A friend of mine is doing something slimey, ratings-wise

[norcal]

He went two seasons undefeated on a 4.0 (#1 singles) team and was bumped up to the 4.5 team. He played a couple matches and lost - mostly because of his attitude (OMG he's a 4.5, he's better than me). In reality a 4.0 #1 can easily play on the latter part of a 4.5 team and be successful.

Anyway he had such a defeatest attitude the captain quit playing him. His ranking was still too high to play on the 4.0 team so he told me he's gonna report false losses to a friend of his ranked 3.6. He just found out you can report non league matches.

Why wouldn't he just tell me, "Wow John's improved a lot, he beat me last week"? I think his ego can't handle a defeat to a 3.6, even if it's make believe. So he's gonna lie to get his ranking lower.

How is that for douchebaggery?

 

[JRstriker12]

He went two seasons undefeated on a 4.0 (#1 singles) team and was bumped up to the 4.5 team. He played a couple matches and lost - mostly because of his attitude (OMG he's a 4.5, he's better than me). In reality a 4.0 #1 can easily play on the latter part of a 4.5 team and be successful.

Anyway he had such a defeatest attitude the captain quit playing him. His ranking was still too high to play on the 4.0 team so he told me he's gonna report false losses to a friend of his ranked 3.6. He just found out you can report non league matches.

Why wouldn't he just tell me, "Wow John's improved a lot, he beat me last week"? I think his ego can't handle a defeat to a 3.6, even if it's make believe. So he's gonna lie to get his ranking lower.

How is that for douchebaggery?

So would you report your friend or ignore his douchebaggery? Also, does he care that his false reporting involving a buddy of his could get his buddy in hot water too? Doesn't sound like much of a friend to me.

Also, where does it say you can report non-league matches? Can't see USTA letting those count towards your ranking as it would be way to easy to game.

 

[norcal]

I assume reporting non-league matches is allowed by the USTA since this is the SATA, an affiliate of USTA.

Not sure if I will report him, I'm tempted. He's not really sandbagging even though he didn't lose for quite a streak, all of his matches were close with most going three sets at #1 4.0.

I just find it mind boggling why he wouldn't just tank a match or not say anything to me. But telling me, "yeah I beat john again but I'm gonna report it as a loss to lower my rank", is rather bizarre. I told him in no uncertain terms he shouldn't do it.

 

[nocab]

Whats a 3.6, do you mean 3.5. I doubt you can report unsanctioned play to the USTA and have it affect your ranking, but if he could do this, I think it would be funny if his friend got bumped up to 4.5 and he didn't move down.

 

[10sguy]

Sata?

Would that be the Sacramento Area Tennis Ass'n (and it's singles ladder)? If so, they're likely using a ladder management rating system. It does a decent job of rating players . . . but, no, those scores DO NOT find their way into the USTA system. He's still doing something slimey though (is his name Neil?).

 

[LuckyR]

As others have observed in other threads: women who are bumped up treat it as a validation that they are getting better and wear their higher rating as a proud accomplishment. Men get bummed out that they are less likely to win a meaningless, $3 plastic trophy and devise ways of jobbing the system so they can compete against worthless opposition.

Sounds like a great study for a Psych Grad student.

 

[raiden031]

Some player I recently met got bumped from 3.5 to 4.0 and appealed down. Now he's playing both 3.5 and 4.0 leagues and is dominating at 3.5. He actually stated that he threw a couple games to keep from getting DQ'd at 3.5. I just don't get the point of appealing down if he is going to play 4.0 anyways.

 

[johnny ballgame]

I will NEVER understand the mindset it takes to want to dominate at a certain level rather than compete well at a higher level.

 

[Richard Pur]

Was your buddy a member of the 4.0 NORCAL team that cheated at Nationals in 2006?

I still can't get over what people get out of playing and winning against lesser opponents. Reminds me of Kramer on Seinfeld when he was in that karate class with kids.

 

[FH2FH]

Unfortunately there's no easy fix for insecurity.

 

[SlapShot]

I will NEVER understand the mindset it takes to want to dominate at a certain level rather than compete well at a higher level.

That's been my feeling, as well. The team that won our 3.5 flight had 4 guys get bumped to 4.0, and 3 of them appealed back down to 3.5 Either way, we're never going to be pros, but I know that I feel better playing a higher NTRP personally.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Yep, many women do treat a bump as a badge of honour. This seems mentally healthy; it is objective proof that you have improved.

But the women who feel that way are often a bit crazy in their own adorable way. It is hard to find a more sullen, bitter creature than a woman who was not bumped up when all of her friends were. Oh, they feel cheated and don't mind telling you so!

One of my 3.0 players was so cheesed off by her failure to move to 3.5 that she flatly declared she would no longer play against 3.0 women (with their wimpy push balls) anymore. She left our ladies 3.0 and 6.5 combo teams, choosing to play 7.0 mixed.

Where she partners with 4.0 guys!!!

You know, on second thought, it might be possible to find a more sullen, bitter player. It would be the woman who was bumped *down.* Some women will do pretty much *anything* to avoid a bump down. A total slap in the face, that is. This is why some women are very picky about who their partner will be -- they wouldn't want anything that moves their rating in a downward direction.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

Was your buddy a member of the 4.0 NORCAL team that cheated at Nationals in 2006?

I still can't get over what people get out of playing and winning against lesser opponents. Reminds me of Kramer on Seinfeld when he was in that karate class with kids.

They want to dominate the dojo!