ME, TENNIS AND FAMILY!!!

The last time I wrote my blog I had only read the prologue of my book. Since last time I have read 3 more chapters. I have read 61 pages out of 257 pages. I still have a long way to go but I’m enjoying it.

Retell:

So far Serena’s been talking about how her family wasn’t the richest family then so she couldn’t afford a small rackets for herself, she had to use regular sized tennis racket which were to big for hands. But it was a good thing in the long run because she got used to using the rackets she uses now at a young age. Her Dad used to bring her and her sisters at public tennis courts which were not in good shape. There were broken glass everywhere, cigarettes on the floor and broken wall and fences. They know that they shouldn’t go there to practice but they couldn’t afford to go anywhere else and her father really believed that if they practice, practice, practice that they could become really be good players. Her dad new a lot of people so one day they got to go in a little tournament between kids. At the tournaments they got to meet some famous tennis players and got to meet professionals that helped them with there techniques. They even got to play a couple of games with them. She also talks about how she never liked losing, and since she was the youngest she got away with a lot of things. An example of how much she hates losing is: There was a Domino’s Pizza League. She joined when she was 7 years old. They got to compete against people their own age. She was competing against this girl name Anne who was beating her 5-2. They had to keep count of their own scores but the Anne lost count. She asked Serena what the score was and Serena said that the score was 5-2 but for her. But to her surprise Anne still cached up to her 5-5. Serena was furious because not only did she manage to catch up but she was about to beat her to. Serena wasn’t going to let that happened. She was so mad that she catch up that she actually won with all the anger in her. She also talked about her older sister Venus who is a year, 3 months and 9 days older then she is. She feels like she really had to fight for her attention because her dad was always so concentrated on Venus. Because Venus was the oldest she could compete in more competitions then Serena. She showed more potential then Serena did when they were younger. Serena always felt like she was in her shadow because she was more athletic, taller, stronger and nicer. But she would always try to be like Venus. Whenever they went to a restaurant her mom would always make Serena place her order first because if she went after Venus she would just pick exactly what Venus picked.

Relate:

I do understand that she wants to win. When I’m in a competition or even a friendly game between friends I always try my best to win. I wouldn’t necessarily go all the way to lying about the score. But I would be determined to win if I was way behind. When I loose at a competition I don’t beat myself down because I know I did my best. I just tell my self that I’ll do better next time and now I know how much more I need to practice. When I lose against my friends I usually just laugh it off. I joke around. I usually make up some excuse on how it was rigged, but as a joke. I even just make fun of myself because it doesn’t really mean anything because we play just for fun. I don’t know how it feels to be the little sister because I am the oldest. I only have one little sister. I understand that she wants to be like her sister because she does live with her and when she sees her do great things that her parents are proud of, well she’ll want to do it to. My parents always tell me that I have to behave because my little sister looks up to me. It sometimes annoys me that she copies me but I understand that she’s just doing what she sees.

Reflect:

So far I’ve learned that she always practice tennis ever since she was a baby. Her parents taught themselves the game so that they could teach her and her sisters the game. They have been watching tennis videos ever since they were little in there free time. There dad would make them practice in the morning before school even after school. They would stay at the tennis court until the sun would set down. They would even stay even when it was dark to keep on practicing. So it just comes to show that if you really want something you have to work extremely hard for it. It will never be handed to you. If you’re ready to make in extra effort then it will show in the long run.

Match Book Entry :
Be strong. Be black. Now's your time to shine. Be confident. They want to see angry. Be angry, but don't let them see it. Play angry, but let them see confidence. Play angry, but let them see certainty. Play angry, but let them see determination.

My BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

I'M SUPPER HAPPY BECAUSE IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!!MOST OF MY FRIENDS SCREAMED HAPPY BITHDAY TO ME WITCH I LOVE!!!I TURN OFFICIALLY 15 AT 1:14 IN THE AFTERNOON!!!! SO FAR IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY. I FINISH MY ENGLIsh GRAPHIQUE NOVEL, CHAPTER 19. I'VE READ ALOT OF PEOPLES COMMENTS ON THEIR BIOGRAPHIE AND THEY SEEM TO ENJOY THEIR BOOK!!! HOPE THE REST OF MY DAY IS JUST AS AWESOME!!!!

Before I start I just wanted to apologize for those who wanted to know about Lewis Hamilton. I changed my book because I was really confused and didn’t understand what I was reading. There where a lot of technical terms about motor racing that I didn’t understand. It was just easier to take another Book.

On the other hand, I chose another book. I am 100% sure that I’m going to like this book. Reason number 1 is that I already know the athlete, because I watch her play on television all the time. Her name is Serena William. The book was written by Serena herself with the help of Daniel Paisner, and it is called Serena Williams - On the line.

Retell:

So far I’ve only read the introduction. The introduction stars out with her being at the U.S open quarterfinals with older sister, Venus, (She lost against her at the quarterfinals but still cheered her on the rest of the way). The one thing she hates about playing with her sister is that it is always a huge battle trying to beat her. They’ve gone against each other so many times that the already know each others strategies. So they know each others techniques, when they play it and how. The only difference between her and her sister is that her sister always thinks about her strategies before the day of game, where has she figures it out right before the game. Her sister is capable of keeping her cool way more then Serena. When ever Serena stars to get frustrated you can see it clearly. One of the great things about tennis that Serena loves is that it doesn’t give you much time to dwell on your mistakes. If you think about it you end up making even more mistakes. Serena also loves it when the game is fun. When there is a lot of action and thrill going on because she knows that fans pay a lot of money to come see the game, and her. She’s honored that people take the time to come watch her play her favorite sport. The one thing Serena keeps around her all the time is her match book. That’s where she writes all of her quotes and strategies for her games. She writes about her weaknesses, and her strengths. During changeovers she always reads a couple of quotes and strategies to inspire her.

Relate:

I can relate with Serena is the way she likes to practice a lot to get better at what she does. I like playing sports especially basketball and track. I tend to get lazy sometimes but I still practice to improve myself. I also relate to her when she says that when ever she plays against her sisters it’s harder to win and to do new things because they know each others strategies. When ever I play or do something with my sister I already know what she’s going to do or the way she does something because I have know her for like my whole entire life. But we still have so much fun together because we sometimes mix it up like she does with her sister. And it’s always fun trying to beat my sister!!!!


Reflect:

So far I learned that she has won the gold metal in women’s doubles with her bid sister Venus at the Beijing Olympics I also know that she trains with her Dad and that she has two older sisters. That is without counting her older sisters Yetunde, who was shot and died. I’ve learned that she has always liked tennis and that she’s always been training with her family since the age of 8. The last thing I’ve learned about Serena Williams is that before every game she says to her self “You are capable of anything, Serena”

(At the end of each bog I will write one of her match book entries)

You are the one with 7 Grand Slams, not her. You are #1. Play with a purpose. You will move forward. You will look at ball. You are the best in the world. You will fight for every point. You won’t be afraid. It is not in your vocabulary. It is not in your nature. It is not in you, period!!! NO FEAR!!!!!!!