Get off the courts!

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

You were 100% right. There have been instances where "reserving" public courts is alright. I think reserving a few courts within a complex for league matches is fine, as long as there are still courts available for others to use. "Reserving" all of the courts? You can't do that. People will let you fly by because they're courteous and decent, but don't push it by taking ALL the courts.

Now, did you handle the situation with class? No. Neither did the "coach".

[tenniscasey]

Originally Posted by TTMR

So the other day my bud and I decided to play tennis after a relatively long layoff. As you probably do not know, 95% of the public courts in my city are unplayable; they usually have fixed "nets" made of wire mesh, fading boundary lines, potholes galore (much like the roads) and holes and openings in the back and side fences. Clubs are obscenely priced and their courts always in use. This forces what few tennis players there are onto a few centrally located decently maintained public courts.

As we approach we see this oaf teaching about nine or ten kids. There are four courts at this location and it looked like he was only using two at the time doing some silly drills. We get our equipment and head onto the furthest court out and this 300 lb instructor yells out, "Hey buddy, we got these reserved". Quite an odd statement. I did not know you could "reserve" public courts.

"Until when?" I asked.

"'Till 11," he replied. It was 9:30 at the time.

"Well, you're not even using these two over here," I answered.

"Doesn't matter, we will be. We got them reserved."

"These are public courts, how can they be 'reserved'?"

"We're here every week at this time."

"But that doesn't mean they're 'reserved' for you."

"If I give'em up for you then I have to give'em up for everyone."

My playing partner interjected, "Why don't we go play squash instead?"

"No. We're here to play tennis. This guy doesn't own the courts. We're taxpayers. We're playing."

"No, you're not. I've just finished my drill. My kids are starting their practice sets now. Ethan, Jessica, you two come over and play on this court," pointing to the one we were standing on. The kids quickly come and start a rally. It was clear the coach was now in aggressive mode, assuming we would yield once the kids began playing. As a side note, we saw their "coach" lived up to the stereotype; the kids were hitting with closed stances, eastern forehands with no topspin and finishing above the shoulder. The balls were your typical dead ones from Wal-Mart. No doubt their parents were being suckered and scammed hard.

I smiled sardonically and shook my head. "I'm sorry, 'coach' (I emphasized the scare quotes visually this time), we're taking the court. If you want to teach, you book a court with a club."

My friend and I pulled out our racquets and balls and began hitting right then and there, with the kids hitting at the same time. Once they lost control of a ball and had to go chase it, we were in control of the court and they didn't try to reclaim it.

The coach stared me down and yelled, "I'm gonna report you!"

"Yeah, you do that," I responded contemptuously without looking back at him.

We finished our match with the irritating disruption of kids running onto our courts to retrieve their errant balls, but we made our stand. Who did this jerk think he was trying to make money off of public courts? If you want to coach, you reserve a court with your club. I don't care if you have to raise prices or won't make enough money. A match between two or four adult players takes precedence over some plump clown hitting around with kiddies for money. I hope this fatso goes bankrupt.

How do you think I handled the situation? Did I do the right thing?

You bullied children who had no say in what was going on. Congratulations on possibly being "right."

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by TTMR

So anyone who doesn't belong to a club sucks at tennis? It's good to see that elitist snobbery the public associates tennis and tennis clubs with is alive and well.

"Rec player" means "recreational player." Meaning someone who is not a pro. Meaning most of us here.

Rec players can be found inside and outside of clubs. I do not belong to a club.

I find your attitude that anyone who is less of a rec player than you are shouldn't have any right to use the court. That is obnoxious, frankly.

The courts are (apparently) first come, first served. The possession of Mad Tennis Skillz is not required.

Now, you may have a beef with whether you got to that particular court first, whether your area allows coaching on public courts, etc. You do yourself no favors by fouling your post with remarks about how bad the coach or the kids were. 'Cause that makes no difference and just makes you look bad.

IMHO.

[NadalDramaQueen]

Originally Posted by Player#1

If I were in the position of that coach, I would have made you leave the court limping with your tail between your legs!

Originally Posted by mizzoutiger2013

+1. Well Said.

What exactly would either of you do? It can be difficult as one out of shape (from the description) adult to force two other adults to do what you want them to do.

