Sunday, August 14, 2011

Sectionals Results.

I'm sure most of you know the winners. Congrats to Austin's Eric Strawbridge (who just a couple of years ago was starring at 4.5 Sectionals) and his Austin 5.0 team, Joel Pickett and his Dallas 4.5 team and Jason Freeman and his Houston 4.0 team.

There are just so many teams in 4.5 and 4.0 that putting a winning team together is truly a year-long (or even two years) process for a captain. I know Pickett and Freeman (and Arcaria, Somabut, Benzon and many others) put their hearts and souls and energy (365 days a year) into putting together a team that can win. This year it was Freeman who pushed all the right buttons. There's always some luck involved, but his lineups just seemed to work out perfectly each time. (Yes, Kern, Captain February disappeared this year) I just want to publicly thank him and all of the other people who helped me piggyback my way to Nationals after so many near misses in all of those trips to Sectionals. So, thanks to Freeman, Red, Tuyen Nguyen, Michael Tran, The Chancellor's 4.0 team who was so supportive of us, Cheryl, Diana and all of the others who selflessly helped us achieve our goal. We were able to use six different singles players throughout the weekend, and that singles depth really helped us have some key fresh legs as we got to Sunday.

Props go out to the Houston 5.0 team, who were able to come within a whisker of getting to Nationals. Aadrian Hasker was a beast all weekend long.

A disappointing year for the Houston 4.5 teams. After dominating the state for so long, Houston's 4.5 division is in a down cycle. Pickett's Dallas team was able to win with some significant contributions from a number of recent 4.0 players (Jean Nguyen, Hai Nguyen, Johan Mudsam and others), so one would have thought the door would be open for a Houston team to compete with them, but the Houston teams' rosters were just not strong enough. I expect that next year will be a different story.

185 comments:

  1. Congrats to the 4.0 team. They played hard on Sunday. Great write up Greg. You deserved a long overdue trip to Nationals.

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  2. I think the issue about Pete is this. When Pete self rated at 4.5 and then appealed to be a 4.0 chances are he was an average (at best) 4.0 player. He was inconsistent, didn't play smart, and had lousy shot selection. So - a year later and working his ass off to get better he is now a top-tier 4.0 player (virtually unbeatable) and is ready for 4.5. He won't be a significant impact at 4.5 at first but I have no doubt if he applies the same amount of drive and determination, it's only a matter of time before he is elevated to the top-tier at 4.5 as well. So there you have it. Good luck, Pete, and the rest of the Canes in Tucson.

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  3. Is there any chance Januzzi gets moved down to 3.5 after his wonderful performance at Sectionals?

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  4. Were those the two worst 4.5 teams Houston has ever sent to Dallas? We are a joke.

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  5. What happened to Betsies team?

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  6. The 4.0 teams that went to sectionals are better then the 4.5 teams this year

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  7. Betsie's team fell short. Hard to come back after losing the first match. Lost three 3-setters to the eventual winner. Then a close third set against SA however I'm guessing her line up may have changed in an attempt to win more lines. Her team actually won the most lines in her flight and fewest games.

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  8. I predict Houston 4.5 will dominate next year - both Men and Women!!!

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  9. This 4.0 Hurricanes team is much weaker than the last 4.0 Hurricanes that went National. Any others agree?

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  10. How well would a Houston 4.0 all star team have done at 4.5 Sectionals?

    Let's just say these are the all stars:

    Lotz
    Rios
    Vu
    Yamaguchi
    Jones
    Montes
    Adrian
    Hoang
    T. Tran
    Frederick

    That team is def. better than the Hurricane 4.5 team and probably Lakeside 4.5 also.

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  11. I don't think this team is weaker, but for sure...they for sure look like they have more team chemistry.

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  12. 9:37am in response to 9:04am

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  13. 9:09
    no houston 4.0 all star could beat a good 4.5 team. you must be new to league and dont understand the discrepancy in level of play. so this must be rios talking smack again. get a life dude! you got spanked by top level 4.5 players

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  14. except that houston has no good 4.5 teams.

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  15. 9:09 you're on crack. The best 4.0 team in Houston wouldn't win a line off of either 4.5 Houston team

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  16. 9:04 The levels are all down a level nationally so relatively speaking this 4.0 team may actually be stronger than the last 4.0 nationals team.

