As the guys have said it is really too early to tell who the top teams are but we all know the teams that are good based on history. History repeats itself at the 4.5 level and I expect this season will be no different.
Flight 4.5 A--AKA--"The Flight of Death". I really am not so sure this is the stronger flight in terms of depth but this flight certainly has more of the tier 1 teams.
Frontrunners
Oak Creek/Branch
Oak Creek/Feldman
Royal Oaks/Rothwell
T Bar M/Schnittker
I really think any combination of these four teams could win the flight. Feldman has the free pass to the DCC so they don't have much to play four. Branch's team looks strong as ever so I can't see them not making it to the playoffs. Royal Oaks and T Bar are more of a mystery but based on recent history I would expect them to be solid. Both will probably rely on self-rated ringers for their success, but will they have the same depth as the Oak Creek teams?
Contenders
Hackberry/Borre
Village/Warren
Hackberry has been historically right on the cusp of the playoffs. They have strong players but not really any standouts to compete with the big guns. The Village is drastically improved from last season but I'm not sure where the singles wins will come from, especially against the better teams. A lot of senior players, not usually a good sign when the playoffs are in July.
Social Teams
Collin County/Phillips
Oak Creek/Bovermann
Stonebridge/Teat
High Point/Bazan
No offense Cary but I put you in this category with the other teams that struggle. I would put CC atop this list because they have almost a guaranteed win at 1 doubles every week and some solid singles players. Bovermann has declined as of late and Stonebridge will be lucky to have 8 4.5s on the roster. HP is a mixture of 4.0s and 4.5s but the roster is going to need some improving to compete with the big guns. I will say that based on Cary's experience as a captain that his team has the best chance to jump out of the bottom and make the QT.
Flight 4.5 B--AKA--"Wonderland". Actually their is greater depth in this flight but less superstar teams. A lot more teams that can make playoffs.
Frontrunners
Brookhaven/Harllee
Huffhines/Noel
High Point/Nguyen
I really don't see any other way the flight can end with these teams as the top three. Brookhaven is looking really strong with the return of Sechen. High Point is still solid although lacking depth at this point. My team has retained 90% of its roster including a couple of key additions to my top 8. The key will be which team can maintain consistency throughout the regular season against the other contending teams. The last three seasons have come down to a late-season matchup between my team and Brookhaven and I expect the same to happen again.
Contenders
Greenhill/Stoner
Lakes Tennis/Dunford
Springpark/Abbruzzese
T Bar M/Snow
Greenhill always has talented players but inconsistent lineups lead to inconsistent results. The Lakes has steadily improved over the last few seasons so I would expect them to have the best chance of cracking the top 3. Springpark is always a contender but not sure if they have enough top players to beat the top teams. T Bar has some solid veterans but most of the strong T Bar players are on the other roster. Their split could result in neither team making the playoffs.
Social Teams
LB Houston/Ratana
Oak Creek/Juhn
DFW Hilton/Wallace
Juhn is usually the worst of the four Oak Creek teams but they have the ability to pull an upset. DFW is historically the worst team of the league and they lost their best player so that can't be good. I think Ken is a great guy and will be a great captain but the talent just isn't there yet for his group. Would not surprise me that he, Corry, and Forrest can be successful in singles but doubles looks shaky thus far.
Overall I will put my preseason top 5 as this:
1. Oak Creek/Branch
2. Huffhines/Noel
3. Oak Creek/Feldman
4. Brookhaven/Harllee
5. T Bar M/Schnittker
Anybody have any thoughts or inside information to influence these predictions?
Sorry to say but it is with out a doubt an A league and a B league. The A league has 4 of the best 5 teams in the league. No doubt take Brookhaven out of the mix and it is the B with a capital B league.
ReplyDeleteT Bar with 2 teams what did they split and form two equal teams or what?
T Bar split and the one in the A flight is supposed to be much stronger. I am inclined to believe it will come back to hurt them.
ReplyDeleteWE DESERVE BETTER
ReplyDeleteLast spring the 4.5 teams finished city playoffs in this order:
1. OC/ Branch
2. Royal Oaks
3. T-Bar-M
4. Village/Noel
The top three teams are in the same flight this year. That is ridiculous.
This is the result of a very poor DTA process for flighting teams. Jane Gilpin is a total retard and knows nothing about our 4.5 mens tennis.
It's just the pick of the draw! Live with it and just play tennis. You could always do something else.
ReplyDeleteThe DTA uses ONLY FALL results for seeding in the spring So a team like OC/Branch does NOT get seeded. That's really dumb This is a team that wins 1st every year
ReplyDeleteNo matter how mnay times u point this out to the assholes at the DTA nothing changes.
theres a arrogance at the DTA that keeps them from changing _ same people running leagues doing same crap for too long
ReplyDeleteI think Corey's just trying to get a rise out of people by putting his team 2nd ahead of OC Feldman. We'll see when his full lineup is registered though. He better have some serious ringers in his back pocket...
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Dallas Super Team thread from a while ago, we may've just found it in Branch's spring team.
ReplyDeleteAmong the new additions, Wescoup and Huffman will be among the best 4.5 players in the league. In fact, Huffman was 5-0 at 5.0 in the fall, but was bumped down to 4.5 after the season.
Taking into account the other players in the line-up, that's one outstanding team that's looking like it's very serious about winning the Sectional title this season.
Speaking of Wescoup and Huffman, they upset the #1 seeds in the USTA National Men's 30s Hard Court Championships this week.
ReplyDeleteLooks like they had a bit of a let-down in the semis, but it's a very impressive result.
Congratulations guys!!
When you lose your next 2 matches 1&3 and 3&2, methinks the #1 seeds were not #1 seeds.
ReplyDeleteHeckuva showing though at a national doubles event. They will be a formidable doubles team in 4.5 to say the least.
Opponents were both rated 5.5 with some decent results, but valid point.
ReplyDelete"I will say that based on Cary's experience as a captain that his team has the best chance to jump out of the bottom and make the QT."
ReplyDelete?!
After a close examination of the flights, one could wonder if we could just skip the Flight A and Flight B reference and just call Flight A- Flight 4.5 and call Flight B- Flight 4.4.
ReplyDeleteIn 4.5, TBar and Royal Oaks not only have to beat the other one out, they will need to finish higher than either OC/Feldman or OC/Branch. Tough flight. As the previous poster pointed out, you have the top 3 teams from last spring plus the fall champ all in one flight. 3 biggest questions for 4.5. 1) Who wins the TBar v. Royal Oaks match? 2) Does OC/Feldman play for a top 2 spot or does it ease into DCC allowing a 5 team DCC playoff rather than just 4 teams? 3) Does OC/Branch lose more than 8 lines all season? 4) does Royal Oaks get enough of its big guns out for the big matches and enough of their solid players out for the rest of its matches to avoid upsets? 5) can OC/Feldman follow up on its Fall results and slip past Brookhaven, Huffhines and any other teams that show up at DCC and nab the wild card for Sectionals (provide there is a Dallas wild card)?
