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Tennis, anyone? Count me in
This is probably no big surprise, but certain events on the old sporting calendar are more fun for us in the media to cover than others.
But it’s hard not to enjoy any sport’s state tournament. Every May, I head to Austin for the state tennis tournament — I let the Little Linkster, aka Chad Conine, handle the golf — and it never fails to deliver a fair amount of excitement.
With apologies to David Letterman, here are my Top Ten Reasons to Love the State Tennis Tourney, in descending order:
10. The brilliance of Austin Klores. The Franklin senior joined rareified company this week when he won his fourth straight 2A singles title in his usual straight-sets domination. Klores will take his talents to Texas A&M next year.
9. Obstructed views. Tennis fans are a unique lot, not one prone to complaining, which I personally find refreshing. It’s not uncommon to witness dozens of fans watching matches at state through a dark nylon curtain attached to a large chain-link fence. And they do so happily.
8. Being out in nature. While watching one match at UT’s Penick-Allison Tennis Center this week, I sat on a rock underneath the majestic canopy of a large oak tree. Not my usual press box, let me tell you. And the other state site, Lakeway World of Tennis, may be even more picturesque.
7. Mommas with tears in their eyes. Could be a win, could be a loss. But you’d better believe ol’ Mom, who drove that kiddo down there on the court to his first tennis camp long ago, is living and dying with every point.
6. The drop shot. Is there anything more sneaky in sports? It’s like watching a pitcher throw on the brakes with a 75-mph change-up when the hitter is sitting dead-red fastball. It’s the “Heh, heh, gotcha!” of the game, only to be topped by …
5. The overhand smash. Lob it up on me? HAH! Take that, sucker! Kind of a like a slam dunk in basketball, the overhand smash almost seems to be worth an extra point or two, given its ability to immediately humble one’s opponent.
4. Cute tennis dresses. Does that sound creepy? It’s not intended to be. Look, I’m no Mr. Blackwell, but I appreciate the form and fashion found in the brightly-colored skirts worn by the queens of the court. They’re certainly better-looking than anything you’ll find on Project Runway. (Hey, I’ve got to give the wife the remote every once in a while, right?)
3. Sportsmanship. It still exists, believe it or not. At the state tennis tourney, it’s epitomized in a subtle device that virtually every player does, whereupon a nifty shot by an opponent, a competitor will hold his hand up to his racket and pantomime clapping. As in, “What can I say? That was nice.”
2. Mixed doubles. The only specifically co-ed sport in Texas high schools. It was oft-debated and criticized before its arrival three years ago, but it’s hard to label it anything but a triumph. Having guys and girls work together toward a common goal is good practice for the modern-day workplace, anyway.
1. The thrill of victory. That overflowing of emotion is of course not limited to tennis, but it may be slightly more personal, given the more individual nature of the sport. Take a look at the photo on the front of Wednesday’s Sports section of Robinson’s Tucker Mueck after his 3A doubles victory with teammate Daniel Trayler on Tuesday. Think he might have been a little excited?
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