With all the flack the USTA gets, I have to give them
credit for a job well done in running the 40 and Over National Tournament. It was First Class all the way. From the luxurious accommodations at the
LaQuinta Walsdorf Asoria Resort, to matches being played where the pros play at
the Indian Wells Tennis Center, this was truly an experience of a
lifetime.
The USTA goes even further by their actual wrap-up of the
weekend and final showdown on their website.
See attached links:
http://www.usta.com/Adult-Tennis/USTA-League/dramatic_victories_highlight_championship_sunday_at_35_nationals/
http://www.usta.com/Adult-Tennis/USTA-League/dramatic_victories_highlight_championship_sunday_at_35_nationals/
In honesty, the past few threads have exhausted me with
the multitude of comments and discussions about what it takes to get to
Nationals and win, much less just to make an appearance. This
weekend I saw living proof that tennis is alive and well across the country. From the shores of Jersey to the flats of
Ohio, down to sleepy little towns like Lake Charles, Louisiana, there was
talent abroad that made going to play for the first 40 and Over national title
an exciting challenge that would not come easy.
Going to 3rd set breakers 8 times, the fate of winning or
losing came down to a matter of a couple of points.
The chatter on the blog leads you to believe that you can’t
have fun and have to be cheating or tanking to make the trip, but this year’s 1st
Men’s 40 and over title winners tell you otherwise. This year’s winner tells you that the key
ingredients consist of a captain with wisdom, dedication, experience, and good
intuition & judgment, teammates that have no egos, that have sincerity, compassion,
and a drive to excel, and people who have the ability to share a vision that is
far out but are willing to be patient, and slowly chip away towards their goal.
We saw a season that started back in December 2012 and
stretched through to Sectionals not being held until September 2013. Memories of matches played in 30 degree temps
and blustering winds to sauna like humidity down in San Antonio.
I have been fortunate to twice be a part of a team that
has made the trip and has come back home with the hardware. The common thread I see were a bunch of guys
that truly had good friendships, respected what each person brought to the
table, and truly enjoyed being around each other, both on and off the
court.
It truly is an experience of a lifetime to have from the hundreds of thousands of players, and thousands of teams, to have the top players from across the country converge all in one place competing. The USTA "suggests" bringing a small token gift from your state for the players of the opposing team. Of course the ladies have a hey day with this, but is rarely seen to be done by the men. However, our stand-in-captain and singles player, Stephen Graham, decide to bring baseball caps that simply said "Dallas" on the front of them. What I thought was once a hokey gesture turned into brilliance, as all of our competitors truly appreciated the gesture.
On Finals Sunday, (as described by the USTA website, a "dramatic showdown"), players whom were knocked out in flight play, showed up at Indian Wells Tennis Center to come watch the finals. Players and spouses of players, from the Pacific Northwest to Albuquerque, New Mexico were there with their Dallas baseball caps on, cheering for our Dallas team as it entered into a decisive 3rd set showdown. Words can't describe what it is like to see people who you don't even know, pulling for your team, and wearing gear supporting your city.
It then made me wonder, if other competitors whom we played and beat from across the country can pull together and support those whom they just played and advanced, why can't our own city do the same??
I have refrained several times from putting out new threads because the blog has become a place for people to maliciously bash one another. Not what I think the purpose of the blog should be. Perhaps we could refocus our efforts and learn how to make it a more resourceful place to help our teams here in Dallas continue building great teams. Just a thought.
Anyhow, a well deserved toast to Keith Clark, whom if I had to describe with
one word, it would be wise. And to
my teammates, whom I would describe as friends. Thanks for the good times, and better times
ahead. Cheers!!
Captain Fantastic
Also, best of luck to our 4.0 team heading to Indian Wells this coming weekend. Enjoy the moment and bring it back home!!
ReplyDeleteI second the good luck to Wiley and team. Bring another title to Dallas.
DeleteCongratulations, you guys deserved this. Great job.
ReplyDeleteNice Job Bill, you are correct the margins are razor thin at every level.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, well deserved!
ReplyDelete/Johan M
You people live on fantasy island if you think all those guys were legit 3.5's
ReplyDeleteThey were all computer rated. Most of those and most have been computer rated for years. The 40s league is a league of legitimate players. There are very few ringers.
DeleteCongrats Captain Fan, Keith Clark and the rest of your team. Another well written piece and I support your suggestions.
ReplyDeleteNo ringers huh Kaiser? What was the record of you two singles players at nationals? How many 3rd sets did they play? How many of there set scores were either 6-0 or 6-1? How many of your teammates had been to nationals before at 3.5 (on bender's team) and somehow are still rated 3.5? And oh by the way what was your record at Nationals Kaiser?
ReplyDeleteWhat was your record at nationals? There is no reason do be a dick. Both of those singles players are computer rates. They played playoffs the previous season and did not get moved up. They are legitimate.
DeleteIt's amazing how someone who is bitter about life can try and turn a positive into a negative.
