The Mob Squad has decided to pull out of Sectionals in Dallas. A combination of injuries, a small roster, travel plans and commitments to other teams has left us shorthanded. Unfortunately, our spot does not go to the runner-up in city playoffs. Had we defaulted match point against Copperfield, they would have gotten the berth, but we just couldn't be sure of our plans at that time.
I believe the second place team in Austin may receive the spot, although both San Antonio and Fort Worth's second place teams were "in the hat" as well. The order for replacing a team has already been determined.
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that is unfortunate but good to take care of that now. I hope to see some of you all up here anyway.
ReplyDeletewow, that is unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteI ran into the same boat while preparing for State tournament. I had to w/draw my team due to vacations and other various issues.
Greg,
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear for all involved. You guys had a great win against CuField.
That is very unfortunate that you all cannot go due to headcount issues, and that they are not allowed to backfill due to you guys not being able to go.
Copperfield got screwed!!
ReplyDeleteI personally don't feel like we got screwed. We were the third or fourth place team (with Westside)and knew we had to place second to get a ticket to Dallas.
ReplyDeleteI don't know all the rules of the league but I'm curious how people can play on multiple teams then choose, come sectionals time, who they want to play with. I think it's crazy that Greg is having a hard time due to the fact that team members are committed to play on other teams?
If anyone can offer advice on how this is done I'd love to play a few matches on 3 teams so I'm eligable on each. Then come sectionals time I'll commit to the best team. I think this is a great idea for next season. haha
I think this just shows you the type of people you deal with in league tennis. Greg probably knew going into Citywide that he was going to be short. The respectable thing to do is W/D or default at match point. Now this just shows that Greg is up their with Red as far as ethics. I think he should be banned from a year of playoffs for this. Just my thoughts, but what do I know.
ReplyDeleteBrian,
ReplyDeleteYou can do this if you play at different levels and/or in same level in different association.
I think your guy mentioned played in HTA and NoHo. He had to pick one team to go to the next level and stick with that team.
Many people do this to hedge to get to go to sectionals. Some of the Shwwing guys from last year also played on a team out of Beaumont that won the SETX division, so in reality there were 3 Houston based teams at sectionals last year.
I wouldn't bag on Greg just yet.
ReplyDeleteHe may have not known that people were going to bail on him and how would you know that people are going to get hurt?
I doubt this was a calculated move.
Thanks Chris, I'm still a little confused as I thought you had to declare prior to playing city. I know it was a question with Adam Kent since he was signed up on a NOHO team but never played. There were people questioning his eligibility on our team the day before city. In this case wouldn't the folks playing on other teams be dq'd prior to the city tournament?
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that you have to pick one team to play on by 6/30 and stick with that team until their season ends.
ReplyDeleteAll of the declarations would have been decided way before HTA playoffs started.
ESR is out
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it wasn't a calculated move on Greg's part and I don't mean to imply otherwise. I've only met Greg a few times but he seems like an upstanding guy. I would actually be pretty pissed if I were in his shoes and my players left for other teams at this point. Injuries and scheduling problems are understandable.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that you have to commit to one team by 6/30. If that team does not advance to Sectionals, then you are able to rejoin the other team in their quest for a Sectionals spot.
ReplyDeleteDwyer might be a little slimey at times, but he would not do something like that just to screw somebody else over.
ReplyDeleteyep sometimes I wish we had a NO DAL or something since I live 25 miles from where most teams play usta matches but I think we would run into problems like this as well.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense if you have the time then why not drive up to noho to play it really isn't that far and you still get some good tennis and can play with a group to represent noho at sectionals.
Dwyer doesn't care about the 4.5 team. His focus has always been the 4.0 team.
ReplyDeletefunny thing is that Greg actually chose to play for his 4.0 team in city playoffs, leaving his Mob Few even more short handed. he's made a couple of questionable moves all year, case in point: changing the scores on A. Hasker against J. Cooney to make it look more respectable than a 1 and 0 blowout, losing all lines to the inferior Lost Forest team, along with allowing nearly half of his team to play league without paying their HTA dues (sorry to bring this up again).
