Your League Tennis Podcast
Tennis talk, for people that love to PLAY tennis.
Your League Tennis Podcast
From College Tennis to Sports Writing: An Adventurous Career Journey
Ever wondered what it's like to be a 5.0-rated tennis player and have a college tennis experience at Pacific University? Lucky for you, Anthony had the chance to sit down with Joey Jr., and hear all about his journey on and off the court. In our chat, Joey talks to us about his college tennis career, and the unique challenges that come with automatically being put in the USTA 5.0 category after college.
While Joey's talents on the court are nothing short of impressive, his off-court skills deserve some limelight too. We explore his grad school experience at USC, where he studied sports writing under the mentorship of former LA Times writers and Heisman voters. Joey shares how the ever-evolving landscape of sports media has led to a more competitive job market but also opened doors to creating your own opportunities. We also dive into his current teaching gig and why he chose to shift his focus from coaching to teaching tennis.
One thing we can all learn from Joey is his strategic thinking and self-reflection on the tennis court. Throughout our conversation, we discuss the importance of applying pressure, going in at the net, and understanding your opponent. Joey explains why believing in yourself is vital to achieving success and shares how he incorporates writing to maintain his mental focus. Don't miss this engaging chat with Joey Jr. as we explore the world of tennis, strategy, and personal growth.
You are listening to Your League Tennis Podcast with your host, anthony Radonia. Anthony is an avid weekend warrior tennis player, just like you. Every week, he'll be interviewing new and exciting guests that will not only differ in experience and skill level, but also in age and physical ability. Your League Tennis Podcast is about making you a better tennis player, whether you're a beginner or have been playing for years, in your 20s or in your 60s. Now here is your host, anthony Radonia Yeah, woo, woo, woo Woo.
Speaker 2:Woo, that's my crowd.
Speaker 3:It's a nice intro.
Speaker 2:Yeah, denise taped that Pretty cool. All right, i got my buddy Joey here. Joey Jr, that's right, of course, because Pops is also Joe, and I guess that's a good place to start. So I started becoming friends with your dad. Yeah Right, i guess did we become friends at the same time, or was I more like hitting with your dad at?
Speaker 3:Yeah, i think you were hitting with my dad. I was at a way at college And then, Oh that's right, 2018 summer I think Yeah, I think so Because I started playing at the club in 2017. Yeah, so I think it was summer of 2018 when I came back from school.
Speaker 2:From school. Okay, yeah, and that was at what school? The University of New York University.
Speaker 3:And you played tennis there for four years. Yeah, up in Oregon. Yeah, Division III.
Speaker 2:D3, cool. So what kind of teams did you play? Like would?
Speaker 3:I know any of the other names You know, so from down here, some of the bigger schools would be CMS, claremont, mckenna, claremont.
Speaker 2:McKenna yeah, did you play at Claremont, did you guys ever?
Speaker 3:do away. We did not play at Claremont, we actually played them in Hawaii. A couple of us schools went to Hawaii to play. Oh, that's right, that's cool. So, claremont, mckenna, redlands, we did our so-Cal trip Redlands University Redlands is D3 also.
Speaker 2:Oh cool, caltech. These are some good schools.
Speaker 3:Yeah, smart schools, nice schools too. Yeah, occidental, we played at Occidental. Oh, wow, i try to think of what else we played when we did our trip down here. I don't know, i know, not when I was there, but they played at Cal Lutheran too. Okay, so I just saw like California schools And all went to Hawaii. No, so once it went to Hawaii, we're us CMS. Claremont McKenna Yeah, caltech was there, and then Trinity which is in Texas. And then we also played Hawaii Pacific while we were there. And Hawaii Pacific.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So the funny thing is I was telling Matt when we played Hawaii Pacific we were a D2. And I don't know if Hawaii Pacific was a D2 back then. So were they a D3?
Speaker 3:They're D2. They are D2.
Speaker 2:Okay, So the first time we played them they flew to us in Pomona Stinks So I played.
Speaker 1:Hawaii Pacific in Pomona That stinks.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that totally stinks. We never flew to Hawaii. Oh my gosh, my daughter's trying to knock on the door, okay cool. Well, i do want to talk more about your college, but let's start a little about you first, joe Jr Balawag, and tell me a little about your rating. Let's just talk about that first. Get that out of the way. Five-O, you're a five-O. Yes, do you know your UTR? I don't know if I play enough.
Speaker 3:I think when I was playing in college I was the highest I was a 10.
Speaker 2:10, probably. Yeah, I would say yeah, right, Most college players are 10, then they get up to 11 and 12. Some of the higher D1s, probably. So I don't know if I even published it yet, but I was doing like a little solo podcast on my tournament about tomorrow. The kid I was going to play from University of Arizona is a 12.6. Crazy, No, that's nuts. My whole mission of passing one winning one round. It was not going to happen, but then I think I told you last night I got a default, so I got it, so I won the first round, so I'm playing I forget who.
Speaker 2:In the second round The person looks normal at least. Maybe I'll have a chance this time. So we'll see. I'll keep you posted on that. So you're five-O. And then after college, were you ever a four or five, or did they put you right into the five-O category?
Speaker 3:Five-O, yeah, i would say all college guys go straight into five-O you think If you're recent, as long as if you answer the questionnaire like honestly yes. Oh, okay, there's still a bunch of college guys playing four-five.
Speaker 2:Playing four-five really? Oh wow, i didn't think about that. Definitely You're right. You could totally lie, yeah, But don't they ask you, like where you went to college or how long ago.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but you just say, didn't you?
Speaker 2:You just say yeah, I don't know what college is, I can't spell college.
Speaker 3:Exactly.
Speaker 2:Okay, so how about? when did you start playing?
Speaker 3:I'm serious, like taking it seriously, probably around 11, 12.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so Popston play.
Speaker 2:Or did he?
Speaker 3:No, he did. He was trying to get me to play way earlier than that And I just really wasn't into it. I was in the baseball Mostly stemming from because all my friends in middle school were in the baseball. So I was. I liked baseball a lot, But then I started playing tennis a lot more right around. I started playing tennis, maybe around 10 and then taking it, like I said, seriously, playing a couple days a week.
Speaker 2:Seriously, because you wanted to you think, or serious, because dad was making it a little bit.
Speaker 3:It definitely started with dad wanting me to play And then, as I was getting, more into it, then I was definitely into it and wanting to play. Yeah, But I was. I did not like tennis at all for a while.
