Player Blog from the 2008 USTA National Husband-Wife in Ponte Vedra, Florida

From The Shallow End of The Talent Pool - by Larry Bush, Ocala, FL

Sunday, October 26 - 11:00am.- Finally The Finals

It looks like everyone survived whatever they did after tennis last night. We started play at 9 a.m. and some folks were movin' kinda slow. There was a group of us who went to Chicago Pizza for dinner and the watch the Ray-Phillies game. All I can say is if you are ever at Chicago Pizza, order The Rocket.

We are looking forward to the finals and there was a discussion about how the three-time winning team of Paul and Kathy Settles would do against the teams left in the draw. There was a bit of a split crowd, but the only way to find out is to get Team Settles to come back. Maybe next year.

Sure have enjoyed getting re-acquainted with the old friends and getting to know the new ones. There are some of us talking about going to Kansas City for the Outdoor Hard Court Husband-Wife Championships this summer. That would be a lot of fun and hopefully, it will happen.

I've enjoyed this “blog” or I've enjoying “blogging,” which ever is more correct.

Let Phil know at the ATP what you thought. Maybe they'll hire me again next year.

We'll post some photos (including from last night out) later today so come back and check it out.

- Larry (email me your comments at ldbush@yahoo.com)

Saturday, October 25 - 6:29pm.- For The Seeds Phil Has Sewn

The top 4 seeds are through. This is going to be a great day tomorrow.

Right now, the free adult beverages are flowing. Chicago Pizza is the site tonight for the Ohio State-Penn State and the Ray game. I really do not care for sweater vest-wearing Jim Tressel, the Ohio State coach. If you still wear a sweater vest, I hope it matches your platform shoes.

Toy Tingsombutyout is the Executive Director for First Coast tennis and is really active in the scheduling of events. This tournament supports the foundation and Toy does such a great job we all are proud to be just a small part of helping them out.

The sun is out and there is some really great tennis. I am looking forward to the finals tomorrow. It may be the best tennis we've seen without a ticket.

It will definitely be a better final than the 6-0, 6-0 butt kicking the Settles gave the Barths in 2004. (That was just a personal shot at Jonathan Barth for not coming this year.)

He used some sort of my-wife-is-expecting excuse.

- Larry

Saturday, October 25 - 3:10pm.-

Not that any of you have your cell phones set for alerts, but Debbie and I are out of the Husband-Wife tournament. The Carlson did us in 6-2, 6-1. We lost the first nine points and only won one because they dumped the ball into the net.

All of the lunches have been donated by Firehouse Subs. No matter who you are and where you live, go to Firehouse for lunch this week and thank the manager for supporting tennis. The manager will look at you funny, but let them know we appreciate everything they do.

As for the real tennis players, it is quite a tournament. The No. 2 seeds (Fess) are through to the semis and it looks as if the 1, 3 and 4 seeds will be, too. If that happens, a big group hug to Phil Dore for the seeding. Of course, his two daughters are here keeping things straight so I'm thinking maybe they did the draw.

As for the folks still swinging away, they are keeping the trainer busy. Ice, ice, baby. (For those of you laughing, thanks.)

It is nice to be in the dame draw as a former Davis Cup player and top ATP 200 (Louis Vosloo) as well as former ATP big wig Weller Evans.

You know you are desperate to win a bet when you are betting how many time you have been beaten by someone. Mr. ATP Big Wig said he and Margi had beaten Debbie and I twice; I said it was more than that.

Fore the record: Evans D. Bush 6-3, 6-1 in the 2002 main draw; Evans d. Bush, 6-3, 6-1 in the 2004 Finals of the Just For Fun; and in the 2007 consolation, Evans d. Bush, 6-4, 6-2. Weller is buying the first round tonight. Go Rays!

- Larry

Saturday, October 25 - 9:45am.- First round is (almost) over

This is shaping up to be a very interesting tournament. After the first round, it looks like all of the seeded players will move on. I know Debbie and I did our part by getting beaten 6-0, 6-1 by the No. 3 seed. We were down 0-6 and 0-4 before we got our first game. It's like I told them, “Nobody beats the Bushes 11 games in a row.”

Guess we showed them As usual, Debbie was very steady and I, well, wasn't. But, we made new friends and that is what really matters.

Phil moved the Just For Fun to Sunday. There is not a big draw, so it will work out.

We are headed out to play in the Consolation round. Keep hope alive.

Saturday, October 25 - 8:30am.- Let The Games Begin!

It's Saturday morning and the skies are clear. Let's play some tennis!

Last night the player party was at Ocean Club right on the Ocean! Life is tough. It was a great time for all. Let me say this: if you have been here before and did not come this year, we talked about you. We talked about your forehand, backhand, the way your spouse carries you and how terrible your volleys are.

You need to come next year and we won't talk about you.

Gotta go play the No. 3 seed. Might be right back.

- Larry

Friday, October 24 - 11:30am.- Beer Blues

This is the first update from the tournament site.

Right now, the rain is the big winner. Looks like we will either play late today or a lot of tennis tomorrow. Along with the National Husband-Wife, there are two other draws -- a Combined 100 age Husband-Wife and the Just For Fun -- and some couples are in two draws.

The good news is lunch is here and the beer is cold.

- Larry

Thursday, October 23. Getting Ready

As seven-time players at the National Husband-Wife Clay Court Championships, for some odd reason Tournament Director Phil Dore asked me to 'blog' about the tournament. I'm not sure if 'blog' is a noun or a verb, but I'll give it a try.

If you are looking for stats and rankings about each player, strengths and weaknesses, go ahead a log off now. If you want a 4.0 NTRP rated view of some great tennis and a wonderful time off the court, please enjoy.

As I said, I am a 4.0 player and my wife, Debbie, is a solid 3.5. She is a lot more consistent than I am and, I'm told, much nicer on the court. I get a little wound tight once in a while, during every match, for no known reason, but I'm not ugly to my opponents. We have so much fun playing together that I look dumbfounded when a married couple tells us they could "never play together. We'd kill each other." Really? You'd kill your best friend? (That one will get me some points.) My point is this, Paul Settles, now a college coach and the first tournament director, and Phil Dore, current tournament director, have done and continue to do such an excellent job with this tournament, every husband and wife team should come.

From the opening match on Friday, to the finals on Sunday, all the players are having so much fun on and off the court. It is the best tournament Debbie and I play each year. Not only to you actually get a welcome gift, with t-shirts and ATP stuff, the food and drink are all taken care of for the entire tournament.

Anyway, we came to play in the National H/W almost by accident. We were looking for a tournament to play in for our anniversary. I saw this Husband-Wife
tournament and we have been coming to Ponte Vedra, FL for now the seventh year in a row. We are proud of that because each year we extend our tennis family.

We are from the shallow end of the talent pool here, though. There are former ATP players, teaching pros, former Division I players. I taught myself how to play on the courts at H.T. Custer Park in Galesburg, Ill. People have spent more on rackets than I have on lessons. Now that I think of it, maybe that's a problem.

We have made it out of the first round once. For us, it is usually two-and-done-and enjoy your t-shirts.

I'll 'blog' about twice a day and give some scores and let you know how Debbie and I are doing. She'll do fine. She always does. We play the third seed in our opening match on Friday. They are from Colorado, but their last names aren't the same. I may ask to see some sort of proof on one of the changeovers.

So get this, the only seven time players, only made it out of the first round once and we draw the third seed. I need to talk to the tournament director.