Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Time for 40s... Cold Weather and Old People Muscles/Joints... What Could go Wrong?






Happy New Years and Brrrrrr.....  It is January so that means it is time for 40s.  Those players that are struggling to compete with whippersnappers get their moment.  For those of you vacationing at a tropical paradise, it is really cold here in the metroplex.  The season starts this weekend and the good news is it will actually warm up to playable conditions... if the weather man is right.  If the weather remains like t is as I write this...  well, the old joints and muscles are in trouble.

Lets get to the new season to discuss.

4.5+
We have the usual suspects with Harllee, Reiman and Rossouw as the favorites.  Last year, Arcaria broke through and made it interested.  Sweeney had to move up and split up after a trip to Nationals.

Rossouw has pared his roster back to a manageable size of 18.  With 9 matches to play, this should be workable.  He has good 5.0s of Barrick and Lama as well as several good 4.5s like Flores to complement his 5.0s.  He should make another trip to city playoffs and have a good chance to make it to sectionals.

Harllee has a lot of the same players back.  He has Bruno Braga as a 5.0 to build around and that is a really good place to start.  Few 5.0s are going to beat Braga... especially at 40s.  He has a lot of good 4.5s to work with as well.  I see this team getting to city playoffs too.

Reiman has Foster as a 5.0.  He is solid but Braga should have his way with him.   Patrick Rea is his other 4.5 but I am not familiar with him so I am not sure what to make of him.   He has several solid but not really playoff 4.5s on his roster.  This team may or may not be there at the end.

Arcaria has some pieces but with this current roster, it is not enough.  Buoni as his lone 5.0 is very solid.  If he adds another top notch 5.0, he can compete.  He has a chance but he will be fighting but needs a piece or two.

Of the other teams, nobody has enough to be serious contenders.

4.0
At 4.0, it appears the epicenter for Dallas middle age tennis is Garland Tennis Center.  There are two flights.

4.0 Flight A: This appears to be a three team race between Garland/Russell (formerly known as Garland/Sisk), Brookhaven/Bartlett and Greenhill Ohl.

Garland/Russell: They have decided to take a page out of the Marc Rossouw playbook and start with 21 on the roster.  There are only 7 matches to be played so playing time might be slim for several players.  They do have some good 4.0s with Tony Le, Mike Zackary, Pat Teterud, Mark Sweeney and Duane Covell.  I really expect this team to win the flight.

Brookhaven/Bartlett:  This roster looks more or less the same as it has looked for a long time.  I expect them to be competitive every week with an outside chance at winning.

Greenhill/Ohl:  I could write the exact same thing about this as Brookhaven as the roster looks more or less the same and they will be competitive but only an outside chance at winning.

The other teams in the flight are just playing for fun.

4.0/Flight B:  This flight is plain bad.  I guess it is a two team race between Garland/Kanchi and Springpark/Walters.

Garland/Kanchi:  They only have 9 on the roster.  Of the players I know, they aren't bad.  One is from San Antonio so that more or less makes this a team of 8.  Without some additions, I see some defaulted lines in their future.  This team has enough to make it to playoffs but is desperate for some depth.

Springpark/Walters:  This team definitely brings a lot of 'experience' in both tennis and life.  I actually think they could field a very good Super Seniors team.

Canyon Creek/Patterson:  They have a few pieces but not nearly enough.

The truth is this flight is fairly wide open.  Kanchi has the best top talent but no depth.  The others have a few pieces but little in the line of top end 4.0.

In the end, Garland/Russell is the favorite to get to sectionals.

In the mean time, stay warm!  It is Texas in January, if you don't like the weather, just be patient.  It will change soon enough.


97 comments:

  1. Don’t count out Raja at 4.0. I don’t think Raj Mahal is too scared of playing Covell or Zacry or Russell. Tony Le and Teterud solid but that’s about it. Team Kanchi will add to his roster and surprise everyone, just like he did in Trilevel.

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  2. Raj Mahal can only play one line.

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  3. If Russell and TET play singles, Sweeney and Covell and Le and Pearson and the leftovers at line 3 I think it will be Russell/Garland win. However, not deep enough to win sectionals so the prize is getting bumped to 4.5. Congrats!

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  4. Rossouw usually fields two teams larger than 18.