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  17. Quack Bui beat Pete Rios fairly easy at City Playoffs.
    Hess wouldn't lose to anyone from 4.0 teams.

    Best 4.0 doubles teams would be somewhat competitive but NO way they beat a Connell/Wright or any top tier 4.5 doubles teams.

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  18. You forgot to put the Sandwich Blaster in that all star line up

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  19. The women's 4.0 team from Copperfield lost in the semi's on Sunday to Austin, 3-2, the eventual winner. Most, if not all of that Copperfield team will be back together next year.
    I remember that on this blog, everyone expected the men's or women's 4.5 teams to do well and gave no credit to the women's 4.0 teams. I think the results speak for themselves.

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  20. It's idiotic to say the 4.0's wouldn't win a line.

    Tran and Vu were always better than Huynh in doubles. Perdomo couldn't even start when he played 4.0 for Freeman. But now he is good enough to start for Lakeside. How could he beat these all stars? Foster would lose to Lotz, Rios, Vu, Yamaguchi, Frederic and Hoang. Hell he was lucky to beat 4.0 Halani this year who is not even on this list. Does anybody really think Pham and Greene are better than these guys?

    Bui, Narajos and Wooten all played 4.0 two or three years ago. These 4.0's are probably similar level.

    I am curious how Lotz would do against Bui and Puma.

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  21. 10:48, you're talking from the past. that was back then, and this is now. Foster would beat everyone on that 4.0 list, except lotz.
    lotz is not a legitimate 4.0, so dont insult him. he is a top 4.5-5.0. vu is a legit 4.5 player and can beat good 4.5 players. RIOS SUCK!

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  22. I personally think the match would be competitive.

    Hess and Connell/Wright would beat anyone on the list.

    One of the guys on the list actually beat Pumma in a set last week (and I believe another went to a tiebreaker with Hasker?) but I don't know if anyone could beat him in a match in the heat.

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  23. Why no Zachary/Sombito at sectionals? How do you leave out a solid doubles team that could make the difference?

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  24. It is easy to find 4.0 ringers, but very difficult to find 4.5 ringers. 4.5 ringers are at least division 2 college level players. Your best 4.0 player are ex 4.5 players who can no longer be the best in 4.5 and decide to take a step down where they can be the best. I doubt the ex 4.5 players brag that much about winning 4.0s.

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  25. Nothing against Scott Foster but he is not even close to being an elite 4.5 player. Scott Foster is lucky to win a 4.5 tournament and everyone knows the 4.5 tournament players are not very good. The biggest sandbaggers in 4.0s were Odion and Omon and Jason Kern (doubles only).

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  26. 12:28pm You are absolutely right. I was at sectionals this weekend and Rios was an idiot. We have a guy who played college tennis, appeals down to 4.0 to beat up on lesser players and then is a loud mouth when he wins. You played college tennis, are you really that excited you won a match against a 4.0? Way to pound your chest about winning at 4.0!

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  27. Some of the 4.5 sandbaggers of the century? A few nominees:

    Trent Broach
    Greg Jones - although he was a man and played where he should

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  28. Hurricane 4.0 would beat Lakeside 4.5 3-2 with Hess and Connell/Wright easily winning. Hurricanes take the other 3 as they gave 3-4 guys who can beat Quach.

    Hurricane 4.5 wins 4-1 (maybe 3-2 with a dubs stack by the 4.0) since all the Hurricane singles players can beat Jannuzzi.

    But it doesn't matter. Houston 4.0s were up this year and the 4.5 s were down. The best 4.0 team in the state is always a solid 4.5 team.

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  29. 9:09, you're missing a player, who has a cumulative winning percentage of 95% in doubles over the past 20 years.

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  30. The All Star 4.0 team would beat most of the if not all of the teams that made city playofs in 4.5. I think the Hurricanes 4.0 team could beat most 4.5 teams. Most of the people that play 4.5 really should be playing 4.0

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  31. You can hate me now but I won't stop now.

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  32. I think Jason is the best judge of how a 4.0 Nationals bound team would fair in the 4.5 Playoffs. Historically, they would be middle of the pack.

