TT and three indominable cohorts returned to the concrete courts at Kinsley this balmy early winter day. TT had marshalled the troops on Tuesday via phone with temperatures still hovering in the mid-teens and three inches of snow on the ground with the clarion cry, "We play on Thursday at 11. Champions report to the yard on Thursday at 10:30 with rollers, squeegees and brooms." And it was the Titan who wielded the broom, indeed. Paired with an oft erratic 'Slats' against a determined George the 'Chemist' and upstart Rich "the Prez" Prezioso, TT held sway throughout the well-fought 2 set contest (6-4, 7-6). 'Chemist' played inspired ball but likely did not have enough in the tank to overcome his playing on a second consecutive day, the anticipated arrival of his son from Buffalo interacting at his home with "Chemist's" aged parents who are up from Florida, while Georgie frollicked with the Titan, plus the added weight imposed on his shoulders by 'Prez' style of play. Ah, such problems! 'Prez' was last seen at net when checking his final pay stub in June 2000. 'Slats' was heard commenting to TT as the victorious duo left the courts for the last time in 2004, "Titan, you kept 'Prez' on his heels at the baseline so much today that he is walking on his toes to his car to balance out the wear on his sneakers!".
Prez, Big Al, and TT were joined by Max 'Tutor' Tuchman to round out the foursome this date at the YTC. The combination of TT/'Tutor' was far too much for the "Italian Stallions" to handle as the boys were dispatched 6-2 in all three sets. 'Tutor' was effective with deft volleys at net while TT maintained control of the baseline and occasionally showed some hustle coming up with a few running forehands to entertain the crowd of 272 on lookers who witnessed the one-sided contest. 'Tutor' had dedicated his play today to his beloved brother Irv, "who never thought I would amount to much," as his testament to filial devotion. 'Tutor' applied deadening guile to many of his drop shot returns by using the frame of his racquet as a novel way to keep his opponents off balance. He craftily applied 'neither pace nor spin' to his first serve to lull his adversaries into complacency after they had faced the 'rockets' offered by TT. 'Tutor' was heard commenting to the several autograph seekers who hovered around him as he exited the court, "Playing with a TennisTitan, goyim that he is, is a (sic) mitzvah, but he's got (sic) Yiddish-a-kopf on the tennis court!"
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all, A Good Night"
TT enjoyed his return back to the familiar confines of Kinsley Park. Only the dedicated came out on this 30 degree, sunny, windless, last Saturday of fall. Speaking of WinLess, that would be Happy Jack Carey who dropped all three sets played today. Paired initially with George "the Chemist" HJ endured the regular counsel afforded to him between each and every point by his pedantic partner and performed admirably in defeat for the first two sets (4-6, 2-6) before the likes of 'Slats' and TT. HJ/TT paired in the finale with the near predicatable outcome. HJ had informed TT prior to the set, "Titan, do you know that since you've been in Florida I have aced 'Chemist' three times, maybe I can get the 4th now." At the conclusion of the bagel prepared for HJ/TT by 'Slats' and 'Chemist,' TT was heard murmuring as the foursome left the oudoor courts for the last time before Christmas and winter arrives, "Happy Jack, I guess you've got another item to add to your list before Santa arrives."
TT completed his whirlWINd six day, four match, eight set sojourn on the Nuveen Southern Senior Tour in grand style on Wednesday just hours before his departure back to Nueva York. Again facing the indominable 'Gentleman Jim' Stephens, aka, "CC Flash" in adverse conditions (temperature 42 degrees, wind out of the north at a steady 25mph) on his beloved BCK courts, TT rose to the occasion to even their season series at 4 sets a piece with 10-8 and 6-3 victories. Undoubtedly TT was helped by the wind that seemed to more greatly hamper 'Flash.' Jim had stormed back to seize control of set 1 from a 3-love deficit to have the chance to serve it out in games 10, 12, 14, and 16. TT rallied from triple set point in game 16 to win the pivotal multi-deuce game in heart stopping fashion. The 'Titan' then held his serve for the first time in 5 opportunities and broke 'Flash' in the deciding 18th game. 'Flash's 2-0 lead in the second set was short-lived as TT roared back with 5 straight games and closed it out in the 9th game after 'Flash' had held serve for only the 4th time in 13 opportunities. 'Flash,' ever gracious in defeat as well in victory, was kind enough to drive TT to the airport after the two combatants celebrated their week of intense tennis competion at Ruby Tuesday's. Waitress Diane was overheard to comment to another server, "These guys must be tennis pros the way they talk of each others' ability" to which the hostess replied, "Diane odds on, YOU serve better than them!" TT awaits with great anticipation resumption of play on his southern tour with "Flash" on January 4th, 10am at BCK.
