Hope Springs Eternal!

Great applicant for OLDER WOMAN BALL PERSON

MALE SENIOR ADULT BALL PERSON

Example of the models they use for ball persons in Madrid

Wouldn't you love being a ball person for this maniac!

Great news for all SENIOR CITIZEN TENNIS PLAYERS:

The WTT New York Sportimes has announced that they are taking applications for SENIOR TENNIS BALL PERSONS.

I have taken advantage of this notice and sent an application to Bernie West. He would make a great one!

I am more inclined to like the methodology used in Madrid though...

Equal Pay? You've Got To Be Kidding!

The discussion of equal pay for unequal work.

The sad and dejected Venus Williams

The infamous and much-maligned official, Lynn Welch.

If there was ever a case for UNEQUAL pay at major tournaments then that day was today...

Venus' match was boring as dirt, Clijsters gave a ray of hope, and that match between Kvitova and Kanepi was the worst thing I have ever seen on television! Kanepi was choking and wheezing all around the court and that made it even worse. Folks, we see better matches at the Baylor women's matches every time...

I did enjoy hearing McEnroe fawning all over the chair official's voice--and I know the Myronian was thrilled to see his favorite, Lynn Welch, doing one of the matches today.

The equal pay discussion doesn't even hold water after today.

Spitting Is Back!

After all the discussions we have had about spitting in the ITA world it seems that it has now made its entrance into the professional world.

Victor Hanescu of Romania was fined $15,000 today for spitting at the crowd in his match at Wimbledon. Seems that someone in the crowd said something that upset him so he spit in their direction and then tanked the rest of the match.

An interesting side note is that four people were arrested following the match for "behavior likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress."

Obviously they have never been to a good ITA match! Just think of how much Skoal he could have bought with $15,000.00.

A Match For The Ages!

Today was a special day in tennis history as John Isner and Nicolas Mahut played one of the epic matches in history. Isner won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68!

The match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes over a period of three days and had 215 aces recorded by the players. Isner had 112 and Mahut had 103.

** Special note: During the time of the playing of this match the national debt in the United States went up $1,700,000,000.00.

Happy Father's Day

A great HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all you Dads out there.

I had a great day with my two kids. I'm just glad and blessed to have two kids that take time out for their Dad.

Clearing Up Confusion About ITA Wear

There have been some rumors spread around that the USTA has "disallowed" our ITA apparel and I wanted to make some things very clear in this discussion.

* We have written approval from the ITA to have the ITA logo on our shirts.

* We have permission from our USTA Sectional Chairman Bruce Sampley and subsequently from the USTA.

* They have been using ITA logo shirts in California for quite a few years and in Denver for a few years--and the USTA didn't like it then either. If they are going to "disapprove" our apparel, then they will have to go after California, Washington, Hawaii, Texas, & Colorado.

* The USTA is still causing difficulties in Washington and Hawaii as well as Texas when it comes to ITA apparel.

Basically it boils down to the USTA trying to flex their muscles over the ITA but the sooner they realize they are separate entities, the better things will be. You do remember that the USTA has sent out materials saying they are not responsible for ITA events and matches.

At the 2010 Texas Section Officials School, Bruce Avery (USTA leadership) made the following two statements:

1. "The USTA is trying to distance itself from the ITA."

2. "The USTA would prefer that you do not wear a USTA shirt when doing ITA matches."

Folks, that makes their intent quite clear...

We are "independent contractors" when we are working for the universities and therefore are free to choose what we wear or don't wear. Since we have the written approval of the ITA, we will be using the new ITA logo shirts.

Feel free to order your apparel at the site listed to the right of this page.

They Speak With Forked Tongue...

All of can attest to an experience with someone who "speaks with a forked tongue." It begins with a mother inthe nursery and continues to the patients in a nursing home but it sure doesn't make it right or even less painful. The sad thing is that it is far too prevalent among tennis officials...

There is nothing more discouraging to have been with someone who tells you one thing to your face and then you find that they say something completely different when they are elsewhere. This seems to be the acceptable form of behavior among tennis officials--but hopefully one that we can deal with properly.

Here are some thoughts on the FTO (forked tongued official):

* Remember that the one who speaks with a forked tongue will eventually be discovered and avoided. Eventually people will get together and compare notes.

* An FTO will eventually lose their work assignments. No referee in their right mind would want them on their team.

* An FTO always howls the loudest when they are abused by another FTO.

GUIDELINES FOR DEALING WITH AN FTO

* Lovingly confront them when they are doing their thing. If that doesn't work, get more explicit.

* Don't listen to their talk. A fire will soon burn out if you don't put wood on it.

* Don't hire them. Eventually they will figure it out.

* If they are in leadership, vote to remove them.

* Don't get caught up in their lies, gossip, and inuendo. Eventually it will come back to bite you.

These are just some thoughts for your contemplation on this beautiful Thursday morning in Dallas...

