Judging by the cars in the parking lot – the Alpha Romeos, the Porches,  the Teslas (not the cheap one), Range Rovers  and BMW’s – one finds that mostly the ‘elites’ (the nattering nabobs) are playing at our table tennis club.  I’m talking about rich people, the kind...

The other day I got into a match with a lawyer - a personal injury lawyah!  Lemme tell you somethin’, this guy was fast with his footwork and looked very trim and well-toned.  Oh, yeah, these personal injury lawyers are all in good shape, probably because they’re...

First, let me say this: If you’re not having fun, you’re not winning.  If winning at ping pong has become your sole purpose, your primary mission in life, then go see a shrink or something, because you’re barking up the wrong tree.  Maybe you should find something to...

Remember:  It’s a game, it’s only a game.  Now, having said that, I realize that everyone wants to win.  Some are serious about it – some very serious – while some seem to take delight, judging by their lasting smiles, in just playing “for the fun of it,” winning not...

     Here is some wisdom that encapsulates a winning philosophy in tennis and ping pong:   Keep the ball in play against beginning and average (intermediate) players and you will win most of the time.  Consistency – not making mistakes - is the key here.  Try not to...

I was a kid from the 50’s living in Flushing, New York City.  That’s when Flushing had only 3 Chinese people there – and, by the way, I knew all of them. Wait, wait, I forgot, there was Ling Ling, too, so there were four.   No, no, I’m sorry.  Mistake.   Ling Ling was...

Maybe the Lord wanted someone with a pure heart.  Mine, however, was infarcted.  I guess he overlooked that little flaw when he saw my overall righteousness.  In any case He, or one of his emissaries, called upon me recently in the middle of the night, around 12:30 AM...

A lot of people I know think that I’m a Debbie Downer.  It’s because of my flat affect – I look morose most of the time.  When I play ping pong with that dour, cheerless look, it’s infectious and the guy I’m playing with for 20 minutes usually ends up either wanting...

A few of my so-called friends have approached me recently and have asked me - rather bluntly  I might add - why I am so cheap, and they have even had the temerity to accuse me of never having bought anything at my Shoprite that wasn’t on sale.  First of all, I reject...

Editor:  Lao Du, how are you feeling? LD:  Well, except  for the cough, the fever and the shortness of breath, I’m fine. Editor:  That’s not funny. LD:  Ok, ok, no shortness of breath. Editor: Still not funny. LD:  Ok, okay, I would feel much better if I could notch...