Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Tri-Level Around The Corner




Tri-level is just over 2 weeks away and the teams are in place. Who will dominate and who is just showing up to play?? It is hard to make a true analysis with all the recent bump ups and bump downs. I will give my 2 cents worth and then I am sure we will hear plenty from the anons.....


Smith - has fielded 4.5s and 4.0s with solid records, but seems to be week with his 3.5s. Also only 2 players at each level so no depth and evidently not planning to go past the weekend.


BMO - seems to have a solid 4.5 team with Hawkins & Evans playing alot together. Toth has a good 4.0 record and paired with BMO should do fine, although their 3rd player Dietrich has a mixed history (based on Fall record). Their 3.5s are coming from the Fort Worth league over from Flower Mound. Kotlarek used to be an old Oak Creek boy but with a pretty mixed record. Seems their weekness could be in their 3.5s.


Bazan - seems to be a recreational team with average players across the board and no depth to take them past the weekend. Carry himself is not even on the roster.


Bender - as usual, has cherry picked top players from across the city. Has solid 4.5s and has Varner and Palacio who should do well together at 4.0. The only wild card here is his 3.5s which are coming from his 3.0 national team. Knowing Bob, they are probably 4.0 talent.


Feldman - evidently building a team to go for the gold. Has solid players across the board and depth at all levels except 4.5. They have a slew of good 4.0s...Wiley, Clark, Jones, Corcoran, and Zachary. They evidently plan to pull one of those to help out at 4.5. The 3.5s are the remains of Garland's 3.5 team. They add one more 4.5 player and this will be the team to beat.


Arcaria - appears their strenght is at 4.5 and then falls off from there. Arcaria Bennett are a good team but have stumbled in the past with Wiley/Clark and will have their hands full with Varner/Palacio. They have 4 3.5s on the roster but not sure why unless than plan to win it through them, but looking at their records they are best to avoid 3rd set tie breaks as both Toney and Kaiser have had problems converting.


Nishizaki - probably the most least talked about or recognizable names on the blog but solid player records across 4.5 and 4.0. Has picked up Bender's 3.0 crew for his 3.5 and that may be their only weakness. Sleeper team that could surprise.


Kraemer - another team with players having solid records at their level, but just lacking 4.5 depth. Appears to be another team to be their for fun given the lack of depth on their roster (as of current) however has talent that should do well. We can see how serious Kraemer is if he adds to the roster in the coming weeks. However, there are probably little players left to pull from.


My best guess depending on the draw..... Feldmans and Benders team make the finals.

http://tennislink.usta.com/leagues/reports/TennisLinkReports.asp?Level=F&FlightID=113610&CYear=2010




351 comments:

  1. yea, well Fankhaucer won't do anything in the Tri Level.. Sandbagger.

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  2. Capt. Fan - the snide comments about Bender did not go unnoticed. You need to be respectful and pay homage to the USTA Captain of the Decade

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  3. I am sure a lot of these teams are still going to add some players at the 11th hour.

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  4. Bender has better than just fairly solid 4.5s. Kiron/Slezak should be 5.0. While Feldman and Durten can play and beat them, I would have to bet on Kiron/Slezak.

    Deitrick is a very good doubles player so not sure what you meant by less than desired history. He has a very good record.

    Takashi's 3.5s are very good players so I would not call that a weakness.

    Feldman has lots of solid 4.0s but none are outstanding yet they are all real good doubles players. Corcoran, Wiley, Clark and Jones are all very good doubles players. His 3.5s are total mystery to me so that may be their biggest weakness.

    Arcaria has solid 4.5s but they are really a step down from most of these other teams. Jean is good but Alex and Andre are not at these other guys level. The 4.0s are solid but much like Feldman's 4.0s, they are beatable. As already mentioned, the 3.5s are a bit weak.

    BMO probably has the best 4.0s but he is light on the 3.5 players. His 4.5s are good but not at the level of Kiron/Slezak/Feldman/Durten among others.

    Kraemer/Smith/Bazan do not have the firepower of these other teams and look to have a fun weekend of good competitive tennis.

    My pick is Bender over Feldman but it looks like all matches will be competitive.

    Tri-level is my favorite event because you usually get the best players at their level playing each other before the city playoffs.

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  5. There are more to sign
    For Feldmans team

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  6. Bender has the best 4.5s, Feldman has the best 4.0s, not much to argue there. The question is, who has the best 3.5s?

    Anyone is beatable on any given day, though.

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  7. 4.5s will be solid each match because they were not destroyed by the ratings. These rosters go to show how far the 4.0 level has dropped if these are the best players.

    I would say Bender gets the edge since they should be up 1-0 with their 4.5s before they even begin the match.

    Remember last year - the best roster does not always win. Captains still have to put out lineups and players still have to play. The more people you see on these rosters the easier it will be for them to slip up. A 6 man roster is perfect for Tri-Level.

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  8. The level of 4.0 has fallen. When Wiley gets listed at the upper end of the level you have to wonder if the special olympics are that weekend.

    BMO has better 4.0s than Feldman. Slez and Paul are unbeatable at 4.5.

    I don't know much about 3.5s and this may all come down to the best 3.5s. Everyone appears to have evenly matched 4.0 lines.

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  9. Did you guys notice Fort Worth is getting to use a mixture of 2008 and 2009 ratings for Tri-Level???

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  10. Which 4.0s on Morrison's team are any good? Toth had a good record but lost in the playoffs easily, the other 2 guys had losing records

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  11. I'm glad we are playing doubles and not singles for the Tri level:) I almost died this weekend!

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  12. Anon 1:52 PM poster -

    Thanks for your insights. I wanted to get a post out to start the discussions but was running short on time and became impatient trying to dig down to each player on the roster and come up with an assesment.

    The comment on Dietrick was just based on his Fall record where he was 1 for 3 in regular season and got beat 2 and 0 in the playoffs.

    I know little of Takashi's 3.5s except that they are coming from 3.0. I do know Walton has struggled in the past at 3.5.

    Thanks for your input and comments.

    I do agree with one of the other posters in that anything can happen and that it may come down to the unknown which is the 3.5 lines.

