October 11, 2017

$4000 Ping-Pong Table Shaped like Easter Island on Family Guy
In the Sunday, Oct. 8 episode of Family Guy (Foxx in the Men House), Peter goes to an Anthropologie store and (completely randomly) asks for a “$4000 ping-pong table that’s shaped like Easter Island.” The cashier responds, “We’ve got one right over there.” We then see a picture of this item, with letters on the screen saying, “Actual Anthropologie item.” Here’s the video – it should take you directly to 2:29 in, and the table tennis only takes up the first eight seconds.

There really is an Anthropologie store – I’d never heard of it – but nothing showed up when I did a search there for “ping-pong” or “table tennis,” alas. Then I had a brainstorm and did an online search for “ping-pong table Easter Island,” and here it is! Except (at Pinterest) it cost $12,000! The text says, “Easter Island Ping Pong Table - Anthropologie.com Easter Island Ping Pong table anyone? Yes this is for real, and yours for only $12,000 (don't worry, it's signed by the artist).” But when you follow the link by clicking on the picture, it takes you to Anthropologie, but the items appears to no longer be there.

Then I checked my search list again, and realized that the table was listed on numerous pages. For example, here it is at Neatorama – and here it says:

“Do you have $3,995.95? Now discounted from an original price of $12,000 is this one-of-a-kind ping pong table by artist Cyprien Chabert. It's shaped like Rapa Nui, the south Pacific isle also known as Easter Island. You know--the one with the giant stone statues. It's a commentary on the birdman ritual of the aboriginal inhabitants and the island's ecological history.” 

It's for sale at Anthropologie, which comments: [followed by a long description]. After that is a description of how the writer imagines the description came about:

“I’ve had a lot of tough writing assignments, but I’ve never faced a task like that poor guy. I can only imagine his face when he was assigned this one.”

“We’re selling a ping pong table,” his boss must’ve said.

Great! the writer may have thought.  A retro addition to any family room!

“Well, you can’t actually use it, because it was created to complex nature of man’s relationship with nature and the ecological challenges faced by modern societies and cultures.”

Blank look.

“Say something about sharks.  And birdmen.”

“What’s a birdman?”

“You’re missing the point.”

“And the point is…?”

“$15,000…”

Of course, this isn’t the most expensive table out there. Here’s a ping-pong table that sells for up to $48,000, and here’s one for $45,000. And if you want to see more crazy ping-pong tables, go here. (Anyone know of a ping-pong table more expensive than these?)

Use Booster, Speed Glue, Tuner in Table Tennis
Here’s the article and video (23:55) from EmRatThich. I was hesitant about linking to this, since these are all illegal, but as I’ve posted many times it’s a silly rule. Most top players boost or tune (I use these two terms interchangeably), and they are essentially undetectable and not unhealthy in any way. (Not many use speed glue as that is easily detected when they test rackets at major competitions, using the ENEZ chamber test box.) At the higher levels, those who follow the rules on this are at a disadvantage against those who do not. A rule that cannot be enforced shouldn’t be a rule. This article and video will at least educate you on what's actually going on among top players. Here’s my Racket Testing Rule proposal on this from two years ago, which I sent to the USATT Rules Committee, but they didn't act on it. 

3:1 Principle
Here’s the article from Samson Dubina. “Statistics have shown that players who can average 15 balls per rally in drills can usually rally about 5 balls in a match.  Players who can average 6 balls per rally in drills can usually rally about 2 balls in a match.  Obviously, the numbers are going to vary based on the drill type, the hit quality, the quality of the opponent’s hit, and hundreds of other factors.  But the statistics still stand (on average) the drill to game ratio is usually 3:1.”

Analysis of Advancing Women’s Table Tennis Style—Implementing Men’s Style into Women’s Style
Here’s the article by Jinxin Wang.

Less Is More
Here’s the article and video (7:36) from Dr. Jerry Lynch (sports psychologist). “…when learning, it is more important to go deeper than wider.” (Sort of a variation of my Tip of the Week, Saturation Training.)

2018 World Veterans Championships
USATT printed the article from my blog last week on the World Veterans Championships as a news item and in this morning’s USATT Insider. Are you going? If you are 40 or older, of course you are!!!

In a Distinguished Career, Olympics were Highlights for O'Neill
Here’s the USATT article on Sean O’Neill by Richard Finn. But . . . is he playing in the World Veterans?

Korean Serve Target Practice
Here’s the video (45 sec). Note how at the end, when the little kid smacks the target (a ping-pong ball in the far corner) with his serve, and everyone is cheering, he looks stunned, as if he’s not sure what all the fuss is about, since he’s only doing what he’s been trained to do. But . . . will he play in the World Veterans in 30 years?

Crazy Ping-Pong Shots and Rallies
Here’s the video (1:35). But . . . will you be there to see players make these shots at the World Veterans?

Super-Ultra-Mega-Table Pong
Here’s the video (23 sec) – yeah, that’s eight tables and a bench for a net. But . . . will they use these tables in the World Veterans?

Guys Play Ping-Pong while Wakesurfing
Here’s the video (18 sec). But . . . will this be an event at the World Veterans?

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