Many fall but only one marches on
As is always the case, only one team can advance to Nationals from the Texas section. No back doors, no wild cards, no second chances (well, unless you took SpringPark's mixed invitation). So what did we learn? I'd say we learned that a 9.0 line can beat any 7.5 line pretty badly but I hope we already knew that. Some of us learned that Kelly, while good, really is mortal. Some of us already knew that. We also learned that even though Faris wasn't on Tony's 18s team he could have been. Evidently not a lot of people really knew that.
Sisk punched his second ticket captaining a team to nationals. Once can be a fluke or a gift, it takes at least one more trip to back it up. It was decade in the making but so be it, a big accomplishment nonetheless. While this isn't an official USTA nationals event there is still a pretty good argument that it is the marquee event. But even with this being an all-star event, we also learned that when you pull a bunch of all-stars together you can end up with a lot of guys that may not be team players. Just because I'm the best player I know doesn't mean I'm actually the best player. Lets hope no one on the Fort Worth squad gets voted off the island before its all said and done.
This team has a real shot at winning it all at Indian Wells. They will start every match up 1-0 with the 3.5 line. I see no way they get beat. The year Pickett won it all he started every match up 1-0 with Mike Kelly and Jason Moore. Right now it looks like Faris and Mark Nguyen are the second line. If the 4.5s are my weakest line I like my chances. Sisk's challenge will be keeping everyone relatively happy until it's done and getting people who haven't had that much playing time together out for plenty of practice. This team has the potential for a fair amount of disfunction but if they can keep it together they might just win it all.
I doubt practice will be a problem as they can practice against each other, all 3 lines are about the same.
ReplyDeleteOddly, the 4.5 line even with Kelly is the worst.
DeleteDoes anyone approve of what Sisk and Rigney did with these guys? I bet their kids are proud of them.
ReplyDeleteThey are, all the way to IW
DeleteSisk didn't know any of the guys on the 3.5 line before tri-level. Rigney got them to tank down and Zackary sent them to Sisk.
DeleteHe sent them
DeleteTo Le first but Tiny no want Zacree so he sent them to sisk
I would just like one person to explain to me the goal here. Maybe Sisk, MK, Tony, Alan, Bob, jason, anyone can clarify. Supposedly the goal is to win nationals by apparently any means necessary. Many on that list have accomplished the goal so what's left to do?
ReplyDeleteI could build a 3.0 team tomorrow and go to Sectionals if not nationals but what exactly is the accomplishment?? That's the part I'm missing and will continue to miss after I'm enlightened by the amorphous anon.
Jus when u thought coredawg couldn't look any stupider and hell would have to freeze over before cornydawg stayed in a house w Kelley. Ha ha
DeleteCory, not sure why the hate but will answer the question as a friend of Jason Moore and having worked for him. He was extremely proud of his accomplishment and going 5-0 at nationals, beating a team in the finals that had been bumped to 5.5 after playing at Cal Berkely just 5 years before. Not dropping ONE match at national and having to win every match bec each result was 2-1 after each round was amazing. Not sure why the disdain and negative attitude but some of us enjoy attending national events. Just my two cents.
DeleteBT
I didn't say I hated anyone. I just asked the question. So the joy of winning nationals overrides the ethical problem of competing in a lower level and beating inferior players?
DeleteActually since Nationals at Tri Levels isnt even posted its more about the trip to Indian Wells. Playing at Indian Wells during the tournament is a huge thing. Getting tickets to the event is added incentive to anyone to bend/break the rules to get there. Sadly, it just goes to show that this past weekend has set the bar so high that it will get even worse in the future.
ReplyDeleteAs far as summer league goes, its just all about bragging rights and getting your picture all over our Texas tennis newsletter with the chance of winning a National title. Tony did everything in 4.0 this year except win Tri Levels. Sadly he won't even compete this year at 4.5 because he knows he's not 4.5 Nationals material. He'll tank like he did this past fall and rebuild for 2017.
I hate to say it but when a Nationals event is involved in any league it brings out the sandbaggers. Sure, participants know they are good enough to compete at a higher level, but they'd rather win at a lower level to stoke their ego. That's not always the case but it is most of the time.
This time next year we will be talking about how all the Fort Worth and Dallas players got back down to 4.0 or 3.5 and it will just be a laughing matter of how they played the system once again.
Were there any players at level? Out of level players are the majority at any sectional event, tri level is NO exception! You can cheat a little, but not a lot??? It's still cheating! ! Reality check!
ReplyDeleteI think you're missing something here...there's a reason you get a Benchmark rating from a trip to sectionals. While you may not like to admit it, this is what defines the level.
ReplyDeleteNewsflash, the USTA got rid of benchmark (B) ratings two years ago
DeleteThe B is gone but the players are still benchmarked. That's why those players cannot appeal the rating...they are benchmarked to that rating.
