Breaking Bad

For those that don’t know the premise:  A good person, chooses to do a bad/illegal thing, for a greater cause.

In the land of crystal meth, Walter White is a humble chemistry teacher who gets terminal lung cancer.  Rather than being a  burden to his family with medical bills and leave them behind in debt, he cooks meth to make money to provide for his family for the rest of their lives.  As he becomes deeper involved, he finds himself doing things he never imagined. 

In League tennis, where everyone is trying to get their hands on the “Crystal” from Nationals, we are seeing the same thing.  Good people, doing bad things, for a greater cause.  The lines of morality begin getting crossed, and what once looked black, now looks grey. 

It initially begins with recruiting out-of-level players, managing scores, and tanking in the Fall.  As they get deeper in, they realize they must go further.  Get collegiate level players down to 4.5, have them lie on their self-rate questionnaire, create bogus leagues and enter false scores.  Anything to build a squad to get to the “Crystal”.

The Playas:

 Walter White (aka Jason Freeman) – Walt is a chemist.  He is thorough, precise, and calculating.  He leaves nothing to chance.  He produces the best product on the street, over 99% pure. 

 Like Walt, Freeman has the manufacturing process down and produces the most teams to get through Sectionals.  While he hasn’t gotten his hands on the real “Crystal” (yet), he has made the most runs at 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 trying.  At least 8 attempts that I count, that he has led directly or indirectly a team that has made it to Nationals.  You would think being 0-8 one would give up trying.  But not Freeman.  He cooks up a more potent batch of players each year to make his run to try and bring home the “Crystal”.

 

Jesse Pinkman (aka Tony Le) -  In the show, Jesse really is a good kid.  His indiscretions however cloud his better judgement which leads him in to constantly getting into trouble.  Unlike Walt, who is methodical and calculating, and who leaves nothing to error, Jesse tends to be a bit careless and sloppy. 

Like Jesse, Tony means well, but hasn’t provided enough oversite of his players and has allowed too much “breakage” in the process in the form of DQ’d players.  In the land where execution and precision is key, these slip-ups have weakened his overall team.  While he is still capable of producing a high quality product, he has made it harder on himself to get his hands on the “Crystal”. 

 

Gustavo “Gus” Fring (aka Craig Fox)  – Like Gus, an inconspicuous business owner and under the radar person, he has the largest manufacturing and distribution of the crystal.  He goes against the Mexican Cartel, cutting them out of the business. 

In his footsteps is Fox, who has formed a super team of former Lamar University teammates coming from countries like Chili, Peru, and Budapest.  Most of these players have been ranked collegiately or nationally in some form or fashion, and are planning to derail any dream of Dallas or Houston.  While we think what Freeman and Le have done is bad, Fox has taken it too another level.  It will be interesting to see how good these guys really are, and if Lamar spits out top level D1 players.  If they are as good on the courts as they are on paper, I don’t see anyone stopping these boys from getting the”Crystal”.

Tuco Salamanca - (aka Mike Vogl) Known for his connections to the Mexican Cartel, Tuco is a heavy weight wholesaler north of the border.  Vogl, a former Arkansas Hog and runs one of S.A.'s Country Club tennis centers, has been recruiting strong ex-college players as well.  With S.A.s proximity to the border and college ties, they bring a formable team and aren't a write-off.

 

Hank Schrader with the DEA (aka Todd Reed with the USTA – Texas Section)  -

 

Like Hank who spends every waking moment chasing down those breaking the law, Todd Reed has been busy busting Pinkman’s (Le’s) street peddlers by handing out DQs. 

Like in the real show, Hank always had his nose up Pickman’s ass, totally neglecting the real perpetrators, Walt and Gus.

 

 

Behind the scenes cast members (for grins):
 

 

Saul Goodman (aka Todd Feldman) – While Saul isn’t one of the main characters, he is the shyster attorney that comes across as a used car salesman, always orchestrating and plotting a plan behind the scenes to cover things up. 

Like Saul, Todd goes unmentioned but seems to always be on a roster of a team in the playoffs, and has been to the big dance himself back in 2010.  While not a shyster lawyer, he may hit you up for insurance when on the court.  (Not that he reminds me of a used car salesman.)

 

Skinny Pete (aka Sean Arcaria) - One of the playas from Jesse's possey, Skinny Pete introduces Jesse to Tuco who is a wholesaler for the Mexican cartel.  He also gets held up and has "spillage" of product.

While behind the scenes, he has Jesse's ear and is a sounding board he uses for advice.   He has been around the block before, and knows betta.  He shouldn't have allowed for the spillage and DQs occurring on their self-rates.



 

Combo (aka Bennett) - another one of Jesse's possey, Combo gets shot which puts a hole in their street peddling. 

Bennett was one of the last players to play with Gilson before getting his final strike and DQ.  Perhaps he could have kept Gilson more in line??





So there you have it.  The cast is in place and drama set for the weekend for those chasing the "Crystal".

If you are a Breaking Bad fan, I hope you enjoyed.  If you aren't.....I bet you become one.

CF