Note: The City Playoff schedule has been updated and released: https://www.houstontennis.org/Content-Public/Page-Edit/Page.asp?iID=2092467714
In a nutshell: In 4.0 RR#1: Winners from D1 and D2, runners-up from D3, D4
RR#2: Winners from D3 and D4, runners-up from D1, D2
In 4.5 RR#1: Winners from D2 and D3, runner up from D1
RR#2: Winner from D1, runners-up from D2, D3
So how does it LOOK like it's gonna' shake out?
4.0 RR#1: Copperfield Copperheads, Chancellor's, SAP, Smokers
4.0 RR#2: Sienna Topspinners, Hurricanes, JCC Dudes, Bear Creek
4.5 RR#1: Westside, Mob Squad, Hurricanes
4.5 RR#2: Kingwood, Copperfield, Yutts
Wow: The 4.5 brackets are lopsided, in my opinion. I'd be curious to know how these things were decided upon. Kingwood will have a waltz to Sectionals, assuming they win their division. It certainly makes those three Kingwood-Hurricane regular season battles INTERESTING! In a way, the brackets are unfair, in that Kingwood probably has it a little too easy. But in a way, it's fair that the three teams perceived to be battling for that second slot are all in a round robin and will get to prove they belong in Dallas. Sorry for the frankness of my comments: I'm not trying to slight the Yutts or Copperfield, but I just feel they're a notch below the other four and not really much of a threat to Kingwood (or the Hurricanes).
Thanks to Diana for getting this information out there. Those players who will need to choose between two leagues certainly should have all information at their disposal before making their decisions.
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Westside, Mob Squad, and Met will be tough. That will be a toss up. Mob Squad has a slight edge with their singles.
ReplyDelete.
ReplyDeleteKingwood captain is tight with Cheryl H. Co-incidence? Cheryl is honest, so it probably is just a co-incidence.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious. Is there anyone out there that ACTUALLY has seen EVERYONE'S (for the most part) game and therefore has the knowledge to commentate on this whole deal? I feel more like everyone just sort of speaks from the point of view of their buddy or their team or their general little circle of tennis friends with comments like: "(insert team) is good. They will have no challengers on the way through to sectionals".
ReplyDeleteI know it isn't easy, but surely there have to be some real veterans out there that have seen everyone at least hit or something, in a similar fashion to that California captain that was featured in Tennis Mag a while ago... DY
Who's Dan Free? So chancellors played someone that was not on their roster? or just keyed in the wrong names? Some of them needs to go get their eyes checked.... many questionable calls esp. johnathan hau nguyen.... and he takes forever in between points... straight sets could take 2+ hours...
ReplyDeleteI've been playing USTA league since '97, and have probably seen more players than most, but there are lots of 4.5 playoff players I haven't seen...and even more 4.0's.
ReplyDeleteRed has probably seen 90+% of the 4.5's play.
Dan is the captain of Village Place team that played Chancellor's last Thursday. 1 fat thumb, maybe - 2 fat thumbs, hmmmm - looks awfully suspicious. I don't think the HTA will tolerate blatant cheating.
ReplyDeleteFreeman's 4.0 Met team should be all over this Chancellor's deal. This is HUGE to them...
ReplyDeleteJohnathan Hau Nguyen is a known cheater. He's not that good and he will hook you.
ReplyDeleteCaptain's have an opportunity to check over the scoresheet to verify all names and scores. No excuse. Chancellor's captain cheated.
ReplyDeleteHAAHH yeah he is blind as a bat... you have to stay away from the lines or else its out.. you will never get a rhythm since after each point he'll slowly go wipe his hands, slowly go pick up the 3rd ball even if its 4 courts down, slowly tie his shoes even tho its not untied.... I know he's 40 but still... FYI he has problem with high heavy topspin.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the Chancellors team is slimy. Did they play people who aren't even on their roster or just try to get a player into his second match by entering his name on scorecard?
