tennis, life and a few things in between

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Can you keep a secret? My only reason to becoming the a captain is: to Qiao zhugang 敲竹杠 my charges. Wait, not blackmail?
What’s the difference?
Look what my constituents have 进贡 jingong .. paid tribute (to a suzerain or emperor). 4 cakes!! I’m not even 50 yet.

Sure they all want to please me 🙂

Oh I had fun with this bag. There are so many pockets I was getting lost! Look at this deep hole, like C.I.A.’s hide out. No, it must be Bin Laden’s cave. Where is that dude? Come out, 阿兵 It’s been for a while. Don’t you feel bit bored in there? Be a man. You know, real men don’t hide.
Talking about Mr. Bin Laden, the Jihad .. I really have tough time connecting the innocent boy holding the soccer ball and the young man with the raffle – The Jihadist Next Door. Could it be true that few crave the attention and fame so badly that they would do everything to archive it? Like Richard Heene, who’s to say that Omar Hammami isn’t the Balloon boy who’s gun-toting rebels now? He certainly has found his passion and is living it – however barbaric and horrendous. Has he gotten the fame he’s aching for?
This green on pink fits my crackberry perfectly, as well as my camera. It’s safe to bet that Irene somewhat likes tennis.
Last Friday I played the third match for my LI team. Having drove that far out, just to eat a bagel. What’s da matter with me?! One match I felt there wasn’t any competition but here I was, facing strong opponents but failed to come up with goods.
Mental. All mental.
Almost all my double faults, never came unexpected: they arrive always ceremoniously as I was telling myself, oh no, pls don’t double fault it. Then I would sure DF it, as if I program it. Planted it.

Pretty sick, isn’t it?

My Queens team’s standing as of Jan 31. Please don’t Charlie me, it’s Irene’s Angels. Thanks pretty women.
三个女人一台戏 .. hmmmmmm… what would five do?
..

The Americans like to say having a good hair day when things are all aligned. Well, I just had a good bag day last night: another teamy sweeping victory, third in a row –

#1 doubles: 6-3, 6-3
#2 Doubles: 6-2, 6-3
#3 Doubles: 6-2, 6-3

Here is what my partner had to say (the amount of bribe to him will not be disclosed here)

I was impressed by Irene Eng’s play and I think it was one of her best performances (only played w her twice tho). Her serves, strokes and court coverage were great. She hit an underhand drop shot serve for an ace and she hit a Serena-like full swing volley fm near the baseline for a winner. Both shots caught the girl off guard. Irene only served 1 double fault while I served 4. Like Bill said, maybe she should be coaching and yelling at me instead.

I was actually capable of doing all that?!?! Unbelievable. To be honest, I didn’t know what I did out there except the ‘ace’ that caught the girl off guard. I felt bit sneaky even she was ready to receive. I’ve been serving few underhands lately, one to ease my shoulder and two to mix it up. Our opponents were very confident and they haven’t lost a match yet. So I decided to serve an underhand to rattle them a little. As it turned out, they were very good sportsmen although not much of competition. I was also curious to see how they react: I agree it’s kind of odd. But nevertheless it’s a league play, be serious and ready from get go.

We had a situation last night. The first emergency call came in at 7:38 as I was on the massage table with 30+ minutes left. I had debated whether go to swim or massage before the game. Guess my decision was right. If I were to swim, they couldn’t reach me at all. The reception at the salon was poor and the calls were mounting. I was embarrassed: the massage area is quiet with new age soft music in the background. I was disturbing others. The masseur handed me his iPhone to answer. I got up and went outside.
Kids, can Mommy Eng steal a moment of tranquility, without being disturbed? .. .. Sigh … guess not. One of my five players might not be able to make it to the NTC by 9pm: mediating some important matter (like how much Bernie Madoff has to pay or if $9,000 per day is a livable amount). Does anyone realize time passes extremely fast during a crisis? After few phone calls, we were able to have Kai and Sandy to come. That’s 8:02.

When we trickled into the National Tennis Center, guess what? Mr. Mediator was grandly practicing his serves on court #10. He got there before all of us after all.

Putting this little catastrophe aside, we played with our original line up. The subs sat and watched. Cap Bill was on hand too. What a close knit team we have! I’m very grateful.

