Austin Krajicek & Jeff Dadamo
The NCAA tournament also featured a retirement by Michael Shabaz of Virginia in his semi-finals match with Steve Johnson of USC. Here is the account of the retirement from Zoo tennis:
The controversy began in the first set, with Johnson serving at 5-6, 30-40, a set point, and only the third break point of the match to date, with Shabaz having saved two in the previous game.
"We had a three, four ball rally and he hits a slice that I thought was clearly out, a couple of inches," said Johnson, who gestured in dismay after he returned the shot. "The referee on the line didn't call it, but the chair overruled it, which I felt was the right call, but I guess he feels differently, and most of the UVA people here feel differently."
Playing with a full complement of line judges for the first time, after the players had called their own lines through the quarterfinals with a chair to overrule clear mistakes, there was an adjustment to be made. Although both players adapted quickly to the change, the first set tiebreaker brought another controversial call, or lack of one, irritating Shabaz again. Serving at 5-4, Johnson hit a surprise kick first serve, which Shabaz didn't get back in play, giving Johnson two set points. On Johnson's next first serve, a flat one, Shabaz thought it was long, making no move to Johnson's return of his return. The chair umpire, Michael Standrod, called the score, game and first set to Johnson, while Shabaz pleaded his case. During the set break, Shabaz continued to discuss the failure of the chair to call a fault, especially since he had overruled on the previous set point.
"I couldn't tell you, it was close either way," Johnson said of his serve. "It's hard for me to tell. Peter (Smith, USC head coach), for what it's worth, told me it was good, whether he was just saying that because he's my coach, or because it was good, I don't know. But it's tough to see, it's tough conditions, but sometimes it doesn't go your way and you have to be ready for anything."
The second set started as the first had, with no break points and easy holds through the first five games. Serving at 2-3, 30-15, Shabaz hit a forehand wide, and on the next point Johnson came up with an audacious dipping cross court pass to make it 30-40. Shabaz missed his first serve, and as the ball came back to him he swatted at it, with some anger but not any visible emotion. Unfortunately for him, the ball left the stadium, and the chair called out point penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct, game Johnson. As both players walked to the bench, Shabaz approached Johnson and shook his hand, while Virginia head coach Brian Boland, who was watching from the stands, could be heard to shout, "No, Shaz, No." Shabaz put his racquet in his bag and walked off the court, while all 1500 fans, who had been treated to an extremely high-quality display of tennis to that point, sat in stunned silence.
"I'm not sure what happened," said Johnson. "He was just done. After the point penalty, hitting it out of the stadium, he just called it quits. I've never had that happen in a match in my life. He's a tough competitor, I'm just kind of confused about what happened."
Johnson was hardly the only one.
"I'm speechless," said USC head coach Smith, who said he had never seen a match end that way in his over 20 years of collegiate coaching. "I actually feel sorry for all those involved. Michael is a way better person than that, and that program's a way better program than that. There were some missed calls, but that's tennis, if you've got umpires or not. I've got a lot of text messages asking me what just happened."
Cavalier head coach Boland described himself as speechless, but went on to elaborate on his disappointment with the 23-year-old senior from Fairfax, Virginia.
"I would probably consider that the lowest point in my 15 years as a head coach. I'm in shock.'
Asked if he shared Shabaz's frustration with the chair umpire, Boland was blunt.
"You are never justified in quitting a tennis match, under any circumstances, no matter what the adversity," said Boland. "Whether we agree or disagree with the line calls, whether we're having the worst day of our lives. I've told my players that my entire coaching career and I'm in absolute shock."
"We had a three, four ball rally and he hits a slice that I thought was clearly out, a couple of inches," said Johnson, who gestured in dismay after he returned the shot. "The referee on the line didn't call it, but the chair overruled it, which I felt was the right call, but I guess he feels differently, and most of the UVA people here feel differently."
Playing with a full complement of line judges for the first time, after the players had called their own lines through the quarterfinals with a chair to overrule clear mistakes, there was an adjustment to be made. Although both players adapted quickly to the change, the first set tiebreaker brought another controversial call, or lack of one, irritating Shabaz again. Serving at 5-4, Johnson hit a surprise kick first serve, which Shabaz didn't get back in play, giving Johnson two set points. On Johnson's next first serve, a flat one, Shabaz thought it was long, making no move to Johnson's return of his return. The chair umpire, Michael Standrod, called the score, game and first set to Johnson, while Shabaz pleaded his case. During the set break, Shabaz continued to discuss the failure of the chair to call a fault, especially since he had overruled on the previous set point.
