Monday, February 24, 2014

Season Winding Down and Playoff Picture Comes into Focus 18s Rosters are coming due.



A casual observation of mine is that as you go down in NTRP, the passion for league tennis seems to go up.  We never hear much squabbling or trash talking from 5.0s.  When Oscar’s 5.0 team went to nationals last year, I was happy and really hoped he would win.

In 4.5, outside the Mike Kelly love/hate (more hate than love) relationship with this blog, there isn’t much chatter.  Sure, Marc Rossouw chimes in on occasion but not much anymore.  For the most part, at 4.5, we just play tennis and go home.

At 4.0, there appears to be more bickering.  There is anger between High Point, Canyon Creek and Brookhaven.  There is more interest in a 4.0 match than any 4.5 matches.  About the only match being discussed all year is High Point versus Canyon Creek. 

With that said, does anyone know why 4.0s are more passionate than the rest?  Is it because these are usually the self-taught guys that didn’t learn to play until later in life?  Maybe, the old adage of act like you have been there before applies because, most haven’t been there before…  I really wish 4.5 would get some of that excitement; it makes for more interesting talk.  Outside Mike Kelly, there just isn't enough 4.5 and 5.0 talk. 

Oh well, as the season is beginning to wind down in some leagues and the players are pretty much decided in the leagues with several weeks to go, here are my thoughts…

4.5

Flight A: This is all but decided as the post season participants.  While Gleneagles has a good bunch of players and guys, they are not mathematically eliminated.  As I type this, Lakes is in first but Greenhill really is.  They haven’t reported the Canyon Creek match.  Unless something changes, Canyon Creek decides they would like to compete again, the winner of the flight comes down to either Lakes or Greenhill.  Since both advance to a 4 team round robin tournament, it doesn’t matter.  Barring any total collapse, I think Sweeney and Wagner can make their playoff plans now.

Flight B:  This flight has a ton more drama.  Brookhaven is undefeated and definitely in the driver’s seat to win but there is plenty of possibilities for them to miss it.  They have already beaten 2nd and 3rd place playoff contenders TBarM and Greenhill still have to play one another in the first round.  Obviously, it drops one of them to two losses.  I like TBM because Marc’s main team that deserves a shout out plays in Fort Worth.  His very large Wagon Wheel team is my favorite to win sectionals.  I think Brookhaven and TBM advance to playoffs.

4.0:   

Flight A: McKinney is finished with their season.  After a week 1 stumble, they went the rest of the way and locked up a playoff spot.  This team is the one most thought would win the flight.  Greenhill is still undefeated but has two matches remaining.  They can finish anywhere from first to third mathematically.  In reality, the play the last place team and another near the bottom team.  They would have to lose both; Brookhaven would have to win and catch them on lines.  I like Greenhill to win this flight after beating the two also-rans.

Flight B: High Point has wrapped up one slot.  TBarM beat Canyon Creek but High Point beat TBM.  TBM cannot catch High Point so they need High Point to beat Canyon Creek to advance.  Canyon Creek needs to beat High Point decisively to win the flight but needs to merely beat them to make the playoffs.  Considering, this has been the most talked about match since the beginning of the season, both teams should be jacked up.  I like Canyon Creek to win.  I say that because they have more to play for not because I think they are necessarily better. 

Finally, 18+ Rosters are due March 5th.  That is a week from Wednesday.  You must have 8 or the DTA will remove your team. 

93 comments:

  1. So did Canyon Creek's match default stick or not? Anybody they have left to play heard anything? When this has happened in the past the team wasn't allowed to complete the season.

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  2. This is not just any team. Too much power to have anything happen. Samuel grand or lb Houston team does this they are banned for a year.

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  3. CC wrote a check to the DTA saying they were sorry, and threw in another hundred and said go after Kelley, AGAIN.

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  4. Why would CC get preferential treatment? Quit trying to make them look bad. Nolen won't be able to captain and they will have to split up. They have some good players, time to take the leftovers.

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    Replies
    1. A free membership to Brookhaven says nothing happens to them. Just watch and see.

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  5. I see last weeks match of the week finally posted. Stonebriar/Dickey def Greenhill/Alzuro. Stonebriar elevates itself out of last place!

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  6. What about 3.5? Any analysys?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, bad back hands and a lot of over hitting, but inconsistently

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    2. What is anal sys? Is that a generic brand of Anal Ease?

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    3. I'm partial to astro glide.

