Today I played a brutal tennis match at the Finns Club Bali Open Tennis tournament.
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| Lawrence winning Seniors on year |
It all started out when a fellow Canadian Bali ex-pat contacted me and suggested that I join the tournament knowing that I'm an avid tennis player and was the organizer of the Bali Open Tennis tournament last year in Sanur.
The Conversation leading up to my joining began on WhatsApp earlier this week as follows.
[11:57 AM, 11/14/2018] No worries... was just passing on something of interest...
[11:57 AM, 11/14/2018] XXXX: but i still think you should register.
[11:58 AM, 11/14/2018] XXX: even if you only do a couple of games... it is seriously fun...
[11:58 AM, 11/14/2018] XXX: and if you had to miss a semi-final game then it's just a withdraw which is normal...
[11:59 AM, 11/14/2018] XXXXXX: i'm just saying that it's a very fun feeling to play in a tournament match - even if only 3 people are watching and you lose 6-0 , 6-0 which I did a few years... in the second round.
[12:12 PM, 11/14/2018] XXXXX, P: Okay okay okay I give up I signed up for mens singles, Are you playing in the doubles?
[12:18 PM, 11/14/2018] XXXXX: i'm playing singles...
[12:18 PM, 11/14/2018] Mike XXXXXX: yes great!
[12:19 PM, 11/14/2018]XXXXXXX: trust me, you'll thank me for it later...
[12:20 PM, 11/14/2018]XXXXXX: Okay then I must stay in until at least I meet you to beat your ass. LOL
[12:24 PM, 11/14/2018]XXXXX: Haha
[12:25 PM, 11/14/2018] Lawrence Bellefontaine, P: Hey don't laugh you're going to lose to a guy twice your age
[12:27 PM, 11/14/2018]XXXXXXX, P: I walked on fire, survived 2 Cyclones in the ocean and XXXX wives I can certainly beat you. LOL just joking
[12:28 PM, 11/14/2018] XXXXX: may I remind you that tennis is a gentlemen's sport. you are trashing talking like you're getting ready for an MMA bout.
[12:29 PM, 11/14/2018] XXXXX: hahaha - well, hope it works out to meet up in the tournament --
[1:44 PM, 11/14/2018] Lawrence Bellefontaine, P: All good
Then I received this by what's app
[8:11 PM, 11/17/2018] Lawrence Bellefontaine, P: I guess I'm playing in the women's singles
[8:35 PM, 11/17/2018] XXXXXX: Hahaha
[9:31 AM, 11/18/2018] Lawrence Bellefontaine, P: I guess we will not play against each other after all since I am in the Women's Singles. I wonder if I get to suit up and shower in the women's locker room? See what you got me into? LOL I won't wish you luck today for your match I wish you a miracle because that's what's it will take for either one of us to get through. Oh well have fun. See you there.
[10:25 AM, 11/18/2018] XXXXXX You know that’s a typo right ?
[10:26 AM, 11/18/2018] Lawrence Bellefontaine, P: No I really want to play in the women's at least I have a chance
[10:36 AM, 11/18/2018] Mike POHOLRY: Hahahahaha
So after all those brief what WhatsApp's conversations with my family I finally arrived there this morning for 12 o'clock meeting.
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Son Xander giving me some support
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Unfortunately I wasn't playing a woman although there are some women that can kick my butt.
Instead it was a young Frenchman. Which is exactly what I dreaded.
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| My opponent, Pierre |
My sons wished me good luck.
I said I need a miracle.
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| My family waiting to see dad lose |
When I first met Pierre I tried a little psychological warfare to make him feel overconfident. I stated"you realize that your 30 years younger than me and 10 kg lighter, so take it easy on me"
He agreed but then began to kick my ass.
After 20 minutes I was down 4- 0 and my worst-case expectations were coming to reality.
He agreed but then began to kick my ass.
I envisioned losing 8-0 which is what I originally expected. I do well in seniors division but not with Players half my age.
For some reason at that point I got angry and drew on my inner energy which I learned to draw on over 30 Years ago in Hawaii when I attended a fire walk presentation by Tony Robbins.
This famous motivator taught me after walking on 2,000 DEGREE COALS that "now that I walked on fire I can do anything".
I shouted, I screamed "kill"
Everybody thought I was nuts.
Shortly thereafter the score was 6-7 .
Unfortunately it was too little too late.
The match ended 8-6.
For some reason at that point I got angry and drew on my inner energy which I learned to draw on over 30 Years ago in Hawaii when I attended a fire walk presentation by Tony Robbins.
I shouted, I screamed "kill"
Everybody thought I was nuts.
Unfortunately it was too little too late.
A well-deserved win for young Pierre
He admitted I had him worried.
As this is the hottest time of the year after 8 games I was exhausted and superheated.
So we did what I tell everybody to do when they're stressed out in Bali "go have a massage.
We drove 1 and 1/2 back hrs back to our beachfront residence and a friendly masseuse showed up and gave us both a an hour massage for 100,000 rupiah or roughly $6.5 dollars each .
That followed by a Jacuzzi in the beachfront Jacuzzi and life is back to good.
As this is the hottest time of the year after 8 games I was exhausted and superheated.
So we did what I tell everybody to do when they're stressed out in Bali "go have a massage.
We drove 1 and 1/2 back hrs back to our beachfront residence and a friendly masseuse showed up and gave us both a an hour massage for 100,000 rupiah or roughly $6.5 dollars each .
That followed by a Jacuzzi in the beachfront Jacuzzi and life is back to good.
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