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| Mike Rose with fellow blogger Joanne Russell at the Opening Ceremonies© |
Saturday, May 2
Buenos dias mi amigos, Que hora es? My head is spinning, my stomach is tortured, such a day you would never imagine- reality is crazier than fiction, no?
Okay here it is, but be warned, this is not for the faint of heart—this is NFL incognito! The U.S. team is to face Great Britain for the 7th and 8th place playoff 10am. That’s 4am States time.
The wind my friends was howling one second, then but a tease the next. Demonic in one point, lambish the next—but I digress. After 70 minutes the 1st set went to Chris Hearn of Great Britain. Mike Rose (me) dejected, slightly disappointed but (never discouraged) fought back majestically and built a 1-2 deficit in the second. Serving at 15-15, I (rose) hit, dare I say, a wicked awesome cross-court forehand. Alright it was average, however Chris Hearn in his attempt to play the ball, and play it he DID, missing his own forehand by less than ½ foot, BUT his own foot did not miss the sideline sending him sprawling Headfirst into a brick wall. In his own words, so as not to meet the wall face first, he did what NFL coaches ask their players not to do, that is lead with their helmet. Chris was not wearing a helmet today and his head thwacked that wall with the face of a Rhinoceros leaping out of a sequoia (large tree).
By the time I looked up after calling Chris’s shot out, I noticed him in a crumpled heap and hurried over and after hearing what happened, immediately said a silent prayer. I sat there in the red clay by his side, I apologized, he said, “no worries mate”, medics immobilized his neck, I apologized and said, “No, it was out”, and then his captain said “Bloody Hell Chris” at which point Chris said “Things happen in waves of three.” Apparently he had fallen in his own bathroom not too long ago and smashed the back of his head on his sink, then there was a surfing accident, followed by being hit by a car as a pedestrian so I said, “Chris, that’s four things” and then I apologized again. An ambulance came and with extreme caution loaded Chris Hearn on a stretcher.
There’s winning, there’s losing and there’s JUST PLAYING. I didn’t win today. I didn’t lose and I didn’t play, not with Joy. Chris Hearn played and I’m going to pray that he plays again.
The English team opted not to continue with the match, so right there, sitting in the dirt up against a green brick wall the British and the Americans finished their International Team Competition. If you have a minute, say a prayer for Chris Hearn. He’s a Good Mate.
Mike Rose, Team USA
P.S. Your prayers were on target. Thank You.
Chris is out of the hospital and on a plane back to England. We spoke in the lobby and he reiterated to me that he had to make a split decision, as his face was nearly in the brick wall, and not wanting to get even uglier he opted for the top of his head. Then he smiled---and I haven’t stopped.
Cheers, Mike Rose and Chris Hearn
Friday, May 1
Uno de Mayo.
Hola Amigos!
Holy Calamitous day Batman.
We awoke in Mallorca this Friday morning to rain, rain and finally more rain. Clay Courts can be playable often times, despite plenty of precipitation, but today’s play was delayed 3-4 hours. Waiting around to wait a little more can often be a tennis player’s normal routine.
We switched gears today as Captain Gil wanted to get all of us in the action. I sat out and Doug Elly played the #2 spot rather valiantly I might add. He battled the Netherlands player, Remko Jensen, for over 3 hours before succumbing in a heartbreaking 3rd set tiebreaker 7-5.
Then our #1 singles player, Andy Stoner, took up where Doug left off and held a set point at 6-5 in the 1st set tiebreak. See where I’m going? Another Stonewall Jackson effort from Andy Stoner but eventually it was the Netherlands celebrating.
The match play was divine despite wind gusts close to 30 miles per hour throughout the afternoon. Mother Nature has thrown the book at us here in Mallorca. It has been freezing (today), steamy (yesterday), windy and calm, and cloudy and bright; throughout it all the tennis has been immaculate.
It is not only a pleasure but an honor to be going war with this group of guys and even though this surface (red Clay) can be humbling, we are absorbing and adjusting and plotting for future battles.
One very large side note:
One of our teammates, Douglas Elly of Missouri has graced us with the presence of his father, Ed Elly. He is an absolute gem of a man. It is truly an honor to have met him and even better to have had the chance to spend quality time with him. He has travelled the world several times over, has an incredible sense of humor and is pretty much a human encyclopedia. I feel blessed to have been selected for this team and I feel doubly blessed for having met Ed Elly!
Until tomorrow, the mayor of Mallorca-Mike Rose
Thursday, April 30
The USA team felt confident enough to topple the French, but it was not to be. First, I fell, 6-3, 7-6. Then, Andy Stoner, who fought so valiantly, staving off at least five match points, lost, 6-2, 6-4.
The French singles players, both left-handed and slightly more comfortable on this red-crushed brick, simply had one too many tricks up their sleeves. So, as Captain Gil put it, “We must prepare like tall dogs in heat for the Netherlands!”
We remain undaunted… learn from your losses but utilize your priceless short-term memory.
