November 1, 2016

Tip of the Week
How Do You Win and Lose Points?

World Fantasy Convention
This does have a table tennis connection – USATT had two representatives at the World Fantasy Convention, which was held this past weekend, Oct. 27-30, Thur-Sun, in Columbus, OH. Attending as unofficial USATT reps were myself and Charles Richard "Chip" Patton. He's rated 1821, from Alabama, and like myself, we are both into science fiction and fantasy – especially reading and writing it. Chip also has published stories, and at the WFC signed at least one anthology with a story of his in it. As we walked the halls, I wonder how many others realized they were in the midst of two people who could destroy them in table tennis? If they'd known of our smashing and killing capabilities, would they have trembled in trepidation?

Here's a picture Chip took of me at the signing table. (Here's the non-Facebook version.) I signed over 40 copies of my featured novel, Campaign 2100: Game of Scorpions, which has a number of table tennis scenes in it – here's my blog on that. I was also a panelist, and did a 25-minute reading. I also entertained guests at panels and in the hallways with my blowing ping-pong ball trick, where I balance the ball in the air by blowing on it, and do so sideways by spinning the ball with my breath. (What, you don't carry a ping-pong ball around with you when you go to science fiction and fantasy conventions???)

During the convention I also received some great news that I'd kept mostly secret until now. I've been co-writing a science fiction novel with the great Mike Resnick (a record five-time Hugo winner, 37-time nominee) and novelist Lezli Robyn, and sent in my part two days before the WFC. On Saturday night I received an email from Mike approving my part, without any major rewriting required. So our novel, with the working title "Golden Dream" (which will likely change – one possibility is "The Alien Inquisitor") will come out in spring, 2017. Sorry, no table tennis there.

And now I'm back, with a table tennis todo list that has been growing exponentially since I left on Friday morning, and now threatens to exceed the maximum capacity allowed in this universe for an itemized list, and so if I don't get to work pruning it down, the universe may very well pop out of existence like a soap bubble, and it'll be all my fault – though of course that would be one way of avoiding a Trump presidency. (Add smiley here.) Top priorities for now are mostly local stuff – arranging a Washington Post visit (they emailed me yesterday), the MDTTC November newsletter, doing the scheduling for our 2017 MDTTC tournaments (we're going to two days, plus doing rescheduling for the 2017 MD Closed), some organizational stuff for the two junior classes I teach. But there are also a number of USATT items I also have to take care of, and some private coaching tonight. I also need to make my US Open arrangements, an decide if I'm going to just coach, or actually play some events. 

Obama with Olympians and Paralympians
Here's the Facebook page where you can browse over all seven pictures (click on each to go to the next) of Obama shaking hands with Olympians Kanak Jha, Lily Zhang, Yijun "Tom" Feng, Timothy Wang, Yue "Jennifer" Wu, and Paralympians Tahl Leibovitz and Pam Fontaine. (Missing for some reason is Olympian Jiaqi Zheng.) If you can't get Facebook (as some always tell me), here are links to the Non-Facebook versions.

Coaching from Samson Dubina
Here are two new items.

5 Tips to Improve Your Long Push
Here's the coaching article from Table Tennis University.

One Myth About Attacking Backspin That You Probably Believe
Here's the coaching article from Table Tennis Spot.

My Biggest Table Tennis Failures (so far)
Here's the article by Tom Lodziak.

Win a Free Membership to Table Tennis University
Here's the info page. They are giving away five.

USATT News Items
They have a plethora of news items since I blogged last week. Why not browse them over?

News Items from Butterfly
Here are four new ones.

Ask a Pro Anything - Petrissa Solja
Here's the video (5:25) from Adam Bobrow and the ITTF. Solja of Germany is #16 in the world (#13 earlier this year).

Oh Sang Eun - The Power of Block (Control and Placement)
Here's the video (5:55).

One of the Best Table Tennis Rallies You Will See
Here's the video (70 sec) of this point between Feng Tianwei and Seo Hyowon from 2014.

ITTF Announces 2016 Star Awards Male & Female Table Tennis Star Nominees
Here's the ITTF press release.

Oshonaike Reclaims African Title 24 Years After her First
Here's the ITTF press release.

Do You Recognize These Celebrities Playing Table Tennis?
Here's the video (2:50). A lot of the pictures likely came from my own Celebrities Playing Table Tennis page (which, alas, I no longer update).

Nandan Naresh and Ilija Lupulesku at the Jackson Chance Ping Pong Ball
Here's the video (53 sec). Nandan's the kid (and I like the mask he puts); Lupulesku (the lefty) is four-time U.S. Men's Singles Champion.

Tightrope Pong
Here's the video (29 sec) – or is it Slackrope Pong?

Ping-Pong Costumes
When you Google "Ping-Pong Costumes," this is what you get!

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