"Mega Monday" Just Doesn't Sound as Cool

Well, it's official. This week the USTA officially moved the 2013 US Open men's final to Monday from Sunday. Rain has forced this to happen in each of the 5 previous years, but this is the first time the USTA has announced it officially so far in advance of the tournament. The biggest impact this change has is the death of what tennis fans know as "Super Saturday." Super Saturday is the only time in any of the 4 grand slams in which the men's semifinals and women's final are played the same day, with the men's final the following day on Sunday. This will no longer be the case next year. The men will get a break on Sunday and play the final on Monday. The day of rest will follow the format used in the other 3 slams. Here are some of my thoughts:

1. The ATP has been calling for the US Open to give the men a rest in between the semis and final for the last few years. While I understand the benefits (more competitive, even match, etc) I can't help but feel disappointed. The schedule, in addition to the lack of a full 5th set has been part of what makes the US Open unique. Think about the US Open in golf. It is well known that they go out of the way to make that major the toughest of all on the PGA Tour. I like the idea of culminating the grand slam season with a test of wills and endurance in the back to back schedule. I also wonder if the feeling from the ATP would be different were the tournament not played on hard courts.

2. It's a shame to cancel the final Saturday night session and move the women's final out of prime time. Let's face it, tennis doesn't get the greatest exposure and it is rare to have any match air in prime time, let alone on a broadcast network like CBS. I can't see the benefits viewership wise by moving the women's final into the men's Sunday time slot.

3. Along with the previous point about TV, a Monday final being guaranteed just sucks in my book. The last several grand slam finals on the men's side have been compelling. It is awesome a bummer to know that it will air in the midst of a work day when nobody is home to watch it live. Even the ATP, while applauding the extra day of rest, disagreed with the decision to play another Monday final.

Someone remind me again why a roof at Arthur Ashe was not in the expansion plans? Sigh.........

"If you don't practice, you don't deserve to win."
                      -Andre Agassi

A Smart (and delicious?) Investment....

OK, I saw this article this morning and had to pass it on. Apparently Djokovic is putting his tournament winnings to use. I am curious to see if this is a wise investment in the long run.....at least until it runs out.

Djokovic buys entire world's supply of DONKEY CHEESE!

Enjoy!

In Case You Win the Lottery

With the nation firmly in the grip of lottery fever as the ridiculously high Powerball jackpot cruises past the $500 million mark, I thought I should appeal to any potential winners that I might know. After all, lottery directors estimate there is a 60% chance of someone winning tomorrow. If you win and end up with lots of money to burn right before Christmas, my requested Christmas gift will only set you back about $15,000 or so. That would be like buying a Happy Meal to the winner.

The present I am talking about is a tennis ball machine called the "Boomer". Here is where this one is different, you can play out points with it! I read an article today on Tennis.com about it and is crazy! It uses a camera system to judge the trajectory, speed and location of your shot (think HawkEye) and adjusts its reply accordingly. It can concede points on clean winners and will also trash talk you when it wins points! That's right folks, a trash talking tennis robot! I've lost to plenty of players that I would call "machines" but this would be the real deal. It plays anywhere from NTRP 2.0 all the way to 7.0 (pro caliber). Instead of listening to Federer's robotic press conference banter, I could be on court getting smack talked by a real robot! The only thing that would make this better is if the name was cooler. I'm thinking like "Tennis Terminator" or something along those lines. Here is the original article if you want to know more:

Boomer Machine

"I'll let the racquet do the talking."
          -John McEnroe

Celebrate Tennis-giving

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I need to get a post done before the short work week next week (Yes I am just as upset as you that we are only open 2 days next week :). I thought I would do a list of all of the tennis things I am thankful for:

1. My volleys: Volleys, you are my saving grace. With my groundstrokes as spotty as they are, I am fortunate to have you around (most of the time...) to bail me out when I need it. You aren't always flashy but you are consistent and get the job done when I need it.

2. Polyester string: I love modern technology. I fully admit I am a bit lazy so if I can get some bonus power and spin from strings, I am all for it. Some "purists" think poly is wrecking the game. Well, it is 2012 and sports evolve. I honestly would have no interest in tennis if it was played the same way it was in 1925. We also wouldn't have record crowds at Grand Slam events, etc.

3. Shoe Warranties: Best thing ever. I have to give credit to New Balance for their 12 month durability warranty. This has allowed me to burn through 2 pairs of shoes and get 2 new pairs with no additional out of pocket costs. Anybody who know me knows that the less money I have to actually spend on tennis the better!

