megamind
Legend
Welcome to the Megamind Interview Series, where we get to know one another.
Our fourth guest of the show, is the the MOST LEGENDARY INTERNET FAMOUS tennis troll there is, @GSG
(AKA. Green Shirt Guy / Most Exhausting Player)
Green Shirt Guy is famous for his unorthodox technique and playing style, and just shows how far you can go with such a style, and that there are many ways to win in tennis.
In some sense, Green Shirt Guy is the antithesis of all you keyboard warriors here on TalkTennis. Those of you who love to provide harsh critique (to put it nicely) to brave members of the community who dare to post recordings of themselves playing tennis, only to hear things like "you'll never make it past 3.5", "is this 3.0 tennis?", etc. Well, here we have an amazing 4.5 player!
Talk Tennis threads about Green Shirt Guy:
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/ets-ian-vs-green-shirt-hacker.680088/ (yes, he's playing Ian from Essential Tennis soonnnn)
Green Shirt Guy's matches on the Tennis Troll youtube channel:
(over 200k views!)
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Tell us about your tennis story. When did you start playing tennis?
I started tennis (as in playing in leagues etc) in 2010, just after turning 33. Up until then I had played some just for fun with friends, but nothing serious. Before getting involved with leagues, you could say I had experience with tennis the way someone who has played miniature golf has experience with golf.
You now play at the 4.5 level, right? What level did you first play tournaments/leagues at? And how long did you practice before entering your first tournament (i.e. time from going not having played tennis to entering a tournament)
I'm currently playing USTA 4.5 and have been playing at that level since the beginning of 2015 (I got bumped to 4.5 at the end of 2014). I started out as a 3.0 in 2011, then 3.5 in 2012, and 4.0 in 2013-14. I've only actually played in three tournaments, but I did win two of them. The first was one called Serving For Heroes, out of Northern Virginia. I entered and won the 4.0 draw in July 2014. I then played and won a small 4.0 tourney also in Virginia a couple months after that. I played in Serving For Heroes again in 2015 and lost in the finals of the 4.5 draw.
Have you played any sports before tennis?
I dabble in various other sports, but the only one I really stuck with was basketball. I didn't hit my athletic stride until after high school, so I didn't play in HS or college, but I got to be pretty good, especially as a shooter. I was able to hang with much more accomplished players by going 100% on every single play, and let's just say it was unwise to leave me with an open shot. I more or less quit playing in early 2010 for a couple reasons: At 32 I was pretty sure I'd already become the best basketball player I was ever going to be and I wanted to stop playing on my terms. I felt like I had nothing left to prove and I wanted to try another sport while I was still young enough to potentially become good at it. I think I had pretty much made up my mind at the point when as fate would have it, I got run into from behind while going for a loose ball and tore the LCL in my right knee. I took that as a definitive sign that my basketball days were done and it was time to move on to something else.
You move quite well on court. Do you have a general fitness routine of sorts? What's it like?
In terms of a fitness routine, I don't do anything particularly special these days, but things I've done in the past have made it possible to keep in shape with moderate effort. For years off and on I lifted pretty heavily, especially legs. Although I haven't done much serious lifting in the past ~5 years, I think I've managed to retain a fair amount of strength, which definitely helps me be able to sustain my playing style for long periods of time. There are a couple things diet-wise. Except for in the occasional mixed drink, I cut out soft drinks entirely in 2002. Then around 2011 I cut back dramatically on the amount of processed sugar I was (still) consuming. I'm not anywhere close to zero, but I do consistently opt for the low/no sugar version of whatever I eat or drink.
Who's your fave tennis player on tour right now?
Ironically, I followed pro tennis a lot more when I wasn't playing. That coincided with a period where American men were doing better in the sport, so I found it more interesting to follow then. That said, I'd have to go with Federer, although Hsieh Su-wei has caught my eye recently as my game has drawn comparisons to hers.
What's it like being internet famous?
I don't know if I can answer that, because I'm not sure if I truly qualify. For arguments sake, let's say it's been quite an experience that has inspired some unexpected reactions. For example, my father, who has probably seen me play in person one time, has become really engaged in both the story and the comments of my YouTube matches. It was kind of shocking to see him that excited, in a good way of course. Personally, I'll become convinced that I have some measure of true Internet fame if someone whom I don't know recognizes me in a non-tennis setting as either "MEP," "Green Shirt Guy" or the guy from TennisTroll / Essential Tennis /Tennis Evolution.
If you had a message you'd like to share with adults who want to try tennis, but are afraid of starting, what would you say?
Especially these days, when we have to be so conscious of how we interact with other people, I can't recommend tennis enough. It's safe, enjoyable, easy to find, and a sport that can last a lifetime. Don't be afraid to give it a try. It can be fun whether you win or lose, and it will challenge you mentally and physically. It's also a sport that lends itself well to multi generational and multi cultural participation. There are successful tennis players of all shapes, sizes, ages, and backgrounds. Don't fear playing tennis- fear what happens if you don't!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Previous Interviews:
#1 :: @MichaelNadal -> https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...elnadal-the-megamind-interview-series.674123/
#2 :: @Turbo-87 -> https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/2-turbo-87-the-megamind-interview-series.674840/
#3 :: @Mainad -> https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/3-mainad-the-megamind-interview-series.675772/
Our fourth guest of the show, is the the MOST LEGENDARY INTERNET FAMOUS tennis troll there is, @GSG
(AKA. Green Shirt Guy / Most Exhausting Player)
Green Shirt Guy is famous for his unorthodox technique and playing style, and just shows how far you can go with such a style, and that there are many ways to win in tennis.