Speaker 2:For a while, meaning when you were young, or later on too. Yeah, oh right.
Speaker 3:Maybe a little bit later.
Speaker 2:Later.
Speaker 1:That's sort of my story too, though.
Speaker 2:I think you know I was talking to Adam about that in our podcast. It's like I played every day, probably since I was like five or four, i don't even know when, because my dad was really into it, and every single day And I didn't think it was weird to come home, go straight to tennis, not see your friends. Like my little eight year old, she goes straight to see her friends, right, but straight to tennis, then homework at like 8, 8.30 as a kid, right, and that was just normal for me And I then maybe that's why I didn't really enjoy it that much And only later on in college I really started enjoying it, obviously because of the team aspect.
Speaker 3:I think, yeah, that's kind of the same way. Yeah, going straight from school to tennis.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. And then, though, anything else, you play soccer or like anything like that. No, because I know you're into soccer. Yeah, i'm into soccer now.
Speaker 3:But, growing up? no, i wasn't into soccer. Yeah, it was basically baseball That was about it.
Speaker 2:Did you play baseball in high school?
Speaker 3:No, so that was kind of they're both the same season.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's right.
Speaker 3:And I felt pretty good that I could make varsity for tennis my freshman year. So I was like I'm going to go to tennis, oh sweet, yeah, okay.
Speaker 2:And then, but you said your dad played like how much? like I know how much he plays now, obviously, but was he playing a lot when you were young, too?
Speaker 3:Like tournaments or anything. Oh yeah, so yeah He I can't remember the exact year, but I was definitely younger. He, around probably 10, was playing tournaments every weekend.
Speaker 2:Really.
Speaker 3:He was ranked, I think, number one in four or five doubles.
Speaker 2:I should ask him about it. In what? In the nation?
Speaker 3:Yeah, wow, definitely top 10. He had a partner, jim Cunningham.
Speaker 2:My name sounds familiar.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he used to play out of the club. I don't. he doesn't play out of the club anymore. He's older. He's not your guys is age.
Speaker 2:Oh, I know Jim.
Speaker 3:Yeah, That's right. Okay, And they would I mean every weekend they play tournaments, all the big ones too. Yeah, and, like I said, i was really young and didn't really pay attention to it, didn't care much about it, but yeah, oh, wow.
Speaker 2:I didn't know that He took it really seriously, but he still does. I got to talk to him about that. Yeah, he still does, of course.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's actually one of the things I was going to mention too is not that your dad, your dad's like much older than me, but I I've always seen your dad as I don't want to say father figure because it's not like we're having heart to hearts about like real stuff, but definitely in that realm for me, like a mentor, father figure because it's like I said, it's not necessarily like I'm he's pulling me aside and going let me tell you about life, son, but he's just a real good guy for me to watch because he really cares about tennis, he really cares about his family, he cares about his profession, you know, and so I really enjoy, like him, keith, you know those two guys, I really enjoy like listening to those guys and just seeing them like out there on the court as sort of the older not a real old, but the next generation for me of tennis player, and then to see them so passionate about it and like just really good guys.
Speaker 2:So it's fun? Yeah, definitely. And so your family is your dad, your mom, and then I always forget this we have one brother, one sister.
Speaker 3:Okay, now Both younger. I'm the oldest.
Speaker 2:Okay, and then do they play tennis at all?
Speaker 3:No, My sister played soccer in high school and a little bit in college And my brother's big into music, Morphe musician, but sorry He's actually gonna. He started in the summer picking up a tennis racket.
Speaker 2:Just recently.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Is the sparkling water missing you up? I think so. Yeah, i think so. I said off camera I Joe's like, buy some water or I'll just take water. So I was like, cool, i'm gonna try to be cool here and go buy some nice water. And I bought some sparkling water and it's totally messing us up. If you need, if you need a break here, let me put you on mute. You wanna cough it out? Okay, if you need a break and we need to get regular water, let's do it.
Speaker 2:Thanks. I didn't realize how harsh sparkling was Sparkling. I said What were you saying? Oh, your brother is doing music. That's cool. I think I saw a video of him. He was the. was he guitar or what was he doing?
Speaker 3:Yeah, probably guitar.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:But he plays guitar, he plays bass and really in the drums too. He's super talented.
Speaker 1:That's right.
Speaker 3:But yeah he picked up a racket this summer because he wanted to play a sport, and he's all in.
Speaker 2:He's all in He is, and how is he talented Is he like pretty talented He's always been a kid who can.
Speaker 3:He picks. Whatever you want him to do, he could do it at a good level automatically.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's cool.
Speaker 3:He's got a huge forehand like a legitimate forehand. Him and I can rally forehand all day long. Really. Yeah, and he's only been playing for like a year, since the summer, not even a year.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, yeah, if I can need some work.
Speaker 3:But yeah, he's like I said, he's really into it. He was on JV and Australian people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you don't wanna say that.
Speaker 3:He's the best JV three singles player in the country. Really, that's what I like to say. Yeah, jv three.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's cool. And then right now I know you're teaching at the club and then you're also doing some other stuff too, so let's talk about the other stuff first. Sure, so that was the funny thing. My daughter was so excited when you came, mr B, mr Balliwag, and so you're doing some subbing, yeah, and then, also connected to your degree, you were doing, or still are- doing stuff with that, some freelance writing, so got a journalism degree And so, yeah, doing.
Speaker 3:That's where kind of the soccer part comes in. I was writing for a soccer publication And then both my parents are educators, so in my free time I'm also doing some substitute teaching, yeah, And that's why I wore my hat, cause you went to USC.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so yeah.
Speaker 1:Grad school at USC.
Speaker 2:Had to do the Pac-12 hat for you. So grad school so cool. And I remember you lived on campus right During the grad school. Commuted, i did, oh, but you lived with a family member or something like that. That's right, cause, as you lived by school, yeah, Okay, oh, that's so cool. You happy about it, do you regret?
Speaker 3:doing that at all? No, i don't no it was such a cool experience. Okay Got to meet some really cool people in the business too, which made it really cool.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's cool, yeah, cause I. I don't know if you know, but I have an advanced degree after my law degree. Did you know that? No, i didn't. Biggest waste of time in the world. But it was an advanced degree for lawyers. It was bad? No, it was. It was a waste of time.