ReplyDeleteEntered scoresheet erroneously using the wrong names (different than the names of the players who actually played the match). Who knows if the players who were actually there were on the team roster. Maybe they were trying to avoid forfeiting a line.
ReplyDeleteWhich players that were in the scorecard didn't really play?
ReplyDeleteDan Free is a cheat and he has been a cheat for 10 years. If you are a captain playing him, you better know it going in!
ReplyDeleteDuring our first match Dan said Line 1S was running late, all other matches started, then he forfeited line 1 leaving our top player on the bench. One phone call and we found out his Line 1S was actually out of town.
When we played him our 2nd time, our captain put down a fake line sheet on his bag during warm ups. Dan peeked and adjusted his line up accordingly and when they exchanged REAL line-ups, you could see Dan just lose it. Our fake line up was bagged in a way to force Dan to play straight up. It was even dated wrong. He took the bait and lost the night.
Good times...good times!
Play heads up, play to win, play honest and cheaters beware.
Ah yes. The old "leave the fake lineup sheet lying around" trick. Works every time.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we might have a "he says, she says" thing coming up. Is there a pubic hair on that coke can?
LOL, so it's time for Jonathan Hao stories. The first league match I played him it was in doubles. The first point he served to me in the deuce court, I chipped and charged. He floated a return and I crunched it for a winner.
ReplyDeleteThis seems to rattle him so he immediately collected all the balls and began using them to wipe the sweat from his face (it was hot as hell). He wasn't trying to be sly about this, he was being comically obvious about it to piss us off.
I won't elaborate on all of the other antics that he tried. But I will say that it was extremely satisfying when I nailed him with an overhead in the second set. "I'm sorry ... you got in the way of my overhead."
Even if the Dan Free stories are true - doesn't matter. Let's stick to what happened last Thursday night. Chancellor's played 2 guys in doubs but inserted different names when entering scores in TennisLink. Nuff said. Hello Dallas, Mr. Freeman!
ReplyDeleteI played on Dan's teams for several years in the 90's. Dan is competitive, but he never cheated during that time (and his teams then were much more competitive).
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line is the HTA needs more captains like Dan. He captains a mid-level 4.0 team year after year. He welcomes in new 4.0 players that move to Houston and are looking for a team. And ....
HE DOESN'T GO AROUND RECRUITING UNRATED SUPERSTARS WHO SELF-RATE 4.0.
I played Jonathan Hao Nguyen a few times severals years ago, he never made any bad lines calls, but he does take excessive time between points. And age does not have anything to do with it, its just bad gamesmanship. Obviously he can hang in 4.0, his scores have been quite impressive, his excuse then was he was to old to play in 4.5
ReplyDeleteHe's old to play 4.5 and he would suck at 4.5... and he does make bad calls.
ReplyDeleteChancellors team will be DQ'd for the remainder of the season and will not be allowed to play in the playoffs. They better lie their ass off and keep this at a he said, she said level. If they don't, their season is over.
ReplyDeleteLOL. USTA and HTA are not going to DQ a team for the rest of the season even if their captain did knowingly put in incorrect information. This would hurt not only the team being DQed, but also their opponents who don't get to play a match.
ReplyDeleteIf the grievance is upheld, I can see three penalties.
1. The line is defaulted.
2. The match is defaulted.
3. The team is DQed from city playoffs.
In this case, the only penalty that would make Chancellors sweat is #3. As appropriate as it might be, I can't really see the HTA/USTA actually taking such a substantial step.
Most likely the line will just be defaulted and business will continue as usual.
ReplyDeleteI am on Dan Free's team and was a captain of another 4.0 team for 8-10 years. Dan is competitive, but he is a wonderful captain. He volunteers a lot of time and he keeps things moving. He takes new players from the HTA when they call in looking for a team and gives them a chance. He is reasonable with everything he does. He emails out the line-up 3 days ahead of the match and NEVER has he shifted the lineup on league match day or at the time of the match like one post states.