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  7. Are we going to get weekly updates now? 2nd post in 2 weeks. Maybe the new guy will keep us better informed.

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  8. Lakes and Sweeney are the best teams. They should have been in separate flights. It is a good thing the top 2 teams advance to,playoffs. DTA got that right.

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  9. What are the big matches for the upcoming weekend?

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    Replies
    1. Your team has a big match. Tell us how you think it will work out.

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  10. I THINKS WE WILL WIN!

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  11. This thread is boring. What happen to all the 4.0 discussion in the other thread with the big CC/HP match up and Wiley tanking his matches and mailing it in on the big match up?

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    1. What big CC match? I thought CC defaulted their team.

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    2. Think that was 4.5

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    3. HP/Wiley can beat CC and keep them out of cities. I would think that would be their plan. They have already beaten TBar 5-0. I think they would rather TBar make the playoffs and CC go home.

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    4. Wouldn't he be more afraid of the team that beat CC than the team that lost to the team he beat?

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    5. Looks like TBar people are begging Wiley to bring out the guns.

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  12. When will Sweeney play Wagner. They are the best Dallas teams not playing out of Fort Worth. They will play sir second match before their first match is played.

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    Replies
    1. Doesn't matter, FW will destroy both. Rossouw is the best recruiter in Dallas. He has about 30 Dallas guys going to FW when they can win Dallas closer to home.

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  13. How many teams make the playoffs in 3.5?

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    Replies
    1. I believe the top three go. Two and three play, then the winner plays the top seed.

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  14. How do Peterson and Kayser against the other flight?

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  15. I see Gleneagles Juhn beat CC Nolen in a makeup and CC only defaulted 4 lines. Steve Nolen lost again but at least he played... or said he played.

    Did his whole team hate him so much that they quit? A lot of those guys have played a lot in the past. Why did they all quit?

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    Replies
    1. Nothing will happen to CC so why bother? They are exempt. What a joke.

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    2. How are they still playing matches? You default three lines or more in one match and the team is done for the season. They've done it twice. There can't be much to investigate. They should be done.

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    3. All animals are created equal.. Some animals are more equal than other animals.

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    4. There will be no action taken against CC

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    5. They will be so mad at CC, they will disqualify Highpoint, Springpark and Greenhill.

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  16. Double standard, no doubt

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  17. Thanks for giving some 4.5 talk. We haven't had much.

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  18. Huge mixed 8.0 match tomorrow . CC vs McKinney. Does CC field a team? McKinney has some solid players !

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    Replies
    1. Also have GH playing BH. One versus 2.

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    2. Mixed talk? Really?

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    3. Haven't you figured it out yet? It's not about the best tennis, it's about who has the most hard feelings?

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  19. CC is number 2, only one loss.

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  20. Why does GH vs Brookhaven matter? Isn't GH in already? CC needs the win worse.

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  21. Bigger question is does the best mixed player on the planet ( when trying) flex his muscles to eliminate the club that has complained about him for years. Let's see if Kelley has an axe to grind. Brookhaven better hope not.

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  22. This blog a degenerated to mixed talk. This is how blogs die.

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    Replies
    1. Not as long as you keep posting

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  23. Oh, revive it. The 4.0 league is really coming down to the wire. Who wins out this weekend? Whew. We have a pulse again.

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    1. Canyon Creek beats Wiley and 4.0 ends up being Greenhill, McKinney, Canyon Creek and High Point. Canyon Creek wins the league with High Point getting a wildcard. Both teams get beat at sectionals.

      I should be a blog moderator.

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    2. TBar will close out with a win against lowly McK/Landrum but it won't matter because CC is fighting to stay alive and edges out HP for the last remaining playoff ride. McK/Peterson and GH/Kayser are already in so just not that much to talk about in 4.0/40s. But 8.0 mixed has people with lots of bad history and who really don't like each other.

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  24. Not really any bad history. Basically same team wins every year in mixed. Nobody likes Kelley but the rest of the league always playing for second.

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    1. There should be a rule against the same team winning every year. Kelley should have to sit out every year after he goes to a national event.

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  25. Except this year !!!!! SP not ending up in first. Finally Kelly knows what it is like to not finish on top and eat some humble pie. Gotta luv it.

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    Replies
    1. You do know he is playing for Greenhill and they are in first place.

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  26. So what. Brookhaven and CC have a better team. Power to the country clubs!

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    1. You should really lay off the oxy codone. Greenhill clearly tanked today to keep Springpark out of the postseason. Kern and Kelly both douched out in their matches. You expect that from Kelly, but Kern too? Really?

