Officials Inclusion Council

Does "inclusion" mean all dogs included?

Or does it mean we all get to surf together...

Or just holding hands and singing...

Just received this in an email today:

The USTA is looking for new Officials Inclusion Council (OIC) members who would like to be considered as candidates to serve a two-year term on the OIC team. If you are interested in serving, please notify your Sectional Chair no later than September 15, 2011. The National Staff will work with Sectional Chairs select individuals to join the OIC.

The OIC reflects a balanced mix of professional and grassroots officials with a wide range of demographics. In addition to quarterly on-site weekend meetings, participation also requires monthly conference calls and additional outside work between meetings and conference calls. There are three sub-councils, each with two co-chairs plus serving members. The sub-councils are: Recruitment, Development & Retention; Culture & Environment; and Communications.

The OIC exists to support the mission of the USTA: “To promote and develop the growth of tennis” and help foster and implement the USTA’s core values and strategies for diversity and inclusion while creating an environment that is respectful and supportive of all officials.

OIC Suggestion Box Program

The OIC continues to receive comments and suggestions from umpires across the country. We spend a great deal of time researching and drafting responses to all of the great questions we have received as well as addressing suggestions and ideas. If you are interested in submitting a questions or comment, write us at OIC.COMMUNICATIONS@USTA.COM.

* What does "inclusion" mean in USTA language????

New Indoor Facility At Baylor University

Headlines announcing the new facility.

Architect's drawing.

The headlines of the Waco Tribune today announced the new Baylor University indoor tennis facility. The new indoor courts will be located across from the Ferrell Center on the Baylor campus. The facility will feature four indoor courts at an approximate cost of $7 million.

Perhaps this will encourage the same development at UT and A&M. SMU already has plans for their indoor facility.

Things are on the move in Texas...

And The Race Is On...

And the race is on to sign up officials for the 2012 season...

Let's see... Its July and ITA coordinators around the state (TCU and Baylor) are already sending out their availabilities for the spring tennis season. It sure can't be said that ITA coordinators aren't prepared. (I always find it fun trying to project out my life for 6-8 months and make firm commitments.)

Oh well, it just increases the anticipation of the coming tennis season and THE RACE IS ON...

At Least She's In...

You may call her a lot of things but you sure can't call her fat any more.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) Serena Williams is using her special injury-protected No. 1 ranking to get into the U.S. Open field.

She is ranked 172nd this week, and only the top 105 players have been granted direct entry into the field for the year's last major championship, which starts Aug. 29 in New York.

But because Williams was sidelined more than six months by a series of health issues, she has the right to use her special ranking to enter up to eight tournaments, including one Grand Slam.

"I have nothing to lose," Williams said Wednesday at a news conference in New York City before a World Team Tennis event. "I think that's when people are the most dangerous."

The U.S. Tennis Association announced Wednesday that the provisional field for the U.S. Open has 97 of the top 100 women in the WTA rankings, including two-time defending champion Kim Clijsters, Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and French Open champion Li Na.

Williams said she expects to play in upcoming WTA tournaments at Stanford, Toronto and Cincinnati to get into shape.

"It was really awful to miss the Open last year," Williams said. "My goal is to make sure I'm really fit. It's the longest I've taken ever taken off from tennis, so it's a challenge."

Chair Training Opportunities

Chair training opportunities will be offered again this fall to officials throughout Texas. The training will take place in conjunction with the Highland Park High School dual matches and will feature at least two chairs for each official at a dual match. Each participant will receive on court chair training by an experienced instructor.

The requirements are simply that an official is USTA certified and has a desire to do chair officiating. They must also have a USTA shirt to wear when officiating.

Because this is a training opportunity, there will be no pay for the matches. It will however open doors for future chair officiating work and those who complete the training will have the inside track for spring ITA work as well as participation in the 2012 Chair Academy which will be held in May.

Here is the schedule for training matches:

September 6 4:00 p.m. Highland Park vs Wylie East HS

September 16 4:00 p.m. Highland Park vs Ennis HS

September 23 4:00 p.m. Highland Park vs McKinney Boyd HS

September 27 4:00 p.m. Highland Park vs McKinney North HS

October 11 4:00 p.m. Highland Park vs McKinney HS

October 14 4:00 p.m. Highland Park vs Allen HS

A training participant may choose any or all of these training opportunities if they so desire.

If you are interested in this training, please contact:

Randy McDonald (rmtennis@yahoo.com)

214 796 7402

Having The Right Idea

The three McDonald children resting on a hot summer day...

Now these two have the right idea for a summer's day in Texas...

