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Although I never rode a motorcycle and prohibit my kids riding one (and smoking is another ban), but I was wowed by the image of Gere’s 1982 An Officer and a Gentleman when he rode one. Was it Honda or something else? But anyway, this is my favored motorcycle.
Rain interrupted our play .. but we continuously played: Tony is cleaning the court which’s covered by yellow pollen and a pair is dancing the cha cha..
Friday night we got a treat: a former pro who played 1989 US Open came to challenge Tony who’s a 5.0 player and rarely does he find a opponent within our circle.
The story went like this: Tony showed up for work – a.k.a. to play – was playing first with the blue shorts and the bluey called his buddy the red shorts. Tony teamed up with Jimmy whom I’ve never met before. When I finished my game – lost singles to Mark (I was up 4:1, but couldn’t close the set, lost 6:4), but dished out a bagel to Mark and a Korean hard hitter like Alex in doubles with Eric – we followed others to court #4 where the game was in high octane, atmosphere was intense and temper flied couple of times. It’s like watching the qualifying rounds at the Open. Great stuff. Tony and Jimmy took the first set at 7:5, and they stopped at 2:2 due to night fall. I have the feeling that we’ll be seeing those often this summer.
To raise a kid. .. Is that so? Slowpoke was mad at me last night coz I was late picking her up. My fault. So, when she got to SAndy’s house this morning, it’s clearly I-dont-want-to-be here attitude. Simon played with her, Lou played and entertained her, so did others … I was forgiven. Phew. It’s very sticky and hot out there. She complained but toughed it out. What made smile was she said little and looked mad, but heard others talking about Barry, so on the way home, she asked about who Barry is and said she’d like to try him. You got it.
Lesson 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.
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.
Martin came to teach at the Parkwood Sports Center due to an emergency few weeks ago and know on the staff regularly. He teaches at the the court next to me. After today’s the lesson, he came over asking me if I know Justin’s dad.
“Who?”
He explained Justin’s Sharon’s kid bro. Sharon is close friend of Pumpkin and an excellent tennis player. I thought their dad is at the center all the time .. well, but today.
“I’d like to coach him. He wants to make the team. It only takes a summer. .. Justin’s uncle is here.” He said.
Then ask Justin’ dad next week. I suggested.
“I won’t be here next week.” He replied.
Seriously, I don’t have Sharon’s number and felt it’s bit blatantly inappropriate, let alone poached it openly. While I was sitting at the Craig’s court watching, Martin came in, sat down and chatted loudly. Given the fact the two coaches don’t really know each other.
In contrast, Craig had his left thumb and index finger banded together, “I sprained it playing baseball this morning … picking up the ball is hurtful …” but he managed to teach, at least 3 solid lessons. During our lesson, when there were 10 minutes left, we told him that we’ll play doubles, trying to relief him: we love a solid lesson, but we also very appreciative of a good coach with great work ethic.
Slowpoke took her first lesson with Kerner and enjoyed it. Kerner is a slim man with only-god-knows age, has husky voice: don’t know it’s his natural or teaching (yelling) too much. After all, the court is huge and you are not likely to be there alone. He gave her an evaluation, by the time they got to her bank hand valley, he said, “well, if you’re strong enough, you can consider using single hand back hand valley …” She just did that, with a gracious slice. I was floored: it’s beautiful, almost picture perfect. Ok, textbook perfect, to be political correct. Where on earth did you learn that I asked. “Watching TV …” ??? “Since when you actually watch tennis on TV? You only watch Will & Grace … ” I floored once more: I watch the Opens every year and picked up nothing, :-(. During one of the coachings at the net, Kerner asked what’s her most favored sport? She didn’t reply immediately, as usual. Kerner said, “I teach tennis, but my favor sport is soccer …” Perhaps thinking between starvation or a delicious dinner … you know that’s how I treat my kids… :), she surprised me by saying, ‘tennis’. Do you really, really? I nearly tossed her into the air … well, that’s untrue, but you can use your imagination. After the lesson, she whispered, “I like Kerner, he’s strict yet humorous.” Should I press her for saying like tennis the most among swimming, skiing and lacrosse…?
