These Grievances Are Made For Walkin'

Cindysphinx · Mar 20, 2014

Worst thread title ever, I admit it!

Anyway, I was talking to a tennis friend today and she raised an issue I am unsure about.

She played a match, and her opponent committed some unsportsmanlike conduct (name-calling). The next day, she and I discussed what her options for handling this would be during the match.

I said that if your opponent commits some significant rule infraction that makes it impossible or untenable to continue the match, you can walk off, file a grievance and be awarded the match (assuming you can prove whatever it is).

Examples might be:

Your opponent is cussing you out, threatening you, etc.

Your opponent refuses to give you penalties to which you are entitled. For instance, your opponent arrives 14 minutes late, which under our rules would say she loses the toss and three games. She insisted the score begin at 0-0 like any other match.

Your opponent insists that a set tiebreak is 10 points instead of 7.

In those sorts of situations, am I correct that you could (read: could, not should) walk off the court and be awarded the match if you filed a grievance?

What about more minor infractions, like crossing the net over your opponent's objection to examine a mark on clay? Could you refuse to play and win by filing a grievance?

floydcouncil · Mar 20, 2014

Cindysphinx said:
Worst thread title ever, I admit it!

Anyway, I was talking to a tennis friend today and she raised an issue I am unsure about.

She played a match, and her opponent committed some unsportsmanlike conduct (name-calling). The next day, she and I discussed what her options for handling this would be during the match.

I said that if your opponent commits some significant rule infraction that makes it impossible or untenable to continue the match, you can walk off, file a grievance and be awarded the match (assuming you can prove whatever it is).

Examples might be:

Your opponent is cussing you out, threatening you, etc.

Your opponent refuses to give you penalties to which you are entitled. For instance, your opponent arrives 14 minutes late, which under our rules would say she loses the toss and three games. She insisted the score begin at 0-0 like any other match.

Your opponent insists that a set tiebreak is 10 points instead of 7.

In those sorts of situations, am I correct that you could (read: could, not should) walk off the court and be awarded the match if you filed a grievance?

What about more minor infractions, like crossing the net over your opponent's objection to examine a mark on clay? Could you refuse to play and win by filing a grievance?

Do you also make sure their vibration dampener is located on the OUTSIDE of the stringbed?

Do you tell your opponent who uses a Head TiS7 that their racquet is illegal under the ITF guidelines?

Do you also tell opponents not to check their txt messages during changeovers perhaps worried about "illegal" coaching from afar?

corbind · Mar 21, 2014

floydcouncil said:
Do you tell your opponent who uses a Head TiS7 that their racquet is illegal under the ITF guidelines?

Stiffness at 77 it should be illegal if you're under eighty. But what really makes it illegal?

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/TIS7/TIS7Review.html

user92626 · Mar 21, 2014

I wonder what is the nature of these matches that you have? Sounds so serious and stressful.

I just started playing in a ladder. So far I have played 6 matches and everyone was more than fair and showing sportsmanship. We arrived on time, never questioned each other's calls AT ALL. A few times we even played shots that looked like out to me (I played along also cuz I didn't want to be thought as bad sport!). So far, not a single cussing directed to anyone. We don't know each other at all to be that disrespectful, no?

(I hope I don't jinx it by posting about it lol)

gmatheis · Mar 21, 2014

corbind said:
Stiffness at 77 it should be illegal if you're under eighty. But what really makes it illegal?

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/TIS7/TIS7Review.html

look at the bottom of that page you linked.

* Unfortunately, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) rules state that "the strung surface shall not exceed 15.5 inches". This means you won't be seeing this racquet at Wimbledon any time soon. Head is currently arguing its case with the ITF. Head claims that the string area below the bottom cross string (about 4 inches long) shouldn't be counted as hitting surface since there aren't any cross strings. We'll let you know what the ITF decides (Don't hold your breath, this could take a while). The USTA follows the ITF racquet guidelines but they actively enforce the rules only in tournaments with $10,000 or more in prize money. Smaller USTA tournaments and USTA Leagues usually act only if someone files a complaint. You should consider other racquets if you're heavily involved in USTA sanctioned events. There similar racquets listed below but their string beds are within the ITF guidelines.

