Tuesday, October 14, 2008

4.5 Week 6

Flight A
OC Branch looks to be back on track but they will need to beat Greenhill this week to keep climbing back up, I see a big win here for them. In one of biggest matches of the week at 4.5 HP/Loose has a must win v. 1st Place Northwood/Noel. I think this one should be a good match and Corey's crew better not sleep on this team who badly needs this win to keep their postseason hopes alive.

Flight B
The other top 4.5 match of the weekend pits Royal Oaks (1st place and undefeated) against TBar who very similarly to HP/Loose needs to beat a juggernaut to keep their postseason hopes alive. I think Royal Oaks will roll out their new guys to send TBar packing till next April. Have a good XMAS TBar. (Corey told me to be mean to TBar) :)

Another interesting matchup in this flight has my LAKES v. OC/Feldman. I see the Lakes picking up another win and then I expect my free t-shirt in the mail by Tuesday.

77 comments:

  1. HP Loose is going to win...3-2.

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  2. Cary, you are really jumping on the Lakes bandwagon now. Assuming Feldman can field a full lineup they should win handily.

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  3. ok not to ruin the week orgasm, but have an issue and want some opinion. Found a 4.5 self-rate and deciding on whether to piss off the masses with a grievance.
    Said player is 37 y.o played at a Top 10 D2 school and in 2000 defeated the #900 ATP player and #450 ATP player at the time who is now #376.
    The player is also a head teaching pro at a local country club.

    Would a grievance hold water?

    Rusty sorry but you can not have him. ;)

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  4. Corey - how would you know who is going to win handily? These teams aren't in your division and I feel sure you haven't been scouting these teams. A handful of new players can make a difference on any team.

    I find it funny that you voice such strong opinions each week based on such little information. Hopefully you don't do that at whatever job you happen to hold.

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  5. AR - that sounds like clear 4.5 player - possibly 4.0. Everyone knows you need to beat a top 200 ATP player in order to be classified a 5.0 :)

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  6. Right on Anon 7:39pm, and the interesting part is, he doesn't seem to want to learn from what happens every week either. He just happily acts shocked and surprised and just keeps voicing the same clueless opinions.

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  7. true nancy is clueless. but he has put together a very strong team and I think northwood will win the fall league

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  8. AR - I think you definately should file a grievance. Corey Noel, last week, filed a grievance against Nick Smith on Branch's team who is 36 years old and could not make it to Super Champs as a JR and played NAIA and JUCO as a college player. Corey filed the grievance bc his record in Open division, even though the USTA and TTA will acknowledge that he was clearly within the legal grid of 4.0 or 4.5. If they look at Nick Smith, who is borderline, your scenario is clearly blatent. I would think that this guys record on the ATP or D1 would be just fine to file the grievance. Is the guy in Arkansas or TX.

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  9. anyone who files a grievance during the fall league is a prick

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  10. I'm going to file a grievance against Corey Noel. He is clearly not a 4.5. His 60% win rate in 4.5 does not match his bravado so he should be moved up to 5.0 where he is less likely to open his big yapper.

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  11. Back to Nick Smith, thanks for reminding me about him. I'm going to have my captain file a grievance on him now too. Branch's team continues to try to defend him even when no one else even brings him up. Yes, we all know Nick is clearly a 4.5 or 4.0, keep justifying it.

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  12. Who cares if Noel filed a grievance. He should hope one is not filed on him for bragging on this blog that he is going to throw an entire match to help a lessor team get in the playoffs. May be a good move, but stupid idea to tell the whole world you are going to try to lose a match to help a lessor team. Will be interesting to see how it plays out. Leave it to Corey to spice up the Fall - I love it - You da Man

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  13. corey = prick, totally perfect example of what is wrong with usta leagues

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  14. Anyone who doesn't file a grievance during fall season risks an illegal self-rate playing 2 matches and getting a computer rating at year end (as in AR Hackers case). Then you can't file a grievance come spring. Correct?

    That said, I don't see where a grievance on Nick Smith would do any good. Seems like a standard way to get high end 4.5s on your roster.

    I'm not too familiar w/ the process but TTA won't do jack w/ self-rate grievances as long as it falls within the grid, correct?

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  15. yeah Nick Smith would be a tough one to actually win.

    Mty problem is with a guy playing 10.0 MXD to get a computer rating for the Spring 4.5 Season and jump onto the Top AR team.
    Sour grapes I guess but I figure what the hell it is fair play.

