And The Plot Thickens...

Texas A&M University officially notified the Big 12 Conference that the institution will submit an application to join another athletic conference, the school said in a statement. The Aggies are interested in joining the Southeastern Conference. After leaving the Big 12, A&M would apply for SEC membership and have the bid approved by nine of those 12 schools.

Presumably, A&M knows that SEC commissioner Mike Slive has the votes in place. Anything else would be a huge embarrassment. But the Aggies did leave room for a retreat in their statement, noting the withdrawal is conditional on membership in another conference.

Texas A&M would end its membership in the Big 12 Conference effective June 30, 2012.

What Is Your Answer?

Here is a copy of an email I received this weekend. What would your answer be???

Do you know the answer to this?

During a drill there was a discussion .... one of the pro's told the group that the receiver's partner can stand anywhere on the court. "Even sit on the bench if he/she wants to." ... at the beginning or during the point.

FAC Rule 8 SERVER & RECEIVER p.8 ... Case 1: Is the receiver allowed to stand outside the lines of the court? Decision: The May take any position inside or outside the lines on the receiver's side of the net.

FAC Rule 26 HINDERANCE p19 Case 5: In doubles where are the server's partner and receiver's partner allowed to stand? Decision: The server's partner and the receiver's partner may take any position on their own side of the net, inside or outside the court. However, if a player is creating a hinderance to the opponent(s), the hinderance rule should be used.

FAC Rule 15 ORDER OF RECEIVING IN DOUBLES p.11 Case 1: Is one member of a doubles team allowed to play alone against the opponents? Decision: NO

If the receiver's partner was sitting on the bench, would it then be 2 playing against 1? .... in violation of Rule 15? However, if the receiver's partner was injured and couldn't run, didn't want to retire, but chose to stand in one spot and let his partner do the running, would that be within the confines of the rules? Could the opposing team of the "bench sitter" say the person sitting on the bench was a hinderance.

I can't imagine one player sitting on the bench, while his partner played the match ... but the debate was about ...... was it within the rules.

A Night At The Texas Open (WTA Event in Grapevine)

Not sure who is playing but that is Ron Morrill on the baseline and Susan Wertenberger on the sideline.

Gary Rayburn in action on the baseline.

Andy Suchower on the baseline.

"Watching Grass Grow" might have well described in the evening.

Last night I had the wonderful privilege of taking my son's girlfriend, Nicole, to her first pro tennis tournament--we went to the Texas Open in Grapevine for this WTA event.

The night was great fun as she saw chair officials and linespeople for the first time and saw how hard some women can actually hit a tennis ball. She loved the flair and excitement of the show!

I thought the highlight of the evening was how well our local officials did calling lines. They looked sharp and did a fine job throughout the evening.

The chair officials on the other hand were another story. I watched four different chair officials and if I were grading them, they would get a "C" at best. One kept slouching in his chair, one couldn't get the score right, one kept trying to impress the crowd with his fake accent, and overall they were weak to say the least.

The players made a lot of noise but produced little if any quality tennis. I've seen better at college dual matches. One was so out of shape that by the second set she was wheezing in the heat... At least they wore some great outfits so that helped pass the evening.

The facility was nice--but poorly attended. In the match we were watching there were 16 people in the stands so I sure hope they had some good sponsors. The general admission bleachers weren't finished on the center court and they elected to finish the bleachers first on the side that looked directly in the sun. The ones in the shade haven't been completed yet--but hopefully will be by Sunday.

Overall it was a fun evening because I went with a wonderful person, saw a lot of good friends, and enjoyed seeing my friends perform well--but in the end result, it was kind of like watching grass grow.

You've Got To Be Kidding Me

SERENA WILLIAMS reacting to US Open seeding.

Serena Williams was seeded 28th for the U.S. Open, which stuck with its policy of following the rankings instead of taking into account players’ past performances.

It means Williams could face one of the Grand Slam tournament’s top eight seeded players as early as the third round.

The 29-year-old American leads active women with 13 major championships, including three at Flushing Meadows—in 1999, 2002 and 2008. She recently won consecutive hard-court tuneup tournaments at Stanford and Toronto, making her one of the favorites to win the U.S. Open, which starts next Monday.

A former No. 1, the American is ranked 29th this week. That’s up from 175th in July, a few weeks after she returned to the tour following nearly a year off because of a series of health problems.

“After careful deliberation regarding Serena Williams’ seeding, we decided to maintain the objective criteria in place to determine the women’s singles seeds at this year’s U.S. Open,” tournament director Jim Curley said in a statement released Tuesday by the U.S. Tennis Association.

In the past, Grand Slam tournaments have taken into account factors other than the official rankings when determining seedings.

