Monday, September 23, 2013

5.0 Nationals!!

Oscar Flores TBar team is headed to Indian Wells this week for 5.0 Nationals.

He has assembled a very strong team and they have been practicing hard for many weeks now.

Let's all get behind his team and support them and wish them the best for what will hopefully be a successful run in Indian Wells starting on Friday.

Last weekend they scrimmaged against the TCU team and apparently the bulk of the team will be making the trip including the best players.

Good Luck Oscar and team!

Roster:

  • Dawid Kuczer 5.5
  • Andrew Plum
  • Alex Behar
  • Brett Ryan
  • Rafa Valdez
  • Henry Gonzales
  • Shane Johnson
  • Tom Bartzen
  • Byron Talbot
  • Ryan Haley
  • Ryan Friend
  • Jeremy Stone
  • Nick Plum 5.5
  • Stuart Keplar
  • Travis Rich
  • Pablo Mayorga
  • Larry Pascal

241 comments:

  1. Good luck guys!! Oscar, well done and bring home the trophy. Please tell Tom Fey hello for me. He is a great guy and will run a first class tournament.
    Pickett

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  2. Thanks Marc and Joel! We shall definitely fight hard and hopefully open up a Texas sized can of whoop ass! :)
    -O

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  3. What? A team without Mike Kelly is going to Nationals??? How is this possible???

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    1. Lol... Funny thing is he helps that lineup even playing as a 4.5.. I promise you that ...

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    2. As their ball boy perhaps.

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    3. You must be one of his bashers who sits at home while he racks up titles and wins. He will not pick up balls for people he can beat, unless they are gold balls

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    4. Agreed w poster, he does help that team come crunch time... No denying that and I don't like him

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    5. Still a ballboy. Lol. Most of those guys above have done a few better things on the tennis court than win 4.5 (or whatever) gold balls.

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  4. Top tankers of the week award goes to Bob Bender in 3.5, and Paul To in 4.0, keep it up guys!

    Good luck T-Bar at nationals!

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  5. I heard they play 3 out of 5 sets at Nationals.

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  6. Paul is related to Camel and they look pretty close to the same.

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  7. Tony Tony Tony "tank it again" Le. Good Luck T-BAR !!

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  8. Tony Tony Tony "tank it again" Le. Good Luck T-BAR !!

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  9. Tony Tony Tony "tank it again" Le. Good Luck T-BAR !!

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  10. Yes I'm tanking, and so what.

    T

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    Replies
    1. At least you are honest... sorta. It isn't like everyone didn't know.

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  11. TBar 5.0 won their first match 3-0

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  12. Why is everyone so mad at Toni?.... He doesn't personally tank as he is not good enough..... Not sure he deserves this?.... Can we rate top ten tankers in the fall 4.5?.....not just bec you hate them but on pure factual basis

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    1. He is not good enough to tank?

      Top Tankers in no particular order
      Tony Le
      Hai Nguyen
      Takashi
      Jean Nguyen
      Andrew Alarid
      Phy Pham
      James Ribman
      No list would be complete without Mike Kelly

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    2. Only 4.5s are tanking this year?

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  13. Pretty good list! Why is it that the asian's have the highest percentage of the tankers? Can anyone shed any light on this?

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  14. You forgot about Sam Huynh on your little list, he would get my vote.

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    Replies
    1. Sam Huynh is not even on a fall roster. I am sure he will and has tanked but hard to include a guy that isn't playing.

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  15. Sounds like his reputation proceeds him.

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  16. Tbar 5.0 advances to semis tomorrow!

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  17. Dallas is looking good this weekend. The over 40 open team from Dallas finishes #2 in the nation in Vegas.

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  18. Unfortunately tbar lost a close match in the final. Great run though by Oscar and his team

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  19. Pat the guys you know on the back who have won a national title. It is very, very tough to do....congrats to Tbar for being second as that is still awesome!

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  20. Congratulations. Well done. Best of luck to the rest of the Dallas teams going to nationals and the Texas teams too.

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  21. Scattershooting while wondering what happened in yesterdays 4.5 matches. Noticed that M. Kelly and Joel Pickett "lost" there doubles match yesterday "5-5" what gives boys, tanking so bad that the other team just quit? I also see where Jean Nguyen is playing on a team from lifetime not with picketts team, what gives? Did Joel piss off another one of his former besties?

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  22. Why are you so harsh on these cheaters? Karma will catch up soon. Surgeries, divorces, etc. etc., it all plays into it. The J & J bromance continues, they are just spreading out their tanking trying to be clever.

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  23. I see Hai Nguyen's team had another successful week. Somebody is working on a monster 4.0 team next year. Arcaria has not posted his scores in this race to the bottom.

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    1. They should make the teams that finish last miss next years league????!!!! That would stop the tanking

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    2. All that would stop is the tanking team being last in the flight. They would just be next to last, and the team working hard trying to better their game would be punished. The tanking teams are always a really good team which is why everyone gets mad they tank. They are definitely good enough to beat 1 or 2 teams to ensure they don't end up last, so the team that is weak, but working their butts off would not be able to play. Probably not the best way to keep people from tanking.

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    3. ^^ This... If you are good enough to get to nationals, you are good enough to finish where ever you want.

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  24. Tanking is part of Dallas (and everywhere else) tennis. It will always be. Not much that can be done, honestly. Just keep playing, try to keep enjoying it, and have a beer. Can't control what others do. It's a shame, but it's here to stay.

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  25. Has anyone ever noticed the teams that tank are the ones looking to compete on a national level, and the teams that bitch about tanking seem to want to compete at a city level. Since these tanking teams don't win Nationals every year, I think it is safe to say tanking happens everywhere, and if you want a National title you better tank as well.

