DePalmer miffed by USTA's model:: Knoxnews.com
More fallout from the Mike DePalmer Jr. Open Letter to the USTA in this article from the Knoxville newspaper (free registration required.) Included is a rebuttal from Rodney Harmon and an interesting perspective from University of Tennessee assistant tennis coach Chris Woodruff.
I'm hearing that Sports Illustrated is working on a story about tennis development and the USTA's role in it. Stay tuned, this is going to get really interesting.
32 comments:
Phew, how can I possibly be the first to comment on this one? Lots of issues here.
First, I'm a tennnis parent who has a highly ranked son who has played in his own age division, played up, played ITF's and Futures. He has played under the guidance of many coaches as well as the USTA. Ultimately however, we, his parents not only foot the bill for the tournaments, but have to go to sleep at night knowing we have helped to make the right choices for our son and have final say. It sounds as if there was no option for Rhyne, 18's or bust, and that shouldn't be the case.
Second, let's pretend for a moment that Rhyne might have played 16's at the Zoo. Lets also pretend that some of the other top 16 year olds such as Kecki, Buchanan, Steve Johnson, Jung, and Wil Spencer, to name a few, players who played in the 18's, do so as well. You then have Brennan, Thacher, Klahn, Jenkins, Krajicek, and Daniel, and lo and behold, the Boy's 16's is a HUGE talent pool, and as far as I'm concerned, the Championship is up for grabs and so is the coveted w/c into the US Open. The USTA should be extremely proud of that lineup and should promote the boys staying in their own age division, solely for the National Championship. The kids have every other opportunity to play up, heck, ITF's start up almost immediatley, New jersey, Canada, and Kentucky will all be held within the next month if a 15 yr old wants to play in the 18's badly enough.
Third, baaadd timing by Mr. DePalmer to irritate the USTA with w/c meetings going on.
And lastly, the USTA is making a positive step in the right direction with the moving/merging issue regarding player development. There is no quick fix, there won't be results for years, and everyone seems to be an
expert who likes to criticize and condemn. Evert vs. Bollitieri, Boca vs. Key Biscayne, 16's vs. 18's, coach vs. parents, it'll go on and on and on.
DePalmer raises some very good points. I see many on this board with somewhat negative opinions of Bolliteiri. Yes, if you are a middle of the road kid, whose parents are rich, and paid the tuition/fee to become a PRO/College player..perhaps you will be "ignored", and not have the experience that you may have envisioned. Being on Nick's court, or hitting with Haas and Malise. But I would bet the house that you have become a much better tennis player. Better than you may have been after leaving your Wisconsin town. (no offense, just an example.) On the other hand, if you are motivated, and talented, there is no question that you would rise to the top of the "totem pole".Getting specialized attention from many of the great coaches there. The track record speaks for itself. They care nothing about Joe Blow who made top 100, as far as hiring coaches. They have TEACHERS. People that could take a 9 year old boy who swings for the fences, with quick feet, and in three years make him not be able to even step on the court with anybody the USTA worked with at the same age. I do not wish to bash the USTA, because they are a great organization that means well. But why they cannot learn from past mistakes is perplexing to me? Please talk to Nick. Talk to Lansdorp. Talk to Saviano.(I know, he worked for USTA, but "worked", not any more) Talk to these experts and incorporate the knowledge into the USTA model for junior development!
I happen to be working on an article on this subject, but there's one big comment that needs to be stated now:
Mike says, "My nephew won the 14 and under Orange Bowl last year under my father's tutelage,'' DePalmer Jr. wrote. "But now the USTA has taken over the coaching and I hold my breath for his tennis future.''
Doesn't it all come down to the fact that if a kid can win the Orange Bowl and/or reach the top 10 in the country he already has a great coach?! An Academy is not what's missing in U.S. tennis. There are dozens of incredible coaches in this country and there are dozens of other things missing in American Junior Tennis.
I won't get anymore into this because I really want my article to be based on facts and interviews before I say more. I just wanted to get that main point out there. That point is why I joined the USTA Collegiate Committee. To try to help our juniors get into college and -- if and when they are ready -- into the pro world.
Marcia Frost
CollegeAndJuniorTennis.com
CollegeTennisConnect.com
I noticed on the USTA Junior Development website that there is a picture of Sam Querry, at least I think it is him? If they have been responsible in his progress and development, I would say that he is a pretty good feather in their cap!
