What team player are you?

[Alchemy-Z]

The Singles Specialist = All singles all the time playing doubles is not an option.# 1 singles is your spot

The Singles Side Kick = Happy to play #2 singles and the occasional doubles match.

The Dynamic Duo = You and your partner are the #1 doubles team and work like a well oiled machine and can be counted on for a win every match just about.

The regular Joe = you are just out to play not the best on the team not the worse but ready to play whatever position needed.

The new Kid = new to the game..you got young legs but no skill yet...still finding your feet and looking to create more wins..often put with a very good veteran doubles player to help you along.


Shark bait= same as the new kid..except they put you at #1 singles every week because you are the youngest on the team = you always play singles...and regularly eat bagels.

The McEnroe= you can play singles when needed....but your true calling is....You + anyone on your team = a doubles win.


The Cripple = Your body has fallen apart you wear more braces than clothing...your natural scent is IcyHot and even with your body protesting weekly you still lug that bag and play with your team every week.

The Fashonista Your gear becomes before your game..you always have the latest outfit of your favorite pro. Your some whats care about how well you play but you are even more worried about looking good.

The Beach Bum You have no proper tennis gear...your racquet is from the late 80's..you wear worn out tennis tournament t-shirts and normally an off colored headband. but you still whip up on all the young fashonista's


The Coach You like running the team...picking the line ups...scouting for players...you live for the team format over self improvement.


The Veteran you have been in the local league a decade or more..you know everyone...have just about played everyone...still have a solid game...can give advice how to play against anyone else.

The short fuse every week you play....every week you destroy equipment or public property in your rage of making unforced errors...yet you always come back for more.


Chatty Cathy...you have a tennis bag...all the gear on...but you are more interested in talk and gossip than hitting a fuzzy yellow ball.


Which one are you?

poll only let me do 10 so the other options can just be quoted if you want

[LeeD]

Cripple, beach bum, coach, and veteran.

[Alchemy-Z]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Cripple, beach bum, coach, and veteran.

poll allows for multiple choice

[goober]

Started as singles side kick. Got moved up to singles specialist. Got bumped to 4.5 and was sharkbait. After injury and layoff from league tennis for a year came back as the coach. After captaining 5-6 different times decided that being captain was not a long term position. I saw a couple old dude "administrator captains" who just recruited, set up lineups, scout and only played occsionally. I did not want to end up like them. Now I am too out of shape and getting older to do singles so I am back to regular joe playing dubs and occasionally subbing in singles.

[beernutz]

Singles Side Kick + Short Fuse (not in poll).

It is interesting that a category for someone whose true calling is not singles is named after a 7 time singles grand slam winner. Or is it named after Patrick?

[Angle Queen]

At 3.5...Definitely The MacAttack and/or half of a Dynamic Duo (partner's health permitting).

At 4.0...more of an average (or less than...since I'm technically "new to it" although I've played it for two years) player, willing to play wherever and with whoever the captain puts me with.

Been playing for a decade and know most of the 3.5 and 4.0 women and a good number of the men. Have game plans for most of 'em so I guess the title of Veteran also applies regardless of the NTRP.

Good poll. I can probably name more than a few for most of the categories though...except maybe the Beach Bum, Short Fuse and the Chatty Cathy. Don't get me wrong, I know a couple of women who love to chat it up, on and off the court, but they've got some game, I tell ya. And, I've been privileged to both be a part of a Dynamic Duo and know several others. Good friends with each other again, on and off court, it really shows. It's a real pleasure. In my 10 years of playing, I've only run across one player (from a distant club) who abused his equipment (and his partner...who, yikes, also happened to be his wife...I actually offered her a ride home but that's another story).

[Angle Queen]

Originally Posted by beernutz

It is interesting that a category for someone whose true calling is not singles is named after a 7 time singles grand slam winner. Or is it named after Patrick?

Please leave younger brother out of it. And you're right. JP Jr was a singles winner in every sense of the word, but if you followed his career and his know his skill set...his Mastery is at....doubles. Glad you realized his, as you called it, true calling.