The swimming or massage is my way to relax/warm up before a game. Wai is a cool joker and great partner for me who likes to talk non stop. Last time he was out playing, his partner almost told him to shut up because players two courts away heard him, and were annoyed. So Wai isn’t for everyone but Irene :). I think I got Bill’s tacit permission to keep him all to myself. I just feel I could do no worry on court with him around.
It was a relaxing match, with my teammates perching over on the balcony. The opposing team didn’t put up a big fight. Well, our teammates did a good job too.
In the middle of the match, Wai’s love interest came. He took out the newspaper and ran to her. The three of us just stood there and watched. Little lovesick ..
I’m getting old: I’ve met his P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) few months ago and she called few times to set up an appointment for other things but I didn’t follow up on it neither remember her. Sorry, senior moment. His PYT is really outgoing and can hold her own, great. Now Wai, may we have your full attention?

I didn’t get to attend the second match played in Bronx near the Throng Neck bridge because of a dinner in the city. It went well. I got one of Golfer’s foursomes to play and he’s really into it. The funny part is he knew many players way way back. It feels bit incestuous to me 🙂 for he had golfed and tennised with few players on my team. ha ha ha .. a small world.

One of the players on my team, I met her husband when I first came to New York. Since we have the same last name he adapted me as his sis. At time, my pseudo brother was as far away from tennis as water and fire. Couple of years later, the wife joined him with their young son. She too didn’t play tennis. We soon lost touch. Fast forward nearly two decades. One morning I ran into him at Cunningham Park. I was bit surprised. After brief greetings, he said,
“Little sis, let’s play Kai and Sunny.”
My eyes widened. First of all, I didn’t even know he played tennis. Second of all, who were we to challenge those two?
“Don’t worry little sis .. let’s play ..”
About 30 minutes into a set, the rain came. We were on serve.
It turned out, his wife picked up tennis too and they’re both good at it. So good that he is teaching tennis for a living now. Painting is only secondary.

one day the four-some asked me what Golfer’s doing during the winter time since he isn’t playing on my team. Well, he got a stationary bike which he rarely use. But recently he brought new pair of ice skate and is considering joining the local league.

First Doubles: 6:1, 6:4
Second Doubles: 6:4, 6:1
Third Doubles: 6:3, 4:6, 1:0 (10:8)

There is a cute dialogue took place in the bar in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the movie Dim Sum, one of the patrons said to the Uncle the bar tender:
“You can take a girl out of Chinatown but you can’t take Chinatown out of the girl.”
Is that right?
Suppose you can take a girl out of China but can’t take China out of her? But didn’t Chairman Mao said that women can carry half the sky? How come I choose not to???

My second match with my Long Island team, lost 2 and 4. Ian and I practiced once and we did well: winning 6:2 against our strong teammates. Our opponents tonight Carlos and Darlene knew Ian well, they played together as teammates. The pair conjured up bright smile (especially the girl who has big grin, 笑的好灿烂. She has on a very pretty outfit, I was going to complimenting her but didn’t: I don’t really like empress dress style), acted confidently. So I thought, well, we certainly have an equal chance.
Her forehand was lethal and his serves were deadly.
Quickly we found ourselves in a hole.
Most times, my game could be lift up a notch by a better opponent. But it didn’t happen this time. Ian said little to me. Perhaps it’s his style but I felt he wasn’t there for me. Trust is the most important ingredient in a doubles team. I have to admit that I wasn’t too confident even Ian carried most load. Maybe I’m just 仗势欺人zhangshi qiren: bully others on the strength of one’s powerful connection or position – up to no good, only rely on better partner to win a match. I let them to have the control, gave them the edge.
Irene could only 借威作副.

.. A love story but I didn’t feel loved upon entrance at the Westside tennis club in Forest Hills. The foyer (can’t call it reception area) is so small to the point of feeling chocked. The tall receptionist who resembled Lily Tomlin but without the comedian’s facial expression was poker faced, as if starring down on bunch of country hicks invading the venerable (she might think) club – former US Open was played there. Big deal, small time :). Few steps to the right was the bar, with huge pictures on the wall that reminded me of Yale Club by Grand Central in the city. Smell of money yes, but it could use some updates and touch ups.

The young guy at the pro shop (don’t know if he’s pro or just a kid making few bucks ..) downstairs was friendly and helpful, took us to the court immediately – we were 20 minutes early. The assigned courts 2-4 were empty. There was a waiting area but the receptionist didn’t bother to direct us there. So I called Susan asking if we could in fact start warm up – there are rules and regulation.