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  13. BEST LEVEL 4.5s
    1) Team Bender /Slezak & Kiron
    2) Team Feldman /Feldman & Durten
    3) Team Nishizaki /Rasor& Nishizaki
    4) Team Arcaria /Nguyen & Shahab & Vahdat
    5) Team Morrison /Hawkins& Evans & Noel

    BEST 4.0s
    1) Team Nishizaki /Reiman & Lutes & Burton
    2) Team Feldman / Clark & Jones & Wiley
    3) Team Morrison / Toth & Morrison & Deitrick
    40 Team Arcaria / Bennett & Arcaria
    5) Team Bender / Palacioz & Varner & Somabut

    BEST 3.5s
    1) Team Arcaria / Monk & Cuff & Big Bird
    2) Team Feldman / MacFarland & Adams
    3) Team Morriosn / Kotlarek & Offenberger
    4) Team Bender / Cuevas & Nguyen & To
    5) Team Nishizaki / Zhou & Nwachukwu & Walton

    BEST OVERALL
    Easily Feldman

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  14. What are the dates for the two tri-levels? Are they different weeks?

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  15. I agree that Bender has the best 4.5s followed by Feldman but in my humble opinion the best 4.0s are on the Kraemer team. Have you guys not paid any attention to what Mattes, Moore & Smith have been upto the past 2 months? They are collectively all 3 amongst the top 10 4.0s left and Moore and Smith together are very, very good!

    Toth is very good and played with Sweeney (who is well known to be a solid and experienced player) in play-offs and Moore & Smith handled them.

    I have no idea who any of the 3.5s are. I'm sorry I am missing the Tri-level this year. It's a great event! Enjoy

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  16. 6 man roster is ideal??
    What about injury????

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  17. Injury??? As a player who paid what I consider to be a team fee which is way too high, I will be pissed if I don't get to play a majority of the matches.

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  18. Feldman has 5 4.0s???

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  19. Who in your opinion are the best 10 4.0's left Rossouw?

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  20. I agree that the fee for this event is way too high. The fair way to do it would be to charge a fee for the team, because every team will play the same number of matches regardless of how many players there are. But, then again, the DTA has never used fairness as criteria for determining cost.

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  21. Sorry to be such a newbie, but where can I find the information you all seem to have regarding what individuals are registered for the tri-level?

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  22. Feldman will have one more 4.0 and one
    More 3.5---give me wins over 35.00 eveytime

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  23. The right roster size is 9. 3 players per level. If I read Sisk right, it says 5 4.0s now and one more? That is stupid. I guess they are expecting injuries.

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  24. Captain Fantastic,

    >>I know little of Takashi's 3.5s except that they are >>coming from 3.0. I do know Walton has struggled >>in the past at 3.5.

    I have played with the walton (british Ninja) in the past and he is an above average 3.5 singles player. I took a quick look at his 3.5 record in 2009 and he played 14 matches with

    8 wins
    6 losses

    If this is struggling at 3.5 what do you call players with loosing records at 3.5 getting bumped?

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  25. Best 3.5 team

    Team Bender / Cuevas & Nguyen

    Steve Nguyen is a solid 3.5 doubles player.

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  26. If Feldman wants to have a shot at winning he'll need at least 1 more 3.5 and 4.0 because he won't win the 4.5 line against Bender. But with this many people on the roster they will lose to weaker teams.

    I am liking more and more what Kraemer is doing with his team. They will be steady and solid.

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  27. What are the dates for this event?

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  28. Walton will get smoked at doubles.

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  29. Newbie -

    Added link to teams on front page. thanks

    Ninja Lover - per TennisLink, Walton's 3.5 League play record was 0 for 3 in Fall 2008, 0 for 2 in Spring 2009 and 1 for 1 in Fall 2010. That is 1 for 6 in 3.5 league play, or shall I say "struggling".

    Just trying to state the facts.

    I will no longer make general observations and leave that for all the anons. My bad.

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  30. Anon 12/30 9:01pm

    Here are my thoughts on the best 4.0s in Dallas for spring 2010 however I'd like to add a disclaimer: I don't know everyone out there so I'm limited to those that I do know and have seen play. I will also exclude some friends that I would always like to have on my team so that I am not accused of bias. So, off the top of my head (and please will others not be offended if I leave you off this list) if I was able to recruit from everyone I know at 4.0 and start a team I would go for:

    First: Any guy that brings beer!!! (Ghill fortunately had 5 or 6 of these guys so that makes for a fun team)

    singles:
    James Taylor (Village) - can also play dubs as he proved at Cottonbowl last week
    Chris Bergeron (GHill)
    Zack Courtney (Garland) although if I was his captain I'd like to use him more at dubs where I think his game is better suited
    Spencer Hinckley (Hackberry) - same comment as for Zack
    David Downs (GHill) - also a more than capable doubles player

    Doubles:
    Jerry Palacioz (deuce side)- GHill
    with
    Bill Mattes (Ad side)- BHaven

    Smith & Morre - Bhaven

    Jason Fraser (deuce) - GHill
    with
    Mitchell Fix (ad) - Lakes

    Daryl Windland & Bill Hopping (GHill)

    Also, I would have the following on the roster:
    Nick Toth - GHill
    Blake Bearden - HP
    Blake Sinclair - Lakes

    I realize I have alot of Greenhill guys on this list but Garland and Oak Creek, Somabut and BHaven all lost alot of players.

    Just my thoughts, I am sure there are other good players that I have missed or do not know and I apologize to them.

    That may spark some lively debate?

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  31. Marc,

    My name is spelled BAZAN. Just wanted to make sure you knew since you left it off a list. :(

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  32. feldman's team is the best with very strong players at all three lines. they may be challenged by nishzaki and by kraemer. nishzaki is very strong at 4.5 and 4.0. at 3.5 walton is weak. but who the hell is nwachukwu? kraemer is solid top to bottom. bender's team will only win one line against the better teams. 4.0 is only average and his 3.0 bump ups at 3.5 will get waxed.

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  33. Sorry Cary....but if you bring beer we might be able to get you some practice time

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  34. Let's see Feldman has FIVE level 4.0 players and FOUR level 3.5 players but only TWO level 4.5 players.

    Todd has arranged it so that he plays every match with Kevin at 4.5. But how many matches will each of the 4.0 and 3.5 guys play? Who would even want to be the FIFTH 4.0 player on a team? Or even the FOURTH 3.5 player? Those guys pay their money but won't see much action.

    As far as I know you can only play 6 guys at a time.

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  35. Why isn't Morrison on any top 4.0 list. Has his stock dropped that far?

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  36. Beer or no beer, Bazan is one of the top 3.0s in the metroplex.

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  37. Is the rest of the state in as much trouble as Dallas in 4.0? If that is a Dallas All-Star 4.0 team I'm afraid we won't do that well in 2010. I wonder if the smaller sections got it any easier with the ratigns since they don't get to play that often.

