As an avid recreational tennis player and someone who enjoys some healthy conversation, I often find myself talking to my opponent during a match. It started as friendly jocular joshing but it didn't take long before these little exchanges developed into trash talk.

I am not talking about spouting vulgar profanities or the elaborate put-downs that have become an essential component to pick-up basketball's intimidation vernacular. Tennis trash talk is a unique brand of witty asides and incisive, well placed comments that heighten the intensity of a match.

I am not one to endorse unsporting conduct, but between consenting, mature minded adults, tennis trash talk can be a source of endless entertainment on the court, provided of course that both sides are laughing. Besides, there is nothing like a little taunting to get the competitive juices flowing and heighten a rivalry; just ask any siblings.

The following examples of carefully dropped and spun lines are some real tennis trash hallmark material that I've picked up over the years: On a missed Slam opportunity that hits the net: "Nothing but net! Too bad this isn't basketball."

If a serve misses the proper box: "Nice, try, it is really hard to get such a small ball into such a large box."

In the case of a long ball: "She's going, she's going, she's gone! Home run!"

If your opponent argues incessantly about whether a ball was in or out: "Are you 'McEnroe'ing me?"

If your opponent completely fans on a serve: "Come on hit the ball already, I am not going to fall for any Jedi mind games."