Matches cannot be extended over the 2 hour time period. Please do not try to talk club staff into letting you play on. This will jeopardize the league being able to use the clubs.

The rule is pretty explicit about time on court although it didn’t say anything about getting on early. To be fair, I called opposing team’s captain too, telling her the empty courts situation. They came over quickly, began warming up as well.

The har-tru courts were not prepared/cleaned which annoyed my partner to no end. They were littered with balls and dingy.

I went there in 2006 during the pre-match prior to US Open with a friend. Most courts were taken up by kids all dressed in white. The main stadium was feeling ghosty, and the parking lot was like a jungle – I could image one walks there to play in the winter time – and very far from the club house.

The little ball girl was really cute, the tinniest one I’ve seen so far. During the warm up, a ball was dropped and creep up to the player. Neither the chair umpire nor the linesmen/ball persons said anything. I almost screamed when the player was retreating, about to backstepping on it. It might be her experience, she looked down and then said something. Can you image if she were to sprain her ankle before the tourney? The pro girls were all unknown, that’s quite telling of the state of the club today. Small time indeed.
The Hamlet Golf and Country Club in Commack used to attract bold names years back (haven’t been there for a long time): Jimmy Conners, Michael Chang .. and the stands were packed. It was very cozy.

.. .. Making the story short, eventually, we managed to win 2 super tie breaks and had sweep the opening matches. Guess we were loved after all.

One of the 9 teams in our group (region?) played its season opener on Wednesday without surrendering a set and only donated 15 games. Wow that’s a fantastic start.  So I wondered out loud to my team .. and .. got an earful. Among lectures, I found this one reassuring:

I wouldn’t worry about the other team so much. I’m only worried about our women as they are the weakest links. [hey isn’t that my line??] I’m still playing in 3rd gear and will step it up only when the male opponent steps it up. I don’t want to be hitting any hard shots at the women unless they start first.

I have a staple of beautiful girls. Me worry? Are you kidding?

As I was playing my first league game after long hiatus on Tuesday, I found my legs weren’t mine, plus loaded with lead. I thought I don’t get nervous. I hit a lousy shot followed by another one .. one more .. double faults .. 3 in a row!!! I never knew that I was capable of that! I felt terrible and sugarless when my man put his head down after the lousy point or better yet, he didn’t even move, just let the ball screaming passing by.

Me worry? You got be kidding.

We were the second fiddlers. Two teammates were playing the first doubles and two to my left were doing the third 轰轰烈烈. The thought that they’re my responsibilities plus the partner who shared the court with me suddenly loomed large. I must be nuts: all those five players are better at tennis and knew what’s going on. It’s me who’s clueless, the weakest link.

I brought V8, water, snack bars and seaweeds .. .. just in case any one feeling Hungary or thirsty. I swear to lord I’ve never done such thing for my own kids, and pray to lord they are not going to read this.

Some clues.

Looking to my right, Lum was playing 热火朝天 with her guy. 我就有点气不打一处来: I had to blame them for my own sorry situation. They must be eager to show off their improved partnership (It’s cute that Wah could never beat Irene on court), so egged me on. Why don’t they volunteer to be the captain? Barack Obama wanted to show off his wife’s arms to the world hence he ran for the skipper. Booo hoooo .. .. no love them no more .. I’m the least connected and talented in this tennis cosmos. Never wanted to be in charge of anything or anyone. Most girls I knew all have strong tennis-playing husbands or significant-others, or patrons to look after them. I’m totally alone out there. Poor me .. cry.. cry.. cry..

Alright, let’s move on, shall we?

The opposing team’s captain stoically stood by the revolving door, watched. I like her: responsive, able and professional. Very pleasant to deal with. She wrote neatly on the sheet and even indicating which court the team would be play on. When we had question regarding the tie break in the first set – if to play regular 7 points tie break or the Coman rotation which is 10 point: teams switch sides after the first point, and then after every 4th point (after 1st, 5th, 9th point, etc.). She came over quickly and explained precisely. It’s regular 7 points.

We were leading 3:1 in the first set but lost in tie break by a fair large margin.

