Towards the Unknown... And the Return

By Enzo Pettinelli

Anyone who has ever played table tennis can sense that the game is so much more than just hitting a ball with a paddle. Mr. Pettinelli beautifully guides us on a deep dive into the nebulous ocean of the sport, his unique insight shining a beacon on the many factors that dwell hidden beneath the surface. I think "Towards The Unknown" is so complex - it's like buying a ticket to an amusement park. Yes, there is a theme, but there are so many different rides and interactions. There are several rides only dedicated to table tennis, booths dedicated to life, and then there are thoughtful, slow indistinguishable rides that linger in my mind and make me realize that I cannot yet fully grasp the richness of thought. Perhaps it is because he is a dyslexic writer, and has had to experience the world in a different way, that he is able to observe from such a fresh and composite perspective. I've enjoyed many of his other books - "Quaderni di tennistavolo", "The Mystery Of The Lost Racket", and "Boys Look At The Stars." He is an invaluable asset to the table tennis world and my treasured mentor. I hope you enjoy your journey of discovery "Towards The Unknown"! Best wishes, Chyna Chuu - U.S.A.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Enzo Pettinelli
• Release date: Sep 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9788898337118

Enzo Pettinelli

Enzo Pettinelli at 8 years old begins to play ping-pong in the parish church of San Martino, in Senigallia. When playing double matches with his twin brother Giovanni as a partner, they are invincible. Enzo, like all children, plays football, volleyball, swims, skates. In skating he is 4th at the National Championship. When he is older he dedicates himself to ping-pong, right up to the National championship of B division. Then he feels that ping-pong can be played in a different way. He is fascinated by the musicality of the rhythm and by the beauty of the technical gesture. He leaves the agonistic activity and dedicates his time teaching this Sport. Three young lyceum students follow him: one of them, Domenico Ubaldi, will become later the President of “Tennistavolo Senigallia”, a club founded by them in 1959 and in 2010 rewarded by the CONI with the Gold Star for Sports merit. The first Italian titles arrive. For the 100th anniversary of the reunification of Italy, two youngsters of Pettinelli’s school are called to join the national team at the International exhibition in Tourin in 1961. After this event the parish priest of San Martino, Father Giuliano Grassi, covers the courtyard and creates a little gymnasium. A sales representative of sport equipment, Neri Ravini, accidentally sees the gymnasium, he gets touched by seeing so many little children around just one “rickety” table, and gives 3 bright new tables as a gift. The game, based on aesthetic beauty and on musicality, gives more incentive and new Italian titles. A sponsor, Otello Montesi, gives economic help, without asking nothing back. The results come and bring the Club at the first place in Italy. The school, already opened, opens further, and receives players from all Italy. Including players that play or have played against each other . Pettinelli will be many times the Italian National team’s coach, coach of the Republic of San Marino. Honorary Member of the Republic of Malta, for the given collaboration. Among his pupils we remember: Costantini, record of presence with the National team; Moretti, Cardinali and Ricci that will be many times at the World Championship, European Championship and at the Mediterranean Games. The work and passion of this “Great Teacher” for ping-pong, has inspired the film director Claudio Colombo that has realized a feature film, “Shot”, already winner at two festivals, dedicated to him. Among the actors we remember Enrico Beruschi, that has skilfully interpreted Enzo Pettinelli’s part. ITALIANO: Enzo Pettinelli a 8 anni inizia a giocare a ping-pong nella parrocchia di San Martino, nella città di Senigallia. Nelle partite di doppio in coppia con il fratello gemello Giovanni, sono imbattibili. Enzo, come tutti i bambini, gioca a calcio, pallavolo, nuota, pattina. Nel pattinaggio e’ 4° ai Campionati Nazionali. Quando è più grande si dedica al ping-pong, fino al Campionato Nazionale di serie B. Poi sente che il ping-pong può essere giocato in modo diverso. E’ affascinato dalla musicalità del ritmo e dalla bellezza del gesto tecnico. Abbandona l’attività agonistica e si dedica all’insegnamento di questo Sport. Lo seguono tre giovani liceali; uno di loro, Domenico Ubaldi, diventerà Presidente del “Tennistavolo Senigallia”, società da loro fondata nel 1959 e premiata dal CONI nel 2010 con la Stella d’Oro al merito sportivo . Arrivano i primi titoli italiani. In occasione del Centenario dell’Unità d’Italia, due giovani della scuola di Pettinelli vengono convocati in azzurro agli Internazionali di Torino del 1961. In seguito il parroco di San Martino, Padre Giuliano Grassi, fa coprire il cortile e crea una palestra. Un rappresentante di articoli sportivi, Neri Ravini , capita per caso nella palestra, si commuove nel vedere tanti bambini intorno a un solo tavolo “ sgangherato “, e regala 3 tavoli nuovi di zecca. Il gioco, basato sulla bellezza estetica e sulla musicalità, produce stimoli e nuovi titoli italiani. Uno sponsor, Otello Montesi, fornisce l’aiuto economico, senza chiedere nulla in cambio. Arrivano i risultati che portano la Società al primo posto in Italia. La scuola, già aperta, si apre ulteriormente, e ospita giocatori da tutta Italia. Compresi avversari che giocano o hanno gareggiato contro. Pettinelli sarà più volte tecnico della Nazionale Italiana, tecnico della Repubblica di San Marino. Membro onorario della Repubblica di Malta, per la collaborazione prestata. Tra i suoi allievi si citano: Costantini, record di presenze in azzurro; Moretti, Cardinali e Ricci parteciperanno più volte a Mondiali, Europei ed ai Giochi del Mediterraneo. Il lavoro e la passione di questo “Grande Maestro” per il ping-pong, ha ispirato il regista Claudio Colombo che ha realizzato un cortometraggio, “Shot”, vincitore già di due festival, dedicato proprio a lui. Tra gli attori ricordiamo Enrico Beruschi, che ha interpretato magistralmente la parte di Enzo Pettinelli.