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    Replies
    1. Anybody else ever get the feeling Murray is a former Rossouw player?

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    2. It has crossed my mind a time or three. It hs crossed Marc's too.

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  5. Everybody is a FORMER Russo player

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  6. True that. Who hasn't wasted money on his roster for possibly 2 matches?

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  7. He needs to get the DTA to do a recreational league. Sad thing is he might not even win that. That would be cherry on the pie!

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  8. How bad did Rossouw’s squad smash Arcaria team today?

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    Replies
    1. Arcaria team beats Rossouw and Juhn beats Bartlett in an upset. All other matches went as planned.

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  9. Roussow didn’t have his best players and that’s why they lost. and Kelley isn’t fooling anybody. Not giving FULL effort and taking off points to see what is happening around him and waiting. Give full effort or get out of this league, no ne has time for your crap

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  10. Remarkably accurate in 4.0 so far.

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  11. Replies
    1. He was spot on in 4.5 as well. At the time when blog was written Kelley was not on Arcaria roster. I don’t think anyone was expecting Arcaria to win both singles matches against Roussouw but they did. Murray even mentioned Arcaria just needed a couple strong acquisitions to win and he has done that. Derek Moore is a solid 4.5 and Kelley prob the only 4.5 on that roster capable of the win as Moore had his way w Barrie already. so Murray has been spot on in 4.0 and 4.5. What is the most puzzling is how in the heck did Shawn get Kelley out of retirement from men’s league to even play a match, and actually win????? Pay him???

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  12. 4.0 league this year seems weak. Houston the favorite again

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  13. In the end, it will be 4 teams fighting for 3 spots in the 4.5 playoffs. One will be left out.

    Reiman, Harlee, Arcaria and Rossouw

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  14. 4.0 Update

    Flight A is down to 2 undefeated teams with potentially the deciding match this coming weekend with Garland Russell facing off against BH Bartlett

    Flight B Down to 3 undefeated teams with Garland Kanchi facing Springpark this weekend. Scores not posted yet but it will leave only 2 teams undefeated after this weekend with the other being CC.

    4.5

    Only 2 teams left undefeated with BH Harlee and Lifetime Arcaria. Still some big matches remaining as BH Harlee still needs to pay GH Rossouw, JCC Reiman and Lifetime Arcaria.

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  15. How in the heck is Arscaria still undefeated? And beating Reiman 4-1? Makes no sense.

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    Replies
    1. If Kelley and De La Hoya Paz can beat an ex 5.0 and a very solid 4.5 then this league is a joke.

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  16. Do you know 4.5 and 5.0 tennis? Have you seen his roster?

    Mudsam, Pascal, Nguyen, Kelly, Jooste, Buoni, Bartzen, Barrie, Fess, and I have never heard of Hinze but he looks to be a player. That is a solid group so it is not surprising.

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    Replies
    1. Meh. Two avg 5.0’s, 6 decent 4.5’s, one solid 4.0 and one guy who can’t even beat 4.0’s in FE LEAGUE.

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    2. Jooste is a former Big 12 Player of the Year and isn't even 40 yet. Automatic win against any of the other teams.

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  17. The best teams are

    4.5 GH Rossouw
    4.0 Garland Russell

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  18. Agreed, Aracaria team lucky in the win over Ruse oh. The line two singles match was a fluke. Talked to a few people who said Kelley got extremely lucky to win and 99 out of 100 he loses

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  19. Kelly? LOL He is alright at mixed but he is a non factor at mens 4.5

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  20. He is not really any good at mixed. He just always gets the easy lineup. He was lucky to beat Rossi’s ex 5.0 singles player in the deciding match. Kelley is a medium 4.0.

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  21. 4.5

    Harlee vs Rossouw this week

    Who wins?

    4.0

    Russell vs Bartlett this week

    Who wins?

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  22. Well, Larry Harlee prob beats Roussouw in a third set breaker and Scott Russell beats Brad Bartlett 6-4, 7-5

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  23. All 4 of them beat Kelley 6-1-6-2

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  24. Well, neither of those 4 teams mentioned are ladened with superheroes but there are a few “diamonds in the poo poo”. Going to be interesting. Those teams good in all three phases ( serving, returning, volleying). It’s a process.

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    Replies
    1. Three phases? WTH?

