In This Issue:

Editorial Crazy Eddie and SMTC Friday Night Affair Nov. 9th Bag a Turkey Sail Away to Marina del Rey Club Championships Credits Board Actions

Roar from the Bleachers New on Board Long Distance Members Tennis Tips Ladder Notes Unpersonals Welcome New Members Back Page - Volunteer Supreme

EDITORIAL: ON GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP

Sportsmanship: The qualities and conduct befitting one who abides by the rules of a contest, and accepts victory or defeat graciously.
- Webster's Dictionary

Sportsmanship is key to good tennis. And being a good sport consists not only of following the rules, but also of being an opponent against whom others enjoy playing.

We each recognize bad sportsmanship. This includes making repeated bad calls; the overuse of profane language; and self-centered behavior towards an opponent or doubles partner, such as answering a cell phone during a point. Each behavior may be barely legal - and yet it hardly makes for a pleasurable game. But instead of going on about bad sportsmanship, it might be more productive to cite some cases of good sportsmanship which I've witnessed first hand - starting off with Mike Schmidt and Brian Page.

When Jeff Potts and I formed a doubles men's team last spring, it was mostly to challenge them. Since their skills vastly exceeded ours, our goal was to pick up on their 4.5 level skills. Of course, this exercise wouldn't be quite as exciting for them. And when I called, they could easily have strung us along, ducking a match. But they didn't. Within ten days of our challenge, we were on the court.

We lost, of course, 6-0, 6-0. But we never heard either Mike or Brian complain that we were wasting their time. And after they whipped us, with half an hour left on our reservation, Mike and Brian split up, each teaming with one of us to play a third, "for fun" match. This time, the scores were pretty close - the SMTC equivalent of my partnering with Andre Agassi while Jeff partnered with Pete Sampras as we both rose to the thrilling top of our skills level.

A couple of months later, Jeff and I challenged them again. Again, they immediately scheduled a match. This time, we lost 6-0, 6-2.

Wanna know what a thrill is? A thrill is scoring two games against Schmidt-Page, after having been completely skunked the first time around. And when we called again to arrange for a September match, Mike called back immediately. He was laughing on the phone. Laughing! He and Brian knew what this was really about. And the two were, once again, great sports about it. (Don't ask the final score).

Philip Berman is another great sport. I periodically challenge him on the singles ladder. Once, I came oh so close to beating him. We were at a set apiece, and he had "run out of gas." But we couldn't find a court to play a third hour. And when we finally got that third set in a week later, he was rested - and won.

The thing about it is, even after that close call, he didn't duck my challenges. He comes on the court, laughing and smiling. And win or lose, I enjoy his company. The two hours we're out there are productive, fun, a clear plus in my life.

Mary Sunshine, with whom I paired up in this summer's mixed doubles round robin and again in the Club Championships, is another terrific sport. Not knowing how well she played, I nevertheless appreciated her attitude. After we played our first round robin first match and had six more matches to go, she asked me just one thing. She asked me not to criticize her playing, no matter what mistakes she might make. I agreed to the deal.

What I didn't realize then was that the deal also worked in reverse. She wouldn't criticize the many mistakes I made. In fact, whenever I made a mistake, she would say, "It doesn't matter," or smile and just say "Let's get the next point." Thus, a true sports partnership evolved.

There are a surprising number of other SMTC players I could also mention here. Bruce Janger. Mike Sparno. Bob Shubert. But without going through a too long list, what all these players, of all differing levels, seem to have in common is this. They are aware and respectful of their partner and of their opponent(s). They don't duck when challenged, even on the all-important ladder. They seem to like themselves and have integrity, and this translates into how they act on the court. And when I am around such people, I learn a little something. Not just how to hit a better ball, but how to behave a little better. To become a better person.

And perhaps, in the end, this is what good sportsmanship is really about - becoming a better person, learning qualities here which we can export off the tennis courts and back to our daily lives. Not a bad two for one deal - learn a little tennis, and in the bargain learn how to be a better being.

Maybe this is something in which we at SMTC could all grow together.