Biggest 4.4 (used to be known as 4.5B). 1) Who wins the bye to city- Brookhaven or Huffhines? 2) Is the Lakes as improved as they showed in the Fall 3) 2nd most interesting match- Lakes v. High Point? 4) Does the winner of the Lakes v. High Point match get 1 or 2 matches against the loser of the Brookhaven v. Huffhines match in the Qualies? Write in permanent ink- Brookhaven and Huffhines will represent 4.4 at the DCC.
The fight for the Dallas wild card entry to sectionals will be the most interesting question in many seasons. Up for grabs between Brookhaven, OC Feldman, Royal Oaks (if they get their players) and Huffhines.
Now for preditions.
5 teams make DCC
they will finish in the following order:
1) OC/Branch
2) OC/Feldman
3) Huffhines
4) Royal Oaks
5) Brookhaven
Let's get ready to rumble.
Those #1 seeds are both over 50
ReplyDelete4.5A
ReplyDeleteBranch
Feldman
4.5B
Brookhaven
HP
4.5 MAJOR LEAGUE
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a very strong OC/Branch team. They'll have an easy time. 2nd place goes to OC/Feldman
4.5 MINOR LEAGUE
HP is improved and will edged out Brookhaven. Nancy's Huffines team will finish no better than 3rd place
I predict with a lot of confidence that Village/Perkison will take the City Championship at 5.5 this year.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy reading this blog. FIRST TIME EVER I agree with everything said so far. DTA Gilbin and the brackets, Modic not saying anything, Rusty's team better than ever (no one mentioned he added Louie Ingless who went to nationals 3 years ago as a 5.0). Zero disrespect to the B league but it really is a B division as the top 5 or for argument lets say 6 teams 4 are from the A division. Does not sound too equal to me. Also is it just me but why does the DTA put so much into the fall league and seriously NOTHING to the spring league when it REALLY counts. Very strange!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to get a rise by predicting my team ahead of Feldman's??? We were the only team to beat them all season in the fall. Oh, and we beat Branch too. But I don't mind being doubted. I have never missed the DCC as a captain and I don't intend to this season.
ReplyDeleteSocial? Still trying to figure out how to take that one. I am undefeated as a 4.5 captain and should be for at least another month.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait till week 1, unless we play Rusty's team.
interesting thought someone had on the fall champs getting 2nd place on purpose to create a larger round robin and in the 4.0 Bob could do this to avoid a flighted DCC and instead have a 5 team RR.
Placement of teams in flights is really bad this year. Both spring and fall results should be considered in seeding with spring results more heavily weighted. Plus someone who is knowledgible should review the work done by the DTA clerk, Jane Gilpin.
ReplyDeletePlus we need someone in Brian Modic's job who gives a shit. Be great to see someone like Cary or CoreDawg in that role.
This has happened a lot at various levels over the years but the DTA is too arrogant to change. That's why a lot of guys do not support them any more. We no longer play in their Dallas Cup, go to the silent auction or join in any fund raising events. Weve got to give the DTA as little of our $ as possible.
ReplyDeleteOh ……very interesting! The mighty Glenn Strohl is also going to be playing on a 4.5 team. Wow!
ReplyDeletefor the most part our leagues are well run. but i agree with the other guys that the dta does a very poor job seeding teams and putting teams into flights. but seems like nothing we can do to fix a broken process.
ReplyDeleteWho is the kiss ass sucking up to Wescoup and Huffman? A Fortworthian? haha. Wescoup is an average 4.5 that thinks he's better than all of you posting on this blog. Huffman is better than Wescoup. I don't see why Huffman plays with him. Either way we will have to see how effective these two will be on the over-rated talked about Branch team this season. They may not even get any play time.
ReplyDeleteOverall the preditions seem fairly accurate but you just never know. It will be interesting to see who all makes it to DCC this time.
"I'm trying to get a rise by predicting my team ahead of Feldman's??? We were the only team to beat them all season in the fall. Oh, and we beat Branch too."
ReplyDeleteDidn't you finish 3rd in the fall playoffs? Heck if you want to play that game, you lost to Brookhaven twice in the fall....
I hear there is one desperate guy trying to get on the Branch team but Branch will not take him. He's not good enough to play with the big dawgs yet. Sad for you.
ReplyDeleteYou can say Branch is looking almost strong but I don't see them getting past sectionals again and that's if they make it this year.
You caught me, I told Rusty I would be a great cheerleader if I could just be on the roster and play line 3 against my own team and then get a default somewhere.
ReplyDeleteCome on Rusty?
league play does not begin until 4/19. they could fix the flights if they wanted. but I dont think brian modic gives a dam.
ReplyDeleteNow Corey let's make sure and report results for the fall as they are recorded.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all Feldman lost to Royal Oaks in the regular season. Secondly, their Old Buffalo (54.9) played in that match and also when they (we) lost to you.
Soooo Feldman could not have had their best players on the court. As far as any predictions go, we just like to go out each week and see what happens. It is nice to have the bye, but we will be going out each week to win.(unless you see me in the line-up)
Have a great season and we'll see ya on the court. Don't dodge me this year! Come on down and play some line 3 doubs. (Simmer down Anons)jkg
Buffalo
In doubles, Wescoup probably is better than all of us posting on this blog, including Huffman.
ReplyDeleteResults are results. I also didn't have an undefeated player for my playoff roster. We will never know what both A lineups would have done between us and Feldman. Maybe we will see in the April 4 scrimmage.
ReplyDeleteBrookhaven finished second ahead of us because Royal Oaks mailed it in and lost 5-0 in the final match. Did Brookhaven beat us twice? Yes. I know that I have at least two new players that will fit in my top 8 this season so that's why I have high expectations. But expectations are just that. If it were easy to predict, it would take the fun out of playing (i.e. Sisk in 3.5 who is going to destroy everybody again).
BTW, Wescoup is far from an average 4.5. He won the Houston Major Zone in singles a couple of years ago I believe and has a great record at the 4.5 level. I would still be surprised if Huffman is not on the singles court in the important matches though.
Plus, you can't credit your playing to why we beat you because you won your line Buffalo. Maybe if somebody was playing for you we could have won 4-1.
ReplyDeleteSo what needs to get done to fix the HUGH difference between the two divisions this year? As you can tell I am in the A division on a team that MAY make the playoffs but in the other division we are pushing BH for first place (of course with all do respect to the other teams)
ReplyDeletePractice more, and quit crying.
ReplyDeletePractice my !@#$%^& I know the comment was meant to get a reaction and it worked.
ReplyDeleteGet your head out of you backend and use the thing in your head called a brain. When that is used then we can have a REAL conversation. of course you are in the B division or just on a VERY BAD team. Good luck and quoting you "practice more"
The same thing has happend many times. The secretive process for putting teams into flights is horrible and the DTA is too arrogant to change.