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  38. thanks Marc, nice write up.

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  39. Looks like Greenhill will be the 4.0 team to beat this year.

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  40. I for one, appreciate the fact that Rossouw puts his posts out there and actually puts his name on them (something I won't do). He clearly said this was his opinion and only wanted to start discussion. Give him a break, Jesus!

    Of course, his list is not the top 4.0 players in Dallas. If you want the top 4.0 players for 2010 then look at Somabut's roster when it comes out.

    Marc, keep the posts coming and don't listen to the junk thrown your way.

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  41. Thanks for the comments

    I agree Somabat will always be a threat. I can only evaluate the computer rated guys that I know. I'm sure he'll find some tournament guys and self rates that will be tough!

    Happy New Year to all of you (especially Anon 8:44 - sounds like you need some love)

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  42. Roussow, you are the only one in dallas tha thinks Zack is a better doubles player.

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  43. FYI . . . John Sisk actually recruited and organized the Feldman team. That's why they are easily the best Tri-Level team in town.

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  44. Hi John,

    That may be so. I think there are some players whose games are better suited to dubs than singles. Zack has big game and right now he may be better at singles than dubs because he doesn't appear to play that much dubs but if he played more and became more comfortable playing dubs maybe that would be a better fit for him?

    Just my opinion, I'm not second guessing your decisions or doubting that he is a very good player. Hell, I think he is one of the best 4.0s left!

    He hits the ball hard but does lack some consistency which the successful singles players have.

    I guess what I am saying is that it's an opportunity for improvement but is in no way a slight on either of you.

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  45. No worries Marc! I think Zack has only played 4 singles matches in 3 season's and 2 of them were this fall post, the rest have been doubles. He will get plenty of singles time in the Spring.

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  46. 4.0 has not gone down at all with that line up Rossouw mentioned. Those Brookhaven guys have been and are virtually unbeatable at 4.0 that Marc just named (even with the guys that got bumped up this year). Kemp, Weymer, Ellis, Carlquist,Flora, Defeo, Odell, might be able to beat Bobby, Walter, Mattes but I'm not so sure (no one could do it in the playoffs). A lot of good players are lost but many still remain. You just have to find them.

    Great job Marc

    Fuck the anon bashers

    Oh yeah and Happy New Year

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  47. You are dreaming. 4.0 is a wasteland.

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  48. December 31, 2009 7:19 AM
    Captain Fantastic,

    As stated straight from the tennis link website

    Walton 3.5 record in 2009 and he played 14 matches with

    8 wins
    6 losses

    Two of the losses in 2009 came in league play you are correct however he played the other 14 matches in tournaments etc..

    I call winning 50+% of ones matches average, I guess you call it "struggled"!

    I don't know why I am spending time on this. We can all read tennis link......

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  49. Level 3.5 IS now a wasteland. But Chris MacFarland & Steve Adams are much better than a lot of guys that were bumped to 4.0. They will win every 3.5 match at the Trilevel. No one else comes close.

    Level 4.0 is much tougher to call. But Chris Jones & Keith Clark are probably the best with the Brookhaven guys, Bill Mattes, Bobby Smith & Walt Moore, right there as well.

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  50. Bender will sneak by Feldman to win, with Bender's vast experience as a captain being the difference maker.

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  51. Only time will tell if the 3.5 level is a wasteland. But my hunch is that there is a new crop of 3.5 players being developed even as we speak in beginner's tennis programs across the Metroplex.

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  52. Bender's experience as a captain is overhyped. IMO, Bazan is the new Bender and will find a way to make his ragtag crew overachieve and win this gimmicky competition, which was created to add to $ to DTA's coffers.

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  53. BEING A GOOD CAPTAIN MEANS LITTLE IN THIS EVENT. FELDMAN HAS MUCH BETTER 3.5s AND MUCH BETTER 4.0s THAN BENDER. EASY 2-1 WIN FOR TODD. BENDER'S TEAM IS BELOW AVG AT 4.0 AND 3.5.

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  54. 1:05 you are underestimating the intangibles Bender brings to the table, such as having everyone wear the same Nike ensemble.

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  55. Somabut and any of the 4.0's on Benders team will outplay any of the 4.0 doubles combinations of Feldman which are mostly over-rated recent bump-ups.

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  56. sisk's team will easily take down bender/somabut. and he'll enjoy the hell out of doing it.

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  57. Give me a break. The combination of two legends (Bender/Somabut) will out-think and out-manuever the Sisk de facto team.

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  58. 4.0 comments I am not sure if some of the guys starting drinking early on New Year's. Vader and I beat a good team in Arcacia & Bennett. I also lost a close match to Wiley and Clark with David Leopard. David is NOT as good as Vader. David and another guy beat Wiley & Clark in the fall playpoffs. Jerry Palacioz is a better doubles player that me. Arcacia & Bennett and Wiley & Clark are very good teams and I have high admiration for them, but Vader and Palacioz would beat them. I assume Sonabut is a good player since he was seened # 6 at the Cotton bowl. The Morrison team has a chance against them. I can NOT comment on Nishizaki, since I don't know any of the players on that team. Also Bender and Sonabut are master recruitors and they get the best that they can. John Sisk also fits into that category. It should be an interesting tournament. Have a happy new year and success next year on the court and else where. Bob Kayser Greenhill

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  59. Sir Bob, great to hear from you. Thanks for the compliment. Clark/ Wiley will not be playing together. I know Varner/Palacios are solid, King Soma is also a threat. We will have our hands full with any team. As one poster commented, the best team on paper can come up short.

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  60. It will be more like Zackary/ Courtney or Oberto. Happy New Year to all! Sir Bob, I was hoping to see Sullivan play Varner, maybe in the Spring, we can scrimmage?

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  61. Tri Level is more about captaining and recruiting than the summer. I still like Kraemer's team.

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  62. Nobody is going to beat Sisk's team. You can take that to the bank. Kraemer may have a good shot at 2nd place.

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  63. Rosouw,

    I agree Taylor&Cortney at singles. They're tough. The other guy I don't know. BH's guys Mattes, Smith and Moore will be staying at BH so won't be part of any dream team. Moore is good, but not very mobile. Fraser a stud and I saw Fix play, he's got a sweet game. That would be a sick team. Probably won't happen though. Rumor has Fraser going back to Somabut's team and the JCC is recruiting Fix. Should be a race between Somabut and Sisk for the rest of the Greenhill players.
    I would add Brian Morrisson, Ken Jeffries and Samuel Lee to the mix. Lee's getting up there in age but still a stud.