4. Doubles Partners: It's always nice to have somebody carry you and I have had great partners all year. From spring mixed through tournaments, men's league and fall mixed, I had the privilege of playing with some great players and generally awesome people overall. Thanks to my partners, I am sitting on a sanctioned match record of 56-11 this year. Sounds pretty darn good to me. Thanks partners!!

5. My Wife: If it wasn't for her willingness to be a tennis widow, I wouldn't have improved as much as I did this year. She is almost always willing to let me sub on blocks last minute ( like just now), lets me play a ton of leagues and lets me blab about tennis stuff at home whether she really cares or not. Thanks babe!

What tennis things are you guys thankful for?

Downhill Both Ways....

This is a quick one because what I am going to bring up needs a bit more thinking in the future. This week, yet another American based pro tournament was sold off. The Farmer's Classic tournament based in LA was sold to a group out of Bogota, Colombia. This comes on the heels of the San Jose ATP event being sold to a group moving it to Brazil earlier this year. The Farmer's will most likely follow suit and be moved to South America after it fulfills its out standing dates (2013 I think). Not only are we in a down time of top American players now we are losing tournaments. In 2014, America will be at it's lowest point in the modern era with 11 tournaments on US soil. More on this to come.....

Blast from the Past

Well, I am officially back from my vacation last week and I should probably get back at it. The World Tour Finals are not too far away now and Nike this year is outfitting their players with the "Flame Pack":

The above shoes and outfits are inspired by this beautiful Nike shoe from 1992:

Since the end of the season is apparently a time of nostalgia this year, here are a few other things I vote we bring back:

1. Let's mandate that everybody play in denim shorts. Requirements must include that they be hand cutoff and acid washed. Hey if it was good enough for Agassi, what's your problem Roger?

2. Bring back a horribly inappropriate sponsor for the women's tour. I miss the days when Virginia Slims was the title sponsor. Nothing like having a cigarette company backing a pro sports tour. I am thinking there have to be some asbestos or lead manufacturers that would make great partners.

3. Turn off HD broadcasts and go back to super grainy, 4:3 aspect ratio video. I love watching old matches with no idea where the ball is and also no idea if it's men or women playing until they show names.

4. Let's go back to using some good broadcasters but also a large number of people who have no knowledge of the game whatsoever. Oh no wait, we still do that.............

Let me know what else you think we should bring back to tennis!

2013: Year of the Spin

It seems like the end of the year is when tennis companies really start to amp up either teasers or actual debuts of their new racquet lines. Dunlop just released 6 new racquets yesterday, all of them a substantial difference from their previous lines with an increased focus on power and spin. They definitely seem to be making an effort to "modernize" their line and gain some traction with the players who prefer the Babolat and Head Speed design of frames. Just don't take away my Max 200G yet!

One of the more interesting frames I've seen recently is the new addition to the Steam series from Wilson that is set to debut in early 2013. They are adding a couple new head sizes and utilizing what they term "Spin Effect" technology. I don't know if I would call it "technology" as it essentially boils down to using fewer main and cross strings. The new Steam 99S and 105S will utilize a 16x15 string pattern. The end result is a very open string pattern designed to maximize spin potential off the string bed. I find this kind of funny as many older frames used this string pattern, so this "new" tech is really just a return to some of the older setups. This racquet is by no means going to turn a weekend warrior into somebody who can generate Nadal-esque type spin. However if it is paired with a monofilament string (polyester) and put in the hands of somebody fairly capable of generating spin, the potential to amplify that spin is definitely there. I have seen some early reviews  from demo events where Wilson is actually on site with tracking equipment and so far the data looks to be backing up the concept of the design. Could Wilson be poised to gain back some of the massive amounts of club players running around with Babolat sticks in their hands these days? Only time (and maybe a demo of my own) will tell.

PS. If you really want to know the science behind what Wilson is trying, there was a great article on Tennis.com awhile back. Here is the link:

Wilson Gear Talk

Vegas Bound!....(sort of)

Well, Fall Mixed Districts is officially in the books. Another crazy weekend of competitive tennis. When it was all said and done, my 8.5 team fell a bit short after dominating the regular season but we still had a ton of fun this season. In 7.5, my team back-doored our way into the playoffs and then came up big when it mattered to finish as district champs! Congrats to everybody on BRSC-Gmiller7.5! Also, I want to congratulate the 6.5 (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot) and 8.5 (Baughman/Wagner) champions for their great seasons! There was so much great tennis last weekend, I had a blast playing and watching.