ReplyDeleteOur fate in 4.5 mens tennis is in the hands of a 80 year retarded lady (Jane Gilpin)and a guy (Brian Modic) who doesnt give a shit.
brian is a great guy. I really believe his hands are badly tied!!!!
ReplyDeleteOk, on the court of 3 … let’s all shed some tears. 1, 2, 3 …….. Come on guys! The draw is the draw. Live with it! Just get out there and play some tennis. If you don’t like it, then maybe you should be playing at the 4.0 level. We really have some cry babies at the 4.5 level.
ReplyDeleteof course we are all going to play anyway. we are all going to work on our game, recurit etc. but it is crazy for the OC/Branch team to not be seeded. ive been playing 4.5 a number of years and cant remember anyone else winnning the 4.5 spring city title. flights should be divided approx equally in strength and clearly that did not happen. dta doesnt no what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteIMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM DTA
ReplyDeleteMen 4.5 league players _ screw you! We know that the 4.5 draw was horribly wrong. But tough crap. Shutup & play tennis. At the DTA we do not feel any obligation to be fair or to follow basic principles for tennis seeding. We'll do whatever we want and you guys can cram it.
I like a "major league/ minor league" approach to seeding. And I can do this any way I want. (I have been screwing up 4.0 and 3.5 for years.) Your whinney ass opinions mean nothing to me.
- Jane Gilpin
“of course we are all going to play anyway. we are all going to work on our game, recurit etc. but it is crazy for the OC/Branch team to not be seeded.”
ReplyDelete“ive been playing 4.5 a number of years and cant remember anyone else winnning the 4.5 spring city title. flights should be divided approx equally in strength and clearly that did not happen. dta doesnt no what they are doing.”
Does it really matter? Everyone team with in a flight will play each other. A lot can happen during a season. Just get out there … play and win! If your team hasn’t won, change it up. Do something different! If you know OC / Branch is going to be a tough team, well make sure you have your team’s best players show up when your team plays OC / Branch. Put the pressure on them. It’s very tough for a team to constantly show up week after week. Don’t sit on your ass and complain. If it’s such an issue for you, have you ever submitted a formal suggestion or provided any input to the DTA to help change anything? No! So you have been playing a number of years and you haven’t done anything to try and improve the league. Who’s fault is that? What a loser.
Wait...are you suggesting that negative discussion about the DTA on THE dallas tennis blog is not considered a formal complaint?
ReplyDeleteAlready done? What was the result? Do you even have the skill set to mop up your own mess? You probably need to think about dropping down to the 4.0 or possibly the 3.5 level.
ReplyDeleteSome of u have no idea how frustrating it is to try to deal with the DTA
ReplyDeletei really don't think these flights are that lopsided. You all should want a competitive regular season, that is one reason my guys want to play up at 4.5 and eventually end up there for good.
ReplyDeleteOf course Rusty is a huge fav and Feldman is already in so that leaves I believe one spot if not two spots available for the QT. If Royal Oaks or TBar can't earn 3rd or 4th place than what is the big deal. No offense to either of them (especially since we play them and I haven't met them before) but not having them in the DCC or sectionals isn't going to bring down the foundation of Dallas Tennis. I really think the B flight is just as tough with Corey's team, Brookhaven, High Point and the Lakes. HP narrowly missed beating RO in the Fall and has improved and looks like Ed signed up this week and Kern might not be far behind.
Suck it up guys! If not there is a Thursday AM league for 3.0 ladies and my wife needs more players as long as you can hang with the pastel color scheme that alternates for home and away matches or some sh#$ like that.
Cary, I wouldn't agree with you more. Suck it up cry babies!
ReplyDeleteNow why would Kern join HP? Oh yeah, maybe because he needs Ed to hold him up. LOL
Ed and Jason still have an open invite to join the "Real HP" team and show how average flight A really is. Wescoup, Huffman who?
ReplyDelete:))
GOOD POINT/TIME TO MOVE ON
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of seeding/flighting is to have flights approx = in strength. Our 4.5 flights are obviously lopsided. Agree the DTA screwed up. Also agree that they are hard to deal with and dont want ur help in this area. I disagree with the guys trying to defend the DTA. (How smart do u have to be to know that OC/Branch should be 1 of the top seeded teams?)
Good points all _ but now is the time to move on. We have a very interesting 4.5 season ahead of us. Lets focus on the tennis.
Forget about team matches won. How many lINES over the entire season do you think Cary's 4.5 team will win?
ReplyDeleteMore than 5 or 6???
My point is that how is this inequality of the flights going to affect what teams advance to Sectionals? Answer: It's not. The best two teams will persevere because the DCC is round-robin.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do think Cary's team will win more than 5 or 6 lines because there are several bad teams in that flight. I predict 14-31.
CoreDawg
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point about Sectionals. But some teams dont have a realsutic shot at Sectionals. To them the city playoffs is the highlight of the year. Those teams do not want to be in a flight that is extra hard because it hurts their chances to make the playoffs.
"Forget about team matches won. How many lINES over the entire season do you think Cary's 4.5 team will win?"
ReplyDeleteAre we counting default wins?
They might beat Stonebridge. It'll be a long season beyond that.
It wont be much fun for a decent 4.5 team when they play Cary's crew.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that. I still think the top 8 teams (if they take that many) will make playoffs. Feldman, Branch, Noel, Schnittker, Harllee, Nguyen, Rothwell, and Dunford.
ReplyDeleteIf they only take 6, then the top 6 don't make it.
How about this? Who would win a fantasy matchup with Flight A (the top player from each team) vs. Fligth B (the top player from each team)?
That would be cool. Flight A all-stars vs Flight B all-stars but no more than 1 player per team.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear some of you have a normal sized brain. Agree very very unequal divisions and yes DTA is horrible to deal with. Greatest comment was said when some of us have realistic goals of just getting to playoffs. Branch always has best team and will move on, so be it. This is why there is so much energy on the unequal divisions.
ReplyDeleteFinal note. DTA claims to base seedings and everyone talks about the fall league.....come on if you do not realize that the fall league is a joke then do not even bother to voice your opinion because you are a dumb@#$%. Fall is when the 4.0 move up and the good 4.5 move up (for the most part) while others take the season off or just work on their games. Fall is social and everyone who plays it knows it!!!!!!!!!!
anon 5:27am
ReplyDeleteGood post. You are so totally correct!
Dumbest comment of the year:
ReplyDeleteI really dont think these 4.5 flights are that lopsided"
_ Lucky Thunder
Cary is a good guy. But let's face it. He doesnt know crap about 4.5 tennis.
ReplyDeleteIt’s the luck of the draw!