We woke up to a sunny day. Since Slowpoke n her g/fs decided not to attend the service (of a Bat Mitzvah), so she’s free till 6pm. “How about some tennis?” Sure. Should I call Katie? K is taking her lesson with Martin at 1:30. No, mom, I want to play with you. How flattering! Slowpoke kept up with me, moving me from left to the right; and she knew she was often late for her forehand. I told her to keep a plan in mind, not just moving me, but make it point of moving me to the side she actually intended. She’s hitting really well.
When we begin to play a game, that’s when she showed her frustration: her serve was inadequate. After only two games, she said she’d like to practice serving. By the time she finished a basket (of balls), Kerner’s lesson was over, and as usual, he came over to give Slowpoke some advice. Her grip is all wrong, he said … It brought back some early memory of myself when I started learning to serve. For the first few lessons on serving, I felt totally out of control. But after used to the motion, I was ok with it. After Kerner left for his next lesson, to my surprise, Slowpoke said she’d like to take lesson from him, “I want more discipline.” I felt my jaw was dropping. So she’s serious, or at least she knows what she needs to do to improve. I had wanted her to try Craig too, but never connected with him. I think different coaches would give you some insight that others won’t, and I told her about this.
Martin once said that when he was a kid, he played with Kerner who’s already coaching. But looking at Kerner, I’d guess him as 30ish – Martin laughed, ‘no way … black men don’t age.’ Kerner has a 20 years old daughter who plays tennis. So much for my guessing, lol. Kerner has concession of this local park and he keeps it pretty neat. I didn’t start playing there again till last year with Andy, Alex, etc. The park has a decent size pool and a picnic area. It used to be empty. Last year I realized every weekends the park were packed, which is very annoying and noisy, plus the fumes, and we weren’t invited to the party to boot, lol. Thank god Kerner is around, provides a little authority figure in an otherwise deserted park. He’s always been nice to us, making small chat and giving short brief coaching. But back then the kids didn’t seem to take to him as they took to Martin. Now that Slowpoke asked for Kerner (instead Martin), I am very happy to oblige, in a way I could reciprocate Kerner’s kindness or good salesmanship.
Had a very physically demanding game, almost brutal: played an hour and half singles with Alex the assassin. It wasn’t fun to begin with, he hits as hard as he could from the first shot. We rarely had any point that’s more than 4 rallies. How boring could it be? I like to warm up slowly from the net, and then long rallies from the baseline. Will his next coach give him some hint for the proper way? It felt very coarse for the brute force took the finesse out of the game. I need to learn to say no from time to time – I was the fill in. We eventually started the game, I was up 2 love, and won the set at 6:4. The second set he won at 6:1. My back was very tender, but held out. What pleased me was no grunting at all, lol, and I took the set at first set point.
Alex is really a nice guy and I would always wonder if he’s sent by Golfer 🙂
Or should I load up life insurance?
To my left court, there was a little boy (perhaps only 3 or 4 years old) played like pro, and he barely cleared the net: his chin was at the top of the net. Lord, the next young gun in the working.
Had an Epson salt plus green rubbing alcohol bath, per Martin. Very silly, I have no idea how much salt and the green alcohol are needed; so I dumped half lb of salt and half bottle of alcohol. I played in the morning (got to see many buddies) and took lesson in the afternoon. Gosh, I hope the magic bath works, lol, so I can play day and night. Oh, happy to report, I didn’t grunt much lately, the surgery has hampered it, lol .. hmmmm, guess zipper might not as effective as an oral operation.
As we were approaching the court where Martin and Katie were playing, we noticed immediately a puny girl dressed like gypsy was playing like a pro. I thought Slowpoke can’t serve cause she’s short, then think again. The Puny serves with such power, Roddick would have taken notice. She is small for a 9 years old, clearly enjoys the game, and has been playing for a long time.
