Pop goes the knee

[Baxter]

There is this HUGE tournament for where I live, 400 people from around the region. We were both playing our best and up a set in the 6-4 and serving at 5-5 after being down 3-0, 4-1 and 5-2 in the second - we were on fire!!!- and then the "pop" goes the partner's knee. He's the young partner. No more trophy, no more doubles partner. No more anything.

 

[Topaz]

What's more important...some plastic trophy, or someone else's (your *partner*) health and well-being.

I mean, it sucks for sure, but there will be other tournaments. Think about how your partner feels. "No more anything"??? Bit dramatic don't you think?

Find a new partner, play singles...but stop feeling sorry for yourself.

 

[Nellie]

You could have played against the other two on your own, as long as your partner served during his/her turn (e.g., serve underhanded and hop off the court). Your partner would also need to return serves on his/her side, but I am sure you could have conceded those points. I may have tempted to try, at least to the tie breaker.

 

[robby c]

Lost my favorite partner to knee injuries. ACL in one knee, then a year later he popped the other. No more tennis. He was a fierce competitor, and the heart and soul of our successful league team. That team faded without him. I took a 10 year layoff to raise kids and I'm starting over with a whole new set of team-mates. So far this has been a fun year,and I've lost 15 lbs. Still love to hit that little yellow ball.
Robby C

 

[burosky]

There is this HUGE tournament for where I live, 400 people from around the region. We were both playing our best and up a set in the 6-4 and serving at 5-5 after being down 3-0, 4-1 and 5-2 in the second - we were on fire!!!- and then the "pop" goes the partner's knee. He's the young partner. No more trophy, no more doubles partner. No more anything.

What was your purpose for posting this? Were you trying to get sympathy because that incident ended your tournament? I'm sure your partner did not plan on popping his knee.

 

[Moz]

What's more important...some plastic trophy, or someone else's (your *partner*) health and well-being.

I mean, it sucks for sure, but there will be other tournaments. Think about how your partner feels. "No more anything"??? Bit dramatic don't you think?

Find a new partner, play singles...but stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Well out of order - he has every right to feel sorry for himself. It could have been the biggest tournament of the year for him.

What was your purpose for posting this? Were you trying to get sympathy because that incident ended your tournament? I'm sure your partner did not plan on popping his knee.

Perhaps he was posting to see if this happened to anybody else and to share experiences.

 

[burosky]

Perhaps he was posting to see if this happened to anybody else and to share experiences.

You maybe right. It's just that the way he worded it, he made it look like he was trying to get sympathy for his situation. It would have been different if the partner just decided to quit for no valid reason. In this case though, the partner popped a knee. There's no telling how serious that injury was. Worst case scenario, that could be the end of his partner's tennis playing days! Compare that to no more trophy, no more partner, no more anything.

 

[Moz]

Both he and his partner deserve sympathy, although his partner more so!

Maybe we'll see a seperate "I popped my knee thread"! :-?

 

[Aldi Patron]

Why isn't he allowed to complain? I'd be upset too if my team battled all the way back and then some freak accident occurred that ended our chances.

Just because he posted that doesn't mean he doesn't feel bad for his partner. Yeah, there are worse things in life, and the partner's health is obviously more important, but that's a tough break for both of them.

That being said, I would have liked the title, "Pop goes the kneesel better."

 

[LawnChairGeneral]

Trust me, the winning team probably doesn't feel too good either. It never feels good to win due to an injury.

I was on the winning team when a similar thing happened. It was the doubles final and one guy on the opposition was also in the singles final, which was scheduled later the same day. We won the first 6-2 and were up 2-0 in the second when his knee gave out and had to retire. Sure I got the trophy, but everytime I look at it I feel sorry for the injured player because he also missed the opportunity to play in the singles final.

Bottom line, win or lose, it isn't fun for anyone on the court when someone gets hurt.

 

[Topaz]

Well out of order - he has every right to feel sorry for himself. It could have been the biggest tournament of the year for him.

But that's the thing about tennis...there is *always* another tournament. The OP made it sound like the end of the world, and while I understand the disappointment, I can't quite take the 'no more trophy' and 'no more anything' when this is the guy who *didn't* botch up his knee.

 

[consistency wins]

"on fire"....as in the first round or in the finals?

 

[Moz]

But that's the thing about tennis...there is *always* another tournament. The OP made it sound like the end of the world, and while I understand the disappointment, I can't quite take the 'no more trophy' and 'no more anything' when this is the guy who *didn't* botch up his knee.

