Table tennis is a fantastic game and I have greatly enjoyed my eight years of once a week lessons from my instructor Juan Ly. There are so many advantages to the game that it’s a wonder it hasn’t really escaped its status as a basement game children play. I played constantly until I was 12 and then not again until I was 43. I’m very happy I started up again and wish I hadn’t waited 31 years.
If you want to read more about the organized sport of table tennis, try the official website of USA Table Tennis – teamusa.org. According to the site, Parker Brothers trademarked the name “ping pong” which explains why the sport must be known as table tennis today. The web site says there are 285+ clubs in the U.S. so there may be one near you. In other countries it’s even more popular. When I play on the ships or at cruise industry events against all comers, I almost always find the players from other countries are tougher to play.
You can become reasonably proficient just rallying with someone. Just doing that is worthwhile as an anti-aging remedy, in two senses. First, because the hand-eye coordination exercise is good brain food. Second, because the game happens so fast that the brain also benefits from the processing of strategies and tactics at such high speed. Despite the speed and the aerobic demand table tennis presents, I find it to be quite relaxing. When I’m playing with Juan, there is nothing to think about except the hitting the ball and preparing for the next shot.
Although I am getting to the point where I probably could play tournaments without embarrassing myself, my running takes priority. Nevertheless, recently I had two memorable table tennis experiences in two days, both charity related.
On Allure of the Seas, we hosted a fund raiser for the Israel Center for Disabled Sport. This idea apparently got going when someone read about my table tennis interest. One thing led to another and here I was (along with Juan Ly and also Adam Ceserano of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association) playing an exhibition against two remarkable Israeli athletes with disabilities. One was a 16 year old girl who was born paralyzed and is one of the top female wheelchair players in Israel. She hopes to represent her country in Rio De Janeiro at the 2016 Paralympic Games. The other was Danny, a 26 year old male player. They are both way better than me and it was incredible to see them in action. Even Juan had to work hard to beat the young lady. The event raised about $50,000 for the ICDS.
The next night I played with Juan in the Jason Taylor Foundation annual JT Ping Pong Smash doubles tournament. In prior years I had been paired with a Dolphins cheerleader, a policewoman and a retired Dolphins defensive lineman. Those efforts produced a series of first round exits. Playing with Juan was of course an entirely different experience and we won the tournament. The final was a very competitive affair and we had to fight off four game points in the second game before winning in overtime. One aspect of that game reflected what a great sport competitive table tennis can be. I was not able to handle the spin serve of the better player on the opposition, however at 10 – 8 (game point) I made just enough of an adjustment to keep the return on the table and we won the point. My adversary noticed I had made the adjustment and in overtime he reversed the spin and I missed it. Although we won the game, I was impressed that he had done that and we discussed it afterwards.
I encourage all of you to give table tennis a try in the new year.
Glad to see your committment to helping the disabled community extends beyond your ships. You are a very good man!
Thank you, Debra, we truly appreciate your comment.
Mr. Goldstein, I would like to meet with you about performing and doing clinician work on one of your cruise lines. I might be performing with my son Austin at the PGA National this summer and I thought of doing a short cruise with my wife of 24 years Hong Yu who is from Shanghai, China.
My son Austin who performs with me around the world is a 9 time US National Junior Table Tennis Champion and represented the United States at the World Maccabiah Games in israel in 2009, we would love to have the opportunity to meet you and discuss possible future promotions or just meet someone who loves the sport like we do…
Scott Preiss
US National Table Tennis Coach and Trainer, Entertainer
pingpongman.com
Hi, My husband Joel Barrios, Loves Table Tennis and he always participates on every tournament on the Cruise Ship, he is now looking forward on going to the Oasis of the Seas probably for Oct. for his Birthday.
Thank You
Joel Barrios
Vivian Barrios
We look forward to having you both onboard, Vivian. Thank you.
Dear Mr. Adam,
My name is Janaina, I am trying to cantact you since the begining of february with no sucess. I really need your help. I work for the mayor here in Manaus-AM/Brazil and Im working on 2014 Brazilian WorldCup.
Anxious to welcome the tourists who will visit our city during the 2014 WorldCup, we conclude we need a larger number of beds available to offer to the amount of tourists who we expect to receive.
For that reason, we are trying to expand the number of beds by contacting some cruise lines that works on Bazilian Coast to check the possibility of chartering 3 or 4 ships ships to stay docked at the Port of Manaus or try to create a route for this period. This way we will not even have more beds, but we will offer another way for them to arrive and departure from our city.
We are trying to cantact Royal Caribbean´s Office here in Brasil since the begining of the year but we dont get any answer and thats why Im trying to have your attention, becausewe really need to know if its possible to make this idea real.
We could try to have a meeting in your office or wherever you would like us to go.
The days of games in our city are 14th, 18th, 22nd and 25th of june 2014.
We really have urgency to define it or try other ideas, for this reason, I ask you Sr. a special attention and I’ll be waiting a returno as soon as possbile.
I appreciate the attention and look forward to have your return.
Im available for any other information you need.
Thanks a lot.
Best regards.
Janaina Chagas
janachagas@gmail.com
+55 92 81020388
Mr. GoldStein, Just for you to know, I´ve been onbord on Oasis of the seas and Allure and I love both…
Sant Thomas, Saint Martin and Bahamas … and Labadee, Costa Maya e Cozumel… It was amazing!!!
Hope to be onbord of one of them again soon!
Thanks again for you attention!!
Have a nice day!
Janaina Chagas
Thank you, Janaina. We’re looking forward to seeing you again soon.
Sailing on Allure on April 7, 2013 and we can’t wait!!!
We would appreciate if you could have the appropriate department open up the online Entertainment reservations for our cruise since it is only about 45 days away. Thank you.
We love sailing on Royal Caribbean and think the entertainment and shows are much better than any other cruise line.
Hi Harry, we appreciate your compliment, our show reservations open up 90 days prior to your cruise.
Possibly the Quantum of the seas will have a transatlantic sailing when it leaves the factory in Germany.How would I get details.
Hello Joseph, stay tuned for future Quantum of the Seas information coming soon. Thank you.
Had a bad trip On freedom of the seas with a high seas rally 2500 bikers not informed till we boarded
No reply to my complaint will not sail with this line again