Sean Hannity Vs Usta

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by t135

As for the USTA tennis issue, which is what the real topic here is, I don't see a problem with the changes. The best payers will still make it through if they work hard and are the real deal. And it will add depth at the local and regional/sectional level instead of having players running all over the country. Creative sections can set up more sectional team events etc. Players can travel to international events. Tournaments and players will adapt.

I know your above remark may not be popular here, but it hit the bullseye.

[Alohajrtennis]

Duplicate post

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by t135

I'm as qualified as he is to mislead people who aren't smart enough to figure out the truth on their own.

I'll take you for your word on that. Is that what you are trying to do here ?

Originally Posted by t135

As for the USTA tennis issue, which is what the real topic here is, I don't see a problem with the changes. The best payers will still make it through if they work hard and are the real deal. And it will add depth at the local and regional/sectional level instead of having players running all over the country. Creative sections can set up more sectional team events etc. Players can travel to international events. Tournaments and players will adapt.

The sky isn't exactly falling here. The USTA didn't ban strings from tennis racquets.

The problem with this statement is two-fold.

First is the contention that they will not be running all over the country. As has already been discussed, the way the regions are set up, they are not local, people are still going to be running all over the country, except to different places. In fact the way the Opens used to be evenly distributed through the country, the traveling may actually increase. For instance, there were lots of cases where there might have been an Open in the next state over, an hour across the border, and even if that state was in a different section, you could sign up for it. Basically, people were trusted to be smart enough to figure out what was closet, now, a bunch of higher ups are telling people in Seattle that they should play at a local event in New Mexico. Or telling people in Texas they should save money on travel by not playing in Louisiana, they need to play in Chicago instead.

For the second point, even if I were to concede that the best player will make it through, which I don't, there is a major, philosophical disagreement. It's genuine disagreement of the purpose of Junior Tennis at a national level. National junior tournaments don't (or shouldn't) exist solely to identify the next great American hope.

The schedule changes reek of elitism, basically trying to weed out the riff-raff out of the national tournaments. Should should be limited only to the very best, a tiny elite, that have the potential to be professionals, or should it be open to a more broader sate of players, as it is now ? The fact is, with the ten and under tennis program increasing the number of kids coming into the game, and general population growth, just keeping the number of national tournament spots the same would already in affect be making these already limited spots harder to come by.

Now before you say it, no, they shouldn't be open to everyone, you need to earn your way in. But that's the way it works now. The system was not broken, parents and player were not clamoring for changes, the current changes are a fix to a problem that didn't exist. It seems the only ones who have a problem with the system was the PD group and the upper echelon of USTA who are obsessed with lack of current American champions on tour so now hey have hijacked the national junior tennis program to suit here needs, no the needs or desires of kids. And they try to sell this plan to to those who no longer qualify by telling them "We are helping you, we are trying to save you money on travel. You can play a local regional event". Turns out that regional event could be 1,500 miles way in some regions.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by WARPWOODIE

Hmmm? You do know where I'm going with this.

yea, I see where you are going with this....on a fishing expedition into his motives. Why not just address the substance of his comments instead of trying to discredit and attack his motivations ?

It's more than likely that anyone who has any interest in this issue (the 2014 Junior Tournament Schedule) has some skin in this game. For instance, I don't bowl and my kids don't bowl, so therefore I don't have any interest in the negotiations for 2016-2020 professional bowling association TV contract. Mk kids play tennis so I am interested in this.


Given his kids age, their development, I can imagine he was probably starting to plan ahead, set some goals for his kids, etc, and realized that just around the time his oldest could be ready to play at the Winternationals....they were going to cancel the Winternationals. I had a similar WTF moment. Also, as the parent of a child with an end of June birthday, and reading Hannity's post, I suspect his kids are spring babies as well. This is something that smacked me in the face when I read the schedule that the USTA doesn't even mention when they sell the brilliance of the new schedule.

These changes are not going into affect for another year and half, so the kids who are 14+ or so and already playing national tournaments these changes will have little affect. The biggest affect is on today 10, 11 and 12 year olds.

[kme5150]

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 and time away from school.

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?

The same goes for people who have to travel from Seattle to Phoenix.

The only two Regions that make sense are Regions 3 and 4. They should have thought it out a little more 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

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

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.

There's no doubt and no doubt that Seanny has been bitten by the tennis drug - which is not criminal. He says he's amused by insane tennis parents... Man I wish he lived in Florida. Methinks he'd be an entertaining tennis parent to watch.

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by kme5150

The same goes for people who have to travel from Seattle to Phoenix.

Nobody has to travel. People choose to play in national events. I wish we had four majors a year and that was it - that would put an end to all this madness. I know - it will never happen.

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

There's no doubt and no doubt that Seanny has been bitten by the tennis drug - which is not criminal. He says he's amused by insane tennis parents... Man I wish he lived in Florida. Methinks he'd be an entertaining tennis parent to watch.

His second home is in southwest FL. I think it's in Naples.

