Rain is in the forecast for Thursday. With the NCAA division II tennis tournament taking place at Memorial Park and possible weather delays, I'm not sure how matches there will be affected. Regardless, this week is devoid of many intriguing matchups.
The 5.0 division has just one match scheduled. Craig Bobo's Memorial Park team faces a Met squad that seems to be on the ropes lately. The match will be played indoors. The Met should have enough talent to right the ship this week.
In 4.5 there's really only one match that features legitimate playoff contenders features the Yutts and Ssshhhwings. Neither team has that much strength in the singles. A slimmer Peter Rothe ventured onto the singles court last week and had a comfortable win, but using him in singles will weaken the doubles. I feel like Ssshhhwing is a bit stronger in the doubles, but if James Bui and Daniel Morales can play well, the Yutts could have a chance in the singles. Still, I'll pick Ssshhhwings in a tight one.
In 4.0 there's a battle for second place and a probable playoff berth from Division as SAP plays the Rolido Boys. SAP has added doubles superstar Jason Urtis, fresh off a weekend of intense fitness training at the ping pong table. The Rolido Boys have a talented big guy in Michael Martinez. He and Greg Moran have been a virtual lock at line one doubles, so SAP may have to take 3 of the other four lines.
Rice is just 1-2, but showed last week in their loss to the Hurricanes that they do still have some talent on that roster. They match up with the second place Smokers in a do-or-die battle.
Unofficially, it looks as though the playoff formats will be the same as last year.
In other news, the NOHO league is now in full swing. Red Benzon's team finished up their match with Jimmy Kilshaw's crew last night and pulled out a 3-2 win as Kilshaw had to default line 3 doubles. Juan Lopez, who I've been told was once a Chilean Davis cupper, won a hard fought match with Red Benzon. Jody Deluca crushed Chantz Chanthanalay at one singles and Walter Fortenberry and Carter Ullrich surprisingly drubbed Alan Teague and David Huffman. Craig Bobo and and Ben Whitsett continued to show they are an elite 4.5 team in an easy win over Huynh and Kilshaw.
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4.5 III is the most competitive. If Swinggg or Yutts could pickup a singles player they would win the bigger matches. I pick Yutts over Swinggg for this week.
ReplyDeleteUrtis is a man among boys in the 4.0 world.
ReplyDeleteUrtis who???? It is doubtful he will really make a difference in 4.0
ReplyDeleteUrtis is full of himself. He must be posting anonymously about himself.
ReplyDeleteYutts singles are strong then Ssshhhwings. They will win 4-1.
ReplyDeleteSsshhhwings and Yutts to play at Lee Leclear, maybe, rain permitting.
ReplyDelete3-2 Ssshhhwing.
I'm sure that the yutts will outplay the Shwwinggs.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what the previous poster's definition of strong singles is, but the Yutts singles players are not it since they lost Rich Ryu. Morales and Bui are quality players, but not league strong players.
ReplyDeleteNot league strong players, but looking at who plays single for Ssshhhwings, Yutts singles player are better.
ReplyDeleteIf Tellez and Giordinelli play singles for the Schwings, I doubt Bui or Morales win.
ReplyDeleteGiordinelli is average at best in singles.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Yuttes and/or Sssswing should sign up Urtis as a singles player. Whoever gets him is sure to win 3-2. Both teams could use his cat-like reflexes, cheetah-like speed and superior conditioning
ReplyDeleteUrtis, please email me your training techniques. Maybe post something on YouTube for the rest of us who are striving to reach your level.
ReplyDeleteUrtis did freak out the Southern team (Laffayette, LA) at Nationals last year when he hit all his practice serves underhanded (pretty funny)...not only is he in perfect shape and has flawless technigue but he plays mind games with his oppontents and is a tactical genius. It's about time he got his due on this blog.
Richard I've seen some of his regimen and it is frightening. I will explain as Urtis will never reveal his secrets.
ReplyDeleteI saw him training at the MET one day (ok granted it's air conditioned) doing hardcore corner to corner (inside out forehand/inside out backhand) drills as two guys (clearly one is too slow) fed balls to him. Not only that, but Freeman himself was pacing in the backcourt behind Urtis spouting obscenities everytime Urtis missed, which was not often mind you. That might have been warmup I'm not sure...