- Joseph Hanania

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CRAZY EDDIE AND SMTC

Those of us from New York City may remember "Crazy Eddie," an electronics merchandiser who "underpriced" his merchandise because of an alleged mental illness - to the delight of every New Yorker. So, what does this have to do with SMTC?

Now, you may want to take a chance that we won't boost our 2008 rates. On the other hand, you may have noticed that SMTC ran slightly in the red the first half of last year - and that we have added a fourth court during "prime time" Sunday Open Play, further boosting costs. So, we may well raise our rates.

But - here's the beauty of it - even if we do, you can beat our rate increase by renewing NOW at our old, too-cheap-to-be-believed rate of merely (we blush to mention it) $65 a year. And what, oh skeptic, do you get for this investment?

Check it out for yourself by going through past newsletters - all on line - seeing the awesome activities in which SMTC members have participated over just the last year. And 2008 will be even better. Not only will we have our first ever winter interclub with the Marina Club - making such get togethers with them a twice a year event - but we are also negotiating the final details for our first ever anticipated interclub with the posh Mulholland Tennis Club later this year.

All this is in addition to upcoming interclubs with Malibu and the Riviera, as well as with Mountaingate - our "in" that last Club is our own Marguerite Jorgensen.

We also have other fun-filled activities you have already come to love. These include the 2008 round robin starting Feb. 15th, and organized for the first time ever by our own tactful Steve Dorman. (Is it possible to be too nice a guy? Nah!!!) We're sure you don't want to miss out on this one!

So do you really want to take a chance that our annual rates will remain the same after our meeting on November 4th? Or do you want to renew now and lock in our old rate by sending your check with the renewal form?

Our loss is your gain. Or, as Eddie himself might say, we're Cra-zeeee!!!

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A FRIDAY NIGHT AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, NOV 9

Watch Carol Reston make her sharply angled "guillotine" shot from the net. Watch Bob Shubert play without saying more than two words at a time. Hear Lucienne Aarsen's incredible Phyllis Diller laugh as she makes a point.

All this - and more - takes place Nov. 9th, starting at 7 p.m. Please mail entry form to Bruce Schelden.

Click here for the entry form.

-Carol Reston

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BAG A TURKEY! (WE'RE NOT KIDDING!)

Nov. 18th is your chance to Bag a Turkey at the annual SMTC Turkey Shoot! (Okay, if you're on the winning team, you get $10 towards a turkey. Details, details!)

Now, some people think that SMTC members are the turkeys to be bagged. Not true! However, all members are invited to dress up in appropriate costumes - Pioneers, or Native Americans, or even (you guessed it) as Turkeys! Plus, please bring a can of food or an item of clothing to be contributed to the homeless.

Come one! Come all! Please send in your entry form to Marguerite Jorgensen.

Click here for the entry form.

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SAIL AWAY TO MARINA DEL REY!

Friday, January 18th, eight lucky players will get to strut their stuff at the Marina Club, 4333 Admiralty Way, for an evening of mixed doubles starting at 6 p.m. Afterwards, we have been invited to use their spa facilities including sauna, steam and jacuzzi, and then join them upstairs for a night of wine, women, and song on the dinner/dance floor, overlooking the Marina. (Is this promotion sexist? Nah!!!)

Please let us know if you want to join in the entertainment portion of the evening. During our interclub last summer, this featured a three piece band which lured a few of us out on the dance floor. We will reserve a table with members of the Marina Club, with whom we will look out at the sailboats -- and dream about sailing away.

All for a mere $20. Dinner is separate. Please fill out the entry form and send to Joseph Hanania. You snooze, you lose!

- JH

Click here for the entry form.

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CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007

Kudos to all participants of the 2007 Club Championships! There were perfectly played points, great games, and memorable matches played at Reed Park. The players' passion for tennis was at its height as tempers flared, racquets flew, balls were pulverized, and line calls were argued. Would you expect anything less?

This was truly competitive tennis at its best, and all sets ended with firm congratulatory handshakes. The games were followed by a feast at Katherine Spetner's Castle and gardens, where trophies and ribbons were awarded to the champions and runners-up amid fine dining and drinks worthy of a Roman emperor.