Speaker 3:It was awesome. Okay, good, all the like. I'm into sports writing, so a lot of my professors were the ones that I got along really well for into sports as well, and so, like working at the LA Times, la Times sports editor, that's where you were, or Yeah, that's where, oh Yeah. One of my professors former LA Times writers or like Heisman voters. They have Heisman voters for college football, so That's so cool And it's really cool to get advice from them and how to exist in that business.
Speaker 2:And so that medium still exists, that the need for writers writing about sporting events.
Speaker 3:So definitely it's a little different now If you want to work for publications. it's like there's smaller, less jobs, but more people applying. It's really competitive.
Speaker 1:But now obviously you know like this podcast.
Speaker 3:You can sort of make your own mediums, own media outlet if you want. Right, Like your own blogs And those can. By making your own blogs and you know Twitter stuff, being active on Twitter you can make a name for yourself And then those companies that maybe weren't interested to do it first now see that you can do it, and then you have viewers. People are just looking for. How many views are you getting? That's true. How much attention can you bring to our organization?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So what's the plan with that? Do you plan on keep going down that road?
Speaker 3:I'm kind of trying to figure that out, whether I want to go deeper down that road or look into teaching actually, because I really enjoyed teaching a lot more than I thought I would.
Speaker 2:Oh, so cool. Yeah, have you been teaching other grades besides the younger ones?
Speaker 3:that I know of Elementary and middle.
Speaker 2:I haven't done high school yet. Do you want to? I don't know Yeah.
Speaker 3:I don't know if I want to sub high school. I teach high school, for sure, that's true. I don't know if I would be a sub student.
Speaker 2:You know what. You're so right. There's enough 80s movies about the kids killing the sub in high school.
Speaker 3:I tell people all the time like why don't you do high school? I'm like because I remember in high school how much like you tormented the sub. And I was the good kid, like it was not the bad kids, and I didn't even respect the sub.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're so right.
Speaker 3:I'm like I'm going to wait for that. I'm not sure if I want to go there yet. No, you're totally right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and the little kids think it's like I don't even know, like you're a movie star coming. I remember when my little one came home she was like so excited that she had a sub, so funny. Oh my gosh, that's hilarious. Okay, so you're teaching at the club obviously the tennis club. So you're at the tennis club And how are you enjoying that? I love it, yeah, love it so much. And you're doing kids, groups, adults lessons, everything. Yeah And like okay, so let's say so you know my game and I come to you for a lesson. Like I don't know, is there something? are you telling me what to do Or am I sort of suggesting things Like what do you think is?
Speaker 3:good, Yeah. well, so for you, with your game and with people around your level, it's usually gonna be something pretty specific, Right, and so I'd ask you, what do you wanna work on? Cause usually people at your level same thing with me. I know what I'm not great at and what I want to work on. Right for more beginner people. It might be something more broad in terms of what we're working on. I mean, you beat me. Yes, I don't have any pointers for you.
Speaker 2:We'll talk about that. That's on page three here. We'll talk about that. I have to go to you, i guess, for a lesson. You know, what's funny is lately I'm not coaching, obviously, but lately, when people ask me about I don't know tips like you know, my wife or just some of her friends or anyone at a lower level of mine, cause they think the higher level knows it all, we don't right. But they'll ask me about something. I've been realizing lately that it's not so much like let me see your forehand, you're holding this wrong. you're doing I'm late, only lately, maybe it's I'm becoming wiser as I get older, but only lately I've been realizing it's more like how they think of things, like does that make sense? Like do you know where I'm going with this? Yeah, and like that's why I've been so focusing with like on the shoulder turn. it's like I've been saying don't think power comes from your arm, just something that simple.
Speaker 2:Yeah makes them think differently, right? So I don't know, i just think that's been valuable, like how much of that Versus, like just I don't know the technical side of teaching is. is there in your stuff like do you find that?
Speaker 3:yeah, for more beginners. I think it's more technical. Yeah, especially at the beginning, you don't want anyone to build a bad habit In terms of their swing. So I'm it's really technical And I think it might be kind of boring for some people, because I'm trying to get that swing down So we can move on and we don't have to worry about the string ever, the swing, ever again. Let's get your swings down. Yeah, specifically forehand and backhand, the ground strokes, and then we'll go from there, because there's a lot you could. If you can't hit a foreign and back in, we can't really advance anywhere.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you gotta get that down?
Speaker 3:Yeah, and you feeling confident in it? Yeah, before we can go on with anything else, especially before we can get in, like any strategy or anything.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's true. Yeah, definitely Yeah. And then How about? like, i've been having trouble with my serve, so I'm actually just using this as a free lesson, by the way, that's why.
Speaker 1:I invited you.
Speaker 2:I'm not paying for this lesson. So I've been having trouble with my serve and I think I told you last night, or maybe a couple days ago, that someone told me to put my left hand up, and so little things like that have been changing me dramatically because I yeah, because I've been working on my serve forever, like people have been telling me like my grip, this, that, and it was like no one ever told me anything about my left hand, like I never heard anything about my left hand. And finally one person said you're dropping your left hand, just Pledge of allegiance with your left hand, kind of thing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it makes complete sense. Yeah um and like, like that's what I was saying about. You said, if you were to come to me for a lesson, i mean, it's things, little things like that. That's how specific it can be if you already have.
Speaker 3:You know the broad strokes down And yeah, that thing, especially on people serve. That's why I'm telling a lot of people is, if you're missing, you're serving the net. It's two things. It's either your toss is too low or by the time you're hitting, like you said, that's why your arm, your hands, here is when you're coming down, your body's going down, the ball is gonna come down. Yeah, if you're making contact and you're like this Yep, you know the ball is going. It's gonna go in the net every time.
Speaker 2:Which is exactly what I was doing in swing-vingion my left hand was dropping, my chest was down and I was somehow trying to like, just like that pose you did.
Speaker 3:I was trying to somehow get it. So if I keep it that hand here, that's come super smart. Yeah, i kept me up and you down my chest up.
Speaker 2:Everything changed just with that little thing. Mm-hmm and even in strokes, like something I was working on with my wife just this morning. She was dropping her left arm on a forehand, yeah, yeah, and I felt I was like babe, just put it on the right, you can almost like joke of it. She put on the racket and turn and then release. Yeah, it changed everything for her. She had her left hand arm up, she was more balanced, yeah, and that's the big thing I mean.
Speaker 3:That's why I told a lot of the kids I'm coaching you, you need that arm out, Even just so you know how far away it through you from the ball right, Because if that arms down you don't know how far away to be.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's interesting to you, or I?