Book preview

TOWARDS THE UNKNOWN…

AND THE RETURN

by

Enzo Pettinelli

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

Copyright © 2017 by Enzo Pettinelli

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, or through the major online bookshops.

To discover other works and curiosities about the author it is possible to get linked to the official web site:

www.ping-pong.org

Thank you for your support

* * * * *

A special thanks goes to Denise Pozzi for having translated the ebook from Italian to English.

Another special thanks goes to Nicola Falappa for having helped me draft the ebook

Cover photo by Gennaro Campanile

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

PART ONE - JOURNEY TOWARDS THE UNKNOWN

PART TWO - THE MUSICALITY OF PING PONG

PART THREE - SITUATIONS

PART FOUR – NEW SHORES, STORMS AND CASTAWAYS

PART FIVE – THE RETURN

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

FOREWORD

Anyone who has ever played table tennis can sense that the game is so much more than just hitting a ball with a paddle. Mr. Pettinelli beautifully guides us on a deep dive into the nebulous ocean of the sport, his unique insight shining a beacon on the many factors that dwell hidden beneath the surface. I think Towards The Unknown is so complex - it's like buying a ticket to an amusement park. Yes, there is a theme, but there are so many different rides and interactions. There are several rides only dedicated to table tennis, booths dedicated to life, and then there are thoughtful, slow indistinguishable rides that linger in my mind and make me realize that I cannot yet fully grasp the richness of thought. Perhaps it is because he is a dyslexic writer, and has had to experience the world in a different way, that he is able to observe from such a fresh and composite perspective. I've enjoyed many of his other books - Quaderni di tennistavolo, The Mystery Of The Lost Racket, and Boys Look At The Stars. He is an invaluable asset to the table tennis world and my treasured mentor. I hope you enjoy your journey of discovery Towards The Unknown! Best wishes, Chyna Chuu - U.S.A.

PART ONE

JOURNEY TOWARDS THE UNKNOWN

The dream of being able to fail in a society that knows forgiveness

The ‘earth’, symbol of a birthplace, can be the family, society, the place where you grow up and train. A child is unaware of this. It is immersed in the unknown and absorbs it. The unknown enters the mind, heart, and invades the body.

When the unknown does not represent fantasy, the dream and above all the stimulus to be discovered becomes a barrier. Thus, the unknown is the idol to be worshipped; that does not generate reflection, it denies dialogue. It demands obedience.

The child puts its feet to the ground. It carries with it its genetic heritage. In the family, it meets people from other lands and other places, as in society. It also meets children of its own age. They start playing. They immerse themselves in their own world. It soon becomes clear that they understand one another without talking. We look at them and as adults think that they are young, but we are tremendously alien to them.

We wait before instilling the unknown into them, so they become like us. Then we can wield our power.

Is liberty the right and obligation to belong to the earth that we are thrust upon? What will become of our talents and inclinations within that small, well- fenced piece of land?

Adventure on new land

The day arrives when you leave the security of your environment. Kindergarten, school. With your own bag of knowledge, abilities and innate shortcomings which we still ignore. We are more interested in the moment in which the youngster enters the world of sport. The discipline is alluring. But even more important is joining the group. Belonging to a sports club, which we see as part of the extended family, requires rules and goals that involve all its components.

A dream is born

A