Pathological Losers: My Vic Braden Interview

[JeffMac]

Watcher Reveals the Mental Game

My Dear Mr. Watcher. I have just come out of a deep meditative trance in which I was fortunately not visited by grumpy cat, a.k.a. that Swedish man with the feared backhand and a wearisome disposition. I must not mention any names due to my well-known sense of decorum and civility, but I trust that you must know who I am referring to. He is that guy who has cavalierly appropriated the name of a former tennis hall of famer. And that’s fine. As for me, I have decided--after careful consideration and consultation with my spirit guides Haagen and Das--to change my user name to Guy Forget, for reasons that I’m certain only you can decipher. But to continue from my habitual digressions: As I found myself more and more isomorphic with the Universe I realized that we are kindred spirits. We are students of Watts, Suzuki, the French philosophes, the Transcendentalists, the existentialists, the perennial traditionalists, the Greeks, the geeks, the Hotel Californians and that secret New Mexico Hopi peyote sacred death cult. Oops, I wasn’t supposed to let that leak out. Sorry. Anyway, possessing this wealth of recondite knowledge we are members of the illuminati, the cognoscenti and, of course, the Readers Digest and the Book of the Month Club. I also know for certain that we have been friends in our past lives. I don’t suppose you remember the time that we snuck into the Nebraska State Fair in 1896? Remember those two Pentacostal missionary chicks we picked up? We pretended to speak in tongues in a vain attempt to lose our virginity. Oh, I know you couldn’t forget that. Or the time that we rode with Bedford Forrest in ’63. Yeah, that’s right, 1863. Lincoln’s Union terrorists scared the poop out of us at Chattanooga, right? and we high tailed it to San Francisco where we hid out until the war was over, and later died in the great venereal disease outbreak of ‘66. And I think I know who you are now. You are that graduate assistant in philosophy and religious studies at the Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. Am I right? I knew that was you! So now that we have established your heuristic gravitas I must ask you a question pertaining to this post: Can you tell us what IS the mental game? And is it something other than what Jim Loehr explored in his landmark book entitled The Mental Game? Now, it is a virtual certainty that grumpy cat is going to blast whatever you say into complete and utter oblivion. He'll try to turn your answer into a capsized jigsaw puzzle. That's how he gets his kicks and combats his (SAD) seasonal affective disorder, which unfortunately afflicts a great many Swedes including the always semi-suicidal Bjorn Borg and golfer Anika Sorenstam. But do it anyway. Stay strong, O.K.? Thanks. P,S. I really like the way you try to spin everything in that Zen Koan style of prose. I've said it before and I'll say it again: You've got a big future in literature...that is if you don't decide to enter the priesthood.

Sartre equals Nausea. Nihilism.

Thompson equals disillusioned idealism. A laugh on a crazy ride.

Budge equals prolonged convolution.

Has Williams passed away?

McCullough equals sincere voice. A spark and a smile. Two valid perspectives on the topic poorly described as mental game.

[eaglesburg]

Look at it this way: If I hadn't taken those liberties with the "prey" I would not have been able to inform and entertain you as I prefer to believe I have. I think that Laver and Braden actually enjoyed themselves for the most part. After all, everyone likes to pontificate from the platform of the expert. And no less myself--although unlike these interviewees I am still in the process of acquiring expert status. I am not on their level and no doubt will never be. At any rate, I am not quite done attempting to unravel the "mystery." That search for "truth" that you mention will soon culminate in a definitive answer to that question of which approach to competition works best and for whom. Who is right? Laver and Braden or...? I'll be interested to see what you think of this last article in the series. I pursue no prey, but rather chase the illusive chimera that is the grail of mental mastery as realized in the Flow State. This is actually what most people refer to as "God." However, this is a misnomer because that notion is truly "all in your head." Once the Flow State replaces the thousands of religions which have slithered across the Earth in the last two-hundred thousand years, we may finally experience world peace. Almost everyone will play tennis, of course. It will be hard to find an open court which may lead to further armed conflict, unless a major initiative is launched to build, build and build more courts. But there is time. The human genome changes very slowly. We are dozens and dozens of generations away from...Tennis Heaven.