ReplyDeletei'm sure Copperfield had more dedicated guys on their "squad" and would have loved to travel to Dallas to represent their city. way to ruin their dreams Greg and company
I agree completely with the post at 6:28. Greg has some done some underhanded things in the past and will continue to in the future. Towle mentioned that he did not think Greg did something bad. Watch out Towle, looks like you are going to the dark side. Watch your back. How about Greg puts a poll out asking what do people think what he did is not his fault, shady, deserves some kind of penalty. I wonder how many other captains would have done the same thing. Just my opinion again.
ReplyDeleteLOL. It's about time I got a little criticism around here. I was startin' to feel left out.
ReplyDeleteThe crack about caring more for the 4.0 team than the 4.5 team was bullshit though, and the commenter knows it.
Believe it or not, I really do wish Copperfield could take our spot at Sectionals. They're a good bunch of guys.
What do you mean you don't care more about 4.0 than you do 4.5 :(
ReplyDeleteDallas does have a "NOHO" team. It's called Ft Worth.
ReplyDeleteThat's BS. About 3 people play in both FW and Dallas
ReplyDeleteGreg it sounds like your own team is bad mouthing you saying you dedicated your time to 4.0 instead of 4.5.
ReplyDeleteI think Greg was focused on both teams, just in different ways. Its unfortunate, but with the slim roster he had he probably did not see much potential for doing well in 4.5 and chose to commit to the 4.0 team. Defaulting matching in regular season does not show a lot of committment from his players, what would you think as a captain?
ReplyDeleteIt's a bummer we didn't get the wildcard for 3rd place, but it's also understandable. Ultimately, we want Texas to be best represented at nationals, and our sectionals to include our best teams possible. So theoretically, we are better served by awarding the wildcard to the 2nd place team from another major city, rather than passing it down to the 3rd place team of the originally awarded city.
ReplyDeleteanonymous copperfield dude
Austin did get the second wild card...
ReplyDeleteCopperfield has bunch of sore losers. They couldn't even win in city payoff why bother trying to go to sectional.
ReplyDelete"sore losers"? Not even close, genius. Copperfield team is very proud and happy to have gone as far as we did, and we've always wished the winning teams the best of luck going forward. The CF team got a little excited when the Mob told us we might still have a chance to advance since they were pulling out. Of course this is before anyone checked the wildcard rules. But since CF is not advancing after all, it's totally cool. Whatever.
ReplyDeleteSSShhhwwwwing!!!
ReplyDeleteRumor has it that as a result of the Mob Squad backing out, Houston will be penalized next year and won't have a chance for a wildcard. Is this true? If so, then shame on the Mob Squad for screwing the rest of us that would like to go to sectionals some day. The dates for sectionals are posted at the beginning of the season. For the team to back out now is inexcusable!
ReplyDeleteNice rumor. Not true.
ReplyDeleteHave you checked that with Cheryl?
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about the rumors. All I know is that Sue Johnson seemed appreciative that we informed her as quickly as we could, just a few days after the City Championships ended.
ReplyDeleteYes, we knew during city championships that it would be difficult for us to field a team at Sectionals. Heck, we couldn't even field a full team during some of citywides right in our own back yard. We had a couple of people who were trying to reschedule work stuff to free themselves for Sectionals, and we were also hoping our longshot attempt to "bring back" a couple of people who had committed to other teams would be granted. None of that panned out, and when it didn't, we informed the powers-that-be immediately.
Reviewing the information just posted by H-town Hacker this just shows you that he is guilty of knowing about not having enough players for Sectionals. Given that instead of screwing everyone in Houston, the captain should be the one punished. Heck I would even look at the players but that might be to harsh. Now we see the true RED colors of the Mob Squad captain.
ReplyDeleteThey are not the first team to ever pull out of sectionals, it happens every couple of years, not sure why this is big deal.
ReplyDeleteI would say the big deal is the simple fact that Greg knew going in he was going to be short players, given that he should of done the honorable thing and W/D given the fact he would not be going to Sectionals. Hell he had to default lines last week. How would you feel if it happened to you. You would be pissed.