DeleteThey also changed the entire appeal criteria when they got rid of B ratings
DeleteYes, they should be ashamed of themselves and pass on trilevel nationals. If I was on that team I couldn't play with a guilty conscious. As far as Cory he is still clueless. Maybe he should ask MK why he does it? 11 attended nationals, 2 skipped nationals and him and Alan disqualified from two more. That's 15 national events all told. He feels so bad about it he is renting a 6 bedroom home the week of Indian Wells and rumor is he has invited Cory and fiancé to stay if interested. Hmmmm, in light of all the rants it would be interesting those two in same house. Sisk is staying there so maybe he can break up the fistfights.... Lol
ReplyDeleteThe way i see it people will complain about the same people over and over and over again. Start suspending people like crazy and the madness will stop. I have been to a national event and could go to as many as I wanted. going to those event is a waste of time and money. so u get a chance to play out of town and maybe a nice hotel. how about staying home and feeding your family and putting them first instead of attending 15 national events. just as he acted in final swearin and cursing and being selfish. all about him and no one else! sickening loser
ReplyDeletetotally agree ^. tennis events out of town that u get to by tanking are meaningless but easily had. waste of time
ReplyDeleteFinally a sensible post. So it sounds like the solution is eliminate all Sectional and national events and maybe then we can actually play competitive tennis. If any of us can remember what that is. I still don't agree with previous posts because you are still PAYING to enter all these great national events. You know they have national tournaments every weekend you can pay to enter and actually play the proper level? I've been to Sectionals twice in 14 years of team tennis and, although I've met some great people, I don't anticipate going back any time soon because watching was pretty embarrassing. Having to explain to beginner tennis players, friends, family, etc. why anyone would play down in level just to win.
DeleteI don't wish ill will on anyone that won, or will win, or could have won. That's just not the way I want to win. I will keep doing it my way and you guys will keep doing it your way. I'm not expecting to change anyone's mind. Was just looking for insight on the reasoning behind it.
Yes. Agreed. Have local leagues and city champions. If you are selfish and egotistical like mike k then sign up for a national tourney every week if u like just like Cory said. There are national events for old people like him in the 50's plus every month. He can then say he went legitimately
ReplyDeleteNot one 3.5 line played at sectionals was 3.5 tennis defined by USTA. That could apply to all levels. So maybe you should dq some 3.5 if they hit a backhand in any match!!
ReplyDeleteTrilevel had the biggest cheats of all cheats in Texas. Tiny, Sisk , Freeman, Clark, even Pickett in 2013. I will never acknowledge anyone with a trilevel championship trophy. A total sham and a insult to Texas tennis. Well said Coredawg!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they will lose a lot of sleep knowing that an anon such as yourself is not acknowledging them.
DeleteI don't care if they do or not. I know if I win trilevel I earned it. Not cheated it. 2013 cheaters and 2016 cheaters. Both teams basically from Dallas and both embarrassments.
Deleteso too some having 2 4.5 level guys playing 3.5 leg of Tri-Level is perfectly accetable. I understand maybe if the guys were bumped to 4.0, but Sisk had two supposed 3.5's players who were double-bumped to 4.5. That is just flat out cheating. Enjoy Indian Wells, Pete Rose would be proud. Where's Rusty Branch to beat on when you need him.
DeleteRusty wouldn't do this.
DeleteI vote Corey for DTA pres. Objective and fair. Tennis would be better and more fair in Texas.
ReplyDeleteHaha the one time I'm not on the blog for a couple days I actually have fans.
DeleteI second the motion!
ReplyDeleteYou would prob vote for Hillary too
ReplyDeleteMy first week as president... I will take 3 sectional tri-level trophies from Dallas and Houston and give them to The Valley, SETX, and a Wild team since they don't have any - Bernie Sanders
DeleteCan we please find something else to talk about?
ReplyDeleteMaybe there should be 2 leagues. An advancing and a non advancing. And Corey, you say Mike am is a big cheat. But, you and your partner beat them. What does that make you. And once you get out of the local leagues, most teams have players out if level. Maybe people should just play and stop complaining.
ReplyDeleteI didn't say anything about Mike? I assume you mean Mike K?
DeleteIf anyone on this blog thinks mike Kelley was trying to win that first match after the other two matches were over before 4.5 first set was done and Kelley slow played it to a first set tiebreaker you people are fooled by him again. But that wouldn't be the first time.
ReplyDeleteI watched that match. He tried like hell the first set and lost anyway, mostly on his partner in the set tie breaker. Yes, he shut it down in the second set though.
DeleteThis was the post I've been waiting on. So Mike wasn't trying when he was down 2-5 in first set?
DeleteNo doubt. Perfectly played by Kelley and people are convinced he had a bad day on Friday and pulled himself out in Sat. Let's see if he "remembers" his form for yet a second nationals trophy. Fool you once, shame on you. Fool you twice, suspend him.
ReplyDeleteHey. I was in Dallas then and won $50 on that bettin with a friend no way in hell he wins knowing two lines were lockdowns against Queensley team. I know mike well enuff to understand how he works, oh, and a little pre match insider info. Ha
ReplyDeleteCan we PLEASE have an over 40 men's thread! TRI is over and all this bs bickering is ridickulous!
ReplyDeleteStop reading. It's your choice. Let's starting talking mixed and piss everyone off.
ReplyDeleteWaaaaaaaait a minute, you mean if you go to Nationals you can sleep in a house with J-Sisk? Pop Tarts and pancakes, learning what it takes, to take a trophy home, steppin' in the Indian Wells thunder-dome. Binder never offered this kind of deal to me.
ReplyDelete