MEP vs ET Players - Original TT Epic
- Thread starter AnyPUG
- Start date
If that is correct, it is really weird. But the video could have been made before and streamed later, and the live chat made to reflect that. Have you considered that possibility?
Say what you want, but an Internet coach, who is still young and fit, losing to a rec player would have looked very bad. No amount of spin could have taken care of that. That is why I said before that all the pressure was on Ian.
It is like the play against the (teaching) pros night that some clubs have every week. It can get very competitive. I have read several posts on this forum from good players who wrote that they would never take lessons from a pro they could beat (obviously 80 year old Rod Laver was not who they meant).
But kudos to Ian to have bravely walked into a lose-lose situation and come out as a winner. Sure got to hand it to him for putting his image on the line for everyone to see. Especially since the news of the GSG-clash was already on this forum. It would have been different if GSG was made to sign a NDA and no one knew that there was a match.
I can see this becoming the required "GSG certification" of Internet coaches. Play against GSG and post the video.
Excuse me Sir, regarding your application for a coach position at our club, I see that you are USPTA/USPTR certified, but are you GSG-certified? We require GSG-vaccination passports from all our coaches. The GSG-antibodies ensure a high-level of play for a period of 1 year, after which you must be GSG-vaccinated again (we pay for it).
Excuse me Sir, regarding your application for a coach position at our club, I see that you are USPTA/USPTR certified, but are you GSG-certified? We require GSG-vaccination passports from all our coaches. The GSG-antibodies ensure a high-level of play for a period of 1 year, after which you must be GSG-vaccinated again (we pay for it).
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Rubens
Hall of Fame
I was in the chat section while the video was being streamed live. I saw the questions and comments appear, live, including my own. He picked the questions he was willing to answer. If I remember correctly there were a few questions on whether the match was already played. Of course he didn't answer those questions. He did answer the guy who asked "is a hotdog a sandwich?", though.
Consider it then as one of those documentaries in which historical situations are recreated realistically and only some credits somewhere tells you it was recreated (like childhood of Queen Elizabeth was played by Mary). Creative people are allowed license in such matters.
Rubens
Hall of Fame
Yea I'm playing along. I could have exposed him right then, but decided against it.
FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
Do you think Toni Nadal can beat Rafa? Do you think Nick Bolliterri can beat a 4.5 ? In fact, every single coach on the planet can't play as well as his students. I'd say the majority of tennis coaches out there can't beat a strong 4.5 borderline 5.0 in Atlanta market. Great coaching has little to do with playing. You think Federer gives great lessons? LOL, Federer doesn't even know what grip he uses.
megamind
Legend
Is a hotdog a sandwich, though? What did he say?
Every time I see a video featuring this guy, a tiny bit of me dies of shame.
Same goes for that Sansait fella.
FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
Here is Ian's recap from his first set loss against Adam.
FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
Exactly what money has he taken?
Ian makes a living by charging money for immersive clinics.
Good decision. Should not do anything to hurt anyone's business.
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
I didn't mean literally. I meant like when players are a bit sloppy in warm up, then play out in matches. Ian is good with building drama and story.
Raul_SJ
G.O.A.T.
Don't forget to click "Like", subscribe, and hit that notification button.
sredna42
Hall of Fame
There is a real opportunity there for a channel that is like Delray Misfits/The Office, but following a group of Amateur tennis players around.
Not just the matches. The rivalries, the squabbles, the schemes, the insanity, the excuses, zooming in on the post match resentment and humiliation of the loser, and the ugly glory of the winner, following them about in training and lessons, and shaking your head at the trainwreck of it all unable to look away
Not just the matches. The rivalries, the squabbles, the schemes, the insanity, the excuses, zooming in on the post match resentment and humiliation of the loser, and the ugly glory of the winner, following them about in training and lessons, and shaking your head at the trainwreck of it all unable to look away
Expose him! He did the unthinkable... by trying to run a legitimate but saturated business with some innovative marketing campaign. The TT crowd is the most generous and giving bunch of folks.
Rubens
Hall of Fame
No. No I won't. I owe him one. (He gave me his serve course for free.)
...
But somebody will.
Maybe.
Raul_SJ
G.O.A.T.
Expose him for what? About two weeks ago, Ian said, "I have played three matches recently. You don't know who the opponents were. I'm playing a fourth match soon and you do probably know who the opponent is...". So Ian was already up front weeks ago that the GSG match was imminent. Everybody in his channel knows match has been played .. It is now being edited and prepared for theatrical release.
Morch Us
Hall of Fame
Do we know for sure the GSG vs Ian match was done already? If yes, I personally think he is not being transparent, by these "live" comments sessions. If the real intent is to just show the preparations into the match, and the whole story, that is fine. Just post the videos at the pace he wants, but just don't do live chat sessions and say comments hinting like the match is in the future.
Essentially, how long after the match does he post it is not that relevant for transparency. It is totally upto him when he posts each video or match. He does not even have to mention when it actually was recorded.
But when you are doing a "live" comments session, people expect it to be "current" or "present", and any comments you make hinting towards "future" is expected to be "future".
I think he is getting "kick" out of these live sessions, and that is the only reason I can think of on why he is doing it this way non-transparently.