ReplyDeleteSeason after season you see many of the same players and many of the same players playing on the same teams. Ok, one variable that you can control is the roster of your own team. Build a team of players that can go out and beat the same old teams / guys that have been winning in the past. Here is the good old USA, one can make choices and do things within the rules and laws of society. Build a team that has the capabilities to whip up on everyone in Dallas. If you can whip up on everyone in Dallas, take the team to the sectional tournament. In order to build a team with this ability, it takes some work. Most people are too lazy and aren’t willing to do anything extra for them or for others. You have to get up off your ass, put together a target list of good players, start making some phone calls to potential players, educate the players on what your trying to do and persuade them to join the team, coordinate some team practices, understand the strengths and weaknesses of your players, work on different line ups, account for people being sick, family or business obligations that come, unsure that everyone on the team gets enough playing time throughout the season, understand your competition, ……..
It’s the luck of the draw!
ReplyDeleteSeason after season you see many of the same players and many of the same players playing on the same teams. Ok, one variable that you can control is the roster of your own team. Build a team of players that can go out and beat the same old teams / guys that have been winning in the past. Here is the good old USA, one can make choices and do things within the rules and laws of society. Build a team that has the capabilities to whip up on everyone in Dallas. If you can whip up on everyone in Dallas, take the team to the sectional tournament. In order to build a team with this ability, it takes some work. Most people are too lazy and aren’t willing to do anything extra for them or for others. You have to get up off your ass, put together a target list of good players, start making some phone calls to potential players, educate the players on what your trying to do and persuade them to join the team, coordinate some team practices, understand the strengths and weaknesses of your players, work on different line ups, account for people being sick, family or business obligations that come, unsure that everyone on the team gets enough playing time throughout the season, understand your competition, ……..
Cary – Slow down just a little bit when in concerns the 4.5 league. The season hasn’t even started. You need to kind of test the waters and understand the big picture of what’s going on. Don’t worry, you be able to figure it all out. It just takes a little time. Just don’t get you cart in front of the horse and be careful don’t to step on anyone’s toes until you meet everyone.
ReplyDeleteAgree -> most people do not realize that we do NOT have a "draw" at all. All teams are put into flights by the DTA league clerk. Nothing is random.
ReplyDeleteIn almost any tennis event you can think of, teams and players are placed in brackets and flights by RANDOM DRAW after seeding a few teams or players.
I do agree with all the comments about building a good team, practicing, etc. But that's not the point.
You cant complain if the draw is random. But you do have a valid complaint if your team is specifically placed in a flight by a league clerk.
it is hard to defend a system whereby a clerk puts all teams wherever she wants them to go
ReplyDeleteI always love the whole "the fall season is meaningless" is comment. Yet at the 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 level, the team that won the fall advanced to Sectionals in 2008. I doubt any of those teams would say the fall is meaningless.
ReplyDeleteIts always good to finish 1st in the fall and get a auto entry to the City Championship in the spring.
ReplyDeleteHowever, spring competition is always tougher because the ringers come out in the spring. Also a lot of teams (not every team) dont take the fall season very seriously _ because there is really nothing to win.
No one wants to play great in the fall and get bumped to the next level in the spring. Better to experiment with your game, practice difficult shots, etc and save your best for when it counts.
CoreDawg, are you so naive that you do not realize this???
Core Dawg and Lucky Thunder. In reading your comments you are either no 4.5 players, on the DTA board or just the dumbest tennis players I have ever met!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFall league is a tune up and a way for the DTA to make money (which is great because it goes to fantastic places)the WHOLE ISSUE is that the DTA uses the Fall league and NOT THE SPRING LEAGUE as the basis of their "seedings" in which I use very loosley. Just quit sounding like you really know what you are talking about because most 4.5 players know the truth. You guys are just showing how stupid or suck ups to the DTA you really are. Just drop it please, you are embarrassing yourselves.
cart........horse.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know there are just as many whiny a$$es in 4.5 as there are in 4.0, we will enjoy beating you just as much. :)
Of course I realize that the fall is less competitive than the spring. You guys just make it seem like we are playing for fun in the fall. Do you think that once people step on the court they try less based on the season? I agree that the recruiting is much more aggressive in the spring but I would say the fall and spring rosters are 95% the same.
ReplyDeleteFor the other issue, I already said I was in favor of having a draw for flight selection at the captains' meeting, after the top seeded teams are divided. I'm not going to complain about the current system on a blog that accomplishes nothing. If I'm unhappy with the system I will e-mail Jane.
In 4.5 at least, the teams that took the fall seriously were rewarded with their flight placement (myself, Brookhaven, Feldman by winning). Those that did not supposedly (Branch and T Bar) were punished based on poor fall results. Now they are stuck in a flight with two other playoff-caliber teams. And I don't hear Branch complaining. As I've said many times, you have to beat all of the other teams at one point or another so what does it really matter if you lose to them in regular season or post-season?
I would say the only team to have a legitimate gripe is Royal Oaks. They advanced to Sectionals last season and got stuck in the same flight with the other sectional team, and three playoff teams from the spring, including the fall champions.
I personally think they should let the captains decide which teams should be seeded. It would make the captains feel important and contribute while alleviating all of the responsibility/blame from the DTA. Of course that always creates the possibility of collusion among captains but with so many teams, the concensus would be accurate.
ReplyDeleteLet me see, which is better . . .
ReplyDelete(A) an 80 year old retarded lady places all teams wherever she wants using fall results as a guide
or
(B) Seed a few teams (based on all avail info) and place rest by random draw
Does anybody know for sure that it's actually Jane that decides the flights? I would think it would be a committee of people, maybe even people in Austin. That is something they should share with the players regardless of how it's done.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the dart board in her office!
ReplyDeleteold school
It's a fact: Jane does it herself _ and she uses fall results as her ONLY guide. Whenever someone calls or sends emails they just blow you off. (Try it yourself.) And to top it off they try to keep it all a big secret.
ReplyDeleteThey seed teams but never publish who exactly was seeded.
Yes, it should be a committee _ that's the only reasonable approach.
Maybe a small group of 4.0 captains could volunteer to seed 4.5 and a group of 4.5 captains could seed 4.0.
I dont know how old Jane is but Im sure she is way older than my mother. I doubt she is retarded but probably not that bright. Why should we be at the mercy of someone like that to handle 4.5 mens seedings?
ReplyDeleteI play for Rusty. We dont care how the flights are set up because we plan to beat everyone anyway. But I agree the 4.5 flights are not balanced. In fairness to all players and all teams we probably need a better process. (Did someone really think that we did not deserve to be one of the seeded team?)
ReplyDeleteThere are some guidelines one of which is the fall, also which is obvious is the separating of teams from the same home courts.
ReplyDeleteAlso I am almost positive it is Modic in charge of the flights.
Your wrong again _ Modic is not responsible for flights. That would be Jane. And Jane is not looking for anyones help, advice or input.
ReplyDeleteAnyone notice Senior 3.5? They had the TOP THREE OR FOUR TEAMS ALL IN THE SAME FLIGHT.
ReplyDeleteSome guys pointed that out early on and now the city playoff results confirm it.
So it can always be worse!
"Im almost positive Modic is in charge of the flights"
ReplyDeleteCary, do you really believe that Brian Modic did not know that OC/Branch was one of the top teams? Do you really think that Brian or any reasonable 4.5 player would come up with such imbalanced flights?
