YOUTH SPORTS: Vikings Win! Vikings Win! (part three)

By Tom Kosinski Sports Central Columnist

Welcome back, tennis buffs! Hope you enjoyed George Soules' first installment last week. Look for the second installment next week.

I'm currently having a dilemma over what racquet to buy. As you may remember, I currently play with the same racquets I used in high school, the Wilson World Class aluminum. Yes, the same frame Ken Rosewall used from about 1977 until he retired. My trusty "clubs" (each weighs an astounding 14.5 ounces, almost half a pound more than any frame currently on the market) have served me well for two decades now. I've used other, newer frames, but none have the same feel and "whomp" that my aluminums have. I took them with me to a coaching clinic recently, and was pretty much laughed at by everyone. They laughed at my aluminum, they laughed at its tiny head size (68 square inches) and they laughed at the weight. That was until I smoked most of their butts in the points we played during the clinic. Even the strongest player there couldn't handle the weight (I am only 5'7" tall, by the way) and all had a hard time playing with them. I grew up with them, so it was comfortable for me. And to be beaten by me with them made my hecklers uncomfortable. But the resounding cry for me to retire my life long companions finally hit home.

It's hard to explain to most players, but the pros use customized racquets. Everyone, with no exceptions, has them customized, and just about everyone adds at least two ounces of weight. Its physics. The heavier frame is more stable, vibrates less, and just has more power stroke for stroke than its toothpick counterpart. Mine are like weapons of mass destruction compared to the precision missile launchers available at the local sporting goods stores today.

But I guess it's time I came into the twenty-first century. That's why I have such a conundrum.

As a college coach, (there's the connection), I receive many interesting offers from companies wishing for me to use their products. Right now, I have two on my desk, each very enticing. One is from Head, one from the new and hard-charging Babolat company. Everyone is familiar with Head and its products. Babolat has made string and accessories for decades, and only recently branched into the racket business. Many pros use Head, but a growing army of players are switching to or endorsing Babolat frames. Babolat makes excellent frames for "players". The Head offer provides a lot of tennis gear in addition to a number of frames for an incredibly good price, but it is one standard package for everyone. Babolat offers about the same amount of gear, but tailors the package to players and coaches. Coaches get the same offer as players but can buy a package with fewer racquets for a lesser price.

Okay, so you're saying, "get to the point, already!" Well, I already know that I'll have to have my new frames customized professionally, since they need to play like my World Class honeys. That costs bucks! So do I go for the Head package, which will cost me more money up front and leave me with more frames than I need but with a well known and used product, or do I go for the Babolat package, which will give me a little less gear, the proper number of frames, and a much lower price. I've added to my stress by finding out that the world famous racquet technician, Warren Bosworth (http://www.boztennis.com) will be coming out with a line of frames within a year. Bosworth worked with a company named Fox and produced a series of great "player" frames a few years ago that are no longer available. If Boz had a line now, I'd be buying them no matter what. But now I wonder if I buy too much now, will I just be tossing money down the toilet when Boz comes up with the new frames.

Suffice it to say, I'll be needing Prozac after I'm done with this decision. But again, as a college coach, at least I have a good problem to handle for a change. No, my team is not a problem, but my line-up has been. Last we talked, my team was 0-2 and looking like we might "bagel" an entire season. I knew that Thunder, Gonzo, Christopher Robin, Fozzie, and the rest of the crew were better than they were playing, but they just seemed to not be able to close the deal in their matches. Well, I'm proud to announce we are now 2-2. After a humiliating loss to cross county rival Brookdale Community College (0-9), my boys bounced back and took our next two matches. First, was Bergen County College. They were similar in ability, but my OCC Vikings just played with tons of heart and desire. It was our first home match of the year, and we were resolved to win it at all costs. There was nothing spectacular about the match, just a "W" for the team.

Gloucester County College came to our Toms River facility this past Monday, and we inked out victory number two. It was close, with the deciding point being one match that the GCC team had to default to us. Of note was "Frye". If you remember, Frye lost to a 58-year-old player in the first match of the year. Against GCC he found himself paired with the second oldest player in the league, a 55-year-old who we will call BT. The look on Frye's face was like he had seen a ghost. What would the world say (and all of you readers) if he lost for a second time to a man more than twice his age? Even our team rode him pretty hard on this one. What luck this kid has. He has to draw the two elder statesman, and already has one loss. Suffice it to say that Frye was going to win at all costs. And I can say now that he did. He was our lone singles victory and the winning point of the match. And he no longer has to worry about having a losing record against members of the AARP.

Saturday, we will be at the County College of Morris, looking for win number three and to go over .500 for the first time in several years at Ocean County College. If any of you can come, please visit us at the tennis center on campus. The match starts at noon.

I'm still trying to decide which racquet to buy. Maybe by the next article I'll have chosen.

Until then, "may you hit nothing but winners!" Happy Easter, everyone!

Article courtesy of Sports Central