Sean Hannity Vs Usta

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by tennisforlife77

OK - so they've got some skin in the game - we all do in one form or another. Doesn't make his post any less relevant

quoting this is less relevant, as I scratch my head. you all know where I stand on this issue.

Originally Posted by HIGH-TECH TENNIS

I see the same flawed thinking in other areas of junior player development; namely, the USTA's banning of players younger than eleven using proper equipment with which to compete in sanctioned tournament play. Why? Because the "we know best" mentalities have, with the stroke of a bureaucratic pen, made it impossible for someone like me, with a lifetime of tennis knowledge and experience at every level of the game to, as I've written elsewhere, act on my own observations, evaluations and conclusions and instead replace them with something that, in my view, is more conducive to anti-junior-development. The USTA has forced me into a position whereby to tell a precocious nine year old that in order to play tournaments he's going to have to play a dumbed down version of the game, for me, with his or her best interests at heart, would not only be absurd, it would be dishonest."

every talented 9 year old I have seen can handle regulation U12, the top 35% of U10 are all playing in the 12’s, the rest throw them in Green RR.

Originally Posted by ClarkC

I would think it would mean that the video company would seek business at the L2 and maybe L3 national tournaments.

that is the point, the draw size is going to be smaller hence less players to prey on for video analysis ,and like I said the super talented players do not even need videos, coaches already know who they are.

Originally Posted by Alohajrtennis

I think it has already been discussed, but the changes could be a boon for Hi-tech Tennis and companies of their sort. All those kids who don't have 'real talent' as you so snidley put it, are losing exposure to college coaches that evens like this provided. That's one of the reason college coaches overwhelming hate the changes. Lot of more kids are going to need videos as it the only way many coaches are going to get to see them play. But you don't give **** about them anyway, they don't have 'real' talent. So, unfortunately for you another small business person(or is that 'greedy capitalistic scumbag' to you ?) trying to add value to people and earn a living will unfortunately still be able to be in business, albeit at other 'regional' events and the like.

If the changes are a boom, then why is HTT complaining, they are going to make more money with the new changes,

College coaches do not hate the change, they have been burnt by mediocracy kids with overinflated national ranking add high flying videos that make them look better than they really are

Originally Posted by tennis5

Yes, it was discussed in another post that kids ( parents financing it) would be using more videos in the future to get the attention of the college coaches as college coaches will be seeing fewer or zero kids ( at Winter Nats or Easter Bowl), so this will grow anyone who is in the video business.

fine, then HTT and the likes should welcome the change, more videos means more money, everyone is happy. , only thing there is something called capitalism and market share, flying around from region to region costs money and eats away at revenue. By 2014 there will be local kids at regionals and sectionals that will create videos on their ipad4 at a fraction of the price using free dartfish like software with super slow motion,

Originally Posted by HIGH-TECH TENNIS

Of course we have no intention of discussing the financial aspects of our business on this forum...but $45,000 for a tournament? YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS.

We're simply trying to share information but to be attacked like this? Geeeeeeez.

from your website, CURRENT RECORD:
We sold 92 out of 98 videos recorded
at the Spring Southern Closed (May 4-7, 2012).
YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

92 X ok $450 each video your words not mine, equals $41,400, my bad, not bad for three days of shooting. But according to hannity the reduction is 75% which means 10g's instead of 40g's , you can not survive.

Originally Posted by Alohajrtennis

Can't you feel the love ?

When someone starts attacking me for my supposed 'hidden agenda' it makes me wonder what their hidden agenda is.

no hidden agenda, I have a soon to be 10 year old just like you that is going to be affected by this change and I welcome the change, maybe I am the only realist in this rat race, others are delusional. Sure I can fly him around the country and inflate( more like deceive) his national ranking, but you know what, I am not going to do that, if he is good enough he will rise to the top, if not he stays at sectionals, end of story, even if he plays the same kids over and over again. If he does not like it and eventually gets bored, I can travel jr. ITF's with him. Too bad you live in Hawaii, the USTA is not going to please everyone, if you live in FL or hot beds you are not affected since there are plenty of players within 100 miles. OK OK you got me about my agenda, my kid is a September baby

[Pro_Tour_630]

Below are your two choices, you be the judge?

What the USTA is trying to do is get more kids playing tennis with their ten and under program and with the 2014 changes the kids that deserve to rise to the top will.



