Many years ago, I played briefly for Bayer Uerdingen. I was once asked to act as a reserve player for the 1st team (Regionalliga, then the 3rd-highest division in Germany) against Altena. As a weak (and clueless) amateur, I figured that I'll never get a chance like this again and accepted. In the doubles, the opponents were kind enough not to embarrass me too much and let me play along. In the singles, I faced Wilfried Lieck - back then in his mid-sixties. I've never heard his name before, saw him as an ageing man, perhaps a reserve player like me, and figured that I might be able to score a few decent points on my own. Little did I know. Just as I entered the box, the viewers in the stands stood up and left to watch the other match in the other box. I scored three points in the entire match. One ball clipped the edge of the table and the other the net. The umpire lectured me for not asking before I tied my shoelaces. After the match, there was no applause and the spectators that had previously left returned to the box. The team members then informed me that he's a former national player. Very embarrassing back then, but I take it with humour today. 😊 Thanks for posting! 👌
Wilfried Lieck - the best shot-blocker ever. Legend!
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Toll Lieck nochmal zu sehen. Danke fürs Video!
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Many years ago, I played briefly for Bayer Uerdingen. I was once asked to act as a reserve player for the 1st team (Regionalliga, then the 3rd-highest division in Germany) against Altena. As a weak (and clueless) amateur, I figured that I'll never get a chance like this again and accepted. In the doubles, the opponents were kind enough not to embarrass me too much and let me play along. In the singles, I faced Wilfried Lieck - back then in his mid-sixties. I've never heard his name before, saw him as an ageing man, perhaps a reserve player like me, and figured that I might be able to score a few decent points on my own. Little did I know. Just as I entered the box, the viewers in the stands stood up and left to watch the other match in the other box. I scored three points in the entire match. One ball clipped the edge of the table and the other the net. The umpire lectured me for not asking before I tied my shoelaces. After the match, there was no applause and the spectators that had previously left returned to the box. The team members then informed me that he's a former national player. Very embarrassing back then, but I take it with humour today. 😊 Thanks for posting! 👌
Okay, but in any case you could play in a higher level and there is this story to remember. I hope it made you stronger!
@@UdraPT It did, indeed!