Sorry but not sorry???

Pickleball Proverb

A great scientist strives to be open to all evidence. A great artist is guided to wherever their intuition leads them. A great leader works with the mind of the people. A great athlete wants their opponent at their best. An honorable nation is like a honorable person, having made a mistake they'll admit it. 

Sorry but not sorry???

The idea of apologizing after a lucky net shot has been criticized by various bloggers and newsletters in the pickleball community.  Their argument is fairly simple. It goes something like this:

1. Apologies should be genuine. 
2. You are happy that you got a point. 
3. You should never apologize for something you want to happen.

At first glance, this argument seems reasonable. However, I will explain to you why I will continue to apologize for scoring a point on a lucky net shot. 

I agree in part. Apologies should be genuine and I am happy that I received a point. However, consider the following: 

1. I want to win based upon my skill. Not luck. 
2. I never practice hitting net shots. So any time that I score a point from this it is luck, not skill. 
3. I am sorry that I scored a point in this fashion. Scoring points in this fashion, though part of the game, is not something that makes me proud or something anyone should feel good about. 

Consequently, I will continue to apologize for scoring lucky points off the net. I will stop apologizing for this shot once I spend time practicing this skill and it is no longer a matter of luck. 

Pickleball Humor

When I die, someone will look into my phone contacts and see many people with the last name Pickleball.