      Lame. Dallas tennis is petty and soap opera-like.

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  27. Kelly played hurt, know facts before you post. Zachary cannot control when other teams lose big matches

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  28. True, Kelly played 2 hours on a swollen ankle. Not sure he douched out. Match had been decided before his first set ended. Point blame at losses, not Greenhill

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  29. SP is not mathematically out yet. CC still has to win a match!

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  30. We are not out of it, but again, we don't care. I put together a team that had a lot of fun and that was the goal. No practice, no drama (for once), just fun. But I did find out 1 thing. Kelly is as big of an a-hole as people say he is. I didn't think he would tank to keep me out if playoffs. And Zackery May be a bigger a-hole. He told me today tht if a would lay down in the finals of playoffs, he would put in his best teams. When I told him no, I guess he did what he thought he had to do. I don't blame Kern. He's a great guy an would never tank. But Zack's line up was bull crap. Vail and Shanks couldn't beat there way out of a paper bag and Kelly tanked. But I can't blame Zack for tanking. In playoffs he is losing one of his best guys in Moore and he was afraid he wouldn't win. I just can't believe that Kelly would lay down knowing it would hurt my team. I thought we were friends. It just goes to show you tht that a-hole is only out for himself.

    I am now on the F MIKE KELLY band wagon.

    Alan

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    Replies
    1. Wow, Kelly is an A-Hole? That is real breaking news. Zackary was probably told by Kelly. Your friends tell you a lot about someone and he hangs out with Kelly. Enough said!

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    2. Welcome to the Kelly is an A-Hole club. Better late than never. You will find this is not an exclusive club. While many of us are members of exclusive clubs, this club is open to public facility folks as well.

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    3. Kelly a damn good a hole !!!

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    4. Not a coincidence that SP didn't do well this year. Perhaps a little sour grapes ? That post is totally out of line. Kelly, will you play for us next year?

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    5. I've never seen an exclusive club in USTA leagues.

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  31. How can you blame a Greenhill team when your team failed this year?

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  32. Wow, I though lebron James was treated bad when he left Cleveland. The Kelley haters will love this. Kelley puts SP on top of the tennis mountdin and then kicked off for not helping a team who can't win w out him. Don't like Kelley but that rant was classless.

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  33. It's easy. You just type it.

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  34. Alan, I hope you never expect to be hired by any legit tennis center. I'm surprised SP keeps you employed. You personally lose to GH 6-0,6-3 and then make such uncalled for remarks about Shanks & Vail.
    Looks like you lost to GH & CC without any Kelly involvement.
    Your sour grapes & remarks about Shanks & Vail reveals your lack of character...
    Looks like you really miss Kelly playing for you. bitter...

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  35. AA-your team is in either 3rd or 4th place, and you blame MK. MK really does control your little world.
    Classless comment about Shanks. You have no class. What an embarrASSment to your team.

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  36. If Zackary really asked Alan to lay down, that's tells me a lot about Zackary. Talk about classless. I can't stand Alan but he is justified in being mad at Zackary and Kelly. Shanks and Vail don't deserve that. I don't see them ever tanking.

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    1. Funny, never ever heard mike say anything negative about any of his captains and gives them 100 percent. I hope this is a joke but on the surface it is no question it is viscous.

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    2. That sounds like Zachary

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  37. Ouch, I am in Houston and was told to read this blog. Very harsh and damaging comments about a guy that played his ass of for years. I played him in 2012 and the guy is a gamer. Throwing him under the bus when he had nothing to do w your losses unjustified. Our blog here is strictly tennis, not malicious.

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  38. check your facts - Alan's team has 2 losses - they lost to GH & CC - Zack & Kelly did not make Alan's team lose to GH & CC. If he wants to be mad at someone, be mad at losing your own matches - take responsibility for your own losses. Alan's remarks about Shanks/Vail just goes to show what an ass he is.

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    1. Well said... Look at the 4.5's on your own team that flopped, not Greenhill. Not as easy as it has been the last few years. Very tough to do what Kelly has done, carried a team.

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  39. Can you think of any other reason for GH to lose all three lines against BH except to eliminate SP? They had first wrapped up and even though Canyon Creek will finish second with a win next week, they wanted to be sure that Springpark wouldn't have a chance of advancing.