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  16. Wow, I am the topic of nearly every post today. Should I start at the top? First, The Lakes and Feldman's roster have both changed very little since I played them so I feel like I know what I'm talking about. If Feldman brings their top lineup Lakes will be lucky to win 1 line. I will give the Lakes respect when the win against a team's A lineup, which they have yet to face.
    Second, I made my opinion public about Nick Smith a while ago, and everybody who has seen him play knows he's not a 4.5 player, regardless of what the computer says. 4.5 players do not win open tournaments, no matter how bad the tournaments are. Nonetheless, Tosha Smith told me he is going to be allowed to play 4.5 today, so I'm moving on. I hope I play him in the playoffs.
    Third, I never said we would lose on purpose to keep Branch out of the playoffs. I said it would be a consideration. I will NEVER ask my team to lose on purpose. If I were to do that I would just put out a weaker lineup, but that would serve many purposes, including giving some of my weaker guys playing time or trying out new doubles pairings. Being undefeated is not a goal for the team. Making the playoffs is sufficient.
    Finally, you guys keep hating. Unlike everybody else here besides hacker, I will at least stand by my opinions. If any of you want to bet some money on the Lakes this weekend or against my team, put up or shut up.

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  17. For the 7:39 poster who says I have no information, how's this: The Lakes has 10 players this season that played in the spring when they finished 1-7 (10-30). Of those players, only 1 had a winning record in the spring. They have added 5 more players, one of whom is a 4.0. Don't accuse me of hating when I'm being objective and using historical facts for my opinions.
    Is it possible that these players have improved? Of course. Obviously the team has improved and I give them credit for that. But I'm not ready to put them with the top teams. My team made a similar turnaround last year when we went from 1-7 to 7-1 in successive seasons. But there were probably 6 or 7 players that were on both rosters only.
    Good luck to the Lakes the rest of the season but I don't think I'm out of line in predicting a historically successful team to beat a historically unsuccessful one. History repeats itself.

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  18. Hey Corey, when you talk to YOUR team out on the practice courts, do you say..."hey, you, weaker player, come on over here"??

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  19. yes, I will bet you $100.00 that if your team is undefeated going into the final match of the season vs Brookhaven - somehow, someway, just like you predicted and bragged about on this blog - that you will find a way to lose that match.

    Will you take that bet.

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  20. My players know where they stand. I know I am a weaker player than many on my team, especially in doubles. They know our main objective is winning before the season starts, and matches in practice affect their positioning.
    As far as that bet goes, I'm not ready to look that far ahead yet. It sounds like you are a Branch player, and since you guys are so much better than us, wouldn't it be stupid for me to let you guys in the playoffs against my inferior team?
    I have several players on my team who have only played only once or twice; that situation will be the perfect opportunity for me to get them another match in, because that match would be completely meaningless to us if we were undefeated. We did the same thing last fall, and it didn't affect anybody else's playoff chances. Look it up.

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  21. Corey is not going to tank the final match. Corey has character and was kidding. Give the guy a break.

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  22. I have character. How dare you!! Who told you that?

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  23. agreed on all fronts Corey. the difference between this year and last year is that last year you did not get on a blog after week 4 and tell everyone what you were going to do. specifically - LOSE a match to help keep a team out of the playoffs. you are the one who brought this issue up - no one on Branch's team brought it up- they may be calling you on it now, but they did not bring it up.

    it's most disrespectful to the guys on your team.

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  24. I really don't want to dig up my quote on this issue but if I have to I will. I didn't say I would lose the match to Brookhaven on purpose. I said I would certainly entertain the thought.
    Based on my conversations with Rusty today it could be a non-issue since his team has been struggling with player availability as we all do.
    NBA and NFL teams aren't criticized for resting players at the end of the season when winning doesn't help them. I could do the same thing. Give my guys that don't get many matches some playing time.
    This is the last time I'm going to address this since it really doesn't matter anyway until the last week. And maybe not even then.
    The parting comment was just false. Every decision I make goes through the team. I am just the executor of their decisions. If they want to play full-strength 100 percent in the last match, we will. I will always do what's best for my team and my team only.

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  25. "If any of you want to bet some money on the Lakes this weekend or against my team, put up or shut up."
    How much are we talking for the Lakes bet?
    We can take a dive for the right price :).

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  26. You know - I just have to add this one last thing - victory is going to taste so sweet when I go back an read all the hate you anons drabble on this blog.

