Florida "HEAT"

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.