Chi-Slam

Had it not been for a faded poster on the window, I would have had no idea that the building I was walking towards was home to Chicago’s largest table tennis club.

When you hear politicians harking on about ‘small businesses’ and ‘The American Dream’, the Chi-Slam TTC is exactly the kind of place they are talking about. Ardy and his wife are store owners; Ardy’s side of the shop selling items like dollies and boxes and his wife vending plants. But when the clock strikes 6 each evening the focus shifts to the back of the building, where their six table tennis tables play host to some of Chicago’s finest players.  Ardy and his wife spoke only very limited English but had managed to build themselves a business and life in the heart of America, where they were sharing their passion with the local community. There was even a sofa area at the back where they were streaming live table tennis onto a TV via a laptop.

I think I may have been the only native English speaker present that night. Chi-Slam had attracted characters from all walks of life, of all ages and varying origins, who seemingly only had one thing in common – the desire the whack small plastic air-filled balls around with a great deal of spin and speed. But could any of them beat me?