    Keep it up - me and my team love motivation

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  27. Corey. The pressure is on your team this fall. Your team is the favorite. The final 4 will be RO's, Feldman, Brookhaven (wink, wink) and y'all. Your team has to go into that mix as the favorites (big time favorites). Feel the pressure of being the favorites. Anything but bringing home the big trophy should be seen as failure this season. Pressure! Pressure! Tosses start getting lower. Arm gets heavier. Nets get higher. Sun always in your eyes. Opponents running faster. Maybe that guy on the other side of the net should be a 5.0 type feeling Why are my legs made of cement? You will feel the pressure of being the favorites. Remember that 2nd place is just the 1st place loser. Don't want that wrapped around your neck when you are the favorites to win it all.

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  28. I actually didn't write the last post, but I agree with it.

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  29. We know from experience that there's nothing worse than 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. We are very familiar with that position. We'll see how it goes.

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  30. If you're playing vik I would be willing to bet even more. You guys are up 1-0 already.

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  31. Ha. As little tennis as I play these days, i'm not a sure bet against anyone.

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  32. If those 4 teams make it. Coreys only win will be against Brookhaven - MAYBE. No way in hell, they beat RO or Feldman in the playoffs. There are only 3 decent teams in the league Branch, Feldman, and RO. It won't be pressure that beats them, it will be lack of talent.

    I think it's comical that we are even talking about Noel tanking to Brookhaven - BH doesn't need them to tank, they will beat them straight up.

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  33. Brookhaven has never beaten my team in a meaningful match. Royal Oaks lost their two of their three best players. We will see. Royal Oaks may not even be there. I love how every season when my team makes the playoffs we still get no respect. I'm fine with that role.

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  34. Corey, You can throw all your "objective" arguments into trash - just a waste of time. You know and everyone on this blog knows that you suck at predicting. History will repeat itself - and you will never learn.

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  35. I agree, Corey must have a learning disability.

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  36. I think I'd take Corey's team in the fall playoffs.
    But not in the spriiinnng!
    That's when the adults come out to play.

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  37. Lots of bulletin board material for Brookhaven on this blog.

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  38. nancy's predictions suck, no question but his team has improved and northwood can hang with anybody

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  39. If the Lakes added 4 new 4.5 players (and 1 4.0 player)...4 new players can make a huge difference to the success of a team

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  40. Does Brookehaven have a 4.5 team?

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  41. Corey - I agree with you...having played both your team and Feldman, I'd have to say that your team is stronger and would win more times than you lost...but anything can happen.

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  42. Corey - I probably shouldn't write this because your posts are highly entertaining (in a "I can't believe he just wrote that kind of way") but you really do your team a disservice by putting your foot in your mouth on this Blog on a regular basis.

    Your team is very good - your top 3 lines of doubles are strong and your singles got better by adding the new guy (lefty right). Why not let your team do the talking on the court and stop the bragging and foolish posts - who are you trying to impress anyway? Your team seems to be filled with good guys and it seems like you are creating a bunch of enemies on here.

    BUT, if you can't help yourself, I'll continue to log on occasionally for the entertainment value.

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  43. Don't hate the player hate the game. My team DOES do all the talking on the court - I just throw down the exclamation points.

    Keep hating on me and my team and let's see how it plays out.

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  44. Corey, don't be so resigned to the fact that people hate you. People hate your loose comments, not your team. Just shut your mouth a little more and things should clear up. Good luck.

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  45. I would love to stay off of this blog but I woke up today and got on here and there were 8 posts about me within the last 24 hours. I don't think you can call me a prick for predicting my team will beat other teams. Yeah, I'm sure my teammates will really be ashamed of that.
    I believe I've been one of the most courteous people on this blog and I've said nothing derogatory about any other teams. Any team who doesn't think they can beat every other team shouldn't be playing. If you don't think you can win why step on the court?
    As far as predictions go, that is just for fun. If we didn't make predictions this blog would be dead Monday through Friday. Also, if these matches were easy to predict, that would be really boring.
    Also, I don't know who has been posting using my name but they do a pretty good job of capturing my thoughts, just not usually stuff I would say out loud.

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  46. I knew this time would come but I had to create an account in case my alter-ego decides to say something inappropriate.
    Corey

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  47. I think in the spring my team will move up to 5.0. The 4.5 leauge has just gotten too easy. It gets boring winning 5-0 every week. After crushing Branch's team I have nothing left to prove in 4.5. Gad! I am such a genious!

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  48. Ok this is getting ridiculous. For someone to go through the trouble to create an account that is supposedly me is a bit overwhelming. I would never use a name as dumb as "coredawg".

