Thursday, August 7, 2014

Combo, Fall & Five Other Things No One Cares About


Why the hell did you wake me?  The fall is so boring!
 
What is the deal with combo?  Ok, it’s my least favorite event.  Played it once, never again.  It’s a tough time of year, no one seems that interested, and everyone wants to play up but no one wants to play down.  It’s that time of year when guys seem to only be interested if they can be the weaker player.  Clearly these guys don’t play mixed all year.  I did a quick check, not of rosters but numbers of teams.  The men have five teams at 7.5 and three teams at 8.5.  That’s borderline indifference.  The women have fourteen teams at 6.5, fifteen teams at 7.5, and nine teams at 8.5.  That’s amazing.

Fall rosters were due last week and the season starts in September?  Not exactly the cooler part of the fall but its Texas so you take what you get.  Not a huge fan of the fall either.  Not so much the usual complaints but it all seems to be pretty anti-climactic.  I do think the fall serves its purpose and has some positives though.  Most notably, it’s a good chance for a few teams that won’t make the spring playoff to make the fall playoffs.  It’s not the same but playoffs are playoffs if you’ve never been.  I do love the guys who use a fall playoff appearance as a recruiting tool.  Luckily they’re recruiting people who don’t know any better.

I was going to ask about the change to the Nationals rule where you can only take so many players from Nationals onto next year’s team.  I was going to ask, but no one advanced so it’s now item #3 no one cares about this year.  The new rule is an improvement of sorts but it isn’t worded very clearly.

The new DTA Executive Director is?  I have high hopes for this one but I’m not sure why.  I’ve never had any problems with the DTA personally and have gotten along with the individuals that work there, but there does seem to be an opportunity here.  The right person right now could do a lot of good considering where things were left.

Is it just my imagination or was the Dallas Tennis Cup once a bigger deal?  There must be some way to breathe a little life back into this event considering it’s a fundraiser.  Isn’t that a big part of a non-profit’s real job?  Raising money.

How on earth is there so much mixed chatter non-stop on this blog?  I stand in wonderment.  Actually I sit and I don’t care about it that much, but it does seem a little odd.

Then there’s tri-level.  The last real bastion of hope for redemption any given year, even though technically it will be a 2015 event.  Ok, people do care about this one, but is that legit?  While Pickett did strike gold a few years ago, it has been a hit and miss proposition for Dallas.  Captain Fantastic sings its praises and it’s hard to argue with him.  Indian Wells, BNP tourney, week two match access, crowds, stars, winners’ presentations on center court – what’s not to like?  Of course you have to win sectionals for that experience so I’ll have to rely on the Captain’s tall tales.
 

55 comments:

  1. Count me in on the combo is blah. After cities and sectionals, it is hangover time.

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    1. It may not be a bad event but timing is rough. Since they are looking for the best players, too many of them just got beat at sectionals.

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  2. Fall used to mean more when you would get an automatic bid to city championships. I know some captains would win and then lose the spring, it was still better to have something. Autobid to QT isn't an incentive.

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    1. Did you see what Sisk did with an automatic QT bid? With an auto city bid, he may have had his whole team at 3.5 and not just Flora. They need to just tell everyone the fall counts for nothing and you can play as hard as you like. It won't hurt you. We might actually get an interesting league.

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  3. Who is the new DTA ED? Why did we lose the last one? Did he have ED? They do make little blue pills for that.

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    1. Evidently he got fired. No pill for that.

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  4. I saw where Little State is this weekend. Who is representing Dallas?

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    1. Wouldn't Little State be another thing nobody cares about.

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    2. Depends on whether you missed sectionals or not

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  5. Where was the 3.5 sectional preview?

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    1. It's the sixth thing n one cares about

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  6. No one cares! Thank god for Football season

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  7. People really don't care.

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  8. Here's you're 3.5 update. In the semis, Dallas plays Wild Dallas and Austin plays Wild Austin. Shouldn't need scouting reports.

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  9. I predict a Dallas and Austin team in the finals.

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    1. Bold prediction there. Get any Vegas action in that?

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  10. So there is some talent in the minor leagues, and it is only a matter of time that Dallas is back on top at the higher levels.

