We all woke up Wednesday morning knowing just what to expect, dusted off the spandex and fleece, located our wool caps, gloves and face mask, duct taped our inner thighs, put the XL jersey back on the shelf cause we all know the L fits and looks good, threw out the empties found in our paddle bag from last season, sharpened the edges of every other paddle hole (to do every one would be just plain ridiculous), cracked a half dozen raw eggs into our coffee, downed a toaster waffle and some skittles, kissed the dog goodbye, told our wives not to wait up but I’ll call you at midnight just to wake you up and let you know how we did , threw the ice scraper into the rear seat and the tire chains in the trunk, pulled out of the garage and screamed “Put me on court 1 cause I was born to play paddle” and then the alarm clock caught our eye, it’s 3am and just another paddle dream. 10 more hours until game time!

We peeled off layer after layer cause it was 60 degrees and no wind at Glenview – it was snowing somewhere in the Arctic though!

Ct 1 had Warner / Eddie against Baccich/Seaman. Our guys claim to be re-united from their days at SIU where according to each other they played doubles. After some careful research before going to press it was learned they were all-conference for the local high school using fake IDs as exchange students from Manitoba – where they claim to have invented paddle. Seemed good enough for Cappy, as they dismantled their opponents in two solid sets. 6-3, 6-4. A good tune-up for weeks to come. GE 3 GV 0. Man the Harp tastes good!

Ct 2 had A-Train / Foster against Landman / Cappy Rowe. Unannounced to anyone else, A-Train showed up with a purpose and planned to play the smartest paddle of his career while Foster played 5 sets of tennis in the morning, ran a half-marathon over lunch, and threw in the P-90X tape in the afternoon to stay warm. We tried an interesting tactic in the first by seeing how high and hard off the screens we could hit our overheads. Down 3-6, A-Train remained calm and steady, serving like the exchange students on court 1, he steadied Foster to take the second and a crucial point for GE. 6-3. GV buckled down in the third resorting to pure paddle and consistent depth on the lobs taking out Foster’s legs in the process. A couple more minutes on the tread mill and we would have had them but not tonight 2-6. Cappy was proud that we fought for the 1 point to give GE the edge into the second half of the night. GE 4 GV 3.

Ct 3 had Sojka (pronounced Swoyks) / Suarez (pronounced Suarez) against Blanchard/Wilson. This was the match of the night. GE team looking for their first win together. Andrew looking for his first win – as a paddle husband. Congrats! The first set could not be any closer as GE builds a 4-1 lead to see it disappear and lost in a tie-break 6-7. This is when most of us get a bit tight. But not these boys. They continue talking to each other and build another 4-1 lead. GV gets it back to 4-3, but GE is now working too well together not to get 1 point for the second, 6-3. Swoyks beer is filled and Suarez makes the mandatory call home for a first year hubby. The crowd got thicker and even Alan Graham said our boys could really play paddle! We would not be denied in the third as Swoyks is just too much and Andrew just enough 6-3. GE 7 GV 4.

Ct 4 had the famous GE duo Park / Snyder against Lawler/Huber. You can never stop fundraising for the GE Platform Tennis Hut. The GE duo talk GV into putting a bet down on the number of games each team would win. Say no more – just open your checkbooks lads! We need a stone fireplace and some asphalt. GE 6-0 6-0 Baby. In the words of Mr Park…LETS GO! GE 10 GV 4 and the season has started. You guys deserve a beer and thanks of many in GE for your hard work on and off the court!

On to Skokie next week where we hear they are unveiling 2300 sqft of new paddle hut and 16 beers on tap (reduced to 3 after the first budget meeting).

This edition of Series 8 weekly features a recap of GE's expedition to the great white north (at least it felt like we drove to Canada) of Lake Forest followed by whats to come.