Good luck to those 3 teams as they head to Vegas soon to represent Idaho at the section championships. Unfortunately, I will not be making the trip as I am too poor and I have a USPTR training that same weekend. On the plus side, I will leave that training as an officially certified 10 and Under teaching pro (provided I don't bomb the exam). I am excited to gain some tools and tips that I can put to use in our 10 and Under programs here at IdTA!!

IAHPERD TIME

Today I am here at the IAHPERD conference hanging out with a bunch of great teachers from our state. It's so great to see people excited about tennis and how willing they are to bring their students new opportunities. Our presentation was a ton of fun and we are getting lots of signups for our upcoming October 20th training. Great day of fun before I start mixed districts play tomorrow!

When kids make me feel bad about myself...

I alternately love and hate the video included below. It is such a fantastic example of what the 10 and Under Tennis format has to offer in terms of player development. The mechanics, shots and court movement that these kids possess at such a young age could simply not be nearly as developed (or as correct) if they were on a full size court with the yellow ball. If you have wondered why Europe has used this format for years, here is your answer. I also hate this video for shaming my own tennis skills so badly. I would absolutely not accept a pickup game offer from either of these kids as I would get hustled immediately! Enjoy:

For what it is worth, if that is the foam ball (which it looks to be based on sound and the flight of the ball) I think those kids are ready to go to a felt ball (red or orange). They have clearly developed rally skills and could probably benefit from a ball that would let them finish the point a bit sooner. Longer rallies are great, but the format isn't about turning every point into a 55 shot Djokovic-Murray marathon.

Murray.........Andrew Murray

Well, the Scraggly Scottish Stork did it. Yes I am talking about one Andrew Murray and his victory over Novak Djokovic in the US Open final last night. Let's cover my thoughts on the match shall we?

1. Murray is finally playing aggressive tennis consistently. His biggest weakness in the past has been an over-reliance on defense when it matters. He reverted back to that in the 3rd and 4th sets last night but got his aggression back in the 5th set when it mattered. Props to Ivan Lendl for having Murray finally amp up his forehand and for helping devise a solid gameplan of attacking Novak's forehand (IMHO his weaker shot)

2. Murray has the best variety of anybody in the top 10. Period. Fed fans can talk all they want about the "Swiss Maestro" but Murray can pound ground strokes, volley and create angles and openings with all sorts of spins, slices and drop shots. The fact that it looked like they were playing in a hurricane half the time only made his shots that much trickier.

3. The percentage of 2nd serve points won is a critical but often overlooked stat. At one point, Djokovic was 2 of 14 in 2nd serve points won. You are simply not going to win matches if you can't get your 1st serve in or defend your 2nd serve effectively.

4. The rules applying to trainer visits are AWFUL. It is ridiculous that somebody who is so obviously cramping ( I'm looking at you Djoker) can claim a groin strain to get a trainer. Novak has done this time and time again and he is definitely not alone either. It is even worse when the treatment comes in the changeover before the opponent's serve and only fuels the gamesmanship aspect of it. I'm not saying we should go back to the days of people writhing on the court in agony due to a "loss of conditioning", but let's call a spade a spade at least.

5. I completely agree with the commentators that it was better for Murray to win it in 5 sets as opposed to 3. Murray has a history of disappearing in big matches (see his first 4 Grand Slam finals). For him to blow a 2 set lead and then rally, I think that does wonders for his reputation and should further stoke his clearly growing confidence.

On a lighter note:

1. Whichever Jensen brother was doing the commentary on the live stream should not be allowed to do commentary ever again. Hearing him dramatcially draw out the name "Zho-Ko-Vich" over and over made me want to cry. He was being so over the top about Djokovic's name that I was waiting to see him wearing one of those shirts with a giant self portrait of Novak on the front.

2. This is the only time I'll say it is a good thing nobody watches tennis on TV in America. If they did, we would be in the middle of a firestorm today over all the times the CBS microphones picked up Andy Murray dropping the F bomb. People would be screaming about the corruption of our kids and be shouting for him to be banned from entering the country again.

3. Murray really won because of one simple thing. That thing is what I will from here on out dub "The Connery Karma." How can you lose when James Bond has your back? Seeing Sean Connery in the crowd just had me playing SNL Jeopardy lines in my head and on Facebook. The only thing that would have been better is if Murray's racquet had deployed a smoke screen or oil slick during their 54 shot rally.

In the end, I salute Andy's performance. The Scraggly Scottish Stork is flying high!

Wow

Wow I have been so bad at this blogging thing lately. Definitely going to have to think of a new name for it if my current trend continues. I just read my last post and enjoyed eating crow on my comment about Murray not winning a gold medal. Job well done Big Bird (For those that don't know, Andy Murray reminds me of a giant stork with patchy facial hair)! The US Open is in full swing, with Federer getting knocked out last night. The only match-up that interests me at this point is a Djokovic - Murray final. We will see if that happens.

