Scarsdale, NY
The sun was shining on the aging bones of the players in the inaugural Big Daddy Cup, the year-end event of the 95+ Qualifying and Regional Ranking Tour events held in many regions. The Big Daddy Cup, to be awarded to the winning Region, was proudly displayed at Fox Meadow, the site of the event. Regions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 sent teams to compete. full story
The play was spirited and geared towards the senior set with no ad scoring throughout and the third set being replaced with a first to 15 point tie-breaker. It was reported that some of the teams did have trouble remembering the scores up to 15, even before the extended drinking session began. Regions received points for every win one of their teams earned, regardless of whether it was in the main draw or any of the consolations. Thus, maximizing the importance of every teams performance. The final round saw the powerhouses from Region 1 and Region 2 tied going into the final round with three head to head matches scheduled. Whoever won two out of three would take home the cup for the year. There was much emotion displayed on and off the court in the final round. It went down to the last match with Region 2 defeating Region 1 by one point with the main draw being won by Dan McCormick/Steve Heath over
Bob Brown, Tony Ettinger, Cole Barris
Gary Cochrane/Jeff Cochrane which went down to the third set 15 point tiebreaker. Region 4 came in one point behind Region 1. It was rumoured that the victors drank a combo of Jack Daniels and Corona from the Cup. The event also featured the pairing of 18 year old Cole Barris and 77year old Bob Brown for the youngest/oldest team.All participants received the inaugural Big Daddy barbeque apron and draw winners received Webber barbeque equipment. Rob Pierce, Captain of Region 2, took home the Cup (to be circulated around Region 2) until next year and started to make preparations for its defense.
~Tony Ettinger
Dan McCormick far right
with Region 2 Captain Rob Pierce hodking the Big Daddy Cup
REGION 1 AND REGION 2 WERE ALL TIED UP WHEN THE MAIN DRAW FINALS BEGAN, FEATURING REGION 1'S JEFF & GARYCOCHRANE VS. STEVE HEATH (TIM'S BROTHER) & DANMCCORMICK (NOW YOU SEE WHERE THIS IS HEADED). STEVE & I LOST THE FIRST SET 46, WON THE SECOND 63. WE THEN PLAYED A 15, YES, 15 POINT TIE-BREAKER. WE LOST THE FIRST POINT AND NEVER LOOKED BACK. STEVE & I WON THE TIE-BREAKER 15-6 AND THE MATCH AND REGION 2 WON THE BIG DADDY CUP. IT WAS REALLY A GREAT STORY FOR THE MEN OF REGION 2, UNTIL THEY WENT AND WON THE PRESIDENT'S CUP THE NEXT DAY AND STOLE OUR GLORY! WITH OUT QUESTION REGION 2 STRONG SHOWING IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE VIKING ACADEMY CLINICS GIVEN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS IN OUR REGION.
