"Let Youth Be Served"

"Titan, you must be a glutton for punishment... me, I'm just a glutton." The telling words of Travis 'Tank' Schafer at net upon completion of his match with the TennisTitan. Yes, after a restive night's sleep warding off leg cramps, your 'bloated behemoth' was back at his passion under the mid-day Texas sun at McCallum HS. 'Tank'/TT had only today to get their match in, with Friday's schedule in Austin being full for both players. Then it is 'adios' for the 'bombastic bloviator' to California on Saturday. 'Tank' from Sherman, Texas, is a robust (6'1", 260lbs) senior at UT. He was a weight lifter in high school and a reputed 5.5 tennis player a few years back. Ah, "Tank, can you say 3.5." Your Titan had the game this afternoon that 'Tank' couldn't solve even if he is a biochemistry major. Titan cruised (6-1) in the opener, dropping only his first return game and never looked back. Although the (6-3) second set suggested a movement toward parity, TT's experience never let this contest be in doubt. Titan was given too much time to set up his shots and made mince meat out of any paltry second serve offering. 'Tank' had no answer for Titan's folly floater serve (4 aces) that was wisely introduced when Travis was beating himself up for having hit unforced errors against the 'immobile minatour', a man near three times his age. As generation X met an original baby boomer at net Titan opined, "Lad, I dedicated this match to my father. He always said, "Make it Schafer when you're having more than one." "Consider yourself having taken Tennis 101 - an introductory course. No charge, except to your pride."