Thursday, May 5, 2016

Still Waiting For Something To Happen





If you'd like to read more about my vacation you can pick up my memoirs from the trip in a Half Price Books near you.  Yes, that's me on the horse just before I fell off.





My apologies but I took a much deserved vacation across the pond.  I didn’t take my racquets and I didn’t think about tennis.  I’m back and refreshed but it doesn’t seem like much changed in my absence.
4.5 flight A couldn’t have been more predictable.  Greenhill/Rossouw is rolling and I’m not yet sure there is a second place team that would deserve a playoff spot.
4.5 flight B, however, could be its own city playoff by itself.  Brookhaven/Harllee and JCC/Reiman remain the dominant forces here having only dropped three lines between them in seven combined wins.  Both have already laid waste to some pretty respectable teams as well.  Brookhaven has already done all of its heavy lifting except for JCC on June 4.  JCC still has a little work to do before the title match.
4.5 flight C has fallen into line as expected.  I took a chance on the new kids at Springpark/Aguilar and they have not disappointed yet, sitting now as the only undefeated team in this flight and having already beaten all of the major contenders.  The close TBar match left a question mark on their depth but we’ll see when the playoffs arrive.
No 4.0 matches this weekend with Mother’s Day taking precedent.
4.0 flight A was a strong pick of mine when the season started and only four weeks in everyone has lost.  What do I know?  This flight still has six one loss teams but McKinney/Kanchi and Oasis/Moehler hasn’t posted yet so one of them is at two losses now.  McKinney also plays TBar on May 15.  High Point’s loss to Royal Oaks further underscores my earlier thought that there looks to be a real absence of dominant 4.0 teams this year.
4.0 flight B shows that the 4.0 world still remains somewhat upside down as Lakes and Huffines/Ratcliffe are both 4-0.  WTF?  The two flight leaders square off on May 15.
4.0 flight C has Greenhill/Ohl and Huffines/Jayaram both at 4-0 with Hackberry at 2-0.  That’s a little more like it.  Greenhill and Hackberry square off this weekend while Former Fretz/Jayaram plays the last team actually left standing at Fretz, the 0-fer life time Ward team. 
4.0 flight D has the retooled dirty Garland at 4-0 and 19-1 but also having only played one team with a .500 or better record.  Their next match isn’t until May 22 but it’s against second place McKinney/Bazan.

Maybe its jet lag or maybe the results to date really are a snoozer but I don’t think we see anything really interesting until the playoffs except for the 4.5 Brookhaven v JCC tilt.  And it’s a month away.  Plenty of time for a nap.

 

67 comments:

  1. Kelly, Kelly< Kelly. Working for the DTA!!!!!
    Yes.....

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    1. Lol it's all a ruse!

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    2. If Springpark:Aguilar can talk Kelley into playing look out. Kelley wanting a 10 year-200 million dollar deal. SP stuck at 7 years and 130 mil. (or at least pay the league fee and free racket stringing)

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    3. We will see. I talked to a friend of mine who is a solid 4.5 and my friend played with a solid 4.5 woman and he said he played Kelly and a 4.0 and Kelly beat them. Said Kelly was the real deal.

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  2. This blog amuses me. Someone recently told me about it. I find it amusing that grown men would blog about recreational tennis. I'm curious, what makes "Murray Langston" the authority on recreational tennis? Did he fizzle out on the pro circuit? Is he really a 3.5 plotting his ascendance to the 4.0 level?

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    1. So what. Kelly prob just hogged the ball and played singles. Let's see him beat a 9.0 mixed team doing that. Then I will be impressed, not crappy 8.0!

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  3. Does the Hackberry/Myers captain not know how to post scores? They are the only team not to have a score posted for the past 2 weeks and there hasn't been any rain as far as I know.

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  4. Since the DTA opening is for an administrative assistant I'd be surprised if Kelly isn't on the short list for hiring. Nothing would give the DTA more pleasure than to have him fetching coffee and making copies for them.

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  5. He did apply, the DTA said "no tank you".. Lol. He then called and they put him on hold a year. Lol. I crack myself up.

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  6. Dirty Garland! This cracks me up!

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  7. Anyone got a lead on a good racquet stringer? Coredawg?

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  8. Lynn at Springpark is a MRT. He strings and is very reasonable.

    972-675-1272

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  9. when does mid year rating come out??

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    Replies
    1. no more mid year ratings, usta did away with them this year

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    2. Alzuro caused the change

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  10. who keeps bringing up alzuro? in his mind he thinks he is a great captain but his teams are always a joke

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  11. I've got a question for the blog to ponder. Who is the best playing captain, relative to their level? Like who historically has made the biggest impact on the court for their team.

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    1. Tony Le or Bender, most others can't even get out of cities. Better question is whose the worst relative to roster size and failed attempts

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    2. Better yet what player has made the biggest impact for their team? Prob only one answer and everyone else miles behind

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    3. What about Shawn Arcaria

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    4. Marc Rossouw is the best captain!

