Nostalgic Account: Sweet Relief: Why San Francisco's GLTF PacCup Team Win Means Everything

San Francisco GLTF 2022 Pac Cup Champions

I can't believe after 5 tries being on a Pac Cup Team, I'm finally on a winning team that are outright champions! My journey started in 2010 in San Diego, then 2013 in LA, 2016 in Portland, 2018 in Seattle, and the jackpot winners in 2022 in San Diego! Although this post is 4 years overdue, it sort of reminded me of what was finally accomplished and that it completed my bucket list of tennis wins.

After qualifying for this group, I was able to at least play in a doubles match against a team from the other locations in the west coast. Usually, when you are on this team, you would play a singles and a doubles match. Apparently, I got to play just doubles. Teams hail from Vancouver, BC, Canada, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and San Diego. San Diego was the host at that time.

Thrilled to be on a Winning Team! 

I knew this team was formidable. We practiced religiously up to the tournament weekend. Played constant practice matches, and also did several clinic drills and practices. We were a well-oiled team.

I'm so glad we won outright in San Diego. We were uniformed well, we weren't informal; other teams were more casual in appearance and in coherence. We really had the look of winners.

Doubles Partner: Jason - to my right ~ Aaron another winning Doubles Player

Right off the bat, we won nearly all of our singles matches, with just 3 losses out of 15.The doubles was also solid; we had a couple of tough matches, but it was more than enough to solidify a team win and take back the Pac Cup trophy that year.

San Francisco: The red dots tells it all

Since that team victory, I never really applied to get in on other teams in the ensuing years. It took so much out of me to just get on a team, and get to be on a winning team for a change. Five tries at that!

The Joy of Just Playing

I've not played as much tennis in the years following that team championship, but have been fortunate enough to play on league matches playing in doubles. As I get older, I'm a bit off by half a step. Back then, I would be able to chase down drop shots easily, but these days I'm enjoying the fact I can still be on court playing, period.

My mindset has changed over the years: instead of being super competitive on court, I'm happy to just make the shots and rally even though I don't come out with a match win. It's become more of a social experience these days.

Lately, I've become more of a tennis fan watching professional matches from a distance. When you understand how a game is played, you become your own commentator and at times, you end up saying the same thing the commentator in the news box says. Isn't that funny?

Wimbledon, 2025

Tennis will always be my safe space. So glad I picked up that wooden racket and started hitting a tennis ball against a garage door. It's become a life-long sport that I appreciate. I will continue to serve and volley my way to healthy living!

Billie Jean King in town for LGBTQ advocacy benefit ~ April 12, 2018

Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco, is looking forward to talking with tennis legend and gay rights activist Billie Jean King.

“I am beyond excited. For the first time in 57 years, I will be able to meet her face-to-face, and I’m sure I’ll gush appropriately like a schoolgirl,” says Kendell, who’s appearing in “Serving Up the Ace,” a benefit for NCLR, a legal LGBTQ advocacy organization, at Brava in The City on Thursday.

The program includes a conversation between King and Kendell and a screening of “Battle of the Sexes,” the 2017 movie with Emma Stone and Steve Carell about the famed 1973 match between World No. 1 tennis star King and ex-champ and hustler Bobby Riggs.

In her talk with King, Kendell says, “I want to find out how she had the fortitude to blaze the path that she did, when really she stood alone. At the time, there were very few other female tennis players beating drum about pay equity.”

Read more in the San Francisco Examiner

Honored to have had April 12, 2018 proclaimed Billie Jean King Day in San Francisco by Mayor @MarkFarrellSF. Thank you to @KateKendell and to all who helped raise funds for @NCLRights last night. #EqualityForAll pic.twitter.com/SRUj3q5jgu

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) April 13, 2018

Oh captain, my captain.

Last night I met up with our Pac Cup team captains and players for cocktails and dinner to celebrate and finish off a good year competing in the annual Pac Cup Tennis Team tournament held in Portland.

GLTF San Francisco PAC Cup Tennis Team 2016

We all agreed it was close but no cigar. San Diego was just a tad better. Imagine putting together a sleuth of dynamic players and figuring out how to best create a winning formula to win the "Cup". Definitely a tall order, but our team captains,  Jason and Marty stepped up to the service line and tossed the ball and hoped for an ace. 

