Radical Team Building

[OnTheLine]

It's her money.

You say she's desperate to win. And you are upset enough to write about it. Like, you are that upset about amateur tennis??? Let's not judge. People want different things in life.

Um, where in any of my posts did it indicate I was the least bit upset? (my posts #1, #3, #23 and #37)

I am simply curious as to what others thought as it is definitely out of the normal way teams are formed.

I figure it is unusual enough for what could be an interesting topic. That's it.

 

[roadto50]

Um, where in any of my posts did it indicate I was the least bit upset? (my posts #1, #3, #23 and #37)

I am simply curious as to what others thought as it is definitely out of the normal way teams are formed.

I figure it is unusual enough for what could be an interesting topic. That's it.

You care enough to write about it and people tend to write more about negative experiences than positive ones. And when you say someone is "desperate enough to...", it's not exactly in a positive light. Whether you meant it or not, when you say someone is desperate enough to do something, it's meant in a disparaging way. In fact, I feel like the only time I've heard that on TT is in context of sandbaggers. No one says "He was desperate enough to win that he practiced 3 hours a day for 365 days straight." But people will say "He was desperate enough to win he got 5 ringers from out of town"

 

[Creighton]

You care enough to write about it and people tend to write more about negative experiences than positive ones. And when you say someone is "desperate enough to...", it's not exactly in a positive light. Whether you meant it or not, when you say someone is desperate enough to do something, it's meant in a disparaging way. In fact, I feel like the only time I've heard that on TT is in context of sandbaggers. No one says "He was desperate enough to win that he practiced 3 hours a day for 365 days straight." But people will say "He was desperate enough to win he got 5 ringers from out of town"

Well one of those things is admirable and the other is just pathetic.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

You care enough to write about it and people tend to write more about negative experiences than positive ones. And when you say someone is "desperate enough to...", it's not exactly in a positive light. Whether you meant it or not, when you say someone is desperate enough to do something, it's meant in a disparaging way.

Even if everything you write is true, how does that lead you to conclude that @OnTheLine is upset?

"He was desperate to find his daughter."
"He was desperate to take a break from work."
"He was desperate to get out of debt."

Are any of these statements disparaging?

Maybe if the OP turned into a rant against these people you could use the descriptor "upset". But I don't see it.

In fact, I feel like the only time I've heard that on TT is in context of sandbaggers. No one says "He was desperate enough to win that he practiced 3 hours a day for 365 days straight." But people will say "He was desperate enough to win he got 5 ringers from out of town"

You could substitute "motivated" for "desperate" and it wouldn't change most people's opinion of the character of both: they value practice and hard work and do not value paying people [ie a pro receives money for playing] for a recreational event.

 

[sovertennis]

Holy cuss word this is amazing, I thought I saw the most extreme in Texas when a buddy of mine who is a very strong 4.5 sometimes 5.0 bump up and teaches on the weekends, a combo captain paid for his trip and boarding to Austin for state finals AND paid him the money he would have made teaching and his league fees.

As a teaching pro and mid-to-declining 4.5 player, this would be the pinnacle of my career. Sigh...

 

[sovertennis]

Only losers complain about this kind of sand bagging. Any true tennis player wants to play against the best from around the nation. This is a great way to do that right in your local area. Far from being penalized, this should be encouraged.

You've watched the PBS doc on Hemingway many times, haven't you?

 

[sureshs]

Um, where in any of my posts did it indicate I was the least bit upset?

hehehe good one. We all know why you started this thread.

Who knows maybe YOU are Captain Karen hehehe

 

[Vox Rationis]

And you are upset enough to write about it. Like, you are that upset about amateur tennis???

You say that as If the bar for that is high. It takes almost negligible “upsetness” to post about it on an Internet forum. Are you the captain herself?

 

[OnTheLine]

hehehe good one. We all know why you started this thread.

Who knows maybe YOU are Captain Karen hehehe

I assure you my bank account is not capable of this kind of team building. It can afford snacks provided for after-match revelry and that is it.

 

[OnTheLine]

You say that as If the bar for that is high. It takes almost negligible “upsetness” to post about it on an Internet forum. Are you the captain herself?

I am still trying to see where in any of my posts I came across as "upset" in the least.

Simply something I have never seen happen before and I find it most odd, therefore worth a minor discussion. The fact that no one else has seen it either (to this extent) underscores the oddness of it all.

 

[Vox Rationis]

I am still trying to see where in any of my posts I came across as "upset" in the least.

Simply something I have never seen happen before and I find it most odd, therefore worth a minor discussion. The fact that no one else has seen it either (to this extent) underscores the oddness of it all.