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  64. Bergeron has played Zack twice in Ultimate tennis and not dropped a set. Unconventional style but effective and determined.

    Yeah, it's a pipe dream to get all of these guys on the same team but it would be fun to see if it could be done. I'm all for doing what Freeman in Houston is somehow able to do and accumlate most of the best players in the area onto a single team. But as long as the clubcorp guys (Hackberry, Brookhaven etc) stick to their club only no non-members, then we're relying on Bob and John to put together the "best of the rest". I wish I had known 1 year ago what I know now about how tennis works....

    Yes, I think B-Mo is in the discussion also!

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  65. yep we need sisk & somabut to combine & form one level 4.0 super team in the spring.

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  66. Kayser's comment on match-ups is sensible, but it's all about match-ups..... Federer vs Nadal? Horrible! Federer vs rest of the World? Excellent. There is a lot of Player A beat player B and player C smoked player A, but lost to player B. Can't pencil whip'm.

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  67. I don't understand this obsession some posters continue to have about the formation of a super 4.0 team comprised of the area's best players.

    If such a team was able to be constructed, and managed to gel despite the big egos, and go on and win Nationals, will the players who weren't on the super team feel some kind of pride because they played in the same league as these over-achievers. I seriously doubt it; just the opposite would happen with jealousy being the primary feeling among the teams that were the punching bags for the elite team.

    I say let the teams be formed by people naturally gravitating to the places and people they feel comfortable with.

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  68. I'm not sure if anyone noticed, but a SUPER team was formed last year. So yes it can be done. Somabut always has most of the best players in Dallas on his team. This year will be no different.

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  69. I agree with 7:55 AM. This isn't the freakin Olympics. Speaking of which remember the original Dream Team USA basketball team. It was a bust because there was only one ball. To you dreamers of a Dream Team, stick with fantasy football, and leave the rest of us out of your gimmicks.

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  70. Rossouw has too much time on his hands. Take a bucket of balls, and go work on your serve.

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  71. sisk & somabut need to hold tryouts over a couple weekends in march. anyone wanting to compete on a allstar team show up and show what you got. self-rated ringers are welcome. sisk & somabut take the best players 7 form a team. the hell with those that dont like it.

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  72. John, I didn't know Courtney & Oberto were playing on that team. That is a different story. It should be a lot of fun tennis that weekend. I will stop by and say hello and we can discuss a friendly match in the spring.

    To the Anon (7:41 yesterday) - good point about matchups - that is how the city championships are won and lost. The other point I forgot to mention is team dynamics. Wiley & Clark along with Arcacia & Bennett have it. I have seen very good players play poorly together.

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  73. Rossouw: Thanks for providing your input in a sane and rational manner.

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  74. Courtney or Oberto will be signing up,but Zackary has played with both of them. It will be a fun filled weekend.

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  75. Uh, the original Dream Team destroyed everybody in the Olympics. I'm not sure that is a good example of why the Super Team concept doesn't work.

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  76. Doubles is all about chemistry and style of play, with your partner and against the other guys. Talent is preferred but the best two players don't always win in dubs. In a format like this anyone can have a good day and pull it off because most of these people haven't been playing together long.

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  77. Michael Jordan sucks! He is a 3.5 ringer!

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  78. He just has alot of 4.0s. He wants to have multiple options to best utilize his matchups I imagine.

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  79. 709 poster---thanks for explaining it to the 653 Einstein, I wonder how far he has made it in the post? Does he know how many players will be available for Sisk on Friday? or Saturday? He must know......hmmmmmm......

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  80. SISK NEEDS ADD'L PLAYERS IN CASE SOME OF HIS CREW GET THEIR PERIODS JAN 15-17

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  81. Only LTF tennis players have lives besides tennis.

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  82. When will posters learn not to try and sneak erroneous info by CordDawg. It can't be done.

    He has an encyclopedic mind plus access to Google.

    He is is right about the original (1992) Basketball Dream Team. They walked away with the gold medal, and only the 2004 Dream Team could be considered a bust.

    Keep up the fact checking Cordawg, and keep the anonymous know-it-alls straight.

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  83. That's my job. There was only one Dream Team, until Sisk's tri-level team of course.

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  84. obviosuly john sisk has put together the best trilevel team. he's the best recruiter around. but he didnt sign up to play. what fun is that?

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  85. Sisk is a good recruiter but not the best recruiter around.

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  86. When it comes to recruiting for a USTA team, the only thing a captain has to offer is the opportunity to play with good players in an effort to go deep in the playoffs. It's not like you can offer room and board.

    Is anybody aware of any money exchanging hands between captains and players they are trying to recruit? As with any sport, some guys will say show me the money.

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  87. I am aware of that in multiple situations actually. If nothing else, I would say it's common practice for a captain to pay/waive a player's court fees/league fees.

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  88. That's because if guys like Sisk and Nancy didn't pay for something, nobody would play for them.

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  89. But why do all the work to organize a team and not play? Sisk should sign up with his Tri_Level dream team and play a few matches.

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  90. Because he probably wants to win and not start a match out 0-1 before a ball is hit.

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  91. I'm pretty sure that is not a common practice. I don't think Bob has ever paid someone's league fees out of his own pocket. We usually have a sponsor that pays for court fees and tennis balls though.

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  92. A sponsor? You are kidding? What possible reason would somebody be a sponsor? Does the sponsor require you to advertise his company on your shirt or hat?

    I'm not sure if he does it for all his teams, but I do know for a fact that Bender pays for the court fees, balls, team shirts, women (just kidding about that one) for some of his teams.

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  93. THATS A GREAT CAPTAIN!

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  94. Anon is right, I don't want to start out 0-1, with me in there. I'd rather win and drink a few cold one's! BTW give me 10 Kiron's and I will make them lifetime members of USTA-------in a nanosecond!

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  95. Looks like Sisk will have plenty of people drinking and watching other people play with him as Feldman/SIsk now have 5 3.5s and 5 4.0s on the trilevel roster.

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  96. Just because Bob doesn't do it doesn't mean it's not common practice. You just didn't realize what you've been missing out on Keith :). I'm sure it's only a handful of players but some captains have money to spare I guess. Not only that, they probably pass the expense on to the rest of the team in "court fees."