PAC Cup Team Captains, Jason and Marty

I appreciate your efforts, it's never easy but thank you. We hoped you liked your gifts from last night. Let's hope 2017, will be the one! 

Gift Certificates

Tennis Ball Wine Stoppers

PAC Cup Team Delivers First Strike Tennis in Portland, Oregon!

In late September, out of six teams, San Francisco came out solid 2nd place in an attempt to bring back the Cup to the bay area.

First day, out of 12 singles matches, we won 9! It was clearly a message to other teams that we came to play. On the second day, we did equally well in our doubles matches, winning also 9 matches, coming up short in our last three doubles matches. But San Diego came out on top, kudos to SD. However the outcome, each team member played out their "hearts" to put us as close as possible to winning the Cup. 

A winning combination of team and spirit made the journey to Portland all worthwhile. Kudos to our team captains, Marty Tilzer and Jason Goodrick for assembling a winning team!
Will the Cup be ours in 2017? Stay tuned.

Holloran Singles Club Championship 2015 - Bronze

GLTF Combo Mens League 6.5B Season End Team Party 2010

GLTF Geezer Singles Tournament - 2003

Guillermo Palomino and Edgar Micua

USGO 2009

CSTA Wall of Champions

San Francisco 3.5 Singles Champions

USGO 2009

29th ANNUAL UNITED STATES GAY OPEN
TENNIS TOURNAMENT
RETURNS TO STANFORD UNIVERSITY, MAY 22-25, 2009
www.usgotennis.org

SAN FRANCISCO, May 18, 2009

The first gay tennis tournament in the world, and one of the first organized gay
sporting events, is back for another year of action at Stanford University’s Taube Tennis
Stadium over Memorial Day Weekend. After starting on San Francisco public tennis
courts in 1980 with roughly a dozen pioneering gay players, the USGO has grown into an
internationally-recognized event. This year’s racketeers come from as far away as
Argentina, Australia, and Europe, with a large Bay Area contingent also in action. With
over 300 players from all around the United States and the world, the USGO remains the
largest gay tennis event in the country.

While this year’s tournament has singles and doubles events for players of all levels, it
also sees the return of one of the most popular and unique events at the USGO—World
Team Tennis. In the WTT format, women and men off all levels compete together in
high-energy, fast-paced singles, doubles, and mixed team play. As the competition heats
up, the teams vie to show off the wildest court-wear (pink wigs were big last year) and
the most creative cheers. And, in homage to what many locals consider to be the best ice
cream in the Bay Area, all WTT teams are named after flavors of San Francisco-based
Mitchell’s ice cream. Incidentally, last year saw the Thin Mints, Jack Fruits, Chocolate
Raspberries, and Passion Fruits take home the medals.

In addition to tournament play, Saturday morning will also feature a Tennis Block Party
sponsored by the United States Tennis Association at Palo Alto High School’s tennis
courts. This social tennis event is for players not competing in the tournament and is open
to the public and totally free. Instruction, interactive games, fun, and food for players of
all ages and abilities will be offered. This event aims to give Bay Area residents a chance
to meet new players and learn about tennis programs for LGBT tennis players.
On Sunday night, players will have to wait one more day to rest their tennis-blistered
feet, as the tournament action moves to San Francisco’s Mission District for a Latin
dance party at Roccapulco. Starting with dance lessons for the uninitiated, the party will
feature dancing to the latin music of local eight-man group Rumba Cafe, as well as a drag
extravaganza headlined by San Francisco star Raya Light.

While the USGO is all about a great experience for the players, it also has a firm
commitment to give back to the local community. Over the last two years, the tournament
has raised over $13,000 for the East Palo Alto Tennis & Tutoring program. Using a
unique mix of one-on-one academic tutoring and tennis instruction, EPATT has been
impacting the lives of hundreds of East Palo Alto youth since 1988.

A slew of sponsors have helped to make this year’s event possible. Adidas, Babolat,
Gamma, Powerade, and Mitchell’s Ice Cream all donated tennis gear and amenities for the
players. The Bank of the West Classic, USTA Norcal, and Gay Day at Great America have
all supported the event. The USGO will have a booth at Great America’s Gay Day on
Friday, May 22.


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