The Natural Progression of Things

General Motors Logo

Evolved into Government Motors Logo

CEO of Government Motors

Soon to be announced: BARAK PETROLEUM

Since its summertime, I thought you might enjoy a lighter moment...

ITA Apparel Website Up And Running

Green Umpire Shirt & Matching Khaki Cap

Black Referee Shirt

Officials Jacket

The ITA apparel website is now up and running and you can order shirts, caps, windshirts, jackets, and caps at your leisure.

The website is: www.powerscreations.com/ita

BE SURE to note that there are shirts and caps for referees (in black) and shirts (in green) and caps (in khaki) for umpires. The windshirts and jackets are all in black.

A great deal of work has gone into making this site available for you so be sure to order your items so you will be ready for the new collegiate year.

Stop The Presses--Noone Knows What's Happening!

Well, after last week and the weekend in which everyone thought the four Big 12 teams were going to the Pac 16 we get news today that it might not happen...

Seems that the Big 12 might now be the Big 10 if the big 5 teams decide to stay. They are still negotiating over tv rights so who knows what will happen...

We'll try to keep you posted.

At least hope now springs eternal at Jerusalem on the Brazos!

Westward Ho We Go!

The official news just came out today that Texas, Tech, Oklahoma, Colordao, and Oklahoma State will be headed to the new Pac 16. Of course there aren't 16 teams yet so that should add a little more drama to the situation.

Just imagine how tough the Pac 16 Conference Tennis Tournament is going to be! This is going to be great for tennis... I'm not too sure about football and I imagine that Texas and Oklahoma might dominate the western boys--especially with the penalties handed out to USC.

Texas A&M is still pondering about whether to go to the SEC or the Pac 16. My only thought is this: "he who hesitates is lost."

Our poor Baylor folks are kind of left out in the cold on this one. I imagine they will end up in either the Mountain West or Conference USA. I doubt seriously that they will go to the Southland Conference or the Sunbelt Conference.

Just wanted to get the news out to you. We'd welcome your thoughts and comments...

Impending Doom!

By Friday of this week we should know Nebraska's decision about jumping to the Big 10--and the demise of the Big 12...

Once Nebraska jumps ship you can be sure that Texas, A&M, Oklahoma, and OSU won't be far behind as they probably head to the Pac 10 (or should I say Pac 16).

We'll post more about this on Friday but what are your speculations about what this means for tennis and tennis officials in the Big 12??? I don't think it is going to be something that we like.

New Chair Training Opportunities

As officials we have all faced the dilema of wanting to do chairs, but then being told that we don't have enough experience. Its frustrating for the officials wanting to be trained but its also frustrating for those of us who schedule and need officials who have experience.

In order to help with this dilema, we will be offering some great new CHAIR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES this fall. This is in addition to the Chair Academy in May and the Live Fire Training in Waco and should be a great opportunity for all who want to come.

We will be doing the training in conjunction with the summer ITA tournaments in the Metroplex and then with Highland Park High School in the fall. HP High School has graciously agreed to let us chair matches in their dual matches so it affords us a great training opportunity. All participants will receive on court training with an experienced ITA official.

Here are the requirements to participate in this training:

1. You must be USTA and ITA certified. If you have not taken and passed the ITA test there will be a school offered in the Metroplex this summer.

2. You must have a green ITA shirt and a tri colored USTA shirt. We will use the USTA shirts in HP matches and the ITA shirt in the ITA tournaments.

This training is open to anyone who meets the above listed requirements. To apply, contact Randy McDonald at 214 796 7402 or email him at rmtennis@yahoo.com

DATES FOR TRAINING

July 16-18 ITA tournament (Plano) All day.

July 24-26 ITA tournament (UTA) All day.

August 31 HP vs Rockwall (4:00 p.m.)

Sept. 14 HP vs Wylie (4:00 p.m.)

Sept. 21 HP vs Richardson Pearce (4:00 p.m.)

Sept. 24 HP vs Southlake Carroll (3:45 p.m.)

Oct. 5 HP vs Rockwall Heath (4:00 p.m.)

Those who have excelled and are most experienced can also work the following:

Sept. 21 & 22 4A District Team Tournament (Dallas)

Listed below are those who will be doing the training:

Myron Krueger

Lee Thornburg

Randall Edwards

Gary Tolbert

Randy McDonald

2010 French Open Winners

MEN'S SINGLES CHAMPION

Rafael Nadal

WOMEN'S SINGLES CHAMPION

Francesca Schiavone

WOMEN'S DOUBLES CHAMPIONS

Venus & Serena Williams

MEN'S DOUBLES CHAMPIONS

Daniel Nestor & Nenad Zimonjic

Not Much Else To Do...

Well, summertime is here and its hot--and there's not much happening in the tennis world unless you want to rove a ZAT tournament...

Since I have nothing to stir up and too bored to do much else, I thought I would share this glorious pic of Obama and Helen Thomas (White House press corp.) She actually made the outrageous statement this week that Jews should all go back to Poland which is their homeland.

She would flunk the USTA diversity test for sure...