Archive for October, 2011

An unfair call

Islanders lost their game in over time to San Jose Sharks 2-3. The refs, four of them on the ice made a terrible call resulting the winning goal scored in the power ensuing play. During the game, the tv station showed Darius Kasparaitis among few players of 1993 team that’s being honored tonight. 1993 was the last great year Islanders had had – they almost made to the Stanley Cup playoff. We watched it in a bar in Newport (Rhode Island). They played well and beat Mario Lemieux and his Pittsburgh Penguins. Some accomplishment.

During the the game, the station [tv] showed few clips of Darius Kasparaitis beating Super Mario. When Mario got up on his feet, Darius threw more pouches at him. Mario is a good head taller than Darius. I had to laugh. Darius was a good player but he was mostly known for his fight, a goon who shadowed Mario. Even in the fight, and was pushed down on the ice, Mario didn’t loss his cool and didn’t return a single pouch. The divider separate a great player from good player?

Golfer is pretty mad at the lose, said he’s too upset to eat when I offered him a cake.

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Warm water for the cold day

The riveting picture of Alex Meyer with a long trail in the Walden Pond, left me in his wake. Making sense or too Chinglish? In any case, I was inspired and made to the pool yesterday. Finally.

Nothing has changed since my last outing, except, my arm hurt and my timing was terrible. I actually felt very light upon entering the water and got to a good start. However, my arm wasn’t cooperating. I’ve been playing tennis non-stop with the sore arm, hopefully, it would and could cope with tennis for the near future.
The water temperature in the pool was bit high and the shower water [there are only on button at showers; temp is fixed] was warmer than usual. For the first cold day of the autumn, it was welcoming thou.
Finishing the day with two sets 6-3 and 6-7 plus a 10-point super tie break [11] at Bay Terrace in the night. I was pretty popped.

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Foot fault

2011 Friend at Court, page 62:

23. Foot faults. The receiver or receiver’s partner may call foot faults only after the server has been warned at least once and the request for an official has failed. This call should be made only when the receiver or receiver’s partner is absolutely certain and the foot faulting is so flagrant as to be clearly perceptible from the receiver’s side. The plea that a server should not be penalized because the server only touched the line and did not rush the net is not acceptable. Habitual foot faulting, whether intentional or careless, is just as surely cheating as is making a deliberate bad line call.

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2011 Friend At Court Book

324 pages tome of rules! Do we weekend hackers need it? It sells for US$6.95, Sale Price: $4.99. Please call (800) 677-0275 for a quantity discount on orders of 10 or more.
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2011 Friend at Court Book
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The USTA Handbook for Tennis Officials, Tournament Administrators, and Players is an indispensable book that addresses just about every possible situation that can arise on a tennis court. Friend at Court includes:

  • The Official 2011 ITF Rules of Tennis
  • ITF Cases and Decisions
  • USTA Comments on the ITF Rules of Tennis
  • The Code: The Players’ Guide for Unofficiated Matches
  • USTA Tournament Regulations & Officiating Regulations
  • Friend at Court Comments on USTA Regulations
  • The Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rules, Regulations, and Tournament Procedures
  • USTA Emergency Care Guidelines
  • Glossary of Tennis Terms
  • Pages: 306

Updated from 2010, the 2011 Rules of Tennis and 2011 Friend at Court contain updates pertaining to:

  • 10 and under competition play
  • Wheelchair tennis rules
  • Call-making procedures
  • Withdrawal Procedures
  • Requesting officials during play procedures
  • And more

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From Walden Pond to the Olympics


Alex Trautwig for The New York Times
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Swimming anyone??? Swimmer [Alex Meyer] Thrives in Open Water. Such beautiful picture. It’s on the front page of the New York Times Sports, horizontally displayed. I remembered reading Fran Crippen‘s tragedy during a 10-kilometer race contested in the United Arab Emirates last year.
I haven’t hit the pool in a few months. My heart aches for it. Last time when I was out on the Long Island Sound, my first instinct was jump in [to the water]. When I saw someone water skiing, I simply drooled. It’s a torture to watch.
I got to find some time to swim!

