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A beginning and an end.
I started my company Tennis-Bargains.com around Summer of 2010.
It so happened it was around the same time that my first tennis teacher Ronald E. McDonald of TennisUSA past away.
Ron had taught me my first formal lesson of tennis at Arlington Parks and Rec. About 15 years later, I joined USPTA and this Sept I decided to renew again. Pass on the torch to another kid who wants to learn I guess. Sharing the memory of them, so that they can live on 15 mins of fame, through this short blog post.
Also a tribute to "Mori" (a dear friend and retired Navy officer) who stuck with me all those summer vacations while I came back to DC from Georgia Tech. Weekend morning tennis was the smart way to play. Morry taught me patience and never stop moving those feet!!
Today - I just wanted to take a bit of time to reflect and share how Tennis began for me.
Partly because I get asked the "how tennis started for me" question so many times, but also because I wanted to highlight two specific old men that were huge influences on me and my tennis game. Without them, I probably would have lost Tennis to time and schoolwork.
Thank you, Ron.
Thank you, Morry.
I started my company Tennis-Bargains.com around Summer of 2010.
It so happened it was around the same time that my first tennis teacher Ronald E. McDonald of TennisUSA past away.
Ron had taught me my first formal lesson of tennis at Arlington Parks and Rec. About 15 years later, I joined USPTA and this Sept I decided to renew again. Pass on the torch to another kid who wants to learn I guess. Sharing the memory of them, so that they can live on 15 mins of fame, through this short blog post.
Also a tribute to "Mori" (a dear friend and retired Navy officer) who stuck with me all those summer vacations while I came back to DC from Georgia Tech. Weekend morning tennis was the smart way to play. Morry taught me patience and never stop moving those feet!!
Today - I just wanted to take a bit of time to reflect and share how Tennis began for me.
Partly because I get asked the "how tennis started for me" question so many times, but also because I wanted to highlight two specific old men that were huge influences on me and my tennis game. Without them, I probably would have lost Tennis to time and schoolwork.
Thank you, Ron.
Thank you, Morry.
My 1st Coach Ron McDonald - TennisUSA
Yes, that was his real name "Ron McDonald".He first taught me when I was a teenager at a summer camp. Probably around 6th or 7th grade, he contracted for Arlington Parks and Rec. Teaching a bunch of kids at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. We had a couple older high school / college kids doing an internship or summer job helping out in our little summer tennis camp.
It was held in the morning I remember. Because after lunch I'd come home, hope on my Packard Bell Pentium 1 PC and play Warcraft II all afternoon on battle.net until my parents would make me do something else.
God, I loved those days. The A/C blowing cool air, me gulping down with a full bottle of Snapple Fruit Punch in one long continuous sugary gulp. After a long day of tennis, it was bliss. Summer days were always the best!
Green Wilson Racket: Matrix Comp - my first racket
Dad and I drove down to a sports store across the street from Eden Center - it's now the Hong Kong Palace where dim sum is served. I still remember going to my closet and found a tie-dye t-shirt with the words "Rad Tennis" scrolled in citrus colors. I wanted to be sure the store attendee knew I was one savvy 12-year-old that REALLY knew his sport.
At the time, I didn't want my parents to spend too much money.
It was held in the morning I remember. Because after lunch I'd come home, hope on my Packard Bell Pentium 1 PC and play Warcraft II all afternoon on battle.net until my parents would make me do something else.
God, I loved those days. The A/C blowing cool air, me gulping down with a full bottle of Snapple Fruit Punch in one long continuous sugary gulp. After a long day of tennis, it was bliss. Summer days were always the best!
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| Wilson Matrix SPS Graphite |
Dad and I drove down to a sports store across the street from Eden Center - it's now the Hong Kong Palace where dim sum is served. I still remember going to my closet and found a tie-dye t-shirt with the words "Rad Tennis" scrolled in citrus colors. I wanted to be sure the store attendee knew I was one savvy 12-year-old that REALLY knew his sport.
At the time, I didn't want my parents to spend too much money.
So I just opted for something basic. Just long enough for the class trip and tournament. As a 6th-grader on his first field trip out to Front Royal for the end of the year trip, I was freaking excited! The teachers had announced a small tennis tournament that would be held for those who wanted to sign up. It was Doubles, and I was eager to learn. My parents signed me up after that. I was hooked!
My dad at the time also purchased a Prince Graphite (probably a bit too expensive for either of our novice skill level and to the ire of my mother when she saw the price tag). But there we would go and practice at the neighborhood courts at Lyon village or another tennis court with a few cans of balls.
I remember at one point when I was in the local dollar store. On the side aisle with all the misc nick-nacks was a plastic wrapped (not in a can) pack of three tennis balls (probably meant for a doggie toy) and I thought JACKPOT!! LOL :oD
Then Ron would look at me, so kid: who do you want to be like? My dad answered for me: "He's the next Michael Chang!". Ron smiled and looked me over. Alright, you gotta be fast then. Michael runs everything down. Ok then, I thought, that's what I'll do too.
It was in 1989 when Michael at the age of 16 won the French Open to the surprise of the world. It was a tumultuous summer with the events of Tienanmen Square having just occurred. The skinny kid with the thunder thighs would become a world champion with all eyes on him.
Yes, I even own a pair of Reebok Pumps :) Remember those?
My dad at the time also purchased a Prince Graphite (probably a bit too expensive for either of our novice skill level and to the ire of my mother when she saw the price tag). But there we would go and practice at the neighborhood courts at Lyon village or another tennis court with a few cans of balls.
I remember at one point when I was in the local dollar store. On the side aisle with all the misc nick-nacks was a plastic wrapped (not in a can) pack of three tennis balls (probably meant for a doggie toy) and I thought JACKPOT!! LOL :oD
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| Kei Nishikori and Michael Chang US Open 2016 |
Emulating my idol's style - Michael Chang
Other kids had their own K-mart rackets and a few were not sure what hand to use. Ron would say, well if you want to be like Jimmy Connors, he was left handed!Then Ron would look at me, so kid: who do you want to be like? My dad answered for me: "He's the next Michael Chang!". Ron smiled and looked me over. Alright, you gotta be fast then. Michael runs everything down. Ok then, I thought, that's what I'll do too.
It was in 1989 when Michael at the age of 16 won the French Open to the surprise of the world. It was a tumultuous summer with the events of Tienanmen Square having just occurred. The skinny kid with the thunder thighs would become a world champion with all eyes on him.
Yes, I even own a pair of Reebok Pumps :) Remember those?