talking dirty
“The top teams all have a sponsor now. It is difficult to assemble an amateur team that can compete,” writes A Coup For You author Jeff Miller, and I’m struck by how immediately the conversation is framed in the language of sport. It seems so obvious that professionals would be better players than most amateurs — having the freedom to devote one’s full attention and energy to study and train is a distinct advantage. We’re talking bridge, but couldn’t it as easily be tennis? Golf? Basketball?
Where bridge is fundamentally different from the other professional sports is in the decidedly tilted playing field: only at the bridge table do amateurs routinely oppose professionals. Some amateurs love playing against the best of the best. Others, like a few of the folks Shannon and I met in the clubs last week resent it, feeling like David in a match-up against Goliath. I’m somewhere in the middle of those two camps — I’ll let you know where later this summer.
People choose partners for many reasons, including many partnerships where the players are of unequal skill. There are romantic reasons, ties of friendship, and similar motives. Some players are promoting a system and want a good partner. Some players simply want to teach, and enjoy having a young protege. Some players see a duty to play with promising younger players, even though that might not be the best way to win the particular event in which they are playing. Perhaps there is a compatible partner with limited financial resources to attend tournaments.
Jeff Miller, Professionalism In Bridge
For me, the decision to hire a partner was an easy one: I wanted to learn how to play. I played in the novice game at a tournament once and it was completely dreadful sitting at table after table where nobody had any idea what was going on. More than anything else, I appreciate Shannon’s willingness to answer my endless questions throughout our sessions. The “playing lesson” Jeff described is exactly what I want. Frequently I’m amazed at how difficult Shannon’s job really is — she has to do the right thing no matter how well or poorly I appear to be concentrating.
The decision to sponsor a team was difficult. I wasn’t at all sure I was ready when we first stepped into the fray in the Women’s Knockout in Atlanta. My team couldn’t have been better or more supportive: Chris Benson and Ginny Schuett, two of the kindest and best players in the midwest, with Lisa Berkowitz and Joann Glasson, top players from New York & Philly, respectively. From our very first bottle of Dominus, we were a pretty tight group. We’ll miss Lisa and Joann this June when we reprise the first year at the team trials; Lisa will be at Princeton, celebrating daughter Dana’s graduation. (Congrats Dana!)
It’ll be my first trials. With Betty Ann Kennedy and Peggy Sutherlin leading the way, Chris and Ginny at the other table and Shannon sitting across from me, I don’t have a thing to worry about.
May 7th, 2007 at 2:34 am
Hiring professionals seems to be such a taboo topic in the bridge world. While I don’t attempt to understand it, I hope people will eventually realize the hard work and dedication that even the one hiring must put forth.
Your drive, your purpose, is admirable. I wish your team the best and hope that if anything else, it brings you one step closer to your goal and one moment cherished on your journey.