I’ve been playing mixed doubles for too long and been taken care for for too long. I’m used to carry about only 20-30% of the load. Come to think about it, that’s why I can’t play with the girls where equal partnership is required. I become lazy and especially after serving, I’m always kind of expecting my man to put the ball away for good. Or wander into the no man zone, taking a break there :). I think I install my sofa in the no man zone permanently.

At beginning of second set, I thought about winning the match but felt very daunting. The mountain was just too high to climb over: we needed to win the 2nd set plus the tie break.

Why was I there?

Thinking hard, I calmed down:

I felt guilty that I let my team down, especially the few good men. The handsome 4.0 boys would never even look at my direction if were not .. .. There’s pair of veterans, a 4.0 girl no less; a pretty woman .. ya ya .. I’m corny, low on self-esteem and a shameless promoter. In any case, I don’t think I’m allowed any error – they might kick me out of the team (I’m only the airhead prop) or form some sort of committee [ha ha ha hhhmmmmmm ..]. Those fears chased my anxiety away.

As we were enjoying a healthy lead in the second set, the tall guy on the other side had a cramp. He asked for a time out between a deuce. Not knowing the protocol or rules – there are many (which is good), we just waited on our court. After about 3 minutes or so, we walked over to the net. He said he’s fine so we resumed the play. We took the set at 6:2 – they insisted that we won 6:1. In the super tie break, I did relatively well. Remember, in this level of play, your opponents are just as nervous as you are. We took the tie break at 4 or 5. It wasn’t close. Looking back at the scores:
6:7 (3:7), 6:1, 10:5
I don’t think I perform well under pressure. Need to learn to deal with mental game as well.

The girl failed to return a shot that ended the game. I felt so relieved and happy that I won a match on first outing, sort of. I knew, as usual, it was more of Wai’s doing. But what the heck. A win is a win. I could have screw it up big time. I must have hugged Wai, Irene and Wah were laughing. 投怀送抱 -:) Ewwwwww .. what a desperate house wife Wai must have thought.

Wait, did I really hug him? Or they made it up? Whatever.

Sleep tight Irene. It’s only a game.

1st doubles: 3:6, 6:2, 10:5
2nd doubles: 7:6 (3:7), 6:1, 10:5
3rd doubles: 7:6 (?), 6:1

Tuesday was my first league match day. The only agenda on my schedule was a lunch with another group of tennis lunatics. But my little crackblackberry gone mad the night before, refusing to wake up no matter how loud I yelled and how hard I shaken it. When the phone carrier told me that either wait for them to mail me one or go to Hicksville to pick up one. I opted to pick up. Can one live without a phone for a day or two nowadays? The replacement of the crackberry wasn’t new nor whole: they used my old battery and old cover. Lord, they’re cheap but I was thankful that I have something in hand.

Tuesday should have been a relaxing day before the night match. When I rushed to the buffet restaurant after picking up the cracks few players were already seated and eating. Among them was someone I wasn’t expected to be seeing. Ok, someone I didn’t want to see for we broke up in an ugly fashion more than two decades ago. I marched into the small alcove and sat at the larger different table and immediately engulfed with my buddies. In between bits and chats, I managed a few words with my buddy about my old feuds. Next time I looked, my former roommate was gone.

Our relationship started off fabulously. I shared my friends. When we cooked too much for dinner, Eric (my pseudo brother) would be called. Our little dingy apt was often packed with orphans like us – Chinese transplants. I learned how to cook 白切鸡 from her – just dip the bird into the hot water!! We had fun.
When Golfer called for the first date, she was next to the phone.
Golfer: “.. let’s go to a light show after dinner at amnh ..”
“Ok, we’ll go to the live show.” Light into my ear, after the processor it became live out of my mouth. I thought I said light. My language skill has always been superb.
Then I saw her eyebrows rose up considerably.
After I hung up she said in disbelieve, “this is the guy you met .. but you said he’s very nice ..”
Still had no clue, I defended him, “Of course he’s nice .. ”
“Do you know what a live show is?” Light or live, it beats out the chess club outing by large margin. Oh well, this blog isn’t about my dating ..

One winter day she was sick with flu and overworked so I made chicken soup for her .. few days later she took us out for dinner to reciprocate. Those kind exchanges happened often between us. Personally I did it for the joy of caring for a friend. At the bill time, she insisted to pay for it, citing she had few comps from work from overtime, would expire if unused.
(Later when things didn’t go well between us, she would telling everybody that she not had to buy me dinner but my boy friend also. This, did NOT sit well with me. Golfer isn’t a free loader .. ..)