Turbo-87 · Mar 21, 2014

I still find it hilarious how many grievances people have. This is one weird sport but I still love it. Drop the gloves and go all out hockey brawl in any situation. No need to over-think.

NumbersGuy · Mar 21, 2014

You’re giving Cindy too hard a time. Simply asking what the rules are does not constitute intention to enforce them (per her “could” not “should”).

Cindy I believe the answer to your questions are yes to some, no to others. The course of action depends on the infraction, in particular whether it’s a defaultable infraction or not.

For the types of unsportsmanlike conduct you mentioned, I believe you could walk off the court and have some chance of being awarded a default via grievance. It’s a high-risk decision however.

For the late opponent, you should NOT walk off the court. You should continue playing the match, noting the exact sequence of when games are won or lost so that the grievance committee can determine when you should have been awarded the first set and when you should have been awarded the second. Since for all the grievance committee knows, the opponent might win the first 12 games played, they can’t award you a default without playing the match.

Similarly for the wrong tiebreak, play it out, keep track of when each point was won, and play to 10. The grievance committee will then determine which format should have been used, and if you reached 7 ahead by 2 it will likely award you the match.

For crossing the net, I don’t believe that’s a defaultable infraction unless you have some local rule. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong – I keep hearing that it is, but have never found it in an official publication. For that and certain other infractions, you can file a grievance and it may result in some kind of sanctions being placed on the opponent for the future, but doubt it will have any impact on the match outcome unless you have a local rule about it.

sovertennis · Mar 21, 2014

^^^
This.
Cindy, set aside all the snarky trivial comments above, and consider the effect of abandoning a match and seeking redress via default. Playing the match to completion, despite perceived violations on the part of you opponents, is, I believe, by far the best course. Abandoning a match then putting together a case for default is likely to be time-consuming and ultimately fruitless.

Name calling is certainly annoying and troubling but, really, could advise your teammate to toughen up and play through it.

sam_p · Mar 21, 2014

NumbersGuy said:
You’re giving Cindy too hard a time. Simply asking what the rules are does not constitute intention to enforce them (per her “could” not “should”).

Cindy I believe the answer to your questions are yes to some, no to others. The course of action depends on the infraction, in particular whether it’s a defaultable infraction or not.

For the types of unsportsmanlike conduct you mentioned, I believe you could walk off the court and have some chance of being awarded a default via grievance. It’s a high-risk decision however.

For the late opponent, you should NOT walk off the court. You should continue playing the match, noting the exact sequence of when games are won or lost so that the grievance committee can determine when you should have been awarded the first set and when you should have been awarded the second. Since for all the grievance committee knows, the opponent might win the first 12 games played, they can’t award you a default without playing the match.

Similarly for the wrong tiebreak, play it out, keep track of when each point was won, and play to 10. The grievance committee will then determine which format should have been used, and if you reached 7 ahead by 2 it will likely award you the match.

For crossing the net, I don’t believe that’s a defaultable infraction unless you have some local rule. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong – I keep hearing that it is, but have never found it in an official publication. For that and certain other infractions, you can file a grievance and it may result in some kind of sanctions being placed on the opponent for the future, but doubt it will have any impact on the match outcome unless you have a local rule about it.

Actually USTA rules are that points played in good faith stand. If you agree to play starting at 0-0, then that is the score. If you agree to play a 10 point tb after a set, then the winner of that is the winner. You can't agree to disagree but still do one and expect to later argue for the other.

kevrol · Mar 21, 2014

My wife played in a match yesterday where there was a bunch of name calling by their opponents. Wife got called a cheater because the opponents didn't hear an out call, started celebrating winning the point and were again informed the ball was called out. She was told she and her partner had horrible sportsmanship. One of the ladies on the other team walked off the court crying after they lost. This is week 2 of ladies 2.5 league. Unbelievable.

cknobman · Mar 21, 2014

I file grievance the first time my opponent takes more than 25 seconds between points.

