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More Than A Game

You wait for the day, you’re so anxious to play.

The day comes at last and you drive to the club quite fast.

It’s just a game, some would say,

they do not understand, because they do not play.

More than a game, whatever the name.

Whether Ping Pong or Table Tennis, it’s something within us.

We love to compete in what’s more than a game.

Golf and archery just are not the same.

There’s hype in the air as we survey who’s there.

We pick our opponent with forethought and care.

We head for the table to our opponent disable,

with game plan applied, if we are able.

The rally begins with a toss of the ball.

You crouch and you focus and watch the ball fall.

He tops it, you block it!

He loops it, you chop it!

He pushes and drops it.

You slip and you pop it!

Zinging and zaging he dashes and smashes.

You move tward the wall,

and wait for the ball.

The ball ticks the net,

the point he will get!

You’re even more focused, as he serves once again,

the ball ticks the net, this time a let.

You slice and you chop and you block and you drop.

In the heat of the action, there’s much satisfaction

when you hit the shot you shouldn’t have got.

You drive and you smash and you loop and you scoop.

Now you’re in trouble cause you’re just about pooped.

Now you’re at deuce and your not quite as loose.

Add in and add out, it’s quite a bout.

He tosses the ball, the add-in he has,

you’re focused and able,

but the ball caught the edge of the table!!!

He raises his hand to acknowledge the luck.

You smile at him though you know you got stuck.

Now that you lost you access the cost,

perhaps your racket is the why that you lost!

More spin or more speed, pips in or pips out,

it’s so important, you need to find out!

With carbon or balsa, with straight or flare handle.

The opponents you play won’t hold a candle.

You choose your new racket, with new rubbers to boot.

You send in your order with plenty of loot.

You’ll wait and you’ll fret till your new racket comes in.

Then you’ll be ready your matches to win.

We love the game and our opponent to boot.

And it’s not because we think he’s cute.

We care for each other, yes we love one another,

and the “More than a Game”, through which we say, “Brother”.

John Nay, A  Lover of The Game

This year’s Best of the West ran three days, as the venues were full. The U-3700 Doubles Round Robin was held July 29th, with the other venues August 1 & 2. Dave Womack, Nik, and myself entered the tournament.

Nik did not understand that as the rating number got higher the proficiency level got higher, sooooooo he entered the Under 1900 bracket. Wow! He really got a surprise here. Nik is an excellent player, perhaps U-1400 or 1500, but not yet 1900. He also entered Open Singles. This was even more challenging as the Open Singles includes players rated over 2000. Well to get to the point, Nik now has a better understanding of what the rating brackets are about.

Dave Womack did not have a rating either, so he entered the 1750 bracket. He did manage to win a couple of his matches and got his rating in the 1500′s. Nik received his rating, which is in the upper 1400′s.

This is Nick. I got him in here (yep, you guessed it) just in the nick of time. He may be our youngest member (29), but in time he’ll get older : )   Not only is he young, but he’s good. Perhaps we can vote him out of our club for unevenplaymenshiplike conduct. Actually, he’s a really neat young man and we’re just thrilled to have him in our club. (Select pic to enlarge it)

July 10, 2009, was the opening day of the Prescott Senior Olympic Games, which will run until July 26, 2009. There are many venues, of which table tennis is one. Our club was quite well represented at the table tennis venue. (Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures at the site.) Here are a couple pictures of some that received medals from our club, there is at least one more, but I haven’t cornered him to get his picture as of yet. (Simply select the picture to enlarge it):

Here is a pic of Debbie (Lt) and Mae-Ann (Rt). This was Debbie’s first tournament. She had a great time and played VERY well (perhaps a little bias on my part). Mae-Ann appears to be a nice, kind little lady. But appearances can be very deceptive; she has a really wicked serve.

The next pic is of Dick (Richard). He looks like a nice old guy and walks around like an old grandpa, but don’t let him fool you, he has game!!

This is Carroll, who did NOT get a gold, but a silver medal. I decided to put his pic in here anyway, as I wouldn’t want to hurt the old guy’s feelings. This gentleman does NOT know what table tennis warmup is supposed to be about. HE PLAYS FOR THE POINT!!!

This good looking young lady with me is NOT my daughter! She is my wife — did good, didn’t I    : )

Hans received a gold in his age group for singles. He also managed to win a gold in bowling. The bowling is right up his alley.

