Optimism is good...

… and it is the bedrock of my outlook and personality. However, regardless of how I may want to perceive and conduct my affairs I must accept reality when it rears its ugly head sometimes.

I last reported my record was 5-2. Giving my readership something to look forward to, I predicted I would finish the season strong. That did not happen.

I did win my next match, but I was not even close to my usual playing form and played someone that could never ever beat me. Cool – now I was 6-2 and things were looking good. I have shook off the Carlos incident and put two more wins under my belt.

A week after my second straight win, I played three matches and lost them all within 36 hours of each other. I'll comment in detail on the first match and give the outline on the others!

I played an opponent I beat last season, but again I was not close to my normal playing level. (I will get to that shortly.) I can beat this player, but I dropped the first game 15-13. I came back in game two and won 15-14. This is the part that will bother me for a while... a league rule I was not aware of until this match just killed me. To be honest, it is just another rationalization I came up with to compensate for my playing shortcomings!!

I opened up the match with the serve. I won that privilege by hitting a lob shot closest to the short line. Every league match starts this way and I love my serve as an opening welcome for the opponent. I work pretty hard to get this lob almost every match. In my head, I also thought I got the benefit of serving game three. The tie breaker game is needed if players split the first two games of the match. Well, up until this point I guess I never had this problem or people were as clueless as I was on this day. The rule in league play is simple. The player with the most cumulative points of game one and two gets the serve in game three. I was short one point and psychologically I was ready to open game three up 4-5 points as is the custom when I get the serve! I was even in the box ready to serve when he informed me. I shook it off and opened the game down 3 points. (I know – I know - nice way to shake that off!!) After a pretty good game three I lost 11-9. I was really pissed for two reasons. #1) I could beat that guy and did not. #2) I purposefully did not play at 100% since I had back to back matches. I should have taken game one when I had a chance and this third game would have never have even come up.

I do not know why I approached that game thinking I could play half ass and still win. I never schedule back to back games since I am not the kind of player that can do that. I play my game… it takes about an hour (usually) and if I play another game for fun great… I do not have to be concerned with my energy level.

My second match was versus someone I have never played before in singles. I have played them in doubles and cut-throat (3 player game) and won easily or outplayed them. I really figured I could pull a back to back off and come out okay. I thought entirely too much!

To my opponent's credit, SHE played a great game. She watched my loss vs. my first opponent and saw a couple of things to press in our game. To her credit… she pressed them very well. #1 almost as if she planned it, she deliberately made me run, which I did because I wanted to win and get it over with. In hindsight I was masterful… and like a little wooden puppet I ran. She hit shots that were never intended to gain a point; unless I chose not to run after them… when I did I easily put them away. I took game one 15-7. I won the game but lost the war. As if I hit a brick wall, I could not play at any level after that. The tactic of hitting the shots away from me worked extremely well in game two. When ever I got the box I got my points, but I just never got to the box much. I dropped game two 15-5. Yes, I lost my chance to open up game three, but she was also dead tired. (No – she did not play an earlier match, but who cares at this point.) I could not beat a child in that third game. I was taken out, by a woman, 11-4. I was beside myself and I have not been able to remedy it. I had to play the next day and lost in straight game 41-5.

Why: I do not play regularly anymore. I have not played regularly in 8 weeks. When you are not in the best of shape, you cannot afford to layoff and return to form quickly. I am not compensating for my lack of play time with anything… which is also not very good.

I need to get to the gym when I can… if there is nobody to play then I need to go work out on the treadmill or bike. If I do not do those things… then I will be going backwards in skill.

Incidentally, my overall lack of time has affected a couple of other things… I get home for work and after the kids and the house are done… the Mrs. And I crash. I have been going to sleep closer to 9 pm. I do not play my beloved Xbox anymore or at least consistently, nor WoW, or really anything. It is a sad time for us, but the summer is getting to everyone. The kids have so much energy and without school to drain them of it… we are left with task. I am not complaining about this… as I love this part of my job! I think this is all related… I need to increase my exercise to increase my energy level! That will start now.

P.S. I have a chance to get even with everyone in the tournament. That starts in September, so no excuses if I start increasing my exercise today!