The Curse Is Broken!



We've been in business---and going to Macon several times a year---for 6+ years...I wish I could explain why but we almost never have a positive experience there...The only explanation is that we're cursed when it comes to junior tournaments in Macon.

We arrived on Friday (after watching FED come back from 0-5 in the 2nd set tiebreaker against Del Potro in the Dubai semi-finals OMG-LONG LIVE THE FED!!!) We'd planned to leave by noon but I have my priorities and FED is my obsession so we didn't leave until after 2PM. No matter - we arrived and set up, determined to break the curse this year. Alas, mother nature had other plans, she was was causing heartbreaking destruction throughout the midwest, and she had her eye on the south. :(

Fortunately, the storms we faced on Saturday in Macon didn't even come close to the devastation that they dealt with in the midwest - THANK GOD! The only thing we had to deal with was a huge rain delay that prevented things from starting as scheduled (we finally got started at 2PM) and then the day got rained out for good at 6PM...So far, we'd been in Macon for more than 24 hours and players played for 4 hours...not good for anyone, including video companies that are trying to make money to pay their mortgage. Then a former customer asked if we were randomly recording matches - YES - and he said he might randomly buy the match for his son if we randomly recorded it. Of course we did but at the end of the day, the score was 1-0 (the rain was the winner). :(

Determined to make up for lost time, we kicked the HIGH-TECH TENNIS HUSTLE into high gear (even had an awesome teenager from Macon helping us) on Sunday... We had sunny skies and totally DRY conditions (not even a tiny threat of rain) - but we had another element to deal with: W-I-N-D!! We're here to tell you that the number of people who want to purchase a match during which the players are constantly battling ferocious winds is VERY, VERY low. :( We fought that wind all day long as it blew tents, tables, and paperwork all over the tennis center...and when Mr. Random Customer requested that we make a special trip to an alternate site to record a 2nd match for his son (and he promised to buy one of the two), we sent our teenaged helper to accommodate, even though we thought that was a bit much. But when he later asked us to make yet ANOTHER special trip to the alternate site to record a 3rd match, we had to ask: "how many matches were you planning to purchase anyway?" He said he was going to purchase the best of the three...Seriously??? You want us to drive all over Macon all weekend for a mere $59??? Get real, DUDE!!! You better make it the best of the two we already recorded. :( Score was 3-0...The rain + wind + mr. random customer had 3, we had NADA.

Monday was the best weather day of all, but unfortunately, by that time the damage to our numbers and to my frame of mind was so DONE. Please realize that we have to PAY good money for the sheer opportunity to present our video services at the John Drew Smith Tennis Center...Now I'm sure you can understand why we eliminated the Qualifier from our schedule several years ago, we eliminated the National Open in May (due to 32 draw), and we are now breaking the curse by eliminating the spring bullfrog. :(

Some of our best friends (players and parents) live in Macon, but in 6+ years, we just don't have anything positive to say about Macon tournaments...with the notable exception of those run by Craig Jones at the Idle Hour Country Club, which are AWESOME and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.