Tennis ain't just for kids!

First of all, let me introduce myself. I'm Jean aka JeaneBee, a 75 year old retiree who loves tennis and plays 2 times a week at the 3.5  (used to be 4.0) level. I live in Omaha, Nebraska, smack dab in the middle of the great Midwest where we spend half our tennis life playing in the heat and/or wind, and the other half playing on indoor courts to get out of the snow….indoors is a great place to play, no wind, no sun and no low flying birds!

Years ago, when I was young and foolish, I used to snicker at senior players, watching them put on their knee braces, elastic arm bands, sun visors and after having a swig of water went ditzing around on the court, talking, laughing and having a good ole time, then going out for coffee afterwards. Then, somehow, much to my dismay, I turned into one!

I realize that although we’re not as fast on the court and our ground strokes aren’t as hard as they used to be, we’re out there hitting the ball with the same love for the game that we always had. And yes, we do a little giggling and talking between games (SOME of us even like to sit down---bringing our own chairs if seating isn't available on the court!!)

I took up tennis as physical therapy after having a stroke at age 29…. it was termed a self-induced stroke but a stroke nevertheless. My husband I were “finishing” our basement and my job for the day was putting plaster on the ceiling and making swirls in it with a sponge. It looked pretty good and I was at it for most of the afternoon. My husband found me unconscious, blood streaming down my chin from a bitten lip and limp as a dish rag. He called the rescue squad and I spent two weeks in a stupor, getting punctured from stem to stern. The final diagnosis was stroke, but cerebral hemorrhage and epilepsy were running a close second and third.

I was a healthy 29 year old, preparing for my 10 year high school class reunion. I rode horseback, took gymnastics for years, played softball and was an all-around tomboy growing up and kept at it after marriage. I wasn’t a couch potato, overweight or a smoker, and neither my doctors nor myself could understand why I had a stoke…shouldn’t have happened. Years later, while reading the health section of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, I found out why it did.

Having my head tilted backward and looking up for hours while putting plaster on the ceiling had caused pressure on the back of my neck…reducing the blood flow to my brain….wham, bam, thank you ma’m.... and.....hello stroke.

Physical therapy after my stroke was practically non-existent. This was 1968 and physical therapy wasn't as common as it is now. A friend suggested that I take tennis lessons to improve my eye-hand coordination.....so my physical therapy consisted of learning to hit the ball against the YWCA wall and playing on a hardwood floor. Gradually I got better and better. I had good reflexes thanks to years of gymnastics (helps a lot when you take a fall while running after a tennis ball…you learn to “tuck and roll” gracefully and not sprawl all over the court) and my tennis improved.


Fortunately the stroke caused very little residual damage to my body and general health. I occasionally have trouble with speech, sometimes the words just aren't there and I need to "search" for the word I want......I almost have to visualize it and can then say it (many people think that my sometimes halting conversation is because I want to emphasize a point.....WRONG) Also, my short term memory comes and goes….my doubles partners know that when I ask “what’s the score?” I'm serious, its gone, I’ve forgotten it. Even if I’m serving, the memory is gone and I have to rely on my partners. Guess that tells you why I seldom play really competitive singles!

Now onto our senior tennis. My teammates are great! We are all over 60, actually most of us are over 65, grandmothers many times over and play in a Super Seniors league…its not a “hit and giggle” league.. we are as intense and play as hard as we ever did.. We all play on other leagues with players who are younger than our own children. And we do our share of winning, I might add.

But you’re only as old as you feel – (well, that's not exactly true) and we are a pretty frisky bunch. Most of us have played with and against each other in tournaments for years. We're familiar with each other's families, children and grandchildren. We care when one of us is hurt, sick or has a family member who is hurt or sick. We keep them in our prayers.

In April, 2007, our team, the SOMOS SOMOS represented Missouri Valley at the Senior Nationals Championships in Charleston, South Carolina. WOW, is the Family Circle stadium a beautiful sports facility. We met some great ladies and hope to see them next year.

We didn't win, but fought a good fight. And, we looked great in our bright pink and black tennis clothes. Did I mention that when our group travels, the first place we look for is the nearest grocery for snacks and various drinks (soda, bottled water and WINE....we have a couple of players who really "whine" if they don't have wine with their snacks!) and the second place is shopping malls or any place where the best bargains in tennis clothes will be. We left a LOT of money at the Family Circle pro shop!

Our Super Senior team played in Oklahoma City in September again we didn’t win our Division of the tournament , (hmmmmm, I'm really getting tired of saying that! ) but did win the talent contest! I wrote the song, and the team sang….luckily the judges liked the words since our singing was awful!

And Another One Bites The Dust! Oh Yeh !

“They walked as a group through the stone arches of the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis, MO. The Magnificent Seven, dressed in black, carrying tennis rackets, wearing cowboy hats and a look of determination on their faces.

They walked through this arch as players and would leave as Champions.

The other Super Senior players who were gathered near the tournament desk stopped their aimless talking and watched as the Seven approached the desk......”who are they…where are they from?”

“We are the Nebraska O’Courts”

Rose, Kathy, Mari, Joleen, Yasuko, Marty and Captain JeaneBee smiled to themselves, “yes, we're here and we’re gonna do some major damage to your egos and your team's win/loss stats”

The day was made for tennis….mid 70’s, slight wind, beautiful blue sky…the Magnificant Seven were READY!”

