These are dark times in deed when the talk turns to the rumored outcome of a practice match. Perhaps the start of a new discussion stream can turn the tide. Still nothing to talk of on the tourney scene specifically but it is interesting that it seems we now have some valley guys coming to this blog to supplement the out-of-towners that drop in from Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. All are welcome of course, though only Houston-based opinions should be viewed as having any relevance (Joking...kind of...).
Had the opportunity to catch some of the golf tourney at Redstone this weekend and it amazes me that professional golfers out-earn professional tennis players by something like 5X. There will be well over a 100 golfers between the US and European golf tours that make over $1 million in prize money this year. There will probably be around 10 ATP players that make more than that this year. The 15th place finisher at the Shell golf tournament pocketed $97,000. The WINNER of next week's River Oaks tennis tournament will pocket $63,000. The winner of the Nationwide minor league golf circuit event this weekend won $108,000. The winner of the typical challenger-level tennis event pockets well under $10,000. What makes this so sad to me is that the average professional tennis player probably practice 3 or 4 hours per day (when not in a tournament) and spend 1 - 2 additional hours in the gym. A professional golfer spends his time between tournaments eating and fattening up before the next event. None of them other than Tiger Woods even remotely resembles an athlete. Is it fair to call them athletes? I guess, in the most generous use of the term. Just a random thought but it just really struck me how as a general rule they just look like any other average fat guy off the street wearing a pair of slacks and a short sleeve polo shirt. When you see a professional tennis player at a tournament it is usually pretty damn easy to tell them apart from the average guys there as spectators, even if you have never seen them before or even heard of them. I am thankful that I am not a golfer.
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99 comments:
golf is not a sport. Anything you can do better at after 3 beers is not a sport. Just like darts and pool. The more I drink, the better I play. At least that is what people tell me. I never can remember.
Golf is truly a rich man sport. Have you ever noticed that as the size of the ball get smaller, the prize money gets larger. Professional tennis players on Pro Tour are like America’s teachers, bunch of hard working people that are not appreciated for their hard efforts.
I agree and women's tennis v. women's golf is even worse in money disparity.
Golf is definitely not a sport and I hate when golf folk get upset at this conversation because it is not meant as an insult. It is just a statement of fact, chess, checkers, pool, darts and women's basketball may not be easy to play but they are just games and as you mentioned all can be played with multiple beers and cigarettes consumed in the midst of of "competition."
Golf is a recreation, not a sport. golf is for snobs and wannabe snobs. why did gatorade made a version for tiger woods? how much electrolytes does it take to walk?
Follow Up:
Something I forgot to mention that makes it even worse is that the earnings window for the typical pro tennis player is roughly ten years (age 19-29) whereas the typical fat golfer can keep getting fatter and fatter and still be playing PGA golf into his mid 40s (20+ year career) and then can still far and away out earn the much younger, harder working ATP players by playing senior golf into his late 50's or beyond. The old, fat golfers only have to play 3 days instead of 4, which fortunately for the golf spectator, gives the golfers an extra day to eat and get even fatter. Anyone ever seen Craig Stadler, aka The Walrus?
Playing both, I have to agree that golf is not a athletic sport, it is however a athletic skill. I enjoy both sports equally but I'm not going to compare it to one another. Now if tennis was to stand on the court(no running) and try to hit a tennis ball across the net within a 1 foot circle, that would be golf.
And we have fat tennis players as well.
Alright, why are we mixing gulf with tennis? It's like comparing apples with oranges. We all know them fat bastards can't hit a tennis ball if you paid them so why bothers with that. Nuff said about golf will ya!
My comments were only in relation to professional golf and professional tennis. Of course there are lots of fat recreational tennis players. And I also can see how golf can be an enjoyable recreational activity. But come on, if you are going to be a professional athlete, lose the gut if only for appearance's sake. That goes for professional bowlers as well. If I find out they make more than tennis players, it is indeed a sad world we live in. I don't really think of NASCAR drivers as athletes but those guys sweat so much in the car that I cannot really think of any fat drivers off the top of my head.
Does Billy Jack play golf?
Damn, yes he does!
You have to be a big fat dude (no offense Leach) to play golf. It's just simple physics, the fatter you are the longer that golf ball gonna travel. I don’t think tennis players make good golf players because we can’t stand to be Big Fat Bastards.
Have you seen some of the fat tennis players at 4.5.
Name top 10 fat guys in 4.5?
4.5 Fat Guys:
Reader (last year, still counts)
Goldberg
Leach
Halm
Gene Salazar
Kallus
David Ceron
J R Pogue
Knutson
Every 4.5 doubles specialist (Rothe, Greg Gold, Greg Dwyer, Marty Flynn, etc.)
