Excuses, excuses

Titan and 'Slats' re-engaged the Schnittzels boys at Kinsley this date with less than satisfactory results. TT/Slats dropped 2 of the 3 sets played (4-6, 1-6, 6-1). None of the participants performed at the level exhibited last Saturday on the clay or in their previous match at Kinsley a fortnight ago (a little timely Wimbledon lingo) for the uninitiated. Titan attributes his (and others') lackluster performance to several factors that impacted play. The late afternoon start assured that all courts were in use, occasional stray balls and player movement on adjoining courts, and a softball game in progress behind the server (half the time), were at best a nuisance and at worst a constant distraction. Nonetheless, 'King Gene'/'Kraut' broke through in the critical ninth game of set 1 at 4-4 enabling 'Der Kluger' to serve it out. The victorious duo cruised to an easy second set win by playing consistent 'return' tennis allowing Titan/'Slats' to over hit and miscue balls ordinarily kept in play. The tide turned serendipidously in the third set for the tandem of 'TT/Slats' when a REAL Distraction may have influenced 'My Liege, KG' and the tiring 'Kraut.' None other than Mrs. 'KG' appeared at courtside awaiting His Highness to finish his match so that she could be accorded the treatment befitting true royalty. Was it her presence that deflated 'KG's game; surely it was not the play of 'TT/'Slats' that led to the 6-1 finale. 'Slats' put it into perspective as he led Titan to the parking lot, "You know how it is Titan, King Gene's reign ends right here at Kinsley, back at the castle in Dobbs Ferry, he's just another pawn on the chessboard of marriage."