Hats off to a Pro

Most of you know that I like to play tennis.

There is a numerical rating system for tennis players that is an attempt to make it possible to match players of equal skill levels, so you don’t wind up with the equivalent of the New England Patriots (this year’s Super Bowl Champs) playing your local high school team.

Believe me, the skill levels on the tennis court vary at least that much…maybe more. When I attend a college tennis match I am astounded that those athletes are using the same equipment, playing by the same rules, and governed by the same laws of physics that I labor under. The professional game is probably as far above the college level as the scholarship athletes are above the weekend players.

The rankings range from a beginner, a 1.0 rating, up to a 6.0, usually a teaching pro. The ranks are broken into groups at 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, etc. The goal is to enable amateurs to compete on equal footing. Even with the unavoidable sandbaggers it means that a 3.0 player can enter a tournament and compete pretty well with other players rated at 3.0.

In a perfect world everyone demonstrates their true skill level at the occasional rating clinics and the judges get it right. This means that if a player rated at 3.0 plays a 3.5, the 3.5 will nearly always win. The grades are so close that the old phrase about, “Any given day…,” still applies. A lower ranked player on top of his game will occasionally sneak up on an opponent in a higher bracket. A 4.0 player will nearly always beat a 3.5. Barring some truly cataclysmic event a 4.0 player will always beat a 3.0.

The real pros, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, the Williams sisters, Lindsey Davenport, are generally considered to be 7’s.

A few years ago at a rating clinic one of the teaching pros in Little Rock, who was serving as a judge, was trying to explain the rating system to some players who were being rated for the first time. This was just after John McEnroe had lost his #1 World Ranking and thinking about retirement. The judge (who shall remain nameless) was an old friend, ranked #1 in the State of Arkansas at the time, and in my opinion about as good a tennis player as Arkansas had ever produced. One of the listeners was trying to get a grasp of the situation and asked the judge what his ranking was. He admitted that he was a 6.0 and the question was asked, “If you are a 6.0 what would a touring professional be?”

When told that a touring professional was a 7.0, McEnroe was used as an example. Immediately another voice opined that perhaps Johnny Mac had been a 7.0, but certainly wasn’t anymore.

The judge, you remember him, the teaching pro, the best tennis player the State of Arkansas had ever produced, the best tennis player I had ever been on a first name basis with, made an immediate correction. He related how a few months earlier he had attended the US Open in New York. He told us that he had been one of the people designated to be a warm up player for the matches, sort of like a sparring partner for a boxer. He revealed that he had been offered the chance hit with old, slow, over the hill John McEnroe. He said it was a good day for tennis. He said that he felt real good and was on top of his game. He said that he was determined not to embarrass Mr. McEnroe, because he certainly didn’t want to hurt his confidence level or psyche him out before what might prove to be his last match at the US Open.

After a few minutes of baseline rallies Mr. McEnroe stepped up the pace. My friend suddenly realized that despite his youth, despite the fact that he was on top of his game, despite the fact that he was playing over his head, and that regardless of all of these facts; he could only hit the tennis ball when Mr. McEnroe would allow him to hit the tennis ball. He said that it did not matter how good a shot he hit, it came back. He said that when Mr. McEnroe wanted to end the point he put the ball away.

He said it gave him a new perspective on what it meant to be a pro.

Unfortunately, this is about the only award you are going to get. You will not get interviewed by ESPN. You will not get your picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated. You certainly will not make as much money as John McEnroe. Face it. None of this is going to happen.

However, if you are in the oil business in Arkansas you are to be commended. Despite all the various and sundry troubles. Despite competition, regulations, and the general sad state of the economy. Against all odds you are hanging in there. Realistically, if you are managing to survive you are a pro!

Look at the jobbers that are no longer in the game. Good operators, good operations…bad luck. Whatever. You are here and they are not. Next month there will probably be more of us that are no longer in the game.

In your own way you are competing in a tough league. Some of us are hitting home runs like Barry Bonds and pitching perfect games like Randy Johnson; most of the time we feel more like Marvelous Marvin Throneberry of the New York Mets, but we are still in the game and still competing.

Never forget that this is a tougher league than those stars have because they have the luxury of striking out and still getting to play tomorrow.

While my hat is off to you, please don’t take a bow. If you bend over someone will kick you in the butt.