Re: Dirty Tricks that Mother didn't teach me -

"G. M. Lupo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> "Gary" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote...
> : I am sure a bunch of you have
> : seen other tactics.  What are your
> : favorites that have either been used
> : on you or you have used???  And,
> : how do you handle trash talkers???
> : Sure, it's easy to punch them out
> : or make a big scene out of their trash talk...
> : but, there's more than one way to skin a cat.
> 
> One of my favorites is to scream, "Shut your freakin' mouth!"  Then leap
> over the net and pummel my opponent with the tennis racket.  That one really
> throws 'em off their game.
> 
> Matt Lupo

Matt,

A number of years back, 12 years back to be exact, I was playing
doubles against a team who loved to trash talk.  I listened to it to
the point that I was ready to do just what you suggested.  However, I
was starting to look for an excuse to inflict bodily damage on one or
both of them.

They were serving...my partner was receiving...and, I was playing just
at the service line on my side of the court.  Boom!!!  I was nailed in
the upper thigh with a serve that went wild off my opponent's racquet.
 They started laughing like a couple of school kids at what had
happened. Before, I realized where my legs were taking me I was around
the net to their side of the court and had grabbed the server by the
throat and demanding an apology.  His partner claimed it was legal to
win a point that way...naturally, he was right!!!  But, I felt they
had trash talked and carried on long enough.
No apology was being given by the person whose throat was in my grip. 
So, I escorted him off the courts to the hood of his car.  His partner
followed with their equipment.  They left in a hurry.

Three weeks later the same two were at the courts and I asked the one
who nailed me with the ball if he was ready to apologize for his
actions.  He admitted that he had intentionally tried to hit me with
the ball because he knew he could win a fast point that way.  I
apologized for my spontaneous behavior too.  They, the both of them,
stopped their trash talk from that day on.

At the time, I felt justified for my behavior...however, it pretty
much ruined everybody's afternoon.  I guess it would have been more
polite of me to have asked them to shut up when the event happened -
but, my leg was smarting a little bit...and, I thought there's a time
for talking and a time for choking.  So, I just reacted.  And, I guess
I have mellowed over the years.

Your Friend,
Gary
www.awningsleeveshirt.com