Come on!
LOVE the idea of the captains getting together to HELP/have input to the divisions. My only suggestion is to WEIGH the spring league. WHOMEVER is doing the brackets only uses the fall and as someone stated the Fall is a poor example of how good teams are (of course no one tanks or gives less than 100% it is just the better players are not quite available most of the time)
ReplyDeleteReward the fall winners but do not weigh the fall 100$ as it is now!
Of course Rusty's team is not going to complain because they are that good (I am not kidding or being sarcastic) it is the rest of us who want to just make it to the playoffs... what is wrong with that!!!!!!
The participating (across the board) in the tournament at the Village was very piss poor.
ReplyDeleteVillage tournaments are often poorly run _ worst in Dallas. So many guys avoid them.
ReplyDeleteThe flights may've turned out uneven, but questioning Jane Gilpin's intelligence by referring to her as "retarded" or simply as "a clerk" or calling into question Brian Modic's integrity is inane. We're better than that . . . or are we?
ReplyDeleteI absolutely wouldn't want captains determining the seedings for the flights because they have a vested interest in the end result. I wouldn't want any potential improvements in the process to include that option for consideration.
No one questioned Brian's integrity. But Brian has sat on his ass and allowed this insane process to continue. He did nothing while Rusty's team was not seeded among the top 4.5 teams. He has done nothing at all to improve a horrible process. He likes to have a fancy title but shows no inclination to improve anything.
ReplyDeleteI've met Jane Gilpin only one time. She looks older than my mother. She probably is not retarded but frankly I don't think she is very bright. And she certainly is not qualified to seed men's 4.5 teams. And I do believe she functions as a clerk. That's not intended to be derogatory _ just factual.
We need a small committee of knowledgble guys to seed 1 or 2 teams per flight. Then the remaining teams should be place by random draw. (What could be simpler?)
Currently we have an old lady (yes a clerk) placing ALL mens teams wherever she wants them to go. Using ONLY fall results as a guide. THERE IS NO RANDOM DRAW. That makes no sense whatsoever.
And I know guys that have complained and offered suggestions and even offered to help _ but where blown off.
we are lucky in 4.5. check out the senior blog. it looks like the best 3 teams in senior 3.5 were all put in the same flight resulting in a "major league" and "minor league". its just crazy
ReplyDeleteu guys have Brain Modic confused with someone who gives a sh_t
ReplyDeleteAnybody know Brian well enough to ask him why we do not have a better process for flighting teams?
ReplyDeleteshut up and grow some balls. all this time on the blog bitching about the flights could be spent working on your game. In the end the best teams will be left standing. Period.
ReplyDeleteI love these comments. Blaming everyone else for "stuff"
ReplyDeleteHere are facts (ok strong opinions)regarding 4.5
Jane has no clue how to run a league
Brian is really a great caring person, his hands are tied and his mouth is duck taped.
Seeding sucks
No matter how hard you try your team will not beat Rusty's
What is wrong with your goal being to make playoffs.
Why are some of you being so rude
Those saying the seedings are ok, have no clue about 4.5 tennis or you are in the B division, that is a fact folks not a opinion!!!!!!!!
If Jane functioned as "a clerk," then she wouldn't have the authority to seed teams, place them into subflights, and so on.
ReplyDeleteI think people are using that term to describe her in a derogatory way because of the process when they don't know or work with her on a regular basis and have no idea. Give me a break about the age argument, too. If you want to criticize the process, fine, but these personal attacks on her come off a bit desperate.
I agree it would be helpful if Brian or someone else from the DTA could come on and post how the entire process is handled.
There have been so many opinions thrown out here that it's hard to know what to believe is actually going on: Is Jane responsible? Is it Brian? Is it both? Are all teams seeded and placed in the subflights? Are only the top teams seeded and the rest placed by random draw? Are teams assigned completely by random draw? If teams are seeded, is it based on the fall season, the spring season, the past two seasons, or other?
If the DTA has guidelines that it has developed, is supposed to follow, and is adhering to them, it would be nice to know what they are. Transparency would be helpful.
Yes, transparency is the first step to improving a really poor process.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the DTA intentionally avoids communicating their process because they know what they are doing is wrong.
Has anyone tried going above the DTA to complain to the Texas Section about the lack of communication (and does the Texas Section really care)?
ReplyDeleteGood question. Any of you guys no anyone at the Texas Section?
ReplyDeleteI'm not happy so I am telling. The Texas section does not listen so I am telling the National Office and when they did not listen, I will file a lawsuit.
ReplyDeleteI'm not happy so I am telling. The Texas section does not listen so I am telling the National Office and when they did not listen, I will file a lawsuit.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if OC Branch can even be tested in local league play? Time and Time again Branch has been the dominant team and I don't think that will change this year. His new additions Wescoup/Huffman will strengthen his team. The word is they maybe even stronger than last year but we will have to wait and see.
ReplyDeleteLots of Free Agents still available for league 4.5 Play.
San Antonio is the Team to beat again this year unfortunately for Branch.
Branch has some gr8 additions, but not sure they match some players they lost to 5.0 from last years team.
ReplyDeleteTeam Branch won't be any different in 2009 then they have been in any of the previous years. Dominate Dallas, get to sectionals, play well but ultimately lose 3-2 to a better team. This is not a knock on the team but there is nothing different in 2009 than in past years. Huffman and Wescoup are nice players but not the type of players that will flip that 3-2 loss at sectionals.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why everyone is focusing of the players OC Branch lost. Sure we lost some depth, but the players we lost were not all that great and probably should be playing 4.0, instead of getting bumped to 5.0.
ReplyDeleteMorrison - he could never win the big match and besides, Rudy made him the player he is today. Volleys were always weak.
Clint - only got on the team bc he gave us free prince stuff and had a cool facebook page. He could not return serve a bit and had a weak backhand.
Walt Ming - better at basketball, weak volleys and no serve. He never materialized into a solid 4.5 doubles player for us. We told him to work on his height and we would talk in a year.
Jeremy - that sorry SOB should have never been on our team to begin with. he was good in college, but that has been so long ago - he has lost 3 steps. besides, he can't play doubles and gets beat regurlaly by Brent James.
We will indeed be much stronger now that we don't have to carry those heavy loads around.
Not sure why people are hung up on the strength of Branch's team right now. Do you honestly think they won't slip in a couple more high level players as the season progresses.
ReplyDeleteAlso, WHERE IS THE 5.0 LEAGUE THREAD!?!?! Come on Cary! Let's hear your thoughts on 5.0 rosters.
isn't that a bunch of 4.5s playing up? But if someone wants to volunteer a 5.0 thread, let me know but I ain't going near that.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the last day to add a player to your roster?
ReplyDeletewhat does it matter what flight your in. the top teams will make sectionals (branch). i like the fact my team is in the "b" flight. it gives us a better chance to make the city playoffs. we have no chance to make sectionals. is it a good system, no. but i've said it before, its just 4.5 tennis. if the worst thing on your life this year is your 4.5 tennis has unfair draws, consider yourself lucky. or do you just not have enough to complain about?