I somewhat agree with your thoughts on religion. It probably just is feelings and things people use to have a sort of rulebook in life. It can make people happier and just feel more comfortable in general about their decisions in life.
However, we are seeing now that people are trying to press their religion upon others which is entirely unacceptable. Today there are some who it seems are almost trying to incite a Third World War between Christians and Muslims. Once people hopefully understand that it's all in their head maybe the conflict can cease. When people feel spiritual, I think it's probably just the flow state and pretty much just in their heads. They shouldn't necessarily stop believing or following, it's just that by understanding religon's true nature maybe some violence can be averted. At that point perhaps religion will become a force for good like it was meant to be.

[TheWatcher]

McCullough. Your words appear positive, although I tire after a sentence. And when you attack Budge. I assume you live in spite of the King.

Budge. Only you can enlighten yourself. This you know. McCullough is only himself.

[JeffMac]

The Mystical Tennis Clubhouse

My dear Mr. Watcher...thanks so much for coming so nobly to my defense against the virulent, vicious, verbal and vitriolic backhanded blitzkrieg of the expatriate, Swedish spy who goes unmerrily by the non de guerre of Don Budge. Unlike DB you--my dear and faithful Watcher--are apparently sensitive to the fact that I suffer from a litany of ailments which would shock even the great John Hopkins himself. Even a third rate Hunter Thompson wannabee such as myself should not be kicked when he is down. Yes, the rumor is true. I have but eight and one-half days to live. The diagnosis is stage nineteen rectal cancer because I have worshipped incessantly at the throne of the King of Kings. No, not that charlatan from Galilee. I'm talking about the real "big guy." Burger King. DB has pierced me to the quick as I thought we had come to a rapprochement after his initial, irrational, insipid and irascible global, catastrophic condemnation of the Laver article back in February. But alas, his dagger is still drawn. Venom still drips from those malevolent, twisted, blonde infused Swedish socialist utopia lips that are feared too, by none other than the great Mats Wilander himself. But I digress...which is what gonzo journalists are wont to do. It is part of genre that is a discernible and identifiable "style," despite the counterfeit Swede's contention that it is not an art form, and is mere...what did he say? Drivel perhaps? Hmmm...Drivel is probably too kind a word. Anyway, where IS my LSD? Ludes? Budweiser? Weed? Where is my favorite Maroon Five tribute band...? Anyway, as much as I love Budge's quasi-robotic pre-Tracy Austinesque forehand, I must agree with Watcher. The DB wannabee who likens himself in some fashion or another to the former king of so many 40's baseline battles has drifted into a sort of fugue-like existential case of what clinicians like Vic Braden and I (oh! I'm such a name dropper too) Intermittent Explosive Disorder, characterized by a tendency to lash out in all directions indiscriminately, combined with extreme discursiveness--and yes Watcher, there is convolution too!--and just plain old garden variety crankiness. In sum, he seems to be suffering from a form of PTSD that tends to culminate in what the old Teutonic, Germanic tribes referred to as a severe case of leibensnied, (sp?) otherwise known as generalized, global envy syndrome. Think: the great Grumpy Cat himself! Once again, it has been proven that life is one big Rorschach test in which we externalize our internal reality outward at all times. DB, your picture is a little troubling right now. So, I dutifully and humbly ask: "DB, how can I be of help to you now, in your time of greatest need?" Believe me, I understand extremis just as much as the lost, wondering youthful Agassi himself. That's my zip code too most of the time. Now, I know that you said you are eagerly anticipating my next magnum opus. Thanks for that. But over and above this what else can I do? I want us to be BBF again, just like right after the moment in time in which I first publically revealed that I had insulted, offended, savaged, pillaged, humiliated and disgraced Rod Laver--and by extension you--because after all you are the living personification of DB. Lavers true friend and protector in spirit. How noble of you. Remember those halcyon days of 2015 gonzo yesteryear? I certainly do. I only hope that we can patch things up the way Watcher and I have. He and I are now what Hunter Thompson, the Maharishi, Tim Gallwey and Oprah Winfrey call members of the "Mystical Tennis Clubhouse." It would be great if the three of us could put little cuts on our fingers, rub them together and become blood brothers just like Sparky and Our Gang used to do back in the day. And then go out and TP a few houses like we used to do. In the meantime, try to avoid those red-eye flights. The etiology of your lugubrious pickle may be nothing more complex than mere, run of the mill aeronautical sleep deprivation. That was a cantankerous Lendl's problem too, by the way. And besides, if you don't fly nocturnally you won't have to worry about a wannabee gonzo asshole like me bothering the great wannabee DB in the middle of the night seeking that exclusive interview, and then writing about it in a grossly self-serving, self-aggrandizing manner. Take care my good friend. I'll look forward to another of your glowing reviews. And please take it easy on my friend the Watcher, because after all he is always Watching. Just like the big guy at BK.

