Arkansas League Tennis Coordinator & Arkansas Tennis Association employee Maureen Dickson and Women's 4.0 Team Captain Shannon King used an ineligible player in winning the Women's 4.0 League Team Tennis State Championships held at Burns Park this past weekend. Christie Baker Griffee (pictured right and below), a former NCAA D-I player at Samford University, falsified a self-rate application with the USTA League Tennis Committee in order to play Women's 4.0 Team Tennis. Under USTA League Tennis rules and guidelines, a player under the age of 30 and college experience at a Division I school should start playing in league play at a minimum of a NTRP 4.5 or higher skill level rating. Team member Christie Baker Griffee won the deciding match in Little Rock Athletic Club Women's 4.0 team match win over Little Rock Women's 4.0 Team captained by Melanie Bobo & Teresa Williams. With the matches tied 2-2, Baker-Griffee easily won the final singles match 6-0,6-0 to give Captain Shannon King, her teammate Maureen Dickson, and the rest of the team the victory by the final score of 3-2.
In order to play league tennis, Christie Baker Griffee or a teammate familiar with the process had to fill out the self-rate application by falsifying her college level play. Arkansas League Coordinator Maureen Dickson and/or Team Captain Shannon King could have easily guided her through the application process that omitted important information that would have given Baker-Griffee a higher skill level rating.
Did Maureen Dickson (pictured right at the center of the table along with teammate Lisa Nutt seated far right) and Shannon King knowingly sign Baker-Griffee to their team and hold back important information that would have led to her disqualification? Did any of the other team members- Linda Bland, Christina Byler, Kathryn B. Perkins, Lisa C. Nutt, Cindy Pugh, Lauren Speas Slabaugh, Rebecca L. Kinworthy, Joy Wolf, Marti E. Henson, Kerre L. Gilliland, Christi Jeanette Headlee, Sara B. Barnett, and/or Sheffield Duke recognize that Christie Baker Griffee played at a higher skill level than their own level? Please use the comment area below and leave your opinion.
118 comments:
Maureen is getting to be an expert at bringing in ringers like this on her team. Why doesn't she learn to carry herself in doubles and as a player? How does she keep her job when she is hold be the person ensuring this sort of thing doesn't happen?
This girl knowingly had to fill the self-rate questionnaire wrong to get a rating of 4.0. This team should step down and let the runner-up team play. This would happen in most sports other than in Arlansas League Tennis.
Those women on Shannon King's team would have introduced themselves to their new teammate Christie Griffee and said," Hi, Christie! Nice to meet you! Where do you work? Where did you go to college? Etc,etc. Christie most definitely would have replied, I do such and such. And by the way, I played on Samford University Women's tennis team. Those women are experts at lying if they tell you otherwise that they did not know that Griffee played college tennis.
I agree 6:59pm. No other sport would tolerate such a lack of integrity and such falsifications. There would be penalties and more. At the very least the team should step down and show they have a bit or character. Maureen should have further ramifications considering she was given a weekly report as this was a self rated player. She chose to ignore this information all for herbown personal gain. A black eye to AR tennis. She needs to be removed from her position and replaced immediately. If she had any integrity she would step down.
Dickson needs to recuse herself from the process although she stated and I quote "the championship stands" since she has the position to make the decision but she is ON THE TEAM! Can you say CONFLICT OF INTEREST? I know you can. I hope this issue is pushed to a higher level and she is held accountable. It is an injustice and rest assured, had someone on the Williams team falsified their rating and Williams team had won state, QUEEN DICKSON WOULD STRIP THEM OF THE COVETED TITLE.
Gals,
What do you do when you make a new friend or teammate playing tennis? You say, "Are you on Facebook?" Well duh! Check out Christie Baker Griffee's Facebook page and you will find that she played tennis and networks thru Samford University. I agree that those women teammates of Christie's are a Bunch of No Good Lying B*#ches that would cheat to get ahead in anything they do including trying to win a stupid little adult recreational tennis tourney.
The only way to fix this big botch is to have Southern step in and Maureen step OUT. With her being on the team as well as local league coordinator she is in no position to make an ethical and fairl decision. She shouldn't even want to make such a decision knowing the position she is in and how she will be judged and that she would undoubtedly be biased.
Maureen....step aside and let someone in an unbiased position determine what's best. After that step aside for good. You've been pulling this kind of cr** for too long now. It's a huge embarrassment to AR tennis. YOU are a huge embarrassment to AR tennis.
This same scenerio has happened year after year with no ramifications or consequences and quite frankly it is a little groundhog day for me. Please Please Please can someone be held accountable. Tennis is traditionally a sport of honor and sportmanship and this situation has neither. And, I agree with the previous post in that if another team had done this then the team would be reprimanded and not allowed to participate in State Championships in the future. Why should this team not be held to the same standards?
Maureen Dickson used her position at the Arkansas Tennis Assn to prevent Christie Griffee from being disqualified before the state championship. Each Monday, league coordinator at the ATA, receives a list of players who ate self-rated and have won three matches in a row that were not competitive. Christie would have been on the list, but since Maureen is about the only person that sees this list Maureen could have purposefully overlooked Christie's name in order to keep her on the team roster. I just cannot believe a grown woman in her middle 50s such as Maureen Dickson would risk her reputation by her sorry actions. And by the way, just looking at the photo of Maureen you can see that she us not only a grown woman but a very grown up woman. After completing a fitness regimen, my teacher said that if you body fat is over 32% then you are considered obese. It looks like a lot of obese women are not burning up enough calories playing doubles
As long as the info gets to Southerns or Nationals it will take care of itself. Wonder if they have been copied on anything yet?
News travels fast in the female world of Facebook. King, Dickson, Nutt, etal knew Griffee was a college player. No doubt Christie bragged on herself and wanted everyone else know that she played college tennis by her Facebook posts.
