Thursday, May 7, 2015

WHY I HATE MIXED




There goes another SpringPark 8.0 mixed team to the gleaming land of Nationals.

How do I get to mixed Nationals?  Someone told me to follow the yellow brick road.  There are a lot of teams who say they know the way, but almost none of them have actually been there.  Isn’t that always the case?  True, occasionally an Alzuro will stumble across the Emerald City but if you really want to get there you need a guide; you need someone who has been there on several occasions, someone who really knows the way, and someone who is planning on heading back.

There are a number of reliable guides around.  Bender was going to the Emerald City before it was emerald.  But since we’re talking about mixed at the moment, is it too late to get on the Springpark 8.0 team?  Any SpringPark 8.0 team?  Granted, there have been years that the Alan/Kelly tag team have taken off but it seems like when they want to go, they go.  If Krista is captaining any 9.0 over 40 teams, I’d get on one of those as well.  Of course you’d have to be a lot better than me to play on either.

In 40s this year, I’ll take SpringPark 8.0 to go all the way to the dance.  Vegas isn’t even making a line on this.  Not sure about the Springpark 7.0 team to make it though.  They have a chance but I’m not sold. 

In 18s this year, I’ll take SpringPark 8.0 to have as good a chance as anyone in Texas to head to the dance as well.  These massive 7.0 rosters scare me.  Springpark and High Point both have huge rosters and some baggage.  Not certain they can get everyone playing time and still win all the lines they need but there are a few pretty weak teams out there.  This is Tony's to lose.  In my most definitive pick for the season, I’ll take SpringPark to win 9.0.  There are only two teams and both play out of SpringPark.  Nothing like a sure thing.  Out of a sense of fairness Alan has Kelly, Davis and Pollard all playing with 4.0 women.

So, what do I know about mixed?  VERY LITTLE.  I know a 4.5 man has a better chance of dominating 8.0 than a 4.0 man has of dominating 7.0.  I also know if you stand out there and never get to hit a ball you have even less of a chance of dominating anything so your partner better be able to hold up.  I know a lot of guys who have told me it’s harder to win mixed than it is to win men’s.  I know a lot more who have told me it can ruin your doubles game.  And while I don't follow or like mixed, I do know some of the players and can do the research on them.

I know I tried it one season but my partner said she wanted someone better looking if she was going to have to play mixed.  She wanted a better player too but evidently she’d have settled for better looking.

And I know that when SpringPark gets serious about mixed your partner better be good looking because you ain’t gonna win.*

 *        The views of this blogger on the subject of mixed do not necessarily represent those of USTA Texas or the DTA, but hey – winning is still winning.


76 comments:

  1. This may not be a uniformly popular post but it is what the research has shown me.

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    1. Thanks Murray for the opening. SP has put mixed on the Texas radar. The only thing I can say that Murray didn't is the reason Kelley dominates in mixed is because no one has played him correctly. All you have to do is take him out of the middle of the court. Any moron can hit to his woman and get to the net. This takes away Kelleys ability to hit back to open court bec his opponent now ready to attack. I cant believe how many idiots try to out ego this fool and play his game. I have watched some of his matches just shaking my head wondering what his opponents are doing. All this bs talk about him having solid women is partly true but if his opponent is worried he can't beat a 3.5 woman that is ludicrous. Get to the net on EVERY POINT and keep away from him and he is reduced to just an AVERAGE JOE! Wake up people! This is not rocket science!

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    2. As one person said to me. Mike Kelly plays 8.0 Mixed Singles.

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    3. Finally a poster who gets the game of mixed. I too was going to say this guy can be beaten by doing the same thing he does to his opponents. Two good 4.0's would dictate each point by getting to net on him. Reverse his style and do same to him. Amazing the lack of strategy these people have. At best he would win only half his matches if Dallas mixed players had a clue! When he gets out of Dallas and into sectionals or nationals he will be reduced to a whippin' boy and i will love evry minute of it!

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    4. 3:57 just made my point. Simply put- MAKE HIS PARTNER PLAY AND YOU EASILY PUT KELLY AWAY! Geez people, its not that difficult.

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    5. Holy Shit... Two players who have it all figured out! Don't hit to Kelly!!! Can't believe we have the only two geniuses in the world right here on this cesspool of a blog! Glad the mixed wins will start rolling in for everyone but Springpark.

