Author: dlockwood2@berklee.edu

Good evening all. It is I, your Longlegged Commissioner. It is the last Sunday of the Summer Challenge Ladder. The extension is over. While they begin to battle it out on the clay of Roland Garros, we wrap things up here at home. Please report any scores from today or the weekend by tomorrow night (Monday)

I will wait a bit to announce Prizes but I do have a favor to ask in regards to one of them, the prize for who took the biggest leap up on the ladder from beginning of summer to the end. I took a screen shot of folks that signed up initially, but did NOT do a good job (at all) of noting where folks were dropped in after the initial ladder went up. So, if you are on this list, you are all set and I will be looking at your various Leaps. If you are NOT on this list and you have a good idea of what number you might have been dropped in (I am going to trust in your good sportsmanship and recognize that you might have to guess, that’s ok!) then please email me that information so I can consider you. If you know that there’s no way you jumped up enough to be considered, then yeah, you don’t have to. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who wishes to be considered for this by Tuesday night this week. I apologize for not taking notes on this, I have learned my lesson and will come up with a better system for next summer, I promise. People I have: Armin, Steve M, Barbara, Gino, Dan E, Conall, Conor, C.Wood, Ralph, Edgardo, Roman, Kyle, Brian B, Steve S, VIncent, Sunil, Daveth, Sam, Chris joy, Raul, Rachel, Mary, Robert K, Victor, Mike F, David George

Thanks again All. I will send out one more Blog at the end of the week with Prize Announcements in All Categories!

Participation has been Stellar this Summer, thanks for joining us on the Ladder 2020! I’ve enjoyed reading you and meeting many of you on various courts of honor.

-Longlegs

 

While the Italian Open heats up in Roma….the ladder is winding down here in Boston!

 

 

 

 

While the Italian Open heats up in Roma…the Summer Challenge Ladder is coming to an exciting close here in Boston! Remember that Sunday the 27th is the last day that matches can take place on.

With one week-ish to go, there is a new leader on top of the ladder. His name is Alex Vena.

Can he stay there? Will there be a final challenge by someone below? Rafa?

Alex has also surpassed the 100 points mark, far ahead of the rest of the pack. Well done Alex!

HOWEVER, there are prizes given out for the top TWO on the points ladder so Scott, Conall and Victor will have to work that out this last week…very few points separate those 3.

The participation has been inspired this year everyone. Let’s go out strong this week.

-Longlegs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Tennis Friends.

Our first match in September was played today, won by Kyle Poyar. Well done Kyle.

And as September and the end of the ladder looming, several questions arise…Will anyone catch Alex Vena on the points ladder? Will anyone catch Dan Ehrlich on the standings ladder? Who has made the biggest jump from the start of the summer to now? Only September knows and she’s not telling yet…

Remember that Sunday the 27th is the last day for official challenges. Challenge away until then!

Also a reminder that following safety protocols, the new rule this summer is that BOTH players should bring a fresh can of tennis balls for the match. Please re-read the rules on that if you need to refresh.

Cheers out there!

-Commish LongLegs

A

 

Hello out there!

We are all gearing up for the US Open. Vika is back! Vena has 80 points. Djokovich pulls out the win even when not playing his best. Ehrlich continues to hold at #1. And…I’m done. Yes, its a sad day for your long legged Commissioner. I shall continue to receive and update all scores of course but I am officially withdrawing from the US Open AND our Summer Challenge Ladder. My left knee tendon(s) continue to…hurt. I am planning on playing in the indoor singles league coming soon and I feel if I want any chance of being competitive in that, I must truly rest and Ice. Sorry to all my fans who were already planning on attending my upcoming matches. I hope to be back next season.  A special thank you to Conall O’Cleirigh who took me down in three season-ending sets a few days ago. The man is merciless on the court, but I must say he makes some delicious soup.

Elsewhere, some incredible tennis scores out there this last week-ish. Mike Freeman and Scott Enos had an epic battle which Freeman survived, taking the last two sets in tie breakers!  Roman Krasikov also defeated Cliff Chuang in an 11-9 third set super tie breaker for the ages!

Remember we extend to the end of September so there is still a lot of time to do some damage out there.

Challenge away! Be well.

I will be sitting by the computer, ice on my knee…quietly sobbing…waiting for your scores.

Doug

 

Hey out there on the Summer Challenge Ladder Tour!

A little gray this weekend made for some good tennis weather. Did you play?