[beernutz]

Where is the poll option to punch the OP in the neck? Add that one and I'll vote.

[slowfox]

Originally Posted by TTMR

So anyone who doesn't belong to a club sucks at tennis? It's good to see that elitist snobbery the public associates tennis and tennis clubs with is alive and well.

Club players suck too. So many are delusional about their actual abilities. Many are also really nice and kind folks, good people in general. But they still suck at tennis. But so what? For most it's just a game for fun. No big deal in the big scheme of things. I suck at tennis. I still enjoy my dinner.

[tennis tom]

Originally Posted by TTMR

....the kids were hitting with closed stances, eastern forehands with no topspin and finishing above the shoulder.

...My friend and I pulled out our racquets and balls and began hitting right then and there, with the kids hitting at the same time. Once they lost control of a ball and had to go chase it, we were in control of the court and they didn't try to reclaim it.

I don't believe anything this guy is saying, this is a TROLL post. Public courts are used by pros to give lessons everywhere I've ever lived or traveled. If this scenario ever happened, which I seriously doubt, why should the coach short change his pupils to have to pull out his contract with the city to show you? You would have argued with him anyway.

If 98% percent of courts in your town are run down, call the rec dept. and demand they repair them. It sounds like you know how to push your weight around especially with children. Get a petition together to fix them, attend rec dept. meetings and complain, complain at city council meetings or run for office yourself.

As far as clubs being expensive, that's relative. Some are exclusive and charge a lot but some are affordable to middle class working people. If you can't afford one, work harder or smarter like others do and join a club.

What tells me this is a TROLL post is that the coach was teaching excellent fundamental tennis techniques: closed stance, Eastern grips, high follow through--sounds like Fed and Pete--what's wrong with that? You may be wise to take some lessons from him.

[NadalDramaQueen]

Originally Posted by tennis tom

I don't believe anything this guy is saying, this is a TROLL post.

Look through some of his other posts, they are all troll posts. I don't know why everyone gets so worked up about his threads.

Humor him so that his time isn't wasted, but everyone should relax.

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by NadalDramaQueen

Look through some of his other posts, they are all troll posts. I don't know why everyone gets so worked up about his threads.

Humor him so that his time isn't wasted, but everyone should relax.

Well well well... Look who showed up!



I didn't know that he's infamous for trolling. Maybe he's telling the truth. But I don't know considering his spotty post history.

Thanks again DramaQueen!

[TTMR]

Originally Posted by tenniscasey

You bullied children who had no say in what was going on. Congratulations on possibly being "right."

Not really. I'd argue it was the coach/whale who was bullying the children, basically using them as human shields. He thought I'd never remove a child from the court (even though he put them on what would have been our court, which he previously was not using but supposedly had 'reserved'). We didn't touch the children, we just started rallying gently back and forth while the children were doing the same thing simultaneously.

It was the coach who put them in that position. What else could I have done? If I hadn't intervened he would have never even considered someone might object to his exploiting the public court system.

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

You were 100% right. There have been instances where "reserving" public courts is alright. I think reserving a few courts within a complex for league matches is fine, as long as there are still courts available for others to use. "Reserving" all of the courts? You can't do that. People will let you fly by because they're courteous and decent, but don't push it by taking ALL the courts.

Thank you. It's not the first time this has happened to me. Another time in a different town, I was playing with someone else, and a group of high schoolers and their teacher came on and claimed they had reserved all three courts and we had to vacate. We did without incident and I always regretted that I never said anything or demanded proof.

[J_R_B]

Originally Posted by tennis tom

I don't believe anything this guy is saying, this is a TROLL post. Public courts are used by pros to give lessons everywhere I've ever lived or traveled. If this scenario ever happened, which I seriously doubt, why should the coach short change his pupils to have to pull out his contract with the city to show you? You would have argued with him anyway.

If 98% percent of courts in your town are run down, call the rec dept. and demand they repair them. It sounds like you know how to push your weight around especially with children. Get a petition together to fix them, attend rec dept. meetings and complain, complain at city council meetings or run for office yourself.

As far as clubs being expensive, that's relative. Some are exclusive and charge a lot but some are affordable to middle class working people. If you can't afford one, work harder or smarter like others do and join a club.

