It's 75 Degrees, Time for the Cotton Bowl

The Cotton Bowl Classic is nearly upon us and the draws came out yesterday.  While its 75 and sunny today, it looks like the tourney could kick off with rain so if you're following the draws to go watch your buddies they may be in disarray this weekend. 

Men's Open singles has its typical 128 draw with local college talent at the top of the seed list.  For all you 4.5s and 4.0s who think you got beat by an open level/5.0 player this year, here is your chance to go see what one actually looks like.  Of more interest to me, the men's Open doubles draw sports two Brookhaven club pros at the top of the seed list: John Nallon (formerly of Texas A&M - Gig 'em!) and Will Stein (formerly of TCU - Go Frogs!).  The #2 seeds in double are also the #1 and #3 seeds in singles so lots of firepower if both groups make it through.  Don't count the not so old pros out.  In 2014 Stein/Kadhe won the Open doubles and Stein was a finalist in Open singles.  In 2013 Nallon/Odgers won Open doubles and Stein was again a finalist in Open singles.

Men's 4.5 and 4.0 singles both kick off on Saturday with the 4.5 men sporting a 64 draw and the 4.0s sporting a 128 draw.  That's a lot for these events historically.  The 4.5 draw has a smattering of the better league singles guys in it but the 4.0 draw looks pretty weak considering its size.  I particularly don't see the high seeds holding up.  4.5 and 4.0 doubles is wide open.  Not a lot of names you'd recognize from even city playoffs.  If you're auditioning for a spring contender here's your chance to make a good run.

Men's 5.0 only has two players but I'd bet that's due to the deep Open draw.  The father-son has some interesting teams but I'd think the Stitt clan is pretty strong.  But no one is braver than the husband-wife combos.  Good luck to them.  I even took a quick look at the mixed draws.  Similar to the rest of what I saw, deep draws but short on high end talent.

Nonetheless, if you win the Cotton Bowl you have achieved something regardless of who you had to go through to do it so good luck to all. 

Go out and support the tourney and your friends if possible.  We all know you aren't really working next week anyway.