Saturday, August 30, 2003
Won both quarter-final matches today, both in straight sets! I pulled out the 3.5 match 6-4 6-2, and the 4.0 match 6-3 6-0...
On to the semi-finals!...
On to the semi-finals!...
Friday, August 29, 2003
On to the quarterfinals of the Boeing Labor Day 3.5 [and 4.0] tennis tournament! Pulled out a gutsy 2-6 6-2 7-5 win today to get there. I'm real proud of this win 'cause at one point I was down 2-6 0-2 in the 2nd set, and it was at that point where it boiled down to either tankin' the match, conceding that the opponent was just too good today, or diggin' deeper w/in the soul and goin' all out w/ all guns blazin'. I ended up choosin' the latter, taking the next six games and winning the set 6-2, and the third set 7-5...
This match showed me that tennis is definitely a sport that's just as much about sound psyche as it is about sheer talent and athleticism. Having the right frame of mind is so important in achieving success in this sport, being able to dump all the psychological baggage and focusing on watching the ball and executing the right shots at the right time. I guess in solitary sports like tennis the psychological burden is more amplified 'cause it's just you out there responsible for your successes and shortcomings, unlike team sports such as baseball where a guy can go 0-5 one night and have that bagel obscured in the satisfaction of the team winning in a 12-3 rout, even if he didn't contribute to the offensive barrage...
I'll keep ya posted on tomorrow's quarterfinals in the 3.5 and 4.0...
Monday, August 25, 2003
3-0 on the CSTA tour! Annihilated tonight's opponent 6-2 6-0, an opponent who came into the match ranked #13 out of 100+ players...
I talked w/ the guy [Philip] after the match, and he said he's faced the #1 guy on the tour, who's currently undefeated at 17-0. What's real coo is that he said that I've definitely got the skillz to beat him. Definitely some flattering, confidence building, ego-inflating comments right there...ha, ha...
Seriously though, I sure hope I don't let all this success go to my head. Gotta make sure to have fun out on the courts, but at the same time consistently striving for constant improvement. I'm sure this has been iterated before, but my philosophy is that if I ain't #1 in the world, there's still room to improve. Reflecting on the philosophy, I can see how that can be a double-edged sword...but as long as I keep havin' fun out there, it's a single edge. To match my single status...ha, ha...
Speakin' of swords, I'm pickin' up the PS2 Soul Calibur II tomorrow night at the Southcenter GameStop...for $2.00. How, you ask? =] Traded in a bunch of tired ol' PS games...
I talked w/ the guy [Philip] after the match, and he said he's faced the #1 guy on the tour, who's currently undefeated at 17-0. What's real coo is that he said that I've definitely got the skillz to beat him. Definitely some flattering, confidence building, ego-inflating comments right there...ha, ha...
Seriously though, I sure hope I don't let all this success go to my head. Gotta make sure to have fun out on the courts, but at the same time consistently striving for constant improvement. I'm sure this has been iterated before, but my philosophy is that if I ain't #1 in the world, there's still room to improve. Reflecting on the philosophy, I can see how that can be a double-edged sword...but as long as I keep havin' fun out there, it's a single edge. To match my single status...ha, ha...
Speakin' of swords, I'm pickin' up the PS2 Soul Calibur II tomorrow night at the Southcenter GameStop...for $2.00. How, you ask? =] Traded in a bunch of tired ol' PS games...
Thursday, August 21, 2003
"!"
For the 2nd time in as many weeks, someone at Lincoln told me that I’m hitting at a pro level on my backhand side. Yeah, that's right, pro as in a world class athlete who earns a living off of playin' tennis tournaments...
Now, only if I can generate the same feedback on my forehand side...ha, ha...
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Won 2nd CSTA match, 7-5 6-4!...
Definitely played much more relaxed today, and it paid off. My opponent had a killer forehand, but I neutralized it w/ a devastating backhand, spinning bullet serve and crisp, pinpoint volleys...