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  97. You guys are fools if you don't think Bob has covered "fees" for new players. The good and bad captains do this. Not for established players, just new ones.

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  98. The USTA loves guys like Feldman/Sisk. Paying something like $400 bones for their weekend tri-level team. The 5-3.5s and 5-4.0s don't care, since Sisk is likely paying their way anyway, so if they only play one match (at best), it's no skin of their back.

    That's why guys like Sisk and Bender don't care about having their guys tank or manipulate scores, cause they're paying for it anyway.

    Plain and simple, those guys have no scruples. It's rec adult tennis for goodness sake.

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  99. Win,Win, Win!!!! Anyone who wants to play for a t-shirt, GTC is not for you!

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  100. I agree, SO WHAT? This is not anything new. The only thing new is the blog. Any captain that is seriously attempting to advance has to make certain accomodations and cover certain expenses. More and more captains are beginning to do it and more and more teams will be competitive as a result.

    This year will be a battle in 4.0s. I can't wait.

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  101. Dont know that much about the tennis level of all of these players but from what I have read, heard about and observed I think there is no question that the two teams from trilevel that will make the "all EGO" team will be between Bender's team and Arcaria's team! Just not sure why the Lifetime oops I mean Arcaria team doesnt have E. Hill on it??? Or for that matter Morrison isnt he a Lifetimer also? Must be to many oversized egos for one team!

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  102. I think most of the teams are pretty close to one another at tri level this year. There are a couple week teams and a couple who could be considered the favorites, but there are definitely a couple teams that could surprise! Here is how I look at it by level.

    4.5s
    1. Bender Team - Kiron,Slezak
    2. Feldman Team - Feldman,Durten
    3. Arcaria Team - Nguyen, Vahdat, Shahab
    4. Nishizaki Team - Nishizaki,Rasor
    5. Morrison Team - Noel,Evans, Hawkins

    4.0s
    1. Kraemer Team - Smith,Bartlett, Mattes,Moore
    2.Bender Team - Palacioz,Varner
    3.Morrison Team - Morrison, Toth, Deitrick
    4. Arcaria Team - Arcaria, Bennett,Gerber
    5. Feldman Team - Jones, Wylie, Clark, Zackary,Corcoran

    3.5s
    1.Feldman Team - Jenney,Adams, MacFarland,Davis,Meyer
    2.Arcaria - Toney, Kaiser,Monk, Cuff
    3.Morrison Team - Kotlarek, Offenberger
    4.Bender Team - Nguyen,To, Bender, Cuevas
    5. Kraemer Team - Baker,Schneider

    The favorites are Bender and Feldman team, but I would not be shocked to see the Morrison, Arcaria, or Kraemer team win it.

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  103. Who else on the Lifetime team has a big ego besides Gerber? If Eddie were on that team I think you would be right.

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  104. E. Hill at 4.5 dubs, good one!

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  105. Feldman/Sisk has the best 4.0 players. No one will beat Chris Jones & Keith Clark.

    Second best at level 4.0 is Brookhaven.

    Third best would be team Nishizak who has Lutes & Reiman. Both outstanding 4.0 players.

    Tied for 4th best would be Morrison's team, Arcaria's team and Bender's team. (Palacioz & Varner are good but will not beat the top teams.)

    Looking at all three levels, Feldman/Sisk should be a heavy favorite. They are #1 or #2 at all three levels.

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  106. Jones/Clark are beatable. What they have are 5 solid players that are interchangeable but noone great. I would take Corocan and Wiley as doubles players over Jones. I don't know anything about Zackary. Corcran and Wiley are tremendous volleyers while Jones is tremendous forehand.

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  107. volleys beat out strong forehands in dubs any day.

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  108. Feldman's best odds at 4.0 are Corcoran, Courtney and Jones. All have established 4.0 credentials. Everybody and their dog got bumped from 3.5 last year. That doesn't make you the cream of the 4.0 crop this year.

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  109. Okay, I am back. I look forward to the tri-level. This is one of my favorite leagues/weekends. Its a good weekend.

    6 players is the correct number of players in my opinion. Sometimes, it just doesn't work out that way (it didn't for my team). I have seen/heard of zero injuries in 2 years of playing tri level.

    I wouldn't bet against my team strictly for the fact that:

    1. i asked Corey to wear a dress all weekend to give us an extra edge in distractions against the other teams. If anyone can beat Corey while wearing a dress, you got serious problems. :))

    2. Koltarek is a police officer, with instructions to arrest. Hard to play in handcuffs gentlemen.

    3. I am playing with boxing gloves, so at least my hands won't be cold. that has to be some sort of edge?

    There are a lot of good teams out there. While one team may have a solid winning line, there are 3 lines, 3 levels. Can't see any team not winning the match via a 3rd set tie breaker somewhere along the way.

    Personally, still disappointed with some of the people out there (not gerber; that's resolved). I guess the worst part, about figuring out people's writing styles and personalities and who the bashing anon's are, is... you figure out who the bashing anon's are. and they aren't the strangers you thought they were. If you picked them out of a line, you would have called them friends. Enough said about that on my part though.

    Finally, I wouldn't see the advantage of paying for someone's entry in anything as a real determining factor. Does you having to choose a team really come down to whether someone will pick up your $30 entry fee for a season? I would hope if their were payoffs, it would be in the $2-3,000 dollar range that Eddie pays his players.

    Seriously though, $30 hardly covers a round of beers any given night these days, hope that people wouldn't sell out for that little as the final determining factor. its about fielding a good team, with good talent, that are good, positive people. That's what makes teams fun and why teams win.

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  110. Agree with 855 about corcoran and wiley. Of course everyone is beatable so the rest is not really insightful. Also look at whether these guys have history together. Knowing what you're partner is doing is a huge advantage in a short format like this.

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  111. sorry, didn't look so long when i typed it.

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  112. why the constant chatter about sisk? he didn't win the combo in august, he didn't win the 3.5 city in december, he didn't win the 4.0 city in december, and he won't win the tri-level. nothing personal, but his 4.0s and 4.5s won't get it done consistently enough to win it all.

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  113. The chatter is because it is a GTC guy who keeps posting it. The rest of Dallas knows that Sisk can put together good teams but no one would continually pick Sisk teams to win. It is one of his players that does it over and over again. No other team playing in tri level is making these comments and people not playing do not care.

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  114. BMO, where have you been....You need to stop trying to figure out who the anons are. Even if you come close, I know for fact that there are a few that purposely disguise their posts to sound like others. But even then, you can't take this stuff seriously and get disappointed over it. Even some friends like to poke around for fun.