At the most recent major tournament, Wimbledon, two-time defending champion Williams was moved up to No. 7 in the seedings, 19 spots higher than her ranking at the time, even though it was only the second tournament of her comeback. She wound up losing in the fourth round at the All England Club.

Her older sister Venus, a five-time Wimbledon champion, also was bumped up in the seedings there. But Venus Williams isn’t seeded at all for the U.S. Open, which she won in 2000 and 2001; she’s ranked 36th this week.

Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, the 2009 U.S. Open runner-up, is also No. 1 in the women’s singles seedings announced Tuesday, followed by Vera Zvonareva, last year’s losing finalist.

Two-time reigning U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters, who is ranked No. 3, will miss the tournament this year with a stomach muscle injury. Fourth-ranked Maria Sharapova, the 2006 champion in New York, moves up to third in the seedings.

The men’s seedings are to be announced Wednesday, and the draw for the year’s last Grand Slam tournament is Thursday.

Finally! A Cold Front--Drops Temp From 141 to 127

On court temperature at 3:30 p.m. on August 20, 2011.

In the Highland Park vs Plano West dual match yesterday the temperate on court at 1:45 p.m. was 141 degrees. At 3:30 the temperature had dropped to only 127 degrees.

Thank the Lord for a summer cold front!

Chair Refresher Opportunities

Carol Linden in action! One of our more experienced MTOA officials.

All chair officials need a time of refreshing from time to time--and this weekend we have a great opportunity for our Metroplex (or anywhere else) to come and sharpen their skills.

Highland Park High School and Plano West High School are hosting a team tournament on Friday and Saturday and it features the top high school teams in the state--and they have invited us to come and do chairs at their tournament.

This opportunity is open to everyone and even if you are a new official and would like to come and do chairs, here is the schedule: (We will have experienced officials there to help if you are a new official and would like to learn to do chairs.)

Friday 7:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at Highland Park High School

Saturday 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at Highland Park High School

There will be no pay for the event but it is a great opportunity to get some great practice on some great matches. These matches are very similiar to college matches so they will afford you some great experience.

We only have room for 6 chairs per dual match so if you are interested please contact:

Randy McDonald

214 796 7402

rmtennis@yahoo.com

How Would You Rule?

Since everyone seems to like this type of post the best, here you go:

SCENARIO

In a men's USTA doubles match, player A (on team A) hit the ball over the net with severe backspin. The ball bounced on the correct side and player B (on team B) was moving to return the ball when it began to go over the net back on to team A's side of the net (without being hit).

As player B was making an attempt to reach over the net and hit the ball before it touched the ground, player A reached in front of him and hit the ball.

Team A claimed the point because they said Player B did not hit the ball before it struck the ground.

How would you rule????

Injury Update On John McEnroe

John McEnroe

TORONTO (AP)—John McEnroe had to be helped off the court with a leg injury during a Rogers Legends Cup match against Michael Chang.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion was stretching for a shot late in the second set Saturday when he collapsed to the ground, his face twisted in pain.

Chang and two medical officials tended to McEnroe as he lay on the court for nearly 10 minutes. They finally hoisted him to his feet and he hobbled off the court, his arms wrapped around the two medics.

He stopped at one point to toss his white hat into the crowd, the effort causing him more discomfort.

The 52-year-old McEnroe was receiving treatment at the Rexall Centre for what appeared to be a left hamstring injury.

This is the first year for the legends event as part of the Rogers Cup.

A Great Night Of Baseball

President Bush at the Rangers game.

President and Laura Bush singing the national anthem.

Secret Service guy (in the blue cap) guarding the President.

Michael Young

What a great night of baseball and privilege I had last night... I went to the Rangers game and sat six rows behind President and Laura Bush. Even though he didn't come visit with me personally (as if we could get through the Secret Service), I did get to see one of my heroes.

BTW, the Rangers lost but I got a great picture of Michael Young! And we got to sit by two newly weds (Cody and Allyson) from Hobbs, New Mexico as they were celebrating their honeymoon at the Rangers game.

Semi-Farewell To One Of The Great Ones

JOHN PETERSON

Retiring coach of Tyler Junior College

John Peterson in action!

With the announcement that John Peterson is stepping down as head tennis coach at Tyler Junior College there was sadness at the news of the announcement but also gladness in knowing that he will still be working with the university. I have been privileged to work closely with John for the past 12 years at junior college nationals and have found him to be one of those rare coaches who exhibit grace, honor, integrity, and wisdom in all that they do. I have been blessed to be his friend--and now I need to enlist him as a tennis official! He would make a good one.