In some sense, Green Shirt Guy is the antithesis of all you keyboard warriors here on TalkTennis. Those of you who love to provide harsh critique (to put it nicely) to brave members of the community who dare to post recordings of themselves playing tennis, only to hear things like "you'll never make it past 3.5", "is this 3.0 tennis?", etc. Well, here we have an amazing 4.5 player!
Talk Tennis threads about Green Shirt Guy:
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/ets-ian-vs-green-shirt-hacker.680088/ (yes, he's playing Ian from Essential Tennis soonnnn)
Green Shirt Guy's matches on the Tennis Troll youtube channel:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tell us about your tennis story. When did you start playing tennis?
I started tennis (as in playing in leagues etc) in 2010, just after turning 33. Up until then I had played some just for fun with friends, but nothing serious. Before getting involved with leagues, you could say I had experience with tennis the way someone who has played miniature golf has experience with golf.
You now play at the 4.5 level, right? What level did you first play tournaments/leagues at? And how long did you practice before entering your first tournament (i.e. time from going not having played tennis to entering a tournament)
I'm currently playing USTA 4.5 and have been playing at that level since the beginning of 2015 (I got bumped to 4.5 at the end of 2014). I started out as a 3.0 in 2011, then 3.5 in 2012, and 4.0 in 2013-14. I've only actually played in three tournaments, but I did win two of them. The first was one called Serving For Heroes, out of Northern Virginia. I entered and won the 4.0 draw in July 2014. I then played and won a small 4.0 tourney also in Virginia a couple months after that. I played in Serving For Heroes again in 2015 and lost in the finals of the 4.5 draw.
Have you played any sports before tennis?
I dabble in various other sports, but the only one I really stuck with was basketball. I didn't hit my athletic stride until after high school, so I didn't play in HS or college, but I got to be pretty good, especially as a shooter. I was able to hang with much more accomplished players by going 100% on every single play, and let's just say it was unwise to leave me with an open shot. I more or less quit playing in early 2010 for a couple reasons: At 32 I was pretty sure I'd already become the best basketball player I was ever going to be and I wanted to stop playing on my terms. I felt like I had nothing left to prove and I wanted to try another sport while I was still young enough to potentially become good at it. I think I had pretty much made up my mind at the point when as fate would have it, I got run into from behind while going for a loose ball and tore the LCL in my right knee. I took that as a definitive sign that my basketball days were done and it was time to move on to something else.
You move quite well on court. Do you have a general fitness routine of sorts? What's it like?
In terms of a fitness routine, I don't do anything particularly special these days, but things I've done in the past have made it possible to keep in shape with moderate effort. For years off and on I lifted pretty heavily, especially legs. Although I haven't done much serious lifting in the past ~5 years, I think I've managed to retain a fair amount of strength, which definitely helps me be able to sustain my playing style for long periods of time. There are a couple things diet-wise. Except for in the occasional mixed drink, I cut out soft drinks entirely in 2002. Then around 2011 I cut back dramatically on the amount of processed sugar I was (still) consuming. I'm not anywhere close to zero, but I do consistently opt for the low/no sugar version of whatever I eat or drink.
Who's your fave tennis player on tour right now?
Ironically, I followed pro tennis a lot more when I wasn't playing. That coincided with a period where American men were doing better in the sport, so I found it more interesting to follow then. That said, I'd have to go with Federer, although Hsieh Su-wei has caught my eye recently as my game has drawn comparisons to hers.
What's it like being internet famous?
I don't know if I can answer that, because I'm not sure if I truly qualify. For arguments sake, let's say it's been quite an experience that has inspired some unexpected reactions. For example, my father, who has probably seen me play in person one time, has become really engaged in both the story and the comments of my YouTube matches. It was kind of shocking to see him that excited, in a good way of course. Personally, I'll become convinced that I have some measure of true Internet fame if someone whom I don't know recognizes me in a non-tennis setting as either "MEP," "Green Shirt Guy" or the guy from TennisTroll / Essential Tennis /Tennis Evolution.
If you had a message you'd like to share with adults who want to try tennis, but are afraid of starting, what would you say?
Especially these days, when we have to be so conscious of how we interact with other people, I can't recommend tennis enough. It's safe, enjoyable, easy to find, and a sport that can last a lifetime. Don't be afraid to give it a try. It can be fun whether you win or lose, and it will challenge you mentally and physically. It's also a sport that lends itself well to multi generational and multi cultural participation. There are successful tennis players of all shapes, sizes, ages, and backgrounds. Don't fear playing tennis- fear what happens if you don't!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Previous Interviews:
#1 :: @MichaelNadal -> https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...elnadal-the-megamind-interview-series.674123/
#2 :: @Turbo-87 -> https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/2-turbo-87-the-megamind-interview-series.674840/
#3 :: @Mainad -> https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/3-mainad-the-megamind-interview-series.675772/
