HAPPY ANNIVERSARY !!!
Not much has changed over the decade. Houston was still the talk of beating out Dallas in Sectionals, and a man name Bender was winning National titles. While some of the players have changed, the topics have remained the same. Complaints of tanking, playing out of level, year end ratings, Tri-level, Combo, etc. was just as alive back then as it is now. (No- I didn't forget mixed. It just wasn't much of a topic until we entered a narcissistic society.)
To celebrate, I thought it would be appropriate to recognize the contributors, and then provide you with some of my favorite blog posts over the past 10 years. You can click on the Blog Archives to revisit if you so wish.
Recognition to past contributors:
Carey Bazan aka Lucky Thunder (Founding Father)
Corey Noel (CoreDawg aka Nancy)
Marc KlameckiMark Roussouw
B-Mo
Captain Fantastic
Murray LangstonTOP 10 BLOG POSTS:
10) Monday, July 20, 2009 3.5 City Wrap Up - It was the beginning of using pictures in the blog post and was aimed at me, spawning me to begin anonymously blogging as Captain Fantastic.
http://dallasleaguetennis.blogspot.com/2009/07/35-city-wrap-up.html
9) Monday, December 1, 2008 Year End Ratings About To Drop - Coming at the top with number of comments - 357. Yes the blog was alive and well back then. Complaints about getting Benchmark rankings.
http://dallasleaguetennis.blogspot.com/2008/12/2008-year-end-ratings-about-to-drop.html
8) Sunday, May 23, 2010 Working the System - Roussouw submits his Jerry McGuire essay. Unfortunately, Klamecki switched to Subscribe, and when he switched back, all comments were lost. I would have loved to have read those.
http://dallasleaguetennis.blogspot.com/2010/05/working-system.html
7) Wednesday, February 19, 2014 THE LORD OF THE RATINGS – THE RETURN OF THE KELLY CASTING CALL FOR DTA PRODUCTIONS - Not because this was about Kelly, but because it was the birth of Murray Langston and him graciously taking over the blog.
http://dallasleaguetennis.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-lord-of-ratings-return-of-kelly_19.html
6) Unfortunately, it was another post with suppressed comments, but miraculously, when year end ratings come out, the system is overloaded and locks up, and Bob Somabut gets 10 of his players that were bumped up and benchmarked, appealed back down a level. And Kelly thinks he is special.
Since I can't find the link, I regress with one of my drunken Christmas poems:
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 - Twas the Night before Christmas
http://dallasleaguetennis.blogspot.com/2011/12/twas-night-before-christmas.html
5) Saturday, October 8, 2011 - Good Readings for the Fall - I truly think this is good advice, and if more adhered to my suggestions, there would be less complaining about the tanking.
http://dallasleaguetennis.blogspot.com/2011/10/good-readings-for-fall.html
4) Monday, October 14, 2013 - Dallas 3.5s Bring home 1st 40 and Over National Title
Just because
http://dallasleaguetennis.blogspot.com/2013/10/dallas-35s-bring-home-1st-40-and-over.html
3) Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - Team Arcaria Finishes 2nd at Tri-Level Nationals - A personal knock on me and had me reveal my identity. Looking back, outside of the jealous tone, it is kind of funny, especially having my face superimposed in all of those historic pictures. I hold no grudges and see Klamecki each year at the Bent Tree Indoor Classic.
http://dallasleaguetennis.blogspot.com/2012/03/team-arcaria-finishes-2nd-at-tri-level.html
2) Sunday, July 18, 2010 - Star Wars 7 - Decimation of the Sith (aka GTC) - What can I say. It was an epic time, and an epic post.
http://dallasleaguetennis.blogspot.com/2010/07/star-wars-7-decimation-of-sith-aka-gtc.html
AND THE NUMBER ONE BLOG PLOST ...........