    Speaking of that, what happened to Paulie T. The cotton bowl shut him up for good?

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  115. anon 12:22 is right. B-Mo there is no way to know who the anons are and no one has even trashed you so why all the worry? Anons only do it to get a rise out of people like you. Certain people have been attacked unfairly on this blog, but you are not one of them. The FBI could use a guy like you to analyze all types of anonymous documents if you know who all the anons are. People who post under their actual names get attacked by the anons, it happens over and over again. No one should be surprised.

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  116. Sisk gets all the attention because he is becoming the greatest captain in USTA history. We are all along for the ride.

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  117. Are we talking greatest, in size?

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  118. Our best captains (Sisk, Somabut & Bender) take a lot of unfair abuse from anon cowards who enjoy posting nasty, untrue comments.

    Real reasons why top captains are a target for crybabies:
    (1) many whiners are jealous of the success these captains have had (while the crybabies see their team get beat every year)
    (2) some have tried out for one of the top teams but were not invited to play
    (3) Some were on the team roster of one of our top captains but got mad when they were not put in the line-up during playoffs.

    It is no wonder that these scumbags do not want you to know who they are.

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  119. Well then, who are you Mr. Big Balls.

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  120. Let's talk about the Tri-Level players & teams w/o nasty comments from assholes about our top captains.

    - Mr. Big Balls

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  121. BMO -

    Is that a Viagra pill you are now using for your picture?? You mean Nancy in a dress isn't enough for you???!!!!!

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  122. I've heard rumors that the USTA may be sending undercover staffers with plastic cups out to various league events to collect urine samples from suspicious looking players. Presumably the purpose would be to suspend anybody testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.

    I can't believe they would do this since it would be self-defeating to their mission to stimulate the growth of tennis.

    Anybody heard of this possibility?

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  123. I'd be worried about the USTA testing for other types of drugs as a large percentage of the adult tennis population are stoners. Seriously, 70+ of all adults playing tennis around here are a bunch of fat asses, thus the third set tie break rule. It's probably from the munchies.

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  124. Have any of these Captains ever been successful at Tri Level before?? IMO the tri level will be decided by some close 3rd set tiebreakers.

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  125. Earth to Paulie ...... Are you alive?
    Earth to Paulie ...... Are you alive?

    Are you still trying to recover from the Cotton Bowl Tournament?

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  126. Looks like a lot of variety in teams advancing to sectionals. Feldman has made 2 tri-level trips to sectionals in 07 and 09.

    2007:
    BLUE:
    1st - Pickett (4-0 Dallas; 3-1 semis at sectionals)
    2nd - Martin (2-1)
    3rd - DeMetsenaere (1-2)
    4th - Harrison (0-3)

    RED:
    1st - Golman (3-1)
    2nd - Somabut (1-2)
    3rd - Myers (1-2)
    4th - Man (1-2)

    2008:
    RED:
    1st - Madison (3-1 Dallas; 1-2 at sectionals)
    2nd - Martin (2-1)
    3rd - Noel (1-2)
    4th - Kraemer (1-2)

    BLUE:
    1st - Stevens (2-2)
    2nd - Cormier (2-1)
    3rd - Myers (1-2)
    4th - Pickett (1-2)

    2009:
    BLUE:
    1st - Thompson (4-0 Dallas; 2-1 at sectionals)
    2nd -Noel (2-1)
    3rd - Morrison (1-2)
    4th - Foy (0-3)

    RED:
    1st - Rossouw (3-1 Dallas; 2-1 at sectionals)
    2nd - Pickett (2-1)
    3rd - Somabut (1-2)
    4th - Kraemer (0-3)

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  127. Whoever put the tri-level history together, nice job! It looks like a different group has won each year and captains powerhouse captains we keep hearing all about are nowhere to be seen.

    Trilevel is up for grabs and I don't think it will be any of the so-called top captains making the trip to Austin for sectionals.

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  128. Flights are out. Feldman / Bender same flight

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  129. DTA playing favorites again I see. Gets real old.

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  130. ohhhh man! teams I feel sorry for now:

    Smith
    Arcaria

    1 of them might be looking at a goose egg.

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  131. Looks like 3 of the 4 best teams are in that flight. Very tough draw.

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  132. Anybody who believes the DTA is not controlled by Brookhaven is out of their minds. That Kraemer is so far up Gilpin's ass is not even funny.

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  133. Sure looks that way. Besides Takashi's team, looks like BH has two byes.

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  134. which one is the 3rd best team?

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  135. Kraemer should just put his team in the final

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  136. Oh Man! that hits below the belt!!! :) I think I am talking an octane higher now.

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  137. The DTA is so corrupt. This happens every time a Brookhaven team is entered. They ALWAYS get in the easy flight. I am never going to play in a DTA sponsored event again.

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  138. This is why you don't add 5 4.0s and 5 3.5s. All 3 matches in pool play will be very difficult and even if the team you are playing is easy you'll be forced to go for the 3-0, no sets lost victory - can't be rotating players in and out.

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  139. wow, what a bunch of cry-babies. 2 teams made it to sectionals last year, looks like Brookhaven will be one of those 2.

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  140. I know!!!! Just look what happened in 4.0!!! Brookhaven made it to the FINALS IN BOTH FLIGHTS!!! Total BS, they were both given easy flights in City. DTA SUCKS!!!!

    I am taking my fuzzy little balls and going home.

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  141. Only to get killed at sectionals--Kraemer tries to make it as easy as he can for himself!!! Great job John

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  142. The Blue Flight is stacked, but the Red Flight is no walk over. Any three of those teams, Morrsion/Nishizaki/Kraemer can win that flight.

    I think the blue flight could very easily be a three way tie if the Arcaria team can upset Feldman or Bender. You could see 3 teams at 2 and 1.

    Blue Flight

    Bender - Has a chance to go 3-0, but could very easily go 1-2 if they get upset by the Arcaria team.

    Feldman - Same as Bender team. Could go 3-0, could 1-2 if they lose to Bender and Arcaria

    Arcaria - I do not see them going 3-0, beating both Feldman and Bender, but I do think they could finish at 2-1 beating one of those teams. to win the flight I think they hope 3 teams are 2-1 and they win the tie break.

    Smith - Solid 4.0s, but no enough to compete in this flight. I see 0-3.