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    2. ok, forehands, backhands, serves? JS (just saying) Acadia's team good in all three areas IMO (in my opinion). Its not rocket science and of course I mean its not over until its over but you can observe a lot by just watching. There are just a lot of captains who snatch defeat from the jaws of victory the last 10-12 years so it will be like deja vu all over again. Its refreshing to see a new team dominate and as usual there is a name in the mix that withstands the test of time, no questions asked.

      Delete
  25. Arcaria in first place in men’s 40’s??? Didn’t see that coming.

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    Replies
    1. Times are changing, same old teams on the way out and new captains coming up.
      And there are few captains that just can’t get it done when it matters in recent years.

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    2. well, IMO Arcadia has the best 4.5 40 and overtime BWWS..RMD

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  26. TRILEVEL coming up this weekend. Do Sisk and Voldemort get their THIRD national title (smh..wow) this year or does Houston win this weekend while still looking for their first national tile?

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  27. Dallas team is very good, but Houston is loaded this year. Should be a good match though.

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  28. Sisk losing to FW DOWN 1-0, 4.5’s lost. Other lines playing

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  29. Sisk machine just keeps rolling along! 2-0!!!

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  30. Until they lose to Houston.

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  31. Put up $500 and I will be glad to take your money

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  32. I will pass. Matches are now pro sets, no ad and matches will be over in 30-45 minutes or less. It’s a tossup and anyone can win. Typical USTA with no indoor back up plan.

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  33. Noho got it done. Played the pressure points better

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  34. Does that surprise anyone? Headed to Nats baby!!!! So sorry Dallas

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  35. Dallas can’t win the 4.5 line anymore.

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  36. Well...I heard their 4.0 was a good match but they ended up losing a nail biter

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  37. National titles:
    Dallas 2
    NOHO nada

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  38. Seems it was a lackluster Finals. Dallas was without Lu, Jean Nguyen, Yeh, Womack and Kelley in the finals. And they still almost won???? Wow. Great effort by all and good luck to NOHO.

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  39. Those that were unavailable would have made a good team by themselves. But oh well one guy sick, a few had Work conflicts and some injured. Nothing you can do but Sisk team played well and even had a 4.0 at the 4.5 line in the finals. They made a helluva run.

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  40. they were "sick" and had "work conflicts" because they didn't want to face houston

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  41. Seems amazing Sisk was that close with the lineup he had out there. Hats off to him for having a fairly deep team.

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    Replies
    1. Agreed, no Pollard, no Nyguyen, no Kelley, no Lu, no Womack and no Yeh out there. Pretty damn good run to the finals.

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    2. NOHO had 2 Dallas guys win the deciding line. Dallas was the better team. They lucky Kelley didnt play.

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  42. Seems like Houston should be the scared team. They have exactly ZERO titles while two of Sisks guys have one apiece and one guy has two... jus sayin. Oh well, maybe Houston will get one soon.

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  43. I'm sure Houston will be really jealous of those national titles while they are playing in Indian Wells next month. This blog is getting really stale...

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    Replies
    1. They should be, they have won as many as you. NONE

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    2. Heck, Dallas had a 4.0 playing in the 4.5 tri level final. Lol. And played most matches w a 3.5 at 4.0. Damn lucky to even get to finals.

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  44. Look at the final. Did the Fort Worth captain ditch his own team while they were in sectionals and play for Noho instead? And then helped Noho beat Dallas in the final--after Dallas had already beaten FW in pool play!

    If true, that's both epic and nonsense. Usta leagues are so weird.

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    Replies
    1. i thought there was a rule you couldn't have multiple players that lived more than 50 miles from where the league was based?

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    2. NOHO allows for 2. Most other cities allow one. Up to the city

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    3. Small sections are allowed 2 while larger ones like Dallas, etc are allowed a single player.

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  45. Corey - you are spot on. This blog has gotten stale, and is only fueled by a couple of people who like to feed their own ego.

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  46. Corey, it says you are still a contributor. If so, you should put some stuff out.

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    Replies
    1. Well I would be willing to, but I'm not 40 so I'm not in the league so I have less insight. Also, nobody wants to hear about 5.0. Bulk of the players are 3.5 and 4.0 which I am really out of the loop on nowadays. I've got a deep knowledge in women's 3.0 (who I'm coaching mostly) and men's 5.0 and TCD mixed (none of which are topics of interest on the blog. But when spring league comes around I'll try to come up with something.