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  33. Someone tell Puma that Macy's is having a clearance sale on turtleneck sweaters

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  34. I heard the Chancellors 4.0 team asked a few of their 4.5 players to make the trip so that they could use them on Sunday. Looks like it backfired bc they lost to SETX, the worst team to have ever made the semi's in sectionals history!!! Hahahaha

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  35. chancellors had no chance against dallas or the hurricanes if they made it out of their pool anyways

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  36. Why did Ward play singles in Dallas? He beat some 4.0 quality players in Houston's playoff, so all of a sudden he can compete against Sectional 4.5s.

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  37. I think he played two matches and got a grand total of four games or something.

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  38. Wow u delete my comments but u leave the racial slurs against Asians on the board for a while before u delete them?

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  39. No one is deleting comments. Get over yourself. Maybe you forgot to hit the "post comment" button and then enter the captcha. I can't help stupid.

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  40. Just like how ur mom can't help ugly

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  41. Chris Towle's mom is so ugly that they picked a random dude off the street and asked if he would rather sleep wit Chris's mom or Venus Williams and he chose Venus

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  42. It's always easier for people to comment negatively when they weren't at sectionals. There was some stiff competition up there. Notable sectionals points:

    Hasker stepped his game up in singles and outplayed all the 5.0's.

    Hurricanes 4.0 team woke up on Sunday and spoiled Dallas's party. Haven't seen a team dominate like that in a long time.

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  43. Ward solidified his place as the worst 4.5 singles guy at sectionals of all time

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  44. Some of you that followed the story of Coy Dobson and Erhart Asaad, who played for 4.5 Corpus, may also be interested to learn about one of their teammates - Ryan Waters. Waters played D-3 tennis at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, where he was American Southwest Conference player of the year for two straight years, and helped lead their team to national rankings in 2007 and 2008. In 2010, Waters self rated 4.5 and played USTA league in Corpus, garnering a 4.5 C rating for 2011. Therefore, he wasn't subject to disqualification, even though he flagrantly violated the self rating guidelines in 2010. Had he followed the guidelines, he would have self rated 5.5. It seems to me like this case is the poster child for USTA allowing retroactive disqualifications regardless of B or C ratings when violations can be so easily proven. Otherwise, we will see more Corpus-like situations in the future.

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  45. I've always been in favor of retroactive punitive measures to flagrant cheaters. Not just the players but captains also. Let's face it, what captain out there recruiting these players don't knwo what the rules are. I accept that the USTA/TTA can't possibly manage and police every new self-rate in the league but at least give them a stick for deterring these actions. No different than drunk driving, murder, etc. you may not be able to prevent the crime but at least punish the criminal

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  46. And Waters lost! Hahahaha

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  47. Did anyone else notice there was nothing in the Chronicle stating that I led the hurricanes to nationals? This is an outrage

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  48. Did anyone else notice there was nothing in the Chronicle stating that I led the hurricanes to nationals? This is an outrage

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  49. Who is the worst doubles player in houston in 4.5 and 4.0?

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  50. I've played a few practice sets with musa and I must admit he is clueless at the net

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  51. Andy Andrews without a doubt

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  52. Phi Nguyen, his volleys are comical

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  53. Tam Pham hasn't hit a return in the court since the Texans last made the playoffs

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  54. I think the worst doubles player in 4.0's is Sandwich Blaster. He has no shame in swinging at everything. Good thing for me he didn't see action in the big matches.

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  55. That little Middle eastern kid Renish should be on there. He hits like a female

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  56. i thought quack's beating on rios would shut him up, which it did for a while, but that douchebag is back and trash talking at the 4.0 level.

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  57. USTA needs to introduce a 4.25 level.

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  58. It's amazing how people are up till midnight crying about their losses to players and trying to trash talk them. Get over your loss and go to sleep!

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  59. Quach Bui makes bad line calls

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  60. rios, get over it. you are a top 4.0 singles and quack is a top 4.5 singles. you are not on the same level of play. just be glad you almost got a set off of him.

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  61. Rios hasn't proved anything in 4.5's yet. He is supposed to win in 4.0's.

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  62. Will Rios play for Freeman's 4.5 2012 team or the JCC next summer, as Rios will become the #1 seed in 4.5 with Hess bumped.

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  63. Would Hurricanes 4.0 have won without Rios? He lost twice in City Playoffs in 4.5. He may be a good 4.5 but, there is no way he's even close to being the top seed.

