May 6, 2016

USA Nationals
So . . . are you going? Here's the entry form! Online registration will open later at the 2016 USA Nationals home page.

This year there is a record 100 events, something for everyone. They include "Championship Events" (Men's and Women's Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and singles and doubles age events ranging from 10 & Under to Over 85); Rating Events (ranging from Unrated and Under 1000 to Under 2400, often split into Adult and Junior events, plus rating doubles events from Under 2700 to Under 4200); ten Hardbat and two Sandpaper events; and five Paralympic events. All entries get a free USA Nationals t-shirt.

One of the nice features of the Nationals are the venders. There'll be a lot of them! Sure, you can do your shopping online, but there's something different about being there in person, where you can browse over the merchandise in your hands. Lots and Lots and LOTS of table tennis stuff on sale! Just browsing the lines and lines of rackets and sponge can take half a day, and then there's all the other stuff – balls, shoes, clothing, towels, books (BOOKS!!!), videos, and all sorts of miscellaneous stuff – including my books. (I can autograph them.)

Next to playing, probably the best thing about the Nationals is the 1000 other table tennis people who will be there - those you know personally, those you will meet, and the many table tennis legends who will be there. Most will be happy to hobnob with you and sign autographs. USATT officials will also be there if you have anything to discuss.

The official hotels are the Flamingo and the Linq. Both have discounted prices for the tournament, plus those who stay at them get free entry to one event; free transportation on the monorail (which is easy to use – I used it extensively at the last Nationals); $25 food and beverage credit; and a free USATT ratings pin.

I'm told there are other fun things to do in Las Vegas, but I don't know anything about that.

I'll be there mostly to coach, sell my table tennis books (see me at the Butterfly booth!), and attend various meetings, but I'll likely play as well. I'm basically retired from tournaments, but (as I've blogged before) I usually play in the hardbat events at the Open and Nationals. I'll likely play Over 40 Hardbat (which I've won four times, along with Hardbat Singles twice) and Hardbat Doubles (which I've won 13 times, mostly with Ty Hoff). Ty and I will likely play doubles again, both in hardbat and in Over 50 Men's Doubles, probably my only sponge event. (I normally use sponge, and that's how I coach.) We made the quarterfinals of Over 50 Men's Doubles at the last Nationals, losing in five (yes, 3-2) to the top seeds, Chu Bin Hai/Li Yu Xiang.

I'm bringing my infamous clipboard to take on challenges. (I mostly chop and pick hit.) There was a ten-year period where I raised about $5000 for USATT junior development with it – I'd take on challenges from anyone rated under 2000, and give them 2-1 odds. I'd put $40 on the table, they'd put $20, and we'd play. During those ten years, I only lost to one player – Bruce Liu, rated 1999 one of the times – who won 11-9 in the third both times (!), but donated the money to USATT junior development anyway. So I never actually lost money this way while winning about 200 matches in a row against sub-2000 players. (Many of the challengers were well under 2000, but I probably beat 50 players over 1900 in a row along the way, other than Bruce. We also had a few matches for more than $20, including a pair of $600 challenge matches I won!) At 56, my level is down a bit, but I'm still pretty confident against anyone under 2000. (I've beaten players over 2300 with the clipboard.)

So come to play . . . spectate . . . shop . . . meet friends and other TT people . . . meet the celebs . . . and whatever else people do in Las Vegas! (Did I mention my books will be on sale?)

Secrets of the Chinese - The Fastest Way to Learn a New Table Tennis Skill
Here's the article. This is basically a version of Saturation Training.

Long Pimples Simplified
Here's the article.

Vote for Kanak Jha for The Best of April 2016 Male Olympic/Paralympic Athlete of the Month
Here's the USATT link. (Deadline to vote is May 9.)

Watch the California State Championship Live This Sunday!
Here's the info page with links.

Meiklejohn North American Seniors Open
Here's the entry form. The tournament, at Laguna Woods, CA, June 2-5, is for senior players only, with age events from Over 40 to Over 80, and $16,000 in prize money.

How a South Bay Community Center Became an Olympic Launchpad
Here's the article and video (2:18).

Olympic Qualification 2016 MA Long vs ZHANG Jike
Here's the video (11:14, time between points removed).

History of Olympic Table Tennis
Here's the video (3:25), showing great points from the past, set to music.  

Warren Buffett, Bill Gates & Ariel Hsing Playing Ping Pong at 2016 Berkshire Hathaway Meeting
Here's the video (1:44).

International Table Tennis
Here's my periodic note (usually every Friday) that you can great international coverage at TableTennista (which especially covers the elite players well) and at the ITTF home page (which does great regional coverage). Butterfly also has a great news page.

Champ Vs. Trump
Here's the teaser (37 sec) starring Judah Friedlander and The Donald!

Pong Angry!
Here's the picture of an angry racket!

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