Finally he broke through

I put down my camera and tried to locate him: …he almost fell to ground… he kicked the ball… the ball looked going to the net before it hit the post…  screams burst from his teammates and others —what a pity!

Today after school, he had a game. Since he also plays in AYSO on Sundays. He had soccer games or practices in four consecutive days. Next week, he will have soccer games in four consecutive days. I worried a little about his stamina— “could he get hurt if he is too tired and lost his concentration?”. But as long as he is having fun and wants running in the field, I know I should not worry too much. In addition, I know he needs to build stamina and to learn from mistakes to grow up, and to some degree, playing sports will help him playing better chess.

Soccer game after school

Abe, I felt, was curious to everything on the trip, the farmers’ market was definitely different there:

Abe is at a farmers' market

The land was poor, so were the people, but kids could still be happy. Not supposed to be?

I would think Abe was happy too most of the time. I took a picture when he was playing basketball with his little brother.

Abe is playing basketball with his little brother

No court, no hoop, no problem. “I love this game”. Not supposed to be?

It is winter time, it is cold outside. But we found some people are playing “chess” behind a wall on street.

Some people are playing "chess" on street in winter time (zoom in)

Let’s zoom the picture out to the street view.

Some people are playing "chess" on street in winter time (zoom out)

When Abe was bored with everything else, he played some chess games with the computer during the vacation. No one asked him, another not supposed to be.

Abe is playing chess with the computer

1st NA Amateur Closed was held at the North Shore Chess Center

Abe was playing in the tournament, so were two other kids of his age. I bet they had a good time (which is very important to their interests in chess). The three kids are playing blitz between rounds:

Kids play blitz between rounds

Before the last round, I drove the kids to a nearby park, so they played soccer for a while:

Kids play soccer in a nearby park

By the way, one of  the purposes of this tournament is to help people get a FIDE rating and thus create more FIDE rated players in Chicago.

You can find more about this tournament from http://www.nachess.org/naca-news/2010/11/ and  http://www.facebook.com/ChessCenter.

Since the weekend’s free, we could enjoy things that would otherwise be too energy consuming before a chess tournament. Friday night, we went to see the homecoming parade in a nearby university. On the way to the parade, Abe’s brother was very excited and yelled OFFENSE DEFENSE all along, maybe he thought he was going to watch a sports game. Abe and his little brother, at least, enjoyed the parade by getting a lot of candy, the parade display was very creative, the  university students were dancing, singing and screaming. It was a big party. I think they tasted a little bit of college life.

On Saturday morning, we started to worry, maybe, it’s a bad idea to take this weekend off. It’s raining, we worried that the party in the afternoon would be canceled. I thought we would better to go to a chess tournament if the party would be canceled. Otherwise, what a waste to take this weekend off.

However, the rain stopped in the early afternoon, the block party started as planed, Abe played as planned, in a beautiful fall afternoon.

The next day, the whole family went to Abe’s soccer game. Abe ‘s team won the game.  “Abe Scored!” Abe’s little brother exclaimed, with proud.

Unlike Agassi and countless other tennis prodigies, Federer never had to deal with pressure from an ambitious parent…His Swiss-born father… and his mother, who is South African, …played recreational tennis at the firm’s small club close to their house… “We’d spend weekends on the tennis court”…”Roger had unbelievable coordination at very young age… We noticed this, but we didn’t push him. All the major decision of his spots career he took himself.”

It was Roger’s decision, at twelve, to quit playing soccer and to enter the program at the Swiss National Tennis Center, in Ecublens, two and a half hours by train from home…he stuck it for out for three years…

Upon reading this article, I felt that

• Roger got immersed in the tennis environment by joining tennis-enthusiasts parents.
• Parents are the big support along the way.
• Right Coaching, right parents. It does not matter that the guidance is from coach or from parents or both.
• Hard working. Roger mastered it from a very young age.

