This single unlit court is not gonna win any best-kept court awards. Lotta cracks in the surface. The net full of holes and lacking a strap. And yet. Not littered! Yes, there are pine needles piled up against the fence, but that’s natural. So are the lizards prowling the perimeter. The surface cracks bring unexpected texture to the game, balls ricocheting off the jaggedness with where-did-that-come-from giddy-up. If you’re in the neighborhood, see if you can snag this court. What it lacks in fanciness, it makes up for in privacy.
2850 W 232nd St, Torrance, CA 90505
From my journal
July 20, 2023
I’m flailing on my backhand, tapping back dribblers, until — here’s a new idea! — Get over to the backhand side a little quicker, Marko. That’s all it took: a little boogie-oogie-oogie to the left and now all those balls that were ailing are now sailing. I’m proud of noticing what was going wrong and figuring out something to do about it, as opposed to wallowing, moping, etc. Making an adjustment is way more lively.
My new friend Lenny from China really liked the Hickory Park court because it is so private. In China there would be people bustling, pressing all around the court. Here it was just us and the lizards plus the occasional grandparents pushing their grandbabies in strollers while me and Lenny worked up a sweat, shared sunscreen and thumbs-ups.
[…] I am very grateful to be romping and stomping with Ben and all the other new friends I’ve been making on my quest. It is also really gratifying to seeing my game improve, largely due to me figuring out that my best strategy is to make the point of each point be playing to play. […]