Friday 9/11/2009 10:30 AM
The first and only match of the day was against Oklahoma

Court#1 – Joleen and Kathy Winner: Oklahoma 7-6, 6-7, 1-0 Tiebreak
Court#2 – Rose and Yasuko Winner: O’Courts 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 Tiebreak
Court#3 – Mari and Marty Winner: O’Courts 6-3, 6-1

Saturday 9/12/09 10:30 AM
The First match was against HOA (Heart of America)

Court#1 – Mari and Kathy Winner: O’Courts 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 Tiebreak
Court#2 – Rose and Yasuko Winner: O’Courts 6-2, 6-2
Court#3 – Joleen and Marty Winner: HOA 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 Tiebreak

Saturday 9/12/09 4:30 PM
Second match was against St. Louis

Court#1 – Mari and Kathy Winner: St. Louis 6-1, 6-7, 1-0 Tiebreak
Court#2 – Rose and Yasuko Winner: O’Courts 7-5, 6-2
Court#3 – Joleen and Marty Winner: O’Courts 7-5, 6-1

Sunday 9/12/09 9:00 AM
Final Match – opponents were IOWA

Court#1 – Mari and Kathy Winner: O’Courts 6-2, 6-1
Court#2 – Rose and Yasuko Winner: O’Courts 6-2, 6-2
Court#3 – Joleen and Marty Winner: O’Courts 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 Tiebreak

The Nebraska O'Courts won the right to represent Missouri Valley in the USTA National Super Senior Tournament held in Surprise, AZ in April of 2010. It was a hard fight, the other teams were strong and as determined as we were. This time, it was our destiny to win.

Success isn't something that just happens - success is earned

To my team…..You were wonderful, magnificent, steadfast, gutsy, not to mention darn good-looking. I am proud of you all and as your captain I take full credit for your success. (who said that threats wouldn’t work… dry bread, water and no wine until we win is a great motivator)

Our next challenge will be in Surprise, Arizona….The UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION National Tennis Championships !!! We will be facing teams from 50 states plus Puerto Rico.....how great is that!

Capt’n JeaneBee PROUD OF HER TEAM!

Post Script: This week we were notified by the USTA League Tennis Program that we were awarded the X-Treme Team Sportsmanship Award in the 7.0 Super Senior Division.

This award emphasizes fair play and a positive attitude. The winners were nominated by their peers during the tournament.

My Passion for tennis (2) - THE INNER GAME OF TENNIS - Gallwey

The problems which most perplex tennis players are not those dealing with the proper way to swing a racket. The most common has to do with knowing HOW to do something but not doing it. "When I am practicing, I play great....in a match I fall apart", "I know exactly what I'm doing wrong, but I can't break the habit", "In a match I get so nervous I lose my concentration"

Images are better than words...watch your favorite pros, how do they hit the ball, move their feet or concentrate on the ball. They watch the ball so closely that they can read the print on the surface i.e. Penn, Dunlap, Match Point.

You tell yourself exactly what you want to do and then do your best to do it. But, sometimes trying too hard ends up with negative results. Then you chastize yourself, "you idiot, why did you hit that ball out", "Oh rats, that was a dumb thing to do" or "why don't you just hang up the racket and take up bowling" These remarks are usually said loud enough for your partner or bystanders to hear......you want them to KNOW that you don't always blow that shot and that you are actually a pretty decent player.

They may not hear, but YOUR mind does.....it then says to itself...."Yep, you're a lousy player and can't hit a forehand to save your soul" So, you then blow the next two forehands plus a backhand just to prove yourself right.

Think about the state of mind of a player who is said to be "hot" or "on his game"...Is he thinking about how he should hit each shot or better yet, why his serve is 100% "on". Atheletes know that their peak performance never comes when they are thinking about it. Someone "playing out of his mind" is more aware of the ball, the court and his opponent.

He is conscious but not thinking, not over-trying. He's immersed in the flow of the game and mentally guides where he wants the ball to go. This "hot streak" usually lasts until he starts thinking about and TRIES to maintain it. As soon as he attempts to control it, he loses it.

Want to test this theory? The next time your opponent is having a hot streak or is serving like Andy Roddick, simply ask him as you change sides...."You have a great serve...what are you doing to put so much spin on it"

Wham! if he takes the bait (and 95% of them will) he'll begin thinking about what he IS doing...stiffer wrist, tossing the ball lower, etc. and, suddenly it disappears and his streak will end.

NEVER make this particular comment/observation to your partner in the middle of a match. He or she may be playing "in the zone".

"Good shot", "nice lob", "good thinking" are OK.....your partner knew it and doesn't need to think "what did I do to make them good????"

My Passion for tennis (3) - THE INNER GAME OF TENNIS - Gallwey

Listen to the way players talk to themselves on the court. "Come on Marie, hit the ball in front of you" Most players are talking to themselves all the time, "move up on the ball", "keep it to her backhand", "bend your knees", "watch the ball". The commands are endless...its like hearing a recording of your last lesson playing inside your head.

Imagine that there are two parts within the same person. Self 1 (teller) and Self 2 (doer). Self 1 is full of instructions, do this, don't do that. Although Self 2 which includes the unconscious mind, nervous system and is anything but stupid, Self 1 doesn't trust him. So the player's cheek muscles tighten, his lips purse and he overhits the ball....and starts chastizing himself again.

By thinking too much and trying too hard, Self 1 has produced tension and muscle conflict in the body. Self 1 is reponsible for the error but heaps the blame on Self 2. As a result, the stroke grows worse and frustration builds.

