Jackpot!

Two weekends from now I’ll get an opportunity to increase my career winnings threefold. My club is hosting another open tournament with cash prizes, and if I prevail against 15 other competitors, that’s $100 in my pocket…skyrocketing my career earnings to a grand total of $150. That may not seem like much, but I’d be a rich man in Djibouti. Who am I kidding…I’d still be dirt poor (the average Djiboutan earns ten times that much, even in times of drought). Thank goodness I live in Canada, the land of opportunity, and bad tennis players. Even if I lose in the finals, I’ll still get $50. Ah, what a country we live in.

So far though only 5 players have confirmed, and if we don’t get more soon, the tournament may not take place. Maybe I should stop referring to the entry fee as my retirement fund when advertising it to potential participants? I thought it was catchy.

Tennis travels

My favourite place to play tennis has been the red clay courts of Croatia. I've made the trip a couple of times in recent years, but failed to go again this year. I miss it already. Not just the tennis...the whole experience. I've never actually won a match there, despite playing some of my best tennis ever. The players there are just in a different league altogether. That's me last year chillin' after another intense battle. How intense you ask? Well, when we started, my shirt was white. True, hard courts are not as messy, but it's nothing a quick dip in the clear blue waters of the Adriatic can't fix. See you in 2007, and this time I may even win a match.










UPDATE: In Sept 2007 I finally won a match in Croatia...two in fact, in the coastal town of Vodice. I still remain winless in the big leagues of Sisak.