ReplyDeleteTo address your concerns about our singles, while they are both fabulous players (and more importantly great human beings) I'm sure they would get beat by Wiley's single players -- While good, I don't think anyone is calling Leonard, TQ or Glassgow ringers and they too would get beat by the 4.5 players who advanced beyond Sectionals. Just the way it is.
In terms of my National record, I went 1-2. Nothing to be proud of but nothing to be ashamed of either. Everyone wants to contribute, and my loss, especially Sunday morning, was difficult to accept.
After Sectionals in September, I suggested to Keith he strengthen our lines by taking my partner of then, Eugene, and pairing him with Leslie, knowing they would be a better doubles pair, but also knowing I would lose my placement in our core 8.
But I'm not self serving, I did it for our team knowing my playtime and my record might suffer from it, but making our team better as a whole. Because of that move, we are National Champions, as that line was the decisive win in the finals and they ended up winning all of their matches at Nationals.
I've never held myself out stating to be a great player nor think I have awesome game. I realize there are other 3.5s out there better than me that never have made it to Cities. I have been fortunate to be at the right places at the right time.
However, have you ever thought that's maybe why I have been fortunate to be part of winning teams? It's because I don't put my interest first but rather the team first, not my pride or ego. It is TEAM tennis and TEAMS win, not individual players.
Those are the facts, and that's my National Record. At least I have one.
Do you?
signed,
ReplyDeleteKaiser
I can answer that. Stephen and Tom both played a full usta season last year, including the playoffs, and didn't get bumped up. Tom lost at cities and Stephen had losses at sectionals and nationals. Neither was bumped up, don't know why Stephen wasn't and his partner was, but they both committed or getting better and they did.
ReplyDeleteThere were no self rates, no one played for Bender and they all played their ass off last year. Look at their records if you don't believe me. It is possible to improve...and they did. And 40s wasn't nearly as hard as 18s. Stephen, Jeffrey and Bill were at Nationals before. If you can build a nationals team off that, knock yourself out. I doubt it.
Keith Clark
And Kaiser's record is more my doing than his. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a line to get the best advantage towards winning three. It's a team game and it's the captain's call on lineups. When you've won your first title you'll know that.
ReplyDeleteKC
40's not difficult but still an accomplishment. Way to go guys! Winning a national title w out Kelly even more of an accomplishment. I am glad he was not a part of it. The less national titles he wins the better.
ReplyDelete40s is not difficult? How many 40s titles have you won? What a way to belittle a group.
DeleteWho cares. 1 player does not make a TEAM.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Dallas and Mr. Keith Clark. Palm Springs has been very good to you my friend. :)). And Kaiser, nice write up and well done to all your teammates at Nationals. Good luck to Wiley and company this weekend. I hope your singles can dominate like Tom and Graham. :)). I don't care what anyone says but not losing a single line or set in every match at Nationals is impressive at any age. Keith, it looks like your scouting report and lineups were perfect.
ReplyDeletePickett
Keith,
ReplyDeleteDid Pacific Northwest have that 3.5 guy that played at Ole Miss?? He was the older guy who looked young and fit that Jacques and you played at Tri Level?? That guy would beat almost every 4.5 in Dallas and he is at Tri level every year playing as a 3.5.
JP
He played for Southern at tri-level out of somewhere in Mississippi. We played southern in the semis but they were out of Lake Charles. He said he was at tri-level nationals the last two years at 3.5. He was pretty good but he couldn't win it by himself. KC
DeletePickett, Dont be to pissed at the guy that played at Ole Miss just because you cant figure out a way to get him on your team, you too sound bitter now.
ReplyDeleteFrom what i heard it was Eugene who requested the partner switch, but nice way to spin it Captain Fan! And I know both Tom and Stephen and I think they beat both TQ and Leonard but lose to Glasgow so.... so much for that theory.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty funny...first, not how doubles teams are formed on my teams. If we have no aspirations of winning you can play with whomever you want, singles, doubles, don't care. If we're trying to go the distance we look at a lot of combinations and then I decide. We looked at David & Eugene before sectionals but they didn't have enough court time together. The time between sectionals and nationals allowed us to solidify the change.
DeleteSecond, you couldn't have asked for more out of Stephen & Tom at 3.5 but no way they beat Leonard and TQ...and Leonard beats them both bad. I've played them all a lot and I can assure you it's just a whole different level.
KC
Keith
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the comments. However, no sense in trying to rationalize with the demented and delusional.
First, I obviously did a poor job in captaining in the past, allowing to have players with self-serving agendas and drama to infiltrate and destroy my teams from within. Obviously, what we are dealing with here is a person with a spoiled past and some apparent axe to grind, but not sure to what avail.
What I love about guys like Clark and Bender, is that they effortlessly found talent to be part of teams, and didn’t have to deal with the baby sitting of egos that most other captains have to deal with. Setting right expectations and recruiting the right players obviously has its pay-offs.
I'm not sure if I want to empathize, show pity, or just rage at the poor, pathetic, jealous soul that feels compelled to knock me down. But obviously, I failed somewhere in the past to allow someone to think such a way.