Remember that Self 2, the doer, is the unconscious mind. Once Self 2 has hit the ball firmly, he knows FOREVER which muscles to contact to do it again......just let him do it.
Getting it together mentally in tennis involves the learning of several internal skills:

(1) learning to program your computer Self 2 with images rather than constantly instructing yourself with words

(2) Learning to "trust thyself" (Self 2) to do what you (Self 1) ask of it. Just let Self 2 hit the ball

(3) Learning to see "nonjudgmentally"....see what is happening rather than simply noticing how well or how badly it is happening. In other words, quit trying too hard.

Then there is the "master skill"..without which nothing of value is ever achieved...the art of concentration.

Super Seniors Winning Song!!!

The narrative was spoken by the oldest player..….me!

“This song is dedicated to the Super Senior tennis players in this room. You know who you are…..you’re the ones who walk onto the court to battle players who are sometimes 20, 30 or more years younger than you (don’t you just love the smirks when they see who they have to play…..and then find that our dinks, lobs and drop shots can be very effective.)

You come prepared with knee braces, elastic arm bands, wet towels, hats or visors. On hot days you may have an umbrella in your bag along with water jugs and Gatorade….plus an assortment of Motrin, Advil, Tylenol, Joint Flex and Ben-Gay products.

Tennis is our game….and a great one it is. From the time a child picks up a racket and smacks the first ball across the net to the time a senior serves an ace to win the match…….We’re out there! We’re doing it! *******

Song…(very loosely based on “I AM WOMAN” - by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton

We are Seniors that is true,
But my friends, we’re telling you
We can lob and serve and volley with the best.

All those youngsters that we play
Think that things will go their way
But we’ve seen it all before and we’re not fooled.

(Chorus) Oh yes, we are good and have wisdom born of age
Yes, we have our aches, but look at what we’ve gained.
If we have to, we can play anyone.
We can lob, we can return their serve!
We’re NEBRASKA!!

‘Tho age 60’s come and gone, we’ve the will to carry on
And we’ve used our skills to help us beat the rest.
Look around this room tonight, smile and clap with all your might
‘cause you know that you’re the teams that were the best.

(Chorus) Oh yes, you are good and have wisdom born of age
Yes, you have your aches, but just look at what you’ve gained.
If you have to, you can do anything
You are strong, You’re unbelievable!

You’re SUPER SENIORS !!!

Today's match

Our Saturday morning tennis game was nearly cancelled due to bad weather. But, we (the four grandmothers!) decided to give it a try. It had been raining and sleeting all last night, and the streets were really slick. I know, we were really stupid, but who said tennis players were smart (grin).

My husband was definitely miffed when I told him that we were still going to play...."its too slick, you'll probably break your neck walking across the parking lot!" What does he know, his hobby is model trains and they safely go around a track in the basement.

We have two indoor tennis facilities in Omaha that we use, Miracle Hill and The Tennis Club. Both are in our area of town and are nice places to play. We generally play at the Tennis Club because they have a senior discount (aah huh, oh yeh, we're seniors)

My doubles partner was recovering from our "happy birthday" bash last night and would have been happier staying home, but we put the ole guilt trip on her "but if you don't play, we can't....its too late to find a fourth, and we've had this court reserved for a week".

Actually with the weather as bad as it was, we were the only people playing anyway.


Maar and I have been partners for about 6 years.....we call each other Mutt and Jeff....she is tall and I am short.....her name begins with M and mine with J. Friend Maar is a determined player who is always taking lessons....I'm not sure if they are doing that much good, but she has a great forehand, which, if it stays in the court can be counted on to win the point, or at least give our opponents something to worry about.
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I'm short but fast and quick. My claim to fame is that I have very good anticipation and can almost always be where the ball is. That works when we play against people who have normal strokes....I can usually tell by their stance which way the ball will be hit.
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However, some players stand one way, look and hit the other....no way can you tell which direction the ball will take. They have never taken lessons, just picked up a racket and start slugging away. These are are the people you really have watch when playing....you don't expect the ball to come your way, and suddenly! There it is! In your face!
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All in all, Maar and I make a pretty good team. We've won a lot of tournaments together.......we're both 3.5 now......when we were young and spry, we were 4.0s!
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Today, however, neither one of us could hit the broad side of a barn....I must have left my forehand back in the car since I certainly didn't have it with me. Wham, the ball would veer to the left, then the next shot would go wild into the net. I generally don't get too upset with my game, but today.....UGH. A few bad words were quietly uttered now and then.
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Maar had a minor headache (oh yea) from the wine and cake last night...mostly the wine. So she wasn't up to par either. Jo and Meg were at the party too....their games were a bit off also. Actually we all should have stayed home. Late night, good food and freely flowing wine does not add up to a great tennis match. Fun tennis maybe, but definitely not good tennis. But, you are only 65 once! So we helped Maar celebrate hers!
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We played for an hour and a half....and then tried to go home. Darn, the rain had dripped into the door hinges or around the door and the door was frozen shut. We couldn't get out of the tennis center......any other time that would have been kind of funny, but not today. It took two of the employees to pry the door open (hope it wasn't ruined) and off we went.
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Home?? Of course not! we went to Starbucks.

Female Tennis Players

Tennis super stars Serena and Venus Williams played each other in the finals of Wimbledon....a wonderful, fast paced tennis match. Venus won, but not easily. I feel so happy for them...they have been struggling lately and really needed this boost.

The Williams sisters are outstanding tennis players and will continue to win many tournaments, but they, like all of us, are getting older and the wins are not as easy as before. The players are so much younger, faster and stronger than they were when the sisters dominated the courts. Both girls are in their late 20's and are facing players in their teens.

Tennis has changed over the years....training, and training preparation has created a 'super woman' on the court. I think back to Chris Evert and Billy Jean King or even further to Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong. They were wonderful tennis players but could they compete with today's women? I don't think they could.

