Actually, I'm the one who originally said that Rosewall could hit underspin backhand returns of serve up to about 80mph. (Data mentioned a friend who he thought could hit a bh sitter up to 100 mph).
That's right, you know first-hand what the difference was between your words and Data's. You claimed something happened.
Data said your claim was plausible. Drakulie, for sarcasm's sake, or whatever, tosses aside this important distinction and says you "both swear Rosewall hit 80+ mph slice backhands". That's exactly how people get impugned with arguments they've never made: which I happen to think might just be an issue of some tiny importance.
I've seen Rosewall live on a few occasions, and I stand by my estimate. Obviously, I didn't come to those matches with a radar gun or a camcorder (that hadn't been invented yet). But, Trollulie, having no life, no real friends, all the time in the world, nothing better to do, and most importantly, no integrity, seized upon it and has continually trolled, exaggerated and lied about what Data and I have said ever since.
I think by now the 80 mph claim has been mentioned on this board dozens of times, and if we're not in the hundreds yet we are fast approaching it. But the vast majority of those times are Drakulie introducing it into threads; or repeating it ad nauseum no matter what is being said; or using it to try to win other arguments. The number of times that I've actually seen you introduce your claim independently in conversation are, what, just a handful of times. So of course Drakulie's reaction is out of all proportion -- and of course it's a juvenile way to disagree with something. I saw him once put it into a thread just at the mere mention of Rosewall's name (I think it was a thread about the best claycourters); and if that is not dropping bait in classic troll fashion, I don't know what is.
I think someone else once suggested to you not to take the bait. If I recall correctly, soon after this whole 80 mph BH debate started last summer, Drakulie kept it up but you went silent for a little while and I thought you were ignoring him (which you've just confirmed in the other thread). Ignoring trolling is usually the best way to go. But of course he kept it up -- just like he keeps throwing the 163 mph bait at people even after they've told him directly that they don't believe it. He just has chosen certain sticks to throw at us and he adores them; if you left this forum and no one else ever made the claim, I think chances are excellent that for years afterward all we would have to do is sneeze and he would jump in with:
"Yeah, right, and I'm sure Tilden served at 163 mph :roll: And Rosewall hit slice backhands at 80 mph, I'm sure :roll:"
So I think the chances of him disagreeing with the 80 mph claim in a mature way (and anyone certainly has the right to do that) are next to nil. JMHO! The chances that he'll stop using it as a way to inflame discussions (to troll) -- well, I'm not holding my breath. So, even though, frankly, I do not enjoy many of the insults you use (particularly the way you quickly jump to the mouth-breathing insult with many posters), I can't fault you for defending yourself when someone is clearly, clearly following you around and seeking a fight with you. Particularly if so few people are defending you.
But Limpin, and I'm not saying this just to be gratuitous or to tell you what to do or anything -- it's just because I think it's been a genuine problem -- I think you'd be well served to hold back on the insults with the average poster. I'm not standing as your judge on the Drakulie issue because I have never walked in your shoes; in your position I might have done similar things to defend myself, I don't know; but there are other posters here who may be young or modern fans but who do have respect for the older era and can be engaged respectfully (I'm just going to pick out one, ABMK, because I know from personal interaction that he's well worth engaging respectfully; but there are others).
That's all I wanted to say.
And this: like Data and PC1, and Borg #1 and perhaps others, I think the 80 mph claim, may or may not be right, but it's worth discussing maturely and it certainly did not deserve months of ridicule.