Sunday, October 25, 2009

4.5 Headlines

Flight A

TBAR CONTINUES TO CRUISE, LUDWIG'S TEAM FALLS AGAIN--TBar gets its fourth 3-2 win of the season by beating Brookhaven Ludwig. The second straight loss by Ludwig's team leaves them on the outside looking in unless they can get a 5-0 win next week over Feldman. Not going to happen. Four of the five matches came down to tiebreaks but T Bar was able to win four out of five of them. Nice win!! They officially clinch a playoff spot with the win.

FELDMAN ELIMINATES GREENHILL--Greenhill once again comes up just short of making the playoffs, barring a miracle. Would be very interesting if their makeup match with Somabut ends up meaning something. Regardless, Greenhill would have to win each of its last two matches 4-1, and have Oak Creek lose to Ludwig to have any shot.

Flight B

NORTHWOOD CONTINUES TO DOMINATE--Northwood continues to roll, extending its undefeated record. A little closer than the score indicates but a win nevertheless over an improved DFW team today.

LIFETIME WINS AGAIN, SETS UP SHOWDOWN WITH ROYAL OAKS NEXT WEEK FOR PLAYOFF SPOT--Lifetime ekes out another win against another Oak Creek team to set up the most meaningful match left in the flight this season. Eddie, let us know the time and place so the fans can come out.

Flight C

LAKES' CINDERELLA STORY CONTINUES, CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH--The Lakes will be in the 4.5 playoffs for the first time (that I know of). They clinched by beating a depleted Brookhaven lineup. Some of the Brookhaven lineups have been suspect and this one was no different. Although, they were a third-set tiebreak away from winning. The Lakes have beaten all contenders in its flight, and will have all the momentum going into the postseason.

BATTLE FOR SECOND PLACE STILL WIDE OPEN--Really hard to say with so many unplayed matches who the second playoff team will be, but I would give the edge to High Point. They only have one loss but still have 3 matches left to play, two of them against playoff teams from last season. Assuming they beat Oak Creek today, they will be in a commanding position.

Power Rankings

1. The Lakes (5-0, 16-9). Hard to argue with based on who they've beaten.
2. T Bar (6-0, 21-9). A lot of close wins builds character right?
3. Northwood (4-0, 17-3). Most consistent team but weakest opposition.
4. Feldman (5-1, 22-8). Defending fall champs know what it takes to win.
5. High Point (2-1, 9-6). Not much to go on but they have the personnel to win.

Thoughts?

94 comments:

  1. Where is Lifetime in the power rankings????

    Lifetime beats RO 3-2 this week.

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  2. RO puts things back in perspective for Lifetime. RO 4-1

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  3. For all those 4.5's who said there is a big jump from 4.0 to 4.5 I think LFT is proving you wrong. There are a lot of 4.5's that need to get moved down.

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  4. OK Lifetime. You are playing in the easiest division. Don't be thinking that you are a good team yet. If you were in a stronger division, you would see a lot more 5-0 losses like the one that Northwood did on you, (a team that did not look very good in the Qualifier last season).

    To give you a history lesson. You got drummed 5-0 by Noel's team this season. Noel's team got drummed in the QT 4-1(Not even the playoffs) The team that beat Noel's team got beatdown in the city playoffs. That's how far away you are from being a competitive 4.5 team.

    You have done a great job of getting better and being competitive already, but right now, as far as 4.5 is concerned, you still suck.

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  5. Don't hate the player, hate the game. If it weren't for Lifetime, this blog would be dead. Go Lifetime, I'm pulling for ya.

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  6. Huffman gets taken down by Hawkins. Northwood looks very impressive this year, even after losing 2 guys to 5.0.

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  7. Northwood got drummed last year in the QT playoffs? really? Northwood lost 3 matches in 3rd set tie breaker to RO. And then in Cities RO was a tie break away from finishing 2nd...sounds like someone has some issues with Northwood

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  8. no kidding. Northwood looks solid and it shows. People don't consider the fact that some people do get better each season. Plus, if they got drummed by guys that were bumped to 5.0, then it's irrelevant now. They are a top contender.

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  9. Agree. They have a strong 4.5 team and it will show in playoffs, even if they don't win City.