I went to sectionals with my 4.0 team a few weeks ago. Although I and the team did not have the best of weekends, it was still a lot of fun and I had a blast this season with all of my PuraVida! boys. We will take it to them next year!

On a light hearted note, below is one of the funniest tennis videos ever. I have decided to go out of my way to share it through every means possible because it is hilarious and completely true when it comes to league tennis!

Enjoy!

Closing the Gap

I have been trying to keep up on the Olympic tennis matches throughout the day (Thanks dad for your streaming log-in. No thanks NBC.) Does anybody else feel like the best 2 out of 3 format can really close the gap between the top 4 and the rest of the field? Federer, Djokovic and Murray have all been pushed in matches this week and have lost some sets. It just feels like an upset (even though it hasn't happened yet) is more likely in the 2 of 3 format than best of 5. Somebody could get hot and go on a run or the big names could hit a rough patch and the match could be over. A 5 set match has more time for adjustments to be made and for players to even out their play. I wonder if the same few players that have won the Grand Slams recently would stay the same if those tournaments had been best of 3. It at least would have changed who made it to the semis and finals. I am excited for the matches coming up as I think Djokovic/Murray in a best of 3 set match could be very interesting. Maybe NBC might even show some of it. At bare minimum they could show some freaking highlights in prime time. Seriously, how do you give so little coverage to an event that has included a 25-23 third set match already?

On another note, how sweet is Andy Murray's bag with the silhouette of London on it?

   I could do without the gold. Its not likely he'll get that color of medal anyway (burn. Best of luck Andy)

Solinco Tennis is Here!

Big time thanks to Solinco Sports for recently sponsoring the USTA Adult League District Championships here in Idaho. They sent up a bunch of their awesome strings that went out to each team captain at the tournament. If you were lucky enough to get a set or have used their products in the past, make sure to give them a thank you on their Facebook page! If you enjoy their products and want more, let me know. I just might know someone who can help out...........

Somebody find me the Queen CD........

As the Adult League District Championships wrapped up on Sunday, I found myself thinking I should be listening to Queen's "We are the Champions." That's right, my men's 4.0 team, Team PuraVida! pulled out a district championship by finishing 2 individual wins ahead of the second place team this weekend. We are now Sectionals bound at the end of August. Congratulations to all the other teams that competed. There were so many great players and matches this weekend. One division even had to come down to individual sets lost to determine a winner! Also, a big thanks goes out to my IdTA co-workers and all of our volunteers for putting on such a great event and keeping everything running smoothly. Great job everybody!  I'll post some of my wife's awesome pictures when she has any time to get me some!

Save the C of I Team!!!

Here is an open letter written by our Executive Director, Steve Bickham, calling for support of the College of Idaho's mens tennis team which is in danger of being cut this year.

Hi All,

If you have not heard yet, the College of Idaho has recently decided to drop Men’s Tennis from its list of sports. As you I am sure know, they just announced a few months ago that they would be adding Football to their athletic department for the 2013-14 school year and promised that this would not affect any of their current sports! Now, less than 3 months later they are dropping Men’s Tennis!

As the representative for the USTA in Idaho, I am extremely concerned when a school decides to make a decision such as this. It may not seem like a big deal to the normal league or tournament player, but if we lose this tennis program we lose one of our only opportunities for junior tennis players in Idaho to continue playing at a collegiate level. Boise State is such a dominant program that it is very difficult for one of our local players to even make the team, and the College of Idaho has really been the only local option. Their roster consists almost entirely of local players and Cisco Limbago, their tennis coach, has done a great job of recruiting out of this area.

When a program like this is lost, it almost never comes back. I was a former coach at Arizona State University which had been a perennial top 25 team, and even boasted a Singles National Champion at one point, and that team was dropped about 6-7 years ago…and it has never been reinstated and probably never will be! We don’t want that to happen at the College of Idaho and we need any tennis player, parent, or tennis enthusiast to start making noise! If you have a minute, please drop an email or letter to President Henberg and/or Athletic Director Marty Holly to express your concerns. I believe we can make them change their mind, but it will only happen if enough people locally show them that they care!

