The post I never wanted to write

I'm going to get it out there quick, like taking off a bandaid. I lost to a chick in squash last night. I lost to a chick bad. She beat me 3-0, i couldn't even get 1 game off her.

Such an ugly match.

Lets start with the breakdown of the chick. Upon meeting her before the match I couldn't help but wonder if it was a good or bad sign that her name was Mary-Jane. She had a killer fit body, great legs, but the teeth left a little something to desire. Actually, I think she had braces, with very small teeth and they looked yellow. That was a pretty big turnoff, so no worries on being distracted by playing a girl.

It was another case like the last girl that I played where she stepped on the court and just started firing on all cylinders while warming up. It's meaningless to me, but she steps in and is pounding the ball up and down the line. Theres no need for that, but I guess some people get of on it.

Not much to say about the actual match. She dominated me in the first game. The whole match was a blur, but I think she won the first game 9-5. Second game I was sure I would take, but she ended up coming from behind and beat me 9-7.

While getting a drink inbetween games, my instructor walked by and asked "Why you sweating so hard and she not?" I responded "Cause she's kicking my ass." Later on after the match I found him again and told him he was fired as my teacher.

The third game went a lot like the first 2, me getting my ass kicked. I think I lost again 9-6. We played one more game after that for the hell of it, and I ended up beating her 9-4. I guess she gave me that one so I wouldn't feel bad or something.

No excuses for this one, i flat out lost. However I know what I could have done differently and need to think about for my next game. First off I was really lazy for some reason. I was reacting late to the ball and wasn't concentrating properly for each point. Secondly, I let her dictate my game rather then playing my own. I wasn't hitting enough deep shots, and my drop shots were only so-so. I was playing to defensive the whole game and leaving myself open for a lot of winners. I made it very easy for her to do what ever she wanted.

Thats about all I have to say about this match. I was devestated afterwards. Even skipped out on my post match steam, which i love, cause I couldn't get over losing to a girl. First time in life for everything I guess.

Sometimes you just need to challenge yourself

After finishing strong last year with my worst round of golf since i was a little kid (115 at Oakmont), actuall sorry, my worst round sine 2 years ago (108 at Thundering Waters), I decided to carry over the solid play into the new season. For whatever reason, i've decided to test my skills in the Ontario Mid-Am at Bond Head this may.

I recieved an email from Matt about playing in it, and after he (probably joking) asked me if i wanted to play in it, i said fuck it, i'm in. Didn't put to much thought into it, which could be god or bad.

The mid-am is for players with a handicapp as high as 8, so sitting at a 5.4 I figure to be the middle of the pack. Probably more near the back of the back since I doubt many 7's of 8's would think of trying to qualify for this tourny.

IF anything, it will be good experience for me. No, i don't think i will qualify. 81 was the qualifying score there last year and considering the talent I assume is in this tourny, the course must be tough. I eventually want to be good enough to compete in any tournament I enter and one of the biggest hurdles for me is the nerves of playing in a tournament. although I've played in more tournys over the last few years then ever before, and starting to feel comfortable, i'm still not quite there. BUt theres no other way to get over it then to keep playing them. So i will. And eventually I'll do well in some of them.

So heres my intense schedule for the start of the season.

April 28th, Mens Betterball a the Brantford Golf and CC. This one is a team game, Matt and I will test ourselves again after a strong showing last year at Bridgewater. I think we even surprised ourselves last year when Matt posted a 74 and I shot 79 to just miss the cut. Neither of us have played Brantford before so it will definitly be a bigger challenge.

May 3rd or 4th, Niagara Mens Tour Qualifier at Penn Lakes in Fonthill. Last year I completly bombed in this qualifier. I should have made the cut but with a few costly errors I mised by 2 or 3 strokes. I've played this course a 100 times and find it actually pretty easy. Again, the tourny nerves got to me last year. This year will be different....I hope.

May 6th, Ontario Mid-Am at the Club at Bond Head. Tought looking track with a 146 slope. Very traditional course, described as a Northern Ireland type of course. I haven't looked to much into the course, but I hear it's long and firm. I've wanted to play this course for a few years since it opened maybe 3 or 4 years ago, what better time then a major tournament. Oh ya, Matt has the hooks up and will be getting us on there for a few practice rounds for the best price ever, FREE.

What does all this mean? It means I basically have a month, if the weather cooperates, to get my game into July form when I was a 3.9. So i hope that groundhog either sees its shadow or doesn't, whatever ones means spring come sooner. At the very least I will get out and hit some balls as soon as possible. Some crappy range here in St. Kitts is open year round, as soon as the weather is slight warm enough I'll be out there working out the winter kinks. Unfortunatly I won't have the weke of Arizona golf I had last year, although that didn't help much either.

Something cool

I just found this on my handicapp factor page. Kind of cool to see how my season went. Started at 5.0, fucked up a bit to start the season and went up above a 6, then worked out some stuff and played a lot more got down to a 3.9, and had my usual fall slump to settle at 5.4. Didn't even realize that I finished the year with a worse handicapp. Thought I improved it.

Regardless, thought this was cool.

Not as planned

I was set to play my second match last night in my squash league, but things got screwed up. After a bye last week I was looking forward to getting back on the horse, but it wasn't meant to be.

Upon showing up for my match i was told that the guy i was playing wasn't showing up. So i was paired with an older gentleman (even older then matt) whos partner also didn't show up. Since we were in the same division, I assumed the match would count. The man i was playing had to be in his 50's atleast, and had a bad hip. On a side note, I'm a little pissed I'm playing guys like this. Something I'm going to take up with my instructor who totally under estimates my abilities.

We are warming up and I know what coming. I'm going to kill this guy. You almost feel bad playing people so much lower then your own level. What am I supposed to do? Its a league where you get points for winning, not sympathy. I just find it hard to embarress the guy, try to show some respect.

Th first game starts out. I'm playing at half my potential, which sucks. I basically could have put this guy away on every shot. He could barely move. Any drop shot I hit was ahuge challenge for him, and even if he got it, it was barely and he would basically lob it up for me to put it away everytime. IF it wasn't a drop shot, all i had to do was get him running to one side and then an easy put away down the line. So thats what I did. I won the first game 9-3, ho hum.

Second game was another blowout. 9-2.

and third game was a complete waste of time. 9-0.

We played another 2 games for fun after that, i let him win one of them. BUt he got a little cocky so i shut him out in the last game 9-0 again just to let him know whos boss.

After we finish and go to post the scores all of a sudden there was a technicality that basically got him out of the match. Since we weren't scheduled to play each other, he was given the option to count it as exibition. He claimed he wanted a shot at me when he could run. HE'S 90 YEARS OLD WITH A CRAPPY HIP. when or how is he going to run, and how could he possibly think he's going to beat me? I'm not saying i'm a master, but hes a fucking old man who could barely move. But some how he's going to train for a few weeks and gain back fluid movement in his practically replaced hip? I'll tell you right now. I'm taking it personally that this guy couldn't just accept he lost and thinks he can take me. Next time we play, he will not win a point. I'm going to teach that old man a lesson.

I also found out last night that I'm the "giant killer". Aparently Denise has been dominating this league for awhile and I'm the only person to beat her.

I prey on women and old men.