Venus and Serena are begining to enjoy life....designing, going to college, acting and creating a more normal life for themselves. Maybe we tend to forget that these are women....they have lives outside of tennis.

When Venus walked on the court to play in Melbourne, Australia her face was grim. Where was the smile that showed how much she loved being there? It was there when she started playing professionally at age 14...a beautiful smile that lit up the court. All we can do is hope that the spark will come back.

We, as amateur tennis players really don't understand the professional tennis world. Some years ago I saw a commercial for Lipton Tea featuring Chris Evert. She was walking off a tennis court, sat down and had a glass of Lipton iced tea. "When I finish WORK, I enjoy a glass of iced tea"....get the word...WORK!

Tennis is a JOB to a professional player...sure it's enjoyable, but lets fact it, this is how they make their living.

Years ago when I played tennis nearly every day, there would come a point when I'd wake up in the morning, hoping that it was raining so I wouldn't have to play. And there would be days when I'd absolutely hate having to be on the court with a certain player...maybe she was not a fun person to be around, maybe I wasn't comfortable with her constant criticism of the other players (her partners included) or maybe she was too wild and hit so hard that the chances of being hit with the ball on her serve was a real possibility.

But in a tournament or league, not showing up because you don't like the opponent is not an option. Same goes for professional tennis...you play unless you are bedridden or hurt.....not being "in the mood to play" doesn't matter.

On a happier note, when my daughter Christine was 18, she and I played in the Prudential Family Challenge Tennis Tournament. We were in the Mother/Daughter Division, and after winning qualifying tournaments in Omaha and Kansas City, we represented the Midwest in the Finals held during the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, New York.

One of the things I fondly remember (yeah, I know it's silly) was that in the locker room where we (and the pros) dressed was a sign-up sheet for the laundry facilities...washer and dryer.

Chris Evert was doing her laundry at 7am, Martina would be doing her at 10am and Hana Manlikova at 12 o'clock noon.
Life goes on and dirty socks still need washing!

My Passion for tennis (5) - THE INNER GAME OF TENNIS - Gallwey

Does positive thinking help your tennis game?

The "bad" effects of negative thinking are discussed thoroughly...people are advised to stop telling themselves that they are ugly, uncoordinated, unhappy, or whatever and are told to repeat to themselves that they are attractive, well-coordinated and happy. If you constantly tell yourself that you can't do this or can't do that..you won't be able to do it.

We're back to Self 1 again....Self 1 is always looking for approval and, wanting to avoid
disapproval , this ego mind sees a compliment as a potential criticism. If it hears "you really look nice today" or "you're hitting the ball so well today" it reasons, "if I
look nice today, I must have looked bad yesterday" or "if I'm hitting the ball well today, I must have been really bad last week".

Compliments can be criticisms in disguise! Both are used to manipulate behavior.

Your partner hits a beautiful forehand that flies past the net player and wins the point. You say "Greaaaaat shot!" Are you complimenting him, or is your "Greaaat shot" really disbelief that after muffing three previous shots, he finally got one in?

Or, if the ball lands 4 feet past the baseline and you say to yourself "Greaaaat shot", what is your tone of voice then? exasperated or disgusted?

My Passion for tennis (6) - THE INNER GAME OF TENNIS - Gallwey

In The Inner Game of Tennis, author W. Timothy Gallwey names three categories of tennis players and their aims and motivations for playing, both on and off the court.

Category #1 - Good-O - Proving myself "good"

(1) "How Good can I get?" In golf, "good" is measured against par, in tennis against self-conceived expectations or the expectations of parents, coaches or friends. Good-O aims to reach the highest standard of perfection possible. Why? the desire to prove oneself competent and worthy of the respect of others.

(2) "I"m better than you"...Here "good" is measured against the performance of other players. Good-O wants to be at the top of the heap. "Its not how well I play, but whether I win or lose that counts" Problem? the mind's preoccupation with comparing oneself with others. First you think your game is better, then some doubts float in and you begin to feel your opponent may be better....result: fear of defeat.

(3) "Look at me!"....."good" is measured by appearance. Neither winning nor playing well matters as much as style. Good-O aims to look good, flashy, strong, brilliant, smooth and graceful. Motive? the desire for attention or praise. To Good-O, one can never look good enough....perfect strokes, $200 tennis shoes, best of the line tennis clothes, the newest racket, matching hat, sweatbands, water canister, plus a great tan and pearly white teeth.

Category #2 - Friends-O - Making or keeping friends

(1) "We play at the country club" Friends-O feels that its not so important how good you are as it is where you play and who plays with you. This is the "social game"...you play to maintain or improve social status. However, beating your boss or customer on a regular basis may not be a good idea.

(2) "All my good friends play tennis" This is about the same as (1) but more often played at cheaper public courts ... but the motive is the same...the desire for acceptance and friendship. Even if you play with your friends, playing too well may be a mistake. No one wants to be beaten constantly especially by a good friend. If they feel you are too good for them, you may have trouble finding a game.

(3) "My husband (or wife) is always playing tennis". Friends-O feels that he/she is lonely and needs to spend more time with the spouse. This is not the best reason in the world to take up tennis. The biggest obstacle is becoming good enough for the spouse to play with you. The next biggest obstacle is telling the spouse that you are too good to play with him or her.

Category #3 - Health-0-Fun-0 - Mental or physical health or pleasure

You or your doctor have decided that you need more exercise. Ah yes, you know that idea...exercise, work up a sweat, relax the mind. Obviously the doctor, a non-tennis player, isn't taking into account the frustrations this can cause. But, its healthy, gets you outdoors and moving, improves vitality and, prolongs the idea of youth.