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    6. Yes, it's that simple. Oh wait, his 3.5 partner is a foot from the best and has solid hands. I'll just attack the net with every point. Oh wait, he has a great lob. For those of you who think it's easy, put a challenge out there and play him. See if your strategy works. Because a lot of people have tried that strategy and been beaten.

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    7. Stop taking up for this punk. That is the way I see it and not really too many try it. I am not wasting my time playing sissy mixed but if I did Kelly would be my doormat!

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    8. Thank you 4:11 for making my point. If he has such a great lob then lob him at will as well. READ MY POST AGAIN. Play him exactly like he plays you. Let's see how many lobs this 50 year old can run down! Especially when he is playing 5 matches in the heat. He will be no more than an average 4.0 sucking air and totally winded. Play some mixed singles now big boy!

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    9. Who else is glad to see Mike Kelly back stroking his own ego again?

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    10. Tony is, takes the spotlight off him.

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    11. 4:27 post. List your name. Find a partner. And go try to beat him.

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    12. Don't need to I play real mens doubles, not wuss ball.

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    13. If he's sooooo easy to beat, wouldn't you want to make your point.

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    14. Nobody posting a strategy here actually believes it would work, they're just trolling. Any mixed "strategy" you can formulate can also be used by your opponents. Given Kelly's a solid 5.0 and his partner his 4.0/4.5 they'll be able to execute it far better than any team close to legitimate 8.0

      There's only one way to beat them. You have to find 5.0 and 4.5 players willing to tank, likely for multiple seasons, in order to be able to win at 8.0. Good luck with that though, Kelly is the only 5.0 I know of who cares anywhere close to that much about 8.0.

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  2. What happened to the internet argument? Everything was getting Interesting.

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    1. Looks like a new (actually old) argument.

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  3. As soon as people asked for facts and details, the talk stopped.

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    1. Analysis of Tony Le's 7.0 Team (guys):
      Jorge Aguilar – 3.5 – is probably a 5.0 player but at the worst a top level 4.5 player – see history below
      Tournament history from 2014 in Open division:
      - Cotton Bowl singles – won 1 match and lost 2nd round match
      - Cotton bowl doubles – lost opening match – pleayed with Jean Nguyen
      - Charlie Weaver – lost opening match; won one and lost one in consolation rounds
      - Looks to have played Boys 18s tournament in 2009;
      League history from 2014:
      - Played on Oak Creek/Erbe 4.0 division – Played 4 doubles matches with Carlos Aguilar – Lost all 4 matches – scores were 6-4,6-4; 6-1,6-4; 6-0, 6-2; 6-2, 6-1;
      Carlos Aguilar – 3.5 –Now Carlos is not on the team but most likely he will join – he is definitely a 5.0 player – is currently the #2 ranked player in Men’s Open Doubles – see history below
      Looks to have played Boys 18s tournaments in 2010;
      Tournament history from 2014 in Open division:
      - Charlie Weaver – Open Doubles – Won the Doubles title with Ferny Avila
      - Played in Poke-Jos Top 8 Mens Open Doubles – won 1 match – no other matches played
      - Cotton Bowl – Open Doubles – won 2 matches lost 1 match – played with Ferny Avila
      - Charlie Weaver –Open Singles - won 1st round match and lost in 2nd rd
      League history from 2014 – losses I mentioned above and singles loss 6-2,6-2;
      Ryan McClanahan - 3.5 - it looks like he might have played for something called Tennis on Campus while he was in college at OU. So must be a younger guy. His team seemed to be good and they seemed to have gone far in USTA competition. For him to be playing USTA recreational tennis while he was at OU, he must have played in high school and was probably pretty good. He probably wanted to keep playing competitively. He is most likely a mid-level 4.5 player
      Victor Tran – 4.0 – is probably a good 4.5 player
      Tony Le - 4.0 - probably 4.5
      Mo Mahmoud - 3.5 - lots of 6-0,6-1,6-2 defeats in 4.0 in the fall - however regained form this year - its a miracle; probably a 4.0
      Thanh Tran - 3.0 - this is a straight up joke - Thanh won Brookhaven Mixed 4.0 doubles (4 matches); he is most likely a 4.0
      James peter burger – 3.5 – was not able to find much on burger – plays mostly 3.5 and mixed – has a lot of wins but nothing out of the ordinary –probably a top 3.5 player
      Chuck Lee – 3.0 – was not able to find much – he played in one match at #3 line and won – anytime a guy is self-rate 3.0, we can call bullshit on that – let us be conservative and call him a 3.5 player
      Jose Aguilar – 3.5 – not much history on Jose

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    2. If no one complains to Todd Reed and the USTA nothing will get done.

