@ all sandbaggers

[TenS_Ace]

Originally Posted by Prostaffer

I taught tennis in college and we had issues all the time with club levels. At some clubs the 4.0's were real 4.0's. At our club they were more like 3.0's, but they wanted to move up and we realistically couldnt' fill a 4.0 class.

The ironic thing is that in leagues it seems everyone plays down a level.

When it comes to registering for classes everyone wants to get into a much higher class than they belong to.

I just realized the irony. My life is complete...not really.

X2...The ironic thing is that in leagues it seems everyone plays down a level.

When it comes to registering for classes everyone wants to get into a much higher class than they belong to.

[Prostaffer]

Originally Posted by TenS_Ace

X2...The ironic thing is that in leagues it seems everyone plays down a level.

When it comes to registering for classes everyone wants to get into a much higher class than they belong to.

its true where i've taught. you get alot of "well i'm better than so and so; so i must be a 3.5" or "well i've played for a long time so i must be a 4.0"

[benasp]

Am I the only one who would like to get beaten by better players. I mean, this is not professional tennis son the only thing that matter is getting better since winning doesn't give much.

Where I live, people are happy when a better player accept playing with you.

Maybe the sandbagger has an ego issue if he down himself just to always win. But the player complaining about it maybe have an ego issue too. Maybe the "sandbagger" can't play at a higher level and just want to be able to play some tennis.

[burosky]

It seems to me most of those who complain about sandbaggers are those who think themselves as sandbaggers as well. It's like saying "I'm a sandbagger so if I lose to someone, that someone must be a sandbagger". Just my personal observation. Your experience may vary.

[JavierLW]

Originally Posted by benasp

Am I the only one who would like to get beaten by better players. I mean, this is not professional tennis son the only thing that matter is getting better since winning doesn't give much.

Where I live, people are happy when a better player accept playing with you.

Maybe the sandbagger has an ego issue if he down himself just to always win. But the player complaining about it maybe have an ego issue too. Maybe the "sandbagger" can't play at a higher level and just want to be able to play some tennis.

I think you are right in one way and wrong in another.

I dont think anyone's saying by complaining that they played a sandbagger that they dont want to play a better player. We can play better players in all sorts of situations, but it doesnt have to be in a competitive league match.

But if someone goes to the extent that they think their season is ruined by it or they got nothing of value out of it because of the ONE sandbagger they encountered I think that's a little much.

But you do lose something. Whether you somehow think "not being professional" makes it less important or not, it is a competition.

Tennis is a competitive sport and playing in a league is about trying to play your best as a team so you can try to win first place. (or whatever place you can manage so you feel good about yourself)

Winning first place could be about concepts like showing up to the matches and playing your best, having a better mental attitude then the other team for that day, or just plain being a better player then they are (within reason).

But instead sometimes it's about some captain filling his team full of players that are several levels ahead just because his ONLY goal is to get all the way to Nationals. Sure it doesnt mean the league is "ruined" or anything but it does rob the other teams of an experience if they could of otherwise won first.

(and it's ********)

I think the "it's not professional" argument can just go away. You say it's all about "getting better"? Here's a newsflash, YOU WILL NEVER BE A PROFESSIONAL.

So ya, you can "get better", but getting better can mean a lot of things among which are just getting thru a match and winning it, and especially if you're in a playoff like situation that you put a lot of stock into.

So you might as well enjoy whatever it is you are doing, rather then assuming that it's somehow less important then a bunch of strangers on TV that you dont know and that you have no real personal stake in their success.

[JavierLW]

Originally Posted by burosky

It seems to me most of those who complain about sandbaggers are those who think themselves as sandbaggers as well. It's like saying "I'm a sandbagger so if I lose to someone, that someone must be a sandbagger". Just my personal observation. Your experience may vary.

I see that sometimes it's funny.

Some guy who hasnt lost a match in 3 years will usually get very insulted when he finally loses a match.

I saw in 3.5 once where a guy even won a match and was complaining "because his opponent was the only person who's made it a contest so his opponent CANT BE A 3.5.....".

Usually it's because their only reason for even having a team is just to get to the playoffs or sectionals or nationals or wherever. They'll waste an entire season of whooping every to get there and they are insulted when they finally hit a bump in the road and dont make it.

Then sometimes when they do get bumped up, rather then just "have fun and play tennis" like everyone else is supposed to do, they stop playing league tennis.

(usually when someone is miserable when they dont win to the extent where they would rather not play, that's a good indicator that they dont really ENJOY the activity, they just enjoy the cheap rush you get from winning, it could be a tennis league or playing flip the coin, it doesnt matter they just like winning.....and they cant stand losing.....)

[Inner Game]

Originally Posted by JavierLW

I see that sometimes it's funny.

Some guy who hasnt lost a match in 3 years will usually get very insulted when he finally loses a match.

I saw in 3.5 once where a guy even won a match and was complaining "because his opponent was the only person who's made it a contest so his opponent CANT BE A 3.5.....".

Usually it's because their only reason for even having a team is just to get to the playoffs or sectionals or nationals or wherever. They'll waste an entire season of whooping every to get there and they are insulted when they finally hit a bump in the road and dont make it.

Then sometimes when they do get bumped up, rather then just "have fun and play tennis" like everyone else is supposed to do, they stop playing league tennis.

(usually when someone is miserable when they don't win to the extent where they would rather not play, that's a good indicator that they don't really ENJOY the activity, they just enjoy the cheap rush you get from winning, it could be a tennis league or playing flip the coin, it doesn't matter they just like winning.....and they cant stand losing.....)

Javier....I agree with almost every thing you said in this post....But contrasting winning to a cheap rush is totally off base.....If your in a competitive match with someone your level or better and you somehow manage to win....That's an awesome feeling...If your drubbing players 2 levels lower then you....Yeah then its cheap rush.....
You should judge yourself....and not kid yourself about your skills. But don't kid yourself....winning is what every sporting event is about!


For what its worth!

[JavierLW]

Originally Posted by Inner Game

Javier....I agree with almost every thing you said in this post....But contrasting winning to a cheap rush is totally off base.....If your in a competitive match with someone your level or better and you somehow manage to win....That's an awesome feeling...If your drubbing players 2 levels lower then you....Yeah then its cheap rush.....
You should judge yourself....and not kid yourself about your skills. But don't kid yourself....winning is what every sporting event is about!


For what its worth!

For what it's worth, LEARN HOW TO READ WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT I AM SAYING!!!!

You cant just stare at 3 words, think it means one thought and go at that.....

If you are only happy when you win, but you are miserable when you lose to the extent that you didnt want to be there, then that feeling of winning is just a cheap rush.... You dont really appreciate what it takes to win in that case.....

Im talking about a particular sort of person. (the kind who will usually do anything to make sure they are in a winning situation rather then work at it)

[Inner Game]

Well, take it easy tennis boy.....why would anyone feel bad if they played good but lost to a better player.....unless you have a problem between what skill level you think you are and what you really are...

Sorry if I jumped the gun on what you were trying to explain...

[Prostaffer]

Originally Posted by Inner Game

Well, take it easy tennis boy.....why would anyone feel bad if they played good but lost to a better player.....unless you have a problem between what skill level you think you are and what you really are...

Sorry if I jumped the gun on what you were trying to explain...

i think he's talking about that type of person that is near suicidal after a loss. no matter what type it is. you know the type that thinks losing is the absolute end of everything in their world.