FIRETennis
Professional
Sean lost, got bageled in the third set. What a turn of events, great play by MEP.
What!? They didn't stop at 5-0 for a suspenseful TBC in part 4 !?
Sean lost, got bageled in the third set. What a turn of events, great play by MEP.
What!? They didn't stop at 5-0 for a suspenseful TBC in part 4 !?
This mellow Topher announcer seems to have the right mental attitude and he is the next MEP opponent. We do not expect to see him whining and screaming like Sean.
Cam Williams is the man im watching him right now for the WTA final in Madrid he's great!The other analogy is Cam Williams over at Tennis Talk: he comments on match that he watches live on tennistv. I love his enthusiasm; he's got more sayings than Robby Krieger [he of the "reaction time of a mongoose on amphetamines" fame]. But he can't show it for copyright reasons [if he tried, the bots would shut him down in minutes]. But there are always doofi [plural of doofus] who complain bitterly "just show the match and stop talking".
Dude, if you want to watch the match, pay the $ to tennistv and stop complaining.
Cam Williams is the man im watching him right now for the WTA final in Madrid he's great!
MEP is a legend but anyone playing competitive tennis should have the fitness level to last at least 45-60 minutes in a match with an opponent of a similar level before becoming exhausted
Personally I enjoy the "double bang bang!!!!!" it's great. I actually watch the match on TV on mute and then have cam as the commentator for me it makes it so goodI'm not sure how I stumbled on his channel but now I'm hooked. He's so passionate, jumping out of his chair, pumping his fist, screaming "bang bang!", etc.
I remember "watching" the Djokovic v Federer final from 2019 being described by O'Shannessey and whoever his broadcast partner was and it was still gripping even though I couldn't see it.
Cam makes you feel like you're courtside.
Personally I enjoy the "double bang bang!!!!!" it's great. I actually watch the match on TV on mute and then have cam as the commentator for me it makes it so good
He's after staying up until 04:30am his time just to commentate on that final and said he has work later.....the guy is committed!"The lob goes up...X hits an OH...it's a winner! Bang! Get that outta my face!"
"That's what champions do!"
"Shotmakers make shots."
"I like this format because I can say whatever the f#!$ I want."
As they say, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. And usta ratings.At the time of that post Sean was leading, but he ran out of gas and blew it at the end of the 2nd set, but was very close to winning in two. He was close to pulling it out and he is a 4.0 level player.
As they say, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. And usta ratings.
He's after staying up until 04:30am his time just to commentate on that final and said he has work later.....the guy is committed!
Get that outta my face is classic...going to say that to an opponent some day!
Sean and TLM are in the wrong here with their comments regarding indoor vs outdoor court surfaces. Coming from a former D3 #1 singles and NTRP 5.0, I'd say it makes a pretty big difference.
My formative tennis years were played indoors on fast surface.How do you think you'd fare v MEP indoors [do you play indoors?]? Seems that your net game would do well.
My formative tennis years were played indoors on fast surface.
I might even upload the match highlights to YouTubeYou're gonna be a very popular guy...maybe even famous!
Only one way to find out!But I'm assuming you're not forming anymore.
So you think you'd do better than outdoors?
Agreed, but here is MEP playing a very even match with a 4.5
This puts his level at 4.5
Well said.I just want to point out that Orange Shirt Guy in this video is @TennisTroll, who played college tennis at a mid-major and has had a 5.0 rating for several years. My understanding from past posts is that he's tried unsuccessfully to appeal down to 4.5 before, but keeps getting denied. I think he wins around 50% of his USTA League matches in 5.0, but he can probably speak for himself if he chooses to.
That video is the one that started the MEP (@GSG) phenomenon. It showed that a 4.5 guy with unconventional strokes, but good athlecticism, mental toughness, and consistency can hang with an average 5.0 with a traditional game. Basically, it proved that it's not how pretty your strokes are if you can keep the ball coming back in the court over and over.
Internet keyboard warriors took tons of potshots at Ben's game, saying he's not a 4.5. But the bottom line is that he's had repeated winning seasons at 4.5 in at least two Sections (Georgia and I believe Virginia) and has won 4.5 tournaments. His rating is earned.