ReplyDeleteGreg,
ReplyDeletejust curious
were the players ineligible for City, due to the HTA dues not being paid, also not eligible to play State??
Whoever is saying they should defaulted is an idiot. Copperfield sucks if they can't beat a bunch of fat orientals who don't even hardly play tennis any more. Win it on the court and don't count on people giving up there spot.
ReplyDeletesorry to break in on your bashing of MOB, but would someone tell me how good Houston # 1 team at 4.5 is this year. I have heard all the way from ok to the best team to go to sectionals in 10 years. are they a lock to win sectionals or do the rest of the teams even need to make the drive. peace.
ReplyDeleteKingwood is good, but I don't think their singles is as strong as last year.
ReplyDeleteWho's got more potential to go further in the playoffs? An overweight, out of shape, and under-manned Mob Squad 4.5 team or a stacked Met Hurricanes 4.0 team that everyone thinks is going to nationals. Who would you guys commit to? I believe the answer is pretty obvious, so don't question Greg's commitment to the Met before the playoff's started.
ReplyDeleteSince Mob Squad was an underdog going into the playoffs, our goal was to make it to sectionals. Under circumstances beyond our control as well as the mentality of of some of our players beyond our control, we had to pull out of sectionals. There was no deliberate plan to screw any team out of a spot at sectionals. Like Greg said, there are a bunch of good guys on the Copperfield team. I personally would have forfeited my decisive match to Copperfield had I known I wasn't going to Dallas. That said, I apologize to the Copperfield team. We both got screwed.
Thang Pham
Who wrote SSShhhwwwwing? You guys were 6th place. I don't believe there is a wild wild... card for that.
ReplyDeleteIt was done as a joke knowing we were in 6th place or whatever. Everyone takes this way to seriously. I hope you are taking high blood pressure pills. Let's don't have a heart attack over this stuff. Let's just root on the other Houston teams and have fun playing tennis.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone notice the NOHO 4.5 team snuck Division one player David Wanja in at the last minute? Benzon up to his old tricks again. As always he needs a ringer partner.
ReplyDeletethat is terrible... why try so hard to win and then forfeit ??
ReplyDeleteshould have let Sienna team, my soldiers go into battle instead
Greg you are something else. they are right about YOU ... boo boo
Donn
Since when is Lamar University in Beaumont a Division I school? The Lamar team would not even quality as locker room attendants for schools like Georgia, Stanford etc. Dude, get your facts straight before you speak. Wanja has a great serve (better than most 4.5), and a decent game at best. He can play doubles at Sectionals, but he not a ringer by any means.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.collegetennisonline.com/view/team.asp?tmId=89
ReplyDeletehttp://www.collegetennisonline.com
ReplyDelete/view/team.asp?tmId=89
Benzon did not add Wanja to the NOHO team. In fact Bobo/Teague are in control of that NOHO team. As you can see the Team is now BOBO and TEAGUE's Team. As always people post on assumptions on this Blog rather than facts. Best of Luck to all Teams Participating at Sectionals
ReplyDeleteTaking Red's name off as league captain and replacing it with Teague/Bobo is just another one of Red's tricks. Of course Red didn't do it, he's no longer the captain, it must be someone else's fault. BULLSHIT!
ReplyDeleteWanja is a current Division I player. Look at the guidelines, he should be no lower than 5.5.
The bigger question is whether or not Wanja really played in a match.
David Wanja is computer rated as a 4.5 and has been for several years. Those guidelines are for self-rated players.
ReplyDeleteDonn, I'm sorry you feel that way. But thanks for putting your name to your opinion.
I Donn is confused about which team defaulted. Donn, your 4.0 team played Greg's 4.0 team which is making the trip to sectionals. It is Greg's 4.5 team that is staying in Houston.
ReplyDeleteThere is no Sienna 4.5 team so you must be confused.
A previous poster asked how good the 4.5 Houston team was and I would have to say they are very much overrated. They're definately not as good as last year's team which rode the Dibuas brothers in singles. When you think about it, they have to hope and pray they win all of their doubles lines because their singles players are WEAK! Oman can only do so much and Phi and Hy Vu don't exactly scare anyone. THEY DON'T HAVE SINGLES! Other teams are quickly going to learn this. I would say the one sure thing for them is Armstrong and Hulbert and outside of that it's a tossup in doubles. Look for a relatively quick exit for these guys. Am I wrong on this or not? Don't get me wrong - a good team but not deep enough. Somebody who doesn't agree tell me who is going to play and win singles in Dallas?
