Dennis Eckersley Remembered

"I don't believe what I just saw" quipped a beaming Max 'Tutor' Tuchman in his best Jack Buck voice at the end of the ninety minutes of spirited play at Yonkers Tennis Center this date. Indeed, the usually bespectacled maven of Dobbs Ferry had announced upon arrival that he had forgotten his glasses, hence "don't expect too much from me today, Titan." But who knew? Titan had cast himself in the role of Curt Gibson and came up big in the clutch time after time in the only set played to conclusion (9-7, 1-3 partial). The 'immobile minotaur' who gets around on the court like Gibson did on the bases, was effective with his back hand against the tandem of 'Big Al' Dio Dati and Bill 'Energizer Bunny Legs' Tully to an uncommon degree. Placement serves and control of his baseline enabled the 'braggadocious bloviator' to dictate play as he proved time and again "this is why I play the ad side" to the chagrin of his opponents. TT was 4 for 4 in service holds winning the 12th game at love to force the extra session and closing it out equally impressively in the 16th. As the boys met at net, after TT and Tutor both chest bumped and hip bumped ala football style, 'EBL' opined with a wry twinkle in his eye, "It's what I like about you so much, Titan. You're so gracious in victory." Bob 'Kraut' Kluge, a spectator throughout the contest, scouting the 'boisterous behemoth' for tomorrow's match , cackled, "Titan doesn't remember how to behave after a victory; it's been too long." Max chortled "better I forget my glasses than my ear plugs."