Re. the following: ""But now the USTA has taken over the coaching and I hold my breath for his tennis future.''"
The USTA coaches insist that they are there to supplement whatever coaching players already have. They do not "take over" coaching duties, unless the parents want them to.
The USTA did not have anything to do with the development of Sam Querrey even though their training center in Carson is very close to his house in Thousand Oaks.
Just a quick point- If you think Thosand Oaks and Carson are very close.... Boy do I have some property in L.A. for sale for you
Considering the kids that travel all over the country to train at the Carson USTA center, I would say an hour drive is very close.
Is that really him on the Website? By having this picture there, are they in some way implying that they have been instrumental in his development, since the page says, "Junior Development". I think the picture before was of Vania King, again, "if" the USTA has been key to these kids progress, that is not too shabby!
THE USTA ROCKS!!!
BTW does RHYNE WILLIAMS have a fan web-site. Just wondering i have never had the opportunity to see him play. can anyone comment about his game style.
thanks
""if" the USTA has been key to these kids progress, that is not too shabby!"
As is almost always the case, the USTA was not key to the progress of Querrey nor Vania King. They each have private coaches or parents who were the "key".
If that is true, I think the website is misleading with these pictures. It implies Querrey and King have come through the system. These two players are having the most success right now as far as young American players. (Jamea Jackson too) As most everyone knows, the USTA picks a select few to participate in camps, international competition, and finacial assistance, and they start this process in the 12's. I'm curious if anyone knows how much the players represented above have had USTA attention? I figure they must have been heavily funded and supported, because they are being used as an advertisement for USTA Player Development.
You guys are all insane, look im a junior and im ranked top 50 in 18 national, and im not even 18, u guys should stop complaining about the USTA, ok.
The situation is not as acute as everyone argues. The cream will rise to the top only if they can afford to enter competition! The USTA needs to lower the cost of entry into national tier 1 events. They have to get their partners, i.e., hotels, restaurants, etc. to chip in to defray the enormous cost of development. The should subsidize the field rather than the few and allow the process to prove itself. Perhaps the final 16 can get their expenses paid? That's better than spending $50,000 for 2 players in a meaningless overseas tournament.
I wonder how Rhynne Williams feels about this issue since an article concerning him is what sparked this whole debate. Also, Collette, where is the awards wrapup from the Zoo at? I enjoy reading that every year......I have been in Cincinnati at the Masters Series event and got to meet some of the pros, Nalbandian was suprisingly nice. Just thought I'd say that since he usually comes off otherwise.
I'm working on the Kalamazoo awards story today and tomorrow. I enjoy doing it, but it has to take a back seat to articles I'm paid to write.
Do you have any nominations?
Austin should nominate Drew Daniel for player to watch, MVP of Kalamazoo and most inspiring.
Rhyne Williams, who by the way has a huge ego and a brat on the court, is symbolic and part of what is wrong with USTA high performace. Yes is a very talented player. But the bottom line- is he the future of US tennis...debateable at best. Yet the USTA has poured about $100,000 into his and Chase Buchanan's development this year. Both kids are very good, very big for thier age but the jury is out on how good they really are. Again USTA high performance is betting the bank on two players in the 1991 age group, maybe throw JT Sundling in that group as well, good but not necessarily great. 1991 is a very strong age group and USTA high performance needs to spread the money out or else they have once again set themselves up for failure. As for his grandfather DePalmer bein g miffed by USTA model, the family could have said NO thank you to all the USTA help and proceed to develop Rhyne on thier own. There is an old expression that said don't bite the hand that feeds you.
As we are all USTA members is there anyway for us to inquire how much USTA high perfomance spends on so few players?
I wasn't there so I don't know. But you should create the Gutsiest Award and give it to Jamie Hunt for not retiring or defaulting simply because he was vomiting. That says something that he really didn't want to let his partner down nor taint the special moment for Young/Clayton and the fans and tried to at least see what would happen if he stayed out there. Is anonymous the same person every time or is it different people? Because there really seems to be words said by people who are only anonymous.