1) Sunday, August 5, 2012 - Hitler Plays USTA league tennis in Dallas - Not sure who produced this, but did create the rave in Dallas.
http://dallasleaguetennis.blogspot.com/2012/08/this-made-made-me-lol-little-bit-enjoy.html
I am sure there are several other posts that could have been listed, especially some of Murray's recent writings, or the show-down between Gerber and Bazan. However, I haven't had the time to stay up-to-date on things or go back and read them all. These were just some that stuck in my mind. I hope you enjoy!
Thanks Carey --- to 10 more years?!!
Great Work Captain. Another 10 years? I'll need a successor.
ReplyDeleteCanyon Creek 4.5 team is almost all 4.0s. The DTA has a rule saying you must have at least 50% at level. More country club exceptions?
ReplyDeleteSo does Oak Creek. What is your point?
DeleteSo much for getting good matches when I have to show up and play shitty players.
Deletethere's no such rule...might try reading the fine print
DeleteAnother defensive Canyon Creeper?
DeleteDoesn't matter which club any of us play. Learn the rules.
DeleteIs Canyon Creek even still around?
DeleteWow 10 years!
DeleteI remember Cary's 1st post.
Prince, Bowie, Petty, now this...I'm getting too old.
Very nice. Thanks for review. Much of this seems like 5 lifetimes ago. I try to check in lately but oddly enough playing more soccer right now.
ReplyDeleteCary....a decade of an amazing job!! Well done to you and all contributors! As life moves in different directions, I admire the captains locally and across the state who still build to represent! God Bless! Sisk
ReplyDeleteWhat about the captains that have never advanced out of Texas. Well you gotta love the determination, passion, fortitude and love for the game. Oh and the roster size. Yes, nothing has changed last 10 years.
DeleteAfter 10 years not much has changed. Haters gonna hate and SpringPark wins 8.0.
ReplyDeleteThat too me is the most impressive stat in Texas tennis. I don't play mixed but what has been done out of SP is complete dominance and dynasty. 10 years later and still winning even as the heavy hitters are 50 years old plus. Absolutely amazing and it seems no end to their reign. Poor Brookhaven and others denied a chance to advance year after year. Almost seems unfair. Well, effort reaps rewards and every week for 10 years proves it. Long live King Kelly, Awesome Alan and Georgeous Gene. They are men among boys!
ReplyDeletehow do u people come up w this stuff? will someone please tell me how SP continues to do what they do year after year 2006-2017? They are so damn spoiled two years they have skipped going to nationals bec it was inconvenient or too far away.... lol. Now that's sick! For a little club out of a small tennis center it might be one of the biggest stories in Texas tennis. Keep hatin, keeps them winnin!
DeleteSPRINGPARK
Delete"A DECADE OF DOMINANCE"
Many have tried, many have failed from what I have heard but I believe SP is on Springpark Way and not Campbell. I don't think Kelley and a 4.5 woman would be a fair fight. IMO I think he wins 9.0 playing w a 3.5. Just sayin bec I have played him. Voldemort has no mixed equal. Damn solid.
DeleteBlog starting to heat up. Just like the old days. Kelly wins, haters post, Kelly replies. Great toilet material and funny as hell! Keep it coming!
DeleteCan someone explain what is impressive about winning the same level every year? Impressive would be winning once and then moving up, improving your game for a couple of years, and then winning again. Maybe we should publicize all the 1a state champions and division 3 champions and arena football champions too.
DeleteThey do publicize the winners. Didn't you try to win 8.0?
DeleteWhat's even less impressive is starting your 10 year run by moving down from a level that you were previously competitive at...and then partnering with someone who moved down 2 levels.
DeleteCorey, since you seem to have your panties in a wad go pick any 3.5 you want on the planet and make a call to SP and let them know when you want to play. I will be there w a 3.5 as well. I will be waiting. You seem to think it's easy. You would get your ass kicked. As a matter of fact go get a 4.0 and try. Don't hate bec you haven't tried it. Just sit back and admire it.