ReplyDeletethe last day to add a player is today. good luck
ReplyDeleteWhere's our favorite Arkansas blogger?
ReplyDeleteNo, its not a big deal but no reason not to do seeding correctly.
ReplyDeleteHow nice for your team that you is in flight B and now have a chance to make playoffs when you'd have no chance in flight A. But bad part is there is a team or two in flight A (better than your team)that will miss the playoffs but could have made the playoffs in flight B.
Not the end of the world but certainly we can improve. Any process that does not recognize Branch's team as one of the best is seriously flawed.
I ask this, not as a joke, but a serious question. When you keep saying that Branch's team is not seeded - what do you mean by that - did they formally seed teams. I did not know that they seeded teams in pre-season, but have not kept up or even been to the USTA web site to look as of yet. Where are you finding the seeding info.
ReplyDeleteIf this is a redundant question that has been explained in the blog already, my apologies - i am late to the game, but confused nonetheless. Please explain the seeding process or where this info is coming from.
Lastly, when does the season start - first match
wassup Red
ReplyDeleteinfo on seeding for flights:
ReplyDeleteThe Local League Coordinator (LLC) authorized by the USTA Texas Section to administer the USTA league program in the greater Dallas area will assemble the stats of returning teams from the previous league season within a division. Strength of finish in the previous local championship and finish within the previous local league flight will be the first consideration. Shuffling teams between flights from one season to the next and separating teams from the same facility will be given consideration.
The proposed flights for an upcoming level/league will be sent to at least one DTA individual league coordinator and the DTA VP of Leagues for approval and/or revision. The final approval will come from a coordinator and/or the VP of Leagues whose team is not in the level being approved.
Cary,
ReplyDeleteI'm not doubting you, but was curious of the source of your information.
Who at the DTA are currently in the positions mentioned in Cary's post?
ReplyDeleteTheoretically, could anyone in the DTA playing at a particular level have any influence on the potential flights at that level? I'm not accusing anyone, but wanted to know if it could be a possibility.
I believe this is readily available info but Jane sent me this.
ReplyDeleteAfter I picked our flight, just kidding. :)
Thanks. It provides at least some some insight into the process for those interested.
ReplyDeleteDirector of Adult Leagues - Jane Gilpin
ReplyDeleteVice President (Leagues) - Brian Modic
Jane must be the LLC, and Brian mut be the DTA VP of leagues. I don't see anyone else besides Jane listed on the dta.org site who might serve as the other league coordinators. If so,
The Local League Coordinator (LLC) authorized by the USTA Texas Section to administer the USTA league program in the greater Dallas area {Jane} will assemble the stats of returning teams from the previous league season within a division. Strength of finish in the previous local championship and finish within the previous local league flight will be the first consideration. Shuffling teams between flights from one season to the next and separating teams from the same facility will be given consideration.
The proposed flights for an upcoming level/league will be sent to at least one DTA individual league coordinator {Jane} and the DTA VP of Leagues {Brian} for approval and/or revision. The final approval will come from a coordinator {Jane} and/or the VP of Leagues whose team is not in the level being approved {Brian, except for men's 4.5 leagues where he'd have to exclude himself}.
It does look like heavy enphasis on the fall (last prior season) and it looks like none of the teams are placed into flights by random draw.
ReplyDeleteIt does look like there is some review by VP Leagues _ which is good.
Shuffling teams from one flight to the next and separating facilities is considered. ??? Probably Ok to avoid having 3 High Points all in the same flight.
CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS
1) Place more emphasis on prior SPRING season
2) Since teams are "seeded" based on prior season records announce the seedings (transparency)
3) Distribute at least half the teams by random draw.
Thoughts???
The funny thing is that us and brookhaven, two playoff teams, are both in the same flight again. And three OC teams are in one flight. Both of those should not have happened according to those rules.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous
ReplyDeleteMarch 25, 2009 3:57 PM
I am still around but I am a hick from AR, so my opinion does not matter anyways.
Have been busy trying to tank my way down to 4.0 but killed that by going 2-1 at Mid-Season, with the loss being 11-9 MTB.
Overall Branch is team to beat but they can easily be beaten if a few players get hurt or are out of town. Probably the thinnest I have seen Branch's team in years, but they should be the top dogs again.
Section-wide watch out for Austin and San Antonio.
dat a boy AR, glad to have you back. your insight is invaluable to this blog not to mention the craze you stir up from time to time.
ReplyDeleteFYI Here is how 4.5 teams were flighted this spring -->
ReplyDeleteIn the FALL teams finished in this order:
1. OC/Feldman
2. BH/Harlee
3. Northwood/Noel
4. R. Oaks/Rothwell
Jane looked ONLY at fall results. She put #1 and #4 in flight A and teams #2 and #3 in flight B. (OC/Branch was NOT seeded in the top 4.) MODIC OBVIOUSLY DID NOT REVIEW THIS. Then Jane put OC/Branch and T-Bar/Modic also into flight A. (This was a bad decision not a random luck of the draw.)
This means that the top 3 teams last spring (OC/Branch and Royal Oaks/Rothwell and T-Bar) all ended up in flight A. Jane distributed the remaining teams any way she wanted, Nothing was random.
Jane means well but did not realize that OC/Branch would be one of the top teams. Obviously Modic was either sleeping at the switch or was not given the chance to review it.
A number of posters have been throwing opinions out there on how the subflights were created. Unless Jane or Brian weighs in, however, we may never know the true story.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the 3 suggestions from anon 12:01. They seem like easy improvements.
ReplyDeleteWell I think most players would prefer seeding primarily based on spring not fall. And that would not require any additional work by the DTA.
ReplyDeleteOC/Branch wins 4.5 and advances to Sectionals every year. They should be the top seed until someone knocks them off. What am I missing?
Hate to add this to the blog but I actually got a live person to fill me in on "stuff" we have been talking about. Jane and Brian basically has NOTHING to do with the MENS league. I was driving (shocked I got a live body that was filling me in) and there is some guy who is in charge of mens leagues.
ReplyDeleteBy the way I looked it up and obviously Brian has nothing to do with it because he is on TBarM and they are in the A division. My LOGIC tells me if he had ANYTHING to do with then TBM would be in the B.
Someone try to find this guys name as he is the one in charge. FYI also seeding for the spring is 100% yes 100% based on fall results and if you did not play fall then it is luck of the draw.
Jeff LaSalle is the person in charge
ReplyDeleteif we could at least get seeding based on spring not fall that would be an improvement.
ReplyDeleteI assume that the Laselle comment is a joke since he plays in men's 4.5.
ReplyDeletejoke for sure
ReplyDeleteI guess people will stop using the fall to sandbag and tank matches if they want to be seeded in the spring. Most of the good players use the fall to help them keep their 4.5 ratings.