    I will always simply sign my name and if you can't tell by the words used that it's me, then I don't know what to say. As for fake corey - my team and I will never go to 5.0, not because we don't have some guys that could compete there, but the format of 5.0 tennis makes it too hard to fill a competetive league.

    Thanks for the attention guys - this has been a real ego builder.

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  49. Prediction - Corey's Ego gets the best of him - he plays the last match to go undefeated against Brookhaven. Huge Mistake - they win, he goes undefeated, and gets swept in the playoffs.

    Corey - stick with your plan - dump the last match and allow brookhaven a chance to play in the playoffs - they deserve it -it's been a while, keep branch out, and atleast take home the bronze. you can do it - stick with the plan.

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  50. Corey doesn't have an ego, his boastful comments are insecurity. He was the kid in school that the athletes all picked on and gave wedgies to and was the butt of practical jokes. After they were done, Corey would say..."Thanks for the attention guys - this has been a real ego builder."

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  51. I'm glad I could help you guys entertain yourselves today. I will take credit for making the 4.5 section the most popular on the blog these days. Does anybody actually want to talk about the matches coming up this weekend?

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  52. Go away imposter - the laugh is over.

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  53. No, I don't want to talk about upcoming matches. With a name like Coredawg, you can write more entertaining post.

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  54. Yes - let's talk about the matches for this week - Coredawg.

    Let's start off by talknig about your match vs The Branch Defectors aka Loose-HighPoint.

    How do you think you will do against those guys. Are you predicting a 5-0 sweep or are you going to tank this match on purpose with your "weaker players" to practice up for Brookhaven's promised tank job.

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  55. I think my blogging days are about over. It's hard for me to win against shadows, especially without my running mate Sisk. I do think it's flattering how much you guys come after me. The best teams always generate the most hate so I should take it as a compliment (Branch, Springpark, Somabut, Sisk, last season).
    Since you asked (sort of) I expect a close match this Saturday like always and we will try our best (like always) to win. I will predict a tight 3-2 victory.
    I will report back on Saturday and hope to actually talk about other matches then.
    Sorry, find your entertainment elsewhere.

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  56. Shadows?? You have some nerve.

    As to the serious poster - we will do very well against Loose. They are the Branch lite team, so I would fully expect a 4-1 victory, although 5-0 is possible based on my anticipated lineup.

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  57. Corey, I give you credit for at least having the guts to sign your name and be real. The imposter deal is kinda funny because at first I thought it was you.

    Maybe I am old school or just OLD, but throwing out BS without signing your real name on the internet anywhere is 6-0, 6-0 lame. Geez do you anons drink beer through a straw?

    Should be some good competition this weekend and we will see what we see. Lakes-O.C. should be close.

    Just random thoughts from a former 5.0 washed up Buffalo. Two achilles surgeries and 55 around the corner. 4.0 is looking pretty good. Ihihihihih, not so fast, I'm not moving down till Graddick does.(jkg-Warren)

    Phil Mc

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  58. Anons drink a lot of beer and hard liquor to come up with the BS.

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  59. I agree with Phil from Philly. Corey, you rock. Loose's crew will be lucky to get a line this weekend. I appreciate you calling his team out in your 5-0/4-1 prediction AND being man enough to own up to it.

    will somebody pass me a straw please, my beer is getting hot. we may have to come watch this match - what time and where is it ?

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  60. Appreciate it fellas and me and my team will do our best to keep this thing rolling.

    I guess I should laugh off "coredawg" and others, as they apparently are better bloggers than tennis players. I voted against having anons and lost - so they will be around a lot longer than me.

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  61. Interesting reading Corey.....and company!! Good to know you're thinking about us. We prefer Branch-Older vs. Branch-Lite. Cya Saturday! GAME ON!!

    Loose

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  62. Good luck to nancy and company

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  63. This is actually funny as I find myself confused on which one is the real Nancy - - will coredawg please lift your dress so I can tell who is who?

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  64. the Lakes should win over OC, we played them a few weeks ago. on a bad day their best two doubles teams would beat any of the OC teams.

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  65. Alright you guys knew I wouldn't stay away for long. I do plan to visit on a much more limited basis though. Or at least post less. I talked to Ken today and, not to get too sappy, but I would just like to say how much I really enjoy the camaraderie between all of the 4.5 teams and captains that I have experienced throughout the season. I have had several schedule conflicts on Saturdays and the other captains have been very accommodating in all cases.
    I have started playing mixed doubles this year and there have been more incidents and drama in that than in my 3 seasons as a 4.5 captain.
    In the end I feel like we are all in this together with tennis being one of our main hobbies and our goal being to improve at that hobby. Good luck to all in tennis and in your other facets of life.
    I look forward to seeing Ken and the rest of his team Saturday.
    Based on the reputation I have here you guys will probably really be confused now if this is the real me or not but it is.
    I expect a post from "corey noel" to follow and it will be entertaining I'm sure.