To help enforce the rule I bring a 1'x2' led clock to every match I play. Start the timer every time a point ends. If the clock reaches 25 seconds a loud air horn goes off and I call match.

floydcouncil · Mar 21, 2014

cknobman said:
I file grievance the first time my opponent takes more than 25 seconds between points.

To help enforce the rule I bring a 1'x2' led clock to every match I play. Start the timer every time a point ends. If the clock reaches 25 seconds a loud air horn goes off and I call match.

Ya gotta do, whatcha gotta do!

I may have to start filing grievances for opponents' towels hanging too high on the fence!!!!!!!!

tennis_ocd · Mar 21, 2014

kevrol said:
My wife played in a match yesterday where there was a bunch of name calling by their opponents. Wife got called a cheater because the opponents didn't hear an out call, started celebrating winning the point and were again informed the ball was called out. She was told she and her partner had horrible sportsmanship. One of the ladies on the other team walked off the court crying after they lost. This is week 2 of ladies 2.5 league. Unbelievable.

Wow. That may be worth watching next week. Reality tennis.

sureshs · Mar 21, 2014

How do you prove this stuff?

sovertennis · Mar 21, 2014

sureshs said:
How do you prove this stuff?

Exactly. That's why you must keep playing.

atatu · Mar 21, 2014

I don't know the answer, but I'm kinda curious what kind of name calling goes on in a 4.0 women's league ?

RetroSpin · Mar 21, 2014

tennis_ocd said:
Wow. That may be worth watching next week. Reality tennis.

That was my reaction.

Sheesh, 2.5 drama.

RetroSpin · Mar 21, 2014

atatu said:
I don't know the answer, but I'm kinda curious what kind of name calling goes on in a 4.0 women's league ?

Again, that was my initial question as well.

Some possibles:

"Next time get a real doctor to do your face lift."

"How many months pregnant are you?"

"I saw that outfit at Goodwill."

"Tell your husband I'm not going out with him, no matter how many times he calls."

"Can we speed this up? We have our real match later today."

"In this country the lines are in."

And my favorite, "Would you stop putting the balls up your dress? I have to touch them."

kevrol · Mar 21, 2014

tennis_ocd said:
Wow. That may be worth watching next week. Reality tennis.

RetroSpin said:
That was my reaction.

Sheesh, 2.5 drama.

I am thinking of going. It's right near the office and I may take an early lunch and go watch.

blakesq · Mar 21, 2014

That explains why some of my male teammates sniff the balls in mixed dubs.

RetroSpin said:
And my favorite, "Would you stop putting the balls up your dress? I have to touch them."

Steady Eddy · Mar 21, 2014

kevrol said:
My wife played in a match yesterday where there was a bunch of name calling by their opponents. Wife got called a cheater because the opponents didn't hear an out call, started celebrating winning the point and were again informed the ball was called out. She was told she and her partner had horrible sportsmanship. One of the ladies on the other team walked off the court crying after they lost. This is week 2 of ladies 2.5 league. Unbelievable.

I thought it didn't become deadly serious until you got to the 3.0 league.

user92626 · Mar 21, 2014

blakesq said:
That explains why some of my male teammates sniff the balls in mixed dubs.

Ewww..
Start to sound like you folks were at a bordello instead of a tennis court.

Cindysphinx · Mar 21, 2014

sam_p said:
Actually USTA rules are that points played in good faith stand. If you agree to play starting at 0-0, then that is the score. If you agree to play a 10 point tb after a set, then the winner of that is the winner. You can't agree to disagree but still do one and expect to later argue for the other.

Yeah, see. That is what I thought.

Obviously, the best defense is to know the rules and bring a copy with you.