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  64. Quack is a top 4.5 player??? Only in years when Houston goes 1-5 at sectionals is that not laughable.

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  65. Quack use to play davis cup for cambodia

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  66. Cambodia has davis cup?

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  67. 9-2 last year's 4.5 summer
    10-1 this year's 4.5 summer

    i would say he is top 4.5 singles.

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  68. If you own a racquet in cambodia then you get to be on the davis cup team. Or if you know Paradorn Srichaphan

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  69. I think the worst doubles player in houston is evveryone that plays for Homer Ford.

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  70. If the hurricanes didn't have rios or arata they would be on the same level as homer ford

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  71. sounds like rios is all about, "me, myself, and i". it's a team effort. rios couldnt have made it to nationals without the rest of the hurricanes.

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  72. Did anyone notice the chancellors team rested their 2 best doubles player vs Beaumont and it bit them in the ass? I guess not all Asians are smart

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  73. The Homer Ford 4.0 team might have been a playoff team had they been in a different division.

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  74. Htown Hacker, the homer ford team wouldve made the playoffs if they were in the womens 3.5 division

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  75. Joseph Nguyen was chancellors version of Rios, he was being saved for Sunday

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  76. Who is chancellors 2 best doubles player they sat out vs Beaumont?

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  77. Joseph Nguyen, George Ross and Bao are all strong players who shouldve been in the line up. Ross and Frederick were undefeated except one match where they tanked (according to Ross) and Bao Hangoc and Joseph Nguyen were both undefeated this year.

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  78. Maybe you guys should challenge the 4.0 Hurricanes to a practice match to help them prep for Nationals. If they'll play, it might give you guys a chance to ease the pain a little bit.

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  79. Surprised no one has mentioned Quijano for the Hurricanes. He pulled his weight over the weekend. 4-1 (winning 2 singles and 2 doubles), albeit lines 2 and 3 respectively...he still took care of business. He's won a few tournament MZs this year also...

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  80. Q and Hoang made the finel of the coke this year and Hoang was a no show......humm........

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  81. 8:39 my experience at Sectionals, and I've been to several, is that a high % of teams will drop their lines so playing line 2 or 3 doesn't mean anything.

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  82. Hey... I got a sweater from Macy for Pumma for the nippy Houston summer.

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  83. Quijano and Hoang would be a great match to watch. I think it could go either way.

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  84. Hoang has a wife and kid to support so he had to work that monday during the finals. Pretty sure it would have been a good match with Hoang winning.

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  85. If a match between 4.0 Chancellors and 4.0 Hurricanes does happen to come off, please post the time and data here. I (and I suspect others) might like to come out and watch.

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  86. Everytime Red tries to set up a scrimage between the 2 teams all of chancellors shows up and 4 members of the hurricanes shows up. Arata,Rios,Jones and the lil miniature mute Viet kid. Everyone else acts like they're too good to practice

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  87. they have played numerous times already

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  88. Do not order the truffle fries at Burger Palace

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  89. "What's special about the truffle fries?" "Oil"

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  90. Attention 4.5! Adrian Santesteban is on the comeback trail

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  91. Is that the short guy who jumps like Spud Webb?

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  92. "If I can't practice, I can't practice. It is as simple as that. It ain't about that at all. It's easy to sum it up if you're just talking about practice. We're sitting here, and I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're talking about practice. I mean listen, we're sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we're talking about practice. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game last it's my last but we're talking about practice man. How silly is that?"

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  93. Iverson will always be the man. Wish we had him instead of Tracy McLady all those years

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  94. Adrian use to play Davis cup for Argentina

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  95. I have Quijano winning a close match. I have watched both play and think Quijano's game matches up well aginst Minh. Either way it would be a good match.

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  96. You mean attention 3.5, Santestaban is on the comeback trail.

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  97. Rios sucks and for him to win took him losing in 4.5 city playoffs. What a douchebag!!!

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  98. are u saying rios lost on purpose so the entire blast team will lose? that's the dumbest thing i've heard. rios cant hang against top 4.5 players period. the guy only has a big serve and a big forehand, but unreliable. he has no backhand and cant volley. also he cant play long ralleys pass 10 shots. that's why he got whoop by hung and quack.

