August 26, 2015
Samson Dubina on Boosting in Table Tennis
Here's the podcast (6 min), from Ben Larcombe at Expert Table Tennis. Here's my blog on boosting and my blog on hidden serves (one of many). Both contain my recommended solutions.
Here's a good analogy about what's happening in our sport. Suppose you trained for many years for the Olympic 100 meter dash. Then, in the final, as you took the starting blocks for the big race, the race official walks over and says, "Anyone who wants a two-meter head start, feel free to take it – it's against the rules, but we'll allow it." Now imagine nearly all the others moved two meters ahead, and you knew you had little chance of winning unless you joined them. But if you didn't, all those years of training and all your dreams are dashed because an official is allowing others to cheat. Guess what? That's exactly what's happening in our sport, both because of boosting and because of hidden serves.
I am so tired of watching this happen to players in our sport, especially up-and-coming juniors who play fair and are cheated out of titles by cheaters and those who allow the cheating.
We're honoring the cheaters and cheating the honorable.
I will be sending the proposals from my blogs on both of these to the USATT Rules Committee. I'll let you know what happens. Meanwhile, the following video also goes over all the cheating that's taking place at higher levels, but in a more humorous fashion.
Cheating in Table Tennis
Here's the hilarious video (6:05). Near the end there's a quote from Heywood Broun that all those players out there who hide their serves against opponents who do not should consider:
"Sports do not build character. They reveal it."
Tim Boggan's History of U.S. Table Tennis
USATT has been putting the chapters of these now 16 volumes, one by one, but just the text. Now they are putting up PDFs of the actual pages, so you can see the actual layouts, photos and all! They just started this with Volume 16, which covers 1988-89. Here's the first five chapters. Later on we might do the same for the first 15 volumes.
But you know something? There's nothing like having an actual book in your hands. So if you want actual copies (or feel guilty about reading it for free, after all that hard work by Tim and others), here's Tim Boggan's page, where can order any of the 16 volumes. (Disclaimer: I did the page layouts and photo work for volumes 2-16, and created and maintain his web site. Every time someone views his web page an angel child gets his wings paddle.)
Coaching Update
Tuesday was another busy day, even though I only coached the morning session of our camp. I ran errands and then did paperwork all afternoon, then returned for 1.5 hours of private coaching. Most weeks we have several beginners in the camp, but this time only one. She's working hard on catching up, and after one day can hit basic forehands and backhands.
But the most memorable moment was when I was coaching a kid who kept reaching for balls instead of stepping toward them. I began feeding the ball wider and wider to force him to move rather than be "reachy." Well, the word has taken off, so without further ado, I am hereby copyrighting the term "reachy," which describes any player who tends to reach for the ball rather than move. Anytime you use the term you owe me a dollar.
How I lost 35 Pounds from Playing Ping-Pong
Here's the article from Matt Hetherington.
USATT Committees
They were recently updated to reflect numerous changes. Here they are! (One small change will be coming up – as noted in yesterday's blog, the Hardbat Committee is now the Classic Table Tennis Committee, covering both hardbat and sandpaper.)
Men's World Cup Invited Players
Here's the listing. As noted in yesterday's blog, there's a glaring absence – no Timo Boll. But there is USA's Jimmy Butler - qualified by winning North American Cup Men's Singles Championships – which once again gives me an excuse to link to this photo of the "elderly" Butler winning the title! Sorry Jimmy. Can't resist! And we'll follow that with this…
Jimmy Butler's Funny Face Reaction
Here's the video (51 sec) as he reacts to a point he's watching.
August National Collegiate Table Tennis Newsletter
Why Ping-Pong Tables Are a Must for Start-Ups
Here's the article from Business Insider.
Top 10 – Best of 2015 ITTF World Tour Super Series
Here's the video (8:03).
Epic Ping Pong Trick Shots
Here's the video (3:10).
Amazing Table Tennis
Here's the video (8:38), which starts with an incredible exhibition rally.
Waldner-Style Blocks by Lee Sang Su
Here's the video (28 sec) – and he does two that are worthy of the Master!
Smack in Mouth
Here's the cartoon! Any suggestions for a caption?
MDTTC August Open
It was held this past Saturday, Aug. 22, at MDTTC (my club). Here are complete results, care of Omnipong. Here are the main results:
MDTTC Open, Aug. 22, 2015
Open Singles – Final: Ruichao Chen d. Jianho Sun, 5,5,6,-1,3; SF: Chen d. Chen Bo Wen, 9,5,8,3; Sun d Wang Qingliang, 5,-6,-7,6,-8,3,6; QF: Chen d. Jeff Hsin, 6,4,10; Chen d. Sun Xizi, 9,10,9; Wang d. Allen Lin, 9,10,10; Sun d. Derek Nie, 6,8,6.
Under 2300 – Final: Ryan Dabbs d. Spencer Ip, 7,-9,8,-10,4; SF: Dabbs d. Allen Lin, 6,8,6; Ip d. Sun Xizi, 8,9,-1,-6,6.
Under 2000 – Final: Spencer Ip d. Eric Li, 5,6,6; SF: Ip d. Leonid Koralov, 8,9,3; Li d. Mohamed Kamara, 13,7,3.
Under 1700 – Final: Sam Berry d. Leonid Koralov, 9,8,5; SF: Berry d. Louis Levene, 7,-12,10,5; Koralov d. Hal Barnes, -10,8,13,5.
Under 1300 – Final: Hassam Alkadi d. Walid Alkadi, -5,7,-4,7,0; SF: H.Alkadi Liu Kallista, 5,11,3; W. Alkadi d. Jeff Howes, 7,-7,13,3.
Over 50 – Final: Nazruddin Asgarali d. Jeff Pepper, 7,1,6; SF: Asgarali d. Chris Buckley, 4,9,5; Pepper d. James Wilson, 3,11,1.
Under 16 – Final: Derek Nie d. Ryan Dabbs, 4,6,5; SF: Nie d. Bowen Zhang, 4,6,5; Dabbs d. Eric Li, 7,9,9.
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