In order to verify those observations by reading more details of Roger Federer’s growth, I borrowed the book from the local library:  The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection. You may find the following excepts from the book fascinating:

…Little Roger hit his first tennis ball over the net at three-and-a-half years old. At four, he could already hit twenty or thirty balls in a row…

…He played soccer, handball, basketball, table tennis and tennis and, at home, he even played badminton over the neighbor’s fence…

…For hours, Roger hit tennis balls against a wall, a garage door, in his room against a wall or even against the cupboard in the house. Pictures and dishes were not safe and his sister’s room wasn’t spared either…

As usual, Abe was in charge of the remote control. I was glad that he mostly chose the Soccer World Cup, which I was more than happy to watch together. In addition, Abe and I watched a very moving documentary film from ESPN: The Two Escobars. The film was about soccer and crime, honesty and lying, a people’s struggle and a nation’s struggle. After watching it, I said to Abe “A player needs to play with heart at every chance, never gives up.” Abe nodded. Except we all agreed it was a very good film, I did not know what else proper to say at the moment. I would highly recommend it whether you like soccer or not. You may want to check this review if you want watch it on TV or preorder the DVD.

We drove back on Wednesday afternoon, made home at about 4:30 pm. Abe’s basketball game (the first one of the summer league) began half an hour later. Upon his insistence, Abe and I had to leave at once for the game. We were glad Abe’s team won the game from behind. Abe looked a little tired, but made some defense plays.

Wow, what a team effort. Great game, everyone!

He was supposed to arrive the field twenty minutes earlier to take the team photo. Upon arriving the field, we found out that another game was going on. Maybe those kids were playing the last quarter, only a couple of them were still running, the others were just standing— only run a few steps if the ball getting close to their feet. It was too hot!

I posted a picture and some video I took below; I didn’t record the whole game; it was too hot even for standing along the side line of the field. By the way, Abe scored one goal, played the goal keeper at the fourth quarter, and got exhausted. His teammates were exhausted too. Though they lost to their opponent, it was a good game and every one had a good time.

team picture before the soccer game

Then I was more surprised hearing the recommended message by the host to all parents:  stop calling your kid a genius and instead say, hey, good job for studying. Why? As a parent, do I have to agree with it?

The interview is short but fascinating. You could also be captivated with the followings:

• Mozart clocking 3,500 of practice by his sixth birthday.
• David Beckham kicking a soccer ball from the same spot for hours on end.
• If you don’t approach it with a voracious appetite, if you don’t clock up the deliberate practice, it’s not going to get you anywhere.
• We must praise young people for their effort and not for their talent, and try to embed the growth mindset.

If you want to read more about the interview about what lies behind success and excellence in sports and other endeavors, check here.

Last Saturday, we went to Hales Corners Challenge XI in Milwaukee.  Abe was  eligible to play in the reserve section based on his rating, but he would likely to be one of the tops of that section.  I convinced him to play up in order to play with stronger opponents. It turned out, to my surprise, Abe still had a lucky day.

In the Open section, all four of his opponents were higher rated than him. He lost to one, won the others. At the end of the day,  he was tied with many others for second place. Considering there were thirteen players being experts or masters, his finish was very good.

Here is the game he lost:

A side note, before and during the tournament, Abe asked me several times to ask the TD for some bytes so he could watch NBA playoff games.  I told him that he’d have many many chances to watch the yearly NBA playoff games. In addition, there was a TV in the hosting hotel showing the NBA playoff games, so he could watch some during the rounds. Reluctantly, he played all the games. However, I do not know if my reply and insistence were good or not. If you have an idea, please let me know.

I only allow Abe to play his DS during weekends. I guess he’d rather to stay in bed until past 7 to skip the trip, and then he’d play his DS. I do not know if he is faking asleep or otherwise, at 7, I tried to wake him up, but he just ignored me. Twenty minutes later, I tried again; he screamed “I do not want to go.”

“How about you sleep in the car when we drive to the tournament?” the tournament is more than two hours’ drive. “We are almost late if we want to make the first round.”

“Who cares?”

After further arguing, finally, we left the house at close to 7:40. I felt a little guilty for getting him out of bed to do what he did not want to do, on the other hand, on several occasions, he said he did not want go to chess tournaments on Saturdays even we were totally free on those days, but we went upon my insistence, he actually had good times and had above average performance on those trips. In addition, if we do not go there, Abe will spend hours of the day on video games.

We barely made the first round. Abe took a long nap in the car during the long boring drive, when he woke up, he was in a very good mood, and he seemed forgot how reluctant he was to come here this morning.

The tournament was held in a church, and skittles room was in an indoor gym, we were glad that he could play some basketball during the rounds; moreover, there are other kids in the tournament.

The chess tournament was held in a church

He had an OK tournament. After four rounds, he was very glad to get a nice big trophy (to show it off to his little brother) and a small cash prize.

I was glad that Abe was very happy at the end of the day, although I knew that I had a long boring drive, mostly in night, to home.