There is always another dog, wife, husband, house, car, boyfriend, girlfriend.....

Let the guy vent his frustration about having to withdraw from the tournament.

Or would you prefer one of those self-serving posts where he laments his poor partner while downplaying his own disappointment at being out of the tournament.

 

[Topaz]

Or would you prefer one of those self-serving posts where he laments his poor partner while downplaying his own disappointment at being out of the tournament.

I would prefer something more like this: "Man, my partner and I were playing great in this *huge* tournament! We were on fire! Then, my partner's knee goes 'pop' and we had to withdrawal. This really sucks, but I hope he's going to be okay!"

IMO, people are more important than trophies.

I had to withdrawal from doubles from my last tournament because my partner's son was sick with a fever, and she needed to stay home with him. I was *very* disappointed, but there is no doubt in my mind that that is exactly what she needed to do and where she needed to be that day.

He can vent all he wants. But what I read when I look at his post is not a vent, but a selfish, cold statement by someone that cared more about the trophy than the serious injury that his partner is suffering.

 

[Moz]

Well, I guess other peoples priorities may be different from your own rather than wrong.

You also presumably know how serious his partner's injury is?

 

[Topaz]

Well, I guess other peoples priorities may be different from your own rather than wrong.

You also presumably know how serious his partner's injury is?

That's fine...maybe his priorities are different. If someday I get so disappointed and disgusted because my partner pulled out because they are injured, I will no longer play doubles or find a new partner whose priorities are the same (though that still doesn't mean they can't or won't get injured). I can control that. I don't have to be wallowing in self-pity...I can move forward and make sure it doesn't happen again. Doubles is team effort, though, and there is never a guarantee that someone won't get hurt.

I *get* the disappointment, I've said that several times. But a 'pop' sound is more than likely not good...I know enough to know that. Would he rather his partner play on and potentially damage his knee even further? Would the OP be willing to do that himself if the tables were turned?

Seems to me to be a better decision to retire, get the knee taken care of and rehabbed, and come back and play it again next year.

What are you trying to get at here Moz? Have you ever been in the OP's (or the partner's) situation? How did you handle it?

 

[Moz]

That's fine...maybe his priorities are different. If someday I get so disappointed and disgusted because my partner pulled out because they are injured, I will no longer play doubles or find a new partner whose priorities are the same (though that still doesn't mean they can't or won't get injured). I can control that. I don't have to be wallowing in self-pity...I can move forward and make sure it doesn't happen again. Doubles is team effort, though, and there is never a guarantee that someone won't get hurt.

I *get* the disappointment, I've said that several times. But a 'pop' sound is more than likely not good...I know enough to know that. Would he rather his partner play on and potentially damage his knee even further? Would the OP be willing to do that himself if the tables were turned?

Seems to me to be a better decision to retire, get the knee taken care of and rehabbed, and come back and play it again next year.

What are you trying to get at here Moz? Have you ever been in the OP's (or the partner's) situation? How did you handle it?

Disgusted, wallowing in self-pity? Hardly describes the original post. He also didn't suggest that his partner should have carried on and didn't question his decision to do so.

It's annoying the way he was jumped on when so few facts were unavailable and he was obviously disappointed at not being able to complete the tournament. You assumed he didn't care about his partner, you assumed his partners injury was serious, you assumed the tournament was more important to him than his partners health, you assumed that his opportunity in this tournament is repeatable.

The original post is certainly no worse than the millions of "what should I do if someone sneezes during a point" threads.

I dont give a crap about his partners injury but would find the story of a big tournament chance going begging interesting. What was tournament, how big a result were they close to, maybe a wild card to something bigger etc. Why does everything have to be turned into a damn human interest thread?

I've never had a partner retire on me because of injury. If there was no other option than for them to retire then I would completely understand. If I entered a tournament with them in good faith, their knee went and then they told me it's been a problem for a long time I would be livid and never play with them again. If they are one of these idiots that retire for the odd strain or because they felt a slight niggle then I would never play with them again.

Yet, another reason why doubles stinks because it involves people you have to rely on.

Perhaps it's just time for my afternoon nap.

 

[Topaz]

It's annoying the way he was jumped on when so few facts were unavailable and he was obviously disappointed at not being able to complete the tournament. You assumed he didn't care about his partner, you assumed his partners injury was serious, you assumed the tournament was more important to him than his partners health, you assumed that his opportunity in this tournament is repeatable.

