A Tiger at 11
Then it conducts a bogus - but realistic-looking - scan and tells you that you have numerous infections. It then directs you to download an anti-virus fix - all in graphics, fonts and a format that look exactly like typical messages from Windows.
Do not download the anti-virus program and by all means do NOT run (or "execute") it if you did. That's how the virus enters your computer, after which it somehow travels from your machine to those of others. I almost fell for this trick a few days ago on my HP netbook - I got as far as downloading the program, but when I had a message from Microsoft warning me that they couldn't authenticate the source of the virus-making bogus anti-virus program, I decided not to run it, and trashed the program. Beware. This is a nasty one.
Anyway, the Orange Bowl 14s and 12s begin next week down in Miami (I think the 16s and 18s end today or tomorrow), and I have a prediction to make: 11-year-old Maria Shishkina, now living in the U.S. but a native of Kazahkstan, will win the 14s. I say that after Nick insisted that I go and watch the little girl work out early Thursday morning. This child is remarkable, the best player of that age that I've ever seen - by far. More than far.
Physiologically, you could easily take her for one of those gymnasts you see in the Olympic games - a 15- or 16-year-old with extremely well-developed muscles and a very solid, athletic skeletal frame. Her timing is exquisite, and so is her concentration. I watched little Maria unspool astonishingly fierce, full-swinging groundstrokes during one drill; forehands and backhands, all laser-like, heavy and accurate. All while under heavy, pressing ripostes from the adult male pro feeding her balls. Her volley is just as impressive. And she's got the quickest, happiest feet since Tracy Austin.
The girl is special. She won the 12s in the highly competitive Eddie Herr tournament at the academy a week or so ago, 6-0, 6-1, in 40 minutes.
I can see only one caveat that might impact her future: if she's one of those kids (we all knew them) who matured more quickly than normal, and has more or less already developed the musculature and skeletal configuration she'll have as a teenager or young woman. For she's already solidly built, with terrific muscle definition. But even that wouldn't be a deal breaker by any means; it will just reduce the large gap now separating Maria from her little little peers, and bring her closer to being, oxymoronically, a run-of-the-mill prodigy.
The last person I saw who was so good, so young, was Jennifer Capriati - at 12, Capriati was nothing short of astonishing, but she did surrender a good deal of that advantage as she matured and her natural, stocky frame developed. But it's not like Capriati stunk the joint out as a pro, right?
Anyway, Marina Shishkina (Maria's mother), a lovely Russian woman with large, disconcertingly alluring eyes, sat on the sideline watching the lesson. We talked a bit. Her husband, Maria's father, is Igor Shiskin, a pro pugilist still awaiting his green card back in Kazakhstan. Maria has been at Nick's for a few years now, and is already a U.S. citizen.
Marina herself was a rock climber, and she spoke about the natural beauty of Kazakhstan, and how at home she feels in the forest, among cliffs and waterfalls. She misses the open country, and wistfully said, "I don't think I'll have much chance in the coming years to visit those places. . ."
Sometimes, a condo in Bradenton doesn't seem like such a good deal, does it?
When Maria was finished, she sipped some water and toweled off. Nick grabbed me by the shoulder, as he always does, and said in his trademark, raspy voice: "You break your leg and fall down in front of this girl and she won't go around you - she'll walk right over you. . ."
It seemed an accurate description of a girl whose militant focus and determination were evident in every swing she took. Finished, Maria asked Marina if they could go to the high-tech International Performance Center next door, to do some cool-down stretching, but Marina put her foot down and said they would unwind and cool down in a less Spartan manner.
Maria's lower lip formed a pout.
The girl is a tiger. Remember her name.
PS - You may wonder why I ran a photo of Anastasia Myskina with this piece. It's because I like the way their names rhyme, and I couldn't get hold of a .jpg of Shishkina, either at our stock houses or via IMG, which already represents Maria. Marina Shishkina, incidentally, looks somewhat like a blonde version of Myskina. Confused enough?
Have a good Sunday. . .
-- Pete