Illinois State Scholastic K-8 Chess Championships

The day before, last Friday, Abe said, “I don’t want to go to chess tournament this weekend.”
“Why?” I asked.
“This Saturday, we have a basketball game with the Pacers—the team we lost two weeks ago.” Abe replied. Pacers won Nuggets two weeks ago. It’s is the first loss for Abe’s team within these two seasons. I was not with Abe in that game as I usually do because I had another appointment. I did not know what went wrong that time. Upon seeing him, I asked,

“Did you guys play like a team?”

“Yes, we did.”

“Did you guys work hard and try your best?”

“Yes, we did.”

“Did you learn something from the loss?”

“No, only big people do that, small people do not.” Abe replied. Since they are small people, why bother…

But I know Abe and his teammates want to win the rematch. This Saturday is the chance.

But this weekends’ chess tournament is the state scholastic championship; I’ve already registered him for the chess tournament. I do not know who would be their opponent until it’s too late. We have to go. I felt a little guilty.

On the evening of last Saturday, my wife told me that the coach of Abe’s basketball team sent us an email saying the team won with a great team effort. I was so glad with the win, I felt a little relieved.

After the two-day, seven-round chess tournament, Abe got six points and was the 6th place in his section

His only loss was to the final champion. After the game, Abe said, “I was winning, then blundered, then lost the game.” Here is the game:

Abe had a lucky schedule in this tournament, most of his opponents are rated much lower than him. I think he had an OK tournament. But on another note, Abe told me after the tournament, most people finish their games much quicker than the time allowed, I think that is a bad habit that might be contagious among the kids.  It is fun to play quick, but you’ll prone to make mistakes. It made easier for the high rated player to win. The higher rated players may have a faulty easy impression of his games. I’m always a little worried about that.

Of course, upset (a lower rated player wins a higher rated player) happens in whatever time control, just Abe was not one of one of victims this time.

At the end of the day,

I am glad to hear the one win. Keep the good work, “Nuggets”, let’s win the next game.
I am fine with the one loss; hope Abe will not make the similar mistakes next time.

The reason that I chose this tournament with assumption that Abe can play the chess tournament and still make his basketball game was:

• The chess playing hall of the tournament is only about half an hour’s drive to the gym of his basketball games.
• Abe’s basketball game starts at 3:30 pm.
• We could  go to the gym directly after his chess tournament. Abe can miss his third round if no enough time (the tournament has three rounds) for it.

Here is the chess playing hall:

Chess playing hall of Blaze Fundraiser tournament

Abe won the his first two games and quickly lost his third. Out of the three games, he recorded the moves of the second game, both his opponent and he made quite a few blunders according to later computer analysis,  the game is shown here:

 [White "Abe, 1463"] [Black "Shayna, 1438"] [Result "1-0"]  1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. a4 Bb4 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. Be2 Nbd7 12. O-O a6 13. axb5 cxb5 14. e5 Nd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Rac1 Qe7 17. Nd2 Nb6 18. Ne4 O-O-O 19. Bf3 h5 20. h3 h4 21. Bh2 a5 22. Qe2 a4 23. Nd6+ Bxd6 24. exd6 Qb7 25. Be5 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Rhf8 27. Qd2 f6 28. Bh2 Qxf3 29. Qe1 Rde8 30. Qa5 Qc6 31. Qa6+ Kd8 32. d5 exd5 33. Rfe1 f5 34. Re7 Rxe7 35. dxe7+ Kxe7 36. Qa7+ Kd8 37. Re1 Nc8 38. Qa5+ Qb6 39. Qa8 f4 40. Qxd5+ Nd6 41. Qxg5+ Kc8 42. Bxf4 Nf5 43. Re5 Qf6 44. Re8+ Kd7 45. Qxf6 Rxf6 46. Rb8 Kc6 47. Rc8+ Kd5 48. Rb8 Kc5 49. Rc8+ Rc6 50. Rf8 Nd4 51. Be3 b4 52. Rf5+ Kd6 53. Bxd4 a3 54. bxa3 c3 55. axb4 c2 56. Be3 c1=Q+ 57. Bxc1 Rxc1+ 58. Kg2 Rb1 59. Rf4 Ke5 60. Rxh4 Kd5 61. Rh5+ Kc4 62. b5 Kd3 63. h4 Ke4 64. f3+ Kf4 65. Kf2 Rxb5 66. Rh8 Rb2+ 67. Kg1 Kxf3 68. h5 Kg3 69. Rg8+ Kh4 70. h6 Rb6 71. h7 Rb1+ 72. Kf2 Rb2+ 73. Ke1 Rb1+ 74. Kd2 Rb5 75. h8=R+ Rh5 76. Rxh5+ Kxh5  

We arrived just on time for his basketball game. Abe still has some gas left in his tank and made some free throws.