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by Ramon

His second home is in southwest FL. I think it's in Naples.

They couldn't play Designated and Sectionals and that's where he'd get to see all the insane tennis parents like me in action. Speaking of which, at our state closed tournament a few weeks ago, I had an official alert me to the fence rule. I actually had my back to the court and was looking at a court about 20 feet away. I apologized and moved off the fence.

[WARPWOODIE]

Originally Posted by Alohajrtennis

yea, I see where you are going with this....on a fishing expedition into his motives. Why not just address the substance of his comments instead of trying to discredit and attack his motivations ?

Aloha, I think you missed my point. I'm sure Sean is looking ahead and for the interest of his kids. But my thing is, why get wrapped up if his kids are 7 and 10 years of age. The 7 year old might still be playing TAUT?...I don't know. As to the issue, as stated by others here, that if your kid is good, then it won't impact them. I know back in the day when my kid played L3 Sectionals, it amused me to see how the majority of the kids would not get passed the second round, as if, like the slaughtering of the lambs, with lopsided scores against the seeded players. Some went further in the rounds, but very very few. I don't know if the experience was a good thing, at least it gave them exposure to how higher level kids played. If you want good competition, why not play up, of if you want to travel, then look for good tournaments in tough sectionals like SoCal or Florida where 3 star (TRN) and up kids are a dime a dozen. And if they lose, heck go to Disneland/Disneyworld afterwords.

[kme5150]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

Nobody has to travel. People choose to play in national events. I wish we had four majors a year and that was it - that would put an end to all this madness. I know - it will never happen.

You do if you want to play the best players and you live in a weak section. You need to remember that everybody doesn't live in FL. Not every area has a place like Cambier Park in Naples where there are top juniors, former college, and pros to hit with at any time.

I agree, I wish there were 4 Supers and that was it. Make the draws 512 and play 2 matches a day or make it a 128 draw and have a 4 round qualifier. The cream would rise to the top.

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by kme5150

I agree, I wish there were 4 Supers and that was it. Make the draws 512 and play 2 matches a day or make it a 128 draw and have a 4 round qualifier. The cream would rise to the top.

Best suggestion I've heard here in a long time.

[TenAll]

Originally Posted by barringer97

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

I have a 10 and 7 year old, both playing since the age of 5. Older one going to her first SuperNational next month. I am very much worked up over this issue.

Kids my age are most affected by these proposed changes, IMHO.

[li0scc0]

Originally Posted by t135

Hannity is an arrogant liar who will say anything, true or not, to put another buck in his pocket. Who cares if he plays tennis. The courts are littered with POS's around the country. No news here.

You missed calling him a racist (of course given your rant you would have spelled it 'racits!!1!'. Need to work on your vitriol to get it right. Always next time.

[MarTennis]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

I know your above remark may not be popular here, but it hit the bullseye.

...I'm not gonna argue with people about the changes, too much real work and tennis work to be done.

[MarTennis]

Originally Posted by TenAll

I have a 10 and 7 year old, both playing since the age of 5. Older one going to her first SuperNational next month. I am very much worked up over this issue.

Kids my age are most affected by these proposed changes, IMHO.

The 10 year old has two years to become the best and make the issue moot. Our children have plenty of time to totally take over the 12s, hard work and God Willing.

[kme5150]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

Best suggestion I've heard here in a long time.

I wish I could take credit for it.

The sad part is that it was brought up and told it was a terrible idea. The USTA Junior Competition Committee said they wanted the National Championships to feel more like professional tournaments. Every professional tournament that I know of has a qualifier.

[WARPWOODIE]

Originally Posted by kme5150

I wish I could take credit for it.

The sad part is that it was brought up and told it was a terrible idea. The USTA Junior Competition Committee said they wanted the National Championships to feel more like professional tournaments. Every professional tournament that I know of has a qualifier.

A qualifier would take another day or two to complete. That is more money to consider for lodging, food, and other considerations. At these levels, junior tennis for the 10-12 year old is not for the faint of heart.

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by WARPWOODIE

A qualifier would take another day or two to complete. That is more money to consider for lodging, food, and other considerations. At these levels, junior tennis for the 10-12 year old is not for the faint of heart.

Only 4 super nationals would be less days across a year. I'd only hold them for 14, 16, and 18.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by kme5150

You do if you want to play the best players and you live in a weak section. You need to remember that everybody doesn't live in FL. Not every area has a place like Cambier Park in Naples where there are top juniors, former college, and pros to hit with at any time.

I agree, I wish there were 4 Supers and that was it. Make the draws 512 and play 2 matches a day or make it a 128 draw and have a 4 round qualifier. The cream would rise to the top.

I'm actually not opposed to a concept along these line. I suspect you are being sarcastic with the 512 draw size, but conceptually, fewer tournaments, but equally distributed throughout the year, with larger draws(not smaller) and two matches per day and two day qualifier. The qualifier only extends the tournament for those who have to play it. Schedule the final for Monday, only two kids have to change there flight plans.