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  99. What I'm saying is that he ran his mouth about how good the Blast was and in the end he was the reason why they didn't advance. He should have just played 4.0 all year long. Rios will be able to compete next year in 4.5 but by no means a top dawg.

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  100. Quijano, Hoang, Adrian, when did this become a blog about midgets?

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  101. Rios will go undefeated at Nationals. Hess is the only 4.5 in Houston that can take him. And Hess is getting bumped to 5.0

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  102. 10:27 - it started when you looked between your legs...

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  103. HAHA that's so laughable. Rios will NOT go undefeated at Nats and anyone who says that clearly has never gone before. He will win a few but no way no how will he go undefeated.

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  104. You're probly laughing because you are probly smoking medicimal marijuana. Rios is a top teaching pro, young, and 6'2" powerhouse. It's now are never.

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  105. It's getting kind of boring with everyone posting pretending to be Pete. Let's bash Januzzi or some else for a while.

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  106. Let the game do the talking.

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  107. Rios game has done the talking in 4.0. His game has been walking in 4.5. He hasn't won anything yet in 4.5 to prove that he's a top tier player. Let's see how far a teaching pro can go at 4.0 Nats.

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  108. Floats like a turd, stings like a butterfly, rios has no life besides the sad comments he posts to bolster his ego

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  109. Sounds like half of the posters on this blog have Rios envy. Might want to get a life you freaking LOSERS!!!!

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  110. Negative comments are rarely anything other than envy. They are ignored by most.

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  111. 8:39 what you would be referring to is called Penis Envy. Rios is a Dick.

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  112. How many of you making comments have actually played and or talked to Pete?

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  113. who's the most arrogant freeman's player? is it pete or sarosh? and who would win?

    - pete's the most arrogant
    - sarosh would whoop the poop out of him

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  114. I am the 11:31 posterAugust 23, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    I am an idiot. I believe everything posted about everyone on this blog even though I've never met anyone.

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  115. I don't know if you call self-rating below your level and then appealing to rate even below your original self-rate as arrogant. You're more of a pussy in my mind.

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  116. I'm new to the Houston area and am looking to get my game back in shape so I am looking for a teaching professional. Would prefer someone with a 4.0 NTRP rating.

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  117. Man..leave the dude (Pete) alone and Pete if you are posting those arrogant's comments about yourself, layoff dude. No one likes a self promoter.

    As for Sarosh, I've heard him speak before and he is arrogant with no game.

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  118. Other arrogant players would be Puma and Januzzi.

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  119. Januzzi loves to talk about himself. Who he beat, when he beat him and if he lost how injured he was.

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  120. Self Rate Rat Pack; Joe Graham, Charlie Jones, Blake Adrian, Pete Rios, Alex Phan, Alejandro Montes(appeal), Arata Yamaguchi.....good job Jason.

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  121. Rios was appeal too (PUSSY)

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  122. I thought SuperChamps have to self rate 4.5 or higher? Or is that only if you were a SC less than 5 years ago cus Arata was a SC in 2006

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  123. you can trash jannuzzi, but i'll put my money on him over rios anyday.

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  124. Looks like Fall league will be tough, two teams emerging with lots of horse power in doubles in Old School and Lakeside 4.5 plus.

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  125. You guys keep trashing Jannuzi. He is twice your age and still wins most of the time. You only wish you will be in that kind of shape in your 50's and still be beating the 20 and 30 somethings. Every time I see trash talk on Jannuzi, there are a lot of us old timers that will keep on laughing at you.

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  126. Januzzi has a tough serve and volley game. Just ask him he'll tell you all about it.

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  127. can someone set up januzzi vs rios match. i would like to see him whoooooop up on rios

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  128. I have my money on Rios. Make it happen. What's the odds maker say.

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  129. Yes two mediocre teaching pros going at it. How exciting!

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  130. Red is taking all bets for the Rios vs. Januzzi match. We can trust Red, can't we?

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  131. Is this the most "self-rates" team Freeman has won State-Sectional with.
    Charlie Jones/self rate
    Blake Adrian/self rate
    Joe Graham/ self rate
    Alex Phan/ self rate
    Pete Rios/self rate
    Alejandro Montes/ appeal
    Arata Yamaguchi/ self rate

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  132. I don't think Rios will be playing Januzzi for awhile. They will meet next summer in league for sure. So much hype for little substance. Anyone going to Texas Sectionals in S.A? Houston is lacking this year in players top in the state.