ReplyDeleteI played Johnathan Nguyen at Chancellor's recently. He is a very good player, but he is definitely a cheater. He was wallaping me. Beat me 6-1 in the first set and was up 3-1 in the second and we were 3-3 in the game when I hit a ball down the line and watched down the line as it hit INSIDE and barely touched the sideline. He was running full speed from the other side of the court and called it out. I told him "You are kicking my butt; you don't have to cheat!" There were a couple of calls earlier that were tight, but that one was blatant and put him up 4-1. I think I ended up getting 2 more games because he sandbagged to try and make sure the computer doesn't push him up to 4.5. Johnathan is a very talented server and overall player. He doesn't need to cheat. I don't understand why he is motivated to do that, especially when he is spanking someone. He is one of the best players I have played at 4.0 in years. It is truly a shame he is a cheater.
ReplyDeleteSarosh has a challenger for the city's biggest cheater on the court.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the HTA will settle for just forfeiting the line. This is a pretty serious rule infraction. I wouldn't be surprised if they forfeit the team match or dq the team completely. Also wouldn't be surprised if they follow the USTA precedence of kicking the captain out of league for several years.
ReplyDeleteI would not be so quick on that. The USTA has a mandate out now regarding zero tollerance for any type of cheating.
ReplyDeleteSupposedly this type of stuff is common in other sections so they are trying to put a stop to it.
I think 3 is a real option and probably the most likely option.
Who is the captain of Chancellors? Why would they put themselves in this position when they clearly did not need to?
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't about winning the match for the night. It was obviously about getting some players qualified (their 2 matches) for playoffs.
ReplyDeleteI think the punishment is going to be HARSH! Assuming, of course, it is found to be true.
ReplyDeleteFirst match for one of the players in question. Second match for the other.
ReplyDeleteThey will just DQ the line. Teams have been doing this forever.
ReplyDeleteWell, maybe more captains should pay more attention. This kind of stuff should not be going on all the time.
ReplyDeleteAn example should be made of this team and this captain.
I say from now on everyone has to show drivers license for league match. Would elimnate problem. If Chancellors is found guilty kick them out of playoffs and captain and players involved one year removal of league play.
ReplyDeletewhile the punishment should be HARSH to the captain and players involved, the USTA and HTA is afraid lose the $75 per player,and the Chancellors team has a large roster. Reminder: $35 yearly for USTA, $20 yearly for HTA, and then $20 to register for a team. Sorry guys, they will most likely go unpunished except maybe to default the line.
ReplyDeleteDepends on how many lines are involved. Captain and at most 8 players. The leagues could afford that loss .
ReplyDeleteAll Chancellor's has to do is say the guys we put down in tennislink are the guys who played the match. Village Place is just mad because we beat their ass so bad.
ReplyDeleteNothing more is needed. Move on.
This is bullshit! Chancellors should be kicked out of the summer league for good. This is not the first time they have cheated, just the first time they have been caught.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I don't think Chancellor is going to make this go away that easily. I'm assuming that both lineups cards will have the player's names who were entered into Tennislink. If not, the league coordinator can ask to see both cards. If the handwriting doesn't match, I'd be suspicious.
ReplyDeleteAs for just saying the players in Tennislink are the ones that played, that assumes that everyone on Chancellors will lie to protect the team. While I think a couple of their players are scummy, there are plenty of reasonable players on the team who I suspect won't want to lie.
If they really do try to cover it up and get caught, they will have just made the option of being DQed from city playoffs a lot more likely.
"if they get caught"
ReplyDeleteIt will be very hard for them to get caught. You are right, everyone will have to have their story straight and they can't budge from it or they will certainly be DQ'd.
I don't think any of this is actually true. I know their captain(s) and they would not cheat like this. They have way to much to lose.