Wednesday was a great day in all of our lives, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, but more importantly...PADDLE SEASON HAS BEGUN!!!! The night before the first match of the season leaves different players with different issues. Some cant sleep the night before as they continue to go through each point in their head, others might sleep in their paddle gear with paddle in hand dreaming of points, and others continue on as usual, although slightly antsy to get this season under way. With a last minute management change, Pagey Jr. was thrown into the harness as the fearless cappy of the GE Bandits (name pending, now taking submissions). With our first battle ahead of us, the usual pre-match planning (a beer at ellyns) had everyone excited to use their battle axes (paddles) to decapitate the enemy. Talk of paddle strategy, and maybe some butterflies, filled the car on our journey north. 2 of our commrades couldnt ride the front lines with us as they drove themselves as Cory had a meeting with Wilson to sponser the bandits and Winthorpe obviously had to take his Bently limo, although i thought he might fly his helicopter. Arriving a half hour early we took to the courts to get loose as we waited for the classy North Shorians.

On battlefield 1, Bushman and Digger had their hands full from the start as the Lake Forest combo continued to attack Bush on the screens, time after time while Chuck took cat naps here and there on the ad court waiting for a chance to strike, at one point he might have even taken a bathroom break. A couple points here and there and the match would've been theres, they go down 4-6, 5-7. To the hut for an ice cold Steigal and some italian beef sammys.

Battlefield 2, Lucky Lucchesiano and Cappy Jr. took on two guys who were around when paddle was invented as they told us when they started playing the series were lettered, not numbered. These two guys had an unorthodox playing style which kept many of our points very short, our longest point might have had 13 hits. Lucky was getting picked on with their overheads, but time after time held his ground, making them make the error. It was a back and forth kind of match with no team able to develop momentum. Games going back and forth, breaking serve, holding serve, we win a game, they win one right back. At 5-4 in the 3rd set, we had a chance to close them out so we could join the party, but the elderly couple wasnt going down without a fight, holding their serve to make it 5-5. Before the next game Lucky and Cappy Jr. gave each other the nod as if to mentally say, enough of the bullshit, lets put them out of their misery, winning the next two games and placing the dagger in their heart. 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Now the party can start

Battlefield 3 consisted of the GE rookie squad of Louis Winthorpe IV (Chris) and the newest de la Cruz to touch a paddle, Edgar. The butterflies in Edgar's stomach were flappin hard before this match as his younger brother, Eddie, made it clear, DONT RUIN OUR FAMILY NAME. As the match started, LF knew they were going to have their hands full with Chris's serve, as he lined up a handful of aces in the first few games, coupled with a handful of faults. Chris's power game was Federer like, driving balls past these guys leaving them puzzled. Edgars soft hands and soft overheads were perfectly placed winning them many points. Put on the spot to play the ad court, Edgar held his own incredibly well although still showed signs of apprehension of playing the ball off the screens. A few more weeks and he'll be smooth as butter on the ad court. Another back and forth match that would be decided by a third set, however things fell apart for our rookie duo in the third as Lake Forest layed the smack down to close it out. 4-6, 6-4, 1-6. Get these guys a beer, they deserve it.

Battlefield 4 had a lot of Spring in their step as they Flooded the opponent (good one, i know), as Cory and Dan, another rookie, took to the courts against what looked like some great tennis players. But as we all know, tennis only gets you so far in paddle and the screens will be the death of you if you dont learn them. This played to Dan and Cory's advantage as they pounded their rookie counterparts. The straight set win on court 4 was one of the biggest of the night as it gave us the 3 points we needed while giving LF NONE. Promptly after getting their butts kicked, LF's ct. 4 team rushed inside and returned with a beer for Dan and Cory, now thats what i call service.

Glen Ellyn 7 - Lake Forest 7

All in all, great night gents. Got those first match jitters out, now the fun begins. Next week we travel to Lake Shore Country Club to do 2 things, Drink some beer and kick some ass. They better hope they dont run out of beer..

Lets keep up the good work guys,

Cappy Jr.