I remember a match I had a few years back. I served the first game. We started to switch sides, and opponent declared that you do not switch sides after the first game. She was adamant that she was correct, and there was no convincing her. It really bugged me -- to be so very sure and be so very wrong about something so basic.

I wonder what a rules committee would do had we taken a stand and refused to play unless we complied with the changeover rule?

Steady Eddy · Mar 21, 2014

Cyndi, have you ever thought of doing this? Just let the opponent have their way, every time. Be the Ghandi of your league. Either they'll go crazy/nuts taking advantage of you...or this will shame them out of being so petty, argumentative, and overly competitive.

And if it's the former, then quit the league and find somewhere else to play tennis. I'm serious. :neutral:

catfish · Mar 22, 2014

Cindysphinx said:
Yeah, see. That is what I thought.

Obviously, the best defense is to know the rules and bring a copy with you.

I remember a match I had a few years back. I served the first game. We started to switch sides, and opponent declared that you do not switch sides after the first game. She was adamant that she was correct, and there was no convincing her. It really bugged me -- to be so very sure and be so very wrong about something so basic.

I wonder what a rules committee would do had we taken a stand and refused to play unless we complied with the changeover rule?

When a grievance is filed, the outcome depends entirely on the grievance committee members. Grievance committees are made up of people chosen by local coordinators and approved by Districts & Section administrators. Just like any group that has to make decisions (like a jury), they bring their own opinions and experiences into their decisions. Some of them are very busy and have little time to deal with grievances, while others are retired or don't have to work for a living so they have all the time in the world. Some will research rules and ask questions to gather more info, some won't. Some would feel it is OK to walk off the court and refuse to finish. Others may think you should never do that. There are no rules saying when you can and can't walk off the court and refuse to finish.

Like many other volunteer positions, many grievance committee members don't take grievances seriously and put little effort into fact finding. (I can't say that I blame them when grievances interfere with work and life.) They often say "It's one person's word against another and there's no proof of anything". If men are serving on the committee and women are involved in a grievance, many men brush it off as "women's stuff".

tennis tom · Mar 22, 2014

Steady Eddy said:
... then quit the league and find somewhere else to play tennis. I'm serious. :neutral:

Good advice! Playing at 3.5-4.0 you will run into these situations regularly, this level is the bell curve of tennis. Playing for five or six teams is a social networking--not major league tennis--you're playing with C's and B's. This is rec tennis, a glass of wine, some home made appetizers and a bag of chips afterwards. You are going to run into some ignorants regularly, who are rude, stupid of the rules and aren't going to be educated about them in their life-times. There are no officials present to enforce the fundamental rules of tennis. Few clubs have court monitors to mediate rule disputes anymore--costs to much to hire someone to keep the huge egos of the members in check. The club pro is busy tending to the housewives.

You can choose to forfeit them, not play the match, waste your time arguing with them, filing a grievance and getting all worked up, or grin and bear it. You would be better off practicing your serve solo or hitting against a wall and burn more calories. If you want to play "A" game tennis, get the Senior Age Group schedule and play in the 50's. You may lose every match but you won't run into these situations and the matches will be officiated with someone available to enforce the rules if needed, which will be seldom. Or, find a few tennis friends who know the rules and play with them regularly avoiding the whacks like the plague.

NumbersGuy · Mar 22, 2014

sam_p said:
Actually USTA rules are that points played in good faith stand. If you agree to play starting at 0-0, then that is the score. If you agree to play a 10 point tb after a set, then the winner of that is the winner. You can't agree to disagree but still do one and expect to later argue for the other.

Correct, which is why you don’t simply agree to start at 0-0 – if you do that, your grievance is invalidated. Assuming you want to be a big meanie and stick to your position, you inform your opponent that you’ll consent to start at 0-0 under protest, explain the grounds for your protest (which you’ve probably already done), and explain how and why you’ll be tracking the score. This can actually be done very amicably – you could take the posture that you’re not 100% sure of the rule. Then if you were to, say, win the first 9 games but your opponent regroups and wins the next 12, if the grievance committee upholds your position and awards you a 3-0 lead and thus the match, all points after the 9th game you played become, though played in good faith, points that occurred after the end of the match and thus of no matter.