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    2. No 3.5s on this blog. Mainly 4.0s & 4.5s in the form of Raja and Kelly patting themselves on the back.

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    3. Corey did you appeal up? We could use you at 4.5 if you are willing to play where you should be.

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  47. Playoff teams are set for 4.5

    Lifetime Arcaria, Greenhill Rossouw and JCC Reiman.

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  48. Murray was pretty close. Arcaria picked up players and he was good. I think Murray knows a lot about that team.

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    Replies
    1. Arcaria didn’t pick up players. Most of he ones he did lost

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    2. Jooste and Kelly?

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    3. Jooste already on roster and Kelley will be no help at all as their is no way he will risk his rating. According to his opponents teammate He toyed w Roussows guy and took it to a breaker after being up 6-1 3-0 hoping others lines win so he could lose. He then played w delapaz it looks like against a former 5.0 and another solid player for Reiman and won that in a breaker as well. Arcaria would be a fool to put him out there trying to keep matches close. Kelley is all about himself. Besides, I can name 23 other people on the team that want to win. As far as Jooste he was already on roster, not a late addition like Smelley. Kelley capable of beating anyone when he is serious but there is no captain in America that will play with fire like that.

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    4. If it meant going to nationals with him 15 times I would walk through an inferno. I have never been playing 22 years and never been! :(
      Let the bashing begin!

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    5. Finally this blog starting to heat up!!! No pun intended... bwahahahaha... I will be here all week folks

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    6. Jooste nor Bartzen were on the team yet. Rossouw and Reiman are praying Kelly does not play in the playoffs.

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    7. They don’t need to pray. No way Kelley will risk his rating. In my opinion if he played all out every match he would be rated 5,5 with the way the leagues go. He can def win 5.0 matches and as much as he is hated the haters would manipulate him to 5.5 in a heartbeat. Already been done so why not again. Kelley will be missing in action come playoff time.

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  49. Guess those 18s flight didn't get published Friday after all. Why am I surprised?

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  50. 4.5 40 and over playoffs will depend on teams availability. If Arcaria gets his top eight outvthey win hands down. If not looks like Reiman

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  51. 18’s 4.0 league looks like Raja and Somabutt have the best 4.0’s in Dallas on the rosters. Teterud and Le for Somabutt and Raja has Rajiv and a mix of other solid 4.0’s. Those two teams will battle it out. Going to be good!

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  52. With TET and Le you should win at least one line. They are prob two of the best 4.0’s in the league. Lots of average guys but TET most athletic. Rajiv of course but he is playing for the Rajinator. Scott Russell coming into his own but still a little green as a captain. If you had Tet, Le and Rajiv and Raja on same team look out for nationals.

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  53. 4.0 rankings coming into 18’s:

    1. Rajiv
    2. Raja
    3. Teterud
    4. Le
    5. Crane
    6. Hai Nguyen
    7. Osiel S
    8. David Yeh
    9. Scott Russell
    10. Bob Somabut

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  54. Hey DTA. Every Tuesday we don't have a score posted yet you send an email wanting to know what happened. From your email of Feb 22 -
    3C. Once league flights or schedules are published on USTA TENNIS LINK, team rosters are considered set and only new players may be added. No player movement between teams/levels/flights will be allowed.



    We will be publishing flights on Friday, 3/2/2018 so if any player movement required the DTA needs to be notified prior to the 2nd.
    So what happened?

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  55. 9:46 AM:

    You are surprised at anything they do? Please.

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  56. Just like that. TET defeats Raja at Cities. TET The Goat. Three singles matches in 15 hours, doesn't drop a set. Even the Rajiv wouldn't sign up for that beating.
    Russell's squad wins Cities.

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  57. and just like that, this blog is dead..

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  58. Cuz Raj Mahal was defeated and has nothing to brag about when licking his wounds.

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  59. People must be switching to golf with the booming economy.

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  60. Looks like the blog is DEAD

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  61. Hey Tush,
    Do u guy have website?
    Thx
    Me Tu Dark

    ReplyDelete
  62. Who won 40’s sectionals? Looked like some good matches

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