ReplyDeletecome on now ... what Chancellor did is a misdemeanor compared to the countless premeditated felonies Freeman has committed.... Difference is Freeman has carefully planned his crime a year in advance and covered his tracks carefully. Utilizing his legal mind he has reasoned his "unethical" practices as smart recruitment. He has learned well from RED... its like the fortune 500 CEO learning new corporate strategies from Drug Lords...
ReplyDeleteI think the people who bash Freeman on here are jealous that they cannot play on his team. Also Chancellors had A. Hasker on their line up earlier this year. Look how well he did in 4.5 this year. He has been a stud on Greg's team. He beat Jason Cooney by a score of 2,2. So yes Chancelors might just be shady like Freeman.
ReplyDeleteHasker played like 2 doubles matches for chancellor during the spring 4.5. he has never played summer 4.5 before. He's a young ex-Elsik HS player.
ReplyDeleteopps i mean he as never played on the chancellor SUMMER 4.0 team.
ReplyDeleteHasker was a former superchamp who signed up for 4.0 on Chancellors but was bumped up because super 18s have to self rate at 4.5 or higher.
ReplyDeleteHow many rules have they violated that we just don't know about yet? The list fairly long after only 1 day.
ReplyDeleteWho is the team captain of Chancellors? And not the one listed on the tennis link
ReplyDeleteWhat happenned to that challenge from Kris Knudson to Red Benzon?
ReplyDeleteBenzon is going to bring all the ringers, there will be no challenge. A benzon team never plays straight up.
ReplyDeleteKris only did that challenge because his team cannot beat Red's team.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone seen Adam Kent's record in open the past few years on tennis link? This guy is a very strong 5.0. How can this guy possibly be rated 4.5? Same for Antoine Ford to a lesser extent. How did Benzon get these guys rated 4.5? He must have alot of inside connections at USTA. What will be interesting to see is how bad he has them tank in the regular season.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a question of inside connections with the USTA. Those players were rated 4.5 when the year end ratings came out. All competitive captains scan the ratings lists. Some captains prefer to add only players with a connection to their team, some are forced to add only members of their club and a few captains will try to persuade the best available players to play on an all-star collection of players (I hesitate to use the word "team"). I'm sure the names Antoine Ford and Adam Kent jumped out at several captains...some would not want to add them and some have no "pull" with those players to entice them to join their teams. They both got their ratings legitimately, however, without any need of "pull".
ReplyDeleteI'm actually a bit surprised that Copperfield didn't add Kent to their Thursday 4.5 team.
It is well known that Benzon takes up collections from the other rabid members of his teams so that he can bribe these types of players.
ReplyDeleteKris Knutson knew that was the only way he could fit himself in the lineup for that match. If Benzon's team wins then they are guaranteed sectionals.
ReplyDeletelooking at Kent's record how was he even able to appeal down?
ReplyDeleteAlso does he need the ego stroke beating up on guys 1-2 levels lower than himself.
Adam Kent?? Who is he, I don't think he's picked up a racket in over a year. It's tough to hit a tennis ball with a 7 iron. I think I'd kick his tail right now.
ReplyDeleteAdam Kent, the Division III All American NCAA player. Yes folks he is one and the same.
ReplyDeleteHere is a little news clip from a few years ago.
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Adam Kent of the University of the South-Sewanee defeated John M. Cham-a-Koon of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 before losing to Kevin Whipple of Gustavus Adolphus 6-4, 7-6 (5) in Tuesday's second round of the NCAA Division Men's Singles Championships at Univ. of California-Santa Cruz
How do you become a NCAA Tennis All American.
Here are some guidelines.
Players are chosen for All-American status if they meet one of the following criteria:
Singles
1. Top eight seed in NCAA Singles Championships
2. Win two rounds in NCAA Singles Championships
3. Finish in the Top 20 of the final Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings
4. Win ITA Fall Regional Tournament
5. Wins a round/match at the ITA National Small College Championships
Adam meet the criteria for All American Status.