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  12. That's an easy question to answer; Cary Bazan

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  13. Hate to say it but Tony Le?

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  14. Bender the best playing captain, Kelley makes biggest impact on whatever team he is on. Alzero the biggest flop when it comes to both captaining and playing.

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  15. Taking results from the past 15 years in Dallas .
    1 Bob Bender
    2 Bob Somabut
    3 Tony Le

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  16. Mixed it's Alan A.

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  17. Real Question is... Whose the best looking Usta captain in Dallas? Maybe Corey Dawg? Or is it Big John Sisk? Or Tiny Le? Alzuro?
    Lets hear from you ladies!!!

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    Replies
    1. There aren't any attractive female captains much less men.

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  18. Best player/captain is a good question but you have to take Bender out of any discussions of captains because no one gets close to his levels of success. The last time Somabut captained a team to nationals it was 2009 and Bob went 1-1 in flight play, that was it. Not much of a contribution. Tony was a key contributor last year on his team that won it all, but it was only one trip. Bender has 20 trips, 10 titles and played at nationals on about half those teams.

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  19. Freeman has to be in the conversation! Winning 3.0 or seniors is the easiest to win, rating out of level is easy at 3.0, so Bender is irrelevant! Tony Le and Waco team are the only two captains in Texas to win Nationals at 4.0. That is off the charts! Freeman and Somabut have made many trips! Pickett is/was the BEST 4.5 captain hands down!! Clark has a ton of success too!! Raja is on deck!

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  20. Most of y'all aren't answering the question. I said best playing captain. Meaning captain who is the most clutch player. Most of the captains are sitting on the sidelines in the important matches.

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    1. Fishing for Corey Noel?

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    2. No I have lost many clutch matches over the years. I would lean toward Tony Le (although he isn't a 4.0) or Rusty Branch.

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  21. Ok. I hate to bring up old things, but I noticed something odd. After the suspensions of Springpark 8.0 last year, the news was that the captain of Greenhill lied about the facts to get everyone suspended and her players said that she was crazy. No one believed the facts. Including the dta. Now 2 of the players that played for her now play for the Springpark team this season. Of coarse the Springpark team is playing out of high point because Alan was afraid that more lies would be told and Springpark, as a club, would be screwed. Again, I just find this funny.

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    1. Gene and Kelly will sign up in June.
      That will be one solid team. Nationals here they come..

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  22. Agreed. No one believed the bullshit the green hill captain spewed except for the DTA who wanted Kelley and Alan out so others could win. Nobody would EVER admit it but Alan knows how to assemble team and people are standing in line to play with and on Kelley and Alan A teams. Bottom line if Alan is your captain and Kelley is your teammate your chance of going to nationals more than triples. If you can't beat them make up shit and get the country clubbers and DTA on board, move Kelly up illegally, keep Alan from hosting a team then suspend Kelley a year and you might have a shot? Until you get to sectionals and get your ass handed to you. You then realize what Springpark has done w dominating mixed is absolutely amazing. And on top of that they now have a junior program that competes w the country flubbers!

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  23. God, you are all so stupid. You are all outdated. The tide is turning in Dallas, where none of your league 'gods' will last. You will all be outdated within the next two years.

    Your time is up. The youth is taking over, and you all don't even know it. By 2018, Dallas will win a national championship... but by none of the relics of the past.

    Give in and let go, old men.

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  24. Lol... Funny. Kelley been winning consistently 10 years, most these young ones can't win 10 days. Funny post though. Go check the roster and see who was on the last 4.5 men's team to go to nationals. Go check the roster and see who was on the trilevel roster that has won two national titles. Go check the roster and see who has been to mixed nationals umpteen times. Go check the roster to see who has dominated combo. Go check..... I see old man Kelly every time. I see old man Davis and old man Alan..... Hmmm. A coincidence they were the suspended ones? I think not. I will guarantee you One of the old men win yet ANOTHER title before 2018. Just hope you don't play Kelley at sectionals 12:28
    Only way to keep the grumpy old men from dominating yet again is a phony suspension or manual bump up, BOTH of which were done and still didn't keep Kelley and Alan A (should be next Davis cup captain) from nationals in mixed and trilevel. Kelley beat you at 40 and will beat you at 50, 60 and 70. GOAT!

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  25. Unfortunately I agree Kelley may be greatest of all time in Dallas tennis as far as longevity and winning at many different levels. He has taken two teams at two different cities to nationals and even and done so at 18's AND 40's. His winning percentage in matches off the chart and "grand slam appearances" (league nationals) are unprecented. I am not his biggest fan but like him or hate him he has set some pretty lofty standards that will take some years to surpass. Looking at it without bias, which no one will do because he is hated, Kelley has to be at the top of the Texas tennis hall of fame if their was one.

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  26. Dominating people below your level is not that impressive. Any top 5.0 could do the same thing as Kelley. If he played 5.0 and 9.0 and went to nationals no one would complain.

