I decided to get some treatment from him. On my first visit on the table, he was very quiet, except asking a few questions (i.e. how did I get hurt) and providing some suggestions (i.e. rest more …). However on my second visit, seeing I continuously play tennis, without needed rest, he couldn’t restrain himself:
“Why couldn’t you just take a break from playing??!!”
More painful kneeling. The Summer Olympic in London has just ended.
“It’s not like you’ll get a gold medal.”
More hurtful pulling. His dismay grew:
“You don’t get a gold medal or silver medal. You won’t even receive a steak.”
金牌, 银牌, 牛排 In Chinese steak thryms wth medal.

The friend who referred me to him, told me:
“Don’t tell him that. Just say you stopped playing but still hurt ..” She continued: “Xiao Lee,” a 4.0 player as well as a great dancer, “tells him that he got hurt from dancing.”
We’re all kid or fools at some point when it comes to tennis.

A few years ago, I received a call from a great tennis player during my party at home. ..
You guessed it right: I abandoned my friends, let them finished the party themselves and went to play.

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The season finale

Their last game of the season vs North at home’s close contested, they lost 15-16. They were leading most of the times. More pix on FB, video
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a heartbreaking season finale

the time out

my view to the right: the baseball field...

her weapon

a little celebration

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Attending US Open

The little tree John Robert Isner in action.
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her back and fore

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Wheelchair tennis at NTC II

Jana Hunsaker Memorial Wheelchair tennis tournament at National Tennis Center, June 11, 2010

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Wheelchair tennis at NTC

DSCN6933 GOODThe 2010 Jana Hunsaker Memorial was held last week, June 10-13 at USTA. They had about 54 players competing for US$10,000. Men’s singles champ would take home $1,760 while the Lady’s $1,000. The top 4 gentlemen singles players are

1. Yoshinobu Fujimoto of Japan
2. Yann Mathieu of Canada
3. Paul Moran of USA
4. Stephen Welch of USA

This picture was taken while Paul was playing Joel Dembe in the Quarter final. He beat Joel 6:4, 7:6 (5). Pumpkin balled for the match.

I watched Steve Welch vs Anthony Anderson match. They traded many amazing shots. One of the players who were watching told me that Welch is the top dog in the USA and played a challenge match against Howard Stern the radio host about 4-5 years ago.
“He (Steve) kicked his behind big time.” 🙂

Welch DSCN6833

The wheelchair community is rather and pretty tight knit. Steve and Anthony would high five each other at change overs. At one point, Anthony cried out loud,
“You got to be kidding Steve!!” as he was trying hard but unable to save one of many incredible shots.
The few players I asked, all had played tennis before they became disabled.
“Would a wheelchair player has advantage if he played before became disabled?”
They said it’s a debate.
Oh well ..
There was a big dude in the red t-shirt who was the only one talked about his injury – a fall into a ditch. As an ignorant AB – their way of referring us, the able body – I didn’t know what to think/do around them but curious. In fact, they’re very self efficient and able – dumb of me to even think otherwise. The first day in the parking lot, as players arriving with their gears – sitting in a wheelchair and pushing their tournament wheels, I offered my help timidly: didn’t want to hurt their feelings. Only two players accepted my help.

All grand slams have the top 8 to play. The Wheelchair US Open is held in St Louis each year.

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My daughter-in-law

Pumpkin’s lacross team played their season finale, losing 5:8. They lost most draws and the opposing team would score. The visiting team’s players are huge and they would run straight through you to score. Size does matter, everywhere.

At the party after the game, a pretty and bubbly sophomore came over to introduce herself and said Pumpkin is so cute. Later I learned that she actually proposed to King. Oh my god. I felt so lucky having such outgoing and beautiful daughter-in-law. But it seemed that King has commitment problem.
Upon hearing it, he demurred: said nothing.
So the future daughter-in-law asked him:
“DON’T you speak English?”
Hahaha .. she has humor too.
But .. but .. her motivation to marry my son is to be Pumpkin’s sister-in-law .. hmmmmmm .. Remember the say that when something is too good to be true is probably not true.

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A trick

At last week’s lesson, coach Dai told girls there’s one trick that kids employee: late calling serve out, when the two failed to call out each others serve loudly and in a timely fashion.
Pumpkin delivered a serve that’s 3 inches out. Bev returned it. Pumpkin didn’t know if to continue or stop. Then she lost the point.
Dai called the girls over, explained:
“Many kids use this as a tool to cheat. When the serve’s out, they’ll return it and when it felt going out, then would they call it out. Otherwise they’ll insist it’s in. It’s good.”
He said .. “to continue to play as it is a good unless the opponent calls it out.”
The two are friends; neither them are crafty enough to cheat. They knew each other since toddlers. Pumpkin used to call Bubbly since she was too young to pronounce her name correctly. I guess it’s bit hard asking them to call out on each other. They’re not tour pro yet. Just some kids who love tennis, and doing it recreationally.

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Her backhand

Pumpkin’s serve and backhand

CIMG7041 GG CIMG7016 G

Poor babe, it’s a sweltering afternoon at North Middle

CIMG7015 CIMG7022

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