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  133. Houston's 4.0 team have more starting self-rates than in past years. But you have to self-rate to win in the 4.0s

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  134. i'm sure januzzi would spank rios, cuz sarosh is way better then rios. also rios doesnt have a backhand, so there's no way that rios could make a backhand passing shot.

    januzzi 6-3, 6-3

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  135. self-rate, sandbag, or appeal. Keys to winning at any level.

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  136. Biggest key to winning in 4.0 is Jason Freeman. Look out guys. Expect a new group of self rates in 2012 !!!

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  137. Between Freeman's self-rate 4.0 team, Januzzi, and Rios; hope mother nature doesn't send an earthquake to Houston.

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  138. Hurricane more like it, that would also be ironic too. lol

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  139. If anyone's gonna win Nationals why not a team from Houston. Anyone complaining needs to stop and do something instead.

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  140. Duh....WINNING! Honour, fair play, playing your level don't count. No thanks Brian A

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  141. Honestly, the best way to end most of this nonsense is just eliminate Nationals. The vast majority of USTA players never compete in them and they provide a tremendous incentive for a few to abuse the system.

    The dirty secret from the USTA's side is that they like the fact that people like Freeman are constantly bring new people in to play league. As long as the rest of us keep renewing our memberships, the USTA could care less.

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  142. Nationals is a stepping stone for the sandbaggers. Unless your a top notch self rate,you can't compete at Nats. If Hurricane 4.0's win Nationals then you will see some sad 4.0's getting bumped up and not being able to compete next year in 4.5.

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  143. I wasn't a SC in 2006.

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  144. Jason is a winner and nice guy. But his only chance of winning Natl's is for Rios to go undefeated. The other six or seven self-rates possibly can pick up two breakers in the dubs.

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  145. Houston sure does have a lot of nationals experts for a city that doesn't advance to nationals that often. Over the course of the past 10 years:

    3.5 - 1 trip to nationals
    4.0 - 2 trips to nationals
    4.5 - 3 trips to nationals
    5.0 - 2 trips to nationals

    For the 4th largest city in the US, this isn't all that impressive.

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  146. 3.5- Freeman Nationals
    4.0- Freeman Nationals- Hurricane 2011
    4.5- Freeman Nationals- Hurricane 2009
    5.0- Freeman Nationals- Hurricane-2009

    That is pretty impressive!

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  147. 11:59 - Ummm there are at least 4 guys on the 4.0 team better than Rios.

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  148. I know Freeman's 4.0 team has seven or eight self-rates...but can Freeman play himself? I believe he is relatively young.

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  149. 7:52 - Name 4 guys that can beat him on that team.

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  150. Arata, Danny, Charlie that's 3 already and I figure there's got to be at lease one other person since Rios sucks.

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  151. I agree.

    RIOS SUCK!

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  152. Rios better win Natl's this year because when the children come along, free time will be tight. Recently Rios was seen in the Galleria looking at diamond wedding rings.

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  153. I heard Rios asked Babu to buy a diamond for him on his last trip to South Africa

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  154. You guys are idiots. Don't you have anything better to do than bash Rios?

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  155. Not really, U.S Open doesn't start for a few days, the Astros suck, football is still in preseason, basketball is on strike, hockey is offseason, golf is an activity not a sport, don't understand cricket, soccer is a hooligan sport for the uneducated masses, little league world series motivates me to blow my brains out, womens basketball the same thought, its really a strange sports limbo we're in until freaking Monday when the world revolves around New York! In the meantime just want to say "Rios couldn't ball boy for my balls." Any remark in defense of Rios is either him or a teammate who else would take up for the c**ks****r!

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  156. cool story bro, right a novel about it

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  157. Carlos Quijano could beat Rios. Even money I'd take Carlos maybe even -200.

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  158. I agree. Carlos Q is very under rated. The scary thing is he's still getting better every week.

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  159. I"ve played against both Januzzi and Rios. Both are excellent tennis players, fun to play against, fair, and relatively humble for good tennis players.