Perhaps you’ve heard the expression, “Two Hans are better than one.” Well, we have two Hans in our club. Our second Hans won gold in the 70-74 age bracket.

This was not the first Prescott Senior Olympics for Hans. He has won several medals since he began competing in the games.

We have many excellent players in our club that choose to not participate in the tournaments, to the joy of many of those that do, as they are “excellent” players.

On January 10th of this year I participated in the Sierra Vista Senior Games and had a great time. Several of the players there told me of the Green Valley Games, so I decided to participate. This year marked the 25th Anniversary of the Green Valley Senior Games in Green Valley, Arizona, March 3-26. The table tennis venue was held March 20th. I drove down on Thursday (March 19th), but found the motels way overpriced, i.e. $95.00 and up, not including tax! Since I have yet to receive any bail-out funds from the Spendulous Package, I decided to find a motel on the south-west side of Tucson. I found a Motel 6 for $42.00, which included tax.

I arrived at the table tennis site at 8:00 AM on the 20th. I was able to help a little with setting up and was able to start warming up around 8:40, with events to begin at 9:00. The facility was quite nice, with ample room and good lighting.

My first event was Men’s Singles, 65-69 years. It was all a lot of fun and I managed to get the gold in this event. (Simply select a picture to enlarge it.)

Visiting between events and matches is a big part of the fellowship of those that “Love the game.” This often offers me an opportunity to witness for my Lord. Generally, this begins by my sharing what I do, i.e. deal with the science in support of the creation viewpoint. Now that my radio program is available on the internet, sharing is easier, as I can direct many of the complex questions to my site and a specific program or forum of discussion.

The next event was doubles. I was teamed with Jerry, whom I had played in the singles. He’s an excellent player; consistent and conservative (the opposite of me). I really enjoyed being teamed with him and getting to know him a little; a really neat guy. I thought we played quite well considering we hadn’t played together before. We placed third and got the bronze.

The last event for the venue was seeded singles. I’m not sure what criteria were used in setting this up, but I won against the guys they placed me with and received the gold. I really enjoyed these matches, as two of the guys I played, played with a lot of “goo”. For me it is more difficult to play against “goo” than hard-hitting offensive hitters. A couple of players in my home club are “goo” players, which really helps me to play effectively against this style of play.

This was a very pleasant experience and I’m looking forward to participating again next year, Lord willing.

Here are a few older pictures of some of our club members. Simply select a picture to enlarge it.

These are some pics George took at the 2007 Prescott Senior Games.

The Table Tennis venue was held at Center for the Handicapped (interesting site) in Phoenix. This is the location of the Phoenix Table Tennis Club, founded in 1947. Table Tennis was not a senior games event, although there was an over 60 round robin singles. I did not enter this as it would conflict with my playing in my rated Round Robin event.

I entered the Under 1200 Round Robin Singles. I did not play very well. On a scale of 1 to 10, about a 7-8. Surprisingly (to me) it was enough to win gold. Prior to playing I had hoped to perhaps place.

I also entered the Under 1300 Round Robin Singles. As the matches went on I began to play better. I had hoped to win a couple of matches and raise my rating some. It seems to me that it is easier for me to play a better player. At any rate, I won the gold in this event. This is good news and not so good news. It was nice to win, but my rating will go up a fair amount. I am planning on going to the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah. I really would like to do well there, especially since I’m passing up on the archery venues in order to play table tennis. Regardless, I plan to enjoy it. As usual, I met some really neat people and thoroughly enjoyed visiting some between matches. Simply select a picture to enlarge it.

I will post more pics once they become available on the internet.

To enlarge a picture simply select it.
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Several from our club (Tri-City Table Tennis Club of Arizona) went to Sun City to hit with their club members. (Steve, Ron, Sam), Dick, Billy O, and myself.) It was all a lot of fun and great fellowship with others that love the game; not to mention the exercise.  The facility is awesome, as are the people. Here are a few pics. To enlarge a picture, simply select it.

This was my first year entering the Arizona Senior Olympics in Phoenix. I placed third to receive the bronze medal in the 65-69 singles age bracket. It was all a lot of fun. I ran into a couple of players that I met last year at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah.

I had the opportunity to play several members of the Sun City Table Tennis Club. Myself and several others from our club (Tri-City Table Tennis Club of Arizona) are going to Sun City tomorrow to play at their club. This isn’t to be a tournament, just good fellowship with others that love the game.