In your mind, you doubt that tennis is really helping. You can't find anyone who, like you wants to take up this demanding sport.....Answer!!! take lessons, join a sports group, hit a ball against a wall. Hitting a ball against something is a good way to take out frustrations caused by daily life...bosses, children, traffic, in-laws, spouses.

Soon you'll learn to appreciate the subleties of the game and find yourself being drawn into Category #2 or even Category #1.

Diskectomy surgery -Ouch!

My tennis will be on hold for at least 6 weeks….hope you guys all have fun!!!!!

I’ve had both minor and major back aches and leg cramps since February…and they have been increasing both in pain and frequency. Finally, after doing the easy stuff, (1) rest; (2) therapy; and (3) medication, I gave up and had an MRI….hmmmm, showed a herniated disk in my lower spine. Well, that’s interesting, I didn’t think my back hurt all that much. We tried one more thing, the ole epidural shot…which didn’t work either.
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So, on May 1st I was scheduled for a diskectomy at 2:00 in the afternoon at Immanual Hospital here in Omaha. My friends were very sympathetic and wished me luck (that’s always spooky….you don’t WANT to b wished good luck!….you want to be wished a quick recovery or something a little more positive).
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About noon I picked up my overnight bag and started down the stairs to the basement garage….oh, oh, my semi-numb right leg slipped out from under me and I began to lose my balance. I was holding on to the banister but gravity was winning….I started fall. Oh darn…as I mumbled to myself, I thought “this couldn’t be happening”
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I was able to hold on to the banister for a couple of steps, but then tumbled down the rest of the 9 steps to the bottom landing. I laid there for a while trying to access if anything was broken…my right leg hurt the worst, and I actually thought “great…its all your fault, so you deserve to hurt!”
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My husband had heard me fall and followed me down the stairs. He was as white as a ghost and shaking like a leaf…afterwards he told me that he thought I was dead….cheery thought.
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He wanted to take me to Emergency but I said “no, I have to get to the hospital for my operation”….I have fairly high pain tolerance and I had a place to go. I limped a little as we walked into the Procedures section of the hospital, signed in and was taken to the dressing room…I told the nurses that I had fallen and they wanted to take me to have an X-ray of my leg….”no, I’m having surgery at 2:00”….did I mention that I am also a bit bull-headed.
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To make this very long story short, I had the diskectomy and am doing very well. My right leg is swollen from the knee to the ankle, my shoulder is sore from holding on for dear life to the banister, I have miscellaneous bruises where I bumped down the 9 stairs, and my glasses need adjusting….I may have landed on them when I hit the landing.
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My summer tennis is a lost cause and I’ve had to cancel out of all my leagues…..darn, we had planned to win this year and go to Nationals.
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But look for me on the courts in early August….I WILL BE THERE!

Touchy wrist

Somewhere in this blog, I mentioned that I was a tennis player. And, even though I’m a grandmom, I swing a pretty mean tennis racquet….I took up tennis after having a stroke when I was 29…a long, long time ago.

However…after nearly 40 years, I’ve worn out parts of my body…after 65 things began to fall apart. Right now, my wrist is giving me the most trouble, with leg cramps and “Charlie horses” running second and third.

I played tennis Friday and when my friend saw me wince as I hit the ball, she immediately asked “are you all right?”

“NO, my wrist hurts like crazy and I’m really miffed because I can’t hit the blasted ball over the net!”

Pat is an earth mother, she wants to help and care for everyone. The next morning, I answered my phone and she was on the other end.

”Jim (her husband, a doctor) said to come down to the hospital so he can have a look at your wrist”....Oh great! I didn't mean her to do this!

Its winter in Nebraska and the temp was bone chilling….I did not want to drive down to the hospital for Jim to look at my hand….but, since Pat went to the trouble of calling him and telling him my tale of woe, I had no choice. So, I bundled up and drove to St. Joseph’s Memorial Hospital….a really long way from my home.

Jim examined the wrist, tapping on the top and bottom of it, telling me to squeeze, twisted it hither and yon (and getting a few yips out of me in the process.) and did some other tests. “Well, you don’t have a carpral tunnel problem, but you could use some physical therapy” “I’ll call Pat and have her get you an appointment with Phil…he’s the best physical therapist in town.” …

It’s great to have a doctor (or the wife of one) as a personal friend....they know the best doctors in town. All you have to do is mention their name, and Wham! You have an appointment…even though the receptionist may have told you “I’m sorry, the doctor doesn’t have an opening for at least 3 weeks". It’s even better when the Dr.’s wife calls for you!

I am now getting physical therapy twice a week with a list of exercises that I do daily. The wrist feels stronger and I can write my name in recognizable script.

I think I’ll see what Phil can do for my knee, it’s been grouchy lately too. Might as well add those exercises to my list.

Female Tennis Stars (and 1 guy)

Our hometown boy was back for a visit! Andy Roddick was born in Omaha, NE and tonight, 12/14/07, he and Serena Williams were here to give a tennis exhibition….the event was Rock-N-Racquets….and the Quest Center in Omaha rocked!

This was the first time I had seen Andy and Serena play, other than on television. Serena is much prettier and slimmer than I had thought. Plus, she has a wonderful smile. And, Andy at 6’2” much bigger than expected.

Nebraska is a football-lovin’ state, and Andy is a Nebraska Cornhusker fan. So what could be better than having three of Nebraska’s most famous football celebrities on hand to welcome him back. Roars from the crowd lifted the roof off the Quest Center….out onto the court came Heisman Trophy winners Johnny Rogers (1972), Eric Crouch (2001) and the former coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Tom Osborne!