Do what I did, stop playing team tennis and vote for change with you pocket book and call/email the below Southern(STA) Director of League Tennis about Maureen and inform him that the conflict of interest will stop or the ATA will lose your business. Chris Walling
Director of Adult Competition & Leagues
770-368-8200 x103
Dudes,
Let's get a USTA banner and have Bobo & Williams and their teammates show up for a photo and declare them the official winners. By what authority does a corrupt ATA have in deciding a reputable winner if the ATA DOESN't abide by USTA league rules.
This is just disgusting news. But unfortunately it has been going on for awhile with the same person...Maureen the corrupt dictator. The mindset is "win at all costs". And sadly enough many of the women on that Chenal team have that kind of attitude. Not all of them ... No but several in that group. Cheating and lying to win a championship. Too bad they can't just work their way up the food chain in an honest way and actually win like everyone else. I hope that we can band together and make AR tennis a fun and competitive sport like it is suppose to be. If you can't do your job and be honest Maureen then just leave. Your position can be filled by someone else. These women work too hard all year to make it to State for a chance to win the title for some corrupt, cheating, lying, skank to take it all away. Enough is enough already!!!
Check out the phot of Maureen and Her teammate Lisa Nutt seated next to her. Nutt is a little risqué in her photo with the bra strap showing and a little cleavage showing.
Maureen Dickson and a lot of her teammates act like a bunch of juveniles in this situation. These grown women as the previous poster stated are almost 60 years old and want to cheat their opponents like a bunch of 12 year old junior players finding it easier to call the baseline shots out instead struggling in a baseline rally trying to win the point honestly!
Posting your opinions about this tennis matter is acceptable; commenting on people's physical appearance or clothing is not. Please keep this to the point or we defeat the purpose of the open discussion.
I think the BoBo/Williams and Grace/Bethel teams should have a chance to battle it out for the title. They both lost their matches because of Griffee.
I don't think we should be mean to the accused. However, I do believe that this situation has to be rectified so that when we pay our money to play all year round and work on our games etc. we have a fair chance to win the State Championship. I thought that the ATA's job is to make sure players are playing at the correct level. In all fairness it looked like from the beginning of the season the gal in question was kicking people's butts 6-0, 6-1 etc. So the ATA should have done what they always do with everyone else (who is NOT on their team), and that is DQ them. They make all these rules and then don't follow them themsleves. And I don't understand how kicking people's butts that badly can be any fun at all. If you look at her record she should have been DQ'd a long time ago. But of course the ATA knows the rules and the loopholes and can do whatever they want. I don't think we should penalize the whole team as some of the members are honest and good people. I also think the new president of the ATA is a compassionate one and a wonderful one. Hopefully she can take out the trash and make AR tennis what it is suppose to be.
looking over the results in the semi-finals, griffee easily won the crucial singles match needed to give her team the victory. i vote for team grace/bethel and team bobo/williams play for the state title.
In all team sports when a coach plays an ineligible player in a championship game and wins, the team forfeits all games that the ineligible player played in. There is plenty of time between now and Southern sectionals to arrange for a match between Grace/Bethel's team and Bobo/Williams' team to determine the true champion.
I play Women's 2.5 tennis and don't recognize any of these names or faces in these pictures. The photo with the people seated at a table doesn't make sense to me when reading all the comments. The two ladies sitting on each end of the table are clearly women. I am scratching my head over the person in the middle. From the neck up, I clearly see a man's image. Below the neck, I see a female body. Could the person in the middle be one of those transgender people that read about in the news. In the 1970's I heard about a doctor who couldn't compete with the men at a professional level and had a sex change in order to play the women's tour. When I googled this situation, the name Renee Richards came up who originally was a man named Richard Raskind, an ophthalmologist from New York. Raskind was a decent player but needed more attention by becoming a female pro tennis player.
Guys,
For your information, the person seated in the middle of the photo was originally Maurice "Maury" Dickson. Dickson struggled learning how to play the game of tennis and could never move out of the Men's 2.5 skill level. He constantly got slammed in tourneys and watched his teammates move up in the ratings each year when the new ratings came out each November. Maury eventually decided to one up his peers that he couldn't defeat and got a sex change. Disguised as a woman, Maury now called Maureen easily found the competition easier in the women's league play. Maury aka Maureen moved from the 2.5 ranks quickly into the 3.5/4.0 ranks and has thoroughly enjoyed the game with her new found success! Congrats to Maureen and her team for the win!!!
Although certainly both the Grace/Bethel team and Bobo/Williams team were unjustly affected, typically ithe winner would be the other Finalist just because of the break of the draw. I do feel badly for both teams though.
I agree these attacks should not be about personal appearance but a flaw in the system that needs to be changed or this will keep happening, sometimes intentionally, with teams in the future. Intention or not it isn't fair for a team winning unfairly to advance.
In the best scenario let's say no one on the team, including Shannon or Maureen, knew the player played D1 tennis and was in appropriately rated, that doesn't change that they had an obligation to know (Shannon as Captain, Maureen as ATA member) that was overlooked. The championship still was won with an ineligible player and the best scenario would be for them to step down and Deanna should decide whom goes in their place or if there should be a rematch. It is just difficult to replay something as it should have been as players on both teams may not be available and the match not fairly recreated as it would have been.
The 11:51 and 12:03 comments are mean-spirited and cross the line. They have nothing to do with the topic. Whoever monitors this blog should remove them.
I feel sorry for both Bobo/Williams and Grace/Bethel teams since they were both affected by the cheating but think the Finalist would go just because of the random brackets and the fact you could not recreate the event.
Going too far people! Please keep to the issue w/o the nasty personal remarks. Something does need to be done about the situation, but please keep your comments civil & show good sportsmanship. Remember tennis is considered a "gentleman's game," and players are expected to be courteous toward opponents and honest in their games.
