Good story man. Persistence is one of th best personality traits one can have and combined with a few other things it gets things done.
You mention table tennis...A shit thing to watch but it's kind of fun to play. I play badly but will have a crack at it. Also, the American Football thing. I think we both relate to that one...A little more painful to play than ping pong but both require the same attributes in the learning and playing stages. Effort, persistence, ownership, discipline and more...The same things you would have had to apply in your other thing just recently.
Great response mate. Thanks.
A thick skin is all you need... ;)