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  66. LMAO. That was just sappy enough to really be me - so cudos for that last post.

    The fact that I really did talk to Ken tonight makes me think this "coredawg" and any other fake Corey must be a Branch or Loose player. Keep leaving the clues, I am honing in on you!!

    In all seriousness please reveal yourself at our match after its over (4-1 us of course) - your plot is sort of working and driving me nuts.

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  67. keep going Nancy Drew, we know you can find the evil culprit

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  68. I would like to see loose crush corey on the court and then have corey mouth off, and have loose crush him with a right cross. now that would be an entertaining youtube video

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  69. Loose is a LOVER-not a fighter.
    AND Corey is not his type of Lover, so don't even go there.

    Corey - any chance that you would be willing to put out your expected lineup for tommorrow on the blog. It would be gutsy, brave, and even border line cocky - but it would make tommorrows match even more interesting.

    also - if you were to do that first - loose could respond with his lineup and the rest of the watching tennis dallas world could pick the matches that they wanted to follow.

    Risks - if you do this and lose, everyone will say you were stupid and wreckless for doing it - nothing that you have not already heard on this blog - so no real risk.

    Rewards - if you do it and win, you will become the Jimmy Johnson of Dallas Tennis League Coaching. You will have spelled it out in 8 inch letters for the world to see.

    Advantage to bloggers - we get to predict and talk about this match line by line. Beats anything else we have to do at work on a Friday.

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  70. Ok, I played indoors last night at CCCC and here is the line up for sat.

    Singles
    1.Tarver
    2.Kelly

    Doubles
    1.Grisak & Bill Scanlon(Self-Rated)
    2.Loose & Loose(Hey his Dad's game is tricky like mine, ok mine is ugly)
    3.J.D.Miles(unless there is a hurricane)& Owen Stewart(lasik yesterday)probably won't improve his line calls. Ha!

    Ok, this will be close to right, now what is your line up Corey?

    Also I'm really concerned about Lakes-Feldman now too, because I had no clue we had no chance at doubles even if they have a bad day.

    If I get beat real bad I will offer some real cash to bump the scores up to 5 & 4. Is that allowed? or is that considered anti-sandbagging? Man I am old and confused, or is it dazed and confused?

    Phil McBuffalo

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  71. Phil - I just spoke with loose and he confirmed, you are correct, that is his lineup.

    Roy will be subbing for Grisak though, evidently Grisak called and quit the team again last night after hearing the that Loose chose not to use Grisak's team name suggestion.

    GRISAK'S TEAM GRISAK

    That is funny, i don't care who you are, that there is just plain funny - i almost choked on my straw.

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  72. The sappy post was actually from me. I forgot to use my username. That increases the confusion even more.

    Here is my lineup for tomorrow:

    1S Warren Gradick
    2S Glenn Evans

    1D Fred Givhan/Corey Noel
    2D Jeff Wells/Ed Wells (father/son v. Father/son
    3D Why bother? We will win 3 of the other 4 anyway?

    jk

    C ya tomorrow Ken!

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  73. LOL - You have obviously never read a 3.5 or 4.0 thread.

    As least we somewhat resemble tennis players.

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  74. In another thread, it was pointed out that Smith beat some good 5.0 players in Open tournaments over the years - and all the 4.5s he faced. He also lost to some of the same 5.0 players he beat. You figure you might see those kinds of results if you were a 5.0.

    I don't see anything wrong with Corey asking for verification of Smith's 4.5 rating. The biggest potential for abuse, intentional or not, is among self-rating players.

    I might fault Corey for his bravado at times, but I think he was well within his rights here. To maintain the integrity of the league, I think it's the right thing for anyone to do if they feel a misrating may've occurred by a self-rating player.

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  75. normally i would agree it is OK to protest someone clearly out of level. But when nancy protests he is just being a hypocrite. nancy is the one who tried to defend garland when they had a 4.5 level player on their 3.5 team. the 3.5 guys were justifiably ticked off. meanwhile nancy was right there trying to blow smoke up everyone's ass. nancy is a hypocrite.

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  76. I never criticized Jameson for filing the grievance though. And, both grievances were denied, so the 3.5 argument should have died immediately, just like the Smith argument has.

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