| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MAY 2024 | 57
Table Tennis/Ping Pong
This month we have a legacy spotlight player,
and something new: hot shots of the month. If
you want to skip to the Table Tennis scheduling
information, see the last paragraph boiler plate
published every month.
The spotlight is on Jim Pathe, a 23-year
Sun Lakes resident, born on Nov. 12, 1934
in Glendale, California. An University
of Redlands graduate, he remained single and lived in Hacienda
Heights. Working as a detective sergeant for 30 years with the LAPD,
he proudly served the community, solving many mysterious crimes.
He is a passionate vintage car enthusiast, and has completed several
restorations, one of which is shown below. Jim enjoys table tennis and
rarely misses a play time.
And now here is the inaugural hot shot of
the month:
During a particularly intense game
on a random day of play, a ball was hit
hard, bouncing high over the head of the
defender. Then it became surreal: like the
vision of Willie Mays in the 1954 World
Series, with his no-look, over-the-shoulder
catch. At the last millisecond, the ball is
hit backwards, looping in a high arc with
seemingly no chance of getting back on the table. And, due to
the time it took for the ball to travel to the receiver, it was easy
to return this slop shot with a smash. Lo and behold, somehow
the ball hits the back side of the net, dribbles down and then off
the table, like a rock going over a cliff. No return possible. Match
point. Time to go home a winner.
We usually play Mondays,Wednesdays, Fridays, 4 to 6 pm, and
Saturdays,10 am to 12, but it is best to check the SLCC website for
updated schedule changes because sometimes we get bumped due
to other community activities. Hard copies of the schedule are
available on game days in the Ballroom. If there are any questions,
suggestions, or concerns, please contact Gary Lile at (805) 722-
7427, or G4lile@yahoo.com, or John Williams at (951) 489-973,
jgwms.williams@gmail.com.
