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).