Sartre equals Nausea. Nihilism.

Thompson equals disillusioned idealism. A laugh on a crazy ride.

Budge equals prolonged convolution.

Has Williams passed away?

McCullough equals sincere voice. A spark and a smile. Two valid perspectives on the topic poorly described as mental game.

[stotty]

Everyone loses, as a matter of fact the great Rod Laver lost nearly all of his matches against Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall during his rookie year as a pro. This was after he had just won his first Grand Slam in 1962. Did Laver quit? Was he a loser? Of course not, the loses Laver endured made him an even greater player. It is through our effort and perseverance that we improve ourselves. Winning and losing are equally important stepping stones in our quest for self improvement.

Norman Ashbrooke

In some cases (Laver being one such case), what doesn't kill you does actually make you stronger. Laver must have been grateful for the era of players around him, especially those (Hoad and Gonzales) a few years older and who had raised the bar. Laver climbed up on the back of those players to become truly great.

Djokovic in the present day has enjoyed the same for having Nadal and Federer around a few years in front of him. He owes a certain amount of his lofty level of play to those two.

The timing (as in space and time) of Djokovic and Laver emerging in their respective eras was downright perfect.

[don_budge]

TheWatcher...

Budge good more concise now. Keep striving.

I'm almost done TheWatcher. Striving? Where have you been? Feel free to take over. Enlighten us…MysticOne.

[TheWatcher]

Budge good more concise now. Keep striving.

[don_budge]

Prolonged Convolution...

Budge equals prolonged convolution.

Here's prolonged convolution TheWatcher.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/05/politics/obama-executive-action-gun-control/index.html

Theatrical wiping of tears…choking voice. He should have gotten an Academy Award for Prolonged Convolution instead of the Nobel Peace Prize. You won't see Vladimir Putin feigning tears.

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." -Hunter S. Thompson

[TheWatcher]

Sartre equals Nausea. Nihilism.

Thompson equals disillusioned idealism. A laugh on a crazy ride.

Budge equals prolonged convolution.

Has Williams passed away?

McCullough equals sincere voice. A spark and a smile. Two valid perspectives on the topic poorly described as mental game.

[don_budge]

Nausea…and Hunter S. Thompson wannabe's

I pursue no prey, but rather chase the illusive chimera that is the grail of mental mastery as realized in the Flow State. This is actually what most people refer to as "God." However, this is a misnomer because that notion is truly "all in your head." Once the Flow State replaces the thousands of religions which have slithered across the Earth in the last two-hundred thousand years, we may finally experience world peace.

The talk of comparisons to one Hunter S. Thompson make me feel slightly nauseous. As a matter of fact I already feel slightly nauseous from a cold that I picked up on my first visit to the States in ten years. But I was already feeling sort of nauseous from some of my observations of the "hope and change" that has been delivered as promised from the current "Supreme Commander". President Oblabla. He who talks a lot but says little…little of meaning.

Be that as it may I will never see the current "Star Wars" movie either…I must admit that I have never seen any of the other "Star Wars" movies. However...I have read all of the collective works of Fyodor Dostoevsky among others. This talk of literary credentials and philosophic musings are somewhat lost on me. Hunter S. Thompson wrote "gonzo" journalism…or "gonzo" literary style which in the end isn't a style at all. It is the musings of an insane person…which is entertaining to some. I guess.

The two articles about "Laver and Braden" belong in the lower third of all of the articles that have been posted in "Tennisplayer.net". They are neither informative or educational. They are an attempt at entertainment and belong in the same category that the mainstream media currently resides in. "Truthiness"…it's not something that I aspire to or feel entertained by, particularly when it applies to tennis or life in general. The "Laver" story was particularly disrespectful in content as it more or less challenged a rather impeccable image to appear rather ordinary…a chance encounter in the middle of the night by an overzealous tennis nut. That being said my only interest in Laver would be on the tennis court. He can have his private life to himself. After recently flying all night to and from Sweden all that I can say is if someone would have approached me under those conditions they may have wished they had not.