Adam hits over heads jumping 2 feet in the air. It's BS that he is 4.5 with a 115+mph well placed serve and great volley game. He was protested 3 years ago and Tosha Smith said, Adam is legal in 4.5. Remember, these are your USTA and HTA reps that are up-holding ratings like this. We are powerless to stop HTA/USTA and they have the final say even in the face of overwhelming proof.
Wow... Some of this stuff is comical. Look we all agree that the USTA does not police the NTRP Ratings well, but it's a nationwide epidemic. Unless they change the NTRP Rating Definitions and/or crack down on a nationwide basis, we will have the same issues season after season. Look... There's no doubt Adam Kent is a strong player, but he's not the strongest 4.5 in Houston, certainly not in Texas, and definitely not in the Nation. So let's keep all this in perspective. Heck, I have a doubles win over him a few years back in the Finals of a Tourney. -And I am getting old guys... 41 is just around the corner... In any event, as many previous posters have stated, some teams recruit well... -and we are fortunate to have him on our team. I know many of you say you just play for fun, but truthfully you want to win. Otherwise, we wouldn't have such an active blog. There's always going to be some new hotshot coming along that everyone complains about as long as we lace them up and go out and compete. There's a lot of good players in 4.5, and for the record the comment regarding some of our rabid team-mates paying players, is not true and uncalled for. -And I am about as rabid as they come when it comes to winning. Just my 2 cents... Craig Bobo
ReplyDeleteI have one more itch to scratch... Who the heck keeps promoting Westside so d_ _ much? They are a good group of guys... I know several of them and they seem to be stand up guys, and yes they are strong, but someone is sure overdoing them a little. Hey, with some of this new talent on their team this year, they may step up and surprise the favorites, but I am not sold yet. I know they are undefeated thus far, but there division that once appeared like it might be strong, seems a little suspect. I do not know some of their newer players, since I have been playing 5.0 most of the summer , but I have heard that they are good. Again, just my 2 cents... Anyone feel the same out there? Craig Bobo
ReplyDeleteClassic Benzon regarding Kent. Arun Nanjappa was protested by Red Benzon last year for playing 5.0 as a Division 3 All American. Red also actively campaigned to get Nanjappa on his 4.5 team. Red is a complete douche. I don't know how he gets away with this stuff year in and year out. And give everybody a break Bobo with this kent is just an above average 4.5 crap. Look at his record. Doubtful there are any 4.5's playing league that have a chance. He is similar to Trent Broach another Red benzon ringer.
ReplyDeleteCraig, I'm not disagreeing with what you said, but am curious as to who you think IS the best player (players) in 4.5 in Houston?
ReplyDelete"let's keep all this in perspective"
ReplyDeleteSeriously Craig!!!!
The only perspectives that need to be re-adjusted are yours and your teammates. We expect this type of bullshit from Red but not you. What you guys are doing is a disgrace and a slap in the face to anyone who legitimately plays league tennis. It is unjustifiable what you are doing (and what Red has been doing).
The worst part is your Bay Area team is loaded with teaching pros who make a living promoting and developing tennis players. If there is any group of people who should have more respect for the game and the other people playing it, it should be you and your fellow teaching pros.
Like I said, we expect this shit from Red, the rest of you should ashamed.
I don't believe Craig or Red has broken any rules in adding Kent or anyone else to that team. Kent got his rating legitimately, via the computer. He may be better than any 4.5 in Houston (He's beaten Dustin Phillips, Blessing B., Alex Beaux and Robert Bickmore in the last few years) but he's totally legal.
ReplyDeleteAdam is good, but he is not a guaranteed win.
ReplyDeletePeople are just angry that Red added him to his team first. These guys, who should be rated higher (Kent, A. Ford, Blessing, and others I'm sure), sit out for a league season or two, play Open tourneys (does not factor in to NTRP), and then the computer rates them below what maybe they should be rated. Kent may not be a guaranteed win in doubles, but he will be damn tough to beat in singles. If i were a captain, i would add him to my roster too.