Clark and I know what was discussed. And Clark is able to take suggestions and ideas, and implement them to a higher level. The reason I called him WISE. His ability to read players and know appropriate line-ups is next to none, and he was flawless at his calls at Nationals.
You know…. I get it. I'm not the best tennis player, can be awkward on the court, and have many people at my level better than me. However, I now hold 2 National Titles, 5 Sectional Titles, and 9 City Titles. I can see how that may agitate a self-serving player like you whom must obviously hold nothing.
I wish my best for you, and that somehow you find some peace to comfort the bitterness you harbor from within.
But now if you don't mind, I have spent enough energy here with your pathetic antics, and have better things to do….......like figuring out how to arrange all of my crystal balls, silver plates, and glass plaques on my desk.
Signing off,
Kaiser
Congrats to the Clark team, job well done. Maybe we can bring home a national championship and get bashed too. That makes no sense. How about congratulating a bunch of guys who have been at 3.5 for a long period of time, have improved, and got the job done.
ReplyDeleteArcaria
I am not sure why all the hate on the blog, but it's pretty obvious that Clark used capt fan as a "sacraficed line" (clark's words not mine) and somehow that's a compliment? I dont get it, why not just recruit better rather than sacrificing weaker players?
ReplyDeleteFot this particular team it wasn't as much about sacrificing one line as it was finding the soft spot on the other team's roster. Bill went 1-2. A good win, a tough loss, and getting paired against the other team' stop line once. By the time you get to Nationals there aren't a lot of easy wins.
DeleteAs for the 'just recruit better' strategy, I can only say...Holy Shit, why didn't you tell me that earlier. Seriously, it's all just a lot harder than it looks, especially if your trying to avoid big egos on the team.
Wow - If I'm not mistaken, Clark has been to Nationals 3 times in the past 2 years (18+, tri-level, 40+) and has won 2 of the 3. Yet we have Anon here telling him how to recruit and run his teams. Simply amazing the stupidity of some Anons.
ReplyDeleteWas Keith on the trilevel team that Pickett put together to win nationals ?
DeleteWhich do you think is more prevelant the stupidity of some Anons or the massive egos of the tennis players that come on here to read about themselves or in some if not most cases talking about themselves and touting there own greatness? Just like K. Clark did at 12:59.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, I'd tell you if it's me. And I didn't even play so it wasn't my game that won anything last weekend. KC
DeleteLol, true statement above. Anyway, let's talk about some combo in Austin this weekend. Who is winning?
ReplyDeleteDallas 4.0 over 40 wins first match
ReplyDeleteDallas 4,0 gets pummelled in second match.
DeleteBeaten much worse in third match
DeleteWiley gets new award for dumbest Dallas captain. Yesterday's lineup is a real WTF???
DeleteReally. You are going to bash Wiley about a line up yesterday when all of his top guns failed today? Team tennis boys. And if you are Wiley's team making the above comment, you have no place to do so. And if you are not on Wiley's team making the above comment, at least he is at Nationals.
DeleteAs I see it, he has a no win situation as his roster seems to be full of guys who demand to get play since they made the trip. They should of thought of the team first instead of bitching about their own personal demands. Southern obviously was a solid team. But to go bash Wiley about trying to get whining players played is out of place.
No combo posted yet. Three area teams involved. 2 Dallas and ft worth
ReplyDeleteWhich Tony Le guy stroking his own ego. Nobody is this interested in sectionals.
ReplyDeleteAnd who is the guy in Dallas who has the obsession with Mike Kelly? Really? That guy needs help.
ReplyDeleteSan Antonio boys are solid and my bet is they take both 7.5 and 8.5. Watch out Dallas and Houston. Your days of domination are about over!!!
It's f'n combo. Who cares.
ReplyDeleteApparently, Tony Le wants you to know.
DeleteWho cares if Kelley won all his matches. We are in finals while he is sitting at home!!!!' how does it feel to be a loser
ReplyDeleteCould care less about mixed. We shut down his team and him winning his line didn't make a difference. He might as well of not shown up. We needed 2, we got 2. Period.
ReplyDeleteWay to go San Antonio. You finally won 1. Wait that's 1 out of how many?
DeleteYou guys from SA might want to revisit your 40 and over mixed final this summer. I remember someone posted this would be the year you beat Dallas. Well you lost and Kelley beat your line 1 6-0,6-0. Please let us know how you do in the finals this time. Tucson is wonderful this time of year. Where do you go if you win combo sectionals ?
ReplyDeleteMaybe now people will give other players then mike the credit they deserve. It just go to show you, mike does not make the TEAM.
ReplyDeleteWhat?
ReplyDeleteNo one said he made the team. You just go into every match up 1-0, that's all. He is money.
ReplyDeleteSan Antonio's blog is dead so they come here? Go home. This is for Dallas players to bitch about other Dallas players
ReplyDeleteIn the ongoing effort to call out the tankers (cheaters) of the week, my votes this week go to in 4.5 Pickett, and Bobby Smith. After the convincing beatdowns they took yesterday they are both now a solid 0-5 in there neverending quest to get back to 4.0.