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    1. It is not okay to cheat. Regardless of how you rationalize it. If a cheap tin plate that important; your priorities are messed up.

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    2. THere are many many players who can compete at a national level at the level below where they should really be rated, what kind of skill does that prove?

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  26. You clearly dont understand the "value" of the cheap tin plate, or the ball cap, or the towel, or the banner... (hey kaiser did i leave anything out)?

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  27. I would rather beat a tanker than lose to you.

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  28. Dallas not tanking capital of Texas, the Valley is. Some of their self rate 3.5 players have ITF points overseas. They are playing mixedt sectionals and at the 8.0 level... Lol. Just goes to show you tanking here to stay, although this is not tanking. This is cheating, 5.5 players at a 3.5 level. We played them Friday and it was open level doubles, got our butts kicked!!!

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  29. Sounds like they cheated better than your team did

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  30. Instead of whining about people tanking why don't you just appeal your rating down to play your correct level?

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  31. Houston will kick Kelly's butt in the semis!

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  32. Yep, they have Odion and a solid 3.5 along w another line that has an awesome 4.,5 lady playing w a 4.5 guy who is rated 3.5 ( fuller). Let's see freakin Kelly beat that .....he will see what out of level is tomorrow

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  33. Thanks for the support. Dallas beat Houston 3-0. We have a TOUGH match vs Valley at 8:00.

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  34. Dallas 8.0 wins sectionals. Went 15-0 for the weekend. The a-hole Kelly going to nationals again. What a joke.

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  35. Kelly a total joke.... Going to Palm
    Springs, Hawaii and Tucson to win more national titles??!!! I hope he freaking gets dq'd before that. The Valley captain should file a protest, Kelly and partner beat a team that had NEVER lost and was dominating everyone......I don't see how he wins EVERY big match when he needs to ... Unreal

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  36. SpringPark has both. 18 and over and 40 and over 8.0 sectional winners.

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  37. No doubt. Results posted from sectionals . He did not drop a set and played 5 matches...how does he freakin do it time after time???!!!

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  38. Credit to Alan A. He has a way of getting teams to perform every year... How?... Unbelievable !

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  39. To the above poster is totally correct. Get mike Kelly on your team and you have won a line for sure. Build around that, get solid depth and practice. They are headed to Hawaii, then Tuscon , the galaxies. Kelly just back from winning nats in Palm Springs.... Wishing them good luck. They took down a solid, solid Houston team and basically a 9.0 team from the Valley as a few of the 3.5's had ITF points. Don't like Kelley but what him and Alan have put together out there is something special.

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  40. Thanks for the kind words before all the bashing begins. And what we do is practice 2 to 3 days a week leading up to and during the season. That's how we know we have a good team.

    Alan

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    1. Congratulations, bring a National Title home to Dallas.

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    2. Practice???.. Why practice?.. Kelly is 2 levels below where he should be and Kyle plays college. I hope you are proud of beating a bunch of high school players !

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    3. Say what you want. I was on the Corpus team that lost to valley in semis. I heard about a Dallas blog from another captain and decided to post. This idea that the valley was just a bunch of high school players was not accurate. They beat us 3-0 w ease. For Dallas to beat that team was impressive. Great job guys and good luck.
      TM

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    4. Alan, Kelly, and Kyle played OK, the true talent came from the women

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    5. I agree. We gave the MVP the the ladies. They all played great and stayed out of they way. Except for my partner, Danielle, she has to play a little better then most of the ladies on our team to carry me. All the guy pitched in and we are sending the girls to see the Effiel Tower.

      Alan

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  41. Who freakin cares about nationals..... Too expensive to go on these trips and too far to drive.... That is only for people w an ego!

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    1. Actually, it's for people who like to compete. I love league tennis, but most of the time the season starts at sectionals. It doesn't matter if you play men's, ladies, or mixed. The teams that are trying to win want to go to nationals.

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  42. I am sure Kelley hates racking up wins, must be boring.... R u kidding??? Just congratulate them and say great job. He has basically put Dallas on the tennis map , good or bad. Why hate on anyone who goes to NATS?

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  43. Yes, all we do was beat high school players. Look at Houston team in the semis. Why so much hate and Mike could have not played and we still would have won. Y'all can kiss my going to nationals butt. But not the people who are supportive. Which is about 20%. Go watch the tennis it takes to win and maybe then yiu can complain.

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    1. whoopie!.... You beat a Houston team that had played 4 matches and two of their guys played them all ! I am sure HE wasn't tired!

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  44. And before the grammar police rag on me for misspelling you. I'm sorry I didn't proof read my rant.

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  45. Hats off to Alan.. Springpark is a winning machine !

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  46. Lol!!!! Houston blog ripping Kelly for showboating during his when yesterday!... Guess he can't escape any blog abuse! Made san Antonio blog in 40 sectionals and now Houston!... Gotta live it

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  47. Congratulations Dallas 8.0 on another Sectional Championship. Every team had plenty of out of level players and Dallas took them all down. Alan, well done with lineups and getting your team prepared to play the big matches. Good luck at Nationals!!
    Pickett

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  48. Thanks Joel, coming from a national champion captain that is a compliment. We will do our best to win yet another title.

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    1. This is becoming a stroke-fest. "national champion captain"? He has had 1 team that won 2013 tri-level, that's it. And that is not a USTA sanctioned event. He made it to nationals a couple of times playing for Bender at 3.0 & 3.5 but never won. Not sure why Pickett is held out to be a god of captains when he has no USTA sanctioned national title under his belt.

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  49. Congratulation to Alan and his team. Good luck at nationals.
    Wiley

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  50. Pickett has forgotten more than most captains know. Keep sittin at home and hating. You will never win anything wishing hate and harm to others. I have never seen a city not get behind their teams like Dallas. Thank God for Pickett and Alan that put teams together to dominate Texas Tennis.....

