WhatGoesAroundComesAround_DavisRob

pure luck could overcome even the most obvious lack of skills.
On face value, one might ask why anyone would ever speak with such an
obnoxious individual again, much the less become lifelong friends. The
fact is, though, that I had so much fun winning those games, and
Spencer’s commentary was laced with such a smirky and amusing locker
room type of humor that the question never occurred to me, and best
friends it has been ever since.
When the backgammon ended we sat around chatting for a while.
Laurie joined us and the conversation turned to the upcoming U.S. Open
and who had the best chance. Would Connors prevail? How about
Borg or Vilas, McEnroe or Lendl? Eventually the question was asked.
“Do you play, Rob?”
“Oh, a bit. How about you?”
“Spencer is a pretty good player, Rob,” Laurie added, as if sensing what
was happening.
“Oh, how long have you been playing, Spencer?” I asked.
“Started when I got back from Vietnam. Laurie worked at Columbia so
I got to play at their tennis facility. I’ve cut back quite a lot, but maybe
we can hit some later.”
Well, how bad could it be, I thought? He started playing about the same
time in life that I did. Nothing to be concerned about.
“How about four this afternoon?” I suggested.
“Great!”
Turns out that Spencer was a different caliber athlete than I was used to
encountering. In high school, he was one of the starting pitchers in the
New York City all-star game at Yankee Stadium and was considered a