Contact Info: President Henberg mhenberg@collegeofidaho.edu

Athletic Director, Marty Holly mholly@collegeofidaho.edu

Tennis Coach, Cisco Limbago climbago@collegeofidaho.edu

I have enlisted the help of the National USTA and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association with this effort. If you have an interest in helping with their national effort with this or with other schools, please drop me an email to let me know and I will add you to the advocacy network. You can also look at what they do and sign up for their network at this link:

Direct Link: http://www.itatennis.com/AboutITA/Advocacy.htm

LONG STORY SHORT—WE CAN’T LET THE COLLEGE OF IDAHO DROP MEN’S TENNIS! The tennis playing kids in Idaho need this opportunity and as tennis enthusiasts we need to fight for it! Please spread the word, forward this to anyone and everyone, and help us stop this from happening!

Thanks in advance.

Steve

Please pass this message on and help support the C of I team!!

"There's a storm coming Mr. Locke......"

Hopefully somebody caught my "The Dark Knight Rises" reference in the title there (great movie by the way, even at 3:30am). The storm I am referencing would be none other than USTA Adult League Districts, which is set to kick off this Friday. Right now, our office looks like a house you might see on "Hoarders." Katie has stuff stacked floor to ceiling everywhere trying to get everything in place for each of the sites that are hosting play. I hope that all of the league players are aware of and appreciate how much work she and Spencer have been doing in preparation for Districts. The rest of us in office are just along for the ride!

Steve, the IdTA Executive Director, and I had a very productive meeting with some supporters in Caldwell yesterday. I think we are in very good shape to expand Tennis is Elementary into some Caldwell schools this fall! That will be a huge step for our vision of expanding the tennis opportunities in the western end of the valley. If you live in Caldwell and want us to bring tennis to your child's elementary school this year, let me know!!

Additionally, let's help keep the men's tennis program at College of Idaho! The program is due to be cut this coming school year, costing talented kids an opportunity to continue their tennis careers. Call or email the College of Idaho athletic department today and let them know the men's tennis team matters!!!!

 "Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome."
Arthur Ashe 

Welcome Back!!

For those lucky few who read my blog, yes I am still alive!  Better yet, I am providing a sneak peek at something some lucky junior players are going to get their hands on this weekend.

Big thanks to Solinco Sports, our new partner for Adult League Districts, for providing me with some demos! Solinco manufactures high quality strings, tennis racquets and other gear. They have a tremendous following at all levels of tennis from recreational to college and pro! Let me know if you are interested in any of their products and I can point you in the right direction! You can also learn more at www.solincosports.com. More to come on them soon!

Return of the King

First off, the post title is not a reference to myself for finally getting around to blogging again. It has been crazy buys in the office and I have been running around running junior programs all over the place. I am talking the return of the King of Clay himself, Mr. Rafael Nadal.

First off, it was a complete bummer to yet again have a major final finish on a Monday. I hope they are aware of how many people they are losing from their audience. Hopefully we will see roofs and lights sooner rather than later at ALL of the majors. Nadal started off on fire and then gave his 1st set lead back only to get it back again. The play on Sunday was completely up and down on both sides. I really think Nadal got a huge benefit from the stoppage in play. At that point, Djokovic had started rolling and they had gotten into their recent pattern of Djokovic playing well inside the court and dictating the points while Rafa scrambled. Consistency really seemed to be at a premium through both days of play and in the end, Nadal had just a bit more when it mattered most. Novak has lost some of that super-human consistency that he had throughout last season, which is to be expected honestly. I really think Nadal winning allowed him to exorcise some of the demons of the last year or so when it comes to Djokovic. He even said later that losing to Djokovic again in a major final, particularly the French, would have been devastating. Now, he has 3 finals wins over Djoker this year and has gotten over the hump in a major against him. Will this translate to newfound confidence for the grass and hard court seasons?

Wimbledon is next up and with the events of the French, it is shaping up to be an interesting tournament. Make sure and cast your vote in my Wimbledon poll!  

Twilight Zone Tuesday

I have to admit, I am still chewing on Serena Williams' epic upset loss today. Not even sure what to say about that yet. I will say though that I admire her for being able to say afterward that "It's just life. Things could always be worse." That is some perspective! I'll have more to say on that match once I digest it.

In other news, IdTA had quite a good weekend at the Gatorade Open. Staff members took home the 4.0 mens and 9.0 mixed doubles titles yesterday. Way to represent!

Expect more frequent posting now that a major is being contested. I will warn you in advance to ignore the spelling errors as they will most likely be due to me being tired from being up at 3am to watch the French live.

SERGIO!!!!!!!