ReplyDeleteKingwood will have the deepest team in Dallas. They have plenty of guys who can play singles, they just have not played them yet as they have not had to. Lopez will most likely be available as well.
ReplyDeleteTheir doubles will be tough to beat at any line.
Kingwood is the team to beat.
have they decided who goes into which bracket with houston and dallas # 1 and # 2 at 4.5 yet...
ReplyDeleteBranch is in the driver's seat for the #1 Team in Dallas.
ReplyDelete#2 right now has Royal Oaks sitting pretty and they have 3-4 very solid singles players, but I would have to assume one might be DQ'ed the next time they run the numbers. Last matches are tomorrow at 3 PM.
With all of the depth that Kilshaw has in doubles, the real question is can some of those sneak into singles as well? I would think Hurlbert would be a real good singles option, Lopez is rock solid, Armstrong is capable, Omon is good, Hai Vu impressive this year. Brandon Burris is good sinles and doubles and the wild card is Valentine. He may be the best player on the team. Never seen him play singles... Can he?
ReplyDeleteBest singles player on the Kingwood Crush is Hurlbert! Then Lopez Then Omon Dibua then Armstrong. With that rotation they are strong but still beatable. Valentine cannot play singles in Dallas but is a Super Stud in doubles. Probably the Best doubles player at Sectionals this Year Hands Down. So if Sectionals started today and Kingwood played 1.Lopez 2.Dibua 1.Armstrong/Hurlbert 2.Valentine/Hai Vu 3. Burris/Burris they would be tough and DEEP. Kingwood will definitely be waking up Sunday in the semis Guaranteed!!!
ReplyDeleteOh BTW Branch's Team nor anyone from the Dallas Team can match up with the Crush. i'd be more worried about the FT. Worth Team doing some upsetting. They have reloaded there roster.
ReplyDeleteI don't even think Lopez is healthy - can't see him being real effective in Dallas let alone even making the trip there. He's got to be at least 60 - couldn't hang with these young kids out there.
ReplyDeleteAnd Steve Valentine, "Probably the Best doubles player at Sectionals this Year Hands Down." Wow - that's some high praise for someone who lost against the Mob Squad and squeaked one out against them in a 3rd set tiebreaker in their rematch. One of the better doubles players out there, but by far not the best. Unfortunately for Kingwood Crush, probably not a great singles option.
Dibuas is injured and therefore hasn't been playing singles. If he decides to play in Dallas, he will not be nearly as affective as he was last year AND I see him playing two singles matches at the most all weekend long. Let's just say he's not his brother.
"Best singles player on the Kingwood Crush is Hurlbert!" I don't think I've ever seen Hurlbert play singles within the last 2 years or so. There is probably a reason Kilshaw hasn't put him in the singles lineup at all, whether it's conditioning, lack of confidence, is scared, etc. High praise for someone who simply doesn't play singles.
Armstrong is tough but simply cannot beat the heat out there in Dallas for singles. Great player but conditioning would be a factor. Also, he's had his struggles during the regular season in singles - competition isi a little tougher in Dallas.
Hai Vu and Phi - not real scary.
Don't get me wrong, their doubles is good but for them to win 3 doubles lines every match is nearly impossible. Plus, if you take out Hurlbert, Armstrong, Hai Vu, Oman of doubles to play in singles, that's a weaker doubles lineup.
Kilshaw has some decisions to make. Hopefully he can keep his cool this year.
Don't folks from other cities read this blog? Even if Kingwood did have a weakness, would it be in Houston's best interest not to advertise?
ReplyDeleteMy opinion is that Kingwood's doubles are so strong/deep, rotating one player out to get a singles win won't be an issue.
I'll put this in the bank. If Royal Oaks ends up as the Dallas Wild team and they end up with Houston in their bracket, they might as well start the match at 2-0 for Royal Oaks. They will sweep the singles against pretty much anybody.
