The Docket and The Trial

If we are to resume night games, I suggest a start time close to 8:30. It will have to be decided upon among members whether my appearance at games will justify this late a start time, but my schedule will not allow a weekday game earlier that this.

As for the gossip of the week, pertaining primarily to Mr. Loftin's apparent Sunday comeback, authoratative sources have waxed jubilant about the sudden rally in this venerable veteran's play. Although the match was a minor one, the senior croqueter's technique and strategy were both sound and decisive. And while his play lacked the creativity and deftly-executed high-risk full-grounds maneuvers that rocked the sport when then-junior croqueter Jake Rowe commandeered the Fall 2005 season, this only tends to support the opinions and cautions voiced by the sometimes guardedly conservative veterans of the sport -behind which inhere the implication that strong technical skill will trump Agassi-style braggadocio- but also that Mr. Loftin's defeat last season was due in part to the chorus-like gasconade that lauded Mr. Rowe's successes. We will see this season if there is any truth to the assertion that Mr. Rowe's inaugural trounce was more due to popular plug than to superior skill. It may well be that Mr. Loftin was defeated more by flighty fans than by an adroit adversary. Time will tell.