Everybody Needs a Little ‘Bling’ ...

... OR AT LEAST SOME MOTIVATION

By Jason Steinberg

Two things that the Senior Women’s 4.0 team from Nashville, TN brings to the courts that help them be successful are experience and “bling.” With these big keys and the ability to have fun, this team has been very successful thus far in Mobile.

Although the team does not have an official name, they often think about names with a sense of humor. Captain Jeanne Jones wanted to steal a name she once saw when in another state. The name was “She looks better than her age” and while the team had a good laugh about it, it sadly did not stick.

The team gets motivation on the courts by being awarded bling in the form of bracelets for their victories. The players get to pick what color bracelets they want. For sectionals the ladies go all out and receive necklaces for the occasion. “It is little rewards like this that work even for adult women,” said Jones. Being big Tennessee Titan football fans, they see the bling as being similar to the stickers football players put on their helmets for good plays. They have even been influenced by such plays as “The Music City Miracle,” when the Titans won NFL wild card playoff game over the Buffalo Bills with a last-minute, multi-lateral runback play.

The motivation obviously works, as the team has had several national champions over the years. This is Jones’ fourth time at Sectionals, previously captaining a 4.0 and 4.5 team to nationals. She has also played at nationals with a Senior 4.0 team. Last time they went to nationals, the team had to come through Mobile. “We hope that is a good sign,” explained Jones.

Tennis has become pretty big in Nashville. The team plays at several clubs around the Nashville area, and the city is getting ready to re-do many of the city owned courts. The team is glad that tennis has picked up in the city and brings enthusiasm every time they hit the court.