PCC & Me: Hit-N-Giggle & BIG Net Tennis

Last time we looked at the Turkey Bowl concessions. That was fun for me to recollect and share it you.

During the three years prior to arriving at PCC (84-87) I worked in the fitness industry, almost exclusively with tennis 🎾. I was the club membership manager responsible for membership sales and retention at several clubs in our Chicagoland group. At my home club, in Willowbrook, IL, I also taught group and private lessons. I was sponsored by Pro Kennix (PK) tennis company. PK provided me with their rackets, shoes and clothes. With that in my background the PCC administration assigned me to teach mens' and womens' (beginner) tennis. 

The original four courts (at left) I taught on were located adjacent to the swim center and directly behimd tne Academic Center. They're the original four courts still there today. The first day of the girls tennis class I told them that they were going to be learning the basics, but have fun doing it in a no pressure format. I told them we will call this, "Hit-n-Giggle" tennis. Like that we had fun while learning.

With the guys, however, it was a little different. Within the traditional teaching framework I created a competitive game called "BIG Net" tennis.

Imagine an overhead view of four tennis courts with a 12' fence diving them into 2x2. I had the idea to treat the four courts as one with the 12' fence as the BIG net dividing the court. So, we essentially played volleyball. I would start a point by serving a tennis ball high into the air to one side of the BIG net or the other. Players had to return the ball over the net to the opposing team within three shots, just like volleyball. The guys really took to the game. We played it 2, 3 times a month.

On one occasion Dr. Goddard, my VP came strolling by the tennis courts during one of the BIG net games. He paused, looked on for a few seconds. All I could say to him was, "BIG net tennis." He nodded, smiled and went on his way.

There was another occurrence in my men's tennis class. One of my students bought a new racket, he showed it to me as the lesson started. Midway through the lesson I see this guy not reaching for shots, especially when the ball was close to the ground. I knew the problem, he didn't want to scratch the frame. So, I called him over, asked him to let me see his tennis 🎾 racket. When he handed it to me I took it and scraped it in a large semicircle across the court. I handed it back telling him he doesn't have worry about scratching his new racket now.

Well, a few days go by until I received a note from Dr. Goddard (VP for Academic Affairs). He asked to see me in his office. I had no idea why I was called to meet with him. Dr. Goddard explained one of my tennis students came to him to complain about me raking his new tennis racket on the court.

I explained to Dr. Goddard why I did (see above) and by making his racket game used he began to play better. Dr. Goddard thanked me, meeting over. Next class I called the young man over, and said something like, "J***, what are doing belly aching to Dr. Goddard. Get out there and play tennis."

So, who was this student? Sure, why not. It was Cameron "Jack" Davies. Beyond tennis I knew Cameron was a brilliant student. Currently he is the Chief Data Officer for Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company, hosting such iconic brands as KFC, Taco Bell [my personal favorite1], Pizza Hut, and The Habit Burger. 

Kind regards,


LM

Footnote to Taco Bell;

1) Bring back the 7-layer burrito!

Addendum:

Some readers may know I have incurable metastatic renal cell carcinoma, stage 4.  In the early days of treatment I was told what foods were good for me, and some to avoid. Before the dietician got started I told her, "It doesn't matter what you tell me, I am not giving up Taco Bell."