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  51. Could Alan's 8.0 team have beaten the 9.0 Dallas team? It would be close I assume. The way everyone talks about Kelly makes him sound unbeatable in mixed.

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  52. You have to look at what Allen A. Has done at Springpark and try to copy it. He has one of the best mixed players on the planet in Kelley. He builds around that by adding solid players like himself and Kyle or whoever. He then teaches the ladies the art of mixed and finds the best in town. He continually rebuilds and tweaks the lineup. I seriously think that team can win it all again. He makes them practice and you are held accountable. Very intriguing to watch them play. He has built SP up as the mixed capital of USTA tennis. Like it or hate it, still impressive.

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    1. Still doesn't answer my question if they could beat the 9.0 Dallas team? All this talk about how good they are at 8.0. Why have they never moved up to 9.0?!!

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  53. What do you do to get on that team? Are there tryouts? How does he get so many people that win consistently? I am playing out of a local club and we can't seem to even win the cities?

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  54. The good news for everyone else is they have to break up and can't do it again. Kelly will get moved up and the ladies will be recruited elsewhere. It's time to let another team win.

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  55. To above poster:

    Tryouts , are you kidding me?. Alan picks and chooses who he wants personally, and he is pretty damned good at it. I suggest to get on that team would be an outside shot, unless you hold a world ranking and ate eligible to play as a 4.5. I will say his players are loyal, he and Kelly have created a monster domination. If you can't beat them, just sign up and play a few matches and you are headed to Hawaii in Feb 2014 and Tuscon around Thanksgiving.

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  56. Has Alan ever put a 9.0 team together?

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  57. Yep , that also went to nationals... Lol

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    1. No true. That was gene Davis. Not me. Alan

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  58. Alan must be real proud lying to get his ringer onto a freaking 8.0 team, of course TTa would never DQ anyone so fuck it.
    http://msumustangs.com/news/2013/9/29/MTEN_0929131641.aspx
    What a joke!!

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    1. I didn't lie. I didn't fill out any self rate forms for my players. I just find out what they are rated and ask if they want to play. Mike K and I are the starting point and I build from there. It also helps that I see a lot of ladies play and I find 3.0's and 3.5'a who I think will be good at mixed. I work with them and teach them about mixed. I practice hitting balls at them at the net and show them how to handle the pace a 4.5 men hits with. A lot of ladies play at SpringPark. I have 3 3.0 ladies who will be good 3.5 mixed players next year. There is no secret. It's lots of time and practice working with the ladies and finding 5.0 guys who are rated 4.5. That's what we see at sectionals. We don't hold try outs, but we do ask a lot of people to come play with us and we see how they fit in with the team. That's the main thing. We are a team. We stick together, we practice a lot, and we except people for who they are. No judgements and everyone knows their role on the team.

      And as far as Kyle. He decided to devote his time to tennis after not really trying when he was 15-18. He is a great player, but I guarantee he will get beat at least once.

      I hope that answered some questions. No start tearing me a new one. Calling me a cheater and how mixed means nothing.

      And I don't know if we could beat the 9.0 team. If Kyle plays we have a small chance. If he doesn't, I think we get beat 2-1. I'm sorry, but I have to give Mike K the win. We have played together for the past 7 years and I have only seen him get beat twice in mixed.

      Alan

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    2. I did not believe what he said so I looked it up, wasting an hour of my life going back 7 years of mixed. Kelly is 74-2. One of those losses was to a team where both players got bumped immediately after the season, so in effect played a 9.5 team in 8.0. The other looks like a loss after overall match was decided. What I want to know is where does he find these people to win and how does he do it w out the luxury of 100's of tennis players to choose from like a country club has. He should go into coaching if he is that smart.

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    3. Mike is an awesome player and I work with all the ladies and teach them how to play mixed. I do coach at SpringPark.

      Alan

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  59. more interesting would be that it could be seen as an NCAA violation playing league tennis while in season

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    1. Kyle's team doesn't have a fall season. They play tournaments and play duel matches in spring.

      Alan

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  60. Good luck guys!.. Great weekend of tennis and keep it going! Bring us home another national title.
    BB

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  61. Computer rated way before school started and no longer a school infraction to play if authorized. Actually had some losses at 4.5 and close mixed matches this year. Very solid player but not way out of level. Sounds like you wished you could be a player like he is

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  62. Oct 7 at 1:10 should be taken off blog for language and abusive rant.... Must be valley captain. The guy Kelly played had ITF points and the girl could beat most 4.5 guys in Dallas... Lol

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  63. How the heck does the Valley get someone w ITF points playing in a league w out getting DQ'd????

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  64. Easy, just do not play tennis in usta except for one league in mixed and then try knock Kelley in the dirt.... It didn't work. They better go get Leander Paes

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  65. Actually 1:22 Kyle played first in 2012 MXD league and then played at MSU, he should have then been obligated to be bumped to 5.0 or 5.5 once he started playing, SA did this a few years back once one of their players Signed an NLI for a D2 school, but of course that would take honor.

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    1. I talked to Todd Redd about Kyle once he decided tibplay in school. Because his dynamic rating was not out of level, he could continue to play as a 4.5. I will try to answer any questions. Or, say congratulations and we can move on.

      Alan

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  66. Nope, wrong again. He was playing long before mixed and did not even commit to any school until two years after his rating. Good try in trying to stir up something. As a matter of fact he could have rated 4.0, just like the other teams do but opted for 4.5.

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    1. http://tennislink.usta.com/Leagues/Main/StatsAndStandings.aspx?t=R-17&search=kyle%20davidson&OrgURL=http://tennislink.usta.com/Leagues/Common/Default.aspx

      Really try again, since USTA records go back to at least 2003, but TTA does not care about the blatant cheating, so who cares anymore, let the Captains continue to play the system.
      Sorry Alan but Todd Reid is wrong and should actually look at the damn rules himself.