    Red Flight

    I will start off by stating the Bazan team does not have a shot and will be 0-3. The other 3 teams I will not break down individually because anyone of them can win the flight at 3-0 and anyone of them can finish 3rd at 1-2.

    Prediction is Bender 3-0 versus Kraemer 2-1.

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  143. Assuming they seed the flights, who do you think they thought was the 2nd best team being they did not think it was Feldman or Bender as they were flighted together?

    Typically you would put #1 seed and #4 seed in 1 flight and #2 and #3 seed in another flight. With that logic the DTA thinks Feldman or Bender are the 4th best team and 2 of those teams in the red flight are the 2nd and 3rd best.

    I would love to hear their rational because they obviously did not seed the typical way as stated above.

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  144. The only seeding that went on was between Kraemer and Gilpin.

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  145. Bazan reminds me of the movie Kingpin when Woody Harrelson is to become the famous bowler, and the dad says "whenever someone says the words Muntson, I want them to think "winner""... and throughout the movie, whenever something tragically stupid happens, the random character would say "What a Muntson"

    That said ~ Whenever I see a bad team or a bad shot in tennis, I can't help but say to myself: "What a Bazan"

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  146. seeding is impossible for tri-level. No "team" records and team captains change as well as players change year to year. All they did was draw teams blind.
    Get over it. Feldman and Bender would have had to play eventually, so why not in reg round robin.
    One team is going to sectionals. Only if another area backs out of sectionals, would they determine a wild card team that is based on total # of entry teams from each area.

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  147. IT DOES LOOK LIKE THE TWO BEST TRI-LEVEL TEAMS WERE PUT IN THE SAME FLIGHT.

    HOWEVER, I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRI-LEVEL. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW SEEDING IS MISSHANDLED EVERY SPRING.

    AT A MINIMUM WE NEED THE DTA TO EXPLAIN ON THEIR WEBSITE HOW THIS IS DONE. SECRECY BREEDS MISTRUST & COMTEMPT.

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  148. REGARDLESS OF FLIGHTS OR SEEDINGS THE BEST TEAM WILL COME OUT ON TOP SO STOP WITH ALL THE CRYING! I THINK THE DTA GOT IT RIGHT THE FOUR BEST TEAMS ARE SPLIT INTO TWO DIFFERENT FLIGHTS, BENDER/FELDMAN IN ONE AND NISHIZAKI/KRAMER IN THE OTHER, THE REST OF THE TEAMS ARE JUST DONATING CASH TO THE DTA, THANKS GUYS WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR DOLLARS, WE WENT ALL OUT THIS YEAR ON OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY AND WE NEED TO RECOUP THE DOUGH!!!

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  149. YOUR COMPUTER IS STUCK ON ALL CAPS. MAYBE you should take it into best buy or something?

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  150. Everyone with half a brain knows that the best 2 tri-level teams are easily Feldman/Sisk and Bender.

    The DTA put both top teams in the same flight. So no the DTA did NOT get it right. Still, it is no big deal and it is a waste of time to complain.

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  151. Not referencing to upcoming Tri-Level, but in general for all two flight playoffs.

    If only 1 spot is available, then it really doesn't matter where the seeds are, but 1 and 2 should not be in the same flight.

    If there are 2 spots or the possibility of 2 spots for Sectionals, then 1 and 2 in the same flight is flat out wrong.

    Or if flights are chosen at random, then the possibility of the top 2 in the same flight is wrong as well.

    What needs to be done is a possible playback match by the 3rd place team based on the results of the final.

    For example:

    Red 1 beats Blue 1 in Final.
    Red 2 beats Blue 2 for 3rd.
    Then Red 2 should play
    Blue 1 for 2nd.

    This would be the best way for the the best 2 teams to get the 2 spots.

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  152. Seen those predictions all the time, and then the "best team" doesn't win or just sux.

    Glad to see that you know every person on every team at every level. you must troll a lot of tennis locker rooms to know that many people.

    to think that someone's name you don't know might actually know how to play? all mighty knowing anon? Oh Nevermind, no way that could happen.

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  153. Palacoiz,

    Kern has already set the precedent. No casual wear to the blog. Tie minimum, tux preferable.

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  154. Placioz,
    Good post 5:27 pm.

    And this is important in the Tri-Level event because both Tri-Level flight winners advance to Sectionals.

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  155. please, when refering DTA, please type Kraemer.

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  156. What makes you think Dallas will get two teams into sectionals?

    Without referring to any comments from the players on the teams themselves, what is a fair way to "seed" tri-level teams?

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  157. Hey Palacioz, is it true you shave your eyebrows? Varner needs to stop telling people that.

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  158. Paulie T. fell off his pedestal and can't reach the keyboard, can someone run over to his place and help him out. After your done, he'll throw you out head first you dip.

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  159. OMG!!! I am all for shaving down the eyebrows. Does an unshaven Palacioz have Andy Rooney eyebrows?

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  160. Yes, Palacioz is a member of the unibrow club, and must shave it so his glasses have a place to sit.

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  161. I am confused. Does he need to shave in the middle? or are they really really bushy and 3 inches thick. have you seen Andy Rooney's eyebrows lately? It makes me throw up whenever I see his face. its nasty!

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  162. Bushy eyebrows are HOT

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  163. You mean they keep you HOT in the winter?

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  164. 9:46 - I think it is obvious that you are not going to bait Paulie T. into coming back onto the blog. I would guess that he regrets his Cotton Bowl boasts and just wants to lay low now. Any further baiting would IMO just be beating a dead horse.

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  165. Is that you Paulie?

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  166. Like the Florida football coach, Paulie T. has taken an indefinite leave of absence.

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  167. Na,I heard the dip has been busy helping Santa close down his shop along with some of the other elves so he has not had time for the blog.

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  168. Was that Paulie T in Bad Santa? Was he the midget elf?

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  169. TEXAS CRUSHES BAMA

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  170. Nice try Marc on coming up with the "dream team". Has anyone looked at the city playoff records of the remaining 4.0s over the last few years.

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  171. Mccully, are you a guy or a chic?

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  172. above anon did you mean morrison not mcnully when asking that question?

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  173. Actually no, but why do you bring it up? Does BMO have gender issues?

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  174. Paulie,

    Happy New Year! Is everything ok? Are you feeling better? Can we help you with anything? Please let us know. Did you stop beating the wife for the New Year. We're looking forward to hearing from you soon.

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  175. Morrison has ZERO gender issues. McCulley is spammer that needs to be deleted. Clicking on the link takes you str8 to porn written in Japanese?, and who knows what type of viruses I just got.