The 2007 Club Championships have come to a close, but the names of the champions and runners up live on, inscribed in stone! Even the (fictional) general turned gladiator, Maximus, immortalized by star Russell Crowe, would have been proud to participate in such festivities. So as the camera backs up for the closing shot, all hail, Maximus! All hail, SMTC!

- Jim Castagnola

Men's Singles 4.5
Champion: Yosh Kambe
Runner-Up: Raul Hernandez

Men's Singles 4.0
Champion: Cyrus Nanani
Runner-Up: Philip Berman

Men's Singles 3.5
Champion: Joseph Hanania
Runner-Up: David King

Men's Doubles 4.5
Champion: Raul Hernandez/Ron Elmer
Runner-Up: Steve Dorman/Jim Dekel

Men's Doubles 4.0
Champion: Dan Bianco/Eric Rabinowitz
Runner-Up: David Morton/Alex Clarke

Womens Doubles 4.0
Champion: Katherine Spetner/"Comrade"
Runner-Up: Carol Reston/Barbara Osbone

Womens Doubles 3.5
Champion: Carrie Gold/Gwen Coleman
Runner-Up: Marguerite Jorgensen/Mary Sunshine

Womens Singles 4.0
Champion: Katherine Spetner
Runner-Up: Lucienne Aarsen

Womens Singles 3.5
Champion: Mary Sunshine
Runner-Up: Suzy

Mixed Doubles 4.5
Champion: Katherine Spetner/Harry Weiss
Runner-Up: "Comrade"/Andre Charvet

Mixed Doubles 4.0
Champion: Carol Katz/Ron Elmer
Runner-Up: Mary Durkin/David Morton

Mixed Doubles 3.5
Champion: Lucienne Aarsen/Bob Shubert
Runner-Up: Mary Sunshine/Joseph Hanania

Yes, we had fun times at the Club Championship Party. Our unofficial photographer-in-residence, Lance Clarke, returned from assignment in Hawaii just to take these photos.

So, can you - faithful Club member - ID these suspicious looking people? Please let us know if any of them are on the FBI's most wanted list.

The top photo is entry #5 in our Photo Contest.



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Credits

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DORMAN FOUND "NOT GUILTY;" LEVEY SUSPENDED FOR 30 DAYS

After spending 90 minutes considering in person appeals by Steve Dorman and Harris Levey following in an incident last summer during Open Play, the Board found Dorman had obeyed Club rules and complied with a Director's ruling, and so was "Not Guilty" of disruptive behavior. However, the Board found Harris Levey "Guilty" of using profane, abusive language while disputing the ruling of a Director and suspended him 30 days. That suspension is over, and Levey once more has full Club privileges.

The Board would like to thank the Standards Committee of Bruce Janger, Jeff Potts, and Katherine Spetner for their work investigating these incidents. Although the Board took an hour and a half listening to the appeals and individually questioned each man before reaching its verdicts, its task would have been longer and more difficult had the Standards Committee not done the footwork and cleared the path.

Both Dorman and Levey have previously been subjects of Club disciplinary actions. The Standards Committee initially recommended a two month suspension for each man.

- JH

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THE ROAR FROM THE BLEACHERS

Dear Editor,

Have you experienced a bad call when you've served an ace that has actually landed inside the centerline -and you know this because you are standing on the center line? When I've asked my opponent where the ball landed, they will point to a spot six inches outside the line when it actually landed on the other side of the line or on the line. It is very frustrating, mainly because I tell my opponents when my own ball is out - calling the point against myself. When I am not sure and similarly ask them to call their own ball "in" or "out," I am expecting the same honesty from them.

So, why do the same handful of individuals repeatedly make such bad calls? It could be plain cheating, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt…for the moment!

Obviously some players do not see as well as others, especially those wearing glasses. I am always amazed when some - though by no means all - players wearing glasses are adamant when their bad calls are correct. Folks, they are wearing glasses because their eyesight is not up to snuff. The glasses do not give them perfect vision. Rather, they assist the poor vision they already have. But if I point this out to them they immediately take umbrage. I had one guy making bad calls state, "I just had laser eye surgery a week ago. My eyesight is fine." Rightttttt!!!