Then, out came the players, Sam Querrey, Ashley Harkleroad, Serena Williams and Andy Roddick. Andy strolled onto the court wearing a Nebraska football helmet (and tennis clothes) much to the delight of the crowd. Andy is a charismatic, professional tennis player who reminds me so much of Jimmy Connors.

Photo by Jeff Bundy

Andy “plays to the crowd” much in the same way that Connors did….involving them in jokes, and even calling a “heckler” down to the court to receive one of his serves. The serve, at 144 mph according to the machine that tracks them, had the boy running for cover.

Speaking of serves, you can’t believe how hard those serves are! We were in the middle section, and were VERY happy that we weren’t sitting directly behind the players. Andy’s serves, even in warmup, were bouncing into the seats (and people) at both ends, and at 75 to 100 mph, those tennis balls HURT! Another spot that wouldn’t have been my favorite were the chairs lining the court. People in those seats had to be really alert because if they didn’t get beaned with a ball, they were likely to find either Andy or Sam landing in their laps.

I kept thinking “don’t hit Tom Osborne, Nebraska needs him!”

Serena and Ashley put on a nice exhibition match, Serena winning 6-4, 6-2. I didn’t feel that Serena was hitting as hard as she normally does…but why should she! This is an exhibition match, not the US Open. Her tennis was awesome nevertheless. Ashley has a beautiful forehand, hard and low. The ball doesn’t come up, causing her opponents to dig for it. And she looks like such a kid…although she is 22. They had some great points and it was wonderful tennis.

The momentum of the game changed 100% when Andy and Sam Querrey came out and started to warm up. Zing went those serves! Again I thought, “watch out for Tom Osborne!”…..he was in one of those on-court chairs.

Their match was awesome to watch…Andy had some unbelievable saves (some were just plain LUCK) and his placement and power were overwhelming. Querrey, a rising young professional tennis player has been called America’s next great talent. He is 6’6” – try lobbing over that guy! He has a huge serve and forehand, and gave Andy a good match. But, cream rises to the top (grin)…Andy won 6-4, 6-4.

Later Andy and Serena teamed up to play a let of mixed doubles against Sam and Ashley. I had expected that Andy and Ashley would play against Sam and Serena to even up the talent. But, Andy and Serena made a great team…not only their tennis, but the joking and facial expressions whenever he or Serena did something silly or goofed up the point. He had the crowd shaking with laughter---and Serena had a case of the “giggles” over some remark or action of Andy’s….it was so much fun to watch. The tennis was outstanding....they are so quick (and so young) and watching the exchanges at net took your breath away. Once again, cream rose to the top….the ‘stars’ came out ahead – 6-3.

Andy Roddick is doing his part to better our world. In 2001, he founded the Andy Roddick Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to provide children in need with quality education and other necessary resources. The foundation accomplishes these goals by donating to charities that focus on aiding abused children, children with childhood diseases and keeping children in school.

The foundation is directed by Roddick’s mother and is based in Boca Rotan, Florida. It is staffed exclusively by volunteers.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley - the Sunshine Supergirl

Everyone wants or needs a roll model…..my tennis roll model was Evonne Goolagong, the first Australian Aboriginal woman to achieve international fame in tennis.

In 1967, three years before eighteen year old Evonne Goolagong played at Wimbleton for the first time in 1970, I was stricken with a stroke. Tennis was my physical therapy and playing like the gutsy little dark-skinned girl from Australia was my goal. No, I would never come close to her talent and skill, but I was a determined 30 year old mother of 3 and I was her fan for life.

Evonne, born July 31, 1951 in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia is one of eight children from an Australian aboriginal family. She grew up in the small country town of Barellan. When her father, an auto mechanic and sheep shearer, found some old tennis balls in the back of a used car he'd bought, the young Evonne found her calling.

Although Aboriginal people faced widespread discrimination in rural Australia at this time, Evonne was able to play tennis in Barellan from childhood thanks to a kindly resident, who saw her peering through the fence at the local courts and encouraged her to come in and play.

She had excellent physical attributes for a tennis player. She was light, fast, and long-limbed, with lightning reflexes and the ability to cover the court with great agility. At her peak, she was regarded as one of the most graceful and subtle exponents of the women's game ever seen. She relied more on skill and speed than strength.

She was frequently faulted, however, for lapses of concentration that cost her several titles. In the Australian press, this was referred to as "Evonne going walkabout” – an Aboriginal term meaning to wander off into the bush.

Evonne retired in 1983. Over the course of her career, she won 43 singles titles and 9 doubles titles. Her career prize-money totalled U.S. $1,399,431 – compare that to what pro tennis players make now!!!

In 1975 she married British tennis player Roger Cawley and they settled in Naples, Florida. After living in the United States for 8 years, they bought a home in Noosa Heads, Queensland where they settled with their two children, daughter Kelly, born 1977 and son Morgan, born 1981

The spritely Australian teenager nicknamed "Sunshine Supergirl" with the awesome ground strokes astounded the world in 1971 by winning the women's championship at Wimbledon as a 19-year-old. She did it again in 1980 with a second Wimbledon title as the mother of a three-year-old girl.

I admire Evonne Goolagong so very much. She is always on my mind when I play tennis, either in tournaments or with friends….and, when I find myself having lapses of concentration (my own version of a “walkabout”) I think of Evonne sitting on my shoulder saying, “concentrate on what you’re doing”…..or when I’m really in trouble, I whisper to myself, “Come on Evonne, help me do this”

The Chocolate Chip cookie problem

One of my tennis team members makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world! She brings them to us twice a week.......Our mouths start to water when we see her getting out of her car, tennis racket in one hand and a big plate of cookies in the other.