How can Maureen keep her job after this? In any other sport if a person in her position allowed or overlooked they would no longer have their position. Why is so much tolerated from Maureen? This isn't the first time she's pulled this sort of thing.
DQ the girl and suspend her for one year. Suspend her captain and Maureen as well. Give Maureen the boot. Let the teams replay. It's that simple. Tennis is about honesty and ethics or supposed to be anyway. If nobody ensures things stay on the up and up they won't. Let them get by with this and it will only get worse. Who knows what's been done under the table already that we as players don't know about.
If the rules aren't/can't be applied to divide players based on skill level why are those rules there? Just throw it all into an Open format like it was for so many years. ....oh....nevermind. Maureen wouldn't have a job if that were the case. She would also be very low on the totem pole.
TIP:NEVER play at the same level as Maureen.
I agree with 12:10pm
Many of you are so cowardly and petty that it's hilarious. Make a formal complaint and quit griping anonymously.
This happened several years ago. It was made almost impossible to reach Southern and Nationals and there was such a buddy system going on that it didn't seem to matter. They had it right in front of them that the player in question had played D1 and was about 25yo at the time but would only move her to 4.0. It took this blog getting the attention of the AR prez that made a difference. Why was that info taken down? It would be helpful with this being a recurring situation.
Whoever is making the retarded comments.....please stop.
I saw the match and talked to one of King's players during it. It was obvious Bobo's singles was running on fumes and King's was much fresher. King's player I talked to said she expected a blow out. Once I got home and googled Christie Griffee it was obvious she was poaching. Maureen knew all of this to. Looking back at their matches, she tried to hide her in doubles and bring her out for the needed singles wins. If you look up self rating on USTA this girl should have been a 5.5. She was a Div. 1 unranked college player under the age of 30. Link below are the guidelines for self rating. This kind of action really gives USTA a black eye.
http://assets.usta.com/assets/1/USTA_Import/USTA/dps/doc_13_7372.pdf
There is no doubt that Ms. Maureen Dickson needs to leave her current position. If she will not make the move, the higher official should make the action for it. First and the most important thing in any organization is INTEGRITY, which she does not have, and the organization has not trained its employees well.
Thank you to those who have said stick to the subject. Ugly comments are unnecessary. Of course the team should be DQ'd! Grace/Bethel lost to the team as well and should be considered.
It is now time to see what kind of character Deanna Garretson, our new executive director of the Arkansas Tennis Assn is made of.
This is a no brainer. Weather intentional or not, any time a team uses an ineligible player in any sport, any games that player played in is forfeited. In this case I do not believe the facts show this was an innocent mistake, especially since Ms Dickson is an official of USTA she should be held to a higher standard. I have also heard several complaints that Ms Dickson manipulated the schedule of play so it heavily favored her team (i.e. stacked the pool, little or no time between matches for the opposing team, etc). I feel that Ms Dickson should be barred from holding any future USTA position and barred from competition for at least two years.
WOW!!!I am so glad I stay out of the drama and I play with some great gals on my teams. Too bad this is what happens for a team sport and trying to have some fun.
Unforunate behavior....
Too Bad
Rather that spit out this venom anonymously in a blog like a coward, why did you not file a grievance? Most of the messages sound like they are from the same person which sounds like sour grapes. In this country, we have the right to face our accusers.
I think player should be suspended from team tennis 1 year, Captain should be suspended from captaining for 1 year, league coordinator should not be allowed to play team tennis if stays in current position or possibly fired if proved connected, team should not be allowed to go to Sectionals based on false representation. Runner-up should advance.
Looks like we will soon see how strong Garretson's backbone is. How does she handle a difficult situation/decision?
This forum has always been the most informative and factual reporting of tennis topics. Your readers are very intellectual, intelligent tennis players who care about real issues in our sport. I remember when the executive director, Leslie Pfeiffer was consuming about 16% of the budget with her salary increases and the readers here brought her down and forced early retirement. Keep up the good work!
Just want to say thanks to whoever moderates this blog. I'm sure it's not easy to stand up for what's right knowing people will be mad at you, not like certain posts and lots more. For way too long everyone has done nothing but pussyfoot around not wanting to hurt any other persons feelings or say anything unless it's behind their back. Look where it's gotten AR tennis. Nowhere. At least we have a place to voice complaints even if anonymously and say what we feel cause know what? We are all really a bunch of frenemies and we want everyone to think we love them when really we go behind their backs and blast them out. Thanks again for taking a stand. No one else has.
Well said Curtis!!!
I'd bet Southerns ears got worn out today and do all week with complaints. This is hopefully the final straw with Maureen Dickson. She has been pulling this crap for years and getting by with it. Have we had enough yet? I personally had enough years ago. I complained then and am again now. Complaining to her higher ups that is not just on a blog. What I don't understand is how some people say they can't stand her behind her back then you see them either volunteering to help her at the ATA office or taking her to lunch. Take a stand people and stop with the hypocricy suck ups.
If you are happy with this situation then you are on Maureen's team and suck up to her. Thankfully looks like most have integrity and want a fair playing field. Time to get rid of the hog. Play with her and we all get mud on us. It's very embarrassing for our state. Don't think other states don't know what's up.
These whiners that are complaining about these harsh comments about Maureen and her teammates are probably her teammates that want to act like they are so innocent of this matter. Listen up, Maureen has access to every tool by USTA and COLLEGETENNISONLINE to know info on these players. Maureen has seen every kind of grievance & appeal and knows a ringer when she sees one and ducked her head in the sand so that Griffee was on her and Shannon King's team. Everyone knows that a woman could have been a college player, gets married, and her last name changes along with an address change. Get the girl to fill out a false app w/ USTA LEAGUE and the computer won't pick up that she is a ringer. Maureen is very familiar with the process!!! These whiners play Miss Purity Dean about the situation and don't want to associated with the dirty mess that Shannon and Maureen created.