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  67. Just curious why the mixed teams are not 4.0, 4.5, etc. It seems odd for 4.5 men
    to play against 3.5 women.

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  68. 4.5 men don't play against 3.5 women. There were no 3.5 women out there this weekend. Maybe rated on paper a 3.5, closer to 4.5.

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  69. Why is it that you guys continue to dominate year after year, but you say you have 3.0 women waiting to play 3.5 next year. If they are really 3.0 now, how the heck are they able to get to nationals when they can barely win a low level TCD LADIES MATCH now? Something does not add up

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    1. Tcd is not Usta. We have players who went to nationals as 3.0's this year and will get bumped up. I hit with them once a week and they practice with us for a year or so before they play on the team. And a good 3.5 mixed player may not be good at ladies tennis. It's a completely different game.

      Alan

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  70. It's any combination of 8.0 with only a max 1 point difference between partners. In the past, a 5.0 could play with a 3.0. I think the Usta just wants to give players options. This way a 3.5 can play 6.0-8.0. As far as playing against 3.5 ladies, a lot of them are pretty good except for serve returns. And as a 4.5, you have to play with a 3.5 lady. It makes strategy come into play more. You can use more finesse and angles. It's just a different kind of game then regular doubles.

    That's just my opinion.

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  71. No guy on earth can overcome a 3.0/3.5 woman who cannot return serve well. That is half the match in possible points. Either your ladies are not 3.5 or the guys are not 4.5. Or you can be a freaking ball hog like Kelley is and turn it into singles. Gee, that is really hard to win that way!.. What a joke

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  72. Good point, but if the girl can't return the guys serve, but can hold her serve and break the girls serve, you win 2-2. Breaking the guy is just bonus. It's not that important. Hold your own serve and just try to give yourself a chance for a break or two per set. We didn't break the guy form Valleys serve, but we won 3 if his points in the tiebreaker. Including a double to Danielle at 9-9.

    Alan

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  73. I guess I am in the minority but I want to congratulate Alan and Springpark Tennis Club on another title. He has done a great job that is very difficult to do. People always wanting to beat them and they keep winning. Good luck, you will need a bigger pro shop for all the trophies... Lol

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  74. You mean he will need a bigger pro shop for all the egos. Kelley's ego alone takes up the whole thing!

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  75. What Alan and Mike have done is pretty impressive. Love 'em, hate 'em, doesn't matter, it's still impressive. As for Kyle playing 4.5, if you really want to hate just ask Freeman how he had a current college player playing 4.0 for him at sectionals this year. How about a little support for Dallas? If not, just go work on your game.

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    1. Who was the current cillege player you are referring about?

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    2. Go work on your tanking you mean.

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  76. Not that familiar with mixed but it seems that the 8.0 is mainly 4.5/3.5 instead of
    4.0/4.0. Is that because the 4.5 tends to take over the game more as stated above?

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  77. If the SP team is that good, why not play 9.0? Seems it would be more competitive and fun, plus it would be a first. I think the Dallas 8.0 team would win 9.0 cities here in Dallas but not sure about sectionals.... It is possible w the right lineup call it could happen. Alan is the right guy for that, seems every lineup he puts out there gets the perfect matchup every time.

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    1. 8.0 is ruled by tankers. Too easy to find several strong 4.0 ladies and show them how to manage a couple of matches per season to stay at 3.5. Couple the weakest one with a guy playing about 2 levels below his true rating (Kelly) and the strongest one with a college player who's rating is obsolete 2 months after team practices start. With two lock down lines complete, mix the third lady with the only properly rated guy on the team (Alan) and they can play pressure free tennis. Since mixed matches don't count towards ratings, rinse and repeat. Solid prescription for contending for a national title every year.

      9.0 is much harder. There are significantly fewer strong 5.0 ladies and they generally have a rich and highly competitive tennis background. This makes it much harder to convince them to throw matches against weaker opponents for the prize of spending their weekends alongside middle aged men beating up on inferior players.

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    2. Wow, you are a genius!.. Why don't you put together an 8.0 team next year and walk thru cities and sectionals w out losing a match and go to nationals?... According to you it is a breeze. BTW, let me know who you are and what line you are playing next year and we will play each other. You will know who this is when that time comes.

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    3. If you want to play me in mixed you're going to have to come up to 9.0. Of course we both know that won't happen as any of the few partners willing to play with you aren't a guaranteed win at that level.

      More likely we'll meet in 4.5s, and you'll lay down for me. Again. And I will let you know who this is. Afterwards.

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  78. Once you get out of cities, most teams are out of level. If you make it out of sectionals, 75% of teams are out of level. In 2010 we played a 7.0 team in the 8.0 final and lost. And Mike is not a 5.5. I will say a solid 5.0 when he is playing well. And I would say 8.0 is just as hard as 9.0. If you are playing a out of level guy, you have a small window to keep it to the girl. Also, most 9.0 teams don't have 5.0 ladies. They have 4.5 or 4.0 with strong men. Go watch sectionals. The guys take over the court in 8.0, 9.0, and 10.0. I will agree that on a city level my teams are almost unfair and I'm not trying to be an ass about it. But after cities, we have to play well to win. If you don't think you need to be loaded to win, my team last season had the same men and lost 0-3 to Valley and then Valley lost in the semi's. We could have lost to Houston or Valley this year, but some how I guessed the right line ups.

    Alan

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  79. Guys do not take over the court in 9.0/10.0. Guess you weren't watching any of the 9.0 this past weekend. The girls make the difference in 9.0. To watch Kelly play singles in his match against Houston was fair but at the same time just flat out embarassing. Last time Kelly played 9.0 in the finals he got beat fairly easy in straight sets.