[dizzlmcwizzl]

I have always been the beach bum ... every pair of tennis shorts has paint stains on them.

For the last couple year i have been 1/2 of dynamic duo ... but after getting the bump ... I figure to be shark bait.

[Mongolmike]

Last year was put at 1st singles and did well, but I actually enjoy doubles more since I tend to be a talker. I know some short fuses... they crack me up... which usually does not help calm the situation.

One other category I would've checked is the string-a-holic (which is related to the racqu-a-holic). I'm always trying new strings, different tensions, willing to talk about strings, switching racquets because "I think" the 2 pounds in tension difference is the reason I'm hitting long, etc.

[Pozza]

Was the Beach Bum for a long time and have now turned into the cripple

[Mike Y]

I am definitely the Singles Specialist. In fact, in 3 years of USTA play, in Adult Leagues I have played 36 singles matches, and I have never been put in a Adult League lineup in doubles. The only times I get to play doubles is in Combo and Mixed. I am a decent doubles player, but I greatly prefer singles, and my teams have been perfectly happy to put me in singles almost every match.

One person that is missing though, the Talented Malcontent. This is the person who is one of your best doubles players, but for various reasons this person refuses to play with some others, or some others refuse to partner with that person. Usually because of arguments instigated by the Talented Malcontent, or backstabbing done by the Talented Malcontent. Its the person who you would rather not have on your team, but you are drawn to inviting them because of their talent. The Terrell Owens or Rasheed Wallace of recreational tennis.

While I am not one of the Talented Malcontents, I am very competitive and used to a singles mindset, and I know I am guilty of being unable to hide my body language and eye rolls when my partner messes up in doubles. That has gotten me into slight trouble on my teams.

[Cindysphinx]

I would like to make a motion to nominate a new category: The Diva.

The Diva will only play with certain partners, against certain teams, on certain lines, on certain surfaces. All of this is designed to make sure the Diva Always Wins. The Diva is constantly badgering and reminding the captain that the Diva has her preferences.

Divas take, take, take. But the Diva will never, ever take one for the team.

Second?

[ohplease]

I second the Diva, and submit the Bandwagoner. The Bandwagoner is a player who would rather ride the bench or play a lower line for a winning team vs. starting and maybe even risking a loss on a weaker team. AKA "Lebrons."

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I would like to make a motion to nominate a new category: The Diva.

The Diva will only play with certain partners, against certain teams, on certain lines, on certain surfaces. All of this is designed to make sure the Diva Always Wins. The Diva is constantly badgering and reminding the captain that the Diva has her preferences.

Divas take, take, take. But the Diva will never, ever take one for the team.

Second?

Now ... I get a sneaking suspicion that while you may know a couple of these divas ... there is one in particular that irritates you. Come on ... it would would make you feel better if you poster her tennis link 2012 record on the message board.

[NLBwell]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I would like to make a motion to nominate a new category: The Diva.

The Diva will only play with certain partners, against certain teams, on certain lines, on certain surfaces. All of this is designed to make sure the Diva Always Wins. The Diva is constantly badgering and reminding the captain that the Diva has her preferences.

Divas take, take, take. But the Diva will never, ever take one for the team.

Second?

When I captained a 9.0 Mixed Team, every woman was a Diva. I'll never captain a mixed team again.

[Fuji]

Team tennis seems very interesting. I can't say I've ever done it since we don't really have it here.

Honestly it seems like a lot of work for what seems to be minimal play time. I think I'll stick to my box leagues and ladder matches!

-Fuji

[North]

Originally Posted by Fuji

Team tennis seems very interesting. I can't say I've ever done it since we don't really have it here.

Honestly it seems like a lot of work for what seems to be minimal play time. I think I'll stick to my box leagues and ladder matches!

-Fuji

Fuji, you are wise beyond your years.

[J_R_B]

I was the singles specialist, but I'm trying to branch out...

[beernutz]

I'd like to see the Talented Malcontent and The Diva on a Mixed team to see whose head asplodes first.

[Alchemy-Z]

The Diva/string-a-holic/The Bandwagoner

all good suggestions!

Talented Malcontent lol...this is also the short fuse guy on my team...