ReplyDeleteI play on one of the "social" teams in flight A. I agree with the guys wanting a better seeding process but it's certainly not the most important thing on my mind.
ReplyDeleteYou are totally right. Good players and good teams do not play all out in the fall. Why get your best guys bumped for no reason? The fall is used by top teams to "manage" their NTRP ratings. And that's what any resposnible captain will do.
ReplyDelete"Most of the good players use the fall to help them keep their 4.5 ratings."
ReplyDeleteI might agree with that statement if you used "Some". I may be naive, but I find it hard to believe that over 50% manage their ratings. I'd also argue that some players use certain opportunities during the spring to do the same.
Regardless of any seeding process, guys no the fall is pretty meaningless and they use it to keep their ratings down. It would be much better to use the prior SPRING results for seeding. That would give truer results and would not cause the DTA any additional work.
ReplyDeleteOr guys could play for real in the fall, and not try to manage their ratings.
ReplyDeleteWhen I said most I meant most of Branch's team.
ReplyDeleteit doesnt hurt branchs team to not be 1 of the top seeds. it is teams on the bubble that may get hurt by uneven flights.
ReplyDeletewow, the 3.5 thread has 362 comments ands we have only 144. Those 3.5 guys cant play a lick but have tons to say. And apparently some clown from Beaumont is generating a lot of the comments.
ReplyDelete"guys cant play a lick but have tons to say"
ReplyDeletelol
Someone is going to cause ratings class warfare!
ReplyDeleteI live in Austin and this does look way screwed up.
ReplyDeleteI wish everyone in 4.5 just had to play Open. 4.0 should be the cutoff before it goes to Open. This way, anyone 25, 30, 35, 40 could play their age group instead of a rating as high as 4.5. This would make rankings more valuable. I am talking about tournaments only and rankings only for this idea. I see 4.5 people playing tournaments and I sometimes wonder why they get so excited with wins. Congrats, you are a great NON OPEN Player. Woopie. I find it hard that anyone really wants to brag about their rank in 4.5 to anyone. try saying you are ranked top 25 in Open and see what their eyes will do. Its more sexy.
ReplyDeleteBragging about your ranking in any level is pointless unless your on the ATP tour. A high ranking simply means you do relatively well in a lot of tournaments. The top ranked players in the state at every level are not the best players in the state at that level. Just look at Sectionals and Nationals to see who the best players are. A high ranking simply shows a commitment to play a lot of tournaments.
ReplyDeleteThat is the great thing about playing tennis. It can be a lifetime sport. What I mean is that no matter what your level is you can play until you are 100. If you moved to Open it would discourage all of us normal players from playing organized leagues.
ReplyDeleteDTA seedings for Spring is a JOKE!!!!! No One at the DTA has the guts to admit what the system is and try to change it. You would think with all the crap that has happened with the HORRIBLE seedings they would try to do something.....NOT!
Man, we 4.5s are a bunch of whiners, which is no different than at any of the other levels.
ReplyDeleteDude, the ONLY thing that the DTA does for us is set up flights and put teams into flights. That's all!
ReplyDeleteWE sign guys up, get courts, get balls, record scores, and do all the coordinating, etc. The National USTA establishes almost all the rules.
With the little the DTA has to do you would think they could do a better job. Proper seeding of top teams and random distribution of the rest. THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
BRIAN MODIC, WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR YOU TO HELP FIX THIS MESS.
Hey Genius,
ReplyDeleteModic does not give a dam. He knows what we are doing is wrong but will not lift a finger to improve it.
Well I can't imagine that Brian did not know that OC/Branch was one of the top teams. To not seed them in the top 4 is ridiculous. That's why I think Brian was not involved at all. He just has some kind of title but does not make any decisions.
ReplyDeleteAnd why not identify the seeded teams? If you are going to seed teams then have the stones to announce your picks -> just like they do for tournaments. But our Gestopo at the DTA likes to keep everything a big secret.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Gestapo taking things a little too far? This is just a tennis league after all.
ReplyDeleteIt may be up to the captains to collectively speak up at the captains' meeting if they haven't already done it in the past.
"Good players and good teams do not play all out in the fall. Why get your best guys bumped for no reason? The fall is used by top teams to "manage" their NTRP ratings. And that's what any resposnible captain will do."
ReplyDeleteI hope you're wrong about the captains. I know that at least one of the 4.5 captains follows that philosophy, but hope it's not pervasive. Are there sanctions in place for captains found guilty of having players throw matches or manage scores?
Why not have some pride in just playing your best and ending up at whatever level it puts you?
You can never prove "managing scores" was going on _ even if it looks obvious.
ReplyDeleteOutside of Rusty's team other teams manage the fall to lose while giving it your best. Example. You are worried about getting bumped, play line 1 with a 4.0 or your weakest player against a good team then let it go. Who is confused about the fall league that it is a joke!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFYI, everyone is yelling about Brian but someone posted a note which made a TON OF SENSE to me please someone answer this because it confuses me
If Brian has a say i the seedings why is TBM the team he is on in the A bracket with the best teams and not the weak sister B league (sorry division)?
Wow - this is like a damn 3.5 thread. The fact is seeding teams based on previous spring doesn't work because the rosters change. The closest thing to go by is the Fall results.
ReplyDeleteIt takes all arbitration out of it - its clear and simple. The 4 teams that make the playoffs get the 4 seeds and DTA just makes sure to split them up to where 2 go one direction and two go the other.
The fact that Branch bobmed (maybe on purprose) in the Fall is causing you all grief, but in the end, you have to beat 2 of the teams or you don't make the playoffs anyways and you certainly aren't good enough to go to sectionals.
Get over it.
B. Modic
T-Bar/DTA
screw u
ReplyDelete"You can never prove "managing scores" was going on _ even if it looks obvious."
ReplyDeleteYes, but when players who have played on those teams have said that it occurs, it leaves less to the imagination.
the number one consideration in placing teams for Jane is geography, thats the Dta policy...its keeps more teams at more levels happy
ReplyDeleteIf that were true, wouldn't the same teams pretty much be in the same subflight from season to season?
ReplyDeleteOUR SOLUTION:
ReplyDelete1. Seed top 4 teams (2 per flight) based on all relevant info with spring season weighted more heavily than fall
2. Place remainder randomly
Fair and consistent with how this is down in tennis events around the world
CAN WE HAVE A POLL??? Approved or diapprove?
In tournament events, one team out of four can be seeded.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, it's not up to us. The DTA has the ultimate say on various league matters, but does sometimes accept input from captains.
That's good. 1 team in 4 = about 2 seeded teams per flight in 4.5
ReplyDeleteAccording to http://www.texas.usta.com/?sc_itemid=6756733b-7eaa-4296-8693-b2d20a3c86a1, the Dallas local league coordinators are:
ReplyDelete- Jane Gilpin/Elaine Albergotti (Ladies)
- Rick Lyon (Men)
- Kelli Waters (Mixed)
- Charlotte Ereckson (Senior Ladies)
- Brian Modic (Senior Men)
Dudes – Just get out there, play your best and beat your opponent. If you don’t think you’re capable, then move down to the 4.0 level. Stop your crying!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen MORE cry babies in my life, you are worst than women. If you can win you flight then how will you ever get to Sectionals or Nationals and have a chance to win.