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  80. I would say getting to the finals of 9.0 and getting beat still pretty damn impressive. There will always be naysayers and negative posts concerning people that win. Basically Alan is the best mixed captain going right now, Kelley is dominant whether he plays 8,0 or 9.0 and the ladies he recruits are as solid as anyone around. Can't we just say great job and good luck? Or would you like to have seen the Valley win?

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  81. Some of the posts on here are truly sad. You have bitched and moaned about Kelly dominating at 8,0 ( but you have never done it) and bashed him for getting to 9.0 final and losing (but you have never done it) One poster thinks he has the recipe to putting together a team that has a chance at a national title every year, (but you have never done it). Tear others down to make yourself feel better, whatever works for you. I applaud what it takes to do what they have done and continue to do. I have been playing 14 years and never won a sectional round but I keep the faith. But I don't trash others who have succeeded. Maybe you need to get in church... Just sayin

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  82. Funny you say that. I am in church now praying Kelley gets beat at nationals.

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  83. It's funny how people can sit behind a computer and judge. Let's just keep it simple: there are people who want to truly play competitive tennis and other who want to just play recreationally. Isn't it ok to just admit that some don't ever want to do what it takes to play on a national, competitive level and those that do, work for the opportunity to compete on that level? I'm not going to rehash what has been posted but it is true - like it or not, when you get outside of Dallas, people are playing out of level. To compete, you have to put together a team that can compete with that. When it comes down to it, you can have people playing what others consider out of level but it doesn't mean that you are going to always win and be able to move on.

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  84. Has Alan ever been to mens Nationals? How many mixed National championships does he have?

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    1. I have never been to men's nationals. I have been one 1 championship teamin 2010 at 8.0 and I was on a 9.0 team that lost in semi finals at nationals, but I did not go. My partner couldn't go, so I bought a car instead of going on the trip. Men's sectionals a few times, but never nationals. I prefer mixed doubles over men's tennis.

      Alan

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  85. 40 and over 3.5 Nationals this weekend for the Keith Clark squad and Nationals for the 4.0 Greg Wiley squad the following weekend. Good luck everyone.

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  86. Joel, Alan, and Kelly all got abused as children and have some serious issues. It's all pretty well known. Now they are doing the same to others in the tennis world so that they get a taste of what it felt like. They are getting even in their kinda ways. Doesn't make it right but it makes them feel good.

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    1. I was never abused as a child.
      Alan

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  87. Will Rossouw ever be able to compete with those guys? I miss the Rusty Branch days...

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  88. To 11:34:
    Absolutely correct post. Competitive tennis not for everyone. Most people melt under the spotlight when big match time comes. Some people just want to play local leagues when others consider not getting to nationals a failure. You can get on this blog and kick these people to the curb all you want, that is your right. What they have done year after year it seems is absolutely impressive... No matter if you like or hate them. Most of us have NO IDEA how hard it is to even win a league match much less a sectional, then a national. It is VERY DIFFICULT, ask 126 other 8.0 teams that played USTA. Bottom line, way to go guys and good luck. There are a few decent bloggers left anyway.

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  89. Kelly has gone to Nationals with 9.0 mixed (have you?) so he has proven he can compete 9.0 -sectionals many times and at Nationals at 9.0. Obviously 8.0 is much much easier for him cause with 8.0 the girl doesn't have to play and Kelly can play singles. Alan spends time coaching the girl to stay out of Kelly's way and let him play singles. Apparantly this works and CONGRATS to them. I just don't get why it takes Alan a year to tell a 3.5 to stay in one spot and out of the way-seems like that could be done in a few minutes. Good luck at Nationals.

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    Replies
    1. If the other team is smart, they don't just hit back to the guy. They play the girl. So it does take at least a year for the 3.5 girl to get accustomed to getting hit it when you're standing at the net or having to rally. If the other team is dumb enough to rally with Kelly or any of the guys for that matter, then they deserve to lose anyways by having the 'trained' girl hit a volley winner.

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    2. Because it takes a long time for them to understand what balls to go for and what balls to let go. It also take a while to constantly hit a men's return of serve and to handle to 2 or 3 groundstrokes they have to hit when serving to them man.

      Alan

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  90. I saw some of the matches - the other team is not trying to "rally with Kelly". He just has such good court coverage, he gets to whereever they hit the ball even if they are trying to hit to the 3.5. I think people figure out not to hit it "to" him. As far as hitting winners - I got to give that one to Kelly as well..Vamos..

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  91. I promise you if I had a solid lady to play with I could hit where he wasn't. It is not that difficult to hit to the woman and keep him bouncing around like a pinball and then hit behind him. I don't play sissy mixed but if I did he would be my puppet!

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  92. Alan's women are not 3.5s which helps. One somehow rated 3.5 as a DII player. The other two have been taught by the "master" the key to ratings management. However, I agree, this is what you need to compete at sectional and national levels. Once they are out of Dallas, we might as well support them.

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  93. You people are not well educated as far as mixed. First of all Kelly cannot cover the whole court. Serve it to him and NEVER let him touch it again. If you are telling me these other teams are so called out of leve but they can't play "keep away" from this clown??!!.... PLEEZ! If the opponents can't keep hitting to a 3.5 woman and win then they are not out of level. No way he covers alley to alley w out leaving court open. ridiculous

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  94. Before you call others not well educated you should watch at least one Kelly 8.0 mix match. A 3.5 lady serving to Kelly (or any 5.0 guy) ummm.. a 3.5 lady serve against a 5.0 guy return..who do you think is likely to win that point?? Now Kelly (or any 5.0 guy) serving to a 3.5 lady..ummm..who do you think is likely to win that point? You need to go watch a Kelly 8.0 mix match before you make any more comments. While you are at it, note how many of the points he is basically playing singles (which is why the other 8.0 mix teams complain... but it's legal apparantly).

