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The British Open Singles Championship
 
Queen's Club Feb 3 2008
 

Marker- Andrew Lyons
Referee- James Beaumont


The future ain't what it used to be--Yogi Berra, famous baseball player


Judge: "Bailiff, please call in the jury"

Bailiff: "Yes your Honor."

Eight jurors enter the courtroom.

Judge: "Mr. Foreman, have you reached a verdict?"

Jury Foreman: "Yes Your Honor, we have."

Judge: "Will the Defendants Alex Titchener-Barrett and James Stout please rise for the jury verdict?"

Defendants rise.

Jury Foreman: " We the jury, in the above entitled action of Titchener-Barrett and Stout versus all opponents guilty of possessing devastatingly great rackets ability and also displaying extraordinary sportsmanship to the highest degree."

Judge: "So say you one, so say you all?"

Jury collectively: "We do"

Judge: " Mr. Foreman, thank you. The jury will now be excused"

Judge: Now I would like to address you two, Messrs Stout and Titchener-Barrett. Mr. Titchener-Barrett, how dare you? What were you thinking when you beat the current World Champion, Harry Foster? I should hold you in contempt !

Titchener-Barrett: "Your Honor, I must have had a good day."

Judge: And for you Mr. Stout and by the way, thank you for having a monosyllabic surname. Sure makes it easier when writing these reports for NARA. You are responsible for creating carnage and wreaking havoc. You won 15 out of 17 games, held opponents to single digit totals in 8 of those 17 games. This is supposed to be the height of rackets competition man! What do you have to say for yourself?

Stout: " Judge, 90% of the game is half mental."

Judge: I am upholding the verdict rendered by the jury and sentencing you two to elevating the game to even higher standards going forward. You will bring new energy and excitement. Godspeed. You are released to your nearest rackets court."


**********************************************************************************************

    Indeed the rackets gallery at Queen's Club was treated to a fabulous late morning/early afternoon of championship rackets.  James Stout overcame a first game loss to capture this highly coveted crown by game scores of 11-15; 15-4;15-6;15-6;18-13 over Alex. Alex was up 13-10 in the 5th game but at 13 all called for set 5. James went straight through winning all overtime points 5-0. The match displayed  the highest level of sportsmanship and integrity as both players called perhaps 6-7 balls down on themselves. The marking and refereeing were superbly handled which helped to minimize any disputes.

    To gain finals status, Alex brought the necessary "A" game to defeat current World Champion, Harry Foster, 4-3 (game scores were 15-1,10-15,13-18,15-11,15-7,6-15,15-7. James had little trouble dispatching Mark Hubbard 4-0 (game scores were 15-14,15-8,15-3,15-8) for the other semifinal victory.

    Summarizing the match at the on-court awards ceremony, former World Champion John Prenn remarked about James' play that he "conducted an almost faultless performance. He made probably the fewest unforced errors I've ever seen." And as for Alex's performance, John congratulated AT-B for a huge semifinal win over Foster, the current World Champion and praised Alex for his outstanding play this day and all the way up to the finals.

 You can observe a lot just by watching--Yogi Berra
 

Submitted on 2/4/08 by: Jeffery Durkes