Kallus, you got to be joking!
Let me see if I got this right. Now, not only do I talk too much, whine and make excuses, wear sleeveless shirts despite not having any muscles, but to top it off I am also fat? Sounds to me like someone on this blog really likes me.
Kallus, try a piece of fruit once in a while.
I don't know about eating fruit, but I will cut out the chicken fried steak on change-overs.
We are going to put Leach & Kallus in booth camp to get in shape :-)
You forgot Peter Rothe, Kevin Bialas, Tuan Tran, Alex Chang, Ramon Santiago, Glenn Wright, Troy Lewis, Bruce Eaton, Tom Caine
Holy Cow, we all need to go to boot camp!
I weigh 167 pounds. Am I really on the fat list? Is there a new waif movement in men's 4.5 tennis that I did not hear about?
Now that we got the list of the overweight players out which players do you think are in real good shape and can play in the texas grueling heat.
Jason Gound
Ted Pumma
Greg Schmucker
Jacob Casas
Danny Vu
Kallus there is no way you weigh 167 pounds. You have massive love handles and a good size pooch stomach. Never change your shirt on the court again please.
Schmucker is in great shape for a guy over 40. Based on ability to hang in the heat, I would put Kallus on this list assuming his inclusion on the other was either a mistake, a joke, or an attempted insult. He probably couldn't beat any of the other guys listed but it would not be because of fitness, at least not physical. Mental, well....
Who are the best under pressure?
I didn't say I look good. But I am being serious that I weigh under 170 pounds, even if its unfortunately a mushy 170. I had a visit to the doctors office in March so its not even based on a shitty home scale.
JourneyMan,
I am good friends with Schmucker and he is not 40 yet. I have seen his passport and he was born on Christmas day 1969. Age really isn't a big deal anymore today it's the shape your in. Once someone becomes overweight it becomes an uphill battle to lose the weight.
I know Greg has been playing four times a week now at the Racquet Club. Not for sure if Greg and Daniel talked to each other last night since they had league last night. Haven't talked to him today.
Drama in the tennis world.
LOL
=)
I think the discussion about Greg's age already happened last year on either this blog or the league blog. Didn't someone, I think it was Dinker, say he was physically present at Greg's 40th birthday party in '06? What's wrong with being over 40 anyway? Why do you have to be less fit or fast at 41 than you were at 39? You don't if you eat right and keep exercising. Greg, be proud of your age man. I am also over 40 but unfortunately look like I am 50.
Oh yeah, and someone please let us know if Greg and Daniel talked last night. I won't be able to sleep again until I get updated on the most recent episode of "How The Meaningless Recreational Tennis World Turns".
Kallus, you need to drink some ritas and reminiscent to us about how you’re gonna win Buc Days MZ next month, or at least win a couple of matches!
they talked and then they kissed....open mouth...
Brokeback
Brokeback
Good to know the Halm made the Fatboy list......I am fast for an overweight dude though....:)
I knew someone would go there. I may talk too much, whine, make excuses, have no muscles, and now apparently I am morbidly obese, but I draw the line at man love. Me likes me the women, thank you very much.
I hope Greg is over 40 because he looks at least 46. If he is under 40 he must of lived a hard life.
Why is everyone here bashing Schmucker and Kallus?
Never underestimate the "fat boys" they typically are pretty fast with the exception of the a few you mentioned in the list.
Never underestimate the "fat boys" they typically are pretty fast with the exception of the a few you mentioned in the list.
hey,if i can whip ass at 228 pounds,how bad could i whip ass if i was in shape?
lord of strings,
Pound overweight for pound overweight, you are by far the best player in the state. That is intended as a sincere compliment.
Just so everyone knows....the Halm clocks in at 245.....but anyone who has played me knows I am like a bullet train getting to shots...........
I refuse to lose to a "fat boy" unless of course it's "lord of the strings".
I guess since I made the "fat boy" list too I have to chime in. I've been told by other players that I'm pretty fast for a larger guy. I will be in better shape once it get even hotter out and hit the gym. But what I want to know is why is everything so negative lately. It would be nice to hear some positive stuff ONCE in awhile about some people. It gets kind of boring ripping on people all the time. Throw in a compliment to other players once in awhile.
Can somebody bring a scale to the next MZ?
I stand by my previous weight claim. I had the trainer at my gym weigh me yesterday and it was 166lbs. and that's dressed with shoes on. Sorry if I look fatter than I am. Guess my love handles are balanced out by my lack of muscles, Mr. AnonymASS.
Instead of having NTRP levels of matches, lets have matches of equal weights like boxing does. Goldberg you would then end up playing lord of strings.