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    1. Wrong. Looking at the fort worth 9,0 league match results Kelley played with a 4.0 and beat two solid 4.5 players. He went to nationals at 5.0 and has been to nationals at 9.0 and the same people complained that are complaining today. If he wins he out of level if he loses he tanks. Why do so many damn people care??????? Including the DTA?????? I know Kelley fairly well and he is baffled by the hate and anger. Doesn't care about it but thinks its ridiculous. Guy hasn't played men's tennis in Dallas in two years yet people on here bitching? cra cra

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    2. Exactly he picks on the women and plays levels below to feel like he is on top of the world. He would never make it as far playing with the men of his own level.

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    3. When did Kelly go to 5.0 nationals?

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    4. Kelly is 5.0 lol or 5.5
      maybe he should start teaching...........

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  27. He has and people still complained.

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  28. I can tell you now put a top 5.0 in his exact situations the last 5-7 years and that top 5.0 does not do as well as Kelley has. I despise him too but I will not sit here and say Kelley is not a rare species. He has won at every level and is a damn good player. He is a jerk but a good jerk. Alan A is the only guy who can get him to play at 100 percent it seems.

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  29. PLEASE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!' just play tennis and have fun!!!' FORGET ABOUT ALL THIS BS! KELLY IS SUSPENDED AND OUT OF DALLAS!!!!!! This is a WASTE OF BLOG SPACE!!!!

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  30. This is all just Mike Kelly posting about himself.

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  31. The intent of the rating system is that once you reach nationals at a NTRP level, you move up. Alan made nationals as a 4.5 and is now 4.0. Kelly at 5.0 and now a 4.5. It's hardly a surprise they have success at these lower levels.

    SP has long taken advantage of the fact that, if you only care about mixed, your teams can compete for nationals every year while your players tank their ratings in Mens and Womens. Everybody knows this and the only people singing their praises are the SP players themselves. Until the USTA fixes this loop-hole, it will only continue.

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    1. Funny. If people didn't care then the bullshit suspensions wouldn't have happened. Btw, not too sure the dynasty over. They went to nationals in 12, passed in 13 bec of the cost, went in 14 and qualified to go in 15. Hmmmm, yes I guess it's over. The DTA doesn't think so or they wouldn't be handing down suspensions that were bogus and preferential. In case you wondered, look at the turnover rate at the DTA. That is all you need to know. Maybe previous brass can come back and get fired again over bias and corruption.

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    2. Yes, the same people will continue to go to nationals at mixed until they fix the loop-hole that prevents it from causing their ratings to be increased. Nobody said the dynasty is over - what was said is that it's a farce, precipitated by individuals that prioritize "winning at any level" over "competing at the appropriate level". The bogus suspensions came down due to the fact that the DTA has no authority to suspend players for tanking. If players continue to dishonor themselves and the association by tanking at mens / womens while repeatedly going to nationals at mixed, the only thing the DTA can do is suspend them for other transgressions.

      It's no surprise there is frequent turnover at the DTA - given a handful of teams & players blatantly cheating every year, a majority of the players complaining about it - and no authority to do anything about it.

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  32. they need to make mixed count as much as everything else and the loop hole is closed.

    Get off your lazy butts dta and fix the problem.

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    1. The DTA doesn't control this, it's at the USTA level.

      Mixed results don't count at all, if you play in a Mens or Womens league too. All the USTA needs to do is calculate mixed NTRP independently when a player has at least 5 mixed matches, and assign the higher rating. As soon as they figure this out the SP dynasty is over (or at least they are forced to take the Tony Le approach and win every other year).



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    2. SP is over. They are playing out of high point.

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  33. The dta is part of the usta. They could make suggestions and try to help the usta fix the issue.

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  34. Go High Point! Kelly n Gene will join soon.
    Nationals here they come.

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  35. DTA is looking for another executive director. That would make 3 in 3 years. No wonder we can't get things done. who ever gets the job, please try to stay and accomplish some good things.

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  36. How about something more interesting to talk about? This is a huge weekend in 4.0 All four flights have top teams facing off. In flight A, it's Somabut/Browning. Flight B has Bartlett/Davalos. Flight C features Jayaram/Ohl, and in flight D, it's Bazan/Sisk. Also, keep an eye out for Amarillo. Seven of their ten players are self-rates!

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  37. Who cares about the facts. Let's start trash talking.

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  38. The reason I don't play trilevel is because the clothes and apparel that Fila promised to deliver to the Texas team still nowhere to be found. Even if asked I won't play

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  39. Mckinney defeats Garland 3-2, another undefeated goes down in 4.0.

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  40. Sisk has 15 more lines to work with to seal the flight vs 10 for Cary. Qt will be to much to overcome with Somabut or Kanchi

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  42. Yes indeed Sisk will win our flight barring an upset, we were just thankful to put ourselves back in the mix after our early loss to OC. It is now at least on our racquets to get thru and if Raj stays in QT, two teams go through to DCC so there is room for 2 teams to get thru.

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  43. looks like a tight race for 4.0A....

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