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  176. Brian,

    When is the battle royal with Gerber? We heard all the hype but no follow up? Please advise to the status of the middle age rumble!

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  177. 1:36PM - You've heard the last from Paulie T. You won't have me, I mean him, to kick around anymore.

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  178. I didn't know you could get viruses from Japanese porn.

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  179. the fight is a few months away, correct? gerber you in? morrison?

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  180. Is Paulie still alive?

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  181. Paulie T. in da house! Glad you dip annons missed me. Ah, you care! Reason I haven't been on is because I have nothing to contribute to this the Tri-Level post, but yes I am always with you. Good luck to everyone in tri-level. As far as Brookhaven... yes I got my ASS handed to me! I didn't suck, those guys were just way way better than me. On top of that, they were both more than fair and perfect gentlemen tennis players. Not a rude bone in their body. 4.5 has classier players than you Annon dip lowlifes. You annons are entertaining me, keep the comments cumming. Nothing I haven't hear before ha-ha. I fell off my chair! No I'm o.k. it wasn't that far of a fall. Lol.

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  182. Probably not a far fall for Paulie anyways if he has a chair proportional to his size.

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  183. When does the schedule come out?

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  184. Does anyone have any comments on the 4.0, 3.5 and 3.0 Tri-level Tournament?

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  185. Paulie -

    It’s good to hear from you! We’re glad that you’re alright and feeling better. The holidays can become very busy at the malls. A little guy like you can really get shuffled around and walked over.

    We’re looking forward to a great 2010 and receiving reports on your tournament play & experiences across the great state of Texas.

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  186. Captains received their schedules. We get Bender Friday, Feldman Saturday. The two so called top dogs out of the gate. It will be a fun weekend, looking forward to it.

    Our flight is very tough, but the other flight has 3 teams capable of winning it all, Morrison, Nishizaki, and Kraemer are all very solid. Those 3 will have a battle each match.

    With all the bump ups it really hurt the (4.0 3.5 3.0) tri level this weekend. It was tough enough to find a computer rated 3.5, I am not sure how those teams found computer rated 3.0s. Only 4 teams, I think the Ferrell team will win this weekend.

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  187. The Tri-Level has two excellent teams: Feldman and Bender. Those are really the only 2 teams with a reasonable chance to win. So the Sunday 9:00 am match Feldman vs Bender will decide everything. Feldman wins 2-1 with wins at 4.0 and an easy win at 3.5.

    Good teams include: Arcaria, Morrison, Nishzaki and Kraemer. They are all solid but cannot compete with the top dogs.

    Weak teams: Smith and Bazan. Both will go 0 - 3.

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  188. FRIDAY JAN 15 MATCHES
    BLUE FLIGHT
    Feldman 3 Smith 0 (Not competitive)
    Bender 2 Arcaria 1
    Bender takes 4.5 with Slez & Kiron. 4.0 is close but Palacioz & Wade beat Arcaria & Bennett. At 3.5 Monk & Toney easily beat any of Bender's 3.5s

    RED FLIGHT
    Morrison 3 Bazan 0 (Not competitive)
    Nishizaki 2 Kraemer 1
    Nishizaki & Rasor are too tough to beat at 4.5. 4.0 is close but goes to Kraemer. At 3.5 Zhou/Nwachukwu beat Brett/Schneider all day long.

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  189. SAT JAN 16 MATCHES
    BLUE FLIGHT
    Bender 3 Smith 0 (Not competitive)
    Feldman 3 Arcaria 0
    Feldman & Durten are too tough for Shahab & Nguyen at 4.5. At 3.5, Steve Adams & Chris MacFarland are the best 3.5 in the tournament. They roll to an easy win. Level 4.0 is close but Bennett & Arcaria fall to Chris Jones & Keith Clark in straight sets. Good match but 3-0 win for Feldman.

    RED FLIGHT
    Nishizaki 3 Bazan 0 (Not competitive)
    Morrison 2 Kraemer 1
    Kraemer takes level 4.0 while Morrison wins level 4.5 behind Evans & Hawkins. 3.5 is close but Kotlarek & Offenberger are better than Schneider/Brett. They win the deciding point for Morrison. But after the match Kraemer beats the crap out of "Golden Gloves" Morrison in the parking lot.

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  190. Paulie, next time remember to use the safety strap on the high chair so you do not fall out! You dip!

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  191. SUNDAY, JAN 17 9:00 AM MATCHES
    BLUE FLIGHT
    Arcaria 3 Smith 0 (Not Competitive)
    Feldman 2 Bender 1
    This match is really the finals. Bender's guys show up in matching blue & red tennis outfits. Britney Spears comes out to sing the Star Spangled Banner. Finally we start. Bender has the best 4.5s and they win a hard fought match. Feldman's 3.5s win easily. So it all comes down to level 4.0. Zackary/Clark/Jones/Wiley beat Palacioz & Varner in a third set tiebreak. Bender ... better luck next year!

    RED FLIGHT
    Kraemer 3 Bazan 0 (Not competitive)
    Nishizaki 2 Morrison 1
    Nishzaki & Rasor beat Evans & Hawkins in a close 3rd set TB. Reiman & Lutes easily beat Morrison & Toth at level 4.0. Level 3.5 is close but Kotlarek & Offenberger beat Walton & Zhou.

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  192. SUNDAY, JAN 17 - FINALS

    Feldman 3 Nishizaki 0
    Nish fights hard but Feldman is simply better at all three lines. Matches are close but a 3 - 0 win for Feldman is certain.

    Both Feldman and Nishzaki teams attend the Tri-Level Sectionals. Others complain about a seeding process that resulted in the top two teams being grouped together.

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  193. Nice deductions. It looks very solid, but I am not sure if Palacioz/Wade can beat Arcaria/Bennett. It all depends upon which Bennett/Arcaria shows up. I don't think they can beat both Bender and Feldman 4.0s, but I think they will be the fly in the ointment for 1 of them.

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  194. VARNER IS SOLID AND TEAMED WITH PALACIOZ WILL BE TOUGH TO BEAT. BUT BENNETT & ARCARIA CAN BEAT ANYONE IF THEY ARE PLAYING THEIR BEST.

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  195. too tough to predict the blue flight, because Bennett/Arcaria can beat either one of the 4.0 lines. If they beat Feldman and lose to Bender, Bender skates in on win/loss. Ditto if it goes the other way. Blue is far from being predicted. Same actually goes for Red.

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  196. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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