TT and "CC Flash" met on the BCK courts for the third time yesterday. Play was held in calm, comfortable conditions in ideal temperature (65 degrees, no humidity). I am at a loss for a viable explanation as to why I was completely dominated for a second consecutive day. That's not true, dear readers, "Flash" is now playing a smarter more effective game against TT. He has superior conditioning and mobility. In both sets "Flash" served well, chased down every ball that TT thought had 'winner' written on it, and did not fall victim to his tendency to try and over hit with unnecessary power. TT was broken in the 6th game of both sets that were identical in outcomes as "Flash" closed out each set at 6-2. TT and "Flash" are scheduled for their final match of TT's week at BCK on Wedneday, prior to "Flash" driving TT to the airport for the flight back to New York. TT would dearly love to square their matches at two apiece by performing at his highest ability but realizes that to do so he must get "Flash" out of his rhythm and force him to make those errors which have been sorely absent these past two meetings.
TT was no match for "CC Flash" this date on the grounds of his BCK court. Indeed, TT was 'blown out' at 1 and 2 in sets played in winds reminiscent of hurricane Charley that hit Pine Island on August 13th. Okay, okay, I am guilty of hyperboli I admit but "Flash" had his way with me throughout both sets that were played in the gusting, swirling 25 -30 mph winds at the complex. TennisTitan thinks that he was fortunate to not have had "Flash" read the commentary of our previous match for fear that today's beating could have been worse! TT's rationalization for today's spanking is this: Even though the horrific conditions were equally problematic for ball control for both players, "Flash" had a distinct advantage. Jim "Cape Coral Flash" Stephens can not weigh more than 150 lbs. soaking wet, whereas TT tips in at 235 lbs. on a double-bowel movement day. How precious are those dear readers? Ergo, TT's bloated body mass meets considerably more wind resistance in his feeble attempts to chase down balls on windy days such as today. "No other way to spin it", however, TT said as he left the court, "I got a real ass-kicking today." See you for the rematch on Monday.
TennisTitan made his seasonal debut a successful one (7-5, 5-1 retired) on his home court at Blue Crab Key. TT's opponent was the highly regarded "CC Flash," aka, Jim Stephens of the Royal Tee Country Club in Cape Coral. Jim is a worthy opponent for TT. He has a seemingly inexhaustible amount of energy, coupled with incredible speed, and powerful ground strokes and serve to round out his court reportoire. "CC Flash" and TT have played several times over the past 2 years during TT's excursions south. "CC Flash" has demonstrated an ability to outlast TT in many of our matches played in the gruelling conditions of heat and humidity in the Florida sun. However, "CC Flash's" own 'heat' is often his most significant opponent, with yesterday's match being a typical case in point. "Flash" rallied from 2-4 down in the first set to go up 5-4, 30-0 in the all important 10th game only to let it slip away after multiple deuce points. TT followed with a strong showing on his service in game 11 shifting the momentum of the set and watched the "Flash" self-destruct at love in the deciding final game. "Flash" retired at 1-5 down in the second set, seething that his "game had let him down again." "Flash" is the type of competitor who becomes easily frustrated when his body (read 'mechanics') fails to heed what his mind instructs it to do on the court. "Flash" does not often use his superior athleticism to his ultimate advantage; all too often he is looking for early winners against a tiring TT and refusing to adjust his second serve to accommodate mother nature (the wind and sun). Jim knows but one speed... full speed ahead! He just doesn't recognize that TT is the TITANIC. TT and CC Flash have scheduled a rematch for Saturday.
TennisTitan
TennisTitan is taking a much needed respite from the grind of Kinsley Park and The Yonkers Tennis Center to rejuvenate in the warmth of the Florida sun. After a week in Georgia visiting his son Jeff, his family, and spoiling his first grandchild TT is now in Tarpon Srings Fl. enroute to his winter abode in Bokeelia, Fl (on Pine Island) 150 miles south of here. TT will be leaving this wonderful beach community where he has enjoyed afternoon temperatures in the low 80's and the bevy of beautiful bikini clad women sunning themselves at Howard Beach Park for his personal residence in Lee County. Why so, you may ask? Naturally, it is because TT has arranged Tennis Matches for himself on Thursday and Saturday of this week. Indeed, your blogger has set his sights on getting some tennis in and catching some fish in Pine Island Sound over the next seven days. TT looks forward to personally embelishing his sojourn upon his return to Yonkers on the evening of Dec. 15th. I hope to see you at Kinsley on Saturday December 18th (I will be bringing good weather home with me).