The Perfect License Plate

This would be the perfect license plate for many many tennis players...

Have any other suggestions?

A&M Names New Women's Head Coach

HOWARD JOFFE

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Howard Joffe (pronounced JOFF-ee, rhymes with coffee), one of the brightest young collegiate tennis coaches in the country, has been named the new Texas A&M women's head tennis coach, Aggie Director of Athletics Bill Byrne announced Monday.

"I am very pleased to announce that Howard Joffe has accepted the position as our women's head tennis coach," Byrne stated. "He comes very highly recommended by many people within the tennis community and has done a great job of rebuilding two previous programs. He was the top candidate put forward by our committee headed by (Senior Associate Athletics Director) Jeff Schmahl."

"Coach Joffe is an extremely talented recruiter and developer of young tennis players," Schmahl said. "His work ethic is second to none and he has one of the most positive attitudes of any coach I've been around. I have no doubt that Howard will be Building Champions with the Texas A&M women's tennis team."

Joffe has had success both as a head coach and as an assistant coach having served as the head women's tennis coach at the University of Maryland for the past two years and led the Terrapins to the NCAA Championships this past season, marking the Terps' first appearance in the NCAA Championships since 2006. Joffe's squad finished 13-10 and was No. 34 in the final ITA rankings.

"It is no secret that Texas A&M is one of the best places in the country for tennis, as well as the entire athletics department," Joffe said. "I was very impressed by everything at Texas A&M. The academic reputation, the athletics success and the support of the overall athletic program and the great fan support of the 12th Man makes everything top notch."

Yet Another View: Why Old Men Shouldn't Play On Public Courts

And here's the reason why...

(This one came late last night so I thought I should print it as soon as possible to keep from offending any more of our female counterparts.)

WHY OLD MEN SHOULDN'T PLAY ON PUBLIC COURTS

1. They cheat. Have you ever stopped and listened to them accuse their opponents of everything under the sun?

2. They're slow. Just time them and see how long it takes them to walk to the courts after they get their senior discount on court time.

3. They don't have kids. This enables them to talk freely about all their sexual ailments and treatments.

4. They stink. Its common knowledge that old men don't bathe very often--and are proud of it!

5. They can't volley. Not because of lack of ability but lack of the mobility needed to get to net.

6. They don't own a stopwatch. And they don't care nor do they intend to buy one. They depend on the women coming after them to remind them when their time is up.

7. They're cheap. How much does a new white t-shirt cost?

8. They're obscene. Have you seen some of the shorts they are wearing? They're the ones they saved from the 60's.

9. They fart. They are all proud of their bodily functions and show them off as often as possible.

10. They swear. Because of their limited vocabulary, this is the end result.

11. They leer. Most of them are latent horndogs but all that's left is their imagination and fond memories of days gone by.

12. They flirt. And they always choose the hottest woman out there to practice their trade.

13. They pee in public. They don't see any reason to walk all the way to the clubhouse when a tree will do.

14. They talk too loud. Just play next to four of them and you will see.

15. They don't support the local pro. Not only will they never take a lesson they haven't bought a racket, shoes, or clothes in the past 15 years.

16. They wear out the baselines. The only time they go near the net is when they are finished and/or are changing ends.

17. They hate kids. Just watch what happens when one of those women brings their brats to play next to the court while they play a league match. They raised their kids and don't mind telling you they don't want to be near any more.

18. They're experts on tennis. They all know why Nadal lost the Wimbledon finals...

Just Another Opinion...

Women playing tennis on public tennis courts--right or wrong?

I recently ran across the following article and was saving it for just the right day--and maybe that day has arrived after reading some of the recent comments on the blog.

I'll not reveal the name of the author but if you are offended, we will allow you space to rebut...

Here you go:

REASONS WHY WOMEN SHOULD NOT PLAY TENNIS ON PUBLIC COURTS

For many years now I have been trying to muster the courage to write this article, and the time has finally arrived… You may or may not agree and it really doesn’t matter at all, but at least I have shared my wise and objective opinion on this universe-threatening issue.

Here are the reasons why women should not be allowed to play tennis on public courts:

1. They cheat. All you have to do is listen to a bunch of women after their match is over and they are convinced they have just played (and probably lost to) the biggest cheat in the northern hemisphere.

2. They clog up the lobby in the clubhouse. Seems that women all want/need to go to the bathroom at the same time and a man has no chance of navigating through the lobby when the call has been issued.

3. They have kids. Woe unto any club that let’s mothers bring their fair-haired children to the match with them. You are then stuck with babysitting for the four hours it takes their mother to finish her match.

