The Pressure to Win
I feel like that little girl in Little Miss Sunshine. You know... where you go up on stage in an ordinary bathing suit your Mama bought you from WalMart when your competition looks like slick high priced hookers? Yes. That's the same feeling I am having right now.The Austin tennis tourny is quickly approaching and I am not prepared. Over the weekend, I lost a doubles AND a singles match. My competition was slicker, more skilled, and had higher stamina than I did. I had this sick feeling in my gut that I wasn't even in the same league as these guys. While they are playing for three hours every week in league play and several more times during the week, I am playing a more casual game with Whipping Boy and E.Shrew. The competition is not the same.
I am not ready for this fast approaching tournament. I'll probably be knocked out in the first round in humiliating fashion. It feels like I am the College of Charleston in the NCAA March Madness Tournament going up against Duke. I feel a predictable blow out coming.
So what am I doing about it? My first impulse was to back out of the tournament and save myself from embarrassment. Then that little old thing called PRIDE swelled up and nixed that idea. I went to spinning class this afternoon for 45 grueling minutes under the leadership of the resident female Nazi spinning instructor. I will get my stamina up. I will shed at least 5 pounds to give me a fighting chance in hustling after balls. Everyday after work, I am going to get on that tennis court and work on my serve. I am going to work on my serve if I have to practice hitting the ball 10,000 times in the next two weeks. My accuracy rate and speed has to improve!
I hate participating in anything that I don't have a chance to win. Losing is for losers. I am going there to make an impact. I want to rock the bracket and pull off upsets. I am going to get fired up and be competitive. When my back is up against a wall, I muster all my strength and fight back hard. This is one of those times.
posted by Brettcajun at Monday, February 26, 2007
11 Comments:
Is there a country club or tennis facility where you can take lessons? My hubby is a tennis pro and teaches here in Houston, but he's not allowed to teach the general public, it's in his contract. There's a couple of places here that are open and give lessons. I found that lessons really helped my game tremendously.
I never knew you had trouble hustling after balls....
Wal-Mart? Go to TARGET!
I'm sure you know it's not about winning (all the time). It's about particpating and making new friends. Also, you really have to talk bad about all those other sequenced dripping suits.
Good Luck Bud
Good Lord stop your whining Mary and practice, practice, practice!!
We will win!!! Sorry had a break in my training had to comment:)
I am,
E. Shrew
Not only that, but you and Abigail have roughly the same belly...
Maybe there is a Masters division you can enter instead. You know being so old and all........
Study Little Miss Sunshine. Dress the part, and you'll play the part.
Beyond that, do any tennis clubs in BR offer drills? It's a great way to work on reaction speed and covering the court.
Light'em up bud! Light'em up! Hope all is well. I actually think "E." nailed it....hehehe!
All may not be lost. I beat Whipping Boy 6-4, 7-5 last night. This was after working out my upper body that same day. I changed my serve to a basic serve and I hit a lot harder than I had been hitting. And the accuracy was better too! I double faulted twice in the first set, and once in the second set. That was HALF what I have been doing! Woohoo!
6-4, 7-5 Whipping boy must be suffering rom the flu, which is why the match was so close. Just a fluke on your part!
Sounds like BC has it all together and knows his stuff. Fight when the going gets tough. An excellent quality of a tough guy. Good for you......go for it! Wish I had half of what you got....and thanks for the comment on my site. Appreciate it.
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