ReplyDeleteIn the 4.0 flights my vote goes to Mike Zackery on K. Clarks team. Birds of a feather...
In 3.5 this comes as no surprise to dallas tennis followers but Bob Bender and Pat Jamison gets the vote. Bender been to Nationals many times and wins but cant seem to pull out a fall 3.5 match at line 3... Just pitiful!
Let me hear from you with your nominees.
That's funny. You know he's 80 now
DeleteLooks like Wiley shouldn't feel too bad about getting swept by Southern. Southern swept Middle States in nationals finals. That's pretty strong.
ReplyDeleteAfter Wiley lost at Nats, look like he took a dive at line 3 doubles. You can't have Keith Clark tanking without Greg Wiley.
ReplyDeleteLoos like Wiley lost once at Nats against the team that won it all. Across the board that match looks like a thumping. Don't think that one qualifies as a tank.
ReplyDeleteThe guys he lost to pounded everyone they played at Nationals. Losing to them puts you in a large group.
DeleteSouthern played six matches and went 27-3 and two of those losses were in third set tiebreakers. Closest team match was 4-1. That's dominant.
DeleteWiley, tell us if they were really that good.
DeleteThe two best teams out there both made the finals. Southern beat them 5-0. How much better did they need to be?
DeleteSouthern was really good. I don't have time to make a long post right now. FWIW, I wish I was tanking. I will give a more thorough recap when I have time later in the week.
Delete-Wiley
Yes, they were that good. You can look at what they did at Nationals and see how good they are. They went 27-3 at Nationals and their 3 losses were in 3rd set breakers. One of the lines they lost was to line 1 doubles from Midwest, who were a stud line too.
ReplyDeleteBoth teams they played in the semis/finals were undefeated and won their flights with ease and both were killed by Southern.
The Southern teams doubles were probably better than anything I have seen at 4.0 the past few years, including 18+ league.
New topic. Who wins Tri Level.
ReplyDeleteGood question but a little harder with rosters not full yet. Top tier - Pickett if Kelly comes back but 4.0s are a question, Le has the most balanced roster with 4.5s and 4.0s from sectionals, both have good 3.5s. Middle tier - Sisk, why didn't you keep Spellman?, Kingsley & McHugh. Third tier - Alzuro. Incomplete goes to Somabut & Abruzzese. Both can put good teams together but will they?
DeleteGood question. Why not keep Spellman??!! He did not drop one match in city and sectional Combo, even beating the San Antonio line and one of the guys he played went undefeated in 40 and overt and in combo.
DeleteSisk looks to be the leader on paper in tri level, on the strength of his 4.5s. Tony Le has to sweep both the 4.5 and 4.0 levels each match because his 3.5s are terrible! Really Tony? Your supposed to be such a great recruiter and those are your 3.5s?
ReplyDeleteBetter than last year
DeleteTony has solid 3.5s. They are as good as any 3.5s that will be there. That doesnt mean they are a lock to win, but they will be competitive. Pickett will have strong 3.5 and 4.5 lines assuming Kelley is one of his 4.5s.
ReplyDeleteThere will 4 teams that have a shot, Pickett and Le are probably the favorites with McHugh and Sisk having a shot as well.
My wrap up of our 40+ 4.0 Nationals experience has mostly been done by some unknown teammate.
ReplyDeleteFirst, Indian Wells Tennis Garden is a first rate tennis venue. They are doing construction to make it better. I have been to the National Tennis Center in New York and can say this is a better venue. Every court was perfect. The resurface every year and if you go, I can tell you that they are very slow.
As has already been mentioned, the Southern team was the class of the event. Their top two doubles lines were Mullins/Henderson and Reid/Kennedy. They would have been competitive and felt at home playing on Sunday at 4.5 18+ sectionals. I have tried to reconcile how these guys were not self rates. They played with skill, technique, communication and strategy similar to college players. Both doubles lines were as good as advertised. Their third doubles line, Rogers/Green, was very good too but they were a clear step below the first two doubles lines. With the right pairing, this team could be beaten. They were responsible for two of the three lines they lost in the event. I am not trying to demean them but they were just not at the level of the other two lines.
Their singles were also very strong. I did not believe any of them were unbeatable by real singles ringers. I thought Neal from the Houston team at sectionals would handle either one without too much problem.
The right team with the right lineups might be able to sweep singles and steal that third line. I still don't see those top two doubles lines losing to many teams. Some team might be able to beat them; we just weren't one of those teams.
With that, I congratulate the boys from the little town in Northeast Tennessee. You out together a great team and won the event. Your team earned it and enjoy.
As for the second best team, I am uncertain. The Middle States team in the finals had two very good singles players. Actually, I was surprised Southern got both of those lines. I really did not think they would get any lines.
Their doubles lines were decent but not dominant. Their line 1 was decent but no match for any of the Southern lines. That line gets smoked by all three lines of Southern. Their line 2 had their best doubles player. He looked young but he is over 40 so I won't call him a kid. It did not take long for him to become exasperated and realize there was nothing he could do to those two. Their line 3 team was a couple of tall rangy experienced doubles players. This was the best match up middle states could ask. It went three sets and both sides gave very fair calls. This line would have been smoked by the other two lines but they were pretty good. It appeared Middle States needed to find a way to win this line and sweep singles. They got the lineup they wanted; it just did not happen.