Well, it's official. Novak Djokovic parted ways with his clothing sponsor, Sergio Tacchini this morning. I find myself lost at sea after hearing the news. I am like a ship with no rudder, a map with no legend. I mean if the Djoker is not with Tacchini, where o where will I ever find another shirt with a FREAKING DRAGON on it!!!! How on Earth will I begin to replenish my collection of tacky clothing bearing the images of mythical beasts or even better, giant self portraits of Djokovic himself?!! It was a 10 year deal and I was planning on a yearly supply of ridiculous outfits to wear on court. And now what am I left with? Why Novak why?..............................

Ok, all kidding aside this deal sounds like it wasn't good for either party. Apparently the contract was very incentive laden and Djokovic activated all of his incentives with his monster season last year. That meant Tacchini had to pay up. Appartently they had all sorts of U.S. distribution problems and that inhibited their sales to the point that they could not afford to pay on what they owed Djokovic. Word is Djokovic is about to or already has signed with Uniqlo, another smaller company from Japan that outfits Kei Nishikori. My money is on it being a short term deal and that he will be sporting one of the big names come next year. Good luck on your new deal Novak. I am just bummed I won't get to see you rip a dragon in half when you tear off your shirt in a victory celebration any more. That was the best chance we had of keeping the dragon population in check! Oh well, maybe Uniqlo will make you a shirt with Godzilla on it..............

Tourney Time!!

Starting tomorrow, tennis courts around the valley are going to be jam packed with players as high school state tournaments get underway. This weekend is the culmination of all the hard work these kids have put in this season and for seniors, their entire high school career. Our staff is going to bounce around to different sites and I am hoping there will be great crowds out supporting their kids, friends and classmates as they play for season ending glory. And for all you high school players out there, get in touch with us and become instructors this summer! Have fun doing something you love and helping to grow the game of tennis. Also, don't forget there is life after high school tennis. It's called USTA LEAGUE!!! Join up and keep your playing days rolling. Good luck to all the players in each tournament and here's to some great tennis this weekend!! 

Pro Tour Feeling Blue....

Well the pros are in Madrid this week and the big story is the fact that this year the tournament directors switched the surface to BLUE clay from the traditonal red. The response from the players has been pretty negative so far with many top players saying it is too slippery and plays much faster than traditional clay. Coming from a place where we have blue football fields, I can understand the tournament's desire to create some marketing buzz. I can also see how their explanation that it makes it easier to track the ball on TV would be true. However, I don't know how the ATP and WTA approved the switch without garnering any early feedback from their players. I know the ATP has said that this is essentially a "test" year and the surface will be evaluated after the tournament. With that said, it just seems like a bit more player involvment this year would have potentially cut back on the negative press they are getting right now. I am all for innovation that brings more people to the sport, I just think there are ways to innovate while still honoring tradition. What do you think? Do you like a radical change like blue clay? Or would you like to see tradition stay in place?

"Champions keep playing until they get it right."
Billie Jean King

Clown Shoes

A certain unnamed person in our office just received her set of the most ridiculous tennis shoes ever in the mail today. The best way I can describe them is that a unicorn threw up on a pair of shoes. However, I bet she will do well in them as her opponents will either be blinded or be too busy trying to figure out why those shoes exist to play properly. I will include a picture when I can but I thought I should give you fair warning that it is coming first.........

Monte Carlo Masters

This past weekend, Nadal and Djokovic met for the 8th straight time in a final. This time Nadal was able to pick up a victory. I would have loved to watch this match, but unfortunately I don't get Tennis Channel. Total bummer that the match was not broadcast more widely. I have to give credit to Djokovic for even being out on court after the death of his grandfather earlier in the week. I caught up on highlights and it was pretty clear he wasn't 100% mentally in the match (understandable). That being said, I finally saw Nadal start serving like he did during the 2010 US Open when he completed his career grand slam. I wonder if he will be able to use this match to turn the corner in his recent struggles against Djokovic. I also expect Djokovic to be ready to use the French Open as his own personal tribute to his grandfather though. Let me know if you think this is a turning point for Nadal or if it is was just an understandable bump in the road for the Djokovic train.

BSU Kids Day 2.0!!

Our first Kids Tennis Day with the BSU tennis team was such a success in February that we are back at it again. We will have another Kids Day following the BSU match against UNLV tomorrow. For details go to BSU Kids Tennis Day
This thing is going down rain or shine! Hopefully it will be great outside but if not, we will rock out in the Boas Bubbles. See you guys there!!!

Bi-weekly Slice??

Gosh maybe I should change the name of my blog to Bi-Weekly Slice! I haven't gotten the chance to blog in forever. Have to head out to run TiE at Chaparral in Meridian soon but I hope to see lots of you at the BSU Kids Day this Friday April 20th. It is going to be a blast. For more info, visit our website at www.idtennis.com.

Tennis is Elementary Summer Camp!!!