(I am assuming the GSG match is already done. if not...I take back all of the above comments)
Essentially, how long after the match does he post it is not that relevant for transparency. It is totally upto him when he posts each video or match. He does not even have to mention when it actually was recorded.
But when you are doing a "live" comments session, people expect it to be "current" or "present", and any comments you make hinting towards "future" is expected to be "future".
I think he is getting "kick" out of these live sessions, and that is the only reason I can think of on why he is doing it this way non-transparently.
(I am assuming the GSG match is already done. if not...I take back all of the above comments)
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Rubens
Hall of Fame
He's making the most of the confusion about the timing of the match. Sort of like that lady from Boston who wanted people to think she was from Spain, so she said things to suggest it without ever claiming it explicitly, and when people talked about her Spanish origins she didn't correct them. Forgot her name.
happyandbob
Legend
This is a common thing on TV "matchups" where the opponents talk over a match after the fact like it happened that day. All those cooking competitions where the chefs are giving commentary on what they are thinking are recorded way after the fact. He's trying to milk it, for sure, but everyone here would do the exact same thing in his position.
There's nothing sneaky about what he's doing. Someone can spoil things for him and his fans if you want, but all you're doing is walking into the first showing of The Sixth Sense and screaming "it turns out he's a ghost!" because you got to see a sneak preview.
Raul_SJ
G.O.A.T.
Nonsense. This is not a movie. It is a live internet chat.
If somebody on the chat asks whether the match as been played, Ian should just tell them that the match has been played and will be released later. Telling the truth that the match has been played will have zero effect on his views.
Not so. The question would arise as to when the prep videos were made - before or after the match.
Remember the famous Riggs-King Battle of the Sexes? It is famous because of the comments made BEFORE the match. That is the time when someone can boast and then later be humiliated by losing. After the fact is just playing it safe.
That is why actors in the past who acted both in plays and movies would say that plays were much tougher - no possibility to edit out or retake scenes.
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
I hope no one does that. Sure, some people know the results and it has been a bit since things were played, but Ian does a decent balance between providing quality, immediacy, and trying to make a few bucks for the effort without getting to spotty on content releases, overly milking things, or becoming Fuzzy Yellow Ball dude. Personally I would rather have a the whole match presented instead of breaking things up, but I get that too.
Rubens
Hall of Fame
I sure won't. Pinkie promise. I think it'll be more fun to see how things evolve by themselves on his channel, how his followers will react when they realize what's been going on.
Morch Us
Hall of Fame
Agreed. It is tough time for tennis coaches. Also Ian is kind of inventing a new way of tennis showtime, and unlike other youtube coaches, he does spend a lot of $$ for making these videos. He has a full video team and the equipment used are top quality. So he does have to find some way to make some $$ to keep his business going. So it is all good.
Rubens
Hall of Fame
Not to mention the $$$ he spent for GSG's trip. He has a lot to lose, even if he won the match. Oops I mean if he wins it.
chazz
Rookie
I was glad that Ian has found a new direction to take his YouTube channel after Kevin and Megan left. I hope he sees these comments and decides to dial things back a little bit with the hype. Pretending the match with GSG hasn't taken place is a bridge too far. As has been stated letting people know the match happened won't hurt his numbers.
Clash Ah ah
Rookie
GSG paid for the trip. Ian donated to a charity.
Rubens
Hall of Fame
The $$ went out of his pocket. That's what matters.
Clash Ah ah
Rookie
That and being factually correct. Money also came out of Ben’s pocket.
Rubens
Hall of Fame
The other poster was talking about Ian's investment.
Who the **** cares about Ben's pocket?! Are you his wife?
Clash Ah ah
Rookie
I’m just dealing in facts whilst all kinds of nonsense is posted in this thread.
That fails "the whole truth" test.
"Ian generously offered to reimburse me the cost of my trip. "
Not mentioning the above is not saying the whole truth.
Clash Ah ah
Rookie
It’s in the thread!! One should be reading the thread. Not taking comments out of context.
Slowtwitcher
Legend
GSG is a cool dude. Ian is... well... a Youtuber...
How can I setup an alert to when the score is out?
How can I setup an alert to when the score is out?
megamind
Legend
when they start selling The Sureshs-branded merchandise
chazz
Rookie
I wouldn't be surprised if companies are seeking his endorsement.
Slowtwitcher
Legend
GSG will never sell out! He's not only the hero we need, he's the hero we want!!
Through a mutual friend, I was approached by a non-alcoholic brewing company asking if I was interested in endorsing/representing their product during matches. I won't endorse anything that I personal don't like or believe in, so given that I have never drank non-alcoholic beer more than once or twice in my life (it defeats the purpose of drinking imo) we had to get creative. I said I would be open to wearing the shirts they sent me during match(es) and saying something like, "I don't (often) drink non-alcoholic beer, but when I do, Rightside Brewing is the only brand for me."
In exchange for that I suggested that they make a donation to the TennisTroll charity and left the amount up to their judgment.
jhick
Hall of Fame
FWIW... if you look up Ian's USTA results you'll see that he is currently rated 5.0, although the last year he played in a USTA league was in 2013.
https://tennislink.usta.com/Leagues.../Common/Default.aspx#&&s=8||0||11908350||2013
https://tennislink.usta.com/Leagues.../Common/Default.aspx#&&s=8||0||11908350||2013
2013, that's 8 years ago. A lot can change in 8 years.
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