ReplyDeleteGonzales looks tough if he doesn't get three strikes. But Molina hasn't been that impressive. Kingwood has a chance to split there. 2-0 no guarantee.
ReplyDeleteEven if Lopez goes, is he that good? Who has he beat? Benzon, who is no singles player. And Puma, who showed in the playoffs he is average at best. Sectionals players a lot better than those two.
ReplyDeletethe sleeper singles player for Royal Oaks if they make it as the WC will be Phat Bui, also Joe Rauschuber is no slouch in singles either. Would love to be able to see the singles if they were to play. Kingwood would have huge advantage in depth especially for doubles.
ReplyDeleteGonzalez will be the wild Card if he makes it after the numbers are run before Sectionals.
Does anyone if TTA will be running numbers again during Sectionals or did the rule change and they will not run until after Sectionals, which is what most Sections do.
I was told by someone in the know that the computer would NOT be run during Sectionals.
ReplyDeletePersonally I don't like that. Some players can now play their minimum two matches in local league play and not be in any jeopardy at Sectionals. A ridiculous ringer could run roughshod over everyone (though obviously he could not go to Nationals).
Cities like Houston and Dallas are at a slight disadvantage due to city playoffs and potential third strikes which are more likely against the quality opposition (not to mention "exposing" your lineup).
I am not sure where I stand on the issue, although I think a few were upset last year when a couple of Computer Rated players were DQ'ed at Sectionals, I believe their might have been one Self-rate (Austin -- Bowman)DQ. It is a no win situation for the Section and at times the team. Maybe it would be better not even run the numbers between the end of the local leagues and the end of nationals. Obviously the smaller leagues can hide their players but that is few and far between many times.
ReplyDeleteWere there computer rated players DQed at Sectionals, last year, New_Ar_Hacker? Who were they?
ReplyDeleteI think if Bui and Gonzales play they can start at 2-0 but that weakens them, not sure they have a doubles team that can hang with anyone after those two play singles. Bui plays solid dubs but not sure that is Molina's strong suit. Bui is like Branch with skills, he is just about unstoppable and is in great shape.
ReplyDeletelast year Lisa Zimmerman was DQ'ed at 4.0 after her team went 4-0 in Pool Play, which reversed scores and team went to 2-2
ReplyDeleteTor Erickson was also a Computer rated player who was DQ'ed on the WC Dallas Team 4.0.
Branch dominated the City Championships, losing only 2 matches, which were the singles to Royal Oaks in the first match.
ReplyDeleteRoyal Oaks will be the WC team out of Dallas, they are very streaky team that could really well or bomb out quickly.
I heard yesterday that the individuals that were DQ'ed during city playoffs for the HTA membership thing on Chancellors are going to be eligible for sectionals and are going to Dallas.
ReplyDeleteDoes think make the HTA membership "requirement" bogus moving forward?
Greg, you still couldn't field a team with your guys back that were DQ'ed in city?
WOW!!! If that is true, it makes a lot of sense to require HTA membership (and not enforce it), and then allow them to play the state sectionals without any repercussions.
ReplyDeleteLet's not beat the dead horse again. The illegal player were for citywide playoff as defined by HTA in HTA citywide playoff rules. Since, sectional is not governed by HTA; why not let the the DQ guys participate. It's not like the other cities team have to be HTA members to play at sectional. What about the NOHO teams; do they have to be HTA members?
ReplyDeleteNOHO players do not have to be HTA members.
ReplyDeleteIt is not HTA.
HTA taxation... Taxation without representation.
ReplyDeleteWell Wanja is playing in the Conroe tournament this weekend and he is not seeded, But Hasker is seeded #1. I guess we will see if Lamar should be called a Div.I school.
ReplyDeleteOh and Wanja is least playing in the open bracket.
ReplyDeleteso is noone batting an eye that Wanja got his two matches in on the same day including one full team default on 7/17 even though last scheduled match was 6/28 and the full team default was from the 1st match of season vs. the 2nd place
ReplyDeleteWhat is going on in NOHO or is this par for the course Benzon and company?