ReplyDeleteso nice to see HTA and TTA follow their own guidelines for rating players.:
ReplyDeleteDiv. 1 unranked college team or player; NAIA,Div. 2 & 3 top ranked college team or player(commited to, playing, or played ) ==
Age30 and under == 5.5
Age 31 to 45 == 5.0
Age 46 to 55 == 4.5
So unless Kent is 46 or older TTA should have kicked him to 5.0 minimum.
Those guidelines are for self-rates. Kent is computer-rated based on his results last year.
ReplyDeleteTo the previous poster: while you are obviously in to reading the rules and find valuable information, take a look at Kent's league records:
ReplyDelete2006-rated 5.0 throughout the whole season. Obviously his results were not good enough to keep that rating. He almost went undefeated, but most of his wins were over 4.5 rated guys.
2007-computer rated 4.5 mostly wins, but there again, mostly over 4.5 rated guys.
To the computer, that does not mean he is 5.0. The flaw is in the rating systems and how they work. Cannot fault the captains for wanting to add a legitimate computer rated guy to their roster.
NO, I am not in the Benzon fan club either.
I'm sure all the people complaining are from Knutson's NOHO team. Adam Kent will not be playing against Knutson's team so it won't matter about he good he is. He is a Great Addition but surely not in playing shape. He adds depth to the team and thats what you need at sectionals.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Benzon's Noho Team being loaded with teaching pros there are 2 so wow that's loaded.
I'm sure no one is complaining about Kudrick being eligible especially after his last play in league was in 5.5 Nationals
Htown Hacker is a completely biased source when it comes to ringers. He was busted not long ago for adding a guy with a current ATP ranking to his 4.5 team. And he will tell you that he felt the guy was an average 4.5. Htown Hacker, Tim Green, Red Benzon feel that as long as you can't break into the top 10 in the ATp tour you are just an above average 4.5 and are needed to make the mythical trip to nationals. It is disrespectful for them to send these kinds of players into a league match where they just tank and dump games. Everyone has had to play these kinds of below board matches against ringers, and it ruins the league.
ReplyDeleteI can care less about teaching pro. They usually think they are better then they are.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling Westside will throw a beat down on Bobo for talking crap about them.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we all have our biases about what is right and wrong when it comes to playing league. What I did with Farzad was wrong, though I did not know he had an ATP ranking at the time we added him. I didn't do my homework. That was the year that Red's San Antonio team won Nationals, and I felt that with Farzad and a couple of our other guys we might have been the only team in the state with even a slim chance to stop them. I still don't think he would have beaten Trent Broach had they played...but he was definitely illegal.
ReplyDeleteI posted the information because it sounds like Kent self-rated around 2005, which the guidelines were in place.
ReplyDeleteKent is no different than Chance Morgan, Trent Broach, Reid Strand, Sydney Jim and others, who apparently get their jollies beating down players much worse than they are.
And you are right about Kent, and it shows you one of the flaws of the NTRP. HTA does not police the ratings, nor do captains protest ratings in the Spring/Fall because those really have no bearing on Sectionals/Nationals.
ReplyDeleteKris K. why don't you put Ted in singles against Red's team. He plays open tournament all the time.
ReplyDeleteMost the people on this Blog do not realize how strong 4.5 league really is once you get to sectionals. There are a lot of strong teams loaded with 4.5++ players. Kent hasn't beaten anyone and he attracts so much attention and for what an amateur league where all you get is ridiculed on this blog.