Speaker 3:get a lot of kids lunging too far away. I'm like you gotta be one arm away. Yeah, you're right and then with that swing, that arm you know Go goes away.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're about hitting your arm. You're away as you swing. Yeah, i never thought about that. That's so huge because you're right a lot of times you're. You're caught in that left arm, sort of gonna help you. What's it called like? What's the word I'm?
Speaker 1:using here.
Speaker 2:I don't know but gauge like where the ball is.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, that's true, that's awesome. So when you're, you're playing still, you're not just teaching, you're still playing, like we talked about last night. Sorry to bring this up, but the swing vision video is almost out. I've got this on the tube, but we had a lot of fun last night.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 2:So just to talk about it, we we ended up. I started thinking like let's play some fun singles. You know we don't get enough of that. We do a lot of drills hitting points to 11 doubles, but not enough, just like singles play. And So I started text everyone who can do it me, you, our friend slob and Tommy joined last night We played like mini pro sets, right over there fast for fast force.
Speaker 3:That's right for sets of four.
Speaker 2:So we played and We had a good battle. I ended up taking it.
Speaker 3:You talk first, then I'll talk about okay, go, you don't have to be respectful.
Speaker 2:Let me pretend to be home.
Speaker 3:We had a good battle? I don't think so.
Speaker 2:No, we did. We had a good battle and you'll see. On the swing vision, i don't see our strokes being that different. There was just that, maybe that little extra ball penetration I had, and like you you were stepping back and I think that was the slight difference. Yeah, and, but that's only a recent thing for me. I don't know if it was just last night or just recently. your balls.
Speaker 3:I mean, it was piercing deep in the court too. And for me, when, when I get Whatever's in, i think it's because we were playing for something I get a little nervous and so put a little money in it, exactly So I'm not, i'm not turning my shoulder or stepping in, i have my chest out, i'm so, so, and so my ball is just kind of looping. I can still get the spin because I get on my wrist, a lot of it in my wrist, but it's not doing anything Right. So that's what it felt like last night. I was just waiting for you to miss and you weren't missing. So if you're not missing, i'm not gonna. I wasn't gonna win a lot of points.
Speaker 3:Hmm, but you had a naturally good spin ball anyways, Yeah but last night it to me at least it wasn't, like I said, doing anything, it wasn't Going into you at all. You were able to just it's like a ball machine ball. That's what it felt like. You know, you were relaxed and and for me, when I get a little tighter I don't hit my back hand at all. I try to run around everything. I think that opens up the court for you too Interesting?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that's interesting. What do you think about the? I know I'm out here like everyone's always making fun of me because I'm messing with weight on my racket. Yeah, is that a factor for you at all? Do you think that over change? No, nothing. Yeah, cuz I know you Recently switched to the technophile racket, which you love, and I loved it when I tried it.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But it's not a weight issue. You don't think? no, i don't think so. Yeah, what do you think it is besides? besides, your forehand Chest open, which obviously, like we talked about it, means you're not turning.
Speaker 3:Yeah, i'm sure you get like. No, like you were saying it get all aren't all right, and so I'm not using my hips. Where are my legs? where I get my power from?
Speaker 2:but your back and you're probably turning correctly, though I just don't have confidence in it. That's been like, okay, it's just a mental thing.
Speaker 1:Hmm.
Speaker 3:Yeah and well, and again, maybe not so much, not confidence, but I just favor my, my forehand a lot more than my backhand. Yeah, and so, like last night, i'm gonna try and just do everything to get a forehand and I actually my my inside forehand is my favorite shot. It is, or is it is. Yeah, so that's why even more so. I was just going around everything. I'm in the outside the doubles alley trying to hit a forehand, being an idiot.
Speaker 2:Well, that's funny. I'm tired court. I gotta go back and look at that. Yeah, i don't really remember that. It just goes to show how much that's another one of my issues. I'm not watching you, like I'm working on my ball, like I'm purposely now trying to hit deep Penetrating balls. Yeah, and before to tell you, true, that wasn't, i was just like try to hit hard or try to do this, but I'm not really watching you, so I gotta I gotta start changing that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, i mean that's simple. That's why I tell a lot of people to Can. If you can hit four to five balls past the service line every point, you're gonna win so many points Totally. Like you're putting pressure on your opponent and it's as simple as if you're hitting past the service line, they can't attack you and if they try to attack you they're probably gonna miss that ball. That's a hard ball, right Totally. And if you? but now if you get four to five balls inside The service line, it's a different story. It's an easier ball for your opponent to attack. So it might not be the case, but if you can hit four to five and if you can hit more, even better, past the service line, you're gonna win a lot of points and if you're hitting deep, you probably have more of an opportunity to get in also.
Speaker 2:Oh definitely, yeah, definitely, which is something mean you probably don't do enough of also, right, do you think sometimes we feel a little too comfortable, like on the baseline?
Speaker 3:or that's a good question. Yeah, i think, maybe, maybe. Yeah, i mean I'm I'm super comfortable at the base on that's. I think my ground strokes are probably my best attribute My strength, and so maybe I'm waiting, being a little too conservative. Winning for the right ball. Yeah, there's probably a couple balls before I actually go in that I could. Yeah, but Yeah so.
Speaker 2:I think that might be true, because it is one of the things I notice when I'm watching swing vision. I go why didn't I go in there? right, or, or, or or. There's like I'm I do a lot of reaching for the ball and it's not even that short, it's not like it's three feet in front of the service line, so I steps, it's like a two steps in front of the baseline and I'm like, and I'm like like you're not seeing the ball like early enough.
Speaker 3:I think so. So you're reacting late because you don't recognize the ball shorter, or is that just sometimes laziness?
Speaker 2:It has to be a combination of all that, but it's also sometimes my. My instinct is that first step is backwards.
Speaker 2:Yeah you know what I mean, which is totally that just sounds wrong when I say it, but a lot of times on camera I was watching myself. Yeah, like my split step and sort of getting ready. I was sort of on my back heels, i don't know expecting a deep ball. I'm not really sure, but it was so noticeable when even a ball that wasn't that short, only like literally two, three feet in front Of the baseline, and I had the lunge for it, i was not there ready and, even worse, my instinct was after I hit, i back, i went back.
Speaker 2:So it's not like I'm going forward, like I hit and run back to the baseline.
