State of Season

Part 2:

I sit down with Commissioner and Former Champion Andrew Carpenter for part 2 of a 2 part series grilling him over the first group of players on the Leader Board.
By: Rodney Brown- Zhubál Web Press 

RB:  Here we are again.  Let's continue our review of the Leader Board and see who is on the move.  In part 1 we covered the players ranked from 33 to 20.  Since Zhubál saw several new entries to the Leader Board, we are going to start today at 22nd place.

RB:  So let's jump right into it. 
        Ranked 22 Kathy Foss

AC:  I think Foss is going to be a good player and I think it's going to happen soon.  She has cut down on Interference calls and has really started to see the Grid and develop plays.  If you look at her Average Final Placement, you'll see how she has been finishing close to the top in a lot of her grids.  Once she develops some offense on the serve and the initial return, she'll be a contender.

RB:  Next is a very rare item on the Leader Board, a tie.
       Ranked 20 Erica Plasse and Krystle Plasse

AC:  Not only is it rare that there is a tie on the Leader Board, but these 2 are actually related!  The big difference with these 2 is it took Erica 2 games for here power ranking and it took Krystle 1.  Does this mean that Krystle is a better player?  Not in my opinion.  We need to see more of her, her stats coming after one game don't mean a lot.  If you look at Erica's numbers, in her 2 games, she shows consistency.  Ask any player what they would rather have, one good game or consistency, and they'll take the latter.

RB:  Ranked 19 Tara Carpenter

AC:  Are you trying to trap me here?  Clearly I have a bias opinion of this player considering I tricked her into marrying me years ago.  I will say that she is a player I love to watch.  The experience of playing in the Inaugural Game in 2002 has cemented her commitment to playing the game as it was originally intended.  Tara loves the volley, hates trick plays, and plays every point like it's her last.  I get excited when I see her make a play that is smart or powerful.  I think people take her for granted and don't give her the credit she deserves.  That is when she'll take over and knock them out of the Grid.

RB:  Ranked 18 Lucas Chasse

AC:  Chasse placed well after his first Grid and has been sliding ever since.  It is clear he enjoys the game, but I think he gets too wrapped up in one play and doesn't recover.  Besides that I think he needs to increase his awareness and not give up until the play is completely over.  He could be a great player if he applied more basics and strategize better. 

RB:  Ranked 17 Matt Lagueux

AC:  I cannot spell this guys name to save my life.  It needs less vowels in it, or at least less vowels in a row.  I really want to see Matt do well in this league.  He takes the time to learn about the game outside of the Grid.  I don't think anyone else has even bothered to figure out how a power ranking is derived.  To improve his game he needs to be healthy.  Matt has been playing hurt (knees) for weeks now.  It's starting to affect his game.  The other thing I would like to see him do is to stop using his fist so much on returns.  Fisting the ball can make it unpredictable when it is hit to you spinning.

RB:  Ranked 16 Dustin Hutchins

AC:  I think this guy is getting desperate.  His game has been sliding lately.  Now, on most every play, he point to someone else and says it was not his point.  I can see some confusion on some plays, but every single one?  C'mon, just take the point and move on.  Develop your game so you don't have to hope someone else screwed up.  I used to think this guy was good, but if he doesn't get back into shape I think the slide will continue.

RB:  Ranked 15 Craig Skeffington

AC:  It's always nice to see more "Old Dogs" join the League.  Skeffington brings a new experience set to the game.  I have looked at his approach to improve my own game.  Skeffington defends his grid.  He has a background in hockey and protecting a goal.  This seems to translate well in the grid.  Now it hurt him in first game just because he hit anything that approached his square whether it was his ball or not.  Once he calms that down and gets a couple offensive plays, he'll be in the Top 10 easy.

RB:  Ranked 14 Matthew Legarde

AC:  He came into the league and played well for 5 Tournaments.  That was in January.  Where is this guy?  I think he is going to have to start over.  He was just starting to hit his groove and then disappeared from the game.  Come back, get in the Grid, and get better.

RB:  Next is the highest ranked female participant
       Ranked 13 Christina Totos

AC:  The first thing I say about her is Wow!  She is a great player.  I would like to see her and Tara Carpenter go head to head in the Grid for a Championship and see what happens.  They are very similar players.  Totos' only weakness seems to be power servers like Kendall and Smith.  Totos' cracks under the direct serve and needs to learn how to handle the fastball.

RB:  Ranked 12 Sam Belanger

AC:  Welcome Back!  Belanger disappeared for a year.  Someone turned over a rock and there he was.  Belanger has improved during his hiatus.  I think the difference for him is his conditioning.  Before, he was a short, fat kid a lot of hair.  Now, he is a lean, strong man who could command attention in the Grid.  Once he shakes off the rust he could go places.

