Here Today, Gone (There) Tomorrow

Your Titan is going on a two week jaunt to Florida. TennisTitan will be looking to play during the first two weeks of March in Charlotte, Lee, and Pinellas Counties. TT is hoping for matches against frequent past opponents 'Big Daddy' Jeff and George 'Engineer' Pratt. Titan is hoping to renew recent rivalries with 'Slow Eddie' Lubejko, Darryl 'Wolverine' Tison, Ron 'No Dick' Van Dyck and others from Pine Island at Phillips Park or at Blue Crab Key. Are you ready for the bellicose blowhard!?

Bad Weather = Bad Luck

It appears that this week's ice/snow storm will cancel play at Kinsley. Let TT know if you want to purchase indoor time.

"Look Ma, No Gloves."

"We brought our own HEAT."

"The Boys of Winter" Tennis

"24" and I Don't Mean the TV show!

"He must be a sick puppy too." So said TennisTitan's main squeeze, LuLu, about the 'Chemist,' after Titan committed to a Saturday morning doubles match in fridgid NY. TT had been back in NY for 8 days without a game. "Temperatures barely breaking twenty degrees will not be a deterent"proclaimed the 'bundled bloated behemoth' as he headed out the door for Kinsley. And Titan did not forget to bring his own special brand of 'heat.' Pairing with George 'Chemist' Hauss in both sets, the 'bombastic blowhard' matched his incessant bloviating with volleys crisper than the 24 degree temperature and heat generating first serves! Frank 'Slats' Slattery and the beleaguered 'Big Al' Dio Dati had all they could do to stay in the first set before succumbing (6-3). The script was slightly different in the second set but Titan still walked away with what in Friendly's Restaurant is called the 'happy ending dessert!' Overcoming some loose play that saw TT/'Chemist' fall behind love-3, 'Chemist' lit his bunsen burner as TennisTitan's game matched his rhetoric in leading the charge to a come-from-behind (7-5) triumph. As the boys met at net Titan chortled the secret to his success and his opponents' defeat, "Guys, I dressed in a hockey jersey. You guys could've worn hockey gloves if you were that cold and gotten the same result!"

Dack Attack

Michiganders Beat Up TT

But Titan, this is OUR island!

The above words resonated in TennisTitan's ears as he left the Blue Crab Key courts in this his last outting on the January Southern Senior's Tour. Titan came up small this morning. TT paired with the St. James City 'Dynamo', Doug Dack, in the first and fourth sets. 'Dynamo' suffered through three horrific service loses and received 'nada' support from 'El Choke O' in set number one falling before fellow Michiganders Ron 'No Dick am I' Van Dyck and Darryl 'Wolverine' Tison (3-6). Titan's only saving grace this set was that he held serve which did not offset the many miscued volleys he offered. Truth be told, the sun and wind were factors for all players. TT had little pop or accuracy on his first serve throughout the morning. TT joined with 'No Dick' for the second set and was rolled. I mean bageled (0-6) in 21 minutes. 'Dynamo' found his game in set two and he motored around the court as swiftly as the Wolverine. TennisTitan could not even be successfully carried by 'Wolverine' in set three as they dropped a hotly contested set (4-6). So that was strike three. But wait. 'Dynamo' requested a final opportunity to lift the 'bloated behemoth' to a victory. And indeed he did. TennisTitan was a willing participant in the 'Dack Attack' which led the 'boisterous bloviator' to TT's only victory (6-4). As the boys met at net to bid the 'bombastic blowhard' adieu they chorused, "Titan, it may be your house, but it is our island! Now get your sorry ass on that plane and don't forget to take your humility pills while you're back in New York!!"