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  40. Mike helped put SP on the Dallas, Texas and National map. I don't understand the hate for Mike when he hardly ever lost a match for Alan. Alan basically had the luxury of knowing every match started out 1-0 and now he is calling him names and bashing Dallas players. Russ Johnson is a nice player and Shanks had his hands full today. Sorry to read about this but you learn more about people at the end of any relationship than at the beginning. Mike, had your team lost the match before yours ended? Looks like it based on scores but Kern did go to 3 sets. Either way, Alan should have won his lines and SP would be in the playoffs.

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  41. Kelley was still in first set when other two lines had lost and were done. He ran into the fence at 2-2 in first set and rolled an ankle and play resumed after about 30 mins. He finished the match after two and a half hours on one leg. Guess he needed to win his line for a 1-2 loss. He wins he is a jerk and he loses (hurt) and is a jerk. This is some unbelievable crap. Frankly I feel for the guy.

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    1. BS if he was down for 30 min the match would be retired, go back to your basement and play with yourself some more

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  42. Yay! This will get more people hating on Kelley. Couldn't have happened any better. The more this guy suffers is great, especially when a pro at a club shows how Kelley really is. Hopefully this will put him into wanting to not play anymore in leagues.

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    Replies
    1. This is how a tennis blog dies ..talking about a 50yr old guy all day long

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  43. After reading Allen's rant it is obvious that team was not put together just for fun. His reactions, words and spite are not that of someone who is indifferent on being in 4th place. Calling out people on other teams, another captain and basically singling out your best player for the last decade was incomprehensible. Cold hard facts are Kelley was missed this season and the team was mediocre at best. This will be a blog that will be talked about for all the wrong reasons. very sad.

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  44. While the rant was probably a little uncalled for, I can see the principle of what happened and why it may have angered or frustrated Alan. I don't know either of them well, but judging by some earlier posts on the blog, sounds like Alan has had Mike on several teams that have gone to nationals, allowed him to pick his partners along the way, and also sounds like Alan may have contributed financially towards Kelly's expenses or travel? Speculation based on previous posts, like I said. Can't verify. So for Kelly to tank a match (let's face it, he tanked, and he's also notorious to briefly fake injuries for various reasons too. In this case, probably to avoid looking like he tanked) and go along with some scheme Zachary had to keep SP out of the playoffs is pretty lame. Which by the way, Zachary booked a trip to nationals on Alan's team too. Why the beef?

    All that being said, it all seems a little (as said above) soap-opera-ish to me.

    What's the next exciting topic? Big TCD matchups today. Will probably get rained/snowed out. Predictions? ;)

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    1. Not sure mike needs his expense paid for a trip. I promise you he can pay his way. I know his situation. As far as picking his partners, I would allow him to pick whoever he wants when he wins every time. Big question is does Kelly play for him again?

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  45. Actually it's time to come clean. My "rant" was just to start some fun blog conversation. I actually sent it to mike k and mike z before I put it on the blog. Mike k and mike z are both friends and I'm sorry for the vail/shanks comment. I was at Irish Fest and was tasting some of the really good whiskey.

    Again, it was all in fun. I'm sorry if I upset shanks or vail. But, at least it made for some fun reading.

    And I have never paid for anything for Kelly.

    Again, 90% of my post are made just to see the reactions from others. Tennis should be for fun and have some good competition between people.

    And with that, I'm gone.

    Alan

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    Replies
    1. Well good joke. I think we all fell for it hook, line, and sinker. People have been complaining the blog had gotten boring, thanks for the few hours of excitement.

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    2. This was good stuff. Between you and Murray Langstoh, the blog is actually worth reading again.

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  46. Too much whiskey not good for a fellow. Problem is the damage has been done. Liquor brings out your true feelings.

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  47. "fun reading" for who? name-calling-fun? , the comment you made regarding shanks/vail-fun? Don't drink & rant on a blog. If you are called a "tennis professional", you need to delete the "professional". Can't believe SP let's you keep a job to represent their club. I'm sure you just shot yourself in the foot for any other tennis center. Liquor does bring out true feelings..

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  48. Now that russow & alan are gone from blog, we can get back to tennis blogging and not drama queen name calling drunk blogging.

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    1. No more drunk blogging? Speak for yourself.

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  49. What makes you think Alan and Russo are gone from the blog? They will surface when convenient and victimize others who stand in their way.

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  50. Looks like. High Point disposed of Canyon Creek. I thought CC would win. Wiley's lineup was alright but not what I expected. Maybe he is as strong as advertised. I wanted to see TBar more. This is our chance.

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