Moz
Hall of Fame
Thanks. All too true unfortunately. Well, 3/4 of it!
Going Full Time at Tennis
- Thread starter Moz
- Start date
Thanks. All too true unfortunately. Well, 3/4 of it!
CAM178
Hall of Fame
CAM almost quit today. Ha ha. . . I was playing a 4.0 guy, and losing. Guys, I don't know about you, but unless I'm playing against pace and getting moved at the start of a match (something 4.0 guys can't do), it is really hard for me to get my teeth into the match. He was up 2-1, and I just went to the back fence and said 'Self, enough of this sh**. Get your ass in gear and finish this guy.' Set finished 15 minutes later, 6-2 me.
I agree as to the beer. That would be fun. Maybe we can get a bunch of people from the boards to meet somewhere. Tennis and beer. . . sounds like a perfect day to me, guys.
Congrats on the victory, Moz. But ewww as to the toenail. What happened to cause that?
Moz
Hall of Fame
I was at the O35's clay nationals last year and it was great fun - may do so again this year - although sober this time now I'm a serious full timer! I'm thinking I may train in the US at the end of this year (oct to dec) where the weather is better. Loads of time for beer.
I think I have an infection under the toenail - it's gone a grey blue colour, is raised up and feels as though it's on fire. I think it's just from the constant pressure. I should have got it seen to long ago. I'll try and get you photos in the next day or so for you all to peruse while you eat your cornflakes!!
I think I have an infection under the toenail - it's gone a grey blue colour, is raised up and feels as though it's on fire. I think it's just from the constant pressure. I should have got it seen to long ago. I'll try and get you photos in the next day or so for you all to peruse while you eat your cornflakes!!
Moz
Hall of Fame
And remember no tanking round here this year!
Must admit I usually try and end things asap in this sort of match.
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
Quote by from a while ago about backing off when playing a lesser player.
J
fe6250
Semi-Pro
We moved from tennis to toe nails - I guess it had to get gnarly!
JRstriker12
Hall of Fame
Moz - Check this out: http://walking.about.com/od/blisterfoot/a/blacktoenail.htm
As you walk or run, your foot slides forward in your shoe, banging your toes against the top, front, and sides with each step. Your feet also swell during a walk or run and get compressed by your socks and shoes. That pressure and impact can damage your toenail beds, or create a blister under the toenail itself. When this happens, the extra blood and fluid cause your toenail to separate from the toenail bed, or the "toenail in training" as the Jeff Galloway site calls it. The blood colors the toenail black.
I got a black toe nail once by wearing a pair of football (soccer) boots that were too tight. The tight boots put too much presure on the toe nail. It was ugly and took month or two to grow back.
Moz
Hall of Fame
Thanks for the information. I've had one come off before and it was a bit of a relief when it finally did.
Anyway - back to more savoury matters.
I lost 6-3, 6-4 to the number 3 seed tonight. I was really hitting my groundstrokes well and coming off best in most of the rallies - best I've ever hit them. At the end of the day he had a better serve. I only broke him once and he really served well when he had to. I served well also but basically threw in 2 bad service games in the match.
Over a spell of 4 games I broke strings in 3 racquets so started out at 67lbs and ended up playing the 2nd set with 55lbs. As they're fairly new racquets I had them strung at different tensions to see what suited me. I've known for a while which tension is best and it's a lesson learnt - I should have cut the other strings and had all restrung at the right tension once i knew.
My second serve really stinks when strung at low tensions but hand on heart it wasn't the difference and it was all my fault anyway. Racquet preparation is all part of the performance and the lesson is learned. If the last one had gone I would have been racquet less.
I hate losing but if I have to lose this is the way I prefer to. I played my best given the strokes I arrived with. I come away encouraged with most of it but looking for some individual coaching for my serve which isn't up to scratch.
Anyway - back to more savoury matters.
I lost 6-3, 6-4 to the number 3 seed tonight. I was really hitting my groundstrokes well and coming off best in most of the rallies - best I've ever hit them. At the end of the day he had a better serve. I only broke him once and he really served well when he had to. I served well also but basically threw in 2 bad service games in the match.
