This was an assignment for journalism class. The assignment was to write a new story on a sports event.
Thursday, April 7, 2008, the CUNY Queens College game room was the site of an intimate, but official tournament between Ronald Dickinson, 19, and Floyd Kerr, 18. They played a game lasting longer than either of them had anticipated at the table closest to the help desk. The ball had been hit over the desk multiple times in the heat of the game, so much so that the woman at the desk thought she might suffer injury.
Kerr and Dickinson have spent the better part of their free time between classes during their college career so far in the Game Room practicing their slices and smashes, preparing for a chance to display their skills and moves, and show the other one up.
They are both freshmen and in CUNY honors. With several classes in common, they are friends during class. But at the table tennis table, their jackets come off, and with paddles in hands, they are different beings to reckon with.
During the pre-game briefing, Kerr said the game should be over within a half hour. Obviously, he thought very little of Dickinson’s skill in the game. But Dickinson was oblivious, and agreed the game would be short-lived.
The pre-game warm-up indicated that Dickinson might have an advantage in the game. Kerr is known to play very poorly under public scrutiny. There were at least 20 other people in the room during the game. Kerr struggled with his shortcomings, and tried harder to focus on his slices, as Dickinson “practiced shots.” “My smashes are a lot better with this paddle,” said Dickinson, about the battered green paddle, standard at the Game Room.
At 12:15 P.M. the game began. There were seven sets of eleven points. The first to win four sets wins the match.
Volley went to Kerr. And so did the first point. The set began evenly, but then Dickinson had the advantage with nine points to Kerr’s five. Kerr got the idea, and caught up. In the end, the set went to Kerr. Despite the uncomfortable audience, Kerr managed to put Dickinson at doubt.
The second set’s volley went to Dickinson. Again, the first point went to Kerr. Both were neck at neck for the better part of the set, and the referee called deuce twice, Kerr with the advantage first, and then Dickinson. Dickinson won this point. Kerr accepted gracefully, still confidant that he would win in the end.
For the third set, volley and final point went to Dickinson, again. Kerr got the first point, but said he hadn’t gotten his “competitive juices” flowing steadily yet. Despite Dickinson’s advantage in the game so far, with two points to his own one, Kerr doesn’t consider his opponent much of one at all. Dickinson was still oblivious to Kerr’s condescension, but at the time, he had full reason to be. He was in the lead.
Dickinson got the volley at the start of the fourth set, but Kerr got the first point. Kerr’s competitive juices were definitely flowing, because he won this set with eleven points to Dickinson’s four. Dickinson’s overconfidence from the good start has failed him, and helped Kerr’s competitive edge. Though the set was short-lived, it only just evened the score between the two.
Dickinson, spurred on by the prize of a free meal of his choice at the gyro stands adjacent to the college campus, comes back with a flare in the fifth set. He served the first shot, and won the first point. But Kerr wasn’t giving up quite so easily, as he realized Dickinson would not be quite as easy to beat as he’d originally anticipated. The game began steadily. Kerr gained theadvantage with eight points to Dickinson’s five. Dickinson came back with three consecutive points.
The game was really on then, with four deuce points to the end of this set. Beads of sweat were visibly sliding down the necks of either player. Kerr took off his jacket, though he is known for wearing it in any weather or wear, adamant about his wardrobe. Dickinson held the advantage at the second deuce point, and Kerr at the third. Dickinson held the advantage again at the fourth, and won the set.
The sixth set began at close to an hour into the game. Dickinson was proving his skill, and Kerr was forced to shed his trademark jacket in the heat of the game. Kerr served and won the first point. Dickinson had Kerr running back and forth with the intensity of his returning slices and smashes for the better part of the set, but in the end, the set went to Kerr.
Dickinson was feeling the prize lunch slowly slipping away. Kerr could care less about the prize lunch; he just wanted to beat Dickinson. Always a graceful winner and never a sore loser, Kerr intended to uphold his reputation. Dickinson was looking to improve his game, and of course the prize lunch, always a worthy cause in his mind, or stomach, for that matter.
The seventh set went to Kerr with eleven points to Dickinson’s seven.
The air, thick with stress, competition, and the force of ping-pong balls bouncing and flying off the table, finally cleared after Kerr’s win. Dickinson conceded heartily, saying Kerr was a worthy opponent.
Kerr donned his jacket once more.
The prize lunch was postponed until further notice due to lack of funds.
Dickinson laughed it off, saying it was better he didn’t win. Kerr won the game, and to him, that was a far better prize than any gyro stand lunch.