On behalf of myself and team, Bobo/Williams, I am thankful for the interest and concern shown by most tennis players in Central Arkansas that want to see the rules changed so something like this won't happen again, but at the same time, I am disgusted by some of the comments that have been made and the personal attacks on Maureen! She has not been proven guilty of anything at this point. I consider Maureen a friend and find it hard to believe that she would intentionally stack her team with a D1 player, thus risking her reputation, job and friendships! At the same time, I do know that this cannot take place again and the rules must be changed to prevent a team from representing Arkansas at Sectionals while using an ineligible player to get there! Whether the captain, league coordinator, or players knew about her college play and still placed her on the team, it doesn't matter! It is unfair and should not be allowed to ever occur again! "Our little team that wouldn't go away" played with guts and pride all the way through the finals! We were unhappy with the loss but still proud to come in second place....to a team that are friends and competitve players! Finding out Monday morning about the D1 player was a shock! After talking to many players and friends, the captains decided we needed to fight to have the rule changed in the future, that was it! The spin it has taken and the personal attacks on Shannon and Maureen have put many friendships in peril and shed a bad light on Arkansas Adult league tennis as a whole! Let's not keep making accusations that are unproven right now and denied by those involved, but work together to make a better and fair tennis community. Tennis has always been a game of honesty and integrity so let's preserve its great heritage.
Again, we know that Christie was not rated appropriately and the ATA/USTA Southern Association needs to take a hard look at all self-rated players! Let's brainstorm together how we can fix this issue without stirring up bad emotions and past issues!
Personally, I would like to thank my whole team for their extra nights of practice, dedication, and great attitudes during the season! It made it a true joy to share the captain duties with Teresa! What a great bunch of gals!!!!
"Let's keep the main thing, the main thing!" It is what it is for now!
Melanie Bobo
Very well put!!!
Women...... ;)
To the person or persons who moderate this forum,
I appreciate the fact that filthy, foul language is prohibited from the blog. In Houston, TX we have a Houston Tennis Tourney blog that is filled with foul, four-letter words. The owner of TennisExpress.com, Brad Blume is a gay person that is constantly ridiculed and bashed. I hope you will continue to keep clean language in the comments. The Houston blog is too obscene for children to read. I'm sure you have deleted many comments when I compare the comments to the Houston blog. Your blog is one of the most pleasant tennis blogs to read, especially dealing with a competitive environment. I'll pass on the link to other new tennis players in the area such as myself.
You have no idea what the facts are and yet you are prepared to join the lynch mob that has decided that because TW's team lost, there must be a conspiracy. I checked to see if any of u are so sure about this, has filed a grievance and as suspected, no one has. How is the view from the cheap seats?
After reading the article which does not accuse anyone of wrongdoing but asks serious questions, I find it interesting that the AR Tennis Assn employee whose title is league coordinator happens to play on a team with an ineligible player. She knows the rules and guidelines needed to be followed to ensure fair and equitable play. However, she ignores these rules anyway. The NTRP rating is set up where if you are a new player- you have a self rating and if you played a year- you have a computer rating. After the new player introduced herself to Maureen, Maureen knew immediately that this new player was playing either below, at, or above the 4.0 rating. If there was a doubt, you check their background or decide to overlook her background intentionally. It's obvious since Maureen and Christie played dbls together that Maureen chose to look the other way!
Ok listen everyone...what about the little rock number 1 and 2 teams using college players this year at 4.0 mens state?..this kind of stuff has been going on for years!...has anyone noticed the drastic drop in men playing?? wonder why?? This problem is not an arkansas problem..this is nationwide. In 2010 my mix team went to sectionals and the 4.5 guys were beat up on by 3.0 women from other states...this Maureen incident is only the tip of the ice burg...The system is broke and needs fixed now. Thanks Britt Mounce
Having known the Chenal Captain and the AR Usta employee for years I can honestly say they are 2 of the smartest & brightest out there. There isnt a chance in hell Shannon King would allow someone on her team without background knowledge of that persons playability, they did their homework! Regardless if they knew of Griffee's eligibility when she self rated, or after she signed up, they knew or found out & chose to continue playing her.
I would recommend the Chenal team do the honorable thing, you players on this team get together & have your captain pass on the sectional invitation. It would be quite a task for the 4.0's to replay their tournament but it only seems right to give everyone the same fair chance.
Here is another person joining the lynch mob based on assumptions and gossip. How would you like to be crucified this way over recreational tennis by a group of cowards
How naive are you if you consider character assaination by pouting cowards based solely on gossip and conjecture to be pleasant.
Anonymous said...
You have no idea what the facts are and yet you are prepared to join the lynch mob that has decided that because TW's team lost, there must be a conspiracy. I checked to see if any of u are so sure about this, has filed a grievance and as suspected, no one has. How is the view from the cheap seats?
May 23, 2012 11:07 PM
I know for a FACT that at least 2 grievances have been filed. My view looks pretty good. By your tone I suspect you play for King.
Rumors? Just do a quick google and you will see the facts. Nothing has been made up. The girl played D1tennis and rated below her experience and ability. She was on the same team as the ATA league coordinator. Her captain and the coordinator are responsible for checking backgrounds of players on their team and new state players. Facts.
Do the right thing Deanna Garretson. Do it for your sake and for both AR and USTA tennis.
