This blog will allow me to journal my experiences both on and off the court in upcoming tournaments and travels.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Leaving Houston
I'll be heading back to Destin tomorrow morning after I drop Phil at the airport. I've fully recovered physically from my cramps and was able to hit some today. I've enjoyed hanging around as a spectator the last few days watching friends play. The tournament takes on a whole different feel when you're on the "outside" looking in. I realize what happened this week was just one of those "things" and I will be eager to get back on the courts when I return. Sort of like that getting back on the horse thing. Phil has been so supportive and seemed to enjoy experiencing "my" tournament world. As I've said before the tennis world is a very small world and he ended up knowing quite a few people here. Plus he was able to get some good doubles in with some of his friends who are also topped ranked men's players in the country. I'm hoping to play the National Indoors in Chicago in May, but haven't made definite plans just yet. I'm looking forward to seeing my "girls" tomorrow and can't thank Barry and Casey enough for taking such good care of them for me. I am so thankful to everyone for their continued love and support of this great journey that I'm on.
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3 comments:
Hi Myke,
I don't know how I came across your blog some time back (before Turkey). But sometimes you just stumble upon things.
My situation is eerily similar to yours (albeit in a different country, with a smaller pool of players, and my career doesn't involve tennis, so I'm not as accomplished as you are).
That said, "opting" not to play the consolations to instead hang out with your man and take a "mental break" was, in my view, poor sportsmanship on your part, against the entire spirit of what competition is supposed to be.
You give what you have on any given day. And if it's not enough, then you shake your opponent's hand and say "too good."
Everyone has physical issues, or emotional ones, or off-court distractions, or some encumbrance to bring onto the court (especially as we get older and our burden gets heavier).
Obviously you were disappointed, and playing consos is probably beneath you as you have higher aspirations.
But they are a part of the competition as valid as any other. People travel a long way to play tennis matches in a tournament. Not everyone can win, but they deserve to be allowed to compete. And those who do not aspire to win are often there to face players better than they are, to measure where they are and what they need to do.
And if you don't have those people to beat in the first few rounds of the tournament, there IS no tournament. It's a matter of competitive integrity.
Before you say I've not been in your shoes, let me say that I am EXACTLY in your shoes.
I lost my beloved father a month ago, rather suddenly, at a rather premature age, and I was as close to him as you seem to have been to your mother. And I'm also an age-group tennis player, dealing with a couple of big tournaments since then. I certainly feel for you.
I hope it was just a poor choice of words on your part, and that the reasons you "opted" not to play the feed-in were more physical than emotional. I wonder, had it been a semi-final or a final, if your decision would have been the same. I suspect not.
I can attest to the fact that it's not easy. But to be a person of integrity, sometimes it's not all about us.
Good courage going forward. I know it seems overwhelming at the moment. Trust me, I know.
Myke I hope this note finds you well and recovered from your problems in Houston. I was very upset with the comments from "friendly canadian". Having known you for a long time, I can not think of a more fair, sportsmanlike person in all of senior tennis than Myke Loomis! I have witnessed your classiness in both victory and defeat and as one of the most humble players I've been around. If you say you're not physically or mentally able to play, I know it to be true! You have never ducked any player and have always loved to compete.----I am curious as to whether "friendly canadian" was present in Houston or had some "inside information" about your physical or mental issues that the rest of us don't have.----I know you have had alot on your plate this last year and how does "friendly canadian" have the right to say (he or she} they're in EXACTLY your same shoes?----I was embarrassed to think someone would take the time to hurt someones feelings or to chastise you as if you were a young child over something I presume she or he has no facts about the situation. Shame on them!-----"friendly canadian" should spend more time working on his or hers game and enjoying the great game of tennis and the many wonderful people playing instead of bashing someone on the internet.-Get a life!!!! Myke, I can't think of anyone that gives back to the game more than you. We love you and keep up the good work.
I could not agree more with the second comments if I wrote them myself. Mykie is the personification of the best, in everything to do with tennis. How totally presumptuous of a very "unfriendly Canadian" to tear down a fellow tennis player. He or she has a right to his or her opinion, but when it is based on so little knowledge, it would be well not to speak out with such arrogant cockiness.
Just ignore such undeserved reprimands, Mykie. You have a cast of thousands who know your true worth and love you dearly.
I wish I could give you a big hug right now to prove that.
A "really friendly American"
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