Sports-Klutz Widow

The Sports Widow's "Glory Days" as a High School Tennis Player

September 11, 2006 6:11 AM | 0 Comments

We just visited my hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Specifically, I grew up in Shorewood, which is the first suburb as you travel up the North Shore of Milwaukee. I have no trophies. I have no letter jackets. I have no claims to fame athletically, but for the sake of my children, I cling to one small triumph: I played on the Shorewood High School Girls' Tennis Team. Yes, I played.

While conducting the usual tour of my roots, I am always eager to point out the tennis courts adjacent to my middle school where I competed, using the term VERY broadly. In my anthropology classes, I have frequently heard that competition and cooperation are hallmarks of humanity. Personally, I never had the eye of the tiger from a competitive perspective. My tennis teammates all joined the team with country club experience, wearing LaCoste T-shirts and confident smiles. I joined the team to learn the game and frankly could have cared less about winning. I never exceeded junior varsity and have vivid memories of our coach, Mrs. Burke crying about us not trying hard enough, which I completely took personally. I remember thinking in a singles match: "If you care so dang much about winning, then go ahead." The only point of pride for me is that I never mooned anyone from the tennis bus.

Another episode in my glorious past was that I was the ball girl for a momentous event - four boys in my middle school, most of which I had crushes on - decided to beat Guinness World Records 2007 (Guinness World Records) for continuous doubles tennis playing. And, they won, however, another team beat them before the next publishing, which must have been a bummer. For my part, I caught a lot of tennis balls, tried not to interfere with the game in the process, and took catnaps in the top bunk of a Winnebago van. By the way, you have to lay completely flat in the top bunk and rolling over is not an option.

What were your glory days?