As I suspected, you need good singles to advance at nationals. We had solid singles but we just did not have the singles horses. Middle States rode their singles to the finals. Congratulations, you had a great run. Like everyone else, you ran into a buzz saw. It was a great year; only one team wins.
As to the people who think I should justify my lines, I do not have to justify them to anyone.
In summation, it was a great event at a great venue. Any year you make it to nationals, you have beaten someone good. We made it to the final 17 teams. We went 2-2 against the 17 best in the nation. That places us somewhere among the top 8. All in all, a very good year. Did I want hardware? I certainly did. Would it have mattered had we been in a different flight? I don't know; we could only play the teams in front of us and we did not have the horses to get out of flight.
I am nearing my farewell to Dallas tennis. I have made many great friends here and will miss all of you.
Forgot to sign off...
Delete--Wiley
I still lose 4-1. He can only play one line. Also, in case you hadn't noticed, he has a 4.5 rating. That is a killer to get him on a 4.0 roster. Let me know if they make an exception.
Delete--Wiley
Abbruzzese is tryig to make a run at tri-level? This ain't mixed. Also - no self rates. Hope you paid the fee for your 3.5 because he can't play.
ReplyDeleteNope, it ain't mixed. Mixed is harder, just ask Chavez.
DeleteI did pay him back. Didn't know he was a self rate. I'm just having a fun team that may upset a team or two, but not trying to win. Just want to have a good time. I'm using it for practice for 8.0 nationals the next weekend. My 4.0's will be pretty good. I have never meet my 3.5's. My 4.5's, besides myself, we're bumped down to 4.0 at mid year ratings. Just bring beer and have a good time.
DeleteAlan
Have you seen Matt Pak play from Le's team?? He will win the 3.5 line for Tony. Tony, Picket and Sisk will be tough. Interesting to see who else signs up for all the teams.
ReplyDeleteSisk has the best 4.0 in town but who's gonna play 3.5? 4.5s are solid but not top team. All depends on what Kelly does. Helps to start up 1-0.
DeleteI've seen Matt Pak play and he is not a lock down player. Of course it could be the other Matt Pak in the Colony at the same address with a former 4.5 rating and now a new rating of 3.5. That one may be better. I never saw him play.
DeleteHaha That is funny
DeleteWhere do you find these tri level teams? I dont see them on tennis link? Help?
ReplyDeleteSame guy different rating. Not sure how that happened.
ReplyDeleteIt's still a little early for some of these rosters but for the moment.
ReplyDeletePickett - Kelly & Takashi, Hsu & Stetzer, Graham & Schndler. Still riding his 4.5/3.5 strategy from last year.
Le - Chavez & Perez, Weymer & Kinson, Mahmoud & Pak. Ugrades at all three lines from last year.
Sisk - Peiser & Baker, Baker & Michael, Cheng & Schwend. Like last year, will need his 4.5s and 4.0 to carry him.
McHugh - Reiman & HIx, McHugh & Dawson, Jenison & Childress. Solid lines but will run into buzz saws at all levels on other teams.
Kingsley & Somabut - too early to tell.
Abbruzzese & Alzuro - there to have fun.
The big thing to watch is when the top teams play their B lineups. Someone will miscalculate and it will cost them a match.
Abbruzzese says he's in it for fun, let's just see.
DeleteHow do you say LE is better at all 3 lines over last year?.. Didn't Chavez and Perez ( the unbeatable duo) lose in the finals to Pickett team? Can someone help as I can't find trilevel on tennis link from last year
ReplyDeleteChavez/Perez lost once in tri-level last year year to Kelly/Moore. Kelly is back but Moore isn't and he is a solid 5.0 so he'll be hard to replace.
DeleteNot more Chavez/Perez are unbeatable talk... We heard enough last year.
DeleteCome on... Remember, they were only 2 sets from winning their match. How much more dominant can you be than 2 sets away in a match?
DeleteThat was a fluke last year, they did not play the right style against Kelley. They should have brought him to the net. That match decided who was going to palm springs. I think if they played again the unbeatable duo would win.
DeleteAgreed, how in the world do you let an average baseliner beat you in a doubles match??? Plus they are ten years younger than him. That was just a once in a lifetime loss.
DeleteIf they can't lose why don't they ever get moved up? I mean Tony Le's team was unbeatable last year. The beatdowns they put on Wild Dallas were incredible.
DeleteLuedtke/McClinton were his second team 4.5s and they beat Huynh/Benjamin 6-1, 6-1. I don't think Kelly/Moore would do that kind of damage. Also, at 4.0, Nguyen/Bearden did the exact same thing to Kingery/Zeller. Of course, Kingery was not himself that weekend. Now that is strong!
News flash : Kelly and Moore would have beaten Benjamin and hung and luedtke and mclimton very badly
DeleteLol. I mean 4 on 2. Benamin and Huynh in the backcourt and luedtke and mclunton at net. Then Kelly and more on their side.