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    3. Todd has been contacted and no DQ. Sounds to me that they are good to play.

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    4. If you haven't filed an appeal against them by now then you are the only one that hasn't filed one.

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  4. Aguilars played Tennis on Campus. If they went to Nationals, that is a 5.0 self rate. McClanahan is the same. Todd Reed must have given them self rate appeals and their 2014 results show Todd was justified. Those three were just plain awful,last year.m We should be glad they are finding their games again. Otherwise, we will lose to Houston again.

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    1. Yes, we should all be glad they are finding their games again. They must have just forgot how to play the game last year.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw-yn2RLcu0

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  5. How about another thread. Why can't we all play by the rules?

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  6. Murray, would you like to come practice with the Springpark teams. We practice every Wednesday at noon and Saturday at 8:00am (not this week, Mother's Day off). Let me know if you would like to join us and come out and have some fun. We don't care if your good looking or a good player. Just no attitude. And i'll put you with a 4.5.

    Alan

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    1. translation: you can come play with us if you tank down to 3.5 and don't complain about it

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    2. No. I didn't say he could play on the team. Just practice.

      Alan

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    3. Screw you guys and I hope Kelley gets hurt and never plays again

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  7. Murray hit this right on! if Springpark decides to play 8.0, it is theirs to win. certain people are now finding out it's not that easy and very difficult. SP has made it easy and that is impressive. They have actually put mixed on the map. I am not sure but looks like to me they may head to nationals in 18's and 40's. Good luck to them in what could be yet another year going to mixed 8.0 in two different events. Incredible.
    LT

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  8. because because because because becaaaaaause, because of the 8.0 things he does..... We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful hogger of balls!

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  9. How about a player of the day feature for Tony Le players. Pick any player. Show their rating, and discuss what their true rating should be and discuss. His team is so strong, you could start with any 3.5 rated player that made his roster and go from there. My guess is 3 or 4 players are at level. The rest are not.

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  10. Funny but where do you start. We will go with alphabetical order so we aren't just jumping on the most blatant tanker.
    1. Carlos Aguilar
    3.5 should be 5.0, next.

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    1. Why just tankers? Why not out of level? Stephen Bennett, a mid-level 3.5 playing up as a 4.0. That should even things out a little.

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    2. Bennett wins against most 4.0's in Dallas, and he is the bottom of their roster.

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    3. Carlos record record from post up top

      Tournament history from 2014 in Open division:
      - Charlie Weaver – Open Doubles – Won the Doubles title with Ferny Avila
      - Played in Poke-Jos Top 8 Mens Open Doubles – won 1 match – no other matches played
      - Cotton Bowl – Open Doubles – won 2 matches lost 1 match – played with Ferny Avila
      - Charlie Weaver –Open Singles - won 1st round match and lost in 2nd rd

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  11. Start with 4.5's playing 4.0:
    Tony Le
    Shawn Arcaria
    Owen Wilson
    Ryan DelaPaz
    Tim Newman
    Andy Alarid
    Andrew Kinson
    Doug Voss
    Steve Kemp
    Jared Kemp
    Hai Nguyen
    Brian Gilson
    That's more than half the roster and doesn't include players rated 3.5.

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    1. I looked all of these guys up and they are in fact listed as 4.0 or lower.

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    2. Pretty common for a 4.0 team. Tells me Reed is letting it go! Otherwise, he would have DQ'd them by now.

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    3. Not true. Todd will research for a month or so and then make a decision. Let's see if they make it to playoffs. That's when the hammer will fall, if it does. If Le is smart, the players he had miss self rate will only play the matches that won't matter. This way if the dq comes, it won't hurt his team to much.

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  12. You missed Victor Tran

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    1. Yeah, he is better than any of them on that 5:53 list.

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    2. The 3.5s are better than the 4.0s.

