Heated Moments - Tuesday, May 31, 2011

But, only temperature wise. Thirteen players checked in but none checked out on our hottest day this season according to the UPG historical annuls. Players: Mike, Peter, Peter P, Jan, Anne, Johnny, Carol, Gary, Gary A, Steve, Ralph, Sharon and Ron. Somehow we managed to play for 3 hours, thought the number of players slowly declined as the session wore on and the sun and temperature rose higher. Gary A, now un-bandaged and looking good, gave Spidy a new T-shirt to replace the one he used to bandage Gary on the day of the "accident" (See the May 19th post).

Above: Jan demonstrates one of her ballerina-like moves as she addresses the ball: "Hello ball, hello, hello". Below: the lanky duo of Gary and Gary team up. Gary's on the left - or the right.

Below: Spidy deep, pounces.

Above: Peter eyes his shadow. The only one of the two with a paddle. Below: Gary A (Rambo) sends a backhander flying (or, is about to hit a forehander). You decide.

We had many fine games, and some exceptional net play with long volleys and snappy footwork. We'll be at it again Friday. See you then. Stay cool.

Bent

Pickleball Session - Tuesday, May 24, 2011

We had 15 players on the courts and a perfect pickleball day weatherwise and otherwise: Sunny, warm with a slight breeze. Players: Anne, Jan, Carol, Johnny, Mike, Lynne, Steve, Bob H, Bob T, Catherine, Peter P, Gary, Ralph, Sharon and yours truly.
Below: Gary gave a demonstration of the 'Classic Poach Technique'. Every UPGer practices this maneuver, but except for Stevie Wonder - no one else has mastered it. But, practice makes perfect!

We played for almost 3 hours. Due to the crowd, there was some down time, but no formal complaints were registered. Everyone minded their Ps and Qs, and there were no tumbles - not for the lack of trying though. So, there is not much to write about - unless the editorial staff makes something up. But, not today. Lucky you.

So, stay tuned for the next P'ball Session announcement - which, as always, will come to you via electronic mail. We are looking at Friday the 27th if T-storms don't foil us.
Spike

Firday P'ball - May 20, 2011

As reported by Stevarino, aka Stevie Wonder: Nine players were present including never-say-die Gary (Rambo) A. Players: Gary, Muriel, Gary A, Bob T, Mike, Jan, Ralph, Peter and Steve.

Steve advises the the crew had a beautiful, windless day and kept at it for over 3 hours. The play was hard and fast and no accidents or injuries were reported.

Muriel brought a cake - so, the players were able to keep themselves happily nourished throughout the session.

Thanks to Steve for taking care of the equipment - and to Muriel for bringing the cake.

Thumb

Gary A bites the dust day. Thursday, May 19, 2011

Eight were in action today - for a while anyway! Present: Gary A (Hardcore), Mike, Steve, Jan, Johnny Carol, Sharon & Ron. In the first few minutes of the first match of the day, Gary ran forward to return a drop shot, slipped somehow and took an awful digger landing on his face and hands. He ended up with a nasty cut on his forehead and the bridge of his nose. First aid was immediately required - that's when we found out how ill prepared we were for such an event. Everyone pitched in. Kleenex didn't suffice, but Spidy had a spare T-shirt, tore it up and wrapped around Gary's head Rambo style. Gary stayed cool the whole time.

After a while he was feeling OK, and wouldn't hear of anyone accompanying him to the hospital. So, off he went, saying he'd be back. We cleaned up the court and carried on. Played for 2 more hours. Near the end of our session Gary returned decorated as seen below. With his forehead and nose stitched up. At his insistence, we even batted the ball around with him for a few minutes.

It was a very scary scene for a while and we are thankful that, except for his patched up wounds and some other sore spots that showed up - on his palms, elbows and one knee - he's A-OK.

Just so everyone knows: Gary wasn't trying for some outlandish, diving shot. It was just a good try for a ball and he took a tumble. He earns a Hardcore ranking for his toughness and coolness while we were busy trying to find basic first aid items which would have helped enormously. We learned something from this experience, and we will be better prepared in the future.

Golden Spike

No bad luck today - Friday the 13th - P'ball - AMENDED

Looks confrontational, but it wasn't! Just a serious discussion - probably about a minor topic. Friday the 13th brought no bad luck - except for the players on the wrong end of scoring routs. Players: Mike, Bob H, Bob T, Peter, Peter P, Anne, Steve, Ralph, Claude, Lynne, Gary, Carol, Johnny, Sharon and Ron. Fifteen players makes for some down time on two courts, so we stayed at it for 3 hours and 15 minutes finishing at 82 degrees. No one dropped, though.

Dutchess (shown above) celebrated her Birthday. P'ballers, reluctantly stopped their oh-so-important matches to offer up a sorry rendition of Happy Birthday. At least one players was on key and a few knew the tune.

As seen in the top photo, Claude has returned to the Greenville area after a several months hiatus.

Bob T and Stevie Wonder formed up to play Mighty Spidy and Yon Editor in the last two matches of the day and won both. It's a painful thing to report. (Corrected version of original posting).


And, so ended another fun day of P'ball. We are all looking forward to the next session. Watching the wx.

Galvan.

Pickleball and Brownies - Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Yon Editor was back on site today along with 12 other players: Mike, Steve, Gary, Gary A, Ralph, Bob T, Bob H, Anne, Jan, Peter P, Johnny and Carol. It was a warm, bright day and was made a little more special because Buckeye brought along a swell batch of brownies. Above: Fleetfoot Bob T in action.
Below: Top L - R/Bottom L - R: Mighty Spidy, Dutchess/Rickety Ricky, Peter P.

Above: Top L - R/Bottom L - R: Gary and Hoot, Lash and Bob T/Dutchess and Gary, Stevie Wonder et al. When we weren't pounding down brownies we were hard at p'ball and having a lot of fun doing it. As the day progressed and the temp worked its way to 82 degrees, the Baker's dozen shriveled down to four who played a coupled of exciting 'A' matches. We managed to keep at it for 3 hours.

Thanks to Stevie Wonder for organizing the Pickleball Sessions for the last few weeks. And, thanks to Dick Stone of the Keowee Keys crowd for sending two shirts that we UPGers left dangling from the pickleball court fence when  we visited on April 18th.

Finnish Nail

Baker's dozen & 1 - Friday P'ball - May 6, 2011

Stevo brought home-made chocolate chip cookies to the courts and p'ballers showed up like flies on a buffalo pie. Fourteen players in all: Mike, Bob T, Bob H, Muriel, Gary, Ralph, Anne, Jan, Johnny, Carol, Peter, Peter P, Catherine and baker/part-time UPG leader and all around good guy Stevie Wonder.

'twas another beautiful day and the matches went on for 3 hours.

We'll be at it again next week. Watch for the OFFICIAL PICKLEBALL ANNOUNCEMENT NOTIFICATION.

Absentee editor.
16d Spike
Alexandria, VA

Timmon's Eleven. Pickleball. Tuesday, May 3, 2011

As reported by Steve: Eleven players were in action on a beautiful day: Mike, Bob T, Ralph, Gary, Gary A, Anne, Lynne, Johnny, Carol, Peter and Steveo. Lots of good games and tons of fun.

RR Spike
Alexandria, VA