For President.
I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT IT IS FUNNY
“You live by the lob and you die by the lob !” (Molly Volley )
LOW VOLLEYS
4. Volley low balls deep. Angle high volleys.
This a quote from my book, THE LITTLE GREEN BOOK of TENNIS.
Recently my Son questioned the reasoning behind this “principle “! (It is more difficult to “angle” low volleys. Wait for a ball you can volley down for the winner. )
His response made a lot of sense . ” If you volley it deep the players today can get to it and hit the closer ball by you at the net. Additionally, net players now CAN angle many low volleys, some soft and with almost the same effect as a dropshot. Thus creating a much larger distance to cover to make the passing shot.
Tommy Paul’s angled low forehand volley is a good model.
YELLOWSTONE
A good friend just told me about his Father buying two young cows–their first foray into bovines. His younger brother and his friend stayed in the field as the rest left. They had a plan.
Steer wresting on the WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS seemed to have new meaning. Actually the two were quite successful, one riding their horse dropped the virgin “bull dogger” spot on the “half-nelsoned” newcomer. The young calf panicked, bolted head first and wide open into a large oak tree. DOA (“DEAD ON ARRIVAL” ) !
Dinner table that evening was stone silent . Father, a mixture of mad and sad, said only: “Boys, in one day you wiped out half my herd!”
NUTSHELLS
Longtime attache: Mr. Fields, why are you studying the bible at this late date?
W.C. Fields: I’m looking for loopholes.
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Next “click” on the age meter is 84. Still Looking! Last effort is from 12 RULES FOR LIFE (An Antidote to Chaos ) by Jordan Peterson. Chapter 7 is entitled “Chose What is Meaningful not Expedient.” Not simple reading or easy to “nutshell”.
The chapter concludes on page 201: Meaning is the Way, the path of life more abundant, the place you live when you are guided by Love and speaking Truth and when nothing you want or could possibly want takes precedence over precisely that. Do what is meaningful, not what is expedient.
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We required an “Exit Interview” for all teachers at Atlantic Christian College. I asked one question of Clifton Black, our first black basketball player. He was from a rural Eastern North Carolina town.
“How did you do so well athletically, socially and academically?”
“Coach, when I left Conetoe (home village) my Grandmother said, ‘Clifton Earl, you know the difference between right and wrong. Do right!’ That’s about it.”
SHOT DOCTORS
The brochure below is an announcement of a new, non- profit group of volunteers to help North Carolina’s high school varsity boys and girl tennis players, their coaches and teams.
The North Carolina High School Tennis Coaches Association (NCHSTCA ) is an affiliate of the governing body of North Carolina athletics ( NCHSA ). The SHOT DOCTORS work with the NCHSTCA. Below is access to their new website:
GRILL BOY
Author Soc Gliarmas gave me permission to post the link below. The family business, DICK’S HOT DOG STAND, has been the social hub of Wilson, NC for 100 years.
A NEW LEAF
It is new leaf time for me. It’s not the writing. Technoloy wins. Too many unknown buttons. Too much angst, frustration, begging for help, same errors and “can’t finds .” Good luck, AI.
The writing is fun, so that stays on http://www.tomparham.wordpress.com. No new books on the horizon.
We are trying to reorganize. Below are 500 plus blog articles, unfortunately in no special order. THE BEST WAY TO FIND A SPECIFIC ARTICLE OR SEARCH A TOPIC ( TENNIS, HUMOR, ETC. ), IS TO CLICK ON THE ”CATEGORY” OF YOUR CHOICE FROM CATEGORIES (A–Z ) ON THE RIGHT COLUMN.
“WHERE TEARDROPS FALL “
******** Allow me one last personal experience. I was given an award at athletic banquet at Barton College. While I certainly appreciated this recognition, the moment that touched me was at the end. After the banquet several people came by our tablet to speak. I try to always be courteous to everyone. After a few minutes I noticed a Black woman waiting patiently to the side. I did not recognize her immediately. After the others went their way we addressed each other. I listened to her opening comment : “ Coach Parham , you probably don’t remember me.”
I quickly headed her off. “ I can’t call your name but I can tell you that you made an “A” in the tennis class you took from me.”
She looked puzzled—then spoke. “Well yes you did and I didn’t deserve it. But I am glad I can thank you and tell you about that time.” Other than athletes there were few “average” Black women attending the college. She was struggling with being in this strange environment, which became more difficult in a class of white kids, many of whom had some tennis background. “My feelings of isolation had increased and I truly had about decided to quit college. The same day you called me aside after class. You gave me some extra minutes of personal instruction on my tennis serve—about which I hadn’t a clue. You told me to practice some at the lesser used and more private courts near the gym. And you gave a bucket of tennis balls and a racket. You also seemed to sense my unhappiness and gave me some encouragement as well as some kind words. I came here tonite to tell you that I went back from that class and decided not to quit.”
She went on to tell me she had graduated and gone on to a full career and although tears were in our eyes , what was going through my head was how grateful I was that i’d had enough sense, early in my career to be kind to this young woman.
Momentarily I told her not to feel she didn’t deserve an “A”in this strange class. “Do you know why you deserved that grade?”
My syllabus stated the high priority I placed on attendance and effort I arrived at work at 8am each morning. After our conversation I watched you at the courts near the gym, early in the morning, practicing your serve .
Your serve got pretty good.”
The Little Green Book of Tennis 