What tells me this is a TROLL post is that the coach was teaching excellent fundamental tennis techniques: closed stance, Eastern grips, high follow through--sounds like Fed and Pete--what's wrong with that? You may be wise to take some lessons from him.

You know else tells me this is a troll post? He's talking about playing outdoors in February in Winnepeg and there are people who let their kids play tennis outside in February, too.

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/camb0244

[OHBH]

Originally Posted by TTMR

Not really. I'd argue it was the coach/whale who was bullying the children, basically using them as human shields. He thought I'd never remove a child from the court (even though he put them on what would have been our court, which he previously was not using but supposedly had 'reserved'). We didn't touch the children, we just started rallying gently back and forth while the children were doing the same thing simultaneously.

It was the coach who put them in that position. What else could I have done? If I hadn't intervened he would have never even considered someone might object to his exploiting the public court system.



Thank you. It's not the first time this has happened to me. Another time in a different town, I was playing with someone else, and a group of high schoolers and their teacher came on and claimed they had reserved all three courts and we had to vacate. We did without incident and I always regretted that I never said anything or demanded proof.

Yep, you always need to demand proof of reservation. At the county park I play at a few leagues and the high school team have the courts reserved at some times, but their is a laminated calendar zip tied to the fence that indicates all the reservations that month. If it isn't on the list I am not moving.

Obviously if this guy had actually reserved the courts he would have something to show you or would have called someone that did.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by TTMR

Thank you. It's not the first time this has happened to me. Another time in a different town, I was playing with someone else, and a group of high schoolers and their teacher came on and claimed they had reserved all three courts and we had to vacate. We did without incident and I always regretted that I never said anything or demanded proof.

So you only listen to what you want to hear? What about the other half of my post?

[vandre]

Originally Posted by TTMR

Either way, given what he was teaching, he was doing possibly irreparable damage to these kids and their tennis potential. These kids would have learned far more about tennis by watching me and my partner play than by listening to their archaic coach.

TTMR is for the children! just like the wu-tang clan!

[pkshooter]

You were very very wrong, and he can reserve courts. The coach was even more wrong than you though. You should have played racket ball.

[pvaudio]

In many cities, including the towns surrounding Boston, public courts are often run by the parks and rec department. If so, then yes, courts are available to reserve. Since he did not actually reserve anything, the point doesn't apply to YOU, but taxpayer or not, I would not do that again.

[TTMR]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

So you only listen to what you want to hear? What about the other half of my post?

I'll bite. What would have been the 'classy' alternative?

[rkelley]

Originally Posted by Player#1

If I were in the position of that coach, I would have made you leave the court limping with your tail between your legs!

I just don't get this. Why does some guy running a little rogue tennis camp have the right to take all the public courts, especially during a prime time, without some kind of permission from the authority who owns the courts? It's great that the kids are getting some fresh air and learning tennis, but we all gotta share.

Practically, if we're just going to do law of jungle, there's no way one guy is going to chase off two guys if those two guys are set on staying.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by TTMR

I'll bite. What would have been the 'classy' alternative?

Sounded like the kids were just using half of the court, since you just seemingly invited yourself onto the other half of the court. Waited for the kids to lose control and retrieve their balls, then "claim" the court to yourself.

1) Kindly ask the kids and the coach if you guys can use half of the court to rally and warm-up until they're done, EVEN if you had to wait until 11.

2) I wouldn't mock the coach.

3) If the coach is really being a jerk about it, be the bigger man and walk away.

4) There are kids there, be a positive example. Don't inspired them to be booting people off the court.

5) If I had a friend with me, I wouldn't embarrass him along with myself.

Just to name a few.

[tenniscasey]

Originally Posted by TTMR

Not really. I'd argue it was the coach/whale who was bullying the children, basically using them as human shields. He thought I'd never remove a child from the court (even though he put them on what would have been our court, which he previously was not using but supposedly had 'reserved'). We didn't touch the children, we just started rallying gently back and forth while the children were doing the same thing simultaneously.

It was the coach who put them in that position. What else could I have done? If I hadn't intervened he would have never even considered someone might object to his exploiting the public court system.

You could have walked away and called the city about the problem. You know, handled it like a grown-up.

In this story, you just come off as a middle-aged loser. If you're just trolling, it's a weird story to use as bait.