Wolverine was Hot

Ron 'No Dick' Van Dyck

"This is My House"

"Well, Ron your half deaf. I had to listen to his crap full bore on both sides of the net." These were the words of Darryl 'Wolverine' Tison to his fellow transplanted Michigander Ron "No Dick Am I" Van Dyck at the conclusion of play at the Blue Crab Key courts this date. TennisTitan rudely introduced himself to another tepid Pine Island soul, no doubt expecting a gentlemanly game ala the patty-cake play at Phillips Park. 'No Dick' and 'Show Me' Klein had come away c0-winners of the prestigious George Moore monthly tournament trophy on Friday Jan. 25th. TT knew that he had gotten a terrible draw that morning when he was saddled with 2.5 females for five of the six minnie sets. Time to set the record straight! Titan first paired with Walt 'Show Me' Klein in today's opener. The 'boisterous blowhard' had sufficient pop on his serve and deftness at net to Waltz to an easy (6-1) pasting on the Michiganders. Set 2 was far more satisfying to the Titan as the 'bloated behemoth' very ably complemented the 'Wolverine' in a surprising take down of the co-trophy holders (6-4). The Wolfman's great hustle and never-quit-on-a-point attitude were keys to this upset. TT teamed with 'No Dick' for the finale and here the miracle ride ended. TT/'ND' fell (2-6) to the superior power and speed of the combination of Klein/Tison. As 'Show Me' left the BCK courts for the final time this winter he opined, "Titan, are you sure you ain't from Missouri?" ''Thanks Walt, I'll take that as a compliment" said the 'eccentric egomaniac' with a shit-eating grin beneath his white beard.

Walt "Show Me" Klein

Doubles Troubles

Slow Ed and Wolverine

"Oh, My Aching Back"

"Titan, my back hurts today, it's all up to you, I gotta go." The words uttered by Walt 'Show Me' Klein as he departed Blue Crab Key passing the yoke of carrying Grant 'Packer Backer' Craig on to the shoulders of the 'Bloated Behemoth.' TT and four players played some uninteresting round robbin abbreviated sets to keep 'Packer Backer' happy before getting down to the nitty-gritty. TT knows that the best competitive match generated among this group would not have included 'PB' who brings the least to the table. Set one saw TennisTitan pair with 'Slow Eddie' Lubejko and defeat the tandem of 'Packer Backer' and Darryl 'Wolverine' Tison (6-2). 'Wolverine' employs a speed game and is an excellent defender. 'PB' summoned Titan to his side for what turned out to be the final set with, "Titan I better play with you now before you get too tired." The rag tag team was down love-4 before making a match of it (3-6). Titan queried 'Slow Eddie' as the foursome met at net, "Eddie, how do you always manage to avoid teaming with Packer Backer"? The retort was another Lubejko ace. "Titan, didn't you call me the Polish Prince today? So treat me like royalty - no heavy lifting!"

"Titan, I CAN carry him!

'Badger Codger' and 'Packer Backer'

History Lesson

Your Titan met up with his Pine Island buds for some doubles this morning. At least I think TT showed up. TennisTitan brought nothing to the party and dropped the three sets he participated in with Grant 'Packer Backer' Craig, Walt 'Show Me' Klein, George 'Badger Codger' Moore and 'Slow Eddie' Lubejko. Titan sat out the first set - I'll take that as today's victory. TT first paired with 'Packer Backer' and was smoked by the tandem of 'Slow Eddie' and 'Show Me' (6-0). Set two was TT's best when he and 'Badger Codger' dropped a tough set (4-6) to 'Show Me' and 'PB.' The finale had TT again pair with 'PB' against 'Slow Eddie' and the 'Badger Codger' producing a resounding (2-6) defeat. As the boys met at net 'Show Me' opined, "I guess only my back is strong enough to carry Grant to victory." To wit 'Slow Eddie' retorted, "The way I figure, it's a lucky thing that this Grant was not the one Lincoln counted on in the Civil War." "Why" said the 'Badger Codger.' "Ain't it obvious," chipped in TT, "his volleys come off his racket like buckshot." "Oh, so where was your canon today" quipped Coach klein shutting up the 'bombastic blowhard.'

'Slow Eddie' with SLOWER Titan