Speaker 3:And if I see your racket going like that or like this, yeah, i'm cheating in, i'm expecting that ball to be short too, which is true in a tough position.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, i gotta, i gotta fix that When we play Like something else. Thinking about last night when we played like Tom Yeah, like, i Like playing Tom because his strokes are really nice, but and this isn't making fun of Tom on my swing vision video I keep saying this isn't making fun of Tom, i'm just like trying to notice things, but I felt like it's it's fun playing Tom because He wasn't moving too well. Last night He said he had an injury.
Speaker 3:I When did Tommy not have an?
Speaker 2:injury. He said he had an injury, but it was fun to play him because if you hit Adam he'll actually hit a really nice stroke back right. And so I had to like purposely try to move him and And I just saw how sometimes the angles too were so effective. Not I was like going deep. And then once I saw him deep I was like going angle, and so he was a really good. Again, i'm not making fun of him, He was a really good ball machine for me last night Because he was like showing me sort of like you're so confident, you're just Experimenting, yeah, and I'm trying things out in a weird way I was, but it was so helpful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because he was like showing me I can push a guy deep once that person goes like I always get these mixed up vertically, is that a horizontally shoot? I'm now I'm sound like an idiot, but diagonally backwards. Once they go diagonally backwards, you know, then I sort of had the opportunity to do a more spinny and it didn't have to be hard winner, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, yeah. that's what a lot of praise to my, my dad, for Strategy wise, just patterns and what to go for him thinking three balls ahead of the current ball You're on like what are you trying to do to get to this guy's weakness into your strength as much as you possibly can?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, your dad was the first person that really made me think about double strategy beyond just Poach stay, yeah, which is all I used to know. You know your dad has poaches for returning side too, and I didn't know that was even a thing. So I'm sure dad.
Speaker 2:I'm sure people do it, i'm sure pros do, i'm sure college kids do it. I just didn't know about it. And your dad has a lot of strategy the eye that we used to call that the Australian, or is the Australian something different? I forget, but yeah, he does. The eye, oh Man, yeah, your pops is awesome. What. What's gonna bring you? or if, if you even care, because I know you're doing so much other stuff What's gonna bring you to the next level in tennis?
Speaker 2:That's a good question but do you first of all, do you even care? like are you happy where you're at, like Yeah, i am.
Speaker 3:I'm happy where I'm at currently, just in terms of I put a lot of work in As a junior and then in college, a ton of work mentally to to get to where I was, and so it was really nice To just chill and it's just yeah and no, no consequences, good or bad, whatever happens when you lose. You know, yeah, not a big deal, but he said, in terms of how to take my game to the next level, i Would say, um, that's a good question. I don't even know.
Speaker 2:See, because you're you're not Giving, you're not taking lessons, you don't really have time Yeah you're working too much. Yeah, you know, maybe when I end up sending you that swing vision, maybe you'll have like something else to say about it, like because it is, it's really, it's really eye-opening and watching yourself.
Speaker 3:Honestly, i think it's, um, what would take me to the next level is just mental stuff, Because when I'm relaxed I don't I feel really good about my game and what, what I'm able to do, because I think I, strategically, i'm able to you know, figure out what I want to do and how to manipulate the point to get to what I want. But it's just uh, mentally, if I'm believing in myself.
Speaker 2:So you you think it's a non believing, or is it a nervousness, or are those?
Speaker 3:the same thing? Yeah, i think it's. I think you you could call it the same thing. I won't I want to win so bad. I'm hurting myself like mentally. I'm like freezing interesting, like newt alarms.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and wanting to win, like The point, means that you're maybe What not like hitting out, not trusting it.
Speaker 3:Oh, definitely like um last night it came down to a thing of not missing, like. I'm just I'm getting really nervous. I'm not moving my feet and that's why I'm nervous, because I'm not moving And my chest is out and hitting like this, just trying to keep the ball and play, instead of trying to Win the point, even though I want to win so badly. Instead of trying to win the point being okay, making some mistakes, i'm almost playing not to lose and just trying to keep the ball.
Speaker 2:And not that you even know the answer to this, but like, why is that happening? because you are like, like you said, you're out of college, right, you have?
Speaker 3:won, wins. It's just competitiveness. Yes, it's how competitive I am.
Speaker 2:so that's interesting because, because you want to win, it's there. It's so you're not thinking about I'm gonna miss and lose.
Speaker 3:No, it's self-belief too, about if I believe I can do it. and that's what, when I talked about just wanting to chill, because after um, especially my senior year specifically at pacific, it was a lot of mentally trying to um manipulate myself into believing I can beat anyone no matter who it is, and that was mentally exhausting. Hmm, it was really rewarding, though Super rewarding because it worked. I was finally beating people that were probably better than me.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I definitely would not have been earlier on. But um, like, as you know, in tennis, like like mentally being um okay in your head and believing yourself is just as important as anything Physically you're doing a tennis.
Speaker 2:It. It's weirdly been almost the most important for me lately because, again, i I don't know if I'm playing different. I don't see it. Some people tell me, oh, you're doing this different, doing this better. I truthfully don't see it. But I know for a fact when I get out and I and I'm rallying and I go, okay, i know I'm gonna win this point, or I know I'm gonna win this game, or even if I lose this game, it's gonna be okay. Yeah, and that's what actually happened last night with slob, first game. He went up 40 love. I ended up winning that game And I I don't remember telling myself, oh, i'm gonna win this game, positive thinking, yeah, but I just wasn't. I didn't feel defeated. Yeah, at 40 love, like I used to, and I was like I'm just gonna take it point by point And I'm getting back to do so. I was like, oh, that's surprising. And then now I'm like, cool, i'm even. So I think in the past I would have been like, yeah, right, when three points in a row to get back to do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that's, i think, been the big difference for me. And again, i don't even know what that's from. It might just be from a lot of match play.
Speaker 3:Yeah, experience is huge too, Like being in those positions, i mean give you experience on how to deal with them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, and losing a lot is important. You know what I mean? Because I think if I wasn't losing so much and then having to like, deal with it, i don't know. I mean I think it matters, yeah, because only then I started feeling like I know how to deal with it and then, anyways it just it became a thing where I wasn't so like down at myself and mad at myself.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. So just how to deal with it, i think is important. Um, do you so, since that's one of the things that you you've been talking about now, like, do you do any meditation or like prayer or something like that?
Speaker 3:So, like I said during um school when I was still at pacific, um, i would do some things, yeah, a lot of writing actually, like if I can see it on the paper and then read it. I'm convincing myself that I'm going to win this match. I'm going to beat this person. Um helped me out a lot.