4. They smell. Perfume is a wonderful and necessary thing for women but it sucks when its blended with aspercreme, ben gay, icy-hot, and all the other stuff they use for their imagined injuries.

5. They can’t volley. I have never yet met a woman who could actually volley so in essence they are wasting part of the court that could be put to much better us

6. They gossip. If you doubt this one, just hang around and listen when they are done or when they take a water break during the match.

7. They don’t own a stopwatch. If they did, they wouldn’t take 5 minutes on changeovers and 2 minutes between points.

8. They’re cheap. They always complain about the rates the club charges no matter what it is and they never buy their stuff at the clubhouse. They haven’t figured out that if they want a good pro, then they need to support him.

9. They sweat too much. Women seem to sweat way too much these days and there’s nothing more unenticing than a sweaty woman.

10. Their clothes selection sucks. Why do women wear outfits to play tennis in that they wouldn’t ever been seen in on a regular day?

11. Their hair-dos are pathetic. Most of them look like they just got out of bed in time to run to the courts.

12. If they even have make-up on, it runs. The vast majority look like they don’t wear a shred of makeup and the ones who do need to buy the kind that doesn’t run when they sweat.

13. They’re mean. Have you ever listened to them arguing with each other when they hate a call or lose count of the score?

14. Most of them are too fat. There are a few hotties out there but most are poster children for Weight Watchers and rightfully so.

15. Their clothes are too tight. Tight fitting clothes on a walrus isn’t becoming so please don’t inflict that upon us men.

16. They swear. A guy swearing is normal but a woman screaming the F word is disgusting and unbecoming.

17. They hate men. Just look at how they react when their time is up and they don’t want to get off the court for the men who have it booked after them.

18. They can’t tell time. How many women actually show up on time for their matc

19. They run up the plumbing bills at the facility. Ask the manager how many times he has to call the plumber after the ladies have been there.

A New Candidate For Chair Official

MICHELLE OBAMA

Candidate to become a USTA chair official.

I recently received an email with a recommendation for a new chair official...

I will leave the rest up to your imagination but at least she meets a lot of the criteria for diversity (which we all know rules and reigns in the officials world today). The snarl would make her quite imposing!

Update On Tom Wright

Just a little update on Tom Wright and his recent hip replacement surgery...

Tom had a 3 hour surgery on Wednesday to replace his hip. He is home now and doing quite well.

Vickie said he was out watering his flowers this morning so the recovery must be happening pretty quickly.

I know you all share in our happiness over Tom's successful surgery and quick recovery time.

I'm Bored...

Seems like this about the calmest summer in history for tennis. We have a new king in men's tennis and the women's tennis is even worse than ever so there's not much to get excited about.

There are some ZATs and Super Champs tournaments going on but those don't bring much excitement unless they let us read the complaint forms on all the misbehaving parents...

We do have two big ITA tournaments coming in the next two weeks so that should liven things up around the DFW area. Thank goodness.

We are all still wondering who the new women's coach will be at A&M so that does help a bit with the boredom...

Of course there is the fascination with Mitch Krueger and wondering where he will go to college. There's still a shred of hope for UT and OU--but not much...

Cathy Kennan did sell her house and will be moving to Florida in the near future. We will miss having her around here but I'm sure she will liven up the east coast...

That's about all the news and thoughts I have for this hot summer day. If you know of something good to write about, send it to me... I'm bored!

A New King Is Crowned

NOVAK DJOKOVIC proudly displaying his Wimbledon trophy.

Totally enjoying the moment...

Novak Djokovic ascended to the highest heights of men's tennis today when he dominated Rafael Nadal in the finals of Wimbledon. In addition to winning the Australian Open as well, Novak now sits atop the men's world rankings at #1--and rightfully so. The only match he has lost this year was in the semi-finals of the French Open to Roger Federer.

Congratulations to a most worthy champion...

The Best (And Only) Of The Americans At Wimbledon

BOB & MIKE BRYAN

2011 Wimbledon Men's Doubles Champions

Congratulations to the Bryan brothers for winning yet another Wimbledon title. They are also the only Americans remaining in the competition this year.

Wonder what happens next????

Wimbledon Update: Finals All Set...

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

New World's #1 Player and Singles Finalist

Djokovic in action.

The Bryan Brothers play in yet another Grand Slam final.

Some think NADAL can walk on water--we'll see on Sunday!

MARIA SHARAPOVA

Brings some class to the women's singles final.

But she can be intimidating...

PETRA KVITOVA

Trying to win her first Grand Slam title.