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  10. I predict a Lifetime win if Rothwell is in the lineup for Royal Oaks.

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  11. Good for Lifetime. 2TB wins to beat OC. I'll be surprised if they take down RO but regardless they've proven to be competitive in 4.5.


    They'd be somewhere around 8-10 in the power rankings.

    Maybe they really were better than Somabut 4.0 in the spring :)

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  12. I don't think we got drummed in the QT. Three of our four losses were third-set tiebreaks and the other was mine.

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  13. Sorry I didn't see that somebody already said this. I would be very shocked to see Lifetime beat RO but RO is very depleted this season it seems. I don't know enough about Lifetime's players to know who their top 8 are. I predict 4-1 RO, but I'm rooting for Team Eddie if for no other reason than to keep the blog alive for a few more weeks.

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  14. Lifetime will beat Royal Oaks 4-1. RO looks old and slow. Lifetime is young and ready for the challenge. Go Lifetime.

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  15. They couldn't get it done at 4.0. I don't know why 4.5 would be any different.

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  16. Anyone know the HP/OC score??

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  17. top 8 for LTF in no particular order

    Fueille
    Vacallis
    Myers
    Kennedy
    Mudsam
    Morrison
    Edwards
    Alrid or Hill

    Smith and Moore just below that group. they don't have great depth, but not huge margin from top to bottom. Probably why they have done as well as they have at 4.5. No guys that don't belong.

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  18. HP 3- OC/H 2. Playoff spot for 2nd place in C should come down to this weeks HP v. Brookhaven match. Not many teams can beat Brookhaven if they bring their top 2 singles players.

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  19. Morrison over Smith??? Morrison lost to a 4.0 yesterday. At least Smith beat the 4.0 he played at 4.5. Smith is much better than Morrison.

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  20. Not sure how they could get 3 lines out of those 8, but stranger things have happened. Rauschuber, Walters, and Bell should win wherever they play, which leaves very thin margin for a win by Lifetime. Now if they are missing any of those three, then it becomes interesting.

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  21. Hey, Eddie, can you fix my 2nd set. We lost by 1 break. Thanks! Damn, that's a lot of talk for 1 day. J.Ryan played one helluva a match yesterday. Actually he and Tre both did. We did not play poorly.

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  22. J Ryan is a good player and I wouldn't worry about it BMO

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  23. J Ryan, really that guy never even cracked starting line up for HP team. He's barely a 4.0 How does he win?

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  24. Come on now, the guy can hit the ball. Just can be inconsistant at times. When he is on, he is a very good player.

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  25. B-Mo, what does it matter what the score was? You lost thats the bottom line, the score dosent really matter except for you own ego. No wonder you play for Eddie!

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  26. that's okay then, make sure the next time YOU lose to ask your captain to record a 6-0 6-0 loss, since it doesn't matter.

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  27. BMo, what you fail to realize here is that most guys on this blog are tankers and would love to have a 0-6 0-6 on their record to either bump themselves down or stay at a level they don't belong.

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  28. Was that a correct score for the HP/OC match?? No official scores have been put in the system.

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  29. Scores are now in. HP took both singles and line 2 doubles.

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  30. LOL. OC puts their best doubles player at line 1 singles (Slezak) and their best singles player at line 1 doubles (James).

    That's how you turn a 3-2 win into a 2-3 loss.

    Maybe they drew names out of a hat for the lineup?

    Look for Buffalo to play singles next week...

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  31. Yea, that OC Herget lineup is confusing. Also they put a newer guy to their team (4.0) at line 2 Singles

    well, guess they will tell ya only the Spring season matters.

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  32. It's pretty obvious that Slezak is managing his rating after he and Kern had such a good run during the play-offs. He lost a singles match earlier in the season also I believe. He needs a few losses to stay at 4.5 and what better way than against a newer 4.5 in Joel. Joel's a solid player but Slez wins that singles match every time when they play for real....

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  33. Slezak is pretty much a doubles player only these days.

    Plugging him into singles is an easy way to bring that rating back to 4.5 safety zone.