We've told her that she doesn't have to do this, but she insists that "playing with you is such an honor that I feel I need to bring more than just my tennis racket". My, my, my, how wrong she is.

We have decided that she is really a "plant" from our opposing teams! I know, we didn't have to eat those wonderful cookies, full of chocolate chips and made with pure butter, we couldn't help ourselves.......

Just Look At Us Now!!!!!!

Super Senior Tennis becomes a Reality!

SOURCE: Lori Therrien
USTA Missouri Valley Section

WHEN WAS SUPER SENIOR TENNIS SANCTIONED?

Super Senior Tennis was "Nationally" sanctioned in 2006. A program doesn't get sanctioned by the National Office until over 20,000 players are participating. That occurred in 2006. Nationally we have 22,371 players participating.

WHEN DID MISSOURI VALLEY BEGIN SUPPORTING SUPER SENIOR LEAGUES?

Missouri Valley began supporting Super Senior Leagues in 2004. We now have 607 players participating. We will have Super 70's which Missouri Valley is supporting in 2008.

WILL LEAGUES FOR 65’S BE ESTABLISHED?

If leagues for 65's were established they would diminish the pool of players for Super Seniors too greatly. That is why leagues are established for 10 year increments: Seniors 50, Super Seniors 60, Super 70's and some day Super 80's.

Benchmark Player Ratings - (how are they determined?)

BENCHMARK PLAYER RATINGS (how are they determined?)
By: Bob Greene USPTA, USTA Certified Verifier & Chairman of USTA NTRP Computer Sub-Committee

If you are reading this document, then you are probably a recreational tennis player who participates either in the USA Leagues Tennis Program, USTA Sanctioned NTRP Tournaments or other program audited and regulated by the NTRP.

It may interest you to know that your tennis rating is one of over 200,000 assigned to over 350,000 program participants across America each year. You are an important part of a very big picture. While to some the formulations of ratings may seem a mystery, the following information will help you to understand where all those numbers come from. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions:

WHAT ABOUT THE NTRP COMPUTER PROGRAM? HOW DOES IT WORK?

Factors which influence your ratings are the "Benchmark Player Ratings" and subsequent match result comparative analysis made by the NTRP Computer Program.

Simply put, the NTRP Computer Program algorithm compares and cross-references all match results in any given file. In a 4.0 file, based on a one match comparison, if a singles player (or doubles team player) "A" has a benchmark rating of 4.0 and he/she defeats player "B" 7-5, 6-4, the difference is registered as approximately a tenth of an NTRP point per service break or in this case approximately .16. That would generate a computer rating of 3.84 for player (or doubles team) "B" based on that one match.

The NTRP Computer, however takes that simple formula many steps further and compares all match results in the file against the benchmarked and all other players as well. Some large files contain more than a thousand players and thousands of match results.

As the computer runs through ten complete "iterations" in each file calculation, it refines a players rating to hundredths of a point as player "B"s rating is shown above. The computer does not directly care about a player's win/loss record. A player can lose many or all matches during a season and their performance in the opinion of the computer, can generate a rating close to their opponents if the individual match results were close. They may still get moved up to another level.

If a player gets beaten badly with several lopsided set scores resulting, then they stand a good chance of being moved to a lower level of play. Conversely, if a player wins big frequently, they too can be moved up or in the worst case scenario, be disqualified at that level of play. The NTRP Computer is designed as a tool for generating ratings and will not move players from level to level indiscriminately.

Ratings are published seasonally at level. If you have a true median rating of 4.4 at benchmark assignment time, you rating will be published as a 4.5 level. There are five micro levels (tenths) within each level of the NTRP for purposes of assigning benchmarks in USA League Play and Tournament files.

WHAT DO THE VERIFIERS LOOK FOR WHEN THEY WATCH ME PLAY AT CHAMPIONSHIPS?

There is developed methodology applied by the USTA Verifiers at all tiers of Championship play and benchmark assignment. What follows is a description of the process at a USA Leagues National Championship Event. This process is repeated at each Sectional, Regional, District and State tier and subsequently down to the generation of ratings in every local league and tournament file:

Annually each Section of the USTA will send up to twenty teams at all levels and genders to USA League National Championship Events. Those teams will play against each other in four flights of four or five teams in each flight. The draw is done at random. One event may be Florida, Texas, New England and Hawaii ... the next Eastern, Southern, Midwest and Northern California.

Before and during these matches, no less than four of the most experienced NTRP Verifiers from different areas of the country will research the players match result history, multi-year rating history and player profile information. They will then observe the players competing against several different teams over a period of three days. All match results are entered into the NTRP Computer during the events.

The Verifiers are observing and are more specifically looking for lopsided match results, disparity of level between doubles partners and player improvement over the course of a season. The players who emerge from their respective flights to the semifinal and final rounds are given "absolute ratings". That rating is a number that is static for the purpose of comparison against other players.

These "Benchmark Ratings" are entered into the NTRP Computer and the computer program is run calculating ratings for all of the players who competed at the event. Although the NTRP Computer has an excellent track record of being correct, the National Verifiers makes a few adjustments based on reasons stated above. All of these players are National Benchmarks and their Ratings are deemed not changeable by regulation.