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    1. Um, even the 4.5 is basically the minor league...

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  11. We are all just recreational players. A lot of players on this blog seem to forget that.

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    1. Speak for yourself, many of us Houston players and Amarillo players are not.

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    2. So you and your Amarillo 4.5 studs can hang with Nadal and company? There are players on the Challenger Circuit who would beat you and your buddies like you stole something. Unless you make a living from the prize money you win you are a recreational player. Sorry to be the one to break the news to you.

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    3. Who said anything about 4.5? Maybe he is talking 4.0 or 3.5. Nadal and company would have no chance against their 4.5s.

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  12. You have one guy we are afraid of, the rest are spare 4.5's

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    1. You must be be talking about our 3.5s.

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  13. Fyi, look at the DTA work in their programs for invest in a child and junior programs. I was shocked on how much they raise for these programs. Now let us hear the silly haters. Get the facts first, before you start making comments.

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    1. Why does the DTA come here to defend themselves?

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    2. I actually played in the Dallas Cup a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I just haven't seen as many people I know involved in it recently and believe this ought to be a program we can all support. Is there information available on your website about this year's event? Also, has the format changed again?

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    3. Why do you constantly bash them?

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    4. This is RUSS. If you want a response here comes my personal opinion and NOT FROM THE DTA
      First and foremost thank you for promoting our second serve drive. We are indeed all about supporting kids through out the metro plex to play this great game that we all take for granted With out league play and other programs we would not be able to support as many kids as we do so for all of you that play leagues and DTA sponsored events THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!
      In regards to Dallas Cup it is being revisited. To be blunt we hear more negatives than positives so we are trying to figure out how to make it an event that all Dallas Tennis Players will want to participate in.
      Thanks for letting me express my personal opinion

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  14. Replies
    1. head runs away with 8.5.

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    2. I like your chances to win FW combo. Not a single team has signed up

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  15. can someone put the link to pull up combo teams. USTA menu to get to them is a pain and I don't know anyone playing.

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  16. Look at what the DTA does before you bash them. Do you think they make money or have an agenda.

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  17. Take a look at what the DTA has this week. http://share.d-news.co/Io2JogT

    They need help not people bitching

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    1. Where do we sign up to volunteer?

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    2. Is Erin touchy this morning?

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  18. I don't think they have a sign up sheet. They just need volunteers to come help with the food and the kids is what I heard. I am sure you can touch base with the DTA or show up to help? No idea?

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  19. I know this is crazy but I bet the DTA has more to worry about then some 4.0 and 4.5 men's tennis blog.

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    1. Yes, but that doesn't mean they don't post here. They do.

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  20. A total of 3 teams at 8.5. That is impressive. I think what is more impressive is the dual captainship of Sisk and Kingsley and their impressive roster size of 12. With 2 matches to play, they get a match each. Well worth the entry fee. Then they get to go pay hundreds to travel to Austin so they can go get a T-shirt that says Sectionals and maybe win a silver plate or glass plaque. Or maybe if they are really lucky, get another yellow umbrella !!

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    1. No such luck. They give tiny towels now.

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    2. Or maybe they just enjoy playing tennis and if they win, they go on a mini tennis vacation. Why bash them for playing a tournament?

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    3. Who is bashing? I read it as why are there so many players on one roster. You call it a mini tennis vacation but it is playing once this weekend and getting the honor of spending nearly another thousand to play one more match.

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    4. Don't make comments that you know nothing about. Schedule shows playing each other twice, so 4 matches total.

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  21. 7.5 and 8.5 is 4 match rd robin

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  22. My intent was to draw some attention to Combo while there was still some time to sign up. The women have done an amazing job getting teams out. As for Dallas Cup, it supports a great cause so hopefully when it's time comes around we can get behind it and field some teams.

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    1. Maybe Sisk can add a few more players.

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    2. Then he needs more 4.5s

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  23. Does Vince play as a 4,0 or 4.5?

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    1. Why doesn't he play with Owen Wilson. They had a ton of success for our Somabut team. Good guys and good players.

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  24. That team doesn't beat a 7.5 combo team

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