Definitely played much more relaxed today, and it paid off. My opponent had a killer forehand, but I neutralized it w/ a devastating backhand, spinning bullet serve and crisp, pinpoint volleys...
Sunday, August 17, 2003
Suffered an aggravating three-set, 6-4 2-6 6-2 loss in the August Avanti first round. If I played the way I normally play, to my loosey-goosey aggressive capabilities, I’d have blown the the guy off the court. I played WAY too passive and tentative, and on top of that I put on a major choke display in the third set after I was up 1-0. The glimmer of a win definitely obscured the task at hand in that set, and before I knew it I was down 4-1. I’ve gotta remember to always be on attack mode, always pressuring the opponent like in that 2nd set when I went for it and hit some scorching winners, keepin’ him on the ropes and not settling for just passively gettin’ the ball back like in that pathetic third set...
Ah well, such is tennis...just gotta bounce back like a starting pitcher who gets shelled for 7 runs in 2 innings...
Thursday, August 14, 2003
Won my first match on the CSTA satellite tennis tour, 6-1 6-3!
I'm also entered in the August Avanti tennis tournament, first round match 5pm this Saturday at Lower Woodland. I'm real pumped for this one, gotta make sure the heavy artillery [backhand and serve] remains pinpoint and pace ferocious...
I'm also entered in the August Avanti tennis tournament, first round match 5pm this Saturday at Lower Woodland. I'm real pumped for this one, gotta make sure the heavy artillery [backhand and serve] remains pinpoint and pace ferocious...
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
Had a great time at the M’s game, as they won 3-1 over the Jays w/ Freddy putting in a quality 6 innings. I missed seeing Ichiro's air-mailed heave to third base, 'cause I was at the speed pitch booth. I got to hi-5 the #1 pitcher on Japan junior national team at the booth, after he got done displaying his arm w/ a top speed of 72mph. The kid was slightly built, and about 5'3" in height, but I could sense he could throw 'cause of his pitching mannerisms. I asked his home-stay American exchange buddy, "so is he gonna light up 90MPH?" He responded w/ a hint of seriousness, that "yeah, he can throw." I myself reached 75mph again, can’t seem to top it for some reason, but I’m content for now since the gals watching seemed to like it...ha, ha. Guess i'm kinda disappointed since i figure w/ all the tennis I've been playing lately at Lincoln, my arm would've gotten a bit stronger MPH-wise, but it's all good since my overall tennis game is gettin' stronger and stronger the more I hit the courts and stretch my limits...
Saturday, August 09, 2003
Just got $1500 direct deposited into my account that I wasn't expecting...nice!
Turned out to be subsistence pay, as in compensation for having to *subsist* on an Army base for 4 and a half months...
Hoo-ah Air Force!...ha, ha...
Turned out to be subsistence pay, as in compensation for having to *subsist* on an Army base for 4 and a half months...
Hoo-ah Air Force!...ha, ha...
Friday, August 01, 2003
one flight down
there's a song on low
and your mind just picked up on the sound
now you know you're wrong
because it drifts like smoke
and it's been there playing all along
now you know
now you know...
the reeds and brass have been weaving
leading into a single note...
in this place
where your arms unfold
here at least you see your ancient face
now you know
now you know...
the cadence rolls in broken
plays it over and then goes...
one flight down
there's a song on low
and it's been there playing all along
now you know
now you know...
One Flight Down ~ Norah Jones
there's a song on low
and your mind just picked up on the sound
now you know you're wrong
because it drifts like smoke
and it's been there playing all along
now you know
now you know...
the reeds and brass have been weaving
leading into a single note...
in this place
where your arms unfold
here at least you see your ancient face
now you know
now you know...
the cadence rolls in broken
plays it over and then goes...
one flight down
there's a song on low
and it's been there playing all along
now you know
now you know...
One Flight Down ~ Norah Jones