Around that time, she decided to buy a house and asked me to lend her money for down payment. She also asked Eric. Although I could only fork over a meager amount but I was more than happy to help her out anyway I could.

One day she sat in the living room red eyed. It turned out the land lord was giving her hard time for moving out; withholding her deposits unless certain conditions were met. It was the clueless Irene went to bat for her, telling the landlord she was wrong should refund my roommate’s money immediately. ya da ya da ya da “Mom, don’t bother with her, I’ll call the policy .. ” The old woman’s daughter threatened me.
“Go ahead.. ” Guess I was a raging bull. The old woman told me to get lost and shut her door on my face. I often dumbfounded by my own little heroic doings for I neither possess the size to intimidate nor the oration to negotiate.

Anyway, it went without saying that we (another friend Alan and I) would all move to Bayside with her, regardless the inconvenience of transportation, etc. to help her out as renters. Once she became the landlord, things changed drastically. Our rent didn’t include electricity. In the winter, she won’t supply enough heat. The remedy? She bought electricity heaters for each room. On top of the over charged rent. I didn’t find this out until I moved out that Alan checked around and realized the rent in that area was far less for what she was charging us. He soon moved out too.

I didn’t remember what prompt our blow out. Perhaps the built up over the months. The following day after our fight she came home and returned my money.
“Irene, here is your money, with interest.” When she saw my distort face, she asked,
“You don’t think it’s right?” She arrogantly pointed to numbers listed on the piece of paper:
“I checked money market interest rates over the past few months. I’m repaying you with interests.” Then added,
“If you don’t like it here, feel free to move out.”

I was mad and hurt. It was like you handed your heart out on a plate but the receiver knocked it to the floor without any appreciation. I didn’t lend her money to earn the interests. The bank paid far better interests. It was really out of friendship.
On another thought: if she could secure the money from the bank, would she have borrowed from friends?
Beside being belittled isn’t a nice feeling. She knew I wasn’t fluent with financial terms and she played the
sophisticated banker, toying with a FOB.
Eric told me quietly,
“Take the money.” Then wondered when could he get his money back now that his wife had arrived. He eventually did get his $5,000 (?) back.

I forfeited my deposit, moved out that Saturday without giving her a month notice. I’d rather saved the friendship than have a last laugh, and I’m not sure it was the last laugh. Losing a relationship is always hard, more than any one willing to bear.

We ran into each few times in Flushing. Once was weekend in a restaurant, she was clad in a white fury short coat with a man who looked very provincial. Another time on the street; then we both boarded the LIRR. I had the feeling she was following me. As the train rambling on, I debated if I should say hello.

No one is perfect, that includes myself. I’m simple and straightforward, appreciate the fundamental quality of fairness, honesty and consideration in a person, regardless my friends or foes. What got to me most was the fact I helped her to fight her landlord but in return she treated me just as bad and unfairly as the landlord she loathed.

In a way, I always felt she needed me to be her friend and protector. She lived rather solitary life, dating a boy friend who lived in Toronto with a wife in China. Then the feuds over come the caring or whatever was left of our once close friendship. As the train pulled into station, I got up and left.

Do I hold grudge? Not sure. Probably not. I think time has grinned any hard edges off that parcel. But whenever I saw her, it brought back the hurtful feelings .. and my naïve .. that I’d rather not to experience hence I don’t want to see her.

The situation occurred during one of our mixed matches. At the beginning of the second set and after winning the first, the opposing male player started to cramp and needed time to rest. After about 4 minutes our guys were wondering if he should forfeit, but none of the players knew the rules. Luckily, play resumed soon after and was completed.

The following is from the league coordinator:

Cramping does get a medical time-out – however it’s only one.

I think 5 minutes is reasonable – and then they have to continue playing. If they cramp again (even if it’s in a different area of the body) they have to continue play or retire.

Bill found the following on old ITF rule book..

30. CONTINUOUS PLAY & REST PERIODS

b. Play shall never be suspended, delayed or interfered with for the purpose of enabling a player to recover his strength, breath, or physical condition. However, in the case of a treatable medical condition, the Umpire may allow a one-time three minute time-out for that medical condition.