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2012 matches

The 2012 Manh

the new Head, 10/21/2011
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Date weekday time, Location; Home Team-Opp Team
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  1. 13 Nov Sun 7:30, RIRC; Dawes: 0-3
  2. 29-Nov Tue 8:00pm, Westside; Rosenberg: 3-0
  3. 4-Dec Sun 6:00pm, Roosevelt IslandHartley/Huang: 2-1
  4. 8-Dec Thu 8:30pm, Westside; Coe/Ghosh: 3-0
  5. 15-Dec Thu 8:00pm, Westside; Linderman: 2-1
  6. 3-Jan Tue 9:30pm Roosevelt Island; Kende/Vogt: 0.5-2.5
  7. 18-Jan Wed 9:30pm, Roosevelt Island; McConway/Cossa: 3-0
  8. 31-Jan Tue 9:00pm, CityView; Seltzer: 1.5-1.5

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Flight playoff between top four teams; 1st place team plays 4th place team; 2nd place team plays 3rd place team; winners advance to semi-final where 1st place team plays 2nd place team in other division. Those winners play off for district championship; winner advances to regional championship. Flight playoff dates are February 7 & 8. As an extension to the local season, teams will be responsible for court cost by paying additional match fees.

  • Flight Playoff: Westside, Feb 7, 8pm Div I vs Kende/Vogt; quarter final – one round (Feb 8 for Div II) – court fees are required
  • District Championship: NTC, Mar 3 Semi and Final (possible two rounds)
  • Regional (Metro) Championship: NTC, May
  • Eastern Section Championship: Schenectady, (June, first Fri-Sun)
  • National Championship:

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An autumn morning

DSCN1097 DSCN1099 DSCN1098

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Summary 2012

Captain’s meeting was held on Oct 12, 2011 at Jackson Avenue Steakhouse now a Sports Bar. I think when I attended the first meeting in the fall of 2009, it was called Al’s Steakhouse & Seafood; last year it changed to Jackson. This year the meeting was housed to an individual room to the left with own entrance. The bathroom was newner and nicer, there was a small sitting area with sofas by the door/window facing the Jackson Avenue. However, the plates became plastic while the glasses and utensils remained real. Odd combination.
Someone wore this motorcycle helmet, which to me, looks good enough for a trip to the moon. Wondering if it has Boss stereo built in? Or air conditioner? At least a cooling fan?

The meeting stated to start at 6:30pm but didn’t start till 7:10. This is the first time that I made it there on time. Oh well. I had to leave early for the 8pm match at the Westside.

The schedule won’t be ready till next week but the league will provide the sign up sooner; and asked us to be ready to play the first match on Oct 31. Actually most players would rather have the schedule first, to align with their own. The Manhattan season runs 10/31/2011 – 02/09/2012.

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Court of Appeals

Pls read here. The following article is from Tennis magazine
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Nov/Dec 2011 issue on stalling

Q:

In a recent USTA mixed doubles match, our opponents chose to huddle up and discuss strategy after every point, sometimes for up to a minutes. This slowed the match considerable and disrupted our rhythm. Needless to say, we didn’t play as well as we hoped and lost a close match. Is there a time limit between points? And does it matter who is serving? Could we have called a delay of game?

A:

The maximum time between points, according to the Rule 29, is 30 seconds. When its’ your serve, your opponents must play to your ‘reasonable pace’ (Rule 21). That said, in matches when there are no ballpersons, some additional time is permitted to corral the loose balls. Still, regularly engaging in the lengthy discussions you describe is also a violation of The Code, item 38, which deals with stalling. You should ask your opponents to pick up the pace and if they don’t, seek out an official to time the match. There’s no provision for you to directly penalize your opponents for “delay of game”.