RB:  A repeat customer on the list
        Ranked 11 Thomas LaPointe

AC:  First things first.  I told you so.  Go and look at the comments I made a bout him last week.  He came into this week ready to play.  He did stumble in his first progression, but took it to the best player in the league and beat him.  If he can keep up the pace and build on this momentum, he could break into the top 5 by the end of the season.

RB:  Ranked 10 Matt Clegg

AC:  Another comeback kid.  Clegg was gone for a year and then came back to dominate this week.  His skills are all in his timing.  Timing on when he comes into the grid and when to step in and hit.  He does lack any sort of vertical leap and has a weak serve.  I don't see him moving up the Leader Board farther than this.  Maybe even dropping before it's all over.

RB:  Ranked 9 Shawn Boissoneault

AC:  Great addition to the league.  Although he has been injured for the last 3 weeks he is someone to look out for in the Grid.  Shawn needs to develop his serve and increase his awareness a bit but he is clearly on his way.  I will be interested to see how his play goes once this elbow injury is cleared up

RB:  Ranked 8 Bryan MacDonald

AC:  Bmac is no stranger to the sport.  He has been in the league for years now.  Even after watching him play i am still in awe with how much he sacrifices his body to complete a play.  The guy is always on the ground!  He also has these Chewbacca arms that are always flailing and swatting at balls.  It is his strength and his weakness.  These tactics make him unpredictable but also easier to score on when he is out of position.

RB:  Ranked 7 Brendan Shea

AC:  Fresh out of rehab and dangerous in the Grid.  He ha turned into machine and his awareness has shot through the roof.  He is really fast off the corners and can return the strongest of serves.  I really like his play.

RB:  Ranked 6 Paul Beaver

AC:  Another candidate for Rookie of the Year.  Beaver has come on strong in the last few weeks and has really increased his level of play.  He is still a bit slow speed wise but dependable.  The one area he should focus on is his serve.  Currently it has no style and is just putting the ball in play.  While I do prefer volleying to scoring off the serve it is still something you need in your arsenal.

RB:  Ranked 5 Thomas Bureau

AC:  What bureau lacks in skill he tries to make up for in deals.  Bureau will try and build alliances in the Grid, but quickly goes back on his word.  One warning, don't trust him.  He will turn on you if it benefits his score in any way.  Still he has the skills of a top 5 player.  Believe it or not, when he plays straight I really like his style.

RB:  Ranked 4 Curtis Kendall

AC:  One of the most dangerous servers in the game.  The 2 foot radius rule was created because of his innovative serving style.  His score is testament to his serving power.  He is in 4th place with no wins!  He averages 27 serves a game and is an Ace manufacturing machine.  The only hope you have against his serve is to be across from him.  If you are ini a direct opposing square, be ready to run.

RB:  This one might be hard for you.
        Ranked 3 Andrew Carpenter

AC:  Well I can say that I am not real happy.  I am very competitive and don't like being here on the rankings.  I am happy with my level of play in general but am having trouble with finishing.  I was happy to get a win this past week and felt I played well.  I need to get into the final 2 more and learn to deal with Smith when he has the serve there.  My strengths are my serve, the no look, and never giving up on a play.  I strategize where to have people come into the grid and size up the competition.  My weaknesses are my bad ankles and poor conditioning.  I guess I am just getting old.  I don't have the endurance I used to.

RB:  Ranked 2 Brandon Obie

AC:  He is by far my vote for Rookie of the Year.  He has it all.  Great ability and great spirit.  He owns this spot on the Leader Board and doesn't appear to be relinquishing the spot anytime soon.  The only flaw in his game is when he gets into the downward spiral.  He only has 2 types of games.  Tournaments where he does great and tournaments where he does awful.  There is no in between with this guy.

RB:  And Finally the Top Player
        Ranked 1 Kyle Smith

AC:  What I possibly say?  I could go on and on about his strengths.  Just look at the World Records.  He is all over that thing.  He might be the best ever.  He certainly has changed the game and everyone fears him.  Somehow he can be the target of every other player and still average over 40 serves a game.  Nobody has ever approached that high of a number.  It's truly amazing.  At this point the challenge is to just come close to his power ranking much less passing him.  I have trouble finding any weakness in his game.  Recently, the only thing that has rattled him is when he gets dispatched early in his first progression, but that was situational.  He is the best and he is nearly impossible to beat..... but we are all trying.

RB:  Well that's that!  Thanks to Andrew carpenter for his candid words.  We hope to have some other players take a look at some players and give their take on it.  Stay tuned for more.

State of Season

Part 1:

I sit down with Commissioner and Former Champion Andrew Carpenter for part 1 of a 2 part series grilling him over the first group of players on the Leader Board.
By: Rodney Brown- Zhubál Web Press 

RB:  Thanks for taking the Time to sit down with me and go through this years' crop of players and talk about where they are , where they've been, and where they are going. 