DeleteHow were they able to beat wild Dallas so soundly ?
ReplyDeleteInside sources say the match was never played. USTA still looking into it.
DeleteAccording to Wiley's recap of his captancy at national over 40's he didnt do anything wrong with the lineups. I still stick to the opinion that his lineups cost his team a chance to make it at least to the finals. Next time do a little research or check with one of your ringers (K. Clark), he seems to have it down according to Capt. Fan's write up.
ReplyDeleteWiley's best line-up lost 5-0 to Southern in flight play. Please enlighten us all to what he could have done different to beat Southern. Could his line-up have been better against Midwest? Yes. Could his team beat Southern? No.
DeleteWhen the best team at Nationals is in your flight you actually can't screw up a lineup.
DeleteAn inside source said Wiley's lineups were right on but some of the lines did not perform as well as expected.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Greg Wiley, I enjoyed playing on your team. It was a great weekend of tennis. I enjoyed playing with Mike & Rueben. Rueben and I should have won but he had to chase all the balls I missed so I imagine he got tried. With Mike I played better than he did and therefore we won. The only thing Greg could have done better is playing me at singles every match. I played singles at sectional 18's and won 1 game - I never lose 12 games in a row.. I love this game and I have fun watching my friends play. Most of my friends over the last several years have come from tennis.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to 40+ 3.5 Keith you did a great job finding a way to win it all. Glad Bill was with you guys. .
This is my first post ever on this bitch blog. SO FU to all the people who somehow think our team did not do a good job or that Greg did something wrong. We won so many more than we lost and had a lot of fun along the way.
In closing, FU to the people who just talk shit w/o posting their name. Happy to say I am friends with most of the people who get the beat down on here.
Stephen Bennett
I dont know you Stephen Bennett but it sounds like to need some better friends if your only friends come from tennis. In case you didnt already know most tennis players are egotisic pricks who have an overly inflated self image. Take a good look at your "friends" and tell me this isnt the case. You really need to get out a little more.
ReplyDeleteSigmund Freud
Sounds like you fit the profile
DeleteDon't know Stephen, but I can tell I like him.
ReplyDeleteAlan
Stephen
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. You are so right about this blog and what you see in Dallas tennis, and glad to see you made a stand.
Over the past 5 years I have been playing, I have yet to play a match where the players were jerks or weren’t nice and didn’t get along. I’ve come out to watch Cities and Sectionals at all levels, and tournaments like Combo and Tri-level, and while players are competing against each other, everyone seems to get along and are cordial on the courts. There truly is a plentiful amount of great people out there, sharing a common interest and enjoying time on the courts.
Yet, for some reason, so much hatred brews from the blog with others trying to belittle one another, hiding behind words and remaining anonymous. Really? You’re going to be nice to someone’s face, shake their hand for a match well played, and then a moment later, bash them with words behind the false security of Anon on a blog?? I don’t get it.
Look – this is a forum for people to share their insights, opinions, and happenings around tennis, good and bad. I realize it isn’t going to be perfect, and sometimes a little humor makes it interesting and fun. But do it with good taste. I think it is fine to post anonymously if you want to share something without everyone knowing it is you. But the bashing and personal insults really aren’t necessary.
I am fortunate to know most of the guys on Wiley’s team and stayed at Sectionals cheering them on. Making it to Nationals is a great accomplishment in and of itself. You shouldn’t have to defend yourselves to guys sitting at home making jabs because they are jealous. Congrats on being there.
And to Sigmund Freud – go get some help.
Kaiser
You are right on the mark. These anions don't have the nerve to bitch anywhere but here. Th real answer is to kill the blog and they'll have no forum to air their BS.
DeleteOn a positive note, Dallas tennis must be about to really take off. At least 6 or 7 people think they now have a formula to beat Kelly and most of you sound like you'll be captaining a team to nationals next year. Just wish I knew who you are so I could congratulate you now.
Not sure there is a formula. I am just saying draw him to the net. Simple. The few matches I watched he was toying w people on the baseline but when drawn in and lobbed over he was defenseless. In his 76-1 win streak or whatever it is not one team has tried that I bet. That would make his record about 50-27 I bet.
Deleteconsidering you got the big FU from bennett i'm not sure how you'd consider that kissing ass. probably think your dog likes you when he pisses on your shoes too. you must be freud's one friend
ReplyDeleteSo our team was suppose to lose at cities, never win sectionals when being flighted with Houston, yet we should have won nationals if Wiley didn't screw up the lineup? That makes sense.
ReplyDeleteNo worries. Alan a's teams shouldn't have won all the titles they have either. Success brings the idiots out in masses. It happens everywhere. Just keep winning and let the others keep bashing. Better to be than the other way around sitting at home while others rack up titles.
ReplyDeleteActually, if we don't win nationals we consider it a failure. I know that sound cocky or whatever, but that's the attitude my teams have. Ok, sorry, my mixed teams. The men's teams are for fun and beer.