The same few players make bad calls week after week, and others repeatedly point this out to them. We would think that eventually they would come to the conclusion that maybe they don't have good eyesight, and then concede they may be incorrect on the call. So far, it has not worked. Then we have the players who cheat on a regular basis. (And you know who you are, darlings!) They not only make bad line calls, but they will accept double bounces or touching the net with equal aplomb.

What to do? We are playing a game of inches and depend upon each other for honest and fair calls. But we are each dependent on the other person's eyesight, good or bad. So next time both of your opponents inform you of your lousy call, think carefully, and if this happens pretty often to you, concede the point...unless you know they are blatant cheats. And although it is pretty unlikely to have two cheats playing together, like does attract like!

Enjoy your tennis, and remember if you don't see the ball clearly "out"...IT IS IN! Not maybe, possibly, hopefully, doubtfully, prayerfully, blindly…..IT IS IN!

David Morton

Dear Editor,

The real debate we as a Club seem to be having is whether this club needs more or fewer rules. Aristotle said laws are a necessary evil, circumscribing personal freedom in exchange for greater stability and order. And if each of us treated everyone else with decency and kindness, we would not need so many rules.

Unfortunately, I think our club needs rules. Tempers flare, and without rules, arguments could get more out of hand.

The most difficult rule is for each of us to accept the other side's calls. This only works out if balls are called "out" only when the person clearly sees the ball "out." If they do not see the ball clearly "out," the call must be "good."

My problem occurs if my opponent calls a ball "out" when I know that they could not have clearly seen it "out." I have a hard time living with their call -- especially on my serves. The benefit of the doubt should thus go in favor of the ball being called "in."

It would also be helpful if the server calls the score on every serve. My pet peeve is when I go up to serve, the other side often calls out the wrong score before I can announce it. I then have to correct the score, regain my composure, and serve.

We're all making definite progress in making Sunday Open Play a fairer, more civil place. Let's keep it up, transforming the atmosphere of our Club.

G. Frank Glabach

Dear David and Frank,

The fact that both of you independently have taken the time to write in about continuing poor conduct on the courts tells us on the Board that although we have made progress in this area, we still have not gotten to where we want to go. So, perhaps it is time to go into more detail about this.

Most importantly, following an incident in which a Club player allegedly walked off in the midst of a Challenge Court match, disrupting play, the Board unanimously enacted the rule, "Out of Play, Out for the Day." Any participant who walks out before a Club match is over, for whatever reason, is banned from participating in a Club activity for the rest of the day. When you commit to play, you are committing yourself to the entire match.

The Club Directors are also aware that it is the same few players - less than half a dozen of our 200 members - who are repeatedly cited for making bad calls, rude conduct, and so forth. And when these repeat offenders are found guilty of a second strike, the Directors are dealing with them more severely. Thus, during his Appeals hearing, a major consideration in the Board's decision to suspend Harris Levey was that the Standards Committee had issued him a warning in March for disruptive behavior. If any player should be found guilty of a third strike, the Directors will act accordingly.

Finally, we note that Club members have an informal system already in play. More than one player has found that others do not want to play or team up with them on the courts. Thus, disruptive players end up largely isolating themselves.

Once more, we are primarily a social Club, and all this is an ongoing process, rather than an instant "cure." Nevertheless, we believe it to be the fairest, most effective way to deal with such behavior in the long run.

JH

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NEW ON BOARD

Gwen Coleman, who has come on Board as SMTC's new Trips Director, wants to thank her predecessor, Jutta Ruehl for have done an amazing job as Trips Director over seventeen years. Gwen is planning her first trip for the Martin Luther King weekend beginning January 18th. Details to follow in the January newsletter.

- JH

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HOW FAR WOULD YOU TRAVEL FOR AN SMTC MEMBERSHIP?

So, how far would anyone come to be a member of SMTC? Perhaps 10 miles from West Hollywood? Or, if we really push it, 20 miles driving in from the Valley? Thirty miles, tops?

If that's your guess, you're not even close! New members Nancy (4.0) and Richard (4.5) Katzberg hail from over 390 miles away. They live in...drum roll please... Sacramento!

Why would anyone come so far just for Sunday Open Play? Has the outstanding nature of our competitions, the sociability of our members, the ideal weather here really attracted attention from so far away?