Over a spell of 4 games I broke strings in 3 racquets so started out at 67lbs and ended up playing the 2nd set with 55lbs. As they're fairly new racquets I had them strung at different tensions to see what suited me. I've known for a while which tension is best and it's a lesson learnt - I should have cut the other strings and had all restrung at the right tension once i knew.
My second serve really stinks when strung at low tensions but hand on heart it wasn't the difference and it was all my fault anyway. Racquet preparation is all part of the performance and the lesson is learned. If the last one had gone I would have been racquet less.
I hate losing but if I have to lose this is the way I prefer to. I played my best given the strokes I arrived with. I come away encouraged with most of it but looking for some individual coaching for my serve which isn't up to scratch.
Glad to know I am not alone. The work is hard enough without the amount of bs they interject into it. My immediate manager was great, as were a lot of my clients, otherwise I would have never lasted as long as I did. I hope I can eventually come up with another career path but in the meantime, I am digging the time off.
It will be interesting for all of us to compare notes and see how we end up!
Great post.
CAM178
Hall of Fame
No, you're definitely not alone. I sure as hell felt that way when I walked away, though. It was even more difficult for me, as my manager and the owner were the same person: my father. We are fine now, and we both know that this was the best decision.
Yeah, there are a few people on here with whom I want to compare notes at the end of the year. Guys, we only have 11 months to go!!
Sup2Dresq
Hall of Fame
Moz and I played Andy Lake in doubles.
Andy is a beast. You just expect a tornado of a shot to come at you. He just pushes you around with his ground strokes, which seem less flashy than brutal. I have pics of his serve and some video of his shots.
Oren, though not as powerful as Andy. Is trouble for any player. He is so smart on court and so fast.. you feel that you are playing a wall. He just terrorizes your game and makes you play him his way.
If i had my choice. I would pick to play Andy before Oren.
Btw, Oren happen to beat Andy and Carlos GOmez-Diaz to win the title.
If you want more I can go on and on about their game.
CAM178
Hall of Fame
Thanks a lot for this, man. drak has said the same about these 2, and I just wanted to hear a bit more. This sucks if I end up playing the 35 Clay's this year. I was going to play the 30 Hard Courts here in a few weeks, but my game is nowhere near ready, and I am about to make a racquet switch in the next couple of weeks.
I do really want to see Oren, Andy, and Carlos play, though. I played dubs against a friend of Carlos' in Atlanta, and the guy was pretty damn good. He took my hardest serve and blasted it back for a winner before I had even finished my stroke. I deserved it, though: I was really hungover, and I guess I was being a bit of a pr**k that day as a result (it was a long time ago, and we've all felt like that!).
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
Too bad you aren't up here. The LI Crew rolls deep. Right now I would probably be playing #3 #4 or #5 if this were a college team.
And I am constantly recruiting more thumpers into our circle.
J
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Moz
Hall of Fame
I have a feeling the hitting partner situation may become progressively more desperate. I am going to start making more of an effort to contact new people although it's not as easy in the UK. Sup - have you tried Fairfax racquet club? The membership guy there is really good at matching people and is a good friend of mine. The standard is very deep there.
Sup summed up Andy Lake and Oren very well. Sledgehammer vs scalpel.
I'm not sure I approve of all this beer on the court. The 2007 Moz would have loved it - the 2008 Moz isn't so sure!:???::neutral::twisted:
Sup summed up Andy Lake and Oren very well. Sledgehammer vs scalpel.
I'm not sure I approve of all this beer on the court. The 2007 Moz would have loved it - the 2008 Moz isn't so sure!
:???::neutral::twisted:
Moz
Hall of Fame
Ha ha - I wonder, does anyone hear a parade given by a liver so tiny and worn?
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
I haven't had a drink since christmas day.
Not sure how long it's gonna last, but I've been quite successful.
Came to the disturbing conclusion that drinking made my back hurt.
J
CAM178
Hall of Fame
LOL. . . you have it backwards, Moz. Your description is of a healthy liver, which I would wager none of us have. A drunk's liver, or what I like to call 'You're the one with the problem, not me' :mrgreen: , is 3 times the size of a normal liver. But with all of this healthy food combined with no liquor and 2-3 hrs of exercise a day, my Jagerfied liver is shrinking down to size.