    As I understand it, much of the enmity directed against Rios is that he was rated at 4.0 a year or so ago. But he had gotten largely out of tennis since college and his weight had ballooned. When he came back, he really was a 4.0 player. Over the course of the year he played himself back into shape and is once again a legitimate 4.5 player or better. So, he played 4.0 a little longer than he should of. Big freakin' deal. Like no one has ever played down before.

    I keep reading posts that promote this bizarre idea that you're either dominating your division or you aren't shit. And this idea seems to be promoted by the same morons that whine about players playing down. Here's a clue: if you're dominating your division, you're in the wrong one!

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  160. Dude, you're wrong and you need to get your facts straight. Rios self-rated as a 4.5 as a former D1 college player. I know it was only TX Southern but doesn't fucking matter. And yeah, like anyone cares,especially the USTA, doesn't matter how out of shape he was at the time. He should have rated himself the same way everyone else has to who is a former D1 college player at his age should rate at a minimum 5.0. Then, the loser that he is, he made the personal choice to appeal his rating down to 4.0. I don't care what you say but there's nothing you or anyone else could say to spin this into anything but the fact that Rios is a liar, a cheater, and a pussy.

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  161. Actually, I just checked the Player Guidelines again. Former D1 player under 30 years old has to rate minimum 5.5 so the fucker under rated himself by 2 levels. THAT is why people hate him.

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  162. You can be recovering from a torn ACL and not play for almost a year and the USTA won't approve your medical appeal to under rate yourself so do you really think being fat as a good enough excuse.

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  163. Honestly, why the obsession with Rios? Sounds like you've got a hardon for him.

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  164. What I don't understand is why does everyone complain once the guy is legal? If it was such a big deal to people he would have been DQ'ed last year. Why does everyone make a big deal about it now?

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  165. Pete politics with the right people in Houston. He is the #1 4.5 singles player in Houston with Hess bumped. And he will win Natl's. He is an all around good person.

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  166. rios got slapped around by hung during the 4.5 season and got slapped around by quack in the city playoffs. #1 4.5 player? not even close.

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  167. Maybe because if Rios slaps those guys, he can't go to State Sections with the 4.0 team....nor Natl's....who gives a shit. Rios is too likeable to get mad at him.

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  168. Those guys will be 5.0 next year.

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  169. Wouldn't a good 4.5 player have to win a tournament first? Looking at Rios results in tournaments he sure does rack up the losses.

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  170. he took his time and money to sign up for a tournament, then wakes up early and drive out there, and loses on purpose, so "he can't go to State Sections with the 4.0 team....nor Natl's"

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  171. You guys are idiots - why not man up and put a name next to your post?

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  172. hey rios, if you're so good, why dont you enter men's 4.5, copperfield tourney, sept. 16th. surely you can win this little local tournament.

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  173. I would bet $500 bucks Rios wins the San Antonio 600 pt Major Zone tourny in the 4.5 singles next month... if it was legal to bet.

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  174. he cant even win a dinky 100 pt tourney. the dude just sucks. he really sucks. i mean really really sucks.

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  175. i cant stop laughing when i see this chump results. he has singles losts to:
    Marc Howson 4.0
    james boone 4.0
    top 4.0/4.5 my ass. dude...get a game before you label yourself as a tennis god

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  176. this blog has become the year of the rios. last year it was the year of the sarosh. both guys aren't even that good. i guess people get bashed when they talk about themself a lot. we should be talking about oman/odion or aadrian, but those guys just win without much talk.

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  177. The deal is Rios and everone else who blatantly lie on their self-rate to underrate are cheaters and scum. Don't try to twist it spin it just because it wasn't figured out until a year later. Shame on us for not getting him DQd last year but it doesn't change the fact that he had to explicitly lie when he rated himself a 4.5. For those who don't know what that means it means when presented with the question Did you play or commit to play Div 1 college tennis he input NO when he should have said yes which would automatically not allow him to rate any lower than a 5.5. And then if that's not enough the loser goes and Appeals himself down to a 4.0

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  178. The deal is that the folks at 4.5 don't give a crap about Rios. He got smacked at city playoffs this year and he will get smacked again in the future.

    Give it a rest with your whining about Rios. We get it. You think he cheats and don't like him. Based on your incessant complaining, I can only conclude that you are some 4.5 wannabe who doesn't have the game to beat an average 4.5 like Rios.

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  179. Well stated 11:49. Predictions for Sectionals in San Antonio?

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