Category: Random Fun Stuff

Gongoozling in the Digital Age

Have you forgotten our new vocabulary word already? Gongoozling means to be a spectator. (It also means something else which is NOT the subject of this post.) Go retake our vocab quiz if you need a refresher.

My (now frozen) shoulder still has me sidelined, so instead of playing yesterday, I gongoozled. I couldn’t watch my own team—they were playing an away match and I didn’t have time to make the trip. Instead, I watched one of my club’s other teams play its home match. Such inspiring tennis!

Here’s something I noticed yesterday, and not for the first time. I was talking quietly with another gongoozler when I overheard someone say, “Oh, wow—great shot.”

I looked back to the court, but of course I’d missed the whole thing. “No matter,” an inane voice in my head piped up. “I’ll just rewind it.” Continue reading “Gongoozling in the Digital Age” →

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Holiday Tennis Gifts

Happy Cyber Monday, guys!

If you’re tackling your online holiday shopping today, check out the gift shop at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The shop stocks some nifty tennis-themed items, like Sugarpova candy, adorable ball-and-racquet cheese spreaders, fun hair ties, tote bags, vintage tennis can thermoses, and much more. They’re perfect for that special tennis player or blogger in your life. Continue reading “Holiday Tennis Gifts” →

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Powerball Tennis

Have you bought your Powerball ticket yet? If not, don’t bother because I’m going to win.

The grand prize for tonight’s drawing is expected to be worth $750 million, but I’m going to take the lump sum of $465.5 million. I have big plans for that money.

Of course, while my accountant’s quite good, even he isn’t going to be able to save me from a hefty tax bill. $465.5 million minus 37% to Uncle Sam leaves me with a paltry $293 million.

I’ll set aside a sensible $20 million for my retirement needs: healthcare, food and boring crap like that. And I’ll also set aside $100 million for my daughter. (That seems like enough, right?)

So I’ll have $173 million left to play with. Here’s how I plan to divide it up for the ultimate tennis life: Continue reading “Powerball Tennis” →

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A Sad Day for Cougar Tennis Fans

Noooooo!!!!!!!

That’s the cry heard around the world today as we learned that Rafa Nadal has finally gotten engaged to longtime girlfriend Xisca Perello. (Actually, he popped the question back in May, but they kept it secret until now…which is kind of weird.)

I haven’t been this distraught since Bjorn Borg married. Why do my tennis men forsake me?!

I’ll pull myself together and be back with our Worst-Dressed fashion face-off on Friday.

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The Festivus Post

“I’ve got a lot of problems with you people, and now you’re gonna hear about it!”

Oh, how I love the Costanzas.

Festivus is upon us, and as promised, I’m here to air my tennis grievance. It’ll be tough, but I’m going to limit myself to one. Continue reading “The Festivus Post” →

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The Fun Sport with the Funny Name

Here’s a really bad joke I just made up: How do you get Deb to spend more time in the kitchen? Make her play pickleball! HA!

Don’t get it? Then you probably haven’t tried pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the country. I’d heard people talking about this game a year ago, and it has finally arrived at my gym. I attended a drop-in session a couple of weeks ago to see what all the fuss is about. Continue reading “The Fun Sport with the Funny Name” →

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Playing for Good: Forgirlsake Tennis Fundraiser

On September 22, Forgirlsake will hold its sixth annual Women’s Doubles Tennis Open fundraising event.

Founded in 2006, the nonprofit organization raises money to support girls’ education in underdeveloped countries such as India, Uganda, and Tanzania. The round robin-format fundraiser draws area tennis lovers for a morning of friendly competition, shopping, and doing good.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Stephanie Zelman, co-founder of Forgirlsake and the annual tennis event. Continue reading “Playing for Good: Forgirlsake Tennis Fundraiser” →

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Meet the Coach: Erin Reeves

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing tennis coach Erin Reeves, 2017 recipient of the USPTA’s High School Coach of the Year in New England. A graduate of Fairfield University, Erin coaches the girls’ tennis team at Wayland High School in Massachusetts. Under her leadership, the team made it to the finals of the 2016 state championship before winning the whole enchilada in 2017. Erin also coaches adults and children at the Needham Pool and Racquet Club.

Do you have a particular philosophy toward teaching tennis?
In general, the longer I teach, I more I realize you really have to meet people where they are and then work to find ways to challenge them to make them better. On my high school team we have a range of levels, and each girl wants to get something different out of their experience. I try to make it fun for everyone while giving each girl the opportunity to improve their game. Continue reading “Meet the Coach: Erin Reeves” →

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Tennis Rules I’d Like to See

Since starting this blog a couple of months ago, I’ve devoted large chunks of time to thinking about how to improve my game. I’ve pondered how to adjust to playing outside and how to be bolder and how to tailor my game to my opponent. Self-improvement is hard!

But then I got to thinking, maybe I’m going about this all wrong. Maybe it’s the game of tennis that needs some work, not me!

In the spirit of making a lasting contribution to the sport–and having nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that I’m in New York and have no time for a full-blown blog post–I humbly submit three suggestions for how tennis can be a better game. Continue reading “Tennis Rules I’d Like to See” →

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Tennis for a Cause

I don’t usually post on Tuesdays, but I had to pass along this terrific opportunity to participate in tennis while supporting a worthy organization.

On Sunday, June 10 from 10-3, the girls’ tennis team from Newton South High School will host a fundraising event for Sportsmen’s Tennis and Enrichment Center in Boston. Founded in 1961, Sportsmen’s offers tennis programs and academic support to Boston-area kids.

Try a tennis clinic, demo a new racquet, or take part in competitive match play. All ages and abilities welcome, so if you’re thinking of taking up tennis–or getting your kids involved in the sport–don’t miss this chance to test it out!

100% of the proceeds from this event will help fund Sportsmen’s programs.

For more information and to register, go to Sportsmenstennis.org.

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