Speaker 2:Were you writing specific tennis stuff or just writing anything that's gonna help you relax?
Speaker 3:I don't know if it's cringy, but I would. I would say whoever the opponent was. I say I will beat Opponents because I am a winner. Ah interesting I would write that two pages, that sentence, wow, pages full. and then during the match, every single point I was telling myself, i would say that phrase out loud, like under my breath, not like yelling it under my breath, yeah, like I'm saying that phrase over and over and over again, so I believe it until. I believe it.
Speaker 2:That's so interesting, and so this this is what I was talking about earlier too, which is I don't think It's. it's not just positive thinking, that's just too simple. Yeah it's actually believing you can do the thing You're saying. Yeah yeah, that's slightly different than just positive things. Sure, I think, because positive thinking is just like I am the best, but there's no like concrete, like I don't know stuff surrounding that.
Speaker 3:Well, sometimes you're not the best, and I figure it out Exactly. You know what I mean. I think the best I mean, you see this, with great teams, great tennis players, whatever the sport is the greatest at, it can win when they're not at their best. They don't need to be at their best.
Speaker 1:How do they still figure it out?
Speaker 3:That's what makes them so great, and yeah, so I think that might be a little different than just the positive thinking, just the positive thinking.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and thinking about what's that Jordan documentary recently? Last dance, last dance. I watch it like a hundred times. I can't believe it. I don't know the name, that's another part of it.
Speaker 3:My girlfriend makes funny. Before every match I'd watch the documentary, really Watching it. She's getting pumped watching.
Speaker 2:Michael Jordan. Yeah, yeah, and the funny thing was someone I forget who was commenting on Michael was like he just figured out a way to never lose And like so that was one of the things that they were saying It didn't matter if he was a little sick or whatever that day, he would figure out a way to win that match. Right, and that's the part that's always been amazing to me. Obviously he's amazing talent, whatever, but that is the big difference. Yeah, and I do see that now in certain tennis players too, like they just configure it out You don't always mind me.
Speaker 3:They can't wrap their brain around losing. You know what I mean And I've played some Division I players too, whether it be in tournaments or just in the area. And it's crazy. When you get to out beat them, we'll play tie break. I'll win the first one. Immediately, Like before I'm even crossing, it goes down the bench rematch.
Speaker 2:Rematch.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and then the next one was tight, and then that third one. They like blow me out of the water.
Speaker 1:Because they're just at a different competitive level. Of like.
Speaker 3:I refuse, I am not going to lose. You know what I mean, and I've noticed that with, like the higher division in college or professional athlete, it seemed like they have that certain mentality, i guess.
Speaker 2:Yeah, which makes them so great Totally, and they know how to figure it out during the match, which is why the three out of five sets majors are so different sometimes than the two out of three set tournaments that are played The same. People sort of roll the majors versus, you know, the smaller tournaments which anyone can win in a weird way.
Speaker 2:So what else can I say? Oh, so I just want to go back to this racket thing real quick before I forget, because when I was trying the Techno Fiber I felt this deadening Yeah, is that a word?
Speaker 3:Okay, Well, I don't know if that's a word, but I know what you're talking about.
Speaker 2:Okay, And I liked it actually, which is why I started using this, the Luxelon AU power vibe, which is like a dead stream Yeah. I've been telling you remember the vibe And I've been liking that And so is that why you like your racket. It feels dead Yeah.
Speaker 3:I think so. I had the Babylon peer arrow, but the old version, like in 2017, and I had had that racket from 2017 until this past November And I was like, and it's just time for a new racket. And then, yeah, one of those clinics that we do, a Techno Fiber rep came out And I'd use the peer arrow to get more power and more pop on my ball. And now I feel like I can generate more power than I could. And then, with this racket, i just felt like wherever I could put the ball, wherever I wanted which is huge for my game as, like a counter puncher, i need to have that ability And so it's just like that ball was on a string And I'm like, oh my God, i love this.
Speaker 2:Like I want the ball to go there.
Speaker 3:Boom On a dime Boom.
Speaker 2:Yeah, i felt that too when I tried it. I'm not even sure why I didn't go to it. Yeah, because I loved it for the few days I tried it, and then I just went back to my Wilson's. But maybe I'll try it again, cause I actually did. I actually did love it.
Speaker 3:And that's the Luxelon string too, that Luxelon string is Yeah, i was using that string as well, Not the vibe, but I was using the Lexelon.
Speaker 2:I told you, people hate the vibe. Everyone except you, everyone hates it. I can't even find it anymore.
Speaker 3:I don't think tennis warehouse sells it. That's a business. Yeah, it's not profitable.
Speaker 2:I'm so lost at that. It's like a cheating string. I have to go buy it up off eBay or something That's so hilarious. So you're not. I forget, did you sign up for the league the 505?
Speaker 3:league, not this one, because I have a lot of lessons on the weekend.
Speaker 2:So I just really wasn't able to make that commitment. You interested in playing more league matches, or Yeah, yeah?
Speaker 3:So that league's a lot of fun. Yeah, it's tough on us, our team. The back to back is just killer.
Speaker 2:I know.
Speaker 3:Because, you know, we with our team, we got to solve a team, but then the teams you play also do, And then when you have to go back to back, they have like a second string that just comes in. Yeah, you know what I mean? The like 25 to 35 year olds, yeah, and who are ex college players. And then for us it's the same guys, yeah, and most of our guys are a little older, right, and they're like playing two matches.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and they're playing two matches And then they have, like I said, two sets of. it's not like a second team, like a backup team. It's still just as good as their first team You know what I mean, totally.
Speaker 2:But you know I'm the one that wanted the double headers, right? Did you know that? No, why do you want the double headers, like I? yeah.
Speaker 1:I had no idea.
Speaker 2:Because what happened was I thought it was tough for everyone to come out each weekend, And so I ended up telling the representative from USDA is it possible to do double headers? That kills us. Oh, it's horrible.
Speaker 3:It's totally dying by the end of that thing.
Speaker 2:Imagine you got to tell some of these guys go play four sets or even with like a tie break. You're hilarious. Oh no, trust me, i realized it's bad.
Speaker 3:I would think differently if we had enough guys to field basically two teams. Or like only one or two guys had to play. Play twice, play twice, but But when?
Speaker 2:you're asking Tommy the ball machine. that's my new name for Tommy, tommy the ball machine. I'm sure he loves that?
Speaker 3:I'm sure he loves that?