Man, it has been awhile since I have been able to post an entry. Tennis is Elementary is going like crazy now that schools are back from Spring Break. I have good news though for those of you who haven't had TiE at your child's school yet or were not able to participate during the school year. We will now be offering Tennis is Elementary Summer Camp! I will be leading this awesome program all summer long at Boise Racquet and Swim Club. For more information and to register, follow the link below:

Click Here for TiE Summer Camps!

Help me spread the word about this great program and let's get more kids playing tennis all summer long!!

Missile Defense System

After watching the Indian Wells final this past Sunday, I realized that the ATP tour has one of the world's greatest missile defense systems:



In the final,Roger Federer did an amazing job neutralizing the cruise missile serve that John Isner has. This ability is something I think gets overlooked in his game a lot of the time. Yes, Djokovic is an amazing returner and can turn his return into an offensive shot in the blink of an eye (see 2011 U.S. Open semi for example), but Federer has a great ability to neutralize something that is often times the biggest weapon his opponent has. Think back to when Andy Roddick was essentially serving people off the court around 10 years ago. Federer was the one guy he could never do that to. His ability to redirect a serve regardless of the pace is amazing. He did the same thing to Milos Raonic earlier in the Indian Wells tournament as well. I personally would huddle in the corner and cry if I had to attempt to return a 140+ mph serve. For Federer, it is just another skill that he makes look so easy, you hardly even notice it. His win at Indian Wells makes me curious to see if he can make a run at the #1 ranking this year (amazingly it is mathmatically possible, even after Djokovic's 2011). This is shaping up to be an interesting season on the ATP tour....

"I fear no one, but respect everyone." - Roger Federer 

Kids in the Kitchen

I just wanted to let everybody know that tomorrow, March 10th, I will be down at the West Boise YMCA as part of the Kids in the Kitchen event. It's a totally free event all about kids nutrition and fitness. So bring your kids and come play some tennis with the staff from Idaho Tennis Association. Here are all of the details:

T The Junior League of Boise and the Treasure Valley Family YMCA are hosting the 6th annual education initiative on childhood obesity and nutrition, Kids in the Kitchen (KITK). The event is FREE and open to the public on Saturday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the WEST YMCA, 5959 North Discovery Way, Boise. KITK is an interactive and entertaining event aimed at empowering youth to make healthy lifestyle and nutrition choices. Participants can visit booths, enjoy demonstrations, sample healthy foods and try new exercises and games. COME JOIN US!

Chaparral Elementary loves TiE!

I just wanted to spend a quick minute giving a big congratulations to Chaparral Elementary in Meridian. It took them just 6 days to completely fill their upcoming Tennis is Elementary session!! The excitement level is so big, I have already had to get a waiting list started. Congratulations Chaparral Trailblazers! We are going to have so much fun when we get started on April 10th!

For a complete list of schools offering Tennis is Elementary so far, visit http://www.idtennis.com/ and click on the Tennis is Elementary tab. Don't see your school? Call me, email me, leave a blog comment and let me know that you want TiE at your school!!

Why My Job Matters...

I just want to take a minute and say thank you to the members of the Idaho Tennis Foundation. Their efforts to provide financial assistance to kids participating in Tennis Is Elementary programs around the valley makes a tremendous difference. Today I got to inform a mother that her son is going to get the opportunity to play tennis that he has been so desperate for. This opportunity would not have been possible if Idaho Tennis Foundation was not here. Hearing the excitement in her voice when she said she couldn't wait to tell her son this afternoon just validated the importance of my job and what we as a whole at Idaho Tennis are doing to grow the game. Tennis is not a sport for just the rich, the poor, the young or the old. Tennis is GLOBAL! Every child should have the opportunity, regardless of circumstance, to try something that could turn into a passion for life. If you love tennis, I encourage you to support it. You can make a donation to the Idaho Tennis Foundation simply by clicking here. Every dollar works to put racquets in kids' hands and develop the next generation of lifelong tennis players.

 "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." - Arthur Ashe

I Hate That Shot!!

I played some singles today and it got me thinking. This particular friend of mine KILLS me on cross court passing shots every time we play. It feels like even when I hit a solid approach shot, he still gets me with it nearly every time! I have to give him a lot of credit as it is just a bread and butter, beautiful shot on his part. I spent today trying to attack it in different ways but it still gets me the majority of the time. What about the rest of you? Is there a particular shot or opponent for you that is just difficult to overcome? I want to hear some responses (mostly so I can feel better about myself not being the only one!)

BSU Kid's Day!!!