ReplyDeleteIts just as easy to flight teams properly than to do it improperly. Why not do it right?
ReplyDeleteThe easiest would be a straight random draw.
ReplyDeleteDUMB and DUMBER . . .
ReplyDeleteRick Lyon is a mentally challenged 3.0/3.5 player who knows absolutely nothing about tennis. PLEASE do not tell me that he is handling 4.5 seeding?
It's so predictable on this blog that when someone isn't completely happy with the results of some process, the immediate action is to make a personal attack on someone involved with it, rather than on the process, itself.
ReplyDeleteprocess has been bad a long time. eforts to improve have been ignored.
ReplyDeleteWhen you voluteer to help the DTA with flights and seeding they do not want your help. When you make suggestions they are rejected out of pocket. Yet the people involved are not competent. (How smart do you have to be to know that OC/Branch should be one of the top seeded teams?) And there is an arrogance with league administrators that is tough to deal with.
ReplyDeleteWhen you voluteered to help with flights and seeding and made suggestions, etc. who at the DTA specifically didn't want your help and rejected them?
ReplyDeleteWho there specifically isn't competent? Is it instead possible that guidelines were set and are just being followed?
Which league administrators are arrogant and tough to deal with? What specifically did they do that made you come to that conclusion.
I'm afraid that throwing out generalities or repeating the impressions of others just isn't enough to cut it anymore. We need specifics in terms of names and actions of people.
Let's hear ya'!
What is the purpose of captains' meetings? Aren't issues raised and voted upon at them?
ReplyDeleteYou Dallas ladies need to change out your tampons.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt coming from one of the SA sandbaggers!
ReplyDeletewhat weekend do the 4.5 leagues start. they have not done the schedule yet have they ?
ReplyDeletewho is john lara ? new self rated player for feldman team.
I've volunteered several times to help with seeding and setting up flights but was told "no thanks" by Jane Gilpin. But try it yourself and I'm sure you'll get the same response. I've also emailed suggestions to Jane that have been ignored. (Again, try it yourself.)
ReplyDeleteThe DTA will not even document what process they are really using. A little transparency would really help. Explaining the process on their website or in a letter to captains _ that should be the first step.
This is not a one-time problem. At various levels there are often some flights that are MUCH stronger than others _ and it's the result of a very poor process.
It's arrogant to ignore common tennis practice in favor of a secretive process whereby a clerk (with little knowledge of mens 4.5 tennis) places every team where she wants them to go. NOBODY DOES THAT EXCEPT THE DTA.
COMMON "FLIGHTING" PRACTICES
ReplyDelete1) Seed about 1 team in 4 using all relevant info
2) Seeding is usually done by a knowledgeable committee
3) Announce your seedings
4) Distribute nonseeded teams randomly (and allow draw to be observed)
This is not tough. Everyone would see this as a fair process.
Take any politics out of it and make it a completely random draw.
ReplyDeletecould you douchebags take time out of your bitching/rant - that noone but you three of you care about and just answer the question as to when this conspiracy driven league starts.
ReplyDeleteit is not the a life or death issue but y not do it properly? and y all the secrecy?
ReplyDeleteWhen does the schedules come out?
ReplyDeleteIf you ask nicely, you might get an answer to your question.
ReplyDelete. . . or maybe not.
You can always call the DTA!
I did call the DTA and they referred me to Brian Modic. They said that he was still working on it and they would have an answer in the next several weeks, as to when the season begins.
ReplyDeleteThey also said it was none of my business and for me to quit snooping around asking questions. Supposedly Brian is trying to change the format/divisions - he just realized that his team should be in Group B. He is trying to move Noel's team to Group A in order to restore fairness for all.
League pick up is April 8-9 at the DTA office between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm
ReplyDeleteSchedules out at that time
USTA player gift: I am hoping for a red white and blue banana hammock
I agree with many of the suggestions on earlier blogs. But first step is for the DTA to just tell us what they are doing
ReplyDelete1) If they are seeding teams, then ANNOUNCE WHICH TEAMS WERE SEEDED. Seeded teams are always announced in other tennis events around the world. Only the DTA seedsds teams but keeps it secret.
2) TELL US WHAT PROCESS IS USED TO PLACE TEAMS IN FLIGHTS. Post it on the DTA website or send out an eamil to captains which captains can pass along to players.
What could possibly be wrong with just telling us how this is done???
Just because u are paranoid doesnt mean that they are not out to get u. (*_*)
ReplyDeleteI will be so relieved when the schedule comes out so this BS will end. What's done is done and deal with it? As long as players keep signing up, the DTA/USTA isn't going to change what they're doing.
ReplyDeleteTo YOU that is asking HOW IT IS DONE. Have you sent an email to Jane and Rick. If so, send it and post their reply. You will have your answer. It's no freaking secret and it has been talked about at length on this blog. You just don't want to accept the way it has been done.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you are paranoid by the way. That was mean of the last blogger to call you paranoid.
I just think you are just stupid and don't undertand.
I like the way they arrange it. They put the top teams in 1 bracket, so it is competitive all season long, then put the other teams in the other bracket, so they are at least competitive amongst themselves. whats the big deal?
ReplyDeleteIf Branch hadn't sucked it up in the Fall this would be a non issue. Why isn't anyone throwing blame in their direction.
ReplyDelete^
ReplyDelete|
Huh? You want to blame them b/c Corey tanked to BH to keep Branch out of fall playoffs. And THIS caused the flights to get messed up. Wow!
We should be blaming Corey! Someone get a rope! We must have someone's head for this great seeding travesty!
The best team (OC Branch) is still going win playoffs again no matter which flight they are in...
ReplyDeleteThank you for your expert opinion Mr. Anonymous. We were all waiting for your pick.
ReplyDeleteNew York City ?????
ReplyDeleteGet a rope.
Pure and simple folks. Everyone is getting all worked up. Spring is based 100% get it, 100% on Fall season results.
ReplyDeleteIf we want change we have to figure out how to get the stubborn, set in their ways, DTA to look at the Spring in its seedings. They are still stupid enough to want/believe the fall is a serious/competitive league.
I would like to take the blame but we did lose to Brookhaven in the playoffs too, so who's to say that if we tried to win against them in the playoffs that we would have?
ReplyDeleteAre you saying that you asked your players to lose that regular season match, you gave your top players the week off since you'd already clinched, or both?
ReplyDeleteI would never ask my players to lose under any circumstances, nor would I personally try to lose. Everybody that stepped on the court was playing to win, but I let some of my weaker guys that didn't get playing time during the season play that match. We could not improve our position by winning.
ReplyDeleteHas the captains' meeting taken place yet? Were any of these issues raised?
ReplyDelete