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, I thought you knew that I asked for the double headers. I didn't know that.
Speaker 3:I thought that was just like unique to this league.
Speaker 2:Oh my oh yeah, no, no, it's me Stupidly thinking it was better for us. Oh my gosh, that's funny. I don't know. I'm just thinking about Tommy too. Last night he said he pulled a hammy.
Speaker 3:But Here's the thing, and I'm gonna look right in the camera Tommy only seems to pull something when he loses. Tommy's always in great health. When he wins at anything, great health.
Speaker 2:I haven't seen him win anything. The good thing about Tommy, though, is that he is funny about it. I don't know if it's anyways, I don't wanna go. I'll wait for Tommy to come to the podcast and then I'll talk my smack to him. But Tommy's our good buddy. That's why we do it. We only make fun of people we care about Exactly. Actually, I wouldn't make fun of someone I didn't like. It's not worth it. Okay, so now let's examine me a little more, Because I have a actually very important question about so. My backhand feels so much more solid than my forehand, So good.
Speaker 2:Yeah but does it look better too? Because I guess that's leading to my question because Your forehand's good too.
Speaker 3:I get no issues with the forehand.
Speaker 2:Why isn't the backhand a weapon? then is my question Because it feels solid. But what am I doing wrong on my backhand that I'm not doing on my forehand? Because my forehand, obviously, i feel like I can hit?
Speaker 3:some winners, i think, for you. I notice when I'm talking about the mental side of the game so much, but when you're not thinking, there's not a lot of better tennis players in this area. When you're not thinking, when you're just playing, does that make sense? And I notice when you start to sort of overthink and think about exactly what's going on here my footwork.
Speaker 3:That's when, like I said, i think you're overthinking it and getting your head too much. When you're just playing, both strokes are completely fine. Like I think you're putting that weight on yourself of your backhand not being a weapon.
Speaker 2:I think it can be a weapon if you just allow it to be.
Speaker 2:It's interesting you would say that because one of the conversations I had with Doug coach Doug the other day was and he was giving me a lesson was he hit a ball like easy to me down the middle And I forget what the drill was. But he said hit the approach anywhere. And I remember thinking like four different shots And then I lost the game. And then after that game I said let's do the same drill. This time I'm gonna approach down the middle. So I takes my brain out of it. I don't wanna think. And my approach became 100% better, right, and I ended up winning the game approaching down the middle versus. I lost the game when he allowed me to approach anywhere. So it's totally my brain's getting in the way. I feel like a lot of times I'm thinking too much.
Speaker 3:I know we've talked about that, then you wanna talk about your backhand, but when we played a couple of doubles tournaments and we had talked about giving signs everyone gives signs on the serve but also sign on to the returning you had talked about that. It just turns your brain out of. Okay, you wanna go cross court? Perfect, instead of you having to be like, oh my God, i'm watching the net guy, where's his serve? gonna serve it If I just tell you I want you to go down the middle, i want you to go line, i want you to go cross court. It immediately for you, because you have told me this in the past. Like it takes your brain out of it.
Speaker 3:Okay, joey wants me to go cross Meaning you're the guy at the net and I'm returning And I'm telling you to go wherever direction.
Speaker 2:That's right, I totally forgot about that. You would tell me where to return And obviously it's a little. It's not maybe always the best strategy, right, Because it sort of locks me in too much, but the point of it, like you were saying, was that it took my brain out of it. It takes that, yeah, Out of you thinking, because I know that.
Speaker 3:When I play you, and especially when my dad and I play you, i am always and you know this because I know you're always looking at the net guy And I'm always, if you're playing the do side, returning on the do side, i'm dipping my right shoulder just for you to see that, oh, he's going and I'm back And it's worked a lot.
Speaker 2:Well, it's hard playing you and your dad, because you guys are always thinking like being smart And you guys are able to think. See, that's my issue. Like you said, i shouldn't be thinking, but you and your dad are like playing chess out there. That's because of him. Yeah, because of your pops. Yeah, yeah, i gotta talk to your pops more on a podcast. That'd be good. He would probably come in here and give us some sort of dissertation on something You could do different lectures.
Speaker 3:You can have like a lecture a week on different strategy.
Speaker 2:That's so cool. Yeah, okay, so that's interesting that you brought that up, Even on the return call signs, if I think it's a really good tip. if you're paying attention to the net person too much, if you're wondering what to do here, like just have the net person maybe call a sign and go hit cross court.
Speaker 3:And you just gotta even if you don't have your net person telling you the sign, you have to mentally say no matter what, I'm going cross court, you just gotta commit to the shot, Commit to your ball, whether it's down, even if it's downline, I'm committing. Whatever happens, I'm going downline right, Because I mentally too. I'm doing that, because not that that's gonna win you the point every time, but just mentally it keeps you focused on.
Speaker 1:I'm trying to do everything to get that ball there.
Speaker 3:I'm not thinking. As soon as the serve comes, I'm having to hesitate and make a decision because, oh my gosh, the server served it here. The net guy's coming this way. All this is happening. I'm committing to this ball, no matter what.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think also there's a huge benefit in having a smaller target in a way, because and that reminds me of like I forget that movie with Mel Gibson where he was the patriot Do you remember that movie? No, you didn't see it, i'm young dude.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's true, I was like who's Mel Gibson, but so this movie called The Patriot. he told his sons they were like shooting muskets or something like when they were. I forget what happened, but he said aim small, miss small. That was like the line. And so it totally makes sense. even in tennis, like sometimes when I feel like I don't have a target, i miss big, and if I'm aiming for a smaller target, even the miss is gonna be more localized right In the spot I want. Does that make sense? So, like you telling me, hit cross court. that focuses me on this smaller target maybe, and I think that's a lot beneficial too. It reminds me too of like the return. Lately I've been focusing on hitting down the middle returns, like sort of over the low part of the net.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's a really good play, Especially when you got someone at the net who maybe gosh isn't that confident at the net, Driving it middle You're gonna let that go. Yeah, drive that middle. Either you press, miss your volley press, hit a ball that my guy at the net, my teammate's able to hit, Or that miscommunication between the guy at the baseline thinks the guy at the net is gonna go for that ball Anything like that. So driving that flat down the middle, I use that play a lot too.
Speaker 2:What do you think your dad would say? the most important thing in doubles is Like if he.
Speaker 3:Oh, i don't even ask. Oh, you know, it's the same thing for singles. He says three words, start the point. Start the point. He has told me that you can ask him, you can ask Harry, you can ask Steven. They've all heard it and they all live by it. You can ask him start the point. You can't win, any point you don't start.