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  95. I just find it kind of ironic that the people who congratulate Alan and use there name are all well known cheating captains themselves. Pickett, Wiley and BB (bob bender). obviously there are going to support the capt of the team Alan who by the way has been a tennis "pro" for over 20 years and still cant improve his own game to get a level above 4.5 now thats embarssing! Nice job capt. AA, its club pros like you that keep the cheating going and your suppose to be an example to the "members" at your and other clubs. What a joke!

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    1. From what I can tell, according to you, anyone who uses their name is a cheating Captain and anyone who posts as Anonymous is a salt of the Earth person. Actually, the best I can tell people who use their name are not ashamed of their results.

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    2. Just FYI. I didn't grow up playing tennis. I started coaching at 25 and was a solid 4.0-4.5 then. Didn't play college and was basically self taught. I don't work on my game because like most tennis pros, when I'm not teaching, I want to be as far off the court as possible.

      I don't think Nick Boletteri could beat any of the players he coached.

      As far as the cheating captains congratulating me, maybe it's because they truely know how hard it is to win nationals. Ask tBar how hard the finals were at 5.0. I do agree, it's mixed, who cares. Well, the people who play mixed care. Who cares about men's or ladies. The people who play care.

      Alan

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    3. Just FYI. I didn't grow up playing tennis. I started coaching at 25 and was a solid 4.0-4.5 then. Didn't play college and was basically self taught. I don't work on my game because like most tennis pros, when I'm not teaching, I want to be as far off the court as possible.

      I don't think Nick Boletteri could beat any of the players he coached.

      As far as the cheating captains congratulating me, maybe it's because they truely know how hard it is to win nationals. Ask tBar how hard the finals were at 5.0. I do agree, it's mixed, who cares. Well, the people who play mixed care. Who cares about men's or ladies. The people who play care.

      Alan

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  96. Good luck at Nats. but it is mixed doubles so who cares?????????????????????????

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  97. I captain a 9.0 mixed team in another Texas market. My girls just wanted to drink beer, shop for matching outfits and stab their playing partners in the back.

    Congratulations Dallas.

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  98. Just getting to Nationals is an incredible amount of work and a little luck. If you don't want to go that's fine, but why bitch about those that do. You don't see the people who put the work in and are going on this blog bitching at you because you don't work harder and build better teams. Everyone should be happy about the way it works out. You want to go .500 in Dallas, no one is complaining.

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  99. How can anyone truly comment on Nationals unless you have either been a player or captain of a national level team?? I played and lost at Nationals as a 3.0 and 3.5. AND if I was a 3.5 now, I'm sure I would find a player there that could beat me again. Nationals is tough and as a captain you can only do your best to put your team in the best position to win. Players make great captains. Bob Bender, Bob Somabut, Oscar Flores, Todd Feldman, Alan A, Jason Freeman are great captains. They make it multiple times at different levels with different players. That's amazing to me and why I always cheer for whoever is representing Texas at Nationals. And I especially love to see all Dallas/Ft.Worth teams do well and t's not easy whether it's mixed, men's or ladies. I respect those like Marc Rossouw that just enjoy playjng the season and drinking beer but I also respect those that enjoy the thrill of Nationals. For me, I love to watch the best of the best at Nationals and anything short is a failure for my personality. And I love to watch the high it gives men and women at any age that love the game and want to play against the best. Yes, tennis is just a game but tell that to those that spend thousands to travel, have a blast playing the best in the country and enjoy an experience that for some will only happen once.... I'll never forget watching people like Phy Pham, Jason Kern, Jean Nguyen and others play some of the most amazing matches of their life. And before the rules changed watching Paul Kiron and Jason Moore win the 4.5 division at Tri Level. Or watching Mike Kelly and Jason Moore playing in the finals of Tri Level with the match tied 1-1 in front of more than 200 people thinking it was a pro exhibition match. They won 10-7 in a superbreaker and that was their third superbreaker win. The talent at any Nationals is rediculous but it's some of the best amateur tennis I've ever seen. In short, don't hate unless you have been there and if you're going to hate then at least put a name behind your post. I might not like you or agree with your logic but I will respect your opinion if your are not "anonymous". Go Dallas and Texas.
    Wesley "Joel" Pickett.

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    1. Rossouw is willfully blind. He is quite pious but he allows plenty of questionable players on his roster.

      You are right in that these captains who get teams to sectionals and nationals work extremely hard. It is not a matter of just plain luck. A captain must recruit players; he must find singles players; he must find the correct doubles pairings and finally getting a little lucky to find the other team's tendencies to set up lineups. Learning these tendencies takes enormous amounts of time. If you are wrong, every calls you an idiot. Sweeping is extremely difficult once you get to sectionals and beyond.

      Mike Kelly is a great player at his level but he can only play one line. He is not the reason Alan won; Alan put three lines together that can win all of the way to Nationals. Mike was just one part of the machine and he did his part.

      I know a lot of you want share in the nationals experience but few of you are willing to do the work.

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  100. Well said....now bash.

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  101. Very well said Joel. Only those that have participated in sects and nats know the thrill and fun of it. Those that have not have no idea. So what if Kelly plays singles at his 8.0 matches. He is good enough to do just that and it works and he wins. It also frustrates the other team cause they can't believe a guy is basically playing singles on majority of points and beating them. Good luck to ALL the Texas teams going to Nats - Go All Texas teams!