The worst I’ve seen is a captain get people from all over the state to join his team. For the most part it didn’t even work for him except for one year where he made it to southern sectionals and still got spanked.

And there’s a 40+ 4.5 team this year that was planning to fly in a guy from Canada. The logistics didn’t work out for him to play but that was the most extreme individual recruiting I’ve ever seen someone try to do.

 

[Chalkdust]

I am simply curious as to what others thought as it is definitely out of the normal way teams are formed.

I figure it is unusual enough for what could be an interesting topic. That's it.

I don't think it's that unusual. There are basically two kinds of teams:

1. Teams made out of players that are all part of the same group. Meaning that even outside of USTA seasons, team members see each other on a weekly or more frequent basis. Could be they are all members of the same club, or all play regularly out of the same facility, or are regular practice partners with each other, etc.

2. Teams that include mercenaries. Mercenaries are strong-for-level players who don't have much contact with most of the other players on the team outside of USTA.
Teams with mercenaries are common enough to be considered normal. Probably most teams who advance deep into playoffs include mercenaries.

Paying to fly the mercenaries in from out of town is probably more than most captains are prepared to do, but at this point we have established what these players are, and are now merely haggling over the price...

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

I am still trying to see where in any of my posts I came across as "upset" in the least.

Simply something I have never seen happen before and I find it most odd, therefore worth a minor discussion. The fact that no one else has seen it either (to this extent) underscores the oddness of it all.

I agree, I am also not upset, it's just one of the most unusual adult behaviors I've seen and it is especially curious for those of us who played tennis in college which tends to lead to thinking USTA is really just for fun and nationals is cute if done with these tactics.
The same treatment could be reversed and one could say if you say someone is upset, that must mean you are someone who has participated in these kinds of silly massaging of ratings and team and thinks people are "upset" about it. Upset is the wrong word, curious and puzzled is more apt.

 

[FedLIKEnot]

Yup.
I should add she is doing this for both an 8.0 and a 9.0 team... so figure about 12-16 players being flown in between the 2 teams.

Did I miss where someone said what she or her possible spouse do for a living? That is a very, very unique way to spends one disposable income.

I agree with post #9. Local here goes from south of San Jose, Ca up to Napa, Ca or Santa Rosa and as far East as Stockton, Ca. Most players are on teams within a 10-20 mi radius just because of traffic issues. You should check with the League Coordinator to see what is considered local or if there is no restriction.

I live in NorCal, in one year I played on a team in the Bay Area, live in the Vacaville area and played on a team there, and later played on a team in Napa, and ended it with playing on a team in Sacramento. It was before I got bumped and I was in high demand, but it made for a very annoyed wife. Haha.

 

[OnTheLine]

Did I miss where someone said what she or her possible spouse do for a living? That is a very, very unique way to spends one disposable income.



I live in NorCal, in one year I played on a team in the Bay Area, live in the Vacaville area and played on a team there, and later played on a team in Napa, and ended it with playing on a team in Sacramento. It was before I got bumped and I was in high demand, but it made for a very annoyed wife. Haha.

She is unmarried, over 40, no kids and other than that, no idea. Probably cheaper than putting kids through college though!

If you were to try and play in multiple districts and live here, you would be spending all your time in the car. The nearest other districts/sections are more than 250 miles in any direction.

 

[sureshs]

She is unmarried, over 40, no kids

OK now I see why she can easily have strange men from all over the country staying at her place.

I have changed my opinion of her.

Can you send me her contact details? I need to discuss some USTA league details with her.

 

[nyta2]

Just curious what others think about this:

Our 40+ Mixed league is played as a weekend team tournament. Friday - Sunday 3 matches each day for each team. Winners of each level advance to sectionals.

One of the captains is a little overboard. Captains both 8.0 and 9.0 teams.

She is recruiting players not just from out of the district, but out of the state and region.

She is flying in players from Florida, California, Georgia and Texas. (and paying for the flights!) Putting the players up in her house or hotels.

Her team will be about 10 players ... only 2 of whom are actually locals.

Aside from the fact that she is clearly desperate to win the districts and get to sectionals (where she will again fly these players in!), I am kind of surprised that I cannot find a rule against this.

Thoughts?

that's amazing... i'd love to get to a point in my life that my retirement hobby is being able to do exactly this. would even love to be able to fully sponsor a ttw meetup (or tourney!) somewhere with folks ive enjoyed exchanging ideas with over the years....
kudos to her, and her "do whatever it takes" to meet her goals...