The old system where kids were dropping out of tennis because it was too difficult with regulation balls and serious competition at an early stage. And anyone with money is privy to national ranking. Notice the large noise at the bottom of the hmmmmm ............... experiment flask too much kids to find real talent.

[Alohajrtennis]

I get it..it's the Highander strategy-- there can be only one!

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by Alohajrtennis

I get it..it's the Highander strategy-- there can be only one!

Sorry about your feelings, but hannity your cheerleader, did challenge the system, and offered two answers. Favor the old system or the new one. I will create his poll for him. He owes me lots of money for proving that he is ,,,,,,,,,,,right but then again who gives meaning to polls they can be skewed anyway and do not represent everyone and every path.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

If the changes are a boom, then why is HTT complaining, they are going to make more money with the new changes,

And I thought I was cynical. Disclosure : I am not related to HTT, and I respect that he(?) can defend himself. However, why can't you believe that HTT actually cares about junior tennis and is not solely looking at this from a profit motive.

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

College coaches do not hate the change, they have been burnt by mediocracy kids with overinflated national ranking add high flying videos that make them look better than they really are

And that's why TRN was born. Nature abhors a vacuum, they saw it and filled it. But TRN only works if there are head to head match ups to compare. The new system doesn't help with that, does it ? Hey, Dallas - you think all the new changes are great right ? Oh, never mind, you wouldn't care what he thought, he's just another one of those greedy capitalistic pigs 'preying' - your words, not mine - on the ignorant insane tennis parents.

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

fine, then HTT and the likes should welcome the change, more videos means more money, everyone is happy. , only thing there is something called capitalism and market share, flying around from region to region costs money and eats away at revenue. By 2014 there will be local kids at regional and sectionals that will create videos on their ipad4 at a fraction of the price using free dartfish like software with super slow motion,

Why wait until to 2014, I can do that now. But I'm a geek (hence the late night posts). Some tennis parents aren't, so some of them made need a service like HTT. At a cost of abut 1-2 months private lessons, or a trip to the opens, or 18 minutes at a private academy, it seems like a low-risk investment for the technology inept. Whatever, when I envision the owner of HTT, I hardly imagine them living at Tara.

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

no hidden agenda, I have a soon to be 10 year old just like you that is going to be affected by this change and I welcome the change, maybe I am the only realist in this rat race, others are delusional. Sure I can fly him around the country and inflate( more like deceive) his national ranking, but you know what, I am not going to do that, if he is good enough he will rise to the top, if not he stays at sectionals, end of story, even if he plays the same kids over and over again. If he does not like it and eventually gets bored, I can travel jr. ITF's with him. Too bad you live in Hawaii, the USTA is not going to please everyone, if you live in FL or hot beds you are not affected since there are plenty of players within 100 miles. OK OK you got me about my agenda, my kid is a September baby

Good on ya, you do your research. Like you, I honestly don't know how this will affect us either. Unfortunately, we can't live twice, try it once under the current system and do it again under the new system, so there is no way to ever really know. I am objective in one sense though : my travel costs are higher than yours no matter what. I can imagine scenarios where they would be higher and where they would be lower. I agree absolutely that the new system helps those who live in Florida and So Cal - unless, they really surprise me and decide to hold the 'regional' events in Hawaii, but I am not holding my breath.

As for the birth date, I think that has been one of the big things overlooked in the discussion. yes, my daughter is a June baby. June = you are screwed. september = lottery. Bad planning, and really no excuse since they are adopted. Really just didn't think it through, my fault. (Note to all : go to Amazon, the birthday problem in athletic development in the book Outliers is available for free download.) I thought Russels response to Hannity was mind boggingingly weak on this issue vis-a-vis outliers. I think he said it was a "complex calculus". This just left me thinking that for all the time an money he spent obtaining a Ph.d, he doesn't understand what calculus is.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

Sorry about your feelings, but hannity your cheerleader, did challenge the system, and offered two answers. Favor the old system or the new one. I will create his poll for him. He owes me lots of money for proving that he is ,,,,,,,,,,,right but then again who gives meaning to polls they can be skewed anyway and do not represent everyone and every path.

Challenge the system, that's cute. I love it how supporters of a radical change pose as defender of the status quo and try to position the other side as the ones proposing the radical change. clever. fail.

Here's a quote from Hannity's letter :

Should the membership vote to keep the schedule and draw sizes, we can begin to work on ways to improve the legitimate concerns the USTA says it has.

Nobody claims the current schedule/structure is perfect, and that there are not ways it can be improved. But that doesn't mean any change is good. As one of my teachers used to say, there is no one right answer. But that doesn't mean there arent any wrong answers.