ReplyDeleteI understand that everyone thinks I recruit Ringers and that's fine. I know that it's mainly Knutson's Team that has been posting lately and I just want to offer a challenge to him. Since I have such Ringers Like Kent and Ford I propose we play a Match Captain vs.Captain for next weeks League Match instead of playing the full match. Kris vs.Red. Winner of the Match wins the team Match. I'm sure that since I'm just a Doubles player I cant possibly beat Kris but I'm willing to try beacuse I know that this is the only way it will be fair to him without having to hear him say i used ringers to beat his Team.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your confident you can beat Herb otherwise you wouldn't have posted that challenge. So by us playing at least there are no ringers involved.
Red
Red, there are no complaints here, and I play on the NOHO teams. If i were a captain and could bring a computer rated 4.5 player (Kent, Ford) on my team, then I would do it too.
ReplyDeleteSince most of you think that Red is an average 4.0 singles player with no backhand, this challenge seems fair.
ReplyDeleteTake up the challenge Kris. Once you beat him, he will recruit you on to his next team.
ReplyDeleteI think the vast majority of players can do without getting beat 7-5, 6-4 or whatever score keeps you from getting flagged by a 5.5 ringer like Kent. And yes Benzon brings the ringers everytime. All you can really do is boycott any league he is in, or get ready to be sand bagged.
ReplyDeleteWhich ringers has Benzon brought this year? Ford beat Don rios but by no means is a ringer. Everyone else on his team are mediocre players.
ReplyDeleteIf we want to see fair play Kris should play red for the team match. Knustson is a 4.0 National Player Sandbagger and Benzon is a line 3 Doubles player at best.
I'd like to see the match to see if Red can handle the Knutson Hack Attack.
I think Kris is a ringer... in the 3.5 league.
ReplyDeletewomen's league
ReplyDeleteRed, I'll take on that challenge.
ReplyDeleteKris No Nuts son
In my situation, Chancellors played a player not on their roster and used someone elses name. I know this for a fact
ReplyDeleteBenzon VS Knutson... houston tennis has hit a new low. ugly tennis vs. ugly tennis. the battle of the 4.0's. knutson is a super trash talker. red is a super protester. i pick red 6-3, 6-2 over no-knuts
ReplyDeleteYes, Lets all cancel our matches and head out and watch exhibition match. odds are:
ReplyDeletered (-450)
Knuts (+750)
Wagers can be made via cash, credit cards, paypal, racquets
To answer the question who do I believe the top 4.5 players are...
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of very strong players in 4.5... If I started naming them, I'd leave someone out, plus there are some new-comers that I do not know, but that I have heard are strong. I would also have to break them down by Singles & Doubles Players. I do not know all of the Singles Players, but here's a few not in any particular order...
Omon Dibua, Antoine Ford, Juan Lopez, Gary Armstrong, Adam Kent, Chris Hunckler, Brian Mills, Ted P., Steve Phan, Adrian H... -let's just say half of the Mob Squad are strong singles players, John Day, Blessing B. & David B, Don Rios, Jody Deluca, David Guys, plus there are quite a few strong players that I do not know, but have heard that they are strong; -ie like Murray Fonseca...
Doubles Players... Again, 4.5 is literally LITTERED with so many strong players, but right now I'd have to say that the 2 strongest teams/players over the past 2 years have been Gary Armstrong & Tim Hurlbert and John Burmann & John Day. Ben Whitsett & I as a team are working on a pretty good record in 4.5's too, with only 2 losses last year, one to Hurlbert/Wright & one to Thurman/Gold from the Austin Team at Sectionals. Thus far we have no 4.5 losses this year. However, there are so many strong players in 4.5's like Kent, Valentine & Kudrick that can beat anyone on any given night.
If I have overlooked anyone, I just haven't had the opportunity to meet you... Otherwise, please accept my apologies. Craig Bobo
Man.... Whomever made the comment about me talking crap about Westside must have trouble reading english. I didn't talk crap about them, nor would I talk crap about anyone. I may get a little intense on the court and yell out at myself at times, but I am not in to talking crap about others. I enjoy playing with all of you guys each and every week. It's a treat for me to get away from the grind of teaching and get out to play. In all honesty, I thought it was a fairly good post / question as to how good Westside is this year. As I stated, I do not know any of there new talent, so they may surprise everyone. At this point though, we have to give the edge to Kingwood. Furthermore, whomever made that comment must have no respect for my game / record. In any event, we'll see how it all plays out in a few weeks. Craig
ReplyDeleteCraig would never say anything bad about anyone. A fierce competitor yes.