For those of you who don't believe me at all, I'll sneak a camera in there next time. I'll put it on youtube and post the link. DY
Screwed up and posted on the last thread instead of this one. So here it is again. Urtis is yet another example of how Freeman, from here on known as Captain February (great recruiter terrible captain), can screw up a team. If he wouldnt have been trying to hide Urtis from a DQ and played him more, we would have easily won Nationals. To think that he is in singles shape is downright scary! I heard he had to pull a Jordan and drop out of tennis for a while because of a similar problem. I'm just glad he left Captain February in the dust!
ReplyDeleteThe HTA should replace the dog mascot with Urtis.
ReplyDeleteDude what do you have against Freeman, other then being fat, short, and sucky at tennis?
ReplyDeleteTrue, but I'm really fast for about 20 feet (once a day).
ReplyDeleteO.K., maybe 10 feet (once a week).
ReplyDeleteI challenge Benedict "Urtis" to a 50-yard foot race (as long as there are 2 break stops along the way).
ReplyDeleteMr. Blogger: I smell a poll coming on. Captain February vs Benedict Urtis: who will be victorious?
ReplyDeleteLooks like no rain in forecast. Will matches be played at MP?
ReplyDeleteThose NCAAs shouldn't really affect the play schedule, I'm pretty sure they are probably all or mostly finished for the day.
ReplyDeleteBrother Greg,
ReplyDeleteYou better check your predictions in the lowly, non-competitive 4.0 SW division.
For some odd reason the Rolido Boys captain split up Greg and Mike tonight. Mike was paired with a newcomer (justin) who tried but was not equipped to play. Greg played with Harold (captain) and he lost to the might Urtis and the Kyle "who is the guy" Kray.
I know we are all beneath the Met 4.0 team...(as are most NORMAL 4.5 teams)..but pretty poor captaining by Harold gave an easy 4-1 victory to SAP tonight.
BTW, Freeman is Mr. February AND Mr. Coke...as he ALWAYS finds a ringer/newcomer during this event.
He does an excellent job and is subtle at what he does. Props to the Yoda of Houston Adult tennis recruiting.
Freeman has been out at the NCAA tourney recruiting for his 4.0 and 4.5 teams next year.
ReplyDeleteOUTSTANDING job tonight Chris, Daniel and the rest of the SAPers.
ReplyDeleteTuyen is looking better and better every time he plays.
Also Urtis lived up to his new title, "doubles superstar."
Well done!!!!
Harold Gardner logic: "I've got a team that's 17-4 this year. I think I'll split them up for my big match."
ReplyDeleteOops.
I just heard that the Yutts beat Ssshhhwing 3-2. Not many details, but apparently James Bui beat Alfredo Tellez, Miguel Morales beat Peter Rothe and Alain Tran/Daniel Morales beat someone (might have been Lemp/Wagner).
ReplyDeleteWhy does Rothe think he can play singles?
ReplyDeleteHall/Judson beat the Dugas's at line 1 doubles and Monte Lindloff and Ki beat Rick Boeche and Mark Durio at line 2 doubles. SSSwwwing just can't win many singles matches. MIA--Justin Benoit and Flad Patterson???? If not MIA, SSSwwwing probably could have taken all three doubles. Can't win the league without singles!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree, that is why Mob Squad have a key advantage bc they have really solid singles that can win almost everytime.
ReplyDeletePatty Cake Puma? Steve "Phat" Phan? Those guys don't scare anyone.
ReplyDeleteI'll assume that comment was written by one of their own team memebers to try to pump them up.
ReplyDeleteIt really does not matter if they scare anyone, all that matters is that they continue to win. End of that story!!!!
ReplyDeleteRothe can play singles, just not at the 4.5 summer league level. But with the right partner, he is a really good doubles player.
ReplyDeleteHas Rothe hit up any of you guys for insurance? ANNOYING!!!!!! Just play tennis boy!!!! Do you see Red bringing out his gay porn dvd's and trying to get everyone to buy them?
ReplyDeleteHe is annoying when he is not selling insurance.
ReplyDeleteLooks like there is a nice match up this week between Mob Squad and Sswing. It was 3-2 last time in MSs favor. They have improved their doubles by bringing in Herb so I expect them to do even better this time.
ReplyDeleteMob Squad 4-1.
Swing still has better doubles, they will take 2 out of 3 for a 3-2 loss.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the 4-1 win for Mob Squad.
ReplyDeleteI would not trust Rothe on a line call, why would I trust him with my wife and kids well being?
ReplyDeleteYes, he hit me up after a match, then a phone call and 5 e-mails. During the match he was cursing under his breathe at me cause I tagged him with a volley. Good times.