Melanie Bobo stepped up today with her comments about the situation. It was class. And shows well for the majority of tennis players in Arkansas. This is not the place for name calling and other insensitive remarks that appear throughout the above blogs. If the King team used an ineligible player, then they should forfeit the championship. It is the honorable thing to do. There have been many accusations over the last few years about team fixing, underhanded twisting of the rules, etc. And the results have cost the Arkansas leagues a lot of good players who have just quit rather than fight the system, and those in power. That is not the purpose of the ATA. And now this matter will bring the problem to the forefront. The best way to approach this problem is to file complaints with the new president, and the Southern office. When enough complaints get filed, action will be taken. The new president has a mess on her hands, and will be closely watched for how she handles the situation. I think a lot of players have experienced " questionable" results from the current local ATA office, have expressed problems and dissatisfaction, and seen no action taken.It has taken a toll on Arkansas recreational tennis by a drop in players and a disdain for how the league is being run. It is pretty obvious from the players at the tourney that watch or played against Ms Griffee, that she was clearly at fault in her self rating. Since that appears to be the case, the King team had to know about this, and believed that no one would say anything, as has always happened in the past. Maureen's mistake was to not exclude herself from monitoring this situation. She should have turned this over to someone else because of her team affiliation. When enough complaints are filed, the proper result will be reached from the investigation that will follow. And the King team will face the results. There is no way at least some on the team didnt know what was going on. You can feel sorry for some on the team, but they did this to themselves. And if the current decision is upheld that nothing will be done in this matter, then the Southern AYA needs to come into play. Its a sad and tough situation, but all the rest of the teams and players are watching. May honest and wise heads prevail in the end
My opinion is B/W had to play 6 matches....think they earned the right to go as Finalist. Did you take a look at their bracket? If the difficulty is random in the brackets than so is who makes it to finals on the other side of bracket. G/B played 4 Matches and would be the only other team that should even possibly be considered if there was any rematch because none of the other matches would have changed in outcome.
I don't play on any womens team just because of this snippy, back stabbing behavior. I see you quite well. Yout time to be crucified by these cowards will come
They had their chance. They lost. Get over it
A 4.0 playing a former D1 under age 30 is not going to win. Not much of a chance if you ask me but then again I'm for fair play....
Maureen had no qualms about filing a grievance against a 27 year career tennis pro for supposedly "stretching the rules" and ultimately cost him his job. How does she feel now that her job and livelihood is on the line?
Has there been a disciplinary committee assembled to review this incident? One that the league office or ata board didn't put together? Seems like there are several board members and office employees who should recuse themselves. Keep in mind this is the same board that hired the daughter of a board member as ATA marketing director having no experience over higher qualified applicants.
I think saying Deana G has walked into a hornets nest is an understatement! Seems like this incident has been boiling for a while, it just finally spewed out of the pot! Central Ar teams have been most affected, but who do they complain to? Why the very person they're complaint about ... It's been a no-win, lose-lose complaint. We can all complain, write anonymous posts - me included, honestly because I'm scared of Shannon King and Maureen - or we can write an email to USTA Southern President, his staff, the person who works with NTRP ratings, anyone who'll listen, (http://www.southern.usta.com/about_us/staff_directory/?intloc=headernavsub) then copy USTA national. I haven't seen DQ after Grifee's name yet, nor have I seen record of King having all her matches nullified for the season, I think this is important because If there is no consequence for this obvious cheating then what happens next season when everyone puts an exD1 player on their roster, uh wink wink because we didn't know..... And gee why would the ATA punish our team when they didn't punish an in-house team?? And it is important that a dialogue continues with ALL 4.0 captains about what is being done with this incident & what penalties will be imposed. The ATa can't keep ignoring the breech in neutral behavior out of the league office, the Board can't close their eyes & claim "no evidence of lying"!!! Seriously? You must not know women to well,
Grace & Bobo teams should be able to play for he championship, it's a no brainier that King's team is disqualified, should be absolutely - no grey area, black & white, disqualified. Sorry those of you on the King team who really & truly didn't know, but it is called "team" tennis & seems to me you're already in bed with this group. I'm not real sure what is up for discussion on this with the board, granted Natalie Mahler (ex King team member, now captain of Chenals 4.5 team) did the self rating questionnaire for that's just incidental info, Griffee played on Kings team. How many more posts need to say this. Come on Ark Tennis, we can't all be wrong that there is a problem.
Very well said PT Burns! I'd say you summed it up perfectly!
It really irritates me how the ATA, the board and all affiliated with are in bed together. I was shocked that Murphy's daughter Brittany got the marketing job with no experience and no protests from other applicants.Let's also not forget Jackson's son was hired. What am I saying though? I'm shocked over and over by all of the mess that goes on. Tennis is supposed to be the honorable sport, the sport of honesty and a gentlmans sport but it's the polar opposite.
I don't know how these people live with themselves and look at themselves in the mirror knowing they constantly lie and manipulate to their benefit. Used to it? That's very blatant.
So many lies and deceitful acts have happened over the past years with only more each year that there's no need to rehash and rehash. I've experienced personal lies from the ATA and am sure all others have. It's time for the nonsense to stop. Southern doesn't always take the stand. It should be as you said taken care of by an unbiased committee and our ATA should start holding themselves to a higher standard and make AR the example of how things SHOULD be run!
I'm sure someone is reading this who can take care of things. Hopefully they will do the right thing.
We were just talking about this example! And how quickly she cost him his job, suspended teams & captains from playing team tennis for I think a year to. AR tennis lost a lot of players & teams over this. At the same time she DQ'd a girl in LR who played D1 for less than a year, finished at D3 was over 30, hadn't played in years I can't remember what happens to the team & captain though. This incident still haunts me because we found out she signs players up from her office computer.
anon on May 24 at 7:46pm must be a member of the King team. What a ridiculous comment with all that is going on. " they played, they lost, get over it" !!!!!!! how about " they played, they won, they cheated, they are disqualified for 5 years.... all players" -- get over that!!!!!
The southern section should have a checks and balance system for each state to be accountable to the other. This type if issue could be avoided if we had an audit system in place where for instance Tn reviews Ar, etc. come on folks, lets be honest, Every year some team comes up with a ringer. It isn't right and it makes it no fun for those of us who truly want to be competitive at our level. If we want it fixed, we should put our money where our mouth is and join and support other leagues rather than USTA. In all honesty, other places such as Atlanta, nashville and other highly populated areas have alta and Nalta that compete with USTA so USTA has to be professional and financially competitive. I have lived in many places and Ar is by far most expensive. Surely we have competent players in this state who could start a lr or nwa league association and play each other competitively.
Everyone knows that year over year people bring in so "ringers". It seems to be forgotten and not addressed everytime. I am not sure why everyone has waited until the state finals to complain about this player. A grievance should have been filed as soon as anyone at 4.0 level recognized that she was way too good to be playing that level. Also I can't see how her teammates couldn't know how good she was before they started. They had to watch her play and ask her to join the team. Especially disappointing that an ATA employee would allow this when she is a team member. I expect a high level of integrity from someone who is representing me as a member of ATA and is entrusted to make judgements based on true and fair assessments. However, what is really perplexing is why anyone would want to play at a level that is not challenging for their game. This whole situation is embarrassing to all of our members on so many levels.
It appears that CG was hidden in the doubles most of her league play on a team that has some strong doubles players. I don't think she got on anyone's radar until the state tournament.
I saw Renee Richards play. Not even close to Maureen's appearance. What a ridiculous, irrelevant, spineless comment! A lot of us don't put on our mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick to play tennis. Get over it! My concern is that all of the teams in the league had months to recognize the level of the disputed player. She wasn't hidden in a closet. A grievance could have been filed earlier. This is a tiny, tiny bit like sour grapes. Still, a mistake could have been made. People on the opposing teams could have been busy and unsure of what to do. Apparently, Christie Griffee did play varsity for Samford. Looks like her doubles record at #3 doubles was pretty good. She only played a few singles matches in college, compared to her doubles. Does that count against her if she played singles for her 4.0 team? A rules change is not needed. The existing rules must be enforced, or they are worthless. Future rules would be worthless, too. A DQ is in order, and I do not mean Dairy Queen, unless there is something everyone is missing. The full truth will be revealed. Maureen is a class act. She will do the right thing. DQ, DQ, DQ, or please share the hidden facts so that the sour grape taste will go away. Of course, Maureen attracts good players. Good players seek out other good players. The other teams had exceptional players, too. Let’s clear the air quickly and move on so that, as Melanie says, friendships are not further damaged. If a mistake is acknowledged, congrats to the new champs. Now, whoever the winner is, get it together and win the nationals! Go, Arkansas!
Maureen knew the Christie was a new player- self rated.
Maureen knew that Christie played college tennis. Everyone googles player's records. Maureen actions were not classy at all since it allowed the system to be corrupted in not allowing a true winner in the draw. It took alot of effort in scheduling matches and player lineups by all the teams in the state tourney. There would not be all these I'll feelings if Maureen and Captain Shannon King had done the proper background work on registering players for their roster. TOTAL CLASSLESS ACT BY SHANNON AND MAUREEN!!!!!
i dont know what the argument is about-the capt and ata employee had an obligation to ensure fair play. the capt and ata employee let down everyone in the w4.0 bracket. sad for all players involved. c. griffee might even been an innocent pawn used by the capt and ata employee. she might deserve a public apology by the capt and ata employee. the entire women 4.0 league also deserves a public apology too.
To 12:37, I wouldn't be so hasty as to blow this off with " friendships damaged" remark. This is way past anything to do with friendships! This is about accountability, honor codes, fair play - if King had blow- outs in her matches ( 5-0's) that's one thing, but that pesky, lone, last deciding court is the issue . The finger has to point to the common denominator each time, CBG court. I don't say this to be hateful or one sided, Im merely giving m opinion. I took a quick look, and can't believe even if CBG had answered the questions about her success in juniors correctly she still would never have been rated 4.0. Ok ok Ive heard about someone else completing her questionnaire I'm still not sure what the "big" "the truth will be known" issue could possibly be, I want someone to produce a better record than CBG this season, 10-0 overall record, 6-0 dbls 4-0 singles only 1 3rd set tie breaker ( however, blew them out 2nd set & tie breaker) 121-28 games won/lost, 9 straight wins 5 bagels ( and btw congrats CBG ! Great win record & shame on the 4.5 capt who thought you weren't good enough for her team! We would love to have you!!) I'm embarrassed for King and Dickson for misleading this young lady, who probably didn't have a clue what a USTA self rate was much less a 4.0 rating. Please don't quit because of this, just play your level. As for King & Dickson, they have to be accountable. This sort of thing carries over in all things your involved in weather it's tennis or community . Being competitive is good, using your position to help your team with unfair advantage is just wrong and you have suck it up & actually say the words - "I was wrong"... Anyone out there think king or Dickson can do ths? 7 days have gone by ....
I hope this matter is taken care of very quickly. AR is a small state and all players know one another. It would be a real shame for there to be lost friendships and feelings hurt forever over something that could have already been fixed. If Shannon King and Maureen Dickson had no idea of Christie's falsifications then they should immediately step up and say so in order to maintain their integrity, reputations as well as friendships. They should also hand over the title. ....If they wanted to do the right thing and it were the case that they had no idea of their self rated teammates tennis history and abilities then they would have done this as soon as they found out. Whats the hold up? Hmmmmm....
Wow, Melanie Bobo! I agree with everything you stated. You show grace and class and your teammates are fortunate to have a captain like you. I hope you continue to volunteer your time!!!!