Yes, you're right...he didn't give a lot of facts, and I did draw assumptions. I assumed he didn't care about his partner, because he didn't mention any concern for his partner, only his lost opportunity at earning a trophy. Had he put that in there, it is likely at least I wouldn't have jumped on him...but I can't speak for the others who responded similarly.

I tend to play doubles, particularly in tournaments, with people I care about. So if they go down with a popped knee, I'm more concerned with that than with the tournament. That's how I'm wired, for better or worse. That is the perspective that I was coming from in my mind.

The original post is certainly no worse than the millions of "what should I do if someone sneezes during a point" threads.

I dont give a crap about his partners injury but would find the story of a big tournament chance going begging interesting. What was tournament, how big a result were they close to, maybe a wild card to something bigger etc. Why does everything have to be turned into a damn human interest thread?

Well, that wasn't my intent. I was browsing threads, read this one, and found I could conjure no sympathy for the OP based on this: "No more trophy, no more doubles partner. No more anything." Like you said, there's always another (fill in the blank). Well, most of the time, anyway. Lamenting lost opportunities is normal, but should only go on for so long.

I've never had a partner retire on me because of injury. If there was no other option than for them to retire then I would completely understand. If I entered a tournament with them in good faith, their knee went and then they told me it's been a problem for a long time I would be livid and never play with them again. If they are one of these idiots that retire for the odd strain or because they felt a slight niggle then I would never play with them again.

Yet, another reason why doubles stinks because it involves people you have to rely on.

Agree, agree, and agree. Tournaments with doubles is a tricky thing. I'm finding it is necessary to explain to potential partners that they actually need to keep their schedule open, that times could change, and missing a match because of ~lunch~ plans is not going to happen.

Perhaps it's just time for my afternoon nap.

No worries Moz...you brought another point of view to the thread, one that I didn't necessarily see. And you didn't call me names (at least, not on here!), right?

Too bad the OP hasn't 'popped' back on to fill in some details!

 

[Cindysphinx]

There is always another dog, wife, husband, house, car, boyfriend, girlfriend.....

Let the guy vent his frustration about having to withdraw from the tournament.

Or would you prefer one of those self-serving posts where he laments his poor partner while downplaying his own disappointment at being out of the tournament.

"There is always another dog, wife, husband, house, car, boyfriend, girlfriend....."?


Like, if you lose your spouse or significant other or home, that is the same level of heartache and upheaval as having to withdraw from some local recreational tennis tournament?

Dang.

 

[Moz]

"There is always another dog, wife, husband, house, car, boyfriend, girlfriend....."?


Like, if you lose your spouse or significant other or home, that is the same level of heartache and upheaval as having to withdraw from some local recreational tennis tournament?

Dang.

No, that wasn't the intention of what I wrote.

Previously it was said there's always another tournament - my point was that not all tournaments are the same so it's not always a case that there is a like for like replacement.

The same way all spouses, pets etc aren't the same and there isn't necessarily a like for like replacement.

I wasn't comparing losses between subjects (although there have been some tournaments I've wanted to win more than keep the girlfriend of the time).

Nice try though.

 

[Topaz]

Previously it was said there's always another tournament - my point was that not all tournaments are the same so it's not always a case that there is a like for like replacement.

Yup, that was me...and that's a good point to make...not all tournaments are created equal.

I wasn't comparing losses between subjects (although there have been some tournaments I've wanted to win more than keep the girlfriend of the time).

Now *that* sounds like a good story!

 

[Cindysphinx]

No, that wasn't the intention of what I wrote.

Previously it was said there's always another tournament - my point was that not all tournaments are the same so it's not always a case that there is a like for like replacement.

The same way all spouses, pets etc aren't the same and there isn't necessarily a like for like replacement.

I wasn't comparing losses between subjects (although there have been some tournaments I've wanted to win more than keep the girlfriend of the time).

Nice try though.

Thank goodness! 'Cause my read of your statement didn't sound like you at all, Moz. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Moz]

Thank goodness! 'Cause my read of your statement didn't sound like you at all, Moz. Thanks for clarifying.

Well in that case that's my fault - sorry for not making it clear. Although that has now got me wondering what sort of tournament win I would swap for various possessions and distant relatives.......

Girlfriends is probably a poor example as tournaments are quite important after all and anyone who has ever owned a hamster know that one of those could be swapped for a local NTRP tournament win without much heartbreak.

 

[Topaz]

Girlfriends is probably a poor example as tournaments are quite important after all and anyone who has ever owned a hamster know that one of those could be swapped for a local NTRP tournament win without much heartbreak.

Alright...I'm off to buy some hamsters!