Sean Hannity Vs Usta

[chalkflewup]

I don't think Hannity feels the financial pinch that many of the tennis families feel. It's difficult for me to listen to him address this particular subject. If entry fees were 5K he still wouldn't feel it.

Turn the clock back and look at how many national tournaments there used to be per year. Flying families all over the country is an expensive game to play and it puts pressure on many families because they feel they have to play the national tournament game.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by Number1Coach

Along with Cloony ,Mikey Moore and the guy in the White House , Eric Holder ,these guys must make you sick also ??

Could you point out one of his lies then get back on topic ?????

Don't feed the trolls. How about we just go directly to the back on topic part.

P.S. I think it would be good if Charlie Sheen chimed in on the issue. I was wounding how he felt about the schedule changes...

[HIGH-TECH TENNIS]

I know Sean Hannity is divisive--and he certainly doesn't speak for all of us when it comes to politics--but he definitely speaks for EVERY SINGLE PLAYER, PARENT, COACH, DIRECTOR that we've spoken to regarding these changes. Whether it makes any difference or just generates a lot of hateful noise...that's the question. Disclaimer: we feel these changes will be bad for junior tennis - and we know they'll be bad for HIGH-TECH TENNIS. Please don't turn this into a political bashing, o.k.

[floridatennisdude]

Originally Posted by HIGH-TECH TENNIS

I know Sean Hannity is divisive--and he certainly doesn't speak for all of us when it comes to politics--but he definitely speaks for EVERY SINGLE PLAYER, PARENT, COACH, DIRECTOR that we've spoken to regarding these changes. Whether it makes any difference or just generates a lot of hateful noise...that's the question. Disclaimer: we feel these changes will be bad for junior tennis - and we know they'll be bad for HIGH-TECH TENNIS. Please don't turn this into a political bashing, o.k.

Can you elaborate on why it would be bad forHigh Tech Tennis?

I'm just curious as I actually would think it could benefit a company like yours.

[chalkflewup]

I do not think these changes are
bad for everybody. I believe we need more people playing more tennis closer to home.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

I do not think these changes are
bad for everybody. I believe we need more people playing more tennis closer to home.

I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say that was their honest intention. But the way the regions are set up, its not clear that will be how it will turn out in reality. The new system really forces kids who want to play at the national level to succeed at the regional level first, but some of the regional tournaments will be farther away from where they live then the where the national tournaments were.

For practical purposes, the only way to play at the national level now will be to do well at the regional level tournaments. So, if the regional is in Denver, everyone from CA has to go to Denver, and visca-versa. Before they could probably qualify for national tournaments without having to leave southern CA.

Don't even get me started on how this screws us in Hawaii....

[kme5150]

I agree.

I think it is ridiculous that Texas and the Northern section are in the same region. I don't live in either section but I don't see how this is going to reduce costs.

I would guess that 95% of players in Texas have never played indoors. How well do you think players in the Northern Section are going to play in the winds in Texas after playing indoors for 6 months? Remember this was done to reduce costs and time away from school. A player gets on a plane right after school on Friday, shows up Friday night and is supposed to play in the wind the next day.

The only two Regions that make sense are Regions 3 and 4. They should have thought it out a little more and came up with 5 or 6 or they could have gone to 2, the east and west and divided down the middle by the Mississippi River. The problem with that is they would have had to change how some sections are divided up.

http://assets.usta.com/assets/1/15/U...2020120330.pdf

Region 1
Hawaii Pacific
Intermountain
No. California
Pacific Northwest
So. California
Southwest

Region 2
*******
Missouri Valley
Northern
Texas

Region 3
Eastern
Mid-Atlantic
Middle States
New England

Region 4
Caribbean
Florida
Southern

[TenAll]

Completely agree with everything written by Sean Hannity. USTA keeps making decisions such at this and 10 under without having all the facts and inputs from the Kids and parents that are effected by all this.

Hope its not to late to stop this debacle. Its seems every section except the South have become yes men to Patrick and USTA national.

Why would Southwest section vote yes, when they end up losing Winter National with this system.

[chalkflewup]

More national tournaments and larger draws is not necessarily the answer.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

More national tournaments and larger draws is not necessarily the answer.

I don't think anybody is proposing more national tournaments with larger draws. Reasonable, well considered, incremental modifications to the schedule would certainly make sense. What they are against are drastic reductions.

The new schedule is full of wholesales changes that just don't appear to be well thought out. Like I said, I am willing to give them the benefit the doubt and not question there motives. But the schedule they have proposed is not even consistent with there own objectives, and introduces a whole slew of new problems that I think are unintended consequences of making wholesale changes like this without proper vetting.

For instance, it could actually increase travel for some people, forcing travel to far flung supposedly "regional" locations; it reintroduces the birthday problem, it prevents people from northern climates playing in warm climates in cold months, etc. Its just not well thought out.

Now, this is probably works out pretty well if your in Florida, becuase the southern region is the only region that geographically makes any sense, and they will probably schedule all the regionals in Boca and Atlanta, so you are only a car trip away from where you need to be now. For other people, well, not so much.