I cannot wait for the final chapter of "The Apocalypse" series of tennis writings. But at the same time I reiterate…we are all losers. No one here gets out alive. GeoffWilliams was another exponent of Hunter S. Thompson. He fancied himself as some kind of Thompson wannabe also. He wrote of "gonzo" tennis…there was another character here on the forum that wrote of "Apocalypse Tennis". He too has gone in remission…hopefully by the wayside. I can't say that I miss either one of them…but at the same time one might say that they were amusing in an entertainment sort of way. Much as the mainstream media is these days. Nauseous feelings aside.

[JeffMac]

Watcher--Lighten Up!

Look at it this way: If I hadn't taken those liberties with the "prey" I would not have been able to inform and entertain you as I prefer to believe I have. I think that Laver and Braden actually enjoyed themselves for the most part. After all, everyone likes to pontificate from the platform of the expert. And no less myself--although unlike these interviewees I am still in the process of acquiring expert status. I am not on their level and no doubt will never be. At any rate, I am not quite done attempting to unravel the "mystery." That search for "truth" that you mention will soon culminate in a definitive answer to that question of which approach to competition works best and for whom. Who is right? Laver and Braden or...? I'll be interested to see what you think of this last article in the series. I pursue no prey, but rather chase the illusive chimera that is the grail of mental mastery as realized in the Flow State. This is actually what most people refer to as "God." However, this is a misnomer because that notion is truly "all in your head." Once the Flow State replaces the thousands of religions which have slithered across the Earth in the last two-hundred thousand years, we may finally experience world peace. Almost everyone will play tennis, of course. It will be hard to find an open court which may lead to further armed conflict, unless a major initiative is launched to build, build and build more courts. But there is time. The human genome changes very slowly. We are dozens and dozens of generations away from...Tennis Heaven.

[TheWatcher]

McCullough,

You sensed incorrectly. In the day Dr. Thompson was an idol of my own. Possibly I would buy your book. By liberties I mean the ones you took in pursuit of prey not in telling.

[JeffMac]

Thanks...I Think?

These 2 articles from McCullough. I have never read anything quite like them. The irony combined with the sincere thirst for truth and the admitted liberties takenwith while pursuing same. It's not unlike his idol Dr. Thompson, as he was called.

I heard through the grapevine that there was an "interesting" comment on my article...and very incisive too! You have an impressive way with words. Are you a writer also?

I did take artistic liberty with the articles, but attempted to remain true to what both Laver and Braden told me. I consider what they had to say too important to fabricate. And it would have been ethically improper to do so.

I sense that you might have some ambivalence toward my style--if you will. These articles are two chapters in an unpublished book entitled Performance Apocalypse. It's way over the top, and certainly not for every tennis enthusiast. I'm not sure I want to publish it. But if I did, would you buy it? And why, or why not based on what you have concluded. Call it market research. Thanks.

[johnyandell]

BUT the other thing that fascinated me was Vic's insight about how personal psychology blocks change. NO DOUBT he was right about that and too bad he never put that out as major point.

Having 25 years of oncourt experience I came to the same conclusion--that certain attitudes and aspects of self-image were insurmountable barriers to change.

I had a middle aged male student who took up the game in his 40s. He worked hard to master the classical stroke models in visual tennis--and he did. And he was very proud of that--maybe too proud. I heard from people who played him that he liked to tell them he had "perfect" strokes.

When he played points he was so fixated on the outcome of his "perfect" swing that he stood in place until the ball landed on the other side. How else could he admire his own perfection?

If I got absolutely abusive I could get him to start his recovery on time. But left to his own devices, no way--I saw how deep this was when I watched parts of a couple of his matches.

And maybe that was all that mattered. He told me he never believed he would be able to play tennis. The idea of his perfect mastery was a fixed idea more important to him than any further improvement.

I often thought this guy needs a couple of years of therapy. But that was just me thinking he could have been twice as good.

[johnyandell]

Watcher,

I love them. I laughed the whole way through the edits!