DeleteCorey why do you engage in banter with the mixed crowd. You look foolish. If you were to play 8.0 you would get pummeled and see it's not that easy.
DeleteThe point is nobody wants to play with 3.5s as a 5.0, excpet Mike Kelly. He's a 5.0 player. I never said he sucked. I never said I could beat him. I never said he wasn't the best 4.5 mixed player in Dallas. But why is he the best? Because the vast majority of 5.0 and above players have ZERO interest in playing with 3.5 women. All it takes is one 8.0 mixed match to see why. I thought the goal of tennis was to get to the highest level you can. If not why don't we all go compete for that illustrious 3.0 national title? And then we can all come on the blog and brag about beating people 2 or 3 levels below us repeatedly.
DeleteWhy don't you challenge him in singles? He can come to UTD and teach you a lesson. You don't have to drive to spring park way for that beat down. Save some gas in these tough times.
ReplyDeleteAnd Captain Fantastic no post about the one and only blog tournament...and its eventual champion of course?!?! :-). I see my finals opponent every week at Cooper. Maybe we need a 10-year anniversary tournament???
ReplyDeleteYes Corey did try to win 8.0 one year. Kelley dismantled his best team. Look it up.
DeleteAs a special tribute to the 10 yr. blog anniversary I thought I would add a small excerpt from my monthly "2 minutes w the GOAT" articles I write for Tennis USA. Each month I pick a state and write about their best. Similar to Belichik/Brady, Jackson/Jordan, Landry:Staubach.. etc..
DeleteAP-Garland, Tx
It was a damp day in March 2017 when I was craving a latte so I popped in a coffee shop in Garland. Upon entering I saw two gentleman in tennis gear so I ordered and set down next to them waiting on my drink. I noticed one was looking over stacks and stacks of papers going to the ceiling and the other was counting his fingers and toes. Writing about tennis has been my passion 28 years so I had to ask the one w the papers, "What is all that?". He replied, "I am going over a list of possible candidates for a league mixed team I run bec I get 1-2 thousand requests a year to join our squad". "Wow", I replied, "you must be good". The two men looked at each other and nodded in agreement. Then the other went back to counting his fingers and toes. Puzzled, I quickly blurted out, "What are you doing????". "Oh, he said politely, "sorry but I have no pen or paper so I was counting how many times I have been to nationals in mixed, men's and tri. 8.0,9.0, FW, Dallas". I then began to realize I had come upon two of the GOATS in Texas. I introduced myself as a national tennis writer and they introduced themselves as Alan and Mike. It was a wonderful interview but was cut short as Alan had to get back and make reservations for some sectional event 5 months later in October. As Mike was leaving I asked him, "After all this success and domination w Alan and SP what drives you?", to which he quiply replied, " My Tesla drives me, it has Autopilot". We both laughed until we cried and soon departed ways. They were two of the nicest GOATS I had ever interviewed and their domination is unpararalled. Well, until next month- KEEP IT BETWEEN THE LINES!
Ben Dover
Tennis USA EDITOR IN CHIEF
Speechless. Absolutely speechless. Pure genius.
DeleteSO freaking funny!
DeleteAnd Mike Kelly dismantled my team? I lost in a third set tiebreak to a now 5.0 who took the best 5.5 in the city to third set tiebreak over the summer. Maybe I don't know the definition of dismantled...
DeleteHow are dallas 40 and over teams doing in sectionals? No scores posted yet
ReplyDelete4.0 lost in SF to Austin, 4.5 won their flight, probably play FTW
Delete10 yr Anniversary, looking at 2017 results have a contender for Tank Match of the Year and Decade:
ReplyDelete3# Doubles Manik Chhabra/Akinori Wada Lost to Xchel Nambo\Luis Parga
Piss off sandbaggers
6-4
6-2
Lol....now that is funny! 4.0 here they come! I was there and there were some shots they hit that were left handed and went in the parking lot... bwahahahahaha
ReplyDeleteKnock knock
ReplyDeleteWho's there?
