Retiring on a Losing Note
I got a Silver medal yesterday, but in a trials there is only one medal, the Gold. A bunch of teams get together and fight it out and one wins…Everybody else loses. So people who compete in these events are pretty use to losing, even the ones that often win.
In the U.S. trials, Diamond who won the world championship came second to Bathurst. They will not represent the us in the Netherlands. It is the way of competition.
I congratulate the Eaton team who played with courage throughout. They did not have an easy road to victory. They should guts and determination to overcome each obstacle and win. I will write more about that soon.
Our team had a lot of technical skill and a lot of competitive spirit too. Of course we could have won. I was very tired and I played badly at times and much better at others. But winning in the end is about overcoming these things and in the end our team just couldn’t quite do it. Evening the last segment we could have won if we made some different decisions and played tighter.
I have no excuses. I played some very bad bridge at times. Still it was fun to compete. But now I am done. I decided this week that my days of serious competitive bridge are over. I will play to enjoy the game and that is quite a worthwhile thing.
Ray and i had already decided to skip the world championships in the Netherlands if I wasn’t competing. Instead we will head to our new home in Sarasota in October where Siesta Key has been named the number-one beach in the U.S.
I do want to say that competing is a wonderful experience. I would love to see more women competing in the Canadian trials. I will be with you and I will help you. I have some ideas about how to do that which I will write about in future.
My partner Francine is a wonderful player. I love to watch her play dummy and defending with her is a dream. I know that she will continue to be a shining star in Canadian bridge.
My very best wishes for the Eaton team in the Venice Cup.
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Sorry you lost. I watched for a while on Vugraph on my iPhone and it was entertaining.
Sorry you lost. It was a pleasure seeing you again and having dinner with you. I lost your e-mail address and I wanted to check about a Ron Klinger book. Could you send me yo
ur address. Thanks. All the best.
I wanted your e-mail address again to check on an out of print book. Thanks. Elaine
A very gracious article Linda. Hope you will continue to be a force on the Canadian Womens scene.
Even when I watch the best players in the world they make huge mistakes in high level competitions. It is always easier for the kibitzers.
Have a great summer.
I enjoyed meeting and playing with all of the ladies from Winnipeg. they were a highlight of my bridge adventure. Winnipeg has a terrific bridge program. I know that we will have some future women stars from that great city. Home of my dad’s family.
You are a winner Linda and don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.
For anybody who wants to reach me (and Elaine I would be very happy to chat) my email is linda@masterpointpress.com
I think that the players who come out and try even knowing that they are not likely to succeed our winners too. Congratulations to all the participants in all the events.
Dear Linda:
I empathize with the direction you have chosen but with your new life in Sarasota it is time to play less serious bridge and sit back with Ray and enjoy the smell of the roses.
I had a different endoctrination. After marrying Norman in ’63, I was exposed on a monthly basis to the East Coast superstars — the Crawfords, Stones, Roths, Roots, Beckers, Schenkens, Kaplans, et al. I knew the rudiments of the game but immediately realized there are players and there are PLAYERS. It didn’t take much brain savvy to recognize that I did not have the makings of a great player, so I did a lot of kibitizing and settled in, played the best I could where I had a chance to do well (Norman said that was the best part of my game — knowing my imitations and picking my spots). I won the National two session Mixed Pair with Edgar in Montreal in 1967 and the Thursday evening opening International Fund Pairs with both Norman (Hawaii) and Bobby (Atlanta) plus a number of sectionals and regionals. I am not a ‘natural’ player and survive on so-called intelligence (?) — although I have kibitzed the best, played with Norman when he and Edgar were not engaged — and partner Bobby twice a week at the club duplicates and each local sectional and regional. We have not attended an NABC in three years. If a ‘good’ professional opportunity arose, I would release him — but he is reminded (and agrees) Charity begins at home. Norman felt my place was with the children so he did not encourage bridging like most of my friends of yore who played every day of the week. Now, of course, with my flock of two grown up and flown the coop, I spend much more time at bridge, learning a great deal about theory from Bobby who has the patience of a saint. I am totally satisfied and adore my casino/ bridge schedule and love my new unanticipated role as a blogger.
I know it is a step down for you, having made your decision, but I guarantee you with all your extracurricular activities and enthusiasm, you will enjoy the rest of your life with your incredibly charming, adorable husband, Ray. He is a gem!
Thanks Judy. I am looking forward to many things including Sarasota. I still like to blog and do commentary some times. My hope is that Ray will play bridge with me some times for fun. He is thinking about it.
You are a wonderful grandmother, a loving, kind, generous person and a really amazing bridge player (way better than I could ever be!). You’ll always be a winner in my book 🙂