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Love thy neighbors: your ID, in 2011

I began to video after one of the four white neighbors demanded to see our IDs … they then moved on to explain why did they take our court as we were taking a break …

One windy Saturday morning in October. Under a few white clouds that dotted the light blue sky, I was sweating out with the boys on the court at the North. This location has four courts, is evenly divided by a resting area with a three tier bleacher.

At about 7:50am, the three courts were taken by 12 Asian players. One lone player was on the fourth court by himself. After our set just got started, Kai and wife came but opted to run than joining the Lonesome Dove. Five minutes later, two white guys whom I’ve never seen before came, so did 渔夫 Fisherman. I greeted Fisherman in Mandarin and told him to warm up with the singleton.

One of the strangers asked if there’s a sign up sheet for the court.
No, there isn’t.
When our set was over, I went to the bleacher for a sip of water. The twosome was still around. One of them asked if we would be done soon.

“I got here only a little before you. We just finished our first set.” I replied.

He then pointed to the far end court, asking me if I knew when did they get here.

“I don’t know exactly but they were playing when I got here.”

The pair left.

At around 9:15, the players next us on the far end side left. The same two white guys came with two more white guys. They got on the court and began to play.

Ron teamed up with Wei beat Fisherman and I 6-3. Fisherman said he’ll be right back then hurried off the court to take care the usual business at home. The three of us went to the bleacher leaving the balls on the court, taking a break and watching our friends playing on the other side.

the fisherman goes to fishing

My small town of 40,000 residents is a peninsular sits on the Long Island Sound. The high taxes create a coveted school district that consistently ranked in the top 15 in the nation and lush parks with sixty-five tennis courts. This number does not include the additional 23 courts scattered in a few incorporated villages and many more at the private homes. The racial make up of the town in 2010 is 82.8% White, 2.0% African American, 0.20% Native American, 7.2% Asian, 3.9% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. [Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.2% of the population.???] Over a generation, the biggest shift in demography is Asians. When my husband graduated from this school in 1982, he was the only Asian male in his grade. Nowadays Asians accounts for xx% at school. The schools and tennis courts are only for us, the residents. However many people, mostly immigrants taking advantage of the relaxed system, sending their kids to our schools and playing on the courts. In the 1990s, I have seen a Taiwanese acquaintance in town, who would quit his medical practice to run a high profile non profit organization allowed their relative’s child to attend our school from Queens. The child would commune to their home daily to board the school bus. Recently, a Chinese friend told me that Chinese youngsters from Queens are being bused here by mini van, attending school illegally.
On the tennis front, the public courts are never guarded. One finely educated tennis buff from China went as far as to host tennis tournaments on the public courts illegally and charged $20 entrance fee.

Our high schools, although are not as highly rated in the nation like when my husband attended, it was rated in single digit nevertheless they’re have been one of top rated in the nation. So our little town has been a prime target for near

xx

About ten minutes later we decided to play again, we found the Gang of Four had moved into our court, without asking us first.

It’s an etiquette that you do ask the players who were vacating a court if they’re done.

So I said, “Excuse us but we aren’t done yet.”

The four looked at each other then back at us,

“Oh, we thought you were done because you took your stuff off the court.”

Fact 1. Our stuff (bags, etc.) have always been on the bench, they were never on the court

Fact 2. Our balls were still on the court

They tried to ignore us and continue to play. Just then, Fisherman came back and walked on to the court.

One of the guys berated Fisherman,

“Didn’t you see we’re playing?! .. .. You should not have walked onto the court …”

Fisherman replied,

“This is our court, we haven’t done yet, I just went home to relief myself.”

In my untrained eyes, I really don’t see any difference between the two courts, except one is closer to the bench.

That’s when the hell broke out. The Four began talking on top of their lungs in fast pace, arguing with us. I didn’t quite remember what was being said and by whom but the slightly heavier guy asked if I live in town.

Where is the neighborly courtesy? I was debating if to entertain him. He took my hesitation as no,

“You shouldn’t even be here. Those courts are for residents only.” He lectured arrogantly then proceeded to demand:
Can I see your ID?

