The Pelican and The Seagulls — By Craig Cignarelli

Written by: Staff on 11th March 2014

The Pelican and The Seagulls -- By Craig Cignarelli |

Was sitting on the beach this weekend – waves licking the shore, dolphin fins prairie dogging through the waves, soft sands shimmering. Twenty minutes before sunset, several seagulls appeared. Perhaps it was the crumbs left from tanning beachgoers or a final sand crab search before retiring for the evening. They came singly, digging beaks beneath the grains in pursuit of treasure, failing with each descent. Above the fray, a lone Pelican kamikazed into the Pacific and then ascended with its dinner. Out at the sky’s hem, bright blues faded into a purpling dusk and darkness wriggled its fingers in preparation for night. It was one of those profound moments, when one stares into oblivion and ponders at current circumstance in this intergalactic blah blah blah…. And so I did.

Our sport is filled with these desperate gulls, scavengers hovering over the game’s elite, grasping for morsels to fill their bellies. They’ve been around for ages, foraging at the edge of the game, threatening to invade the landscape – picking, tearing, ripping for the free nourishment. Some folks enjoy them, as though dirty claws and probing beaks could entertain for a moment. True veterans, however, see them as anathema, crapping all over the beach, stealing for sustenance, forcing you to guard your nutriments for fear of thievery. Regardless of how often one shoos them away, they return, with new tactics and often in greater numbers. To the detriment of tennis, they never change.

Contrast these aforementioned creatures with the lone Pelican, endowed with a greater gullet, a wider wingspan, and the strategic wherewithal to see things from greater heights. For years, he’s improved his methods, observing, planning, plotting, to become a brilliant tactician at avian altitudes. He is qualified, disruptive and proficient. He circles above, pinpointing his prey, diving undeterred toward the target, and then strikes cleanly, leaving the landscape wondering what occurred. While the gulls dig for fragments, the Pelican finds the big fish, swallowing them whole.

We appreciate the Pelican, for its wide wings and willingness to chase the bigger fish. We value him for restoring our faith that, when run by lone fliers, tennis events can succeed in this nation. We express gratitude to him for providing us this Indian Wells option, especially after the loss of the LA Open, the loss of the SAP Open, the loss of so many junior nationals, the loss of so many college programs, the loss of full U10 tournaments.

Sunset is imminent now. The marine mist is becoming chill and a light fog hovers over the water, like a mind. Aimed at the horizon, the Pelican lifts into the cobalt sky. Several seagulls pursue, only to fail at the water’s edge. It will always be this way, with leaders ascending as stragglers flap and flail in vain. Perhaps there will come a day when the seagulls will learn the Pelican’s ways. Perhaps there will be a day when they too, can command the sea.

Until then, however, we thank you, Larry Ellison, for rising above an otherwise floundering flock.

Topics: 10sballs, Craig Cignarelli, Indian Wells, Tennis, Tennis News