DeleteAlan
Am I the only person who see's the irony in Kaiser tellin Sigmund Freud go get some help? Now that is some funny stuff!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any inside scoop as to why Laselle retired in his tcd match yesterday vs. M. Kelly? My guess is Kelly pissed him off as Jeff is a nice guy that wont put up with Kelly's bs.
ReplyDeleteOr it is possible that a 9.5 rated team (Jeff 5.0 and his partner 4.5) was going to lose to a 7.5 rated team ( mike 4.5 and his partner a 3.0). Just sayin.
DeleteStalking Kelly on TCD? Really... TCD???
DeleteInquiring minds want to know!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat is TCD?
ReplyDeleteTennis competitors of Dallas. It's fun mixed with good matches and usually not as many attitudes as Tcd, but sometimes you run into an ass or two.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I meant Usta not tcd attitudes.
DeleteI've actually noticed it as running into a bitch or two. Most men don't care. They are there for their wives or agreed to play. They usually just don't care about TCD. Some of the women take it as serious as Freeman.
DeleteBennett is a black belt in karate I read somewhere
ReplyDeleteDidn't he star in Kung Fu Panda?
DeleteYou better hope that he is not hungry!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Guys,
ReplyDeleteSo its Alfredo and I just wanted to check to see if everyone in Dallas/Texas is aware of the new rule going into effect this coming season:
2014: 2.06A National Championship Teams. No team may have on its roster more than three players (two for 2.5 and 5.0+) who were on the roster of any team, or combination of teams, that advanced to, or qualified for, any National Championship the previous year. The only EXCEPTION is that if more than three players (two for 2.5 and 5.0+) wish to play together again as a team, in whole or in part, they must move up one NTRP team level and may not combine with players who were rostered on any other team that advanced to, or qualified for, any National Championship the previous year. These requirements apply to league participation in any and all Divisions, Age Groups and/or NTRP team levels. Move-Up/Split-Up requirements only apply to players who participated in any match for that team during the championship year, including defaults received. If a Section has a regulation that limits the number of players on a roster that are at a specific level, the Section must suspend that regulation for one year for any team that advanced to, or qualified for, any National Championship the previous year and chooses to move up one NTRP team level.
I think this is going to change the dynamic of a lot of teams, if I understand it correctly you cant have more than 3 guys that went to nationals at any level so mix and mens now count towards this new rule...
You are correct. I guess the USTA wants more team mediocrity.
DeleteWhy are you mad at Alfredo Mike Kelly? It will just take you another year of two of wasting your life tanking to achieve your goals.
ReplyDeleteWas this rant aimed at Kelly? He is the only one that this really targets. I guess teams are trying to figure out how to keep him from going to nationals all the time. Very strange post???
ReplyDeleteWhy would Kelley be mad at Alfredo, should be the other way around. Kelly knocked him out of going to nationals by beating him at sectionals. Tell us who put you up to that rant, that was out of left field. We know who but would like confirmation please.
ReplyDeleteThis post was not meant as a rant by any means, just something I recently became aware, just thought to share it with everyone...
ReplyDeleteWho was it targeted at? Surely not just something that just came to mind while sitting around. Are you really Todd Reed in drag?
ReplyDeleteThis rule was put in motion specifically for Kelley. I know someone on committee board w Texas and Usta oversight and his name was brought up in January rules and regs meeting. It should be the "mike Kelley " rule. Going to nationals nine times and having same or similar partners or players on teams considered too dominant, as far as usta concerned. This should now give everyone a chance to keep Kelley from winning and advancing as much. I do not know him that well but his name has been mentioned quite frequently as a national player and winner too often to consider it fair and equal competition. Hopefully this helps.
ReplyDeleteIs this a new rule for 2014? Does it affect age divisions as well as levels?
ReplyDeleteGreat rule. Kelley will be going to nationals 3 times in a period of one year. That is too excessive and unfair. Seems there should be a limit.
DeleteYes, it affects age divisions and mixed. It affects all teams at all levels.
DeleteI think that you will see people win nationals every other year now. This will give teams a full year to tank. It wont effect Mike K because now he will get to pick which team he wants to play for. All the captains that will complain about him will be the same captains calling him and asking him to play.
ReplyDeleteAs a captain I would not ask him to play. I would rather lose than have him win w us and everyone say we are a cheating team.
ReplyDeleteTo his defense he does not hop teams like everyone else, nor does he play out of ft worth where it is easier. I don't think the captain who doesn't want him has much to worry about, he doesn't need them. Not sure what else he has to win. I think he now just plays for fun.
ReplyDeleteWay to go rules commitee! It's about time!
ReplyDeleteGood thing you live in a large market. A small market team making it to nationals could have a big problem.
