Me and Rod Laver

[Oxford]

Me and Rod Laver

I live in Carlsbad California and so does Rod Laver. He also occasionally plays at night on the same courts at our development – mostly doubles.

Last night he showed up while I was playing and he and his friends headed for the court next to mine. It was great to watch Rod, at seventy, still hit the ball with such skill and joy. I would take breaks to watch him play. It was inspiring.

Later in the evening, Rod and his group finished and sat on some benches across from my court to cool down and talk. My partner and I continued to play. After a while, they didn’t speak much and I noticed that they were watching John and me play. Normally this might have made me nervous but I had been playing awhile and was relaxed and grooving – and winning.

It was really a special moment for me. Here, one of the greatest players in the world was watching me play and win games on a beautiful and warm California night. I felt even more smooth and relaxed for some reason as if the master’s eyes were willing my play.

As they left they all smiled and waved. We left soon after that. The night of tennis was over but the memory will last forever.

OX

 

[Fee]

I love this story. The picture in my mind is kind of like the last scene of Field of Dreams, with the lights and the warm night, and you all relaxed and playing well. Just awesome. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Zimbo]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing. So how was his movement around the court?

 

[hoodjem]

Apparently, the stroke he suffered a few years ago wasn't all that debilitating. Nice to know. (I was saddend and worried that all that amazing talent had been lost.)

He's one of those true examples of someone who's forgotten more about tennis than we'll collectively ever know.

 

[Oxford]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing. So how was his movement around the court?

For 70 he seemed VERY quick and lively. Since he was playing doubles (up and back) he did not have to run like in singles nevertheless, he got the job done and beat up on the younger guys he was playing with.

He still has that little pro "hop" when the opponent hits the ball and he sets up early for his shots. You can easily see the old neurons from the glory days are still firing. His playing was effortless.

ox

 

[hoodjem]

Laver the Magician. Eternal.

 

[f1 tech]

Great post! Wow...Did you pick up any tips from him?

 

[GS]

Years ago, TW held a ProKennex clinic in San Luis Obispo---the special guest was Rod Laver. TW invited any board member to come on down and have a short hit with him. I still regret not going that day.

 

[llgc8080]

Laver the Magician. Eternal.

Like a rocket to the sky. Great champ!

 

[Rabbit]

Great story, you're lucky.

 

[Z-Man]

Great story, thanks for posting. Stan Smith watched me take a lesson for 5 min in Hilton Head when I was a kid, and I still remember it. Moments like that really make you feel connected to the game.

 

[OrangeOne]

for some reason as if the master’s eyes were willing my play.

Great story, would have been better without the "fantasy-crap" line above to be honest, but still, phenomenal story.

It's nice when a better player stops and watches, to have RL watch would be mind-blowing....

 

[simi]

Beautiful story, Ox. What USTA level would you think he would be, as a 70 year old? 5.0? 5.5?

 

[Oxford]

Beautiful story, Ox. What USTA level would you think he would be, as a 70 year old? 5.0? 5.5?

I have no idea. But I am sure few 70-year-olds could hang with him. Good question.

ox

 

[Frank Silbermann]

It's hard to believe he's 70 already. It seems like just 20 years ago he was only 50.

 

[max]

Wow. What a great story, amazing. You're blessed.

 

[GS]

Anyone remember that story from years ago, at Wimbledon or Queen's Club, where Laver, Rosewall and Stolle showed up to hit some balls? Then Sampras walked by, and they asked him to play some doubles? Pete said he was just dumbfound and nervous, especially after they warmed up and one of em said something like, "Hey, let the kid hit some serves."

 

[AndrewD]

I live in Carlsbad California and so does Rod Laver. He also occasionally plays at night on the same courts at our development – mostly doubles.

That's interesting. In January, when he was here in Australia for the Oz Open and to visit relatives, he said that he almost never played these days because his fitness wasn't too good and he had some arthritis in his wrist.

 

[gdsballer]

that's incredible...no autographs? pictures?

 

[Gundam]

I used to work at UCSF a while ago.
One day, I just caught an elevator. Guess who was in it!
Michael Bishop, a nobel prize winner. It was just two of us in it and I must have look like a surprised 2nd grader. Then he was smiling as if he was saying 'Would you like to have my autograph? You know who I am, don't you'?
Very special memory indeed.

Ox, you are so lucky. When you see him again, tell him how much we appreciate his achievements, skills etc.

 

[Oxford]

That's interesting. In January, when he was here in Australia for the Oz Open and to visit relatives, he said that he almost never played these days because his fitness wasn't too good and he had some arthritis in his wrist.

That's odd. Ok, I will throw my digital camera in my bag and get a photo of him and me.

ox

 

[hoodjem]

Michael Bishop, a nobel prize winner.

Does he play tennis?

 

[paperduetoday]

Nice story and great post. Luckily you were winning and looked good. I can imagine how the person you were playing against felt. lol. Worst day of his life..maybe.

 

[Gugafan_Redux]

Wow. Like that old Pepsi commercial with Mean Joe Green.

Very cool!

 

[laurie]

Nice story.

 

[Oxford]

Nice story and great post. Luckily you were winning and looked good. I can imagine how the person you were playing against felt. lol. Worst day of his life..maybe.

Yes it was...because I think Rod knew him (or had seen him around the courts often) and as Rod was leaving the courts (walking across our court) he says to John in a friendly way, "You look like you need to take a break for a while"...ouuuchhhh :shock:

ox

 

[Gundam]

Does he play tennis?

M. Bishop? I don't know for sure. But he is a big SF giants fan.

When I meet someone who is so well known, I feel like 'Is (s)he real' or 'Whoa, (s)he is just like me'. Most famous tennis player I saw in person is Agassi and Roddick (at Sibel open 2003-4?). I remember thinking,

1. Agassi was exactly my size (not big at all).
2. His shining head.
3. Roddick looked very lean and his serving motion looked very easy and simple (on TV, it's very different).

But I haven't met any 'legend' such as Laver. Ox is so lucky