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by Alohajrtennis

As for the birth date, I think that has been one of the big things overlooked in the discussion. yes, my daughter is a June baby. June = you are screwed. september = lottery. Bad planning, and really no excuse since they are adopted. Really just didn't think it through, my fault. (Note to all : go to Amazon, the birthday problem in Atlantic development in the book Outliers is available for free download.) I thought Russels response to Hannity was mind boggingingly weak on this issue vis-a-vis outliers. I think he said it was a "complex calculus". This just left me thinking that for all the time an money he spent obtaining a Ph.d, he doesn't understand what calculus is.

1. Rod Laver 9th August ,

2. Sampras 12th August,

3. Federer 8th August

so much for outliers and his January babies theories wish my son was born in august in that case, LOL

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

Below are your two choices, you be the judge?

What the USTA is trying to do is get more kids playing tennis with their ten and under program and with the 2014 changes the kids that deserve to rise to the top will.



The old system where kids were dropping out of tennis because it was too difficult with regulation balls and serious competition at an early stage. And anyone with money is privy to national ranking. Notice the large noise at the bottom of the hmmmmm ............... experiment flask too much kids to find real talent.

Pro,

Informative couple of posts. A picture is worth 1000 words.

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by Alohajrtennis

Here's a quote from Hannity's letter :

Should the membership vote to keep the schedule and draw sizes, we can begin to work on ways to improve the legitimate concerns the USTA says it has.

.

here's a quote from hannity's letter

Do you approve of a 75% reduction in opportunities to play national tournaments outside of your individual sections and or do you prefer to leave the current (2012), although still "reduced," opportunities in place?

I did a poll, at least vote on it, my hula friend
__________________

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

Pro,

Informative couple of posts. A picture is worth 1000 words.

chalk, I knew you would like it , I am trying to put tennis racquets on their hands.

[Alohajrtennis]

Because I don't think the two choices you present are anywhere near accurate representations of the choice/opportunities in front of us. Unfortunately, I may need to contact HTT to work on my image uploading skills to present an accurate diagram. You are right in that the 10 and under initiative is increasing the number of kids entering the funnel, which is commendable, but the changes to the competition system will create bottlenecks that will do more harm then good. i.e, better 10 guilty men go free than one innocent man go to jail. When will people realize that tennis, like most sports has changed ? Brandon Wheedon, 28 year old QB ? There will be no more 14 year old's in grand slams. If you want to develop champions, let more kids through not less. Pros will develop later and later, heck one of our Olympians is an ex-russian who never played US Junior tennis and is just starting to mature at 23. Stop trying to predict future champions at 12, 14, 16. Just freakin stop it, its so idiotic. For every one you get right, you will get 10 wrong. And you will never know which 10 you got wrong. It's just egomania, some has been wannabee's trying to take credit for 'identifying' the next star. Well guess what, for every kid you "identified", three others said, screw this ****, I am going to go play soccer.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

it seems you are taking this birthday scenario way too seriously, so my son who was born in september is going to have a better Jr experience? and your daughter who was born in June is destined for a miserable Jr. experience? please you are blaming the USTA for giving your daughter a bad tennis experience because what month she was born on?

Read the book, which you obviously have not, then compare/contrast it to the recent changes vis-a-vis the existing system. It's not about our particular children, we are great parents and therefore we will overcome this, but the data is pretty clear, on a macro-scale, it will skew development resources inappropriately and therefore hurt everyone, including the all important "Future of American Tennis". It is a serious issue. I am just more aware of it becuase of my daughters particulars birth date, but that doesn't make it less of an issue.

[ClarkC]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

1. Rod Laver 9th August ,

2. Sampras 12th August,

3. Federer 8th August

so much for outliers and his January babies theories wish my son was born in august in that case, LOL

I don't think that Rod Laver and Roger Federer were affected much by the timing of the Kalamazoo tourney and the USTA Clay Courts. Nor do I think that Rod Laver was much affected by the junior ITF schedule, because junior tennis was a different sport altogether when he grew up. Rising to the top in Australia was plenty of competition, and traveling overseas to ITFs was not a developmental path.

[cmb]

Originally Posted by t135

Obviously I don't like what that guy represents. But then I also happen to disagree with his opinion on tennis. So there are separate issues here. I am not that shallow, unfortunately.