All very complicated and nothing to do with why you’re out there in the first place (to play tennis, not to litigate), which is why it’s sometimes better to just flip a coin.

sureshs · Mar 22, 2014

blakesq said:
That explains why some of my male teammates sniff the balls in mixed dubs.

They know where the second ball was kept when the women were serving

Cindysphinx · Mar 23, 2014

NumbersGuy said:
Correct, which is why you don’t simply agree to start at 0-0 – if you do that, your grievance is invalidated. Assuming you want to be a big meanie and stick to your position, you inform your opponent that you’ll consent to start at 0-0 under protest, explain the grounds for your protest (which you’ve probably already done), and explain how and why you’ll be tracking the score. This can actually be done very amicably – you could take the posture that you’re not 100% sure of the rule. Then if you were to, say, win the first 9 games but your opponent regroups and wins the next 12, if the grievance committee upholds your position and awards you a 3-0 lead and thus the match, all points after the 9th game you played become, though played in good faith, points that occurred after the end of the match and thus of no matter.

All very complicated and nothing to do with why you’re out there in the first place (to play tennis, not to litigate), which is why it’s sometimes better to just flip a coin.

I see what you're saying, but I don't think this would work at all.

First, I would never agree to something like that. If I thought I was right, I would either stick to my guns or forget the whole thing. I wouldn't want to play a jacked-up match where no one knows the true score.

Second, it would work poorly in practice. Say the players can't agree on the three-game penalty, so they start at 0-0 instead of 3-0. They play the match, and the final score is 7-6, 0-6, 1-0.

Later, the grievance committee decides there should have been a three-game penalty. What then? If you add three games to the first set, you get 10-6. No, that won't work.

Say you wrote down everything, and it went like this (with the conditional score in parenthesis):

3-0 (0-0)
3-1 (0-1)
3-2 (0-2)
3-3 (0-3)
3-4 (0-4)
4-4 (1-4)
4-5 (1-5)
5-5 (2-5)
5-6 (2-6)

Now you have a problem. If the players start at 0-0 but hope the grievance committee will sort it out later, the players will start their second set with the conditional score, but they would not with the penalty score scenario.

No, I think all points played count. If you insist on penalty games and your opponent won't give them, you either have to cave or leave the court and let the grievance committee decide.

v-verb · Mar 23, 2014

Too much drama. Seriously.

In the end it's about fun and sportsmanship. if not, then quit.

I'm in agreement with Steady Eddy in post 24

NumbersGuy · Mar 24, 2014

Cindysphinx said:
No, I think all points played count. If you insist on penalty games and your opponent won't give them, you either have to cave or leave the court and let the grievance committee decide.

Of course it’s better to reach agreement, and if you think holding your ground will get you there, then you should do so. But if both players are too hardheaded for either to cave, the play-under-protest does give you a legitimate option and results in actual tennis being played. The fact that the first set ends at a different point under each scenario shouldn’t have come as a surprise, neither should the fact that the second set starts at a different point. It depends what you’re there for – to play tennis, or to win your line by any means possible. If the former, you now have a third option that will get you there, though as I previously stated it’s more complicated than most folks would ever want to deal with. If the latter, then certainly leave and roll the dice with the grievance committee. Don’t forget option 4, section 32 of The Code, which is to flip a coin or spin the racket. Unfortunately you’re in a place at this point where there is no great option.

Topaz · Mar 24, 2014

Cindysphinx said:
Second, it would work poorly in practice. Say the players can't agree on the three-game penalty, so they start at 0-0 instead of 3-0. They play the match, and the final score is 7-6, 0-6, 1-0.

Later, the grievance committee decides there should have been a three-game penalty. What then? If you add three games to the first set, you get 10-6. No, that won't work.

