The Blackout

Did you hear about the blackout at the super bowl this year?
Sunday night football usually means
Monday morning football for us in Japan.
And I couldn’t take the morning off.
But I did hear about the 34 minute blackout.
Did I mention I love blackouts?
Especially inside a big dome or stadium.
All that energy packed inside the darkness.
It’s pretty awesome if you’ve ever experienced it.
When helping out at tennis tournaments every year
we always have days that turn into a rainy day at center court.
The thing about these tournaments is that
they are suppose to be outdoors.
So even if we know that the rain is coming
we literally have to wait until the last minute to close the roof.
But also, the roof takes 30 minutes for it to close.
And also all the lights go out while it closes.
Ha.
I took these pictures on my cellphone last year
when we were opening the roof for the second match.
It went pitch black for a minute.
(we got everyone to wave their cellphones)
Then the light came streaming down into the court
as the roof started moving out.
LOVE.IT.

The Other Tennis Tournament

Fall is the season for tennis.
At least for me.
This time is the All Japan Tennis Tournament.
These stairs were brutal when
we were working here all week in college.
We actually taped our knees.
But now that I only go on the weekends
I’m pretty much there for support.
Oh the memories…

Our days are filled with umpires,
bananas, and score machines.
And also a great views
from the top floor of the colosseum.

The Tennis Tournament Finals

Today is the final day of Rakuten Open.
And this is what’s going on behind the scenes.

We were all so proud when Kei-kun won the tournament!
He’s the first Japanese player to win this tournament
and he ended up being youngest player to win
an ATP tour tournament this year.

I say this year will be my last every year.
But who knows.
I might be back again next year.
It’s an addiction.

The Tennis Tournament

“Tennis is an addiction that once it has truly hooked a man will not let him go.”
– Russell Lynes
That quote is so true.
It’s fall and here I am again.
It’s an addiction.

This year Andy Murray is here again.
He won the tournament last year
so he’s the reigning champion.
The tournament this weekend went smoothly.
We got to go home around 7pm
because all the matches ended early.
Most ended in just two sets.
Thank you tennis players for crushing your opponent.