Wada
Wada who?
Wada tanker he is !
Wada go baby!
ReplyDeleteKing "TANKER" Mike Kelly is the real title. May be harder for him to stay at 4.5 now that Fall is no longer tanking season for him. He's an arrogant POS. Good 5.0+ player that enjoys beating people in a lower level by wasting the time of other 4.5 players in the Fall. The 10 year run of SP mixed is built on the backs of lots of 4.5 Fall players wasting several hours, gas, and time away from their families on the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI was at Brokehaven today 4.5 mixed tourney and saw Mike there. I think it's funny everyone said he couldn't compete at 9.0 or 4.5 mixed, only 8.0. His scores this weekend: 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, 6-1, 6-2
DeleteMike would get killed at 10.0. Be a man and play 10.0. Winning a 4.5 or 8.0 or 9.0 mixed league a joke. Anyone who wants to beat up on a lower level woman is weak minded person
DeleteFunny if you tank you take time away from family but if you don't you don't take time away. Funny. And it's a 12 year run but who's counting other than the DTA.
DeleteAnonymous 11:49
DeleteHow will it be harder for him to "stay at 4.5 now that the fall is no longer tanking season". Knowing you are a mens captain please explain.
Mike Kelly is not even playing in the fall. Not sure he cares what happens to his rating. Do your homework before posting. No fall men's league for him so no time and hours waste and he drives an electric vehicle so no gas waste. Please don't be upset bec of losing again on a team of 30 plus people and not getting out of Texas for the 50th time. Not his fault, although w him on roster you would have.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you people waste time commenting on someone not even playing men's league? Seems ridiculous. I don't know mike well but he is not competing in 18's or 40's league but yet most still complain? And then bring up mixed? Lol. Crazy much
DeleteAgreed! Same crap been posted last 10 years. Looked just like this after 9.0 mixed nationals in 2007. People were peeved then and now. Mad when 5.0, mad when 4.5, gonna be really mad next year. Google Dallas blog 2007. Same crap, people were saying he was tanking at 5.0. Why do you people care???? 11:49 anonymous what triggered your post out of nowhere??? Ridiculous. Never seen a more polarizing blog.
ReplyDeleteNEW BLOG PLEASE DISCUSSING WHAT NO FALL RATINGS DO AND WHAT EVERYONE THINKS ABOUT IT.... or we can keep bashing "King Voldemort" another 10 years.... smh!
ReplyDeleteAMEN!
DeleteAnd Wild Dallas beats Dallas in 8.0 mixed semis !
ReplyDeleteWho would have thunk..
What happen to FW Zackary team?
DeleteZacry played himself and lost. His wife also lost. Meanwhile the best player mike Peerson was watching. SMH.
DeleteScrew all of yawl!! Yeah but YOU JUST WATE UNTEL NEXT YEAR when i fourm anothur teem. You will face my rath,raf, um wraith, wath, WRATH!
DeleteFW team tied for third place. Amarillo won. ALzero team lost a tiebreaker 10-8 and were 2 points from finals. ALzero is a genius!
DeleteMe. And I'm on Alan's team.
ReplyDeleteNot me and I am on wild dallas team. Prob is Alan team has a national title and we don't. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know how 7.0 went? I saw both Zachary's lost their matches in the semis and alzuros team was in semis as well.
DeleteYes, after seeing the competition this weekend I am even more impressed w ALANS 18 and over national title. 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 Dallas teams all failed to make it to nationals. Very very tough competition comes out for mixed.
DeleteWhy did mike Pearson not play in the semis? He probably should have played instead of mike zacry. Pearson has a much bigger game.
DeleteWhere was TETERUD? He would have been a beast at 7.0. Quite possibly the most athletic player in Dallas sitting out the semis? Guess he was doing an Iron Man competition.
