Video Offer

[Honey]

If anyone has a camera to film themselves but lacks the ability or facilities to get it online, send it me and I'll do it for you

I must add, I can't do analog video, must be digital. Just put it on a CD, DVD, or SD card and post it me. If it's an SD card I'll post you the card back.

Don't want any excuses people!

You can buy a HD camera that records to SD card for really cheap these days. Get one, film yourself and send me the card. I'll send it you back straight away. Easy.

I must add to cover myself if this becomes a popular service, I may start charging a small fee cos this editing lark does take time. To be honest, I can't see anyone taking me up on the offer, but my advice will be take it whilst it's free!!

[Der Echte]

SPEEDPLAY, hello, paging SPEEDPLAY, is any one there? We'll even throw in a free camera for you with a huge SD chip. Just don't send us another crappy vibrating Stiga blade. :)  :)

I don't care how well you can or cannot stack up vs Rob, remeber, we have a smack talk thing going back YEARS. No excuses my friend. You can even cherry pick the opponent to make you look good, which by all logic, you should be a good player after training 4 or more years. Heck, I only have 16 months of "Light" training.

C'mon Speedplay, Blue, Reb, and JT will toss in some chump change to buy the popcorn. If we can market it well enough, maybe we can get Rammstein to do us a special vid.

Honey, you made a great name for the thread, real catchy. I seriously doubt anyone on this forum does NOT know how to copy a file to the hard drive, use Windows Movie Maker to condense it, then not know how to upload to youtube, Veoh, or other vid sites.

Don't worry everyone, I believe Honey knows how to be discreet...

[Der Echte]

Speedplay, I am not very concerned about you becoming offended at my challenges above, but the thing with the Stiga blade I traded for from you, yes, while it was utterly worthless to me, I gave it to my coach and she equiped some talented up and coming dirt poor junior with it, so it actually ended up being one of my better trades in terms of utility. A lot of the other blades I traded for over the internet, I ended up breaking in one manner or another.

[Der Echte]

Put up the popcorn, there is no show here. 

[speedplay]

That Stiga blade was a piece of crap, but, I did tell you so even before the trade. I hated everything about it. Glad that it managed to serve some one else better, cause if I had kept it, it would have been to keep me warm in cold winter nights.

A for the video challenge, I actually have a DVD of me playing a match... How ever, the other guy in the clip don't want it posted on the internet and I have to respect that. I do appreciate Honey's offer and if I find some one who is willing to play in front of a camera, I might take him up on it.

Due to my knee injury, my rapid improvement and the fact that I'm a lot better then I look should easily make me top 10 vic material

[speedplay]

Oh, and if that still don't work, I'll use the blocker account and PM every one to tell them how great I actually am

That is, unless someone else have already used this method?

[Honey]

Come on. The offer is open to everyone, even those players we have seen already. I'll admit, I do have one person in mind who I would like a recent video of I'm fed up of excuses from people. If you don't want a video of yourself just say 'I don't want people to see me play'. I will not argue with this.

Seriously though, I had considered this as a little money making thing on the side (editing point by point videos for people). I know some people just can't be ar**d, so I would save them the effort. I personally love watching point by point videos on youtube and unedited videos really bore me, even if they are great games. Its just part of making table tennis more accessible - non-players (and probably players too) don't want to watch 7 x 10min videos of each game of a national final (cough ETTA cough) but if this is condensed into a point by point <10 minute single video, with the right publicity it will get watched, guaranteed.

As I said though, this was just to test the water, its all free at the moment.

[Der Echte]

That Stiga blade was a piece of crap, but, I did tell you so even before the trade. I hated everything about it. Glad that it managed to serve some one else better, cause if I had kept it, it would have been to keep me warm in cold winter nights.

A for the video challenge, I actually have a DVD of me playing a match... How ever, the other guy in the clip don't want it posted on the internet and I have to respect that. I do appreciate Honey's offer and if I find some one who is willing to play in front of a camera, I might take him up on it.

Due to my knee injury, my rapid improvement and the fact that I'm a lot better then I look should easily make me top 10 vic material

As for the blade, I am not upset. I have been alive more than a couple years and when you put on hte uniform, you take your chances. As for your video clip, I will keep pestering you about it. Why? It's good fun. I believe you when you say you will not post due to anther's request. Respecting such things shows you are honorable. So, I won't give you a hard time about that one.  However, we will suck you into this one way or another.

As for our epic match, sure, I'd love to buy a new Volvo at the factory (I'd better hurry up, SAAB is going out of business, who knows who is next?) then pop down to Ur area and have a few hits with you. Of course I'd plaster you (Yeah right. I have zero clue to your level and anything can happen to me on an international trip> You might win, but let's stay hush about that for now.) Really though, it would be super to travel an meet a years long forum friend, TT match aside, would make a lot of memory and forum thread action.

[pingpongrob]

Come on. The offer is open to everyone, even those players we have seen already. I'll admit, I do have one person in mind who I would like a recent video of I'm fed up of excuses from people. If you don't want a video of yourself just say 'I don't want people to see me play'. I will not argue with this.

Yeah Speedplay - get the drift. 

[RebornTTEvnglist]

A for the video challenge, I actually have a DVD of me playing a match... How ever, the other guy in the clip don't want it posted on the internet and I have to respect that. I do appreciate Honey's offer and if I find some one who is willing to play in front of a camera, I might take him up on it.

Perhaps Honey has the technology to blur the other guy's face out of it?

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Due to my knee injury, my rapid improvement and the fact that I'm a lot better then I look should easily make me top 10 vic material

Only if they let you play in the U8's

[speedplay]

Only if they let you play in the U8's

Nah, those guys are the up and coming guys, and we all know what they do to your ranking. I much rather play with the vet's, since this is where all the depth is in Vic

Der_Echte, if you are anywhere close to the 2200 you say you are (or, at least makes it sound like, with your results against higher rated players) I'm not going be much of a match for you. I think I hoover around 2000 Usatt, give or take 100 points, more likely to take them away. Then again, I don't think you are as good as you claim to be, so most likely, I'm going to trash you

Rob, get the drift? What drift? I've no problems showing my low quality game, cause unlike some others, I've never claimed to be a high quality player, I'm realistic about my level of play and I don't believe in playing for 12 years and 6 months, then all of a sudden make an over night improvment that would raise my level of play way beyond anything I've ever been close to before. Those things only happens in fantasy land, and to a selected few in Australia.

[pingpongrob]

Rob, get the drift? What drift? I've no problems showing my low quality game, cause unlike some others, I've never claimed to be a high quality player, I'm realistic about my level of play and I don't believe in playing for 12 years and 6 months, then all of a sudden make an over night improvment that would raise my level of play way beyond anything I've ever been close to before. Those things only happens in fantasy land, and to a selected few in Australia.

all depends what you classify as a top quality player, according to the members at my club I am, according to Waldner I ain't. Get the Drift, either way, it looks like I win and you lose.

[Der Echte]

Speedplay, I don't think I am near 2200 yet, not for another year at least, if I can learn to move into the table for the short shots I see coming and still reach too much. I can have a bad day and lose to 1800ish players and have a good day and defeat 2200+ players. I still think (that if you do not flavor my drinking water) that I will serve and loop you down. I would still like to see Ur vid, vs ANYONE. I put up (only very occasionally now) both bad and worse vids.

[speedplay]

all depends what you classify as a top quality player, according to the members at my club I am, according to Waldner I ain't. Get the Drift, either way, it looks like I win and you lose.

According to the players in your club? Wow, those guys must really suck, if they consider you a top quality player. If you came here, you would be consider as ... A lot of things, but top quality player isn't one of them. Sure, you might be able to challenge me, but I'm no top quality player either. So, either way, it looks as if you are the only one who have got something to lose, cause I've never claimed to be a good player, I've always claimed to be a hack. I can't believe how you can honestly think you are any good. Sure, down in VIC you might be something to count with, in the senior events, but seriously, where do you think this places you on the international map? It's not as if Vic is the strongest area in the world when it comes to TT, and to belong to the top 50 (or 60?) VETS!!! (Not even the open ranking, but the VETS!) should tell you something about your level. Or, wait, was it top 50 (or 60?) in the open ranking? Either way, if the drop of in level is any where near the way it is in the top 10, where you go from Gerada to BB in 10 positions, then spot 60 means... You are able to hold the bat, but not much more.

[speedplay]

Speedplay, I don't think I am near 2200 yet, not for another year at least, if I can learn to move into the table for the short shots I see coming and still reach too much. I can have a bad day and lose to 1800ish players and have a good day and defeat 2200+ players. I still think (that if you do not flavor my drinking water) that I will serve and loop you down. I would still like to see Ur vid, vs ANYONE. I put up (only very occasionally now) both bad and worse vids.

Guessing you are more familliar with the USATT system then I am, but seriously, 1800-2200? 2200 is a level I would respect, while 1800 isn't and I've imagined that the stepmbetween them was pretty darn big. In fact, I've imagined it was so big so they wheren't even comparable. If you are able to beat a 2200 player, then you would never lose against a 1800 rated player, unless that 1800 player was seriously under-rated. Also, good and bad days, I accept that, but not 1800 on a bad day and 2200 on a good day. Heck, if Biggy's level changed that much depending on good and bad days, one day he would beat Henzell and the next day he would lose to Rob. Sorry, I don't see this happening.

[JT]

Huuge step between those levels from what I've seen of US players. What I want to know is how come no one in the states seems to be ranked below 1000. The kids here on 300 points are often visibly better than the US guys on 1000. I'm guessing the US system doesn't start at 0 points

[RebornTTEvnglist]

JT there most certainly are quite a lot in the US below 1000. There are a few on OOAK forum in this boat, but as a player gains much proficiency at all they quickly get up over that level. Many forum members tend to be most interested and so gain proficiency quickly. Take a flick through the Alphabet of players here, you'll soon see there are many below 1000.

http://www.usatt.org/history/rating/History/

[Der Echte]

Speedplay, I see where you feel like you do, but maybe you misunderstand something. A 200 point USATT difference is very significant. I cannot remember the statistical probability of losing to someone with this chasm, but it happens more than 5%. Having a carreer bad day and losing to someone 200 points below you and having an occasional good day and defeating someone 200 points over you is very normal and nothing out of order. (EDIT: So long as it is under 10% or less. By the way I win much more than 10% vs our club captain, who is 2150-2200) Style matchups and individual condition, such as (playing way too much TT, getting next to zero sleep, having very bad joints that day, being pissed off from work or whatever, or not coping with crappy light or wind inside the venue) these all can affect the result. Yeah, I just listed a pile of "Excuses", but they affect the outcome. I will never know my USATT rating until I get back to USA and do several tourneys. Big deal. The USATT rating give you a snapshot guess of the level and is used for seeding. My results indicate I am around 2000, give or take a little. I mention this for the same reasons. We USA peoples take the USATT rating WAY too seriously. I have been here in Korea too long and have adjusted to the Korean way of classifying players.

As for 2000 being a level you do not respect, fine, that is how you feel and I will not change that. I am (just recently) almost like you in that aspect. I once thought 2000 was such a great level. It is, because, you have to work a lot to get to that level. I recently realized that USATT 2000 is nowhere near an elite level or a level that is that commendable commanding respect once you hear that figure. The more I get better, the more I realize how many deficiencies exist in my game and the more I realize how much I do not know or cannot yet execute in our beloved sport. Table Tennis is great.

[Der Echte]

As a reference, Henzell would carry a mid 2700's or higher rating. That is easily 300 points difference. Biggie defeating him would only happen if he did a Tayna Harding number on Ole Willie's knee. Also, there is a HUGE difference between a 300 point gap at 2500+ level and a 1500 point level. 1500 player defeating a 1800 player happens all the time every tourney. 2500 player defeating a 2800 level player hardly ever happens. Very rare, unless the 2800 player is injured somehow.