ReplyDeleteMr. Bobo, the Westside comment was a joke IMO. Not real funny but still a joke.
ReplyDeletebobo, what are your opinion of player in 4.0 or 5.0?
ReplyDeleteIs that Ronnie Kwan? If so... It's good to hear from you... I appreciate the kind words. I apparently needed a good plug after my posts. Someone certainly didn't agree my opinions. Which is cool... In any event, All the best... Craig
ReplyDeleteI don't have much insight on the 4.0's other than what I hear from Jason & Greg... Now, 5.0 is tough during the summer... It seems like Lost Forest is the team to beat now. However, David has a very good team from the Met. Hopefully, the 5.0 Division will send 2 teams to sectionals. My team is out of the running in 5.0 at this point. Craig
ReplyDeleteIt's me Craig, long time no see... I'm playing for the Sienna Topspinners. Looking forward to the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteChristopher, nice serve a couple of weeks ago at Sienna. Can we get together and practice so I can get used to it?
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Red for adding a 4.5 rated player instead of self rating someone out of level like most captains.
ReplyDeleteYes Red, you are the Saint of Houston league tennis. Way to color within the lines like a good little boy. You are a role model for all captains everywhere.
ReplyDeleteGuys,
ReplyDeleteMaybe Red is not the Saint of Houston tennis in your eyes, but he is recruiting players that are within USTA NTRP guidelines to create a Super Team to potentially go to Nationals. Even with the group of guys he has on his NOHO roster, they could potentially get beat at Sectionals/Nationals by a team that has done the same thing. National level teams will not do well at Nationals if they dont have their "studs" to play singles (Kent, Ford).
There are 1000s of people who play league tennis and 99% of them don't give a shit about "going to sectionals/ nationals" and no matter how many times people use that as an excuse to play people on a team who are clearly playing below their level IT DOES NOT JUSTIFY it.
ReplyDeleteYou may not be cheating as defined by any rules or regulations but to the 99% of us who are following standards of decency, you are cheating just the same.
THEN DO NOT PLAY SUMMER LEAGUE. The majority of the 4.5 teams I am familiar with, are gunning to go to Sectionals.
ReplyDeleteNews on the 4.0 Chancellor's protest. Apparently it was the captain's SECRETARY who entered the scores and she entered the names incorrectly. What a bunch of crap.
ReplyDeleteStop all the bullshit about the protest. Chancellor's captain does not need to do something like that. Even with last minute recruits; he still have sufficient matches left to play his new player.
ReplyDeleteYou are obviously from Chancellors since you know which player is in question AND you know that it is a last minute add.
ReplyDeleteSo - Chancellor's captain is a cheater and a liar
ReplyDeleteHow funny. The SECRETARY entered the scores/team incorrectly, but who put the nonroster person on the tennis court. Must of been the SECRETARY too.
ReplyDeleteIf this thing with Chancellors indeed happened, it is wrong, and should not be happening. However, you captains out there know GOOD and WELL, that you have not always played by the rules. You have done things like this, similar to this, or far WORSE than this to benefit your team before, so stop being such hypocrites with this one particular incident.
ReplyDeleteIF this happened, I certainly do not condone these practices, BUT, there are so many hypocritical comments on here coming from people who KNOW they have not always done things by the book for the sole reason of benefiting your team, and it is THOSE people who are doing the most complaining. AMAZING how it works!
So, get off your pedestal, stop your whining and complaining, and let the HTA/USTA do what they have to do. Especially the EXTREMELY hypocritical posters on here. You are a JOKE!