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  102. I agree, well said Joel P. BTW, I was there to see that Moore and Kelly palm springs match and although I didn't play you are right , that was an experience w all the people that stopped to watch before going into the stadium. If you want to drink beer and have fun here locally, do so. There are some great captains who don't care about winning anything. Just don't bash the ones that do, support them and say good luck. Great post Joel poet Pickett

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  103. I just looked at USTA website and Alan A has TWO teams that are going to nationals? His 40 and over mixed team won sectionals this summer and headed to Hawaii and now his 18 and mixed over team is headed to Tuscon? I assume w two different rosters ? I have been playing 18 years and never gone, he has taken 2 teams to nationals in 3 months. Wow, congrats to Springpark club!

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  104. And what is the common denominator to both of those teams? Mike Kelly the biggest cheater in Texas is on both and one of the biggest cheating captain in Texas is the captian of both! You do the math!

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    1. Translation: anybody who wins is clearly a cheater. Enough of the cheater talk, are you one of those teams that always finish 2nd? I notice the country club guys from Brookhaven/Canyon Creek are the primary crowd screaming everyone cheats. I think they are really screaming... "They must be cheating because they beat me." In reality, I suspect getting beat is nothing new to you.

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    2. What is Alan supposed to do? Not play him? He is comp rate 4.5. If Alan doesn't play him another team will. I don't see what you expect a captain to do. I captain a mixed 7.0 team and would play someone who has a comp rating and can win when needed. Stupid comment blaming Alan

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    3. I have made sectionals 3 other times with out mike. And you can't call my over 40 team cheaters. I put that ge together in 10 minutes with a few emails to my club members and a text to Mike. We lost to Brookhaven during the year and then they lost to High Point giving us th win. Say what you want want about my 18 and over team, but the 40 and over was done fair and square. Yes I had Mike, but look at the other players and tell me who is out of level.

      Alan

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  105. What about Houston players and Freeman's 4.5 team? Is Kelly worse than that?... Nope. He just knows how to play well enough to win. He is out of level, yes, but very very smart. You can take a 5.5 and put him in Kelley's 8.0 matches against the same opponents over the last three years and Kelley's record will be better.... But that does not make him a 5.5. Alan not a cheater, but rather a great teacher who knows where to place people in lineups and matches

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  106. Also, was Kelly even on Alan's 40 and over team going to nationals? I don't think he wuz on Thicketts national trilevel team either

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  107. You been under a rock. He was on all 3 national teams

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  108. Work hard? Put in time? Why? It is possible to drink beer locally, play below your level and still go to nationals? Whoever is working hard is doing something wrong. Hard work is for the birds. Just dump a match every now and again. Not all matches are important.

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    Replies
    1. It's so simple. Why don't you try to put a team together and try to beat them.

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    2. If you want to see how much hard work we put in, we practice every Tuesday at 6:00 and Wednesday at 11:30am. Find a partner, any level, and come play. It's all in fun, but it will be very competitive. This is an open invitation. We need some practice against different people. Just let me know if you are coming. Call me at SpringPark. Maybe you will see how much fun we are and how nice we are and want to join us next year. But, you will need to be a tanker and at least 2 points put of level. Lol. That's a joke. Don't hurt me anymore.

      Alan

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    3. I am a 4.5 and I promise you if I came out w a female 4.5 I would wipe Kelley's nose in the dirt!

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    4. When should i expect you? Tuesday at 6?

      Alan

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  109. I think a lot of people completely agree with what Joel has said in his previous comment and I do also. But what most people I would think would also agree with is that tanking matches should not happen in our recreational sport. Those captains do a great job in recruiting players to win their leagues. But tanking hurts the players that the tanker is playing against getting wins when they should not be. It also skews the ntrp system. Bender in the past had a fall team (I think it was a 3.0 team) that the players combined had something like a 5-30 season. Then in the spring when it counted, those same players had a 37-3 record (or something very close to that). That team went on to go to Nationals. It is not that people who don't make it to Sectionals and Nationals are whining and complaining about not getting there, it is when very good players lose matches on purpose to lesser players in order to get to Sectional and Nationals. That is what people have a problem with. Good luck to all the teams from Dallas-Fort Worth that have made it to Nationals this year.

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  110. I agree w/ 3:00pm. I think it demonstrates good sportsmanship to let inferior players have unbelievable victories over quality players. After all, it's the lessor players who are putting time and hard work into their game. They deserve to have something to brag about, too. Have you ever intentionally lost a match to a lower player and seen the shear joy and happiness in their eyes and face? Really!!! It's a win-win for all. In fact, I dare to say the more you lose, the more you win.

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  111. Mixed=ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

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  112. ok AA- congrats - but really - one team you "train" 3.5 ladies for a "year" on what balls not to hit and the other team you "put together in 10 minutes". Rather you spend a year or 10 minutes you get the same results. So now we have figured out you can save yourself 364 days on the "training 3.5 ladies to understand what balls not to hit" and just put Kelly on the team. What a timesaver! Your comment "the 40 and over was done fair and square"... does that imply that your 18 and over wasn't??? that is the thing about comments sometimes the truth comes out.. Good luck at Nats..

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    Replies
    1. I think it implies he knows what he's doing and you clearly don't. I played on Alan's mixed team last year (not this year) that went to sectionals and they work harder and are smarter about what they are doing than any men's team I have been on. And a couple of those men's teams did go to sectionals so they weren't idiots, but they weren't nearly as smart about what they were doing. I see teams practicing a lot but they don't get better because they don't know how. They just get a little more consistent with the shitty strokes and bad shot selection they always had. Maybe they go 6-3 instead of 5-4 but that doesn't get you to Nationals. You want a lesson? Take Alan up on his offer. And I saw no funny business last year either.

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  113. Then come play with a male doubles partner and see.

    Tuesday at 6:00. Just let me know your coming.