Let's just guestimate my level near 2000 and square things up even for both of us. I find it entirely possible and acceptable that you feel yourself a crappy advanced newb player, but play around 2000 level. it is just a matter of what you personally view as good and where you draw your personal lines. that is fine by me. I will not interfere with your personal opinion in this matter. I will still continue to talk a lot of smack, because well, we have reputations and forum legend to uphold.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Let truth not stand in the path of good forum legend and smack!

[speedplay]

Der_Echte, I said that I didn't have respect for the 1800 level, not the 2000 level With this, I don't mean that I don't respect the players, cause I respect every player, regardless of their level. How ever, a 2200 player is some one who I have imagined would have good strokes and a good understanding of the game, while a 1800 player lacks both the strokes and the understanding.

If your game changes between 1800 and 2200, then I have to say that you are much more dependant on your day to day form then I am. There is of course also the possibility that the 2200 player that you are able to beat have a crappy day, while you have the day of your life, which would even things out a little, but, I still feel the gap is a little to big. Or, there is something strange going on with U.S players, as these huge upsets seem to happen way to often.

As for the Biggy beating Henzell stuff, it was kind of a joke, more to explain how big the difference was, according to me.

[pingpongrob]

As for the Biggy beating Henzell stuff, it was kind of a joke, more to explain how big the difference was, according to me.

this deserved a few of these

[speedplay]

this deserved a few of these

As did your claims about being able to beat Biggy. About the same difference in level.

[pingpongrob]

As did your claims about being able to beat Biggy. About the same difference in level.

those who laugh last always laugh best

[speedplay]

Then you are free to laugh as much as you want to, I'll save my laughter for when you have woken up from that dream of yours and realise what level you actually are. Might be a rude awakening, but it sure is needed.

[Der Echte]

I am a ton more consistant when my body is rested for a week and not beat down by next to zero sleep, wanting to do too much, playing too long every day, not eating well enough, etc. Nice list of excuses, but they pile up to not being able to play as you should. The few tourneys I have been able to peak for and get these things in order, I had great tourneys. Until I decide to stop trying to do too much in life, I will suffer from this and give you chances a plenty to smack down in threads. Still, let's call the levels roughly equal for now and see how it goes moving forward.

[JT]

I've actually started hitting the gym very hard in the last week :D, it's still early days yet as I haven't been in a gym in 15 years, the first 3 days hurt ALOT, but I think it's going to improve my game just like it did last time I went down this path. Speedplay you play in the same size club as me, I know it's no easy thing to be the best of the best in even a club that size, something to be proud of for sure. It took me ten full years to reach the top of my club, although I never had any coaching or help I was quite driven to be the best player in the club so I wasn't messing around in my goal to make that top spot. Those guys above me had all been playing for a very long time and were well known players in the local region so they weren't the kind of guys that gave me any kind of easy time on the way up the list.

I quit table tennis for a while after making that goal since that's all I really wanted to do, in the end I came back with the goal of winning as many things in the club as I could before I got too old. At that time I didn't realise I would be able to play longer than the age 35 before some kid came up and knocked me off.... now after playing some events on the vets tour I can see that there's no reason I still can't be at the top of the club when I'm 65.... or more. It's quite inspiring to see and get beaten by those old sneaky legends.

[speedplay]

Best in the club? Well, I'm not, sorry if I gave that impression

I did win the local league, both the individual rank and the team rank, but not all players in the club play in this league. Actually, none of the best players do play in this league. So, if we did a club ranking, I would be number 10, according to the current ranking. How ever, 4 of the players above me are Elite players who play in the top team at the club and 3 of them have been involved in our national team, not sure if they all have played, but they have been to the national teams training camps. So, my chances of becoming the best at the club are ZERO! The other 5 players who are infront of me are with in reach, but I don't honestly think I will catch up with them, but I can post a treat against them in some matches.

So, I'm the best of the roughly 40 players in the local league, but if you go for the more serious club players, I'm number 10 out of roughly 15 guys

[big ears]

Im never one to bleat but I'm the best in my county, out of just over 1200 players, so the standard must be shit! That is debatable of course, there are three other players roughly my standard, but ATM I am number 1, Honey, If he was in my county would be in the top 100, but not near the top of it.