"Europe has 8 out of the worlds top 10 players and 75 of the top 100"

That's because it's the 2nd most popular sport in Europe after soccer. In the USA our great athletes pursue football, baseball, and basketball and then maybe tennis. That is IF they aren't drawn into golf, soccer, or lacrosse.

The USTA isn't going to make your child a gifted athlete or tennis champion. Either they are or they aren't, stop trying to blame someone else for your child's lack of success in tennis. And for the USA's lack of top 100 tennis players.

10 and under tennis is America's best shot at getting participation in tennis up in the juniors. The armchair quarterbacks of the world obviously lack the raw data and genuine insight into American and international tennis to be able to make any kind if informed criticism of what the USTA is doing. And this includes Al Sharpton, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Howard Stern, and Dr. Phil.

It is the second most popular sport in europe. BUT, their system of tournament tennis is far better then ours.
If anyone has ever gone to france and actually played in french national tournaments....you would realize how god awful and truly expensive it is to play tennis in the USA.
Im using france as an example because that is what I know.

But of course, its useless to argue with americans about how much better structured it is in europe, because they will never understand. and people like you will always pull the 2nd popular sport BS.

Bottom line is that its much better organized, and they probably have less then half as many courts as we do in the states!

For example, a club im familiar with has put out 1 guy ranked in the top 400 atp,1 guy ranked 800 atp and 4 D1 college players, all from the junior program with kids from 1989-1991.

If a club with 3 outdoor courts, and 2 indoor courts (they are indoors 6 months a year) can do something like that in a small city, what are the excuses in the states?

[tball2day]

.....................

[tennis5]

Coaches support Sean in USTA dispute
August 04, 2012

Dear Mr. Hannity,

On the behalf of junior tennis players and coaches everywhere, I cannot thank you enough for your efforts in trying to ignite debate with your comments and correspondence. Unfortunately, rouge elements of the USTA led by the current President; successfully mounted a campaign of misrepresentation and intimidation to force their agenda on its competitive junior players. These individuals may be well intentioned, but are also dangerously inexperienced and flat out wrong. This coup d'etat was mounted from inside the board rooms and was withheld from the players, coaches and tournament directors until it was completed. I can think of no other organization where individuals with such little expertise could ascend to leadership positions. Their flawed decision making is poised to dissolve and destroy the hopes and dreams of countless young tennis players as well as the USTA junior system. Their assertion that all of this was well vetted is perhaps the grosses lie ever told in American tennis. There were no studies, no focus groups and absolutely no significant national discussion what so ever.

You are attempting to open a can of worms that they do not want exposed. The leadership involved in this has misrepresented facts, intimidated sections and boards, and used political clout to have key regional personnel fired. National Committee votes were taken at specific times to eliminate dissension. This was done to claim to the sectional boards unanimous support.Their audacity has no bounds as even now they attempt to use names such as Wayne Bryan's and even mine in an open letter to you to support their philosophies. Nothing could be further from the truth!!! Despite efforts... no press has picked up on any of this. Since tennis magazines are controlled by the USTA little non-approved information has gotten out. The "padders" real objective is provide misdirection away from the lack of top American players. But the reality is these changes have the potential to destroy junior tennis in the United States. None of the architects of this plan has significant success in to motivating or training numbers of youth in pursuing tennis as a sport for a lifetime.

How did all this get started? Where did these proposal's they come from? The polices and ideas were formed years ago. The current USTA President Jon Vegosen
(out of the mid west) had a preexisting relationship with Dr. Tim Russell. The two had penned a position paper together (which can still be found online). When Vegosen became USTA President he appointed Russel to the head of the National Junior Competition Committee. The charge given to him was to make the junior system more efficient and cheaper. The committee was stocked full of those that would vote for their predetermined course of action. Potential roadblocks were removed from service on the JCC. Many of the committee members appointed were out of the mid west and are beholding to Vegosen. This committee passed the proposals on for sectional vote. During this time period Dr. Russel operated in a cloud of secrecy. The idea was to avoid any possible opposition before a sectional vote. Part of the tactic employed was to make everything seem so complex that the ordinary sectional board member would be bamboozled and rely upon the National Junior Competition Committee recommendations.

Dr. Russel (minister of propaganda) must go. These proposals are in most cases his. His assertion that there was a landslide is preposterous. The vast majority of sectional competition committees voted heavily against these changes. *These are the true experts! These groups are renowned sectional leaders and experts. Still at the national meeting, sectional boards went against their own committees under heavy pressure. Both in the East and the mid west, the head of junior competition was fired immediately after the sections voted. Why? Both individuals had outstanding reputations and both were simply acknowledging the wishes of their constituents. In the mid west, over 100 emails were sent against these proposals. They poured in from from players, past pro players, top ten college coaches, and known national coaches. Our own board members and president were intimidated into not following the will of those they represent.