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    3. Not true, Mo Mahmoud is only better than about half those guys. Only the other 3.5s are better than the rest.

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  13. So let's see, 13 4.5 players that tanked down to 4.0, and 4 3.5, players that are better than them. Nice roster. Dallas should be proud. This is not an isolated incident but a multiple season manipulation that has also added self-rate ringers. Regardless of where you stand on the ethics, you have to applaud the effort and commitment, not to tennis, but to bastardizing the system.

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  14. Anybody hear from Tony. He hasn't been around here. I hope he is alright. Lots of talk about him and he is MIA.

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  15. Why is James Ashby on this blog bitching? Has he not embarrassed himself enough lately. He tells everyone he is a 4.5 and then bitches when he losses at 4.0 mixed? At 40+ playoffs he is embarrassed himself by yelling at his partner the entire match. His partner is one of the nicest guys in tennis, Trae Bowman. Then in mixed his own partner retires because she was embarrassed by his antics on the court. Please stop posting, your opinion means nothing.

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  16. Tony just posted. Trying to deflect. Looks like he played against Ashby in the match he mentions above. Won't respond to the posts above though.

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  17. You really think Tony would be that obvious? He might as well sign his name. No way that is Tony.

    And you think Tony is going to respond to you anons who bitch about everything?

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  18. Yes, Tony we do. Tony never signs his name and as you can tell his favorite word is bitch. As for responding, he knows he can't even start to justify his players.

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  19. Le player of the day: Andrew D. Alarid (next alphabetically after Aguilar(s)
    After several years of winning records at 4.5, Andrew joins HP/Le in Spring 2014 and loses all of his matches in straight sets. Bumped down at year end to 4.0, just in time to join Tony's 4.0 Spring team.

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    1. We skipped Jorge.

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    2. And, to add to that, Alarid is a gigantic douche.

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    3. Yeah. I won't even go into details of his behavior.

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  20. Any input from the captains that have already played Tony's 4.0 team. Prather? Ohl?
    They have actually seen some of these players on the court.

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  21. Just rally behind him, or Freeman!! Texas is so consumed in neutering rosters, that's why we can't get a Nationals trophy!

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    1. Bender has won Nationals and he does it legitimately.

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  22. Wow that is funny. Bender does it legitimately. You need to lay off the weed!

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    1. Be fair to the guy. It is as legitimate as Le and Freeman don't win nationals!

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  23. News flash........anyone who wins Nationals isn't legitimate! !

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  24. Here's a news flash. Tony's team isn't built to win Dallas, anyone can do that.

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    1. The only suspense remaining is whether they drop a line before Nationals. I think they will but would not want to be the guy who loses and blows the team chance for immorality.

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    2. I wouldn't want to be the immoral guy who blows the team either. I hear there are several on that team more than willing.

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    3. Is that how you get on the team?

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    4. I'd be willing to bet they lose at least three lines. All to Freeman.

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  25. There hasn't been this much hate regarding a single team in years. I remember the good old days when people would bitch about Rusty Branch's teams. What ever happened to that guy?

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    1. I recall more hate toward John Sisk.

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    2. Wonder why cheaters get so much hate?

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    3. Yeah, Sisk used to be brutalized here all the time. Rusty was more despised prior to this blog. Rusty is more into his kids baseball than tennis.

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    4. Looks like the Mother's Day weekend has brought out the niceness. Let us hear it for moms!

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    5. never realized so many moms posted

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  26. After looking at his combo team, there will be more hate towards him.

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  27. Looks like Corey and Kelly will get to square off after all in 8.5 combo. At least Corey is willing to play. Some people just sit out big matches.

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  28. I never understood that. I would rather get beat in the big match then watch it from the side lines.

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  29. Happy mothers day to all the dickless wonders on the Le team.

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  30. Well...Mike Kelly just managed to cost his team a shot at the finals here in Phoenix.

    Played on stadium court in the semis.

    I have no skin in the game, we were second in our flight.

    Mike made several horrendous line calls. Umpire on court intervened and made some overrules.

    Mike went ballistic, cost his team a point and then game penalty in each set.

    He went after the umpire, but tournament director was watching and (properly) backed up the umpire.

    It was the worst example of (lack of) sportsmanship I have seen at this level.

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