Are there 4.5 rated players, or even 4.0 players that could beat him? Of course! I think he would totally admit that. There are even matches on the Tennis Troll channel where he loses. And in this thread, Ben talked about how he lost a couple singles matches at the recent state tournament to high 4.5 level players. That isn't the point. The point is that you can win ugly at 4.5 and Ben's done it repeatedly. Criticisms be damned, it's a valid playstyle that a lot of people can't handle.
Ian got into the MEP game by doing an analysis of the Tennis Troll video and basically saying the same thing what I just wrote. I think it's cool that he was willing to back his talk up by playing Ben, and that Ben was willing to travel up to Milwaukie to play numerous ET guys. He's a competitor and willing to put himself out there, which I respect.
I just want to point out that Orange Shirt Guy in this video is @TennisTroll, who played college tennis at a mid-major and has had a 5.0 rating for several years. My understanding from past posts is that he's tried unsuccessfully to appeal down to 4.5 before, but keeps getting denied. I think he wins around 50% of his USTA League matches in 5.0, but he can probably speak for himself if he chooses to.
BoA successfully appealed down from 5.0 at the end of 2019, then ratings didn't change at the end of 2020. If he's not bumped to 5.0 again soon I'd be surprised based on his 2020 results.Does everyone who beats MEP get bumped up to 5.0? Is Boss of Atlanta now 5.0? Maybe if tennis troll had released that video 7 months ago - we would be seeing that guy play Ian.. Since Boss of Atlanta beat him 6-1, 6-1 is he like a 5.5 now? Just asking..
While Ben is undoubtedly mentally tough[1] and a good strategic player (and I'm not even sure why people are arguing about his rating - it's a 4.5C i.e confirmed/computer rating not a self-rate), I have to wonder if the mental toughness of a pusher/bunter is in any way remarkable. To me, mental toughness is about not letting the match situation affect your strokes, i.e, swinging without getting tight. But pushers are already muscling the ball more as opposed to swinging, so getting tight in the body in tense match situations doesn't affect them as much as people with full swings.Internet keyboard warriors took tons of potshots at Ben's game, saying he's not a 4.5. But the bottom line is that he's had repeated winning seasons at 4.5 in at least two Sections (Georgia and I believe Virginia) and has won 4.5 tournaments. His rating is earned.
I wouldn't come down too hard on Sean: I do the same thing in my matches occasionally but I'm not being filmed or mic'd up. It's rare to play someone who never does that.
4.5 in our clubs would destroy me. Again, I wish I knew who you were. I’ve played them for fun. They eat my serve for lunch. They dictate every point. I’m not taking anything away from Ben, I just think this court talk excuse is bs. A 4.5 is a 4.5 and would have no problem destroying me on any surface, anywhere, anytime
The other analogy is Cam Williams over at Tennis Talk: I love his enthusiasm; he's got more sayings than Robby Krieger [he of the "reaction time of a mongoose on amphetamines" fame]. But he can't show it for copyright reasons [if he tried, the bots would shut him down in minutes]. But there are always doofi [plural of doofus] who complain bitterly "just show the match and stop talking".
Dude, if you want to watch the match, pay the $ to tennistv and stop complaining.
Okay Sean can be mad at himself and scream all he wants about being out of breath snd "exhausted". We will cut him slack
But Sean went over the line by calling the MEP transition to indoors a "bullsh!t excuse". Obviously it is a huge factor as MEP said himself.
Also, Sean is not able to wrap his head around the fact that a non USTA 4.5 league could be on a higher level than a USTA 4.5 league.
But Sean is babbling on about how his private league 4.5 would destroy MEP and insinuating that MEP is not a USTA 4.5.
MEP is a strong USTA 4.5 as his 14-1 record attests. There is no dispute on this.
Sort of, but it's the same 6-9 people commenting, I can't even keep up, well, definitely hit a nerve with a certain group, it's fascinating the back and forth.Over 30 pages on this thread. ET communication strategy on point.
Do you know how the NTRP system works?Does everyone who beats MEP get bumped up to 5.0? Is Boss of Atlanta now 5.0? Maybe if tennis troll had released that video 7 months ago - we would be seeing that guy play Ian.. Since Boss of Atlanta beat him 6-1, 6-1 is he like a 5.5 now? Just asking..
