Storytelling


Sticking With the New Game Without Fear of Losing 263

Sticking With the New Game Without Fear of Losing What an exciting tournament for me. I came into the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix with big mental challenges. I showed up on a 22 match winning streak. I had enough ranking points to be ranked #1 in the USA even if […]


Winning Is Nice But Doesn’t Last Long. Improvement Lasts for a Lifetime 108

The last journal that I wrote was from Croatia, the day that I had something hit me like a lightening bolt. Having turned around a loss to Denmark with a win on the final day against Switzerland. For the sake of those that didn’t read it and to remind those who […]


Short Memory Leads to a Big Victory 342

Our quarterfinal match today was against a tough Canadian team. On paper it was a tossup match. Capt Brent Abel once again stepped in at second singles and won in three sets, doing a great job of shaking out early match nerves. My match was against a guy that I […]


Who Wouldn’t Want a Coach?/Problem Solving 114

Who Wouldn’t Want a Coach I will start off with the results. We played Italy, the second team in our group on Monday. Brent Abel played the opening match at #2, won easily. I followed at #1 and played a clean first set against a talented opponent. I was running […]


There is Nothing Like Playing for the USA 161

Yesterday was one of the most exciting days in my many years of playing competitive tennis. After an 11 year hiatus I was once again participating in the International World Senior Tennis Championships (aka Senior Davis Cup.) Four players from each age group are selected to compete for one week […]


Freedom from Pressure Leads to a Gold Ball Victory 302

I wrote early in the week about my worries and doubts. By writing about them I was able to see them as self perceived and, basically, not truths. These thoughts and feelings were all self perceived.  Over the years I have trained out thoughts that don’t give me what I […]


Mental Slips Can Be Costly 174

Mental Slips Can Be Costly It rained all day on Friday so all matches were postponed for a day. After many years of playing tournaments I have learned how to accept days that don’t fit into the schedule that I want. Showing up at the courts and being told to […]


It Never Gets Old 197

It Never Gets Old All of us, before a match, like to get a short warmup in with another one players still left in the tournament. Steven Radigan, a player from Connecticut that I competed with when I was living and playing on Long Island twenty years ago. We both […]


The Sweetness of Playing on Grass 187

There is nothing like it. All the players in all white clothes. The smell of the grass that is cut each night. The spongy feeling of walking on a big lawn. And when playing…it is quiet. Like no other court, there is no sound when the ball bounces. Playing on […]


My Favorite Tournament 294

National Grass Court Championships Every fall I get the opportunity to experience playing on a grass tennis court. My memories of playing on the grass started when I was 37 when I got to play at Forest Hills. Never having set foot on a grass court I had no idea […]