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VBA : So if you place in Vermont , do you have a ranking in Vermont ?
BL : Well , I have a rating , so everyone that plays in a tournament has a rating . There are 2 different systems for this one is called USATT and the other is called Ratings Central , and they are different systems , so technically , one ’ s rating in the USATT is a number that ’ s maybe 300 or 400 points higher than a Ratings Central rating .
VBA : Oh , so you tell everyone your US- ATT rating ?
BL : Yes , that ’ s the one to advertise ! From my USATT rating , I am around a 1430 . I am a 1430 , so I only play competitively with people the 1300-1500 range .
VBA : Oh , how high does it go ?
BL : Oh , you know , the best players in the world are up around 3000 maybe . Anyone playing over 2000 , in my book is an exceptionally good player . There are only a couple of people in Vermont in that level .
VBA : There are a range of people in the 1500 range then , but probably not that many though , right ?
BL : There are just a few people in the 1500 range .
VBA : Yeah , so you are pretty darn good , as I said when we started this !
BL : As I say , the best player in Vermont , this guy named Tim Aikey , he is maybe 2200 or something in USATT ratings , so I don ’ t have a chance against him when I play him . You have got to understand , it ’ s all relative .
VBA : It ’ s all relative . BL : There are just not that many players that are playing in Vermont Clubs .
VBA : Do you prefer singles or doubles ? BL : I like them both .
VBA : I always think doubles is hard because your partners , they just don ’ t get out of your way and you have to move so fast . I guess it ’ s a whole different thing from singles , right ?
BL : Yeah , it ’ s kind of a different game . I think overall , I have to say I prefer singles , but , I enjoy doubles too . When we play doubles in our clubs , it ’ s usually a lot of fun , nobody takes it too seriously and there ’ s a lot of laughing and some goofiness .
VBA : Have you always played ping pong ?
BL : Well , I played as a kid , which was literally in a basement , but it ’ s also called basement play , and then here in Montpelier , when my kids were growing up , we had a table and I played with them a lot . Then I would say maybe about 15 years ago , I started playing with a group of guys in Montpelier , which was first in somebody ’ s garage , and shortly after that migrated to
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the Alumni Hall Gym at Vermont College at Vermont College of Fine Arts , so we played up there in the gym , and then they decided that they were going to use that space for other things and booted us out . Finally , we were able to get space at the Montpelier Rec Center on Barre Street here in town , so we have been , oh , I don ’ t know , 6 years we have been playing the Rec Center , we keep tables there , we have 5 or 6 tables , they let us keep them there .
VBA : You put your tables there ? BL : Well , we have a couple of decent tables and some not so good tables …
VBA : Is there enough space ? It ’ s my understanding when you get into the competitive ping pong ; you are at least 10 feet behind the table or something crazy like that .
BL : It is great space . At least for 5 tables , there really is plenty of space . There is tons of room to move back , so you can move back for defensive posture , and the ceilings are high . Yes , it ’ s totally different basement play where you are banging into the walls .
VBA : We have a net on our dining room table and we have to make due with maybe 2 feet behind us . It ’ s just not the same . My husband is pretty good , and I dabble .
BL : Oh , well maybe we can get you to come ….
VBA : That was my next question . Are these co-ed leagues that you are in or at least the particular tournaments , are they divided between men and women ?
BL : The Clubs are all co-ed , but frankly and disappointingly , there are very few women that are playing .
VBA : Really ?
BL : Yeah , just not very many women come , and I don ’ t know why that is , but that is the truth . In tournaments , in some tournaments , there are women ’ s events , for example the Senior Games , there is a women ’ s separate from men ’ s as well as mixed doubles , like in tennis . But any Vermont Tournament is not divided by gender , so if you are coming you would just play in open events or your event level . At some , better players are disqualified , for example , this one says , under 1300 , U1300 , so this was a tournament for players whose rating in the Central Ratings System was under 1300 and , in Ratings Central , I am under 1300 , so I could play in this , I came in 2 nd . The best Vermont players couldn ’ t play in this event .
There is always an open where everyone can play in . Additionally , you can always play in an event as long as you are under it , so if there was also , as there might have been in this tournament , an under 600 or under 800 , and under 600 means , really novice , beginners could play .
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VBA : So do you have to go somewhere to get rated before you play ?
BL : You first get rated by entering a rated tournament . You enter as an unrated player , and depending on how well you play against rated players , the system will generate a rating for you . You beat higher rated players , your rating goes up . You lose against lower rated players , and your rating goes down . The Ratings Central number which becomes your record in a computer software program created by the Ratings Central organization .
VBA : So you play a few times a week and you still have time to practice law ?
BL : Yeah , our Montpelier club is Sunday morning , so every Sunday morning , we play all year , and the Champlain Valley Club is every Friday night . I also play in the summer on Wednesday nights .
VBA : So where is the furthest you have travelled for ping pong ?
BL : Cleveland was the furthest for the National Senior Games .
VBA : And you are going to Alabama ?
BL : I don ’ t know yet . I don ’ t know if I have even qualified yet , because we haven ’ t had the state games , so I could qualify in either New Hampshire or Vermont because I will enter both and I ’ d have to be either a winner or runner up in my age group .
VBA : You could do that . I have faith . BL : Well , there are a few people in my age group who play better than I do !
VBA : They may show up and they may not , you may beat them and you may not … but you enjoy it , right ? It ’ s a good balance for you in your life and if you play that many times a week , you must really love it .
BL : Oh , yes ! It has become a lovely thing for me .
VBA : That ’ s great . Well , we are finding so many lawyers that have special talents and outside interests that keep their life in balance and this one struck me as particularly fascinating . Not very many people know that about you , I think , was it your intention to keep it quiet ? BL : Well , not anymore !
VBA : [ Laughs ]. Well , thank you ! We really appreciate you agreeing to let me interview you and sharing your little secret , but it ’ s a great story , and for that I thank you . BL : Thanks , Jennifer . ____________________ Do you want to nominate yourself or a fellow VBA member to be interviewed for Pursuits of Happiness ? Email me at jeb @ vtbar . org .
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