As usual, Abe and his teammates scored another win. Go “Nuggets”!

Why did Saints win the Super Bowl? I think:

• Saints was the better team in this game, better QB, smarter coach, tougher players.
• Colts was the team looked out-coached and unprepared for the game.

What do you think?

Mommy told Abe after watching the game, “You can win from behind, as Drew and Saints did, in your chess game.”

What a Super Bowl game!

Unfortunately, I noticed a sad news recently about the suicide of his mother, who died of drug overdose. During the years of their strained relation, the son asked his mother to stop using his picture in TV commercials touting her candidacy for a Texas appeals court seat in 2006 and also refused to hire her as his agent.

One may ask if Drew is too tightfisted, the answer is No. According to his website, the Brees Dream Foundation, founded by Drew and his wife (both are Purdue graduates),  has committed more than $4,500,000 to charitable causes and academic institutions in the New Orleans, San Diego and West Lafayette/Purdue communities. That is quite an achievement for a graduate who left the school for less than 9 years.

Drew is a nice guy, generous and intelligent,  as one praise reported here, during his college years, made by a coach of one of his rival teams: “He’s not only gifted athletically, he’s gifted intellectually. He knows where the pressure is coming from. He knows where the coverage is going to be rolled. He makes such great decisions. There’s nothing he can’t do.”

So I suggest, whether you are a Saints fan or not, cheer for Drew Brees when watching  the Super Bowl. Let’s dedicate the cheer to his lost mother… Poor kid.

• Game 1, 12/21/09, “Nuggets” vs “Hornets”, posted in this post.
• Game 2, 12/22/09, “Nuggets” vs “Suns”:
• Game 3, 12/23/09, “Nuggets” vs “Bulls”:
• Game 4, 12/23/09, “Nuggets” vs “Lakers”, posted in this post.

Congratulations again to all the players, coaches and parents who cheer for the kids along the way. What a tournament! We parents received a wonderful present of this Christmas from our team and the present is called “team effort”.

Go “Nuggets”.

Congratulations to all players, coaches and parents who cheer for the kids. As coach David said “Wow”. What a team effort!

Go “Nuggets”.

If you have kids, I bet you have to make many such similar decisions, or let the kids decide. I think if both choices are local tournaments (for example, basketball vs chess), team sports should have the priority, do you agree?

The are four games in three days (today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow) if their team can win the first three, so it is of a knockoff format. I worried that if the kids had enough stamina playing all four games in three consecutive days. Fortunately, each game was pretty short, 6 minutes per quarter, as I found out in today’s game.

It is funny I did not know the name of his team before the game. I knew today’s game was between “Nuggets” and “Hornets”. Last year, his team was “Hornets”; the players and the coaches are almost the same, so I guessed they were still “Hornets”.  Abe said they could be “Nuggets” this year, however, he brought his old uniform anyway to the game just in case.

At the first half of the game, players of his team were asked putting on the yellow shirts that are normally used for practices. During the halftime break, they changed to gray “Nuggets” shirts.  So they are officially “Nuggets”. Please check the highlights of the game, do not be surprised that one team changed uniforms during the game.

I am glad for his team advancing to tomorrow’s  game. Abe only scored two points at the end of the game and my camera missed that shot, but as long as his team won, it did not matter. Basketball is a team sport, I think Abe knows it very well by following many NBA games.

Go, “Nuggets”!

Stay Tuned.

Apparently he was so successful despite he did not like tennis to begin with. If it is true instead of a propaganda for his new autobiography, what kind of lessen could we learn as parents? Did you have ever heard complain like “I hate this” or “I hate that” when we ask the kids to practice something? Should the parents allow the kids to give up whatever it is, even the kids could be very successful or one of greatest in future? How do you think?

Please click here to listen the 2nd part of the interview (where Andre Agassi said he hated tennis), for some reason, the 1st part (where Andre Agassi said he did not choose tennis when he was young but his father pushed him) did not show up on the NPR website.