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  34. Your giving Slezak way too much credit. Without Kern he goes .500 last year. Joel is a good player, and probably just beat him. (yes I've played against both players) Slezak is a good player, but I would not consider him a dominant 4.5.

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  35. A couple of things:
    1st a basic english lesson: "Your" is possessive; you mean "you're" which means "you are".

    second, go back and take a look at when last Joel played singles? You guessed it.... never at 4.5 and 3 times in the 2008 season at 4.0. So he's not a singles player either. That was an obvious sacrifice.

    Yes, Slezak played with Kern (sure the better player) but they won almost every match (I think they lost once, maybe twice, at sectionals). This impacted Slezak's rating (not only Kern's).

    So Herget has clearly agreed to play him on singles so that he can manage his rating. Joel on line 1 singles was a sacrifice. Unless Slezak was serving with his right hand Joel doesn't break his serve.

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  36. Joel is much better at singles than doubles. He just doesn't like to play singles. I agree that Slezak was either injured or managing scores. It looked to me that both teams were managing some scores.

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  37. 1st Thanks for the english lesson. I didn't know I was being graded.
    2nd Joel is a very good singles player. He just doesn't play it much. He would beat Slezak most of the time at singles.
    3rd I've seen you play tennis, and you suck. Go back to your 4.0 thread, and post your opinions.

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  38. So easy to be brave when you post as an Anon

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  39. I like this tourney guys thanks for doing it. I would love to play if it wasn't for the massive drive. I am waiting for FW BL's FW tourney.

    I will post up Marc's thoughts because honestly I have no desire to look thru schedules and I am trying to get out of town so see you suckers later.

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  40. I am sorry what part does ANYONE understand that the fall league is a GOOD level below the spring. OK Lifetime is doing great, that is awesome but lets quit all the BS with all those that think the fall is a good indication to the REAL 4.5 league that will begin in the spring.

    GET REAL!!!!!!!!!

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  41. What a perfect way to justify every loss by saying that the fall means nothing. So basically you are in a win-win situation in every match. I will be sure to say that the next time me or my team loses.

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  42. Ok, as a neutral 3rd party that was pretty fuc*ing funny. 3rd, I've seen u play tennis, and u suck.

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  43. Yep, it is funny how folks discredit the Fall league. It is really the other way around...Win the Fall, then the Spring is meaningless. Look at all the big name teams, most all of them go after the Fall title.

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  44. Exactly, win the fall and then you can hide some players in the spring until playoffs.

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  45. I just think people really gear up and get plenty of practice during the spring. Come fall, a lot of guys (especially the better players) aren't playing as much tennis so their game drops off.

    I think that's more the reason for some of the surprise results than actual tanking of matches.

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  46. I agree with that. It's really hard to get motivated for fall when the Sectionals are like two weeks before it starts. I'm just saying those that lose should accept defeat instead of making excuses.

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  47. "expect some major trash talk heading into that RO match. Get your popcorn ready 4.5"

    My popcorn is getting stale. What "major" trash talk?!?!

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  48. After the close calls for victory this fall, we have decided to do less talking and more playing this season as we work our way into 4.5 level. Lifetime will win this weekend, even if only by the hair of our chinny, chin, chin.

    Go Lifetime.

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  49. Eddie is ready to dominate. Too bad their isn't a 4.75 league. That is where Eddie belongs. RO has no chance. Eddie might tank his match to keep his 4.5 rating like he has been doing all year.

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  50. RO match is at Royal Oaks at 1pm this Sunday. You are welcome to bring popcorn as you watch Lifetime make the 4.5 playoffs for the 1st time ever.

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  51. Lifetime can't win BMo's line or Eddie's line. So that means they must sweep the other 3. good luck with that. RO ROLLLLLS.

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  52. yes, by the hair of your chinny chin chin. RO 4-1

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  53. Haven't even looked at this in a long time and I missed the expert analysis :). You are right Slezak sucks and I carried him all year long! I'm thinking if he played with someone else he may have only one (looking for a grammar lesson) 33%. That's one of the conditions when you sign the blood oath to join the Dark Side and get the signing bonus, someone has to play with him. Just ask Walt how painful it was the year before since Slezak always does so poorly.

