I did a horrible job of covering men's tennis for The Daily. Depending on who you ask, you'll probably find people who strongly agree and others who disagree. Regardless of what others think, I think that I did a pretty subpar job. Because I'm one of the biggest fans of Stanford Tennis, I'm probably also one of the least objective writers you'll ever meet, which causes a problem when my position calls for unwavering neutrality.

I've tried to make my articles impartial, but it's painfully obvious that I bleed Cardinal. In the losses covered, I always try to include a positive spin, and when the team wins, my articles are just short of blowing bells and whistles. I sympathize with the team when it drops close 4-3 matches, and I beam when it displays its dominance in shut-outs.

Although I may not experience firsthand the emotions that the guys feel on the court, I empathize in a way that I can't even begin to put into words.

I've developed as a writer in my time here, because I love what I do. Former Sports ME Jess Peters will attest to the fact that the moment she offered me the tennis writer position was one of my happiest at Stanford. Seriously. I don't consider this a job. Sure, I get the sparse paycheck, and yeah, there are times when I dread writing two or three articles a week. But if you ask me if I consider writing a job, I wouldn't hesitate for a second before shaking my head no.

In fact, I feel so strongly tied to covering the team that I asked one of my friends to fill my position temporarily while I was abroad with the promise that he'd take care of the team while I was gone and return it to me after I got back. Ironically, the team had its most successful season in four years while I was in Santiago.

And please don't get me started on what's going to happen after I graduate. I've grown to be so overprotective of the team that I can't imagine anybody else interviewing my coaches and players, much less a writer who doesn't know the difference between topspin and slice. Heaven forbid the new person make an overly critical remark about the team.

I've gotten complaints from my editors that my articles are too 'pro-Stanford,' but I can't help it. I know how hard the guys work and how hard it is when they lose after they've tried their hardest and given it their best shot. I am endlessly optimistic and know that even after a rough season, the team will come back stronger than ever next year.

At the end of my Stanford career, I can only say that I'm incredibly grateful to have been a part of Stanford Tennis if even in this capacity. Because I lacked the immense talent to play on the varsity squad, I was instead given the opportunity to enjoy tennis from another angle. And after four years and over 100 articles, I appreciate tennis from an entirely different perspective than when I was simply a player.

So to Coach Gould, Coach Whit, Coach Hodge and the players that have been a part of the tradition that is Stanford Tennis: I hope that I've been able to give back to you at least a fraction of what you've shared with me. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. You've enhanced my Stanford experience in ways that I can't even describe.

And maybe this inability to articulate how I feel makes me a horrible writer. Or maybe it's my unfaltering loyalty to a team that lost twice as many matches as it won this year. But when it comes down to it, if that loyalty is what makes me the worst writer ever, I'm willing to live with that.

If you'll forever bleed Cardinal too, contact Carling at carling@stanfordalumni.org.