Last Saturday, we hosted a Kids Tennis Day in conjunction with the BSU men's tennis team before their match with Washington at Boise Racquet and Swim Club. All I can say is.....WOW!!!!!! What an amazing turnout! There were over 100 kids in attendance and they got to play great tennis games, interact with Coach Patton and stay for an incredible match between BSU and Washignton. In the end, BSU pulled out a tremendous victory over a top 30 team. Way to go Broncos! Idaho Tennis Association could not be more pleased with the number of kids that came out and we owe a huge thank you to all of our partners in this event. It was truly incredible to see that many kids come out with a desire to play tennis! Here are some pictures:

Thanks again to everyone who made this event a success! I hope this encourages everyone to take that next step in their tennis life. Get your kids involved, take lessons, join a league! Together we can keep tennis going strong in Idaho!! 

Central District AAHPERD

I'm here in Colorado Springs right now for a huge PE teacher conference. Here's a great photo during the time the teachers were learning how to adapt tennis for special education populations. Tennis truly is a global sport that everyone can learn and enjoy! I'll have more to come when I get back!

10 and Under Rules Change

Earlier this month, the USTA adopted a fairly controversial new set of rules for 10 and under sanctioned competition. The rule change revolves around the use of the different Quickstart format balls and courts for sanctioned events in the 10 and under division. This hasn't exactly been the most well received decision the USTA has ever made. Here is a link to an interesting article from the Wall Street Journal detailing the change and some of the reaction to it:

Is Tennis Getting Too Soft? - Tom Perrotta

After I read this article, I thought there was a critical insight that wasn't well touched on. One of the biggest benefits to the use of the lower compression balls and reduced size courts is the idea of point construction. With so much of my job relating to this age division, I have gotten to see a fair amount of play first hand. One of the things that is lacking with the standard ball is the concept of how to construct a point. Kids are so focused on covering the entire full size court and hitting the ball that play lacks the development of strategy. By reducing the amount of court needing to be covered and slowing the ball down, it allows kids the opportunity to work on constructing shot patterns and utilizing strategy mid point. Perhaps if kids are coming off the court sore and tired in the new format, it's less about the balls and more about an issue with stroke mechanics and overhitting. The format also allows for the development of an all around game. Rather than just blasting the ball, kids are able to utilize drop shots, lobs, etc. It is also easier to come to net on a shorter court which leads to better development of vollies and net play.

Ultimately I understand some poeples' view that different isn't always better. But you know what, status quo isn't always better either. This format is still in the early stages of adoption when it comes to sanctioned play. Maybe, just like we encourage our kids to, we need to "play it out" before labeling it a bust or a success. I would love to hear feedback from you in the comments section if you have an opinion on the format change for 10 and under tennis.

Ooh Look.......A Poll!

Who doesn't love being part of a poll? I for one love to feel like my voice is being heard on relavent issues. Now I am aware we are in an election year, but let's focus on the larger issue. I of course am talking about the upcoming start of the Australian Open. I had almost convinced myself that the Djoker is healthy and would defend his 2011 title. However, now that I have seen the recent play and results of guys like Tsonga and Raonic, I am unsure. Since I am unsure, I will give all of you the chance to influence my opinion. Vote in the poll on the right side of the page for who you think will take the title!

Ps. If you haven't already, make sure you "like" the Idaho Tennis Association page on Facebook. Word on the street is that we are doing a drawing for a free league fee for the USTA Mixed League starting soon!

"I felt like an animal. I wanted to see how it tastes. It tastes good." - Novak Djokovic on why he ate a piece of the grass after winning Wimbledon. Good thing their lawns are gluten free!

TiE is coming!!!

Just an update on some of our upcoming Tennis is Elementary sessions. You should be able to register your kids through our website, http://www.idtennis.com/, for upcoming sessions at Sunny Ridge ( Nampa), Monroe (Boise), and Star Elementary by the end of the week. If you want us to bring TiE to your child's school, leave me a comment or drop me an email and let me know!

Welcome to 2012!

So long 2011, 2012 is here! Oddly, 2012 tennis looks an awful lot like 2011 so far. I saw Novak Djokovic dismantle Federer and Ferrer in the Abu Dhabi tune up tournament this weekend. I was glad to see him looking like he was over the shoulder issues from the end of last season. It should be an interesting Australian Open in a couple of weeks. Anyway, the tennis Santa was very nice to me over the holidays and I got all sorts of good stuff (all very job related I assure you...) What kinds of tennis gifts did all of you get? And what kinds of tennis resolutions have you made for 2012?

"The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how good I get, I'll never be as good as a wall." 
             -Mitch Hedberg