Why feel old when you don’t want to?
Jim McCavitt doesn’t feel old, and certainly doesn’t act it, while he's smacking balls back and forth around the Eastview tennis courts with his nimble chums.
While he might be the elder — just 90 years young and still going strong — of the Eastview Thrashers tennis group, McCavitt is an inspiration to his court mates, and perhaps a pain in the butt (or head?) with his still wicked shots.
Frank Hutcheson, commissioner of the league the Thrashers belong to, says no one gives McCavitt any slack when it comes to trials and tribulations on the court.
“None of us really like him,” he says chuckling.
“He hits the ball really hard,” Hutcheson says of his feisty friend, while surrounded with a (sort of retired) group that seems to refuse to age: a doctor of psychiatry, a lawyer, a corporate vice-president, a local school educator and principal, a dentist, a chartered accountant, and a doctor of philosophy.
“We all call him the 'Grim Reaper' because he (McCavitt) loves to hit the ball really hard, particularly right at people," he adds. “We are thrilled to have him here. He’s a great competitor and a great friend.”
For his part, McCavitt can’t quite nail down why the tennis court and his longevity have come together.
“I actually can’t remember why I’m still around,” he says, while his younger (they’re only in their 60s and 70s) mates chortle standing around the net. “I like the competition and the exercise.
“I’ve probably been 10 years with these guys here and played other sports over the years, but I’ve only been playing tennis for 25 years now.”
He took the sport up at a time in his life when, normally in their lives, teenagers might have otherwise considered it.
“It looked like a good game you could be playing, and last quite a while and obviously it works,” McCavitt says. “That’s why I took it up and am thankful these guys let me play with them. I like the competition, the exercises and get out in the fresh air. It’s a good way to live.”
But why swing that racket and be so active when you could just be at home watching the telly?
“Desire to do it is one thing. And I suppose the genes in the family always helped,” he says.
“So I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve been healthy pretty much all my life and lucky to be able to go out and play tennis and the exercise makes the difference.
“They are a wonderful group of guys and I certainly enjoy being able to play with them.”
Any advice for potential tennis aficionados?
“You should take up the game as early as you can and learn it properly. It’s the type of game you can play all your life, whereas with some other sports you can’t possibly compete.
“So I would recommend taking up tennis at a very young age and be able to play it until you’re 100 or so!”