Perhaps. On the other hand, the Katzbergs also like to get in some tennis along the way while visiting their son - who just happens to live here. So the next time you think about how far you've had to come, only to wait in the bleachers for your turn to participate in Open Play, which has now gained a reputation statewide, think of the Katzbergs. And then ask yourself, how many of our hoity-toity rival clubs can even come close to matching the long distance loyalty of our fine, upstanding members?

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TENNIS TIPS

Asked if he felt badly while destroying an opponent, legendary tennis player Andre Agassi replied, "You don't cheat anybody out of their experience, whatever it is. I promise you, it's all part of what makes you who you are down the road. And if a match is getting blown out one way or the other, you've got to learn from it and you've got to understand it for what it is. I've been on the other side of that. I wouldn't want to cheat anybody out of that experience.

- As reported by Gary Smith in Sports Illustrated, July 17, 2006

"The serve is the shot over which a players has the most control. And because it starts each point, the server has a tremendous advantage and is expected to win the game. If you lose serve, you've been "broken," and unless you can break back by winning a game on your opponent's serve and regain equal footing, then it's impossible to win the set. One of the most telling marks of your character on the court is whether or not you can break back, because you need to pull it off when your confidence is down and you opponent's is up."

- James Blake in his autobiography, Breaking Back

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NOTES FROM LADDER DIRECTOR

"A Tale of Two Sundays" -- The recent, greatly hyped match between top seeded Mike Schmidt and second seeded Ted Malek was too eventful to be concluded in the two hours originally scheduled. So the combatants returned on another Sunday, tied at one set apiece. Mike edged Ted 7-5 in the third set to retain his crown. In this revision of Dickens, the king put down the rebellion and kept his head.

And if the number one player shows vulnerability, it means the other people on the ladder(s) can also be beaten on any given Sunday, or Monday, or...Well, you get the point. Give it a try! (And if any women want to play on a women's singles ladder, it only takes two of them to play a match and call me with the result.)

- Bruce Janger

Click here for the ladder.

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UNPERSONALS

OFFERED: Free Class in Meditation, Spirituality
Discover a calmer way of looking at the ball - and at life - Tuesdays 7 - 8:30 p.m. Free. Please call Joe at 310-451-1966.

Get results by taking out your own free Unpersonal. And what kind of results do you get from an Unpersonal?

Last issue, the SMTC Board took out its own Unpersonal for a Trips Director - and had one within weeks. So, what are you waiting for?

Please send in your unpersonal to joe@aceupoursleeve.com. Free to members. $5 to non-members. Subject line: SMTC Unpersonal. No attachments, please.

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Welcome New Members

• Sharma, Atul  310-440-3439  4.5
• Masse, Guy  310-355-8314  3.5
• Cekirge, Nafiz  310-488-8963  4.0
• Chinyee, Randloph  424-634-0283  4.0
• Decker, Steven  310-202-1835  3.5
• De Schepper, Luc  310-573-6252  4.0
• Dungog, Marsha  310-393-6395  3.5
• Gonzalez, Jose Luis  818-720-7100  3.5
• Hendriks, Rolf  290-855-3581  3.5
• Israwi, Salim  310-883-8839  3.0
• Katzberg, Richard  916-649-8640  4.5
• Katzberg, Nancy  916-649-8640  4.0
• Kornesczuk, Susy  310-828-7109  3.5

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Volunteer Supreme

Santa Monica Tennis Club has many great members. However, one stands out in particular!

Originally from Australia, Katherine Spetner has lived in the U.S. for 25 years. She is a licensed architect with her own company which specializes in residential and small commercial projects. She loves gardening, flower arranging, cooking and al fresco entertainment so much that she is now called Spetty Crocker by certain friends. Lately her teenagers started driving and she has been distilling her own lemon and orange liqueurs. She cautions SMTC members to be alert for random driving and possible minor explosions near the traffic circle on 26th St.

In addition, Katherine has been the generous host for the past two years for the Club Championship party (and did so again this year). She has also hosted two parties for the Friday Night social events gratis! Katherine has also worked out a format whereby everyone plays only one time with one person and against a different person each time (well almost perfect).

- Marguerite Jorgensen

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