Here is today's announcement:

Coach John Peterson, whose teams have won a combined 25 national championships in his 24 years, has announced that he intends to step down as head tennis coach at Tyler Junior College, effective August 31, 2011. Dash Connell, a former player for Peterson at TJC and current Assistant Coach, has been named as the interim Head Coach.

“John Peterson is a legend in the tennis community and has played a tremendous role in the Tyler Junior College Athletic Department as an Athletic Director and tennis coach,” said Athletic Director Dr. Tim Drain. “He and his wife Dorothy have played in important role in my family’s life that I will never forget, and I will miss seeing him on a daily basis. However, Coach Peterson has agreed to a part-time role in the Athletic Department to help with this transition period, and I do look forward to working with him in that capacity.”

“I am thankful to Billy Jack Doggett and Ray Van Cleef because they were so persistent in getting me to TJC,” said Coach Peterson. “I knew during my interview that it could be special place. I honestly intended to stay a year or two, and here I am nearly 25 years later.”

“I worked under three Presidents and enjoyed them all. I want to thank all the many players that made it possible for us to prosper here. I think the school has done well to award Dash the position. I wish him well and will help him and TJC in any way I can.”

He is a member of the NJCAA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame, the NJCAA Women's Tennis Hall of Fame, and is a 2007 inductee of the Texas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame. In December of 2000, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association named Coach Peterson the Junior College National Coach of the Decade. He was the only coach named coach of the decade in both the men's and women's division.

Coach John Peterson began his tenure in Tyler in 1987, and his teams have experienced great success throughout the years. His men's tennis teams have won twelve national championships, and his women's tennis teams have thirteen national championships, including winning the title the last two years. In his 24 years at TJC, Coach Peterson's overall men's tennis record is 394-101 and his women's teams are 434-88.

Coach Peterson is married to the former Dorothy Driver and has two children and four grandchildren.

John-Paul “Dash” Connell has been an Assistant for Coach Peterson since January 2009. He played at TJC under Peterson from 2001-2003. He then played at Texas A&M from 2003-2005.

After Texas A&M, he was a tennis pro at Willow Fork Country Club from 2006-2009.

In 2003, he was a First-Team NJCAA All-American and won the coveted ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship for Junior College Players. In 2002, he was named a Second-Team NJCAA All-American and won the Donnelly Award from the World Team Tennis Organization. In 2001, he was the Art Foust Sportsmanship Award at the Texas Boys' Super 18 Championships and was the UIL 5A Doubles State Champion.

Dash is married to Shae Connell and they have two sons, Mason (2) and Emerson (2 weeks old).

Reminder For All Referees & Tournament Directors

USTA Texas Section Tournament Director’s Workshop Information

We are gearing up for the annual Tournament Director’s Workshop and look forward to seeing everyone soon. Remember the workshop is mandatory annually for a tournament director or referee of a junior sanctioned tournament, and the workshop is mandatory every two years for a tournament director or referee of an adult, senior or super senior tournament.

If you would like to attend the Austin, Texas workshop on Sunday, August 28th from 10:00am to 4:00pm, please click on the following link and register online. The deadline for this workshop is end of day August 15th. There will be a $3.55 processing charge for this registration.

https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=981463

If you would like to attend the Dallas, Texas workshop sponsored by the DPTA on Monday, September 26th from 10:00am to 4:00pm, please click on the following link and register online. The deadline for this workshop is end of day September 15th. There will be a $3.55 processing charge for this registration. When you check-in at this workshop a $20 check made payable to the DPTA will be due.

https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=982795

Collin College: On The Cutting Edge of Tennis Scheduling

Tournament desk at Collin College.

Computer bank at the tournament desk.

Head coach (Marty Berryman) on the left and assistant coach (Rod Coltman) on the right. Under their direction, Collin College has become one of the premier tennis programs in America.

Easy viewing for players and spectators alike.

Updated draws posted for all to view.

Two words quickly come to mind when considering the tennis program at Collin College in Plano--cutting edge and user friendly. Under the direction of head coach, Marty Berryman, and assistant coach, Rod Coltman, the college has taken huge strides in making their tennis program one of the elite programs in America.

Collin College has been the host for the men's national junior college tennis tournament (NJCAA) for the past 10 years and it is now one of the finest tournaments in the land. The tournament features a Texas Section Chair Academy taught by national and state instructors and now chairs all the matches in the tournament. In 2012, the NJCAA national tournament will also feature the Big 12 Chair Academy in conjunction with the tournament. The Collin College men's team was tri-national champions in 2010.

This year Collin College has made another step in modern technology with the addition of their computerized desk. The tournament desk features screens that show updated matches and scores as well as updated draws for all players and spectators. These new additions are featured above.