DeleteI spoke to the lead official at Nationals about some clarifications on how this rule worked. Short version, it counts all events, all levels, all ages groups; anything that has a usta national event. They said it was specifically implemented to address complaints in mixed doubles about people putting together all star teams comprised of men and women who had all been to Nats at their respective levels (3.5, 4.0, 4.5). They also said it may have gone to far and they were looking at having it just apply to mixed but they'd have to look at that for 2015. KC
ReplyDeleteI am telling you Kelley has prompted these changes throughout the USTA per the insisting by the DTA. He has brought about change, right or wrong. We all bitch and laugh about this but in reality It is the ""Kelly Rule"...absolutely unbelievable of the magnitude this blog has caused and it has been noticed at the USTA level.
ReplyDeleteShould have been implemented way earlier. Fortunately all the protests and letters and complaints to the DTA and USTA finally worked. This is a great day for local tennis and nationally as well. I hope this will keep him from ever winning a national title again. I never thought this day would come. Thanks to all who can't stand him as change has finally happened. Victory for the good guys, sweet justice against the biggest tanker in TEXAS tennis.
DeleteYou may love or hate the rule but I don't see how it effects Kelly. Any one player can go to nationals 20 times in a row in 5 different events. It only keeps you from having four players on a team that all went the year before. So next year Alan can take Kelly, Kyle and himself and find new girls. Or some combination. And it doesn't effect tri-level because there is no usta nationals. Not sure how this would be the Kelly rule, doesn't seem to hurt him much.
DeleteIt absolutely hurts him. He is going to 40 and over nationals and 18 and over and playing w the same partner. They are 36-0. Next year he will have a totally different partner that will take a while to get used to. The rule protects collusion of hoarding players and keeping them at different levels and divisions. Thank goodness they finally took a stance to allow the brookhavens and canyon creeks and everyone else to have a fair shot to just possibly win a league playoff. Next obstacle is to keep him from playing at all.
DeleteSorry but you don't understand the rule. He can play mixed doubles with her the rest of his life. That's only two players from nationals on the same team. It keeps you from having 4 players from nationals, not 2.
DeleteIt keeps the same team from dominating cities, sectional and going to nationals every year. How can you not see this helps everything be more fair . Quit standing up for this clown!
DeleteThe rule has minimal affect on Kelly. There was already a rule that if a team goes to nationals only 3 players on that team can play together the next year. What this does do is extend that to treat all players that went to nationals as though they were on the same team. It prevents the formation of mixed teams comprised of both national level men and women. It's mostly irrelevant to Kelly and his team as they don't go to nationals in mens or womens as that would drive their rating up.
DeleteIf the USTA is really interested in fixing the Kelly problem they should not ignore mixed results in NTRP calculations, and when a player has sufficient playoff results they should ignore their regular season results.
They are doing the exact opposites. They are counting the mixed in w men's and age divisions. This will keep these dynasty's from playing together and winning all local and Texas sectional events . You get beat enough and you will look to change things and complain. This is what has happened. Makes this more fair to the majority
DeleteThe best captains win. And when the rules change they will adapt and continue winning. They can't change the rules enough to have the scrubs dominate.
DeleteTo 6:56. He is not going with the same partner. He didn't play with heather in 40 and over, I do. He played with 3 different partners in 40 and over. He plays with Heather in 18 and over. He already has a new partner for the upcoming 40 and over season. Take the time to look at the match results before you post and check your facts.
DeleteAlan
There are a whole lot of teams out there that just breathed a huge sigh of relief. Like it or not things will be more competitive. Thumbs up to the new changes!
ReplyDeleteSmall market teams suck. They don't make it out of sectionals.
ReplyDeleteThere was a small market team in TN that cleaned everybody's clock a week and a half ago.
Delete--Wiley
Thanks USTA!
ReplyDeleteIf more people would practice instead of trying to use the blog to beat Mike, maybe he wouldn't go to nationals so much.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what is more impressive, his winning streaks or the fact he still plays so well having to listen to all this garbage. You people are so quick to complain and wish him the worst. VERY SAD
DeleteThe rule states that you can keep the team together if you move up a level. This just means we will alternate from 8.0 and 9.0. All of y'all suck that can't stand me. You can't beat me so you have to complain to the Usta. I'll still go to nationals every year and most of you won't.
ReplyDeleteThe fake mike kelly
We will make sure you don't go to nationals every year and implement as many " Kelley rules" as we need to make sure of it.
DeleteThe fake USTA
Now that ^ is funny!
DeletePlease don't take this the wrong way. I'm not trying to challenge anyone or start a blog fight. We have natioanls in less than a month and we need to practice. If any mixed teams or men's teams want to play (any level) please call me at SpringPark. We just want to play a couple of sets and drink a couple of beers. No bs just tennis. We play every Tuesday at 6:30 or Wednesday at noon. Again, I'm not saying we will win. I'm not trying to start anything. We just need some practice against different players.
ReplyDeleteAlan
972-675-1272
How about I come to SP at 6:30 Tuesday and whip Kelly's behind!
ReplyDeleteDel Potro
Ok. We can use the practice.
ReplyDeleteAlan
His record vs touring pros is 1-0 w a tiebreaker win over Petrova at Palm Springs. Not sure he can do the same to Delpotro, but would pay good money to see it.
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm serious now. He would get killed be del potro. I Still want people to play against on Tuesday at 6:30.
ReplyDeleteAlan