Wanted to welcome some new members to the ladder…in recent weeks we have been joined by Jeff Stohlberg, Eric Sprotsky, Andrew Orr-Skirvin and, lets not forget the return of Roman Krasikov! Our ladder is 37 members strong now thanks to your presence. Thanks for joining!

On that note, please let anyone you think might be interested know that there they can still join. We are going to the end of September and there is a lot of tennis to be played. 10 bucks! Damn it.

Mr Ehrlich continues to hold on to the top rung, well done to the man who retrieves EVERY BALL EVER (not bitter)

Some impressive wins in the last week-ish by Daveth Cheth and Gino Galutera. Come on!

Also a special shout out to Alex Vena who is the first player to break 60 points on the points ladder, at 61. Victor Hart is right there under your feet, and I look forward to seeing that see-saw the rest of the way! Or will Scott Enos sneak up on them both? Anything could happen! Its wacky over on the points ladder!

Have a great week all!

Icing my left knee constantly,

Commissioner LongLegs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ladies and Gentleman of the Ladder, as the vanquished #1 player Steve Menichetti himself reported to me in these very words, I have news to share…’There is a New Sheriff in Town’… and his name… is Conor McCormack. He usurped Menichetti 6-4, 6-4 this evening. Well done, Conor!

I would also like to add that a few days earlier Mr McCormack also defeated me in ANOTHER F’ING TIE BREAKER LOSS in the first set (we will not discuss the second set…) But I’m not bitter. Losing tiebreakers can only make me stronger. Ok, I’m a little bitter.

It must also be reported that Mr Conall O’Cleirigh Buzzed up into the #4 position on the ladder after what sounds like a national geographic NIGHTMARE of a match. Onlookers report that Mr O’Cleirigh was chased mid-match by a SWARM of hornets, three of whom managed to sting him (location, unknown) and that it was only the bravery of his opponent, Gino Galutera, that saved Conall from further stings…Gino somehow managed to ‘shoo’ the swarm away. Next, a visibly distraught O’Cleirigh not only recovered but went on to put the biggest ‘sting’ on his opponent, defeating Gino and taking over his spot on the ladder! I only wish there was video of all of this, frankly.

Victor Hart is joined on the top rung of the Points ladder by Alex Vena this week: well done to both of you!

Pretty good weather thru the weekend. Stay hydrated. Stay 6 feet apart. Play tennis!

-Commissioner Longlegs

 

 

 

 

Lots of changes on the ladder of late. Very pleased so many folks are getting out there and playing, meeting one another, that’s the main thing!

Victor Hart is the first player to break 30 points over on the Points Ladder, though there are quite a few directly below him…keep playing Victor!

Steve Menechetti took over the top spot…for now…well done, Steve!

Alex Vena made a very big leap this week with a grueling 7-6, 7-5 against yours truly. I would also like to point out that I lost to Ryan Losey 7-6, 7-6 last Sunday. Not nice. : )

All kidding about LOSING CLOSE MATCHES aside, I do want to point out one quirky ‘rule’ on the Challenge Ladder. As long as you are in range of one another (6 above, 4 below) When the Challenge is Issued, then the match counts, even if things change on the ladder before you actually play. So for instance, someone (lets call him Frank) could be 6 below me when he issues a challenge to me, and then Frank in the meantime loses to someone 6 below him (call her Julie). Then, Frank and I play and he beats me. He DOES take my spot even though he is now 7 below me (Julie replaced him). He replaces me because when we challenged, he was in range. What you cannot do is INITIALLY challenge someone or be challenged by someone out of range  (its why its important to pay attention to the Standings when you issue/receive a challenge.) It can be frustrating too because someone you Just beat might the next day beat someone above you and yep, they rise above you, even though you just double destroyed them! Its Challenge Ladder MADNESS!

Its also perfectly fine to play with someone totally out of your range. We call that a Friendly.

Thanks again for participating this summer and helping keep Tennis 4 All going!

-Commish Long Legs

 

 

As we near the end of June, an update:

This week saw some excellent weather and…some dynamic movement on the ladder!

Gino Galutera and Tom Walsh are now assuming the #1 and #2 rungs respectively: well done, gentlemen.

Ryan Losey and Alex Vena also made pretty big leaps this week…and some week 1 revenge today from yours truly on Mr O’Cleirigh. The JP rivalry is REAL. And far from over.

We also have a new leader on the Points Ladder, Victor Hart. Nice work getting out there Victor!

We had a new member to the ladder added just today and yes, please let any friends know that they can still join any time during the summer.

Weather looks good later in the week. Challenge away!

Be well.

-D.longlegs