DeleteTeterud was not on roster. Pearson sitting was a shocker. Hard to say but maybe he was injured? Knowing mike p he never complained about it and cheered his team on like the consummate professional he is. If he played they are headed to nationals.
DeleteZAk (Y). Tale of the tape. TET (X)
DeleteForehand. X
Backhand X
Overhead. X
Volley. X
Serve. X
Quickness. X
I am not TET and the USTA does not endorse
these facts. This is not to be distributed or used for future league player profiles. This in no way constitutes who is a better player. This is simply for recreational or personal use.
Two those poeple sayeng meen thangs put yur mane an knot anonamus sow I can kik ur ars. i onlee loose two give uther teem comfidence fur finale macth. Didant do nuffin rong sow leeve yur hatered and nastee commints two yourshelves.
ReplyDeleteI have to get this off my chest as I was in Abilene watching the match that Kevin and Yawndie won, then watched mike z lose w his 3.5 partner and then mary z and her 4.0 guy lost. I looked up and circling the courts in a long, black eerie gown was Karma. I felt a chill in the air and ghosts were sticking to Karmas side. Been having nightmares all day after seeing that. I ran away screaming and drove off quickly. I soon learned while leaving Abilene ghost town of the chaotic aftermath. It was surreal. Karma is a bitch, just like my ex.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteABILENE
Abilene, Abilene
Prettiest town I ever seen.
Folks down there don't treat you mean
In Abilene, my Abilene.
I sit alone most every night
Watch them trains roll out of sight
Wish that they were carryin' me
To Abilene, my Abilene.
Crowded city, ain't nothin' free
Nothin' in this town for me
Wish to God that I could be
In Abilene, my Abilene.
How I wish that train would come
Take me back where I come from.
Take me where I want to be
In Abilene, my Abilene.
Rotgut whiskey numbs the brain
If I stay here I'll go insane.
Think I need a change of scene
To Abilene, my Abilene.
Where do you people come up with this garbage?? Can we talk about something relevant like combo this weekend? The new sheriff Raja and how he will dominate this weekend and spring men's as well. Fall men's action? How certain captains still continue to create big rosters and still lose... playing in TWO cities....I mean this streak is getting ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteC ya on the courts and send your camel to bed!
Combo? We're talkin' 'bout combo?
DeleteAbsolutely classic! "Send your camel to bed" sounds like a jab at someone. Not sure, but it's possible the big guy gon' be lit 'bout that one.
DeleteYes we are talkin about combo. "I am 40 years old and I am a MAN". Good luck to all playing combo this weekend. Also Godspeed to Mark Sweeney and his 40 and over team headed to nats. His team will be well coached, they understand the X's and O's, they will bring their lunch pail to work, they ere ready to a man and they will leave everything on the court. Go fight team!
ReplyDeleteI have to say the DTA got this right for the fall as to not count ratings. There are many many notorious tankers who are not playing league in the fall knowing it won't count, or supposedly doesn't count. I could see that changing at the last minute but my point is at least for right now there is a big absence of players.
DeleteYes that is true but by looking at men's league there is about a 30 percent drop in player totals from last years league sign up as well. Trying to get rid of a few people and results not counting towards ratings also cost them some revenue. It may be worth it headache wise but in the end it cost DTA quite a bit of cash. Maybe that doesn't matter to them. They got their point across.
DeleteI would say that getting hit in the pocketbook does make a difference. I am sure having some of the usual loafers absent from the league is a great thing but at the end of the day it drops the revenue stream. As much as people want to hide their head in the sand tanking drives leagues. You don't have to look far to see that without ringers your teams are going nowhere and fast. However, giving everyone a participation medal and having fun may be the ultimate goal here and if so let's all enjoy the parity.