    As far as the Fall goes, I don't think anyone is going to turn down winning a free pass into the spring playoffs but I think if you ask Feldman he would have given up the free pass to win the spring instead. So yes shut your trap if you get beat in the fall but also don't fool yourself in believing it's the same as the spring. After playing at Sectionals it's hard to get up for playing matches a couple weeks later.

    In conclusion, Slezak is terrible as evidenced by history and I'll have to read the blog more often as I forgot how entertaining it can be.

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  54. ahh the voice of reason from a credible source. To be fair though Jason, the Anon did say it was me that sucked not Slez and we can't argue with that....(BTW, you get an A for your grammar)

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  55. Welcome back, Jason. The blog has missed your insight. You are in 5.0 purgatory now so the blog has nothing for you. Maybe you can start the first 5.0 thread.

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  56. Hey Lifetimer, where has the Sweedish Swordsman (Johan) been lately? You guys really need him this week!

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  57. You can't give him an A for Grammar!!!! you can clearly see he tanked his grammar using one for won ---> on purpose!!!

    Even if it was obviously a tank job, He still get's a C at best.

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  58. man, you Anons really don't have a sense of humor do you?

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  59. Sweedish Swordsman has been traveling. We expect a W from him this Weekend.

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  60. Mudsam
    Fueille
    Morrison/Kennedy
    Myers/Hill
    Vacallis/Edwards

    = 3-2 Lifetime

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  61. That lineup his sweeping doubles huh?

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  62. Who are Royal Oaks' singles players besides Joe? I do think that's a pretty good doubles lineup for Lifetime but I don't know that they can win 2 out of 3 dubs with that. As I said before, the only way Lifetime wins is if the lineup falls perfectly in their favor.

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  63. Lifetime doesn't need anything to fall perfectly, except the ball falling perfectly inside the line for match point of their 3rd line won on Sunday. Lifetime wins 3-2.

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  64. Raush
    Bornstedt

    Bell/Walters
    Yusuf/Webb
    Saldana/Rothwell

    4-1 RO

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  65. I hear Flores is back from injury (arguably one of their top dubs player)

    revise Flores/Saldana for line 3

    5-0 RO

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  66. Lifetime is on a mission so it seems. I have to root for them. They win, but barely. 3-2. Couple of 3rd set TB's

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  67. You know John never leaves himself out. I don't know Bornstedt and didn't see much of his match when we played him but everybody said he was unimpressive, and the score would indicate as much.

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  68. If Flores is back though, that is bad news for Lifetime.

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  69. "Bad news for Lifetime"? Are you kidding me? We have the great Eddie and that can overcome anything else that RO throws at us!

    I am so confident that I may even play singles this week!

    Eddie

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  70. This blog is funny. I know a lot of the guys on Lifetime's 4.5 team and I hope they do well, good luck guys.

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  71. Not me above. This will be a very tough match for us. I just hope we can keep it close and find a way to scratch out 3 lines. We will have our hands full.

    the real Eddie.

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  72. Bohrnstedt used to play pretty high up in 18 Supers as recently as 2005. Would imagine it's just a matter of getting back into it.

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  73. When Lifetim beats RO this week, please make sure they get into the Top 5 of the power rankings. thanks.

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  74. Funny stuff. Thanks Lifetime for the entertaining comments. Keep them coming. Where is the M.O.W. poll? This "showdown" has generated enough chatter. RO 5-0

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  75. Trust me if LTF does lose 5-0 this week, you can count on b-mo coming on here talking about how "close" his match was or complaining about the posted score or talking about how great his oppenents played...

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  76. Maybe Cary can create the poll. I don't have the capability or, if I do, I don't know how to post one. I'm still not sure Lifetime would be considered top 5 with a win over Royal Oaks. It would have to be pretty convincing.

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  77. Lifetime better bring something other than popcorn or pom poms to the match. Bottle of cheap Wellers bourbon perhaps, to take the sting of the inevitable loss??? haha!!!

    WAY Just kidding, Lifetime folks!!!! Just getting ur attention. This blog is hilarious, but does get out of hand at times- from the few visits Ive had. Friendly trash talk, competitive rivalries, and all that are all good - when kept in PERSPECTIVE - but that's not whats its all about. RO will have plenty of adult bevs -or gatorade/cokes- for post match chit chat, win or loose, with the opposition. Thats what its all about!!!!