CAM178
Hall of Fame
Nice. Good to know I'm not the only quitter out there. I gave it up because nothing good was coming of it. Had a girl stop talking to me because of it at the end of '07 (she's kind of a prude, and got upset when I did multiple Jager bombs while out on a date; post-Jager bombs, I lost my wallet and subsequently any sense of decorum).
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kairosntx
Professional
CAM178
Hall of Fame
Don't be offended. Trust me: some 5.0 and above guys say that about me, so don't feel bad. There is always someone out there who is bigger, stronger, and faster than you. It just sucks when you meet them on-court.
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kairosntx
Professional
I didn't play any tennis in about 20 years. Hadn't had a USTA card since 1985. Started playing again in the fall and self-rated at 3.5 in a local league. I won the league easily so I am playing 4.0 starting March 3. I guess I'll see if I can "hit the ball with pace and move my opponent around" I sure feel like I can!
CAM178
Hall of Fame
Cool. Maybe we'll meet on the court, as I'm playing a 4.0 league in Austin. Gotta love self-rating.
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Sup2Dresq
Hall of Fame
I'll be in Austin for the 30's, ready or not. It's a lot of fun. You should reconsider. If anything, come out and cheer a TW member to victory!
Let me know if you are going. Maybe we can hit or something.
CAM178
Hall of Fame
If I don't play, I will absolutely cheer a TW member on to victory. Did you play here last year?
Sup2Dresq
Hall of Fame
This will be my first time in Austin. I've done other nationals.
CAM178
Hall of Fame
Well then welcome to Austin! If you need, I can line up some good practice matches for you, or just some good guys to hit with (besides myself) in between matches. Just let me know how I can help, and I will be more than happy to do so.
Sup2Dresq
Hall of Fame
We'll what i could use.. is a lay out of the Westwood country club eating scene.
I'm awful at eating during a tournament. So a good place to eat that won't kill the stomach would be awesome.
CAM178
Hall of Fame
I don't even know where Westwood is. There is a member on here, atatu, who knows Austin inside and out. I'll shoot him an e-mail and see what he knows about where to eat there.
CAM178
Hall of Fame
Wow, atatu responded really quickly. He's a great guy, and a very good player. He's someone to hit with when you come into town, for sure.
His advice:
"As far as places to eat around Westwood, Waterloo Ice House is off of 35th Street and it has stuff like Salad as well as good burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. http://www.waterlooicehouse.com/
There is also a place called EZ's which is on Lamar right off of 40th Street and they have everything from Pasta to Pizza there. http://austin.citysearch.com/profile/11354086/
His best be is likely Central Market, which has a good cafe and it's a straight shot down 35th Street to Lamar from Westwood. http://www.centralmarket.com/cm/cmLocation.jsp "
Hope this helps, and you can thank atatu for the Westwood advice.
Sup2Dresq
Hall of Fame
Brilliant!!!
futuretoptenner
Semi-Pro
I seriously love this thread and the true enthusiasm that is coming from all you players who want to take it further. Moz I'm reading your blog and it's so funny but truly poetic . Keep it up!
CAM178
Hall of Fame
Come on, man. . . you know you want to. And we can improve your chances of winning by feeding chili dogs and beer to Sup2Dresq before he goes on court.
Sup2Dresq
Hall of Fame
That has, I believe, been my downfall in almost ever loss the second half of the year (coupled with bad luck and bad play).
My last loss, was after a mexican lunch (right after my first match).
It felt like a brick with razors.
Thanks for the places to eat though. I need to stick to light and easy to digest.
CAM178
Hall of Fame
I can just about hear the commentators for that match, Sup:
". . . his opponent lobs, Sup goes up for the overhead, and . . . .what was. . . did I hear. . .what was that? Did you hear that sound? Wow. (commentators trying to hold back chuckling) If that was Sup, I would request an emergency bathroom break."
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Sup2Dresq
Hall of Fame
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