WHAT??? I was totally taken aback at his hostility – the guy to the left of the screen by the fence on video.

Excuse me but what the heck do you think you are and WHO granted you the right?

Fisherman jumped to my defense, telling the Gang of Four,

“Please, let’s just enjoy the nice day and play. .. I live at the corner ..”

They won’t hear it. Mr. ID stormed to his bag, fished out his driver’s license and stuck it to my face, screaming down with the help of his arms – he’s head and shoulders taller than I’m:

“This is my ID, I live here. Do you? Do any of you actually live here? The twelve of you shouldn’t even be here .. .. Let’s call the police .. ” He looked around, as if looking for police or the security guard?

Hmmmmm… In a moment of bewilderment, I wanted to ask which high school did you, the ID-touting dude graduated from, the South or the North in town? I have two generations of graduates in my house.

I had no intention to inspect his ID. It isn’t like 1600 Pennsylvanian Avenue in DC. (Oh, forgot the White House is famously frugal.) JK. One of my friends there joked if the dude lives in the posher part of the town OR on the second floor of a store on main street? Owns a boat or drives a Porsche? Maybe to him, living in this town is a huge accomplishment, worth of flaunting? The fact they’re playing on the public court, just the four of them, shows none of them may have a tennis court at home. We go to play on the public courts becasue we have more than 4 players and want to play simultaneously. When there’s only four souls, we generally play on the private court.

His unfounded enmity was overwhelming. Why did he think he get to play sheriff? Because we are not white, so we shouldn’t live in the same town as he did? OR something related to China that ticks him off? His job was out sourced to China? A big deal lost to China? I don’t experience such uncouth people often, that’s what prompted me to take out my camera to record this ugly encounter. Unfortunately the better part had gone missing – people generally try to behave better on camera.

In the video, they’re still saying “Everything’s off the court .. .. so .. we thought you’re done .. ” See the Fact 1 and 2 above.

Thought? Does it mean they assumed – making an ass out of himself or what…?

One of them, after telling his partner to be quite, muttering “.. respect .. ”

Hmmmm .. how can one expect respect when he doesn’t know what respect is?

It seemed to me, they were very angry about something. Resentment of 12 Chinese taken 3 courts, playing joyously?

The Gang of Four went back to the far end court. Plays resumed by all. Soon I hit a bad shot, the ball rolled into their court. It was between a point. There was a moment a pause, then the four unanimously decided to ignore. The server accelerated his serve.

The etiquette: you always return other court’s ball at your earliest convenience.

Fisherman said,

“Excuse me, ball please.”

The Gang of Four unanimously began their loud talking again, shouting how rude it’s to interrupt their game:

“Don’t you see we’re playing???”

Men behave like sissies.

Fisherman told them “It’s for your own safety.” He’s right. I won’t tolerate a loose ball on the court. It’s indeed dangerous.

A little laugh: Mr. Heavy perhaps doesn’t have the school issued permit, which renders him unable to play should a security guard came checking.

I’ve the permit thou.

Love Thy Neighbors! Just got to love them.

What were they thinking? What provoke them to behave like this?

I always think people as born decent, and I still do. What took me by surprise was the four of them acted rudely together. One or two I could understand. They might have a bad day or by nature are low lifers or bullies. But not all four of them.

The tension subdued toward end of our play. The Gang of Four was cordial in returning our balls.

P.S. Fisherman was the fourth at our Saturday afternoon’s game today. He took his fishing gear too. As it turned out, we had an extra player so he was happily off the hook court. We didn’t even start our set he announced

“Oh .. I caught a fish .. ” A striped bass. We all ran off the court to see it.

He pulled the fish out of the water, then said regretfully,

“Oh .. it’s too small, I’ve to let it go .. ” It’s about four pounds at 18 inches. The allowable size for keeping is 28″.

No sushi for dinner -:( …

The fact, those friends are comfortable middle class. They’re decent and respectful. What more can you ask for a neighbor?

Love thy neighbors 2006

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