Tennis?

by johnbai on May 22, 2009 3:54 PM PDT Comment 67 comments

In the past we've pulled together a lot of very fun Lookout Landing sporting events... we've had stickball, softball and football games... occasionally pulling over 20 people together. While that was fun, the open invite community aspect of Lookout Landing has died down some. And toward the end of those football games, we were lucky to get 6 people showing up. Nothing lasts forever... c'est la vie.

BUT... after playing in a weekend tennis tournament recently, I've been gung ho to play more tennis. The weather is gorgeous, it's a fantastic game, good exercise... and easier to find enough people to play, right? Except... not so much.

I realize I know almost no one that plays tennis in Seattle. Rather than despair, I thought I'd see if there are any Seattlites out there that might want to play tennis. If the intimacy of 1 on 1 matches is a little much for you... we can try to get groups of 4 together and play some doubles... or grab two courts and mix it up. No need to have kick ass gear or anything... and tennis balls are cheap.

One foreseeable issue: Tennis isn't quite the same as other team sports. It may not be terribly fun to play opponents of radically different skill levels. If you're interested, you might want to indicate your experience/skill level.

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I started playing tennis like 10 days ago. It's lots of fun.

I don’t live in Seattle, though.

by Teej on May 22, 2009 5:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hmm...

it would appear that everyone is terrified of my athleticism. :(

by johnbai on May 22, 2009 6:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I need to get out there more often

so I’m up for it. When I’m playing consistently, I’m around 4.0-4.5

by serotonein on May 22, 2009 9:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ooh... you actually know what your rank is...

that automatically puts you at the head of the class.

by johnbai on May 23, 2009 1:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tennis turns into a HR derby for me.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on May 22, 2009 10:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You know that's bad in tennis, right?

by johnbai on May 23, 2009 1:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually took lessons like 3 summers ago.

I’d be down for some at some point in the future.

by Mariner John on May 23, 2009 12:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Cool!

by johnbai on May 23, 2009 1:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I should note this does not mean I think I am good.

by Mariner John on May 24, 2009 1:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd be down cause I'm dying for good people to play...

But I’m in MT.

by SethGrandpa on May 23, 2009 12:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Boo

by johnbai on May 23, 2009 1:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't have any racket or anything

but if people were gonna get together and I had time, I’d come play, sure.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. -- P&P&Z

by Two Rs and Two Ls on May 23, 2009 1:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh you've got a racket allright... giving out business cards even though you got no business!

by johnbai on May 23, 2009 1:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I enjoy tennis but I am terrible because I am fat and never exercise

but I would school all of you at pickleball.

by acblue on May 23, 2009 12:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Playing doubles can help mask your lack of mobility

So consider joining us anyway!

by johnbai on May 23, 2009 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

I weigh about 250 lbs… so don’t talk to me about fat. >:(

by johnbai on May 23, 2009 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but you're like 37 feet tall.

by acblue on May 23, 2009 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of which

Did anyone see Big Man Japan?

by johnbai on May 23, 2009 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least.

♥

by royalcurve on May 23, 2009 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bullshit, I would destroy you in pickerball.

As well as fatness….maybe.

The Rise of a Superstar:Justin Upton-.430 wOBA, 21 years old.

by Goose on May 24, 2009 1:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If somebody organizes an LL Whirlyball night I will run over elderly people and orphans to get there first

just sayin’.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on May 23, 2009 9:27 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

That's like lacross played on bumpercars, isn't it?

The whole idea was to get some exercise here… not just play a game.

by johnbai on May 24, 2009 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exercise. Feh.

It’s lacrosse, on bumpercars, with beer. It’s the perfect sport.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on May 24, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I refuse to acknowledge this as a "sport"... It may be the perfect "game" though.

by johnbai on May 24, 2009 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

potato, potahto

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on May 24, 2009 11:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we're talking about pickleball

We might as well get a badminton discussion going.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on May 23, 2009 10:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I never understood how, while in high school, I royally sucked at tennis and badminton but I was awesome at pickelball.

The Rise of a Superstar:Justin Upton-.430 wOBA, 21 years old.

by Goose on May 24, 2009 1:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's because badminton is gay.

by Mariner John on May 24, 2009 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Badminton is bad-ASS

I would love to get some badminton at the park going sometime.

by johnbai on May 24, 2009 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is a BA sport, except when you "accidentally" tear do the net going for a falling birdie

by JackofAllTrades on May 24, 2009 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would definitely be down for some badminton

by acblue on May 24, 2009 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I played tennis in high school.

Not very well, though. Sometimes I think I am playing racquetball (also played in high school) which leads to an interesting game. But I love to play.

by NOLAmarinergirl on May 24, 2009 9:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm in my school's racquetball club.

Now, LL Racquetball would just be too legit.

Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.

by qrsouther on May 25, 2009 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My serve sucks.

♥

by royalcurve on May 24, 2009 11:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So if there was a roll call here

Serotonein, Mariner John, Daniel Carroll, ACBlue?, Nola?, Royal Curve?

I think I know the best spot to get a couple of courts (over in Madrona next to the Verite coffee shop with the awesome cupcakes.) We could even play some pickle ball on the other court.

by johnbai on May 24, 2009 4:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My being there is a matter of when I want to venture up to Seattle from Kent.

We shall see when a date/time happens.

by Mariner John on May 24, 2009 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

When might work for you? You've probably got the hardest schedule to accomodate

by johnbai on May 24, 2009 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

After June basically.

These things will be easier when I live in Seattle next year.

by Mariner John on May 24, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm... may have to find something sooner than that.

by johnbai on May 24, 2009 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah go ahead.

I will be up for one after that.

by Mariner John on May 24, 2009 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is a good park.

Why not, I’m in.

by royalcurve on May 24, 2009 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We can play each other so as not to be embarassed!

by acblue on May 24, 2009 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you just in for the post game cupcakes?

by johnbai on May 24, 2009 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, AC!

No no. No postgame cupcakes for me – I dislike sweets.

by royalcurve on May 25, 2009 12:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep I'm in.

Carroll needs to not hit me in the head this time, though

by NOLAmarinergirl on May 24, 2009 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I, for one, will not be attending!

by Robert on May 24, 2009 6:30 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

But it's entertaining to watch someone swing and complete miss... with a tennis racket.

by johnbai on May 24, 2009 7:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I played on my school varsity team Freshman Year and won 1 match against 10 losses.

Tennis is not my game.

by Taylor H on May 24, 2009 6:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Why were you on Varsity as a Freshman?

Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.

by qrsouther on May 25, 2009 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because I'm athletic. I just lack coordination.

by Taylor H on May 25, 2009 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant more like why would you be put on Varsity with no prior tennis experience?

Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.

by qrsouther on May 25, 2009 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

His school has a shitty tennis team?

by Mariner John on May 25, 2009 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was put on the varsity tennis team at my high school also.

I was a freshman who didn’t know how to play.

by royalcurve on May 25, 2009 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Half the pitchers on our baseball team quit to play tennis.

We became more of a doormat than ever before. If the rest of us had been smart we would have joined them, not very many girls in skirts working up a sweat on the baseball field : (

by Kermit. on May 25, 2009 9:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep.

by Taylor H on May 25, 2009 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lanterman is in too... and he's got an extra racket.

Maybe we can start with a foursome and try to play doubles… or break off into singles if that doesn’t work too well. If only we could get Robert to attend as photographer/court jester/beer supplier.

by johnbai on May 25, 2009 12:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs