Bentleague Blog – The Last Match

 

Bentleague Blog – The Last Match

Weekly Summary – November 19^th Matches

 

Big Swinging Sticks	SmackEnroe
Tim Devraj	Buddy Newton	6-4, 6-4	Big Swinging Sticks
Dave Gazeley	Mark Fair
Kenny Otillio	Mike Schwartz	6-0, 6-0	Big Swinging Sticks
Ed Dautrive	Addison	6-4, 6-2	Big Swinging Sticks
Brad Humphreys	Jawn Priola
Shane	Ray Brouillette	6-2, 6-3	Big Swinging Sticks
Ronny Regouffre	Tyler Harper
Burt Dalton	Cayman Sinclair	6-1, 6-0	Big Swinging Sticks
Mark Ferrer	Greg LaCoste
16	0

 

Lawd!  This one spelled trouble as soon as I walked out to the courts and seen the matchups.  Big Swinging Sticks brings out the guns (and Brad) posting top nine draft picks in the line-up.  Smackenroe posts four of top 8 and the Captain.  To Toad the Wet Sprockets' dismay, the perfect storm was about to go down.   PS.  Did I tell you that this cockamamie scoring system sucks ass.  16 points when the other team fields four of their top nine in title bearing finale.  Eff me.

Does Addison regret not-taking Kenny at number 2 yet.  12 guaranteed points in final round looking pretty good about now eh Addi.  And. Tim the Knife and the smooth-talking Gaelic seem more formidable in doubles anyway.  And what the hell is Shane paying them to show up for every match.  I didn’t know appearance fees were authorized.  So, an Oh and Oh win for the Red Baron followed by a 4-4 win by the BSS line 1.  The Bruised Ego and the Angry Elf humbled in straights. 

 

Looking further down the lines, everyone watching could see more L’s looming.  Masked Marauders hoping for a miracle that would not come.  Addison and Jawn bite off more than they could chew vs. Dr. Death and Braggard Brad.  Chirping started early and often for the Mouth.  As a matter of fact, the four-time title winner may still be chirping.  But…this was a mismatch from the beginning and favorable pairing just what the Braggard needed.  No Captain vs. Captain/ forced pairings here to save Addison and Keto Jawn.  Valiant effort, but too much fire power on BSS squad and too much 3.5 Addison vs. 5.0 Addison.     

 Finishing out the blood bath, you had the Tinder King and Charlie Hustle vs. GreGore LaCoste and the Wolfman.  LaCoste is no Yawn Buise so this one was not even close.  TK and Ferr take it 1 and Oh. 

Smackenroe team loses them all in straights.  Three sets at Oh.  I hope the next commish takes into account that each team may not have their best players each week.  Too many points for lopsided pairings.  And you are punishing teams that have depth.  How about making line 4 and 5 worth five points to even out the scoring a couple of times during the season.  Effing bullshit.  Same guys scoring highest points each week sucks dick.  And if they are paid to show up and top three are there 95% of the time, who you think has the best chance to take home the title.  Need a math guy running this league, not an effing Lawyer.

 

 

Fountain of Youth	Masked Marauders
Russell Anderson	Jon Buise	6-4, 6-2	Masked Marauders
John Allen	Jacques Peltier
Brent Saba	Travis Smith	6-1, 6-1	Fountain of Youth
Nick	Donald Allen	6-2, 6-7, 1-0	Fountain of Youth
Jay Butcher	Chris Kobrock
Tony Priola	Jeff Thompson	4-6, 6-2, 1-0	Fountain of Youth
Robby Economides	Steve Jacobs
Bentley Harvey	Todd	4-6, 6-2, 1-0	Masked Marauders
Hal Neitzschman	Kevin Phayer
9	7

 

Up five over BSS before the Match, Marauders now need 12.  FOY playing for pride only.  Mathematically eliminated by 16-0 sweep mentioned above. 

Critical decision on who plays singles backfires on Marauders.  Did Juan Buise make this call.  Was he afraid of the Mr. Ed /Anderson match up without his trusty protégé Jacques next to him?  Well Jock and Juan take care of business against Anderson and Big Honeysuckle.  5 points in.  Can they find 7 more? 

Swami at first believes line two posting is a typo.  No way MVP candidate Travis posts bread sticks against Sabretooth.  Word from court two is that the score is accurate.  Toad can’t believe it.  Swami can’t believe it.  Only one seen this coming was Sabretooth and his wife.  John Denver look alike knocks twinkle toes out of the MVP conversation and diminishes MM Title hopes at the same time.    Still need 7.  Have to sweep final three lines.

Line three features Captain Nick and Butcher vs. Kobrock and Mr. Rehash.  Would Toad have preferred Twinkle toes here?  This one did go three sets. But as the Swami knows, anything can happen in a tie breaker and with the crowd watching up close, most knew that would favor the young gun and the candlestick maker.  Butcher prepping for BC Club Championship, Tricky trying to redeem after Captains round, Brad in the Donald’s ear barking while he’s serving causing double faults in the tie breaker, and the Killer losing his Killer instinct all spell doom for MM’s title hopes.  All over but the crying after FOY prevail 6-2, 6-7, 1-0.

 Did I mention FOY was playing for Capital P-Pride?  Right up the Prince’s alley.  Capital P-Priola making a habit of beating Jeffro-Tull lately.  Took him down Monday prior so blueprint had already been written. First pairing with Recall Robby not too shabby taking down former line 2 sectional duo.  Tricky Nicky still trying to find compatible pairings in final week of the season.  ?Hello Nick.  Not the best practice.  Recall’s overheads were deadly.  At last count Swami had counted 38 overhead winners administered by the Arnold impersonator.  Some were athletic marvels, and some were set up by Lil Nadal’s deep penetrating returns.  Disheartening loss for the Tanned One and Hefty Lefty.  Did they lose interest after knowing title chances were gone?  Did the calf strain hurt Steve late.  Did Jefro just get tired and quit?  Well when you are playing for Pride…who you picking first? I know who Swami is picking 😊

 Last match also anti-climatic but at least it went three.  Swami betting the Chairman wanted this one bad to improve B VI winning percentage.  Swami witnessed a lot of errors early from the Phony Phayer /Big Head Todd combination.   Thought FOY's team of Halitosis Hal and the Chairman would take it.  MM righted the ship in 2^nd forcing match to the third.  Tie breaker showed some good tennis.  Todd’s deep top spin shots with the Squirrel running free around the net a little too much for FOY squad.  Marauders get 2 out of the 7 they needed in line 3-5.  Come back of the century in the books and BSS takes the Bentleague VI crown.

 

Congrats Big Swinging Sticks.  Well Played.

 

Totals:

MM’s - 109

SmackEnroes - 63

BSS – 113 BENTLEAGUE VI CHAMPIONS

FOY - 99