Tennis record dot comSorry guys slightly off topic here (I'm not based in USA) but I often go there on business and play tennis anyway is it possible to search by name on some site to check a players NTRP?
Sorry guys slightly off topic here (I'm not based in USA) but I often go there on business and play tennis anyway is it possible to search by name on some site to check a players NTRP?
Steve Kerr coach of the Warriors once said that the reason great players were not good coaches is that great players skipped steps. Jordon, Bird, etc went 1,4,6,9,10 so they are unable to explain steps 2,3,5,7,8 because they bypassed them. The same probably goes for some good great tennis players.It's a long time back and I don't remember the video titles but Top Tennis said something about how their experience in playing tennis at or close to the highest level (Simon played futures and Alex in the ATP) put them in a better position to teach students and Ian took offense to that.
Again, that doesn't really work when comparing Ian with Top Tennis guys because by pro standards, neither Alex nor Simon are amazing players. If we're going to say Alex or Simon are too talented to teach tennis, that's some other logic universe that I do not understand.Steve Kerr coach of the Warriors once said that the reason great players were not good coaches is that great players skipped steps. Jordon, Bird, etc went 1,4,6,9,10 so they are unable to explain steps 2,3,5,7,8 because they bypassed them. The same probably goes for some good great tennis players.
Do you know how the NTRP system works?
Steve Kerr coach of the Warriors once said that the reason great players were not good coaches is that great players skipped steps. Jordon, Bird, etc went 1,4,6,9,10 so they are unable to explain steps 2,3,5,7,8 because they bypassed them. The same probably goes for some good great tennis players.
While Ben is undoubtedly mentally tough[1] and a good strategic player (and I'm not even sure why people are arguing about his rating - it's a 4.5C i.e confirmed/computer rating not a self-rate), I have to wonder if the mental toughness of a pusher/bunter is in any way remarkable. To me, mental toughness is about not letting the match situation affect your strokes, i.e, swinging without getting tight. But pushers are already muscling the ball more as opposed to swinging, so getting tight in the body in tense match situations doesn't affect them as much as people with full swings.
[1] basing this on something he said about army/marine training where mission is more important than feelings
Okay Sean can be mad at himself and scream all he wants about being out of breath snd "exhausted". We will cut him slack
But Sean went over the line by calling the MEP transition to indoors a "bullsh!t excuse". Obviously it is a huge factor as MEP said himself.
Also, Sean is not able to wrap his head around the fact that a non USTA 4.5 league could be on a higher level than a USTA 4.5 league.
But Sean is babbling on about how his private league 4.5 would destroy MEP and insinuating that MEP is not a USTA 4.5.
MEP is a strong USTA 4.5 as his 14-1 record attests. There is no dispute on this.
It’s called regression to the mean.This was very entertaining. I loved how at the end of the 2nd video people were saying MEP isn't a 4.5, then he proceeds to bagel Sean in the 3rd
It’s called regression to the mean.
Although I doubt the whiners make up a significant part of the viewership.
IMO, it wasn't the physical part of the match that caused him to hyperventilate; it was nerves and tension.
Because many owners are ok to vacuum but too cheap to resurface.Why are indoor courts faster than outdoor courts? Are they made from different materials ?
BoA successfully appealed down from 5.0 at the end of 2019, then ratings didn't change at the end of 2020. If he's not bumped to 5.0 again soon I'd be surprised based on his 2020 results.
As MEP said, it is 10%.
The Youtube comments are overwhelmingly positive, and most everyone is loving this series.
Correct. Sean lost his breath on the first point, and did not regain it until the 3rd set. It was not fatigue.
I have experienced that at the start of a tournament, but it goes away within a few points. It was fascinating that it lasted as long as it did.
I like Sean, and he's invested a lot into his game, but I kind of felt bad for him out there.
I don't think it affected his strokes except he started pushing his serves in the 3rd set.
I wonder if he is one of those chronic headcases who is always yelling at himself or if it was an isolated event due to the very public nature of this match.
Knowing 20k people are going to be dissecting your match can probably mess with your head. More people watched this match than a typical ATP Grand Slam match.
He commented during the match not to give away points with DFs. His logic was that MEP's returns couldn't hurt him and that sounded correct to me. So he chose to hit them more conservatively.
He started DF'ing more once he reduced racket speed. 2nd serve needs spin to stay in.