It was the middle of December 2012, and we were\u00a0playing in the middle of our three month\u00a0and\u00a0ten matches long season.<\/p>\n
It’s Pumpkin’s freshman year\u00a0in\u00a0college who\u00a0gets home in a record time from school and we decide to take in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey<\/em>. I thought they’d like 3D (at 7:00 pm) but they prefer 2D (6:30 pm). It isn’t my type of movie but I tried to glue to the seat, to be there with them. However, mid way into the adventure, my phone begins to\u00a0shake: emails, texts and voice calls pouring in like broken dam, unstoppable. Because the match is held at the bubble which is a good 5-10 minutes walk from the main building, in the dark so I asked one of my mates who drives to pick up the two mates who take subway. I just could not bear the thought that they walk in the dark. (Not sure if the Metro league knew\/cared, they should really not to schedule matches, especially for the Manhattan league in the bubble.) When Mr. First didn’t respond I asked Mr. Second. Now Mr. Second is risking being late too. When they finally get hold of everyone, it’s obvious that 1D will be good 10 minutes late.<\/p>\n By the way, it’s an violation to use any electronic device on court – may constitute coaching!\u00a0 The Metro league credits each court with the following number system: You are supposed to exchange scorecards 5 min before the match and if all the players have not arrived yet then the missing player should be moved to 3D (in case of a default). That is in the rules too. \u00a0Your opposing captain is correct.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n A seasoned captain weights in:<\/p>\n
\nAll from my teammates: one of my First Doubles players is late.
\nGetting a call right before a match, is like a phone rings in the middle of the night: nothing but nightmare<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
\n1D = 6 points
\n2D = 4
\n3D = 3
\nObviously 1D worth twice as many points as the 3D. Moving my 1D to 3D, the opposing team, presumably has a clear advantage on paper. I am furious. In my past experience, we just waited till the opposing team’s player(s) to show up. I’ve never asked them to switch the line up – the thought has never occurred to me because it isn’t a decent thing to do. I want to win fair and square<\/a>.
\nTime is ticking.
\nI exit the movie twice to handle the situation<\/a>. My acting captain finally give up arguing and says that he keeps telling the opposing captain\u00a0that the missing\u00a0player will arrive\u00a0before the cut off time. He says\u00a0he’ll do whatever the opposing captain wishes because the short 1.5 hour is diminishing very fast.
\n12 minutes pass the starting time, my running late mate steps on to the court. Match starts.
\nThe movie (2:46) ends at around 9:15. My daughter asks me if I felt asleep.
\nYes I did a little. It isn’t my cup of tea, and my mind was on the team.
\nThey ask why did I have to go out, twice.
\nI went to the bathroom, I fabricate.
\nMy kids enjoy it very much.
\nI feel sorry that my mates have to face so much chaos and stress. I call as soon as the pendulum strikes 10.
\nMy 2D reports: we won.
\nThen my acting skipper says simply: we swept.
\nI am so pleased. No pleased<\/em> isn’t the right word. Vindicated? Relief?
\nAs I’m on the phone, I hear a woman’s voice screaming\u00a0in the background, clear enough to make out that she’s going to appeal<\/em>.
\nAppeal of what? My team did exact what you wanted them to do.
\n\u75db\u6253\u843d\u6c34\u72d7 is never my style. But I’d like to know if the opposing captain has the right to force my team to switch. The flight coordinator replies:<\/p>\n