DeleteLook, it's very easy. Let the tankers play and limit tankers to two per roster and designate who they are (shouldn't be difficult). I will not mention any names but let's say Kelly is a designated tanker on team A. He must play the designated tanker on team B, at line one. If team B has no designated tanker then Kelly doesn't play. DTA gets their fees and those that are playing to win don't have to face a DT (designated tanker). Win/win for all. I am dead serious about this. This will work.
DeleteYou actually expect a tanker to admit they're tanking? Let's get Zeke to admit he beat his girlfriend too.
ReplyDeleteLMAO CN LMAO
ReplyDeleteLook, it's easy. Just go to the DTA and USTA and ask them "whose ratings have you guys manually manipulated in the last ten years?". That should be easy bec it has been done once already and the ratings manipulators were caught. Or if that doesn't work you might ask "What bogus suspension took place and who was involved?". If that doesn't work you start counting national appearances and label everyone who has attended 10 or more a designated tanker. If the same name comes up 3 times then you have found a DT. Just go through each and every player in Dallas/FW until you are complete.
ReplyDeleteGo look at the national 40 and over results if you think Texas is the tanking capital of the world. The team from Dallas has only won 3 lines total in their first two matches. Maybe it's not so bad here in Dallas compared to other places.
ReplyDeletePeople in Dallas just think they are better then they really are.
ReplyDeletethan??
DeleteSome do, but mostly the local ratings police and captains of some teams that never advance are trying to keep The ratings at bay. Thus the reason you see such teams from ever getting out of Dallas.
ReplyDeleteRaja says he’ll fix Dallas underachieving.
ReplyDeleteHe has done a helluva lot more than most captains lately. His men's 4.0 team will be sick.
ReplyDeleteThat is what he says.
DeleteAnyone interested in getting together for a ratings watching party? Maybe the DTA could host it in a hotel ballroom on a big screen? Of course they would know in advance a few of the ratings "to be" but about 95 percent of them would be legit and fair. I think it would be a "smash hit". No pun intended. When your name is called the audience would greet you with a "cheer of approval" or a "chorus of boos".
ReplyDeleteThere's only 1 person who has my interest. So Mike Kelley going to 4.0? He's 0-forever.
ReplyDeleteHe can lose his next 100,000 matches. He will NEVER be 4.0. His rating will be manipulated until the end of time.
ReplyDeleteDallas 3.5 wins 40s Nationals!
ReplyDeleteWhen are ratings out???
ReplyDeleteNext month
ReplyDeleteIt's gonna be interesting. Seems USTA has added some letters next to the ratings to be more specific. Of course A is appeal, C is computer, M is mixed, D is dynamic, etc. we now have G for going, T is temporarily, O is on, BS is before spring or MF is mostly fall.
ReplyDeleteYes I saw that as well. For instance, say you have a player... he has been to nationals so many teams other teams are not happy and have complained. Well the next league he plays his rating would be "Going On Appeal Temporarily". Just to use an example let's pick Kelley for instance. His new rating would read: 4.5c Kelley "GOAT" or even "MGOAT". Will be confusing at first but it's more specific and a great idea by USTA.
DeleteWell if it was early spring rating would it be 4.5c Kelley BS?
DeleteOr if he played mainly in the fall how bout 4.5 Kelley is AMF (Appeal Mainly Fall)? Haha
Ratings supposed to be out Dec 2.
ReplyDeletedead around here
ReplyDeleteso has this site gone dead like the Houston site and the crappy Arkansas site. If so very disappointing.
ReplyDeleteBlame the DTA. They jacked with the leagues and nobody cares anymore.
Deleteratings out at the end of the week...it should certainly spur some conversations
ReplyDeleteI wish I could be the top fan of your page. That badge would suit me well. Your page is great and thoroughly enjoy reading each of your posts. I like how your audience engages in conversation and that I believe is the biggest compliment any can give. PSL schedule 2020
ReplyDeletethe "Hitler Plays USTA League Tennis in Dallas" is no longer on youtube.. anyone got a backup copy? would go nicely with the recent schmidt texas NTRP article
ReplyDelete