I just realized that in my previous comment some people may think I am alluding to Jessie Levine not doing what Jamie Hunt did. If you think that, don't. I'm sure he was sick as can be to default a match that would have earned him a wildcard into the US Open. I bet he had been waiting for that moment his whole life and it probably killed him to have to give it to Donald like that. From what I heard and read him and his family were devastated by it. Just wanted to make that clear in case someone tried to twist what I said, I now know I must clarify what I say so that I don't get jumped on. :)
Excellent comment from the person who posted right above me. The USTA should consider spreading the wealth in case those two don't pan out like they hope. Alex Domijan I heard is already 6'4" at only 14yrs old. That's gonna translate into a huge game when he grows into his body. Put some money into that kid.
they are guys that dont need money. In alex domijan case he does not need money because he has it already. I think yheu you give the money to people that really need it not to poeple who has the talente but dont need the money because his family can provide it. An to the Austin i think you should be carefull every time you write something because everytime you write something is to critiquizin someone.
The USTA is too much into results in the juniors. Results are very important, dont get me wrong, and players who are getting these "results" should be rewarded, but I feel, especially in mens tennis, they should also look more long-term as far as who they are supporting. One of the earlier posts made mention that both Vania King, and Sam Querrey have very supportive parents, and coaches. That is HUGE I feel for success. BUT, the USTA has so much MONEY, and that is HUGE as well. They could/should spread that wealth around, and use it toward junior DEVELOPMENT, not soley, junior RESULTS. I have no clue as to how much involvment they had in Querrey, but two years ago, if they had money to offer for coaching/travel etc.., and they could only give it to ONE person, Querrey or Donald Young, who do you think would get the assistance? And do you know what? Donald Young would deserve every penny of it. How could you disregard a kid with potential/and results such as his?! My point is that they should not ignore the "Querrey's" out there in the rankings. Kids, boys or girls, with potential weapons, with speed, with focus and desire, but perhaps not the ranking.
Sorry but the USTA can't even give out JR wild cards fairly. They snub players at all levels and give cards to middle schoolers,
who are good and deserving. Yet really, do you want to watch 14/15 year old boys play at the most important tournament in our country? Ok its different maybe with the girls, but still. I am sure deserving, they maybe need a little more time to "season". I wish my coach had some more connections. I would like to be able to call up High Perfomance anytime I felt like it. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. No wonder people my age leave the sport and don't play for 30 more years. By that time we will forget all the hard work and disappointments we had and instead maybe play for fun. It would be nice if the USTA would actually list criteria for chosing wild cards boys and girls. Do we write, call, beg to have our results looked at? Do we have our relatives do it for us? At least USTA showed good sense for the "real" wild cards, though I hope Philly can do something this year. I miss watching him play.
Wow! I wanted to post a comment to hopefully make this post an all timer. As for keeping anonymous I don't know how to put my name out for Austin to see it. Hey Austin don't be so sensitive. Keep riling them up.
To use a name instead of anonymous, just select Other and type in a name (you don't need to fill in the webpage part).
Put in the word verification letters (keeps comment spam out) and hit the blue button. That's all there is to it.
Not one person has commented on how well Mike DePalmer Jr. could chip and charge. Come on give him some props. That guy could put some pressure on you.
Is he the same guy who coached Becker toward the end of his career?
C'mon people, lets get to 30!!
please let this through Colette..30!!!!
"My nephew won the 14 and under Orange Bowl last year under my father's tutelage,'' DePalmer Jr. wrote. "But now the USTA has taken over the coaching and I hold my breath for his tennis future.''
Did the USTA make Rhyne get coached by them? Couldn't he have gone the querrey/thatcher and stay with there private coach?
I dont know why he's complaining, that's why his nephew got the wildcard over Thatcher. Obviously being a USTA boy has it perks...and i dont care what year thatcher was born in. There's more to that story than his birth year. Maybe not wanting to travel with the USTA boys had something to do with the decision to not let thatcher get a w/c...?
Ryan Thatcher should NOT take a different track to where he is headed. That kid has got game!
Ryan Thacher, is the future of American Tennis.He has the whole package.Not only he is a great player,
but, he is also a great human being.
Always polite , and always say good
things about his opponents. Oh, did
I mention that he goes to a regular
school, not online or home school.
He happens to be a good student as well,as I read in tennis recruiting.
Ryan, don't worry, just keep doing
what you're doing,because good things happen to those who wait.
I can't wait to see you hold that
throphy at the US OPEN !!!
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