To PT Burns and Anonymous- The ATA Board does not hire and fire the office staff. The Executive Director does. Leslie was the only person responsible for the hiring of Jackson's son Sam( who hasn't worked there in over 2 years) and Murphy's daughter, Brittany. Apparently there is no written rule that Leslie broke. If you think there should be-Visit the USTA Arkansas website and voice your opinion to the appropiate person. Follow up to make sure your message was recieved. Griping on this blog may make you feel better - but unless you file an official complaint- nothing will get done. I know nothing about any of the other applicants who applied for The Marketing Director job. I do know about Brittany's qualifications. She served as a part- time summer intern for the ATA in 2010. I suppose Leslie chose her as a summer intern because of her past tennis volunteerism with QuickStart clinics. Four days a week, after she finshed her school day P.E. practice teaching- she volunteered to help out with after school tennis clinics. Her summer as an ATA intern required her to go to public schools, private schools, daycare centers etc. and promote tennis. I know this because I am her mother and volunteered to go with her many times! The previous Marketing Director, Danny, announced his retirement. Brittany felt like she could fill his shoes and applied for his job. Leslie hired her. I don't know why she chose her. You would have to ask Leslie that question. Before Leslie retired she told me that Brittany was doing an excellent job and that she had made the right desision in hiring her. Said Brittany brought "sunshine" to the office. That's all I know. When Brittany got the job my husband told me he would step off the board if asked. It's now been 2 years and no one has! Hope everyone gets out and plays the sport we all love this holiday weekend!
Thank goodness Leslie P is gone. What a sorry good for nothing greedy....... TM, your husband should have known better. Wait till complaints to step down? That just silly. He knows better...surely. It's called nepotism on her part and stupidity on his. If you think people aren't talking or haven't been surprise!!!!
King and Dickson.....time to step up. Past time. Waaaay past time.
Wuzzup about the Joe Murphy Family receiving the Tennis Family of the Year Award? I heard that Joe is the head of the award committee at the ATA and he orders this award plaque for himself and family. Then he shows up pretending to be surprised at the AWARD'S banquet as another ATA employee presents him with award. Wuzzup with that?
Not everybody feels this way TM....I think Brittany is doing a great job.
This looks like the biggest scandal in Arkansas sports since the Bobby Petrino and Jessica Dorrell news story appeared in the spring.
Dear Mr. Wuzzup:
Nominations for all ATA Awards are sent directly to the ATA office. All Arkansas USTA members have months to send in their nominations. I don't think USTA members are allowed to nominate themselves. If they were to, I doubt the commitee majority would vote in their favor- The Awards commitee meets at the ATA office after the nomination deadline and reviews all the nominations that the ATA has recieved for that year. They then vote with a majority rule. They don't nominate people for awards, they only vote on the nominations that have been presented to them. No awards winner is surprised at the Awards Banquet. Reservations are made in advance and they want as many winners as possible to be able to attend the banquet. PLEASE nominate anyone YOU feel is worthy of an award. Judy Jones is the Awards chairperson. You can find her contact information on the USTA Arkansas website if you need more information.
Last week was my first visit to this blog. I am all about communication but this will be my last visit. For me personally I like to just deal with facts. I now see that this is more of an opinion blog. I can always be reached on facebook Mr. Wazzup if you want to contact me! Folks, can we all just work together and make Arkansas tennis great? Are you doing all you can do to promote this game we love?
Guys,
Isn't it cool to see a Southern boy, Brian Baker, win his 1st round match at the French Open? Brian was at Burns Park a couple of years ago coaching his cousin Adam Baker at the Southern boys 18s Closed. He was hitting some great shots then while he was rehabbing from an injury.
Its amazing to me how many people are sucked into this, claiming they know the facts, knowing what people thought, knowing what people did, when all they have is innuendo, assumptions and conjecture. Just because someone shouts from the roof tops multiple times that they have been cheated, does not make it so. This is America and here we are innocent until proven guilty. No one has offered any proof other than saying she should have known. That is not proof. None of you on this blog know the proof, -- neither do I -- so stop acting like a blood thirsty mob and behave like adults. Show some restraint and character - this is tennis.....not life. One person stated that the folks involved should say something on this blog. Why? There is nothing fair or open or honest about this. I wouldn't either. Another person commented that ringers are everywhere and she is exactly right. It is a problem that Southern has been dealing with for a long long time and not successfully. That doesn't make it right nor does it make it fun for us who get wiped off the court from such a person. I will tell you what I do know. This "scorch the earth" approach that many of you are employing is putting a huge black eye on Arkansas Women's tennis - moreso than it already had. I have heard so many people say that this is exactly why they don't play league because of the sniveling, back-stabbing, crabby attitudes of so many people. If you want to know who it is they are referring to, look in the mirror.
I have written a letter to Southern and to the ATA with a solution. If it can be proved that something was amiss, my recommendation is that no one from Arkansas be sent to Sectionals or that the third place team be sent. The TW team should not be rewarded with this honor because of this continued tirade and temper tantrum being thrown by its players. This violates the sportsmanship creed that we are all bound to.
i remember meeting brian baker of nashville, tn for the first time at burns too. he was coaching his cousin who ending up beating charlie jones of louisiana who plays for vandy. if it wasn't for brian, his cousin would have lost the match in the heat but pulled the match out with some simple rules to handle the heat that brian provided. i think charlie cramped up and that was it for him.
Well aren't you the knower of all 9:45am? Assumptions? Read the rules. When was the last time you filled out a self rate app? You are obviously not aware of the questions asked. This entire scenario wouldn't have occurred if the right thing including no cheating and lying or hiding of important details and questions had been done from the start. The black eyes in AR are our state association, the foundation board and the actions of the members of those affiliated with. Travel, ask and you'll be told.
The ATA is staffed with tennis novices from top to bottom so you have a poorly run, small sighted organization. Many more experienced tennis candidates have repeatedly been refused jobs for years at the ATA. Arkansas tennis is a joke in the Southern region and will continue to be until the current leadership loosens its grip on the ATA's throat.
Blogging is great. but that is all that it is. Complaints must be filed thru ATA office, asking for a review of all facts. File a complaint with the Southern office also. Then the blogging will serve some real purpose. Has anyone heard of complaints file and of any response from the ATA??? AND CONGRATS TO BRIAN BAKER FOR A WIN AT THE FRENCH!!!!!!!