Cindy, that actually wouldn't happen. Again, points played in good faith stand. So the the committee will come back and say 'you played the points, the score stands'.

THAT is the the golden rule that you must remember if you are in any situation where you think you may file a grievance and you're debating whether or not to continue. I guarantee, if you try to file a grievance but you continued to play, the committee will take about 3 seconds to repeat that rule to you and the case will be closed.

stapletonj · Mar 26, 2014

the insults are hilarious!

Cindysphinx · Mar 26, 2014

Topaz said:
Cindy, that actually wouldn't happen. Again, points played in good faith stand. So the the committee will come back and say 'you played the points, the score stands'.

THAT is the the golden rule that you must remember if you are in any situation where you think you may file a grievance and you're debating whether or not to continue. I guarantee, if you try to file a grievance but you continued to play, the committee will take about 3 seconds to repeat that rule to you and the case will be closed.

Hey, where have you been, Topaz? It's nice to see you posting again.

Maybe I'll write to you off-line . . .

Bdarb · Mar 27, 2014

v-verb said:
Too much drama. Seriously.

In the end it's about fun and sportsmanship.

Reading 90% of the posts in AL&TT, one would have to conclude, this is not in fact the case. At least for some..

Why would someone subject themselves to this? I feel like every time I stop in here Cindy, there is some of the wall occurance that I have never heard of, much less encountered in tennis. At least none that couldn't be solved by acting like a grown up (something I believe you absolutely do) which makes me wonder why you surround yourself with these nutters

tenniscasey · Mar 27, 2014

Cindysphinx said:
I said that if your opponent commits some significant rule infraction that makes it impossible or untenable to continue the match, you can walk off, file a grievance and be awarded the match (assuming you can prove whatever it is).

Examples might be:

Your opponent is cussing you out, threatening you, etc.

Your opponent refuses to give you penalties to which you are entitled. For instance, your opponent arrives 14 minutes late, which under our rules would say she loses the toss and three games. She insisted the score begin at 0-0 like any other match.

Your opponent insists that a set tiebreak is 10 points instead of 7.

In those sorts of situations, am I correct that you could (read: could, not should) walk off the court and be awarded the match if you filed a grievance?

What about more minor infractions, like crossing the net over your opponent's objection to examine a mark on clay? Could you refuse to play and win by filing a grievance?

MNPlayer · Mar 27, 2014

tennis tom said:
Good advice! Playing at 3.5-4.0 you will run into these situations regularly, this level is the bell curve of tennis. Playing for five or six teams is a social networking--not major league tennis--you're playing with C's and B's. This is rec tennis, a glass of wine, some home made appetizers and a bag of chips afterwards. You are going to run into some ignorants regularly, who are rude, stupid of the rules and aren't going to be educated about them in their life-times. There are no officials present to enforce the fundamental rules of tennis. Few clubs have court monitors to mediate rule disputes anymore--costs to much to hire someone to keep the huge egos of the members in check. The club pro is busy tending to the housewives.

You can choose to forfeit them, not play the match, waste your time arguing with them, filing a grievance and getting all worked up, or grin and bear it. You would be better off practicing your serve solo or hitting against a wall and burn more calories. If you want to play "A" game tennis, get the Senior Age Group schedule and play in the 50's. You may lose every match but you won't run into these situations and the matches will be officiated with someone available to enforce the rules if needed, which will be seldom. Or, find a few tennis friends who know the rules and play with them regularly avoiding the whacks like the plague.

Around here, it's the pretty much the same guys playing NTRP league and age division tournaments, so the level of knowledge and sportsmanship is about the same (pretty good I think)

Don't think this is unique to MN - I met a guy at a tennis camp that was #1 in the 60s in Texas and plays a solid 4.0 game. Of course the good young guys are playing at least 4.5. Maybe you are talking national level tournaments, which are a little impractical if that is the only way you want to play given the amount of traveling neccessary...