    Having said all that....brrrrraing it!
    (please do not grade my grammar, Im sure its far from a passing grade)
    -oscar

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  78. Calling this the match of the week would be insulting. Playing LFT is everyone's match of the year. Everyone is jealous of our winning ways. We are the Yankees, and the Cowboys rolled into one. Everyone either loves or hates the dominant team.
    GO LFT!!!!!!!!!!!

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  79. "Trust me if LTF does lose 5-0 this week, you can count on b-mo coming on here..."

    Not sure if u noticed or not, but this is a tennis blog, where people come on here to talk about .....(surprise!!!!!) tennis.

    I am sure that if u wanted to talk about weather, there is proly a weather blog somewhere to discuss sun rays and wind, and temperature.

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  80. Oscar,

    yes, the blog is just a fun/ amusement, where everything said can't be taken too seriously. Its just fun having the rivalries going. Makes the tennis league that much more fun.

    BTW, u could have spelled every word wrong and used everyone of them incorrectly, but u get an A+ for using the sentence "RO will have plenty of adult bevs" -or gatorade/cokes with the opposition - Cheers!!! Sounds like good times. What its about for sure.

    BUT - We still look forward to our 3-2 win tomorrow. :))

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  81. Somebody please post the results as soon as this match is over, or even as it's going on if somebody's watching. We don't play our match until 5 so I bet Lifetime and RO will be over before we warm-up. Good luck to both teams and we will see the winner in the playoffs.

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  82. Actually LTF vs RO is split for the start times. 4 lines will play at 1pm and Line 3 Doubs plays at 4pm. I hope LTF is up 3-1 but it will probably be 2-2 at 4pm.

    What Drama?????

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  83. I can't believe nobody has posted results. There was a huge upset in Flight B today. Unfortunately for the blog, it was not Lifetime over Royal Oaks.

    ROCC beat Lifetime 4-1 but winless Oak Creek/Juhn beat undefeated Northwood today. My team did clinch a playoff spot today but we were unable to get the win today.

    Anybody know the HP/BHaven results?

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  84. LFT too busy drowning their sorrows w Wellers, hence the lack of posts. :-)

    JUST KIDDING Brian M! Fun match with you and the other Brian... lots of good points with close games going either way. Solid team of yours with lots of good chemistry. Best of luck in the future. cheers -oscar

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  85. Brookhaven / Ludwig really fizzled out during the second half of the season.

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  86. That wasn't a surprise. They played the four weakest teams in the first four weeks. I don't know that there has ever been a team to make the playoffs in its first season either.

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  87. They didn't really fizzle out. They played the 3 toughest teams the last 3 weeks and played each of them very tight.

    Northwood obv tanking w/ playoffs already clinched ;)

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  88. weymer is the greatest

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  89. To answer your questions Anon:

    Trust me if LTF does lose 5-0 this week, you can count on b-mo coming on here talking about:

    My match was "close": If we had just won 5 or 6 more games in each set, we would have had them.

    or complaining about the posted score:

    The scores were bullshit.

    or talking about how great his opponents played:

    my opponets played great, and we made them look even better.

    In all seriousness, fun match Oscar and Adam. Obviously, a little bit more work to do before we have a legitimate chance to be a contender. hopefully, next season, we put a little bit more scare into you guys, and a few less mistakes. Good Luck!! - and thanks for the beers!!!

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  90. Well great. Lifetime is out. There goes the blog.


    HP beats BH 3-2. Lots of Tiebreakers.

    So the playoffs are set now. 6 weeks of predictions upcoming....
    TBAR
    OC/Feldman
    Northwood
    Royal Oaks
    Lakes
    HP

    Are the playoffs round robin?

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  91. There will be 2 flights of 3 that will be round-robin with the winners playing each other for the fall championship. Only the top team advances so it's essentially single-elimination.

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  92. Early prediction:
    1) OC Feldman
    2) TBar
    3) Northwood
    4) The Lakes
    5) Royal Oaks
    6) High Point

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  93. Northwood was missing their star doubles players, J Young and J Wells.

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