Play Your Game

In both the movie versions and the documentary on the 1980 US Hockey team, coach Herb Brooks keeps telling his players to “Play your game” as they are holding on to a 4-3 advantage with 10 minutes to go in the 3rd period. Don’t focus on the other guys – focus on what you are doing.

I started my semifinal match today feeling good.  I hit the ball well during warm-up, and I felt lots of energy and was ready to play at a high level of intensity. But when the match started my opponent hit 3 straight dead nicks from crazy positions. I was either playing Ramy Ashour and I was in big trouble or this barrage of nicks couldn’t possibly be sustainable.  In either case, the only answer is to Play Your Game.  Against Ramy I will lose with honor and against mortals I have a shot at winning.

I remember plenty of matches in the past where I did it the wrong way. I was so overly concerned with the strength of my opponent that instead of playing a strategically disciplined game and giving myself a real shot at winning, I took sloppy shortcuts and went for shots out of desperation rather than from a dominant position.

Today, however, I stuck to my guns and played my game and won 11-5, 11-1, 11-4.  So tomorrow I play in the finals of the Italian 45+ Championships. I am excited but aware that my opponent is a very dangerous player and I will need to play my game again tomorrow no matter what happens.

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