[CRWV]

Originally Posted by t135

I haven't heard of any molestations either. But anyone who lies as much as he does in a public forum hurts other people. I don't do that and I don't have serious issues, he does. You got that backwards.

This is the equivalent of Charlie Sheen speaking out on the USTA. Or Alec Baldwin. Just because they are celebrities, people scramble to listen. Hannity is an entertainer right up there with Ted Nugent and Howard Stern. And he happens to play tennis.

The guy has no credibility.

Normally I agree with you, I think he is a terrible force in society politically. That said, If someone who can get people to listen speaks out rightly in a way that can affect positive change in the USTA, what's the problem? He's not objectively evil...

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by Alohajrtennis

I don't think anybody is proposing more national tournaments with larger draws. Reasonable, well considered, incremental modifications to the schedule would certainly make sense. What they are against are drastic reductions.

The new schedule is full of wholesales changes that just don't appear to be well thought out. Like I said, I am willing to give them the benefit the doubt and not question there motives. But the schedule they have proposed is not even consistent with there own objectives, and introduces a whole slew of new problems that I think are unintended consequences of making wholesale changes like this without proper vetting.

For instance, it could actually increase travel for some people, forcing travel to far flung supposedly "regional" locations; it reintroduces the birthday problem, it prevents people from northern climates playing in warm climates in cold months, etc. Its just not well thought out.

Now, this is probably works out pretty well if your in Florida, becuase the southern region is the only region that geographically makes any sense, and they will probably schedule all the regionals in Boca and Atlanta, so you are only a car trip away from where you need to be now. For other people, well, not so much.

Points well taken. I do sympathize for some of the other sections. And because I'm in Florida, it's unfair for me to voice my opinion because of the playing opportunities that do exist.

[WARPWOODIE]

Curios...What sectional does Hannity's boys play? Can't find anything on tennisrecruiting.net.

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by WARPWOODIE

Curios...What sectional does Hannity's boys play? Can't find anything on tennisrecruiting.net.

Feb 2012: Patrick, 10. Merri Kelly, 7

[WARPWOODIE]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

Feb 2012: Patrick, 10. Merri Kelly, 7

Hmmm? You do know where I'm going with this. I mean, I really appreciate the fact that he can be a voice for parents like us whose kids strive for National rankings, but his kids are still young and not a whole lot of experience based on their age. Just curious why he chose to take this as an issue?

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

I don't think Hannity feels the financial pinch that many of the tennis families feel. It's difficult for me to listen to him address this particular subject. If entry fees were 5K he still wouldn't feel it.

Turn the clock back and look at how many national tournaments there used to be per year. Flying families all over the country is an expensive game to play and it puts pressure on many families because they feel they have to play the national tournament game.

It's true Hannity is rich now, but anyone who listens to his show knows that he came up from very humble beginnings. He waited on tables and did construction work for minimum wage early in his adult life. He remembers those experiences very well and often brings them up in his shows. He knows what it's like to struggle and work hard, and he can definitely identify with those who aren't so fortunate.

Originally Posted by CRWV

Normally I agree with you, I think he is a terrible force in society politically. That said, If someone who can get people to listen speaks out rightly in a way that can affect positive change in the USTA, what's the problem? He's not objectively evil...

Thanks for giving him his just due for what he is doing.

As for Hannity being a terrible force, I'll say this. While liberal talk shows hosts like Ed Shultz and Chris Matthews (his polar opposites) have openly said Hannity should be off the air, Hannity does not say the same of his opponents. Yes, he criticizes them heavily, but he believes in free speech and is a man of principle. So even though he berates liberals passionately, he never says they should be suppressed, and he points that out during his shows.

We all know about societies who suppress free speech, and I assume that none of us want to live in those places. Our country is better off because of people who point out what's wrong and engage in constructive dialog.

[barringer97]

Originally Posted by WARPWOODIE

Hmmm? You do know where I'm going with this. I mean, I really appreciate the fact that he can be a voice for parents like us whose kids strive for National rankings, but his kids are still young and not a whole lot of experience based on their age. Just curious why he chose to take this as an issue?

Good point. It's very odd to be so worked up out this with kids that age...

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by barringer97

Good point. It's very odd to be so worked up out this with kids that age...

He really has nothing to gain from it. He even said his kids will probably never be pros. He just happens to be passionate about it. When you consider how hectic his schedule is, it's amazing that he would have anything left to fit this in.

[10ismom]

Originally Posted by Ramon

He really has nothing to gain from it. He even said his kids will probably never be pros. He just happens to be passionate about it. When you consider how hectic his schedule is, it's amazing that he would have anything left to fit this in.

If the name of one kid Chalk noted was his, she did played in a few regionals across the country (as shown on TRN). Definitely trying to get to super nationals.

[t135]

Originally Posted by Ramon

Point out what's wrong and engage in constructive dialog.

As for the USTA tennis issue, which is what the real topic here is, I don't see a problem with the changes.