Speaker 1:Put the ball in play.
Speaker 3:That's pretty basic, And that's why I tell the law of the juniors too you can't win any point. You don't start. Put your serve in, put your return in, let's see what happens. That too, Yeah, that's the big one.
Speaker 2:It's, that's huge. And it's funny how this is all coming together for me too, because, watching my swing vision, I've been noticing how often I'm winning the returning games because I'm mentally thinking down the middle hard return deep, and I'm not missing them much, Like I don't know. if you realized last night.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, you didn't have any, didn't miss any returns, like I said, that's why you beat me, because you weren't missing, and that was kind of the only way I was gonna beat you last night.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but you're right, start the point. Missing the return twice a game, especially in doubles, oh my gosh, first serves are huge in doubles too.
Speaker 3:Again, you're first serving, you're gonna win, you're gonna hold so much easier.
Speaker 2:Yeah, if you get that first serving. Yeah, you're right, man, we got a lot love. You got a lot more to do, a lot to think of.
Speaker 3:We gotta keep playing our Wednesday night singles, i think we're gonna get more people out too, especially as the summer rolls around.
Speaker 2:So who won last night? I don't remember This guy right here. That was so fun though. You'll win next time, i'm pretty positive. I don't know. I just felt a little lucky last night, to be honest.
Speaker 3:You were like it wasn't a question. You were the best player out there by far that night.
Speaker 2:So what was your score with Slav Slav? was in some good balls too, you beat him for one. Yeah, wow, i thought Slav was gonna take me. Slav was swinging nice on his forehands.
Speaker 3:I commented on that. It's also a great player.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what I was commenting on swing vision about Slav was he's like a natural talent. He sorta can do what he wants.
Speaker 3:Yeah he's really smart too.
Speaker 2:That's true.
Speaker 3:He's really good at getting the ball he wants.
Speaker 1:Sometimes it feels like he's toying with you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're right. No, you're totally right.
Speaker 1:You're like a puppet it feels, like I hate, it.
Speaker 3:I could feel it in the point. This guy's just bringing me around everywhere. I better win this point.
Speaker 2:I hate this. I was thinking more about your love for soccer. I know we didn't really talk about it that much. Maybe we can sort of end with it, because it's actually 50 minutes And I was telling you I wanna sort of cut it off before an hour before my camera shuts off on me, which has been happening. But you've been going to Galaxy Games or no? I've been doing a few Galaxy Games, part of Worker for fun.
Speaker 3:Yeah, oh, growing Up for Fun. My dad's a massive Galaxy fan, so we would always go to the Galaxy. Games, but yeah, recently for Work, i do a lot of women's soccer too. So, covering San Diego waves. They have a new stadium in San Diego where Qualcomm was Snapdragon yeah, it's a really cool stadium. And then the other MLS team in LA is LAFC And they have a really nice stadium too, right in downtown, right next to USC. Actually, there's a whole stadium there. I would walk from campus to go to games.
Speaker 3:I think it's was it called the LA Sports Arena. I think that's. It's that ground.
Speaker 2:There was a stadium there. Yeah, oh, that's so cool, and so your pops is really into soccer. He told you he played Landon Donovan, right Yeah, in tennis Talking about the like, the different.
Speaker 3:You know higher division athletes, college athletes and then professional athletes. Like it's just, landon has that mentality. So Harry and Keith played him recently And usually you know when you get to that third set you play a 10 point tie break. In league Usually it's a 10 point tie break And I guess Landon refused. We were playing a full set. Really They were playing a full set, they were not playing a 10 point.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, yeah, i remember. Your dad said, though, like they hit him a lob and he like oh, he sprung like a cat, like I don't even know how old is he, do you know?
Speaker 3:40s 40s yeah.
Speaker 2:So he's not in this. He doesn't play soccer anymore.
Speaker 3:No, he's, he was the manager for a second division team, the San Diego law.
Speaker 2:Oh really.
Speaker 3:And I was like up in their front office. Oh, that's cool.
Speaker 2:I didn't know that That's so cool. Well, let's end with this, cause I don't I don't want to dare forget your gift. Oh, yes, i've been looking forward to this And let me tell you, brother, this is a good card. What's this? Carlitos Nice? So Carlos Alcarez has, he has a 2022 rookie card through NetPro. Yeah, but the second year. I guess this is his second year card. And now consider it. Leaf Company made some cool cards. They have some autograph cards, so there's some better versions of that, but that's sort of the base card, but I still like it. You see, it's a little thick. It's great, yeah.
Speaker 2:And if you get it graded and it becomes like one of the higher grades, like I have one right there. I paid four for the grade I mean it's. It's a hundred dollars plus, so it's a. It's a decent card, right, thank?
Speaker 3:you.
Speaker 2:And I think I got that for like 20 bucks. But if you grade it and it's gets a good grade, you're looking pretty good.
Speaker 3:So And like if you hold onto these for longer, does the value go up or it just depends?
Speaker 2:I'm thinking Carlitos has to go up. Yeah, i'm just going to keep doing a lot of stuff, and what I've been realizing lately with cards is that it's if you're in the mainstream. Sometimes the record doesn't matter. To be honest, joakovic's cards are not that crazy. I can buy some right now pretty low, but the Federer cards are nuts, you know. Naomi Osaka's cards are off the charts, yeah, serena. And then obviously Carlos's cards are really off the charts too, but that's a good one. So I hope you enjoy it, thank you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, but thank you. I appreciate all everyone, like you know, being so excited about what I'm trying to do here and just talk tennis, of course, and I really appreciate it And this is fun. Like I hope people really like listen to what you're saying And I think that like the biggest point tonight from our conversation was just that mental side of it And like I don't know how how important it is just to believe in yourself And that has, that's just everything, truthfully, and it's like what I'm telling my kids a lot all the times too. You know, just believe in yourself And if they come home and feel a little dejected, like a kid made fun of them which happens at school It's like no, you're, you're gorgeous, you're pretty like these aren't lies, but it's like you know you should be happy with yourself and feel good about yourself And then you can actually succeed. You know, and that that's stuff so important, but that's why I just love being around you, your dad, your family, very positive people, yeah, and so just thank you, my friends.
Speaker 1:Yeah, of course. Thanks for letting me. I really appreciate it Yeah.
Speaker 2:Cool Joey, let me do it.