Perhaps we should adopt some of the Frenchman’s style—after all plagiarize!—let no one else’s work evade your eyes.
Stay tuned, especially you, Gil Sr.
Buenos Dias!
Mike
Wednesday, April 29
A sparkling, sunny Warm Mallorcan day, perfect for our rendezvous with India. All matches went to the U.S. in straight sets but not without some very cagey, clever play by the soft-handed Indians. They have an innate ability to make the other players do most of the running, but we were up for it.
Once again there were intriguing matches peppered all over the grounds, men’s and women’s. The camaraderie amongst the U.S. teams, as well as with the other countries' teams, has been extraordinary. Most of the players I have spoken with -- and that is a lot -- have been extremely affable, if not outright effervescent. It is just plain and simple euphoric to plant a tennis fanatic in a compound with so many other tennis fanatics; you see intensity and giddiness simultaneously.
Tomorrow, the men’s Duebler Cup team will face France at 10 a.m.
Enter the next dimension -- now it is time to step up. We all know it; here it is -- No. 6 seed USA vs. No. 3 seed France.
Tune in tomorrow,
Mike
Tuesday, April 28
As our team’s No. 2 singles player, I was slated to begin the Men’s 45 Duebler Cup Competition for Team USA. While warming up with Ireland’s No. 2, it suddenly hit me – I was not just playing my typical tournament. I was representing the United States, and some uninvited nerves popped up. I prevailed over the nerves and my opponent, and then our No. 1 player, Andy Stoner, won in resounding fashion, 6-0, 6-0. So the match was clinched, but there was some doubles drama to come.
Team Captain Gil Schuerholz and Doug Elly played a riveting seesaw doubles match and survived a 3-5 deficit in the final set to post a 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 victory. Down 3-4 in the third, the U.S. team over-hit four consecutive returns to fall behind 3-5. A tenuous serve hold set the platter… break or bust! It was a solid break, and from there they truly dominated, winning the buster, 7-1. Throughout the match, excellent sportsmanship was exhibited on both sides of the net. It just couldn’t have been scripted much better.
The weather was warmer than the day before. There were resplendent matches scattered all about – men’s and women’s. This is certainly a chance of lifetime. Everybody should get at least one chance to be a part of an international team competition.
Tomorrow morning? India!
Mike
Monday, April 27
Opening Day of Competition
Darn Team USA, seeded sixth out of 27 countries, received a bye or, more actually, just an off day. So we awoke early, ate a hearty breakfast, slightly different than what we are accustomed to, but nonetheless certainly bountiful, perhaps better.
Then we were off in surprisingly frigid 9 a.m. weather to scout our opponents. India was combating Ireland and, before their competition completed, our whole team embarked on an adventure to visit a castle. It is known as “Castell de Capdepera.” Walking all over the grounds, as well as to the castle’s church, was truly incredible and spiritually uplifting. I was moved to “ring the church bells” and proclaim, “I am your king,” but suddenly all of my teammates and other nice tourists scattered like lemmings near a cliff.
We then proceeded down to the seaside for lunch, and what a view! For peanuts, we ate and drank, took pictures, laughed, basically soaked in yet more Mallorcan culture and had a ball. Then it was back to the reality of our presence, and that was to get our butts back on the red dirt courts, which we did. Our No. 1 player, Andy Stoner (with 13 gold balls to his credit) humbled us all in a two-and-a-half-hour spirited practice. So, at last, after dinner, we are looking at a 9 a.m. warm-up and a 10 a.m. battle with Ireland.
Cheers!
Mike Rose
Sunday, April 26
Mallorca
Being a part of this in such a magical land is truly incredible. It’s an absolutely gigantic tennis event, and everywhere you look you are surrounded by tennis fanatics from all walks of the earth.
The Opening Ceremony was this afternoon, and it was thrilling to be swept up in country and team pride. Even though you hear different languages and see different flags, it is so obvious how very alike we all are – our desires, hopes, dreams, passions, men and women, some young, some even younger, each with incredible stories leading up to here.
And what about tomorrow? The competitions begin. Stay tuned!
Mike
Saturday, April 25
Arrival
Hello from Mallorca. My name is Mike Rose. I’ve been playing tennis now for 35 years. I’m 50 years young, have had some incredible highs, some frightening lows and a lot of stunning mediocrity.
I was selected once for the International Team Competitions 13 years ago but was forced to decline due to a recent employment situation, so this is my first experience of something of this magnitude. The past two months have been so exciting. There’s so much to learn. It’s one of those “the more you learn, the less you know” kind of deals. I’m basically in the embryonic stage of this competition, so I’m embracing and absorbing the culture… the aura, so to speak.
It’s funny, my three teammates, Captain Gil Schueholz, Andrew Stoner, Doug Elly, and I comprise the U.S. 45s team. Our mission is to defeat any team that we end up facing, but in a broader scope, we are all forming one gigantic team, one that promotes and celebrates this beautiful global game of ours – tennis!
Mike
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