How to fix the situation: The current Junior Competition Committee must be dissolved. All participants must go! Even the well intentioned members lacked the courage and intestinal fortitude to stand up and fight what was occurring. Their fear to speak out allowed this situation to occur. This committee could reverse the present proposals before implementation in 2013. To do so...these positions must be filled with junior development coaches from around the country. All must have coached actively or represent top tournaments, colleges, top international players, past professional players, or top sectional players. Each section of the country must be represented. Meanwhile, the current administration is hard at work to try to continue their hold on this committee. Political payoffs are being attempted. These can be broken up by the nominating committees by vote at the US Open. Most importantly, the new incoming President must be made to see the necessity of appointing a completely new competition committee. He will have complete authority to do this. Our goal is to force this issue NOW!!! This is not an easy task as our friend...Dr. Russel has no intention of relinquishing any control.

The folly of the whole situation would be comical if not so tragic. None of the proposals will improve tennis, they will destroy it. Who in there right mind would what to shrink and limit opportunities to reach the national level. No one understands the motivating factors better than local coaches and yet they have not been listened to. The reductions amount to a hand picking of players by those in charge. This is not a open or healthy system.
In observance of brevity I will stop. However, there is much you should be apprised of. We share some mutual friends in Chicago and they can attest to my sincerity and knowledge in theses matters. I can only hope that you will continue to help in preventing the destruction of USA junior tennis. The rabbit hole goes very deep and there is so very much information that I would love to arm you with. Your abilities in communication are exactly what hundreds of coaches are hoping for. We need someone to shine a bright light on what has occurred. These decisions are not being made by the experts... they are being made by "want to be" novices. Please help to send them packing and back to picking fantasy sports teams. They would be far less dangerous to future generations.

I'll leave you with the following thoughts that most top junior coaches agree on.

If the intent was to make tournaments more affordable why were the following ideas not pursued instead of reducing events and spots?

1. More matches per day utilizing 8 game pro sets (doubles) and match tiebreakers to shorten feed-in events and allow for more players.
2. Airline sponsorship deals to help save players change fees
3. National hotel and rental car deals to help reduce costs.
4. Design regions that are geographically drivable.
5. Select National Opens upon geography and flight affordability

If the intent is to Improve players why?

1. Reduce number of National Championships
2. Shrink the number of youngest athletes competing.
3. Eliminate earned National acceptance through national ranking.
4 .Use limited funds to pay for players to switch citizenship's.
5. Funding players that are not evaluated by impartial means or board.
6. Have no professional mentoring program for juniors and professionals given money.
7. No coaching at provided to US juniors at all grand slam events.

The USTA has no business manipulating selections and hand picking large numbers of players for events. This is bad process and selecting to validate their jobs. Tournament scheduling and events should not be vested within junior development wing. (outside committee should do this) Money should go to promoting and supporting players making the jump from juniors to professional. This was the failure of our past. Unfortunately, we have not learned the proper lessons from our mistakes. Today's top players were juniors just 8 years ago. There was nothing wrong with our system, as our players out performed Tsonga, Murray, Monfeis and the rest. Our failure was the lack of time money and structure that was absent to further their futures.The junior system should be left alone. My fellow professionals continue to turn out talent. Let's not limit events or opportunities. To fix professional tennis requires a vision and plan that begins after juniors.

Respectfully Yours,

Tom Walker
Director of Tennis
Kalamazoo YMCA's

[t135]

Tennis is a great sport.

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by t135

The head of YMCA tennis in Michigan has spoken.

He is a really well known and respected tournament director.......

Has your kid played one of his tournaments? Have you met him and spoken to him?

If not, I wouldn't make disparaging remarks as an anonymous poster
about a man whose business is also dependent upon the USTA and is yet willing to go on the line and speak up.

But, please do post a letter here from a coach or tournament director that supports the 2014 changes. I look forward to reading it.

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by tball2day

^^^cmb, you'll certainly get agreement from me on this one. I'm American, kid plays Europe all summer, it's way better.

Ironic that Europeans grow up and play there and then come here to play college!

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

Ironic that Europeans grow up and play there and then come here to play college!

Not ironic, just smart. European colleges don't offer tennis scholarships.