Two recent events, however, are truly blog worthy and should be given their due before details fade in my memory:
The first event - an embarrassing one - happened a couple of weeks ago as I played against my most skillful tennis partner, Mario. I lost a set 2-6, which considering how well Mario had been playing as of late, was triumphant for me. As is the case whenever a set concludes quickly, we played a few tiebreakers. On this night, we played 3 tiebreakers to 7 points, the first of which I was ahead 6-0. To win a tiebreaker without your opponent obtaining a single point, especially when he is more skilled than you are, is an unimaginable feat; one worthy of going down in history books. I was so assured of a seemingly obvious, and at this point, effortless win that I told Mario I would quit tennis if he won this tiebreaker. We both laughed and he proceeded to put a consecutive string of 8 points together and win the tiebreaker 8-6. That's 8 points in a row after my 7 points in a row, or in other words, an almost impossible event followed by one that is even less likely. Immediately following his win, I decided I would not quit tennis, which brings us to another event less likely than all of the above, a week and a half later (today):
12-28-2019: A typical Saturday morning set against Andrew, a former Penn State college tennis player, at 6:45 a.m. with temperatures in the low 40s. This temperature was borderline unbearable for both of us. But such distractions as extreme temperatures, noise and wind affect Andrew's game more than mine. On this particular morning, I beat Andrew 6-2, and we played three tiebreakers, the first two to 10 points. When I was up in the first tiebreak 7-0, I told Andrew history was about to unfold. He immediately begged to differ, and looked more focused and intent on avoiding an unprecedented 0-10 loss. I won the next 3 points with relative ease just like the other 7, and restored much needed dignity I had lost the night I played Mario (see above). I no longer walk around with my head down. A picture of Andrew to the left packing up after aiding me in achieving momentary stardom.