Alot of what you said is true but you keep shooting yourself in the foot and hurting your cause by your continued temper tantrums and crybaby attitude. Why don't you try to handle this like a mature adult like you are demanding from everyone else! If you are so sure of everything, why are you hiding? Yea I believe I know more about this than you and for sure, the way that ADULTS should handle it. Oops! I just heard the bell. Recess is over and it's time for you to go
Well folks I hate to be the naysayer but I don't think anything will be done. These same people have felt the heat before & ignored everyone's complaints, suggestions, & frustration until its forgotten , swept back under the rug only to be another example of very very poor communication by the very people we pay salaries to with every dime we pay in league fees, tourn fees and junior programs. The king team will GO Sectionals as AR winners & MD will continue to Run the league office under her set of rules. I'm really sad for the lack of respect our local Usta office is given - but cant exactly encourage anyone to "get out there" and sign up ... Why would we?
You accuse of assumptions but yet you assume the nasty comments are coming from particular people without any way of knowing that. Hard to buy that SK would take a player without asking about her experience or that she would be self-rated and not asked but regardless, it is a fact the girl played D1 tennis and they all know now. I don't want to get into drama and am not listing myself as I note you really didn't either. Giving up the bid would be the right thing to do and I can see why both teams that lost 2-3 would be upset that the team is advancing in an unfair manner.
Grievance on Baker Griffee back... all matches DQ'd, bump to 5.5 and suspended from play for 6 months. No rulings yet from other grievances.
If matches are DQ'd then how are they allowed to play at sectionals???
Again let me say...This problem is not isolated to the 4.0 womens league. This is a National USTA problem. USTA Team Tennis is a recreational league type setting, the problem is we are seeing more and more players, captains, and those in charge pulling strings and figuring ways to get around the ratings system. First, the ratings system is blind as a bat. I know of many many players from Fort Smith and other cities that have stopped playing USTA Team Tennis because of the obvious politics and corruption. I have been attacked repeatedly for having the balls to stand up and say something about this but those of us who are not willing to ignore the white elephant in the room will continue to speak up in order to save the USTA from its demise. Team Tennis is just that..its a team thing. I'm suggesting that our ratings will need to be figured like this. First you will get a individual rating and then a team rating that will create your rating. Then the USTA autorities will be able to DQ players on a visual basis. As I was told by one of my players this past month after the state tournament, "why would I want to pay 50 bucks a year to the USTA, take a day off work because of bad match schedules(friday 10 am), pay for 2 nights in a hotel, pay for 2 tanks of gas, meals for my family, tournament fees, etc..and come down to little rock for state and get blown off the court by a Obvious sand baggers or college kids that has no concept of TEAM fellowship?" Kind of destroys the Team Tennis spirit right? Thus the reason many players are now choosing to stop playing USTA tennis and just stay at their local club or park and just play with their friends. Help me Save the USTA...Thanks Britt Mounce 479-806-0991
Very well put Britt. We need more people like you and the moderators to stand up for what's right. I am in the group of no more team tennis. It's all a rip and a fraud. ....let me also add that after many a trip I have yet to see any thrill a person gets from playing in the heat in Mobile, AL. ....I guess if they went to all the trouble to cheat to win they'll make the haul though. Big whoop.... Go for it cheater girls.
It will all catch up with you. ...It already is!
Didn't Ft Smith have a former 4.0 ringer in Beau Basham that won high school overall the same year he self rated 4.0 and went undefeated? Doesn't Ft Smith have a current 4.5 ringer that currently plays college tennis named Bishop Bass? Little Rock doesn't own the monopoly when it comes to this.
Why is it that every time someone calls the ATA office Maureen has a standard answer of "The championship final stands!!!" You weren't expected to say differently Maureen. You are right in the middle of all the mayhem and cheating! You could do something to help the situation however choose not to. Doesn't speak well of you Dickson! You revealed your true colors long ago though.
I do believe if "Anonymous" was removed from this blog that the number of comments on this piece would go from 103 down to 3. There will be no change in the ATA or Southerns if people are too scared to identify themselves. Posting under ANONYMOUS is a reflection of cowardice and people should just skip over all their comments.
Check the national rules. We all need to email Chris walling at Southern about getting the rule changed.
HS overall is different than FOUR years of D1 college tennis. They may be young and good players and most likely they or their parents or their captains/teammates are good friends of Maureen Dicksons.
Some other players on the women's end that Maureen has let through have been Lindsey Prince Berardi who played one year of D1 before getting homesick and coming back to play her last three years at Hendrix. Berardi initially rated as a 3.0! She even got by with it too! The next year who do you think recruited her to play on their 3.5 team? That would be correct. Ms. Maureen Dickson herself! Eleanor Ezry also played for Hendrix and was a top junior and "somehow" the grievance committe who was headed by her former coach Mr. Harold Henderson got her in as a 3.5. You know something is up when players mommies still come to watch their matches as if they are a junior player.
Let's face it. The system is corrupt. The system can only be corrupt when there are corrupt and devious people letting things like these and the current situation get by.
An old Chinese saying: A fish stinks from the head down.
The problems, dishonesty, cheating, etc are all beginning at the ATA head office by employees and the board. Until those people are held accountable nothing will change.
This is not a he said she said situation..this is not a fort smith vs little rock or any other town..stop the vain thinking...its not about you...What I am talking about is the bigger picture..and with the Beau deal..duh...my team was the ones that complained ...thanks non anonymous and not afraid to stand up...Britt Mounce
As painful as it was, I have read each of the above comments. It is obvious that there are two types of folks on here. First there is the cowardly, childish name calling conspiracy theorists, hiding behind the Anonymous name. Then there is the grounded, mature, and level headed adults who are not ashamed to put their name on here. For those of you in the first group, if you are not willