Monday, March 24, 2014

40s Playoff 3/28 - 3/30










The moment of truth has arrived.   I’ve heard a lot of players say that the season really starts at playoffs.  I have to agree.  The regular season is interesting but playing for a championship gets your adrenaline flowing.  It is time for a quick recap and then my predictions and your criticism as well as the obligatory discussion of ‘he that I will no longer mention.’

I recall a post in a previous thread on 12/30 at 2:01 PM.  In 4.5, the guy predicted GH/Sweeney to win 4.5A and Lakes/Wagner as runner up.  He predicted T-Bar  to win flight B.  As for CC/Nolen finishing third…  He missed that.  His second place Flight B was off too but pretty good considering before the season.  Not sure how he missed Brookhaven but not bad

In 4.0, he predicted McKinney to win flight A in a runaway.  It wasn’t a runaway but they did win the flight.  In Flight B, he predicted CC with TBar and High Point probable third.  Close as it looks like all three teams were  close but HP wins and TBar handled the tiebreakers better.  Capt. Fantastic thought his picks were a bit off but can’t say that is too bad.

In 3.5, he picked Bender but the wrong Bender team.  I will try and determine this one as I know very little other than pick Bender to win.  It is usually a pretty good bet.

It took me a little while to find the schedule the DTA put the 4.5 tennislink playoffs in with the 4.0s.  The 4.0s are more excitable so maybe they thought it would be fun to play playoffs twice.  Actually, the DTA screws everything up and this is nothing different.   It will be interesting when they get the actual 4.5s up

4.5+:  All four teams are very strong.  They are all capable of making noise in 18s…  Especially if they brought their 5.0s with them.  Sweeney got his boys to sectionals last year but he is missing the ‘one that shall not be named.’  He would not be so automatic against those 5.0s but having him at line 2 singles would definitely be huge.

This is a very interesting grouping.  In the first match, you have…

(1)    GH/Sweeney vs  (4) Brookhaven/Harlee-Assuming, all players are available, I like GH in this match.  Rich and Correia are probably the strongest 5.0s in this matchup.  That is no knock on Mezzour.  He is definitely capable of knocking either off.  He better get his singles or doubles line because there is no other 5.0 for the other line.  BH has a lot of excellent 4.5s but so does GH.  I think in the end, GH is just a little too much.  Prediction: Greenhill 3-2.

(2)    TBar/Fikes vs (3) Lakes/Wagner-Once again, assuming all players are available.  TBar has best player in 40s.  Bartzen is a lock down to win.  I would probably put both my 5.0s in doubles and conceded that line.  Talbot all but locks down a doubles line.  TBar only needs to find one more line.  Prediction: TBar wins 3-2.

(3)    Lakes/ Wagner vs (1) GH/Sweeney-Lakes matches up better with GH than they do against TBar.  They split regular season matches.  They can compete with either Rich or Correia in singles.  They may not win but it isn’t the humbling experience Bartzen will bring.  Prediction: Greenhill 3-2

(4)    Brookhaven/Harlee vs TBar/Fikes-This is a group that split matches in the regular season.  If TBar has Talbot and Bartzen available they win.  Only Mazzour can match up to either.  The first two matches were 4-1 each way.  Not this time… 3-2.  Prediction: T-Bar 3-2.

(3)    Lakes/Wagner vs (4) BH/Harlee-I am assuming not all the players will be available as it will be a fight for who stays out of the cellar.  Won’t analyze as who know who gets to play.  I will go with Lakes because BH can unload the bench much deeper than Lakes.

(1)    GH/Sweeney vs (2) TBar/Fikes-This is extremely interesting.  Bartzen and Talbot vs Correia and Rich is mighty fine tennis.  It is hard to pick.  I am going with TBar and a bunch of third set breakers.  GH must split the 5.0 lines to have a chance.  I think the TBar 5.0s are a little better.  I think Sweeney’s team is deeper.  It will all come down to who wins line 2 doubles.

4.0s—This appears to be a three way race between TBar, High Point and McKinney.  TBar is the unknown to most but I can assure you they belong.  I know most of these guys and it is a very good 4.0 team.  Nobody was really surprised that High Point fielded a good team.  McKinney was the previous year’s city runner up and added a couple of the High Point players that were nationals guys.  It is surprising for High Point to rebuild so quickly.

(1)    High Point/Wiley v (4) TBar/Beckner- HP won 5-0 in the regular season but this will not be the same team.  Wilson is automatic for TBar.  HP has Zackary which is pretty automatic.  TBar really needs to have Wilson draw him to take him out giving TBar a chance to win the other singles line.  Tbar can win 2 out of 3 doubles lines but so can HP.  HP has better depth; TBar has more experienced players.  Prediction: High Point 3-2 but don’t be surprised if TBar pulls the upset.

(2)    McKinney/Peterson v (3) GH/Kayser-GH won in week 1 but as the season went on, we see that was more overlooking a good team than indicative of what should happen.  It looks like GH has ridden their doubles all year with solid but not spectacular singles.  McKinney looks to have better singles with Schwartz and Hutchison.  I think McKinney gets revenge when it really matters.  Prediction: McKinney 4-1

(3)    GH/Kayser v HP/Wiley-I see HP sweeping singles and getting a couple of doubles lines.  GH doubles are too good to get swept.  Prediction: HP Wiley 4-1.

(4)    TBar/Beckner v (2) McKinney/Peterson-Wilson wins his singles line and 50/50 on the other line.  TBar has very strong doubles and gets 2 out of 3.  Prediction: TBar wins 3-2.

(3)    GH/Kayser v (4) TBar/Beckner-TBar sweeps singles and gets 2 out of 3 doubles lines.  Prediction: TBar 4-1.

(1)    HP/Wiley v (2) McKinney/Peterson-McKinney will need this to overthrow Wiley and all the TBar players will be rooting for McKinney too.  It looks like a probable split in singles.  Schwartz is really tough and so is Hutchison.  I think it will be a split but if it is a sweep, the chances are more likely to be McKinney.  HP’s doubles depth probably gets 2 lines.  HP’s depth will keep them from being as fatigued.  Prediction: HP wins 3-2.

3.5 is a mini-tournament with Stonebriar/Dickey playing High Point/Gardner.  The winner gets to place first place Fretz/Bender.  Since Bender already beat them both; I don’t see that changing this time around.  Prediction: Fretz wins.

Have fun and tell me why I am wrong.  The pay for writing on this blog makes all of the ridicule and abuse worth it.

131 comments:

  1. TBar will win both. They will shock you all.

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    1. Great assessment of the playoffs. I think Tbar does win 4.5. I agree that if Sweeney/Greenhill had Kelley that would give an edge to them. As hated as he is he will be missed. He cannot be replaced. Wiley wins 4,0 and Fretz rolls at 3.5. Please blast these opinions.

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  2. Since when did TBar get so mouthy? Lots of TBar pride these day. I expect it out of Canyon Creek, Brookhaven, Garland and High Point but not out of you guys.

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  3. Goes to show u money and class don't mix

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  4. Best assessment of Dallas tennis around here in a long time. TBar and Greenhill is too tough to call. Both teams would represent Dallas well.

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  5. TBar
    HP
    Fretz

    Unless captains get cute, this is how it will play out.

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  6. Ditto. Slight edge to Tbar if 5.0's face off in doubles. Greenhill has no lockdown singles win w Kelley missing in action. Teams split the singles and comes down to line 2 and 3 dubs. IMO tbar 3-2 but very close. McKinney and Fretz in others.

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  7. Impossible to predict based on availability and flakiness of certain players in 4.5. There will be some surprises and some no shows that can't take the pressure.

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  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Friday nights are the toughest. The lights are tough to play in and not always easy to get your best players right after work.

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  9. Why all the disrespect for Greenhill? Sweeney has a tremendous team.

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    1. No disrespect. Not sure where you read that.

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  10. McKinney in 4.0 is the favorite. They have the best singles. Singles wins these things. Nobody sweeps doubles in playoffs.

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  11. How will Russos Dallas 4.5 team do?

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  12. Looks like Kelly is playing for Sisk. Now that is a made match.

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  13. I wanted to bash but couldn't disagree.

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  14. What is a made match?

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  15. How in the world does Sisk pick up the best 4.5 player in the state??? Somehow he has a knack for getting the best players in their respective levels.

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    1. Sisk didnt pick up the best 4.5 in the state, he picked up a 5.0. Sisk was confused, he thought it was 18 and over 4.5 plus league.

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    2. He was able to pick up Kelly because his team will go 4-4 and he will let Kelly decide whether he wins or loses. The price for Kelly playing on Sisk's 8.5 combo team. Other than Kelly who did Sisk ever have that was the best player at his level??? Even in Dallas???

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    3. Glen Flora at 3.5

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    4. What has Sisk combo team ever done w Kelley on it?

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    5. Well, other than Kelley NEVER losing a combo match and winning it all one year and the finals the next not much...

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    6. Siak has Baker and Peiser at doubles one season. I don't think they were beaten. He also had a pretty good player in Flora.

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    7. Flora has lost his mojo. He's not even a good 4.0 at this point. I don't think he plays very much anymore.

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    8. Flora can hold his own. JUst waiting for the right team.

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    9. Flora is a good player but if we're talking about finding the best players in the state at their level, he was a 3.5 seven years ago and didn't win a single match at nationals. No one in the last five years for big John???

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    10. He didn't play at nationals. He didn't win a match but didn't play one either.

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    11. 5 years would be a stretch. No doubt Flora done but there were others. Tough to stay together mentally for 7 years and Glenn unfortunately just lost his confidence. No one can stay at the top of their level that long.

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    12. Flora is waiting for the right team? He is a patient man.

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    13. I believe he got DQ'd at sectionals. Not too smart on someone. John's had some good teams since then. I'm sure he's had a state level ringer in the last five years. They just don't come to mind at the moment.

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  16. One think about Kelley I admire as he doesn't play on every team he can get on just to try and make nationals. Seems everybody jumps around just to see who has best chance, even playin on two teams in two different cities.

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  17. It will be a good weekend. I can't wait to turn 40. There are some really strong rosters. I agree that Greenhill and TBar are the best. Tough for me to call. That could really go either way and I don't see any blowout matches.

    I see it between McKinney and Highpoint in 4.0. I'm a 4.5 and have played most of these guys on both rosters. It is too close. Burton is a strong doubles guy. Hutchison is a really good player too. Zackary has a great 8.0 Mxd team and been good on it. Will be close.

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  18. Depends on what guys are available to play. Some playing on two teams, some working on Friday eve and Saturday and some will come down with a mysterious illness. There is no clear cut favorite in 4.0 or 4.5, only in 3.5

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  19. I like your assessment and Tbar is likely the favorite if Talbot is available all weekend, but to say that Bartzen is the best player in 40s is not accurate. Mezzour can beat him in singles. I've played both. Most of these 4.5 teams aren't deep in 40's, so availability is key and that is what will determine the winning team.

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    1. Forgive me, I've never had the honor of getting my ass kicked by Mezzour. Bartzen on the other hand... He has given me a few lessons for the cost of league or tournament entry fees through the years.

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  20. TBar takes 4.5 & McKinney takes 4.0. A lot of time together pulls them through.

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  21. Greenhill won last year and will win it again. Pretty much the same team.

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  22. One person will not affect the outcome. They have added plenty of depth and bolstered the doubles.

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  23. One person will not affect the outcome, unless that person is Kelley.

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  24. There teams I want to lose. Rooting against Wiley and Bender.

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    1. Ohhh, did they steal your milk money?

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  25. I hope Kelley loses!

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    1. Not a chance. He will go winless this weekend.

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  26. Cool. I would love nothing better than to see him get beat!

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    1. Show up to watch and can guarantee he goes winless at playoffs.

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    2. I will be there w my 4.0 team rooting against him. After all this stuff I am reading about him he is a jerk and hope he costs his team going to sectionals by losing final match!!

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    3. Who are you rooting against?

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  27. Just against him. Don't care about the team. Just want to see him fail so all can see.

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    1. Yeah, if you are there to root against Kelly, I guess you missed the joke. He isn't playing. I wouldn't waste the gas.

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    2. Kelly didn't even play in the league. For someone with so much vitriol toward a guy and appears to be obsessed with him, you didn't know that?

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    3. No fan but a lot of people that act like jilted girlfriends.

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  28. Even better!! His team I guess didn't even make playoffs. I love it!!

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    1. I don't pay attention to when and where he plays. I was simply saying I hope he loses if playing this weekend. Is that a problem????

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    2. Been goin back and forth between Greenhill and tbar all week. Leaning toward tbar bec Greenhill not having Kelley gives tbar a chance to win both singles. With Kelly no way tbar wins both. I think the doubles will be a toss up. In 4.0 I take McKinney and 3.5 Frets.

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    3. McKinney definitely has the horses to win.

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    4. Wiley wins!! How many players on any of the other rosters make his starting lineup??? Who is better than Zackary, Smithheisler or Pearson in singles? Carlquist, Bearden, Wiley, Clark, Corcoran, Sampson and Shanks??? Wiley's roster is loaded!

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    5. Bearden and Wiley are usually loaded. Not sure about their tennis.

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  29. Wiley rules this weekend!

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    1. Rule what? I wouldn't be surprised if he finishes 3rd.

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    2. Greenhill, McKinney and Fretz. Not as close as people seem to think.

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    3. Fretz is the biggest lock. McKinney is second and TBar. TBar will be too much. McKinney has the experience. Fretz has Bender.

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  30. How about a Kelly free weekend? Lots of good matches before he needs to be on the blog again.

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  31. Good idea. Kelley free zone until Saturday nite. Then we can hate on him again and critique how he played this weekend.

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  32. Greenhill and TBar are not the overwhelming favorite. Lakes and Brookhaven have enough players beat either team. It will be fun. Looking forward to playing. I think any of the four could win.

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  33. Wiley has best roster hands down. If he has all his players available and doesn't appease his spares by given them playtime, he should win with little contest. Just seems he has a history of trying to oil the squeaky wheels on his roster.

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    1. Some of HP's guys are still introducing themselves. McKinney has an experienced team with a lot of continuity and it will pay off in the end. And when TBar gets their top lineup out it will be a different story.

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    2. I played for him last year. He has a real penchant for oiling the squeaky wheel. He can be too nice and easily manipulated.

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    3. Don't know him but Kayser and Peterson are two of the nicest guys around. Guess that means TBar is a lock.

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    4. I know all four of them. Beckner, Kayser and Peterson are all much nicer. Wiley can be a bonafide, temperamental Asshole.

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    5. Yes, but Wiley is the best player of the four.

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    6. ^ Okay, so he is smartest retard?

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  34. because his name ends in ...ley

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  35. Ley or Le. Either way, both cheating tankers.

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  36. How is Le a cheating tanker whoever you are??!!!

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    1. Le is the kindest, bravest most wonderful person you will ever meet. What is your beef with this salt of the earth captain?

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  37. True true, what has he ever won? Nothing

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  38. You could give Le Nadal and Kelley and he still couldn't win! He would screw up the lineup!

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    1. He would put them on the same line and go up 1-0 and lose 4-1.

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    2. He would list them as having played but put some scrub in for the actual match

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    3. It is genius, the scrub got them rated back down.

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  39. tony Lie wouldn't do that!!!!!

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  40. I miss Canyon Creek. The trash talking is so much better. Hasn't been the same quality trash talk without them.

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  41. We miss you guys too but everybody bolting from this club like Eskimos at a beach

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  42. Just so everyone in 18 and over 4.0 flight B knows going into the season, the flight winner will be determined by the team that can load the most players into one car and drive it to an away match. Team wins will not count and neither will games won or lost.

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    1. Better hope Rossouw doesn't field a team.

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    2. He once needed a bus. Soon he will need nothing more than a mini cooper. Couple years he just needs a motorcycle w a sidecar.

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    3. Why the sidecar?

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    4. For Todd Reed

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  43. Also. You must also be aware that the 4.5 40 and over winner better take advantage of Kelly not playin in playoffs this weekend. You will now have a chance and will not be starting down 1-0 and have to win 3 of 4. You just need to win 60% of your best of 5 instead of 75%.

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  44. Bad weather moves stuff indoors. Advantage for TBar and Brookhaven. They're used to playing in that weird lighting.

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  45. Greenhill 4.0 defaults a line and still beats McKinney. WTF?

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    1. Are you serious? Who won HP v TBar? Please tell me Wiley failed as hard as McKinney.

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    2. Not sure score but HP won. Wiley was being his usual smug self. Seemed to not even consider he could lose.

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  46. McKinney tanking is the rumor.

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    1. Lol...first match??? Somebody should have told the guy playing singles in the last match at 2-2 that the tank was on. He lost in three. Not very good tanking.

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    2. You didn't get the memo. If you lose, you are tanking. Exactly 1/2 of all tennis players in played matches are tanking.

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  47. Kudos to the older geezer singles players for Greenhill 4.0 who beat the good younger geezers from McKinney 4.0 in straight sets last night. Carpenter and Idol are primarily doubles players these days, but proved they still can win in singles at crunch time. But I would be surprised if they duplicate their efforts against High Point today.

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    1. HP better watch out.

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    2. HP will win easily today. We play as well as anyone in the clutch. Only way we lose if Kelley plays today as a 4.0, but then we still win 4-1.

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  48. The best tankers look the part. McKinney not able to take enough people to sectionals.

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  49. Greenhill beats Brookhaven, tbar beats lakes despite Russ Johnson and modic losing doubles and JD miles losing singles.

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    1. JD is missing that calming pre-match influence of Sandra?

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  50. Greenhill is team to beat. Doubles very solid.

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  51. T bar loses to Brookhaven . Greenhill given a gift from the Gods. Greenhill will advance.

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  52. Not to worry, T bar or Brookhaven will get a wildcard w their influence.

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  53. Greenhill , Wiley and Fretz advance. Greenhill just to solid. Russ Johnson and JD miles go 0 for 6 this weekend. Tough to win like that. Talbot loses a match as well( but playing w Modic). Brookhaven places second w a strong showing overall. Throwing Addcock and Yuri Yumakov in singles was a give up however. Fun stuff even though my team finished fourth. Maybe there will be 3 wildcards.

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  54. HP/Wiley won easily. McKinney screwed the pooch Friday night and it cost them second place.

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    1. HP won because Wiley had better players. If he didn't have better players, he would be nothing. Just luck.

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    2. McKinney plays better singles and they win this and then don't go in the tank versus Wiley.

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  55. All these Dallas teams will be destroyed at sectionals

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    1. Most likely destroyed...
      1) Wiley.
      2) Sweeney
      3) Bender

      Wiley nearly lost to a 55s. Sweeney just plain lucky and Bender has the best 3.5s so he get yo nationals. He is smarter than the other two.

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    2. Everyone had a plan until they are hit in the mouth. Greenhill came in and took car of biz. They will win nationals.

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    3. Mike Tyson reads the Dallas League Tennis Blog?

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    4. Tennis is 50% physical and 90% mental. Greenhill stayed the course. Country clubbers lose all 3 levels. City parks rule.

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    5. 140%? I guess city parks rule but it is akin to public education. You can have your pathetic title, we'll continue to send our kids to private school and play tennis as it was intended.

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    6. Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results is insanity. Keep country clubbing w your elitist attitude. How has that worked for you so far?

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    7. Yes, we will play as tennis was intended. If we don't win we will manually manipulate the ratings of those that do, create autonomy and put dozens on the roster. All part of a master plan!

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  56. GREENHILL not lucky, they just got a break in winning some tiebreaks they should have lost. Btw, how can Paul Kieron play Dsllas and Ft worth playoffs

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  57. Still my favorite thing about the blog. Smartest guys in town are the ones who lost. Dumbest guys in town are the captains that won.

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  58. Wiley is not dumb

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    1. Can't you read??? Clearly he was dumb enough to have better players. Who would have ever thought of that???

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    2. Lol, what a plan. Have the best players then play them. Oddly, they pal. Is harder than it sounds. It is easier to get the best players than play them all the time.

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    3. Looks like when Wiley played his top lineups, he won easily. Looks like he went a little light against Greenhill. Lost a couple third set breakers. He may want his players to practice those. He lost three lines all weekend and all three in 3rd set breakers.

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    4. Maybe he can get some pointers from CC

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