"I couldn't tell you, it was close either way," Johnson said of his serve. "It's hard for me to tell. Peter (Smith, USC head coach), for what it's worth, told me it was good, whether he was just saying that because he's my coach, or because it was good, I don't know. But it's tough to see, it's tough conditions, but sometimes it doesn't go your way and you have to be ready for anything."
The second set started as the first had, with no break points and easy holds through the first five games. Serving at 2-3, 30-15, Shabaz hit a forehand wide, and on the next point Johnson came up with an audacious dipping cross court pass to make it 30-40. Shabaz missed his first serve, and as the ball came back to him he swatted at it, with some anger but not any visible emotion. Unfortunately for him, the ball left the stadium, and the chair called out point penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct, game Johnson. As both players walked to the bench, Shabaz approached Johnson and shook his hand, while Virginia head coach Brian Boland, who was watching from the stands, could be heard to shout, "No, Shaz, No." Shabaz put his racquet in his bag and walked off the court, while all 1500 fans, who had been treated to an extremely high-quality display of tennis to that point, sat in stunned silence.
"I'm not sure what happened," said Johnson. "He was just done. After the point penalty, hitting it out of the stadium, he just called it quits. I've never had that happen in a match in my life. He's a tough competitor, I'm just kind of confused about what happened."
Johnson was hardly the only one.
"I'm speechless," said USC head coach Smith, who said he had never seen a match end that way in his over 20 years of collegiate coaching. "I actually feel sorry for all those involved. Michael is a way better person than that, and that program's a way better program than that. There were some missed calls, but that's tennis, if you've got umpires or not. I've got a lot of text messages asking me what just happened."
Cavalier head coach Boland described himself as speechless, but went on to elaborate on his disappointment with the 23-year-old senior from Fairfax, Virginia.
"I would probably consider that the lowest point in my 15 years as a head coach. I'm in shock.'
Asked if he shared Shabaz's frustration with the chair umpire, Boland was blunt.
"You are never justified in quitting a tennis match, under any circumstances, no matter what the adversity," said Boland. "Whether we agree or disagree with the line calls, whether we're having the worst day of our lives. I've told my players that my entire coaching career and I'm in absolute shock."
13 comments:
That's my boy!!
Chair umpire in Johnson/Shabaz match overrules baseline ump. The line ump had a better look at it! It was a huge point, only a few points determine a match this tight and the players know it. Then Chair overrules another linesman which goes against Shabaz again!.
What are the linesmen for if the Chair won't use them?
Why the lines people? that makes NO SENSE!!! Why not let the players make me the calls and have ONE other person there to agree or disagree... NOT a bunch of people that have NEVER played at that level! Very sad - I feel sorry for BIG MIKE having to deal with it. BETTER YET - if there going to be on the court - let them just confirm calls....
MY THOUGHTS... BACO
Move along, nothing to see here..... These linespeople were personally selected by the self-appointed ITA guru from California. How could anything actually go wrong??
It serves Jim Russell right for selecting the officials he did. Yeah they may have limited ITA chair experience and it appears they have NO line experience.
This is just typical of the way the NCAAs work. I can't understand why Big Jim would put officials on all lines when he refuses to use a far sideline official in deciding doubles and singles matches.
Just doesn't make sense. Maybe it's time to find a new referee that can actually select good qualified officials for working the big matches and get away from the good ole boy mentality of selecting chair officials.
I was really surprised to see Mike Standrod working a chair. I don't think he's very strong and I know he hasn't done that much chair work. He is usually the big referee walking around Arkansas matches.
If I read this correctly they changed from ITA format to ITF format with the lines being called by the linesmen and chair. Why???? Who has the authority to change the rules and why did the coaches let them? If they did this, Shabaz should have been given a warning for the ball leaving the court. Just like any other ITF match. The first codeable offense is a warning. When do you get to pick and choose what rules you want to enforce? I can't say I blame the guy for walking off. He didn't know what set of rules he was playing under.
Let's nominate CJ to be the replacement referee starting next year. And she would no doubt get the compensation for the NCAA nationals to at least a regular season dual rate scale. The good 'ole boy system seems to be breaking down. Where's Leroy when you need him??
NCAA's only use line dummies for the individual tournament because they have all those leftover chair umpires from the team event with nothing to do and they need more money to make it worth the trip!
So many sour grapes. Hope you all don't get indigestion.
Chuck Scott or Vickie Wright would do a better job!
BACO
A good conversation would be to talk about "line Dummies" and whether cahirs like them or or not. I know is some places it does not matter - whatever the coach likes is what we do - but, it would be interesting to find out how many people thingk they are a bad idea or good idea...
BACO
BACO U SUX AT SPEELLING
I have never seen better than this site.
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