RB:  Let's get right to it.  Let's get started with our first group of participants.  Now be sure not to hold back.  We want to know what you think of their game, attitude, or anything you think might be important to know about them.

AC:  I think I can handle that.

RB:  Up first is the Cellar Dweller on the Leader Board
        Ranked 33 Matt Tremblay

AC:  Well there isn't a lot to say about him.  His stats say it all. Matt is the only guy on the Leader Board with a negative Power Ranking.  Now I know that is mostly because of his 1st loser finish in his first grid (15th) but it should have affected him more.  The last time he played was 4 weeks ago.  He has some pure skill with 9 Serves in his first outing.  It's clear to me what he needs is more heart.  Get back into the grid and how us you shouldn't be at the bottom.

RB:  Wow!  You really aren't pulling any punches.

AC:  I am just passionate about the game and how people feel about it.  You asked me to be candid

RB:  Ok next
        Ranked 32 Jeff Labbe

AC:  Man I am bummed about this guy.  He is built like a Mack Truck and figured out how to serve effectively his first time out.  His only hurdle is overcoming an interference tendency.  What bums me out about him is that we haven't seen him since his first Grid. I am always disappointed when the league misses out on a great potential competitor.  Rookies that grow quickly are the future of the sport.

RB:  Still in the basement here.  Next:
        Ranked 31 Evan Rench

AC:  Again, hard to tell without him actually committing to playing the sport, but I'd say his number one shortcoming is his lack of focus.  Maybe that's why we haven't seen him, he hasn't focused on Zhubál.

RB:  Sitting at the even number slot
        Ranked 30 Chris Sibson

AC:  A big man that could be dominant in the grid.  Long, powerful arms that can reach out and smack the ball.  We just haven't seen him more than once.

RB:  I hope we get to some participants that regularly play soon.
        Ranked 29 Josh Krotz

AC:  Not a real Power Player.  It would take a lot of awareness drills to get this guy into thinking mode for the game.  I think if he was to work on his awareness and conditioning we could start to talk about him.

RB:  Our first female on the charts
        Ranked 28 Elizabeth Eisenstadt

AC:  It has taken me 3 weeks just to figure out her last name.  Seriously though, I think she could play at a higher level.  It was clear to me that there is some raw ability and good judgment in her play, she just needs to be more aggressive.

RB:  Next is a guy that has played a few grids
       Ranked 27 Josh R LaChance

AC:  I played against him on that marathon Saturday Game in January.  He has it man.  Josh just needs to play more games as well as develop a serve.  One thing I think he will be able to do soon is volley with the best of them.  Incidentally, I think the web site staff should find out if his middle initial really is 'R'.

RB:  Ranked 26 Jill Gagne

AC:  talk about hard to evaluate.  She just started playing last week!  She had a decent Over/Under in her first grid.  Although she was the first loser and only got 2 serves.  But when you think of all the lackluster first grids people have, that is nothing to sneeze at.

RB:  First of the "Young Bucks" this season
        Ranked 25 Jillian Cote

AC:  If Jillian were here she would tell you that she was the worst Zhubal player ever.  I think that is just a front.  While she is not a top 10 Player and may not see that this season, it's apparent to everyone that she plays the game out of a pure love for it.  I don't think she really cares where she falls on the Leader Board.  In many ways, that is the spirit of the Inaugural Game.  Play for Fun.

RB:  Ranked 24 Joshua Scott

AC:  A dangerous man!  He is quiet in the grid.  Unassuming. Just the type of player that people underestimate.  That's when he'll serve all over you and slam it in your face.  Watch this one.  He could be going places.

RB:  Ranked 23 Chris Langueux

AC:  Not to be confused with the other Lagueux.  One hit wonder.  I question if we will see him again.  I hope we do, but I wouldn't count on it.

RB:  Ranked 22 Dylan Jarrell

AC:  Right now his schedule keeps him away from the grid.  from when he was playing he had a few weaknesses.  No vertical leap and slow off the corner.  If he could fix these soft spots he could move up fast.

RB:  A Veteran of the Sport
       Ranked 21 Tom LaPointe

AC:  What is this guy doing down here in the 20's?  Well I actually know the answer.  He is a much better player than this rank says and everyone knows it!  Come to a grid and watch him play and you'll see why he is down here.  Spirit!  Yes, spirit.  That's why.  He has it and nobody else in the grid with him does.  He sacrifices points to try and keep the volleys going.  He wants to play well and see other s play well, not go out of the grid on what I would call "Punk @$$" plays.  It's no surprise that the league is looking at him for the Spirit of the Game Award.  That's no joke man.  I don't know anyone else with one of those and I am a dinosaur.

RB:  So that is the bottom of the list.  Come back next time as we add in the the distinguished Top 20!