    Alan

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    Replies
    1. Don't need a male doubles partner. You pick any combination you want me to play as a 9.0 team ( 4.0 woman, 5.0 guy, 4.5/4.5,etc) and I promise you Kelley and 3.5 partner don't beat us. Period

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  114. If my cardiologist called and said my test results came in and that I should try to avoid any excitement for the rest of my life then I might would come down and play mixed dubs or even watch a set or two. But until then, no thank you

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  115. But it would be a lot of fun for the rest of us watching you get hammered

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  116. Alan, Joel, and Kelly are flaming homosexuals, say what you want but they tank like they take it in the shorts.

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  117. I have never tanked a match and my wife would agree that I'm am not a homosexual nor am I on fire. Nice 7th grade comeback.

    Alan

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  118. I think everyone is getting a little caddie here. I thought I was reading a ladies blog here for a moment not letting the topic rest. Surprised the 4.5s have so much to say. This is more complaints than the 4.0s and 3.5 make combined!

    Congrats to all teams that represent our State, and even more so our City. Rather see a Dallas team than a Houston team.

    And to 8:20 poster -- hardest I have laughed in some time. Is that Jean or Steven you are referring to. or both??!! lol

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    Replies
    1. I was thinking Hai. That is a lot of tanking just to Nguyen matches.

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  119. I have to admit the 8:20 post was funny. Every captain, besides maybe Bender and Freeman have a ton of help from friends and teammates. In my case, just friends, because I don't play much anymore. Hai Nguyen is one of the best captains/recruiters around but he allows me to put my name on the good teams. Keith Clark and Bender have always helped me with Tri level and Phy Pham is the reason we were able to talk Kern, The Clutch Penguin, to play with us at 4.5 in 2011. That same year Hai, Jean, Jarad and Takashi all recruited Michael Almazan after seeing him play at a major zone. I had never even met the guy and he ended up becoming a good friend and winning a ton of big matches for us. Dallas has a ton of great captains but most captains at any level need help from friends and teammates.
    And for the homosexual comments about Jean, in earlier post, Mike, Alan or me???? Really?? I think we are the last people anyone in tennis would call homosexual. I do have homosexual friends but I think it's best if you leave the personal attacks off a tennis blog. And if you have a problem with me or any of my friends then just post it with your name or walk up to me in person and let me know what's on your mind. I'm pretty easy to find and I would at least respect your comment (s) over hiding anonymously on a blog.

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    1. Don't see any homosexual comments about Jean, not sure where that's coming from.

      Kern is definitely a heck of a player and competitor. Nationals as a 4.0 then nationals as a 4.5 now a solid 5.0. That's the way it's supposed to be done. Kelly on the other hand.....

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    2. So when Kern comes back to 4.5, due to age or whatever, does he become the tanker and start to get abused.

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  120. Pickett. Forgot to post my own name at 10:29pm. Haha

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  121. Kern would just start abusing people on the court. Pickett was talking about previous threads. They might have been deleted by whoever runs the blog.

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  122. League fee, $33. Travel expenses, $1000. Almost 100 post regarding 8.0 mixed, priceless.

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  123. I would like to shut Tanker cheater kelley up once and for all. Alan, would you agree to let me play two 4.0 guys against Kelley and his female 3.5 partner. I will prove that when there is no weakness on other side of court his ball hoggin and selfish me,me,me skills won't cut it!

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  124. Kelly and Heather against two 4.0 guys??? Set it up!!! Heather is good....
    Pickett

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  125. To 9:10 poster
    I would probably make one of those 4.0's a 4.5.... Just sayin. That way you might have a chance.

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  126. Kind of funny that all of Pickett's "good friends" (Almazan) are also really good players that can take his teams far, yet how what happens to his "good friends" when they cant help him win... Tell us Pickett, what happened to your "good friend" D. Smith?

    Not to mention the others in his post like Hai, jean, jared and takashi are also known tankers, birds of a feather!

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  127. Almazan is still a good friend and he doesn't even live here anymore. I have no clue if Doug Smith even plays tennis now... I don't wish ill on Doug or anyone I don't call friends anymore. Just remember, over time you find out who are your true friends. Heck, I don't care for Rossouw after his rants on this blog but I was still out cheering his players on at Sectionals. Life is way too short to harbor anger and bitterness from people you thought were friends.
    Pickett. And I only respond because I know who post certain things to spice up the blog. I think it's time for a new thread and topic because I'm sure people don't care to read about a loser captain who doesn't even play. :)) This thread was suppose to be a shout out to Oscar and the amazing run our Dallas 5.0 team had at Nationals. How about Tri level 2014 or who will win the big QT spot for the Spring league. Ha. I personally miss Captain Fantastic. That guy writes some good stuff.

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    1. You do a pretty good job of alienating friends and family all on your own so stop your crying. anyone that you don't care for is likely in the right. And why does someone that never even reads the blog anymore want to change the subject. All of you tankers are the same and you can try to justify it any way you'd like. If it takes cheating to get what you want because the others do it too, guess what your still a low life cheater.

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    2. Personal attacks are simply others trying to make themselves feel better. Keep hiding behind the computer and keep complaining about the winners. A very pathetic life.

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  128. If anyone headed to men's 8.5 combo want to practice against Alan and the Springpark mixed team please be there at 6 pm on Tuesday eve.

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  129. Hey Klamecki... We haven't had a good old fashioned tanking blog post in awhile. I think it is finally time. With the Nguyen Tanking Lines as well as many others; there is plenty of Tanking fodder.

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  130. Let's have some input from everyone what the next blog post should be headlined. My vote is:
    Kelley is a tanking homo!

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  131. Tank you very much for your vote!

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  132. My vote is Keith Clark's 3.5, over 40, team playing Nationals this weekend. As for talking about "my family" save that for talking to me face to face. And worry about your own family Mr. Anonymous, not mine.

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