These National Benchmark Ratings are entered into the NTRP Computer and will filter down in each respective USTA Section and all players competing in NTRP audited and regulated venues will receive a rating if they played two or more matches. The primary goal and purpose of this methodology is to create and maintain uniformity in ratings on a nationwide basis. No matter what the picture appears to be from the bottom looking up, it is painted from the top down.

WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH MY PUBLISHED RATING OR BECOME INJURED?

As mitigating measures to counteract occasional system faults and recognize debilitating player injuries, there are regulations published in the form of "NTRP Computer Procedures". Certified Verifiers and administrators have access to this material. Within these regulations are parameters defining NTRP program administration, benchmark assignment and the rating appeals process. This is all part of a system that checks and balances itself.

Rest assured that players who do file an appeal to change their ratings are initiating a process governed by something much more than the subjective nature of human decision. A player who has a rating based on two or three match results has more latitude for having an appeal granted than players who have played six or more matches. The more matches you play, the more accurate your rating is. In addition anyone who plays in USA League Tennis can be disqualified at any point during the local level of play. Experience has shown that the players do a pretty good job themselves of policing the ranks when necessary.

Black Tennis Pros - Great tennis players!

My friend Edagowa, Black Tennis Pros , has a great site about tennis and tennis players, both black and white. The tennis game itself doesn't have a color code....the tennis ball doesn't know if it's being hit by Venus Williams or Kim Clijsters....it just knows that it's having the fuzz knocked off of it. Edagowa's site has photos of many tennis stars and some "on the way up" players.

One of my favorite players when I first started playing was Althea Gibson. She was sooo tall and soooo fast and she floated around the court like she had wings.

Althea Gibson was the first black tennis player who poked a hole in the color line. She overcame unbelievable odds to achieve international acclaim and success. She was born in the streets of Harlem, NY and showed remarkable composure in the face of racial prejudice. Althea paved the way for the likes of Venus and Serena Williams and the other women of color. She has often been referred to as the Jackie Robinson of tennis.


Visit Edagowa's site: Black Tennis Pros

Learn more about Althea Gibson: Althea Gibson

Breaking up the Team!

Our Super Senior team participated in the USTA Senior Nationals in Charleston, SC. in 2007. Although we did not win, the rules state that the team must dissolve and only THREE players from the original team could stay together.

We understood why the team itself would have to break up, but why three players? That would mean splitting up a doubles team. We were finally told a “makes sense” explanation.

If two doubles teams, four players, from the original team were allowed to stay together it would give the new team two very strong teams. Since Senior and Super Senior leagues only play three courts, two strong doubles from the original team could win all their matches, thus winning the league.

By only allowing three players from the original team to play on a new team, the odds are more even. This, of course, is pure speculation….they may not win anyway.

Although I do understand the idea, what isn't considered is the hurt feelings that breaking up a team of friends can incur. Speaking from experience, women are not happy about being “left behind” and no matter how it is explained, it still hurts.

How are the three lucky players chosen? Which of the partners will be left behind? What about the others? Where are they going to find players? The division of an original team of 12 players would mean that four teams of three original players, would have to be created. If they found 8 players apiece, it would take 32 super senior tennis players. And, those who are willing to play may not be as strong as needed.

Omaha is a good-sized city but finding that many 60+ year old players who are willing to travel to play matches is not easy.

OK, I’ve had my say…...we don’t like it, but we’ll have to accept it. We’ve talked about skipping USTA leagues altogether in 2008…there are several other tournaments where we can play as a team. And yes, we could go up to a higher level and stick together. That is a possibility, but at this time, its not something that we are considering.

The Coman Tiebreak

THE COMAN TIEBREAK
By Jim Cummings
Editor, Friend At Court

The John B. Coman Tiebreak was formerly known as the Balboa Tiebreak or the Experimental Tiebreak.

For years, John Coman from Southern California championed the then called Balboa Tiebreak. John died in December 2003 and USTA, in recognition of a lifetime spent devoted to tennis, decided to remove the designation "experimental" from the tiebreak he fought so hard for and name it in his honor. A fitting tribute to a real gentleman. He was everything that is good about tennis.

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The Coman Tiebreak is the same as the present tiebreak except that ends are changed after the first point, then after every four points (i.e., after the 5th, 9th, 13th, 17th points, etc. It really is easy to explain because all anyone has to remember is the number 14. Change ends after point 1 of the Coman Tiebreak and every 4 points thereafter. Everything else is the same.

For example, when the set score is 6-6, the player whose turn it is to serve shall serve the FIRST POINT FROM THE DUECE COURT; after the first point, the players shall CHANGE ENDS and the following two points shall be served by the opponent(s) (in doubles, the player of the opposing team due to serve next), starting with the AD COURT; after this, each player/team shall serve alternately for two consecutive points (starting with the ad court), changing ends after every four points, until the end of the tiebreak game. IN DOUBLES THE SERVER WILL ALWAYS SERVE FROM THE SAME END OF THE COURT!

Principal Advantages:

1. Fairness – By changing ends more frequently, the effects of the elements (sun, wind, etc.) are distributed more evenly between the two opponents as opposed to playing six consecutive points before changing ends.

2. In doubles, the server will always serve from the same end of the court, rather than having to serve from both ends.

In Nebraska, we have been using the Coman for the 2007 season and have really been pleased with it. With the old tiebreak, you could be looking into the sun or hitting into a stiff wind for 6 points......what a disadvantage that can be!! How many times have you lost a match because you were down 6 love in the tiebreak? With the Coman, the elements are distributed equally.

It also helps keep track of whose serve it is.....you know on which side of the court you served from and thats where you'll serve every time with the Coman.

“Try It, You’ll Like It”