My ankles are so f**king small that I have to wear two pairs of thorlo socks and ankle braces with shoes that are a full size smaller than what I would normally wear just to get some stability out on the court. Where the hell is all this sh*t coming from? Can't we just keep the criticism focused on all of my mental shortcomings?
Kallus, you need a couple of ritas to cool off. Some prick out there is messing with you. Just blow it off.
Kallus stop being so insecure and above all very defensive. Someone is messing with you and the more you get defensive the more crap that person or persons is posting.
Houston is filled with retards that only talk crap about and get this THEIR OWN PLAYERS.
Should be a new soap opera, The Retarded Lives of the Negative Houston Players.
Stay tune for times.
Kallus,
Keep getting defensive. You are pretty much the only person besides Halm and Leach, who ever posts under his own name and you definitely seem to be the only guy willng to self-criticize and admit you have flaws. I think it makes for good reading and counter-balances some of the attack, attack, attack mentality that this blog seems to bring out in people.
kallus sucks
Leave Kallus alone, he has pretty ankles!
Hey, enough bashing on Kallus already. Your are right though he is a prick.
Hey Schmucker what do you think of Kallus?
I will jump in here and play moderator for a moment. I have met a good many of you guys over the years and in my opinion DK is one of the nicer, fairer (line calls not looks), and funnier guys I have played against, either tournament or practice, so I don't quite understand why all the comments are so negative. The "Get a Life" comment did it for me because DK actually has a wife, kids, career, etc. - i.e. a lot on his plate other than tennis, so I have a bit of personal admiration for the fact that he has been able to keep at the tennis for as long as he has. I can see how you might call him "out there" mentally but I do not hold that against him. I am not trying to go all "brokeback" here and maybe some of you guys are just joking around but in my opinion things have gotten a bit too one-sided in regards to recent comments, especially on a discussion stream that started with a comparision of the inequities between professional golf and professional tennis. Maybe try to throw in one nice comment for every ten negative. That sounds fair.
Hey journeyman, nothing comes to mind dude.
You guys crack me up. I tell you to try to be a bit nicer to each other. Instead you just stop posting. Classic.
We are joking with Kallus and I think Kallus is probably joking back. He's a good guy.
Joking? Try crying. Not really. I can take it. I am just a bit sensitive about the weight thing. Childhood issues that haunt me still. Other than that, rip away. But thank you anyway Journeyman for being "an island of kindness in a sea of hate". How's that for a "brokeback" moment.
"An island of kindness in a sea of hate", that's deep man.
says Kallus: "I just can't quit you Journeyman"
Kallus wife is to hot for a fat boy like him
Journeyman, it's pretty sad when no one wants to say anything nice about anyone in this blog! Everyone so negative about everyone else in this blog. Well, here's my declaration: I think we should vote Leach as Sportsmanship player for the last five yrs!
gotta be Kallus
Kallus is an idiot
i believe he meant the Great "S"
Man I am glad I do not reside in Houston. The way all of hate each other down there it must be really hard to find a hitting partner.
It is actually quite easy. You just be friendly to everyone to their face, especially when you hit with them, and then you talk a bunch of shit behind their back to everyone else. Give it a try, it feels quite good.
Also, the winning answer was the great "S". I am not part of the kallus-bashing posse. I actually like the guy.
Journeyman, just to respond to your question about the stat counter, I just went to statcounter.com and hit the "register" button. It was pretty easy, I'm not very technical and I was able to figure it out ok.
Well,
Just noticed the Great "S" joined Freeman's 4.5 league. Let's see how does or does he chicken out like he did in the Gallery tourney.
I don't know S, but I saw him play Harold G. in the playoff and I did notice he hooked him during that match.
Who cares what team Sarosh plays on.
we should call S, "captain Hook"
Sarosh IS Captain Hook. This guy hooked me on almost every deuce point on my serve. Everything was a double fault according to his line calling.
Catagories:
1. Classiest player: Sean Straley
2. Most honest: Daniel Kallus
3. Best serve/volley: Peter Markes
4. Best baseline: Colin Hoover
5. Best all court: Sunday Jegede
6. Most determined: Adrian Valdez
7. Biggest Cheats: Eliot Lopez, Great Sarosh
8. Biggest injury faker: ELIOT LOPEZ
9. Mental toughness: Colin Hoover
10. Fitness: Adrian Valdez, Greg Schmucker
11. Most versatile: Sunday Jegede, Marco Valdez
12. Most talented: Sunday Jegede, Timi Jegede
13. Best serve: Markes
14. Biggest head cases: Marco Valdez, Daniel Kallus
15. Most underrated: Vince Cassirego
16. Most overrated: Foad Ansari, Sarosh Ahmed
17. Gayest: Schmucker, Hunkler
It's obvious that list was put together by someone who plays open or at least has a strong knowledge of Houston area open level players. Of the names discussed I would agree with pretty much all of the category recipients. That last one is pretty funny. I think at least one of those two guys won't be too happy with the comment.