TennisCJC · Mar 28, 2014

NumbersGuy said:
You’re giving Cindy too hard a time. Simply asking what the rules are does not constitute intention to enforce them (per her “could” not “should”).

Cindy I believe the answer to your questions are yes to some, no to others. The course of action depends on the infraction, in particular whether it’s a defaultable infraction or not.

For the types of unsportsmanlike conduct you mentioned, I believe you could walk off the court and have some chance of being awarded a default via grievance. It’s a high-risk decision however.

For the late opponent, you should NOT walk off the court. You should continue playing the match, noting the exact sequence of when games are won or lost so that the grievance committee can determine when you should have been awarded the first set and when you should have been awarded the second. Since for all the grievance committee knows, the opponent might win the first 12 games played, they can’t award you a default without playing the match.

Similarly for the wrong tiebreak, play it out, keep track of when each point was won, and play to 10. The grievance committee will then determine which format should have been used, and if you reached 7 ahead by 2 it will likely award you the match.

For crossing the net, I don’t believe that’s a defaultable infraction unless you have some local rule. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong – I keep hearing that it is, but have never found it in an official publication. For that and certain other infractions, you can file a grievance and it may result in some kind of sanctions being placed on the opponent for the future, but doubt it will have any impact on the match outcome unless you have a local rule about it.

As stated above, points played stand and I doubt you are going to get it changed. Also, you can be defaulted for crossing the net.

NumbersGuy · Mar 28, 2014

TennisCJC said:
Also, you can be defaulted for crossing the net.

I don't doubt you, I just can't find the rule anywhere.

tennis tom · Mar 28, 2014

TennisCJC said:
... Also, you can be defaulted for crossing the net.

Crossing over to your opponent's side is definitely a NO, NO! I've witnessed bloody fist-fights break out over this one. Hingis learned the hard way against Steffi, but Jimbo didn't care, and it was funny when he did it.

Topaz · Mar 28, 2014

Cindysphinx said:
Hey, where have you been, Topaz? It's nice to see you posting again.

Maybe I'll write to you off-line . . .

Nursing school...then job. Not much time for surfing the web, especially since I started in ICU.

It has been my experience though, with any grievance, if we continue to play, then nothing will get reversed. They love that rule.

You know where to find me!

Steady Eddy · Mar 28, 2014

Topaz said:
Nursing school...then job. Not much time for surfing the web, especially since I started in ICU.

It has been my experience though, with any grievance, if we continue to play, then nothing will get reversed. They love that rule.

You know where to find me!

I hope you still have time for tennis. So you left teaching?

CurrenFan · Apr 1, 2014

Steady Eddy said:
Cyndi, have you ever thought of doing this? Just let the opponent have their way, every time. Be the Ghandi of your league. Either they'll go crazy/nuts taking advantage of you...or this will shame them out of being so petty, argumentative, and overly competitive.

And if it's the former, then quit the league and find somewhere else to play tennis. I'm serious. :neutral:

Spineless Pacifist Award-winning post, if actually serious (or else odd post by someone who doesn't really understand tongue-in-cheek humor very well).

Having a copy of the rules on hand can politely educate/shut up ignorant opponents. When faced with the rule in black and white, what can they do, argue that you brought a forged and altered copy with you?

With the name-calling thing, how about the following response:

"Name-calling? Seriously? Did you stop maturing after kindergarten?"

These Grievances Are Made For Walkin'

G.O.A.T.

Professional

Professional

G.O.A.T.

Hall of Fame

G.O.A.T.

Rookie

Professional

Professional

Hall of Fame

Legend

Professional

Hall of Fame

Bionic Poster

Professional

Legend

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Legend

G.O.A.T.

G.O.A.T.

Legend

Professional

Legend

Rookie

Bionic Poster

G.O.A.T.

Hall of Fame

Rookie

Legend

Hall of Fame

G.O.A.T.

Hall of Fame

Semi-Pro

Semi-Pro

Legend

Rookie

Legend

Legend

Legend

Rookie

Similar threads