Its funny, the ones that like to talk a bunch of smack always post anonymous.
That last one is also pretty funny. But I think both of those two guys won't be too happy with the last comment.
my reply to: "Sarosh IS Captain Hook. This guy hooked me on almost every deuce point on my serve. Everything was a double fault according to his line calling."
That's funny, he did the same to me during set point, when my serve was 6 inches in. it was a first serve/ kick serve so the ball speed had to be slow enough to see perfectly. definitely pissed me off enough to lose my serve and lost the set. Captain Hook is the perfect name for the cheat.
So it is settled:
GREAT SAROSH = CAPTAIN HOOK
If you can't beat them, cheat them. That's Sa-Roach a.k.a. Captain Hook logo.
The roach is back!
So, let me get this right Sarosh sucks as a player, he can't beat anybody. He can only win if he cheats. So he really is a 3.5 player. So Sarosh is not better than Greg S. he has to cheat to beat him. So he should have lost every match he has every play because he had to cheat to win those matches.
Very Interestign
So, let me get this right Sarosh sucks as a player, he can't beat anybody. He can only win if he cheats. So he really is a 3.5 player. So Sarosh is not better than Greg S. he has to cheat to beat him. So he should have lost every match he has every play because he had to cheat to win those matches.
Very Interestign
So, let me get this right Sarosh sucks as a player, he can't beat anybody. He can only win if he cheats. So he really is a 3.5 player. So Sarosh is not better than Greg S. he has to cheat to beat him. So he should have lost every match he has every play because he had to cheat to win those matches.
Very Interestign
So, let me get this right Sarosh sucks as a player, he can't beat anybody. He can only win if he cheats. So he really is a 3.5 player. So Sarosh is not better than Greg S. he has to cheat to beat him. So he should have lost every match he has every play because he had to cheat to win those matches.
Very Interestign
Nice opinion, Captain Hook!
No, Sarosh is probably a good player (only seen him play once). It sounds like he brags about himself a lot. If people notice that you hook, then your game is not as good as you think.
A lot of good players seem to have hooking problems. It's as though the fact that they are good and almost always win gives them the sense of entitlement that all things must always go their way and if an opponent (especially lesser opponents on paper)actually gives them any challenge they start making a lot of bad calls, though none of them will ever admit that they do it and always appear insulted when you would suggest that they do. Sarosh is a great player but he definitely hooks opponents, alot. I saw Reader play a few times last year, and each of those matches he hooked his opponent on close balls even though he was winning the matches with scores like 6-1, 6-1. Why give a lesser opponent a chance to hang in and possibly outlast you or get lucky if you can shut him down quickly by calling the ball out whenever he actually makes a great shot. I have a shitty serve but occassionally hit some good angles and catch opponents offguard. Against normal, decent opponents these are aces. Against the likes of Sarosh, Reader, and definitely a few more I could name, they are always faults, or if they are feeling kind the always convenient "phantom" let. Even when they leave a big felty mark on the court. Cheaters suck.
Again I ask, do you care if it is Foad? Sarosh is a has been and won't be playing tournaments so why do people talk about him?
In regards to the Reader comment, I played him a close three-set match and he was nothing but cordial and I don't remember one questionable call. I think the main thing that people don't understand is that if you are courteous to your opponent (with calls and otherwise), he will be more likely to be courteous to you. It is very rare that somebody is going to want to cheat a really nice guy. I have been playing tournament tennis for 7 years and I've only had one incident with bad line calls (in mixed doubles of all things).
Jacob Casas flat out cheats on line calls. He is the only person i have seen do it, that i feel does it to win. And want to know the sad thing: he is a good player, and has a decent game.
Guys like Sarosh don't cheat to win, they cheat to destroy. Reader is usually a straight-up guy but I did see him make 3 very questionable calls against Trautman at the San Antonio Major Zone in February 2007. It probably had more to do with the bad blood between the two of them. Moser was another one that seemed to consistently make a call or two every match that made you wonder. Don't they teach that kind of line calling in junior tennis?
Casas cheats cause he is an ass of a person even though he is actually a very decent player.
Casas likes little boys
Journeyman, you should have enough decency to delete shit like the last post.
Unfortunately, I have not been policing posts on the weekends so it the last post cannot be deleted without wiping out all 108 comments on this thread. I have already had to this a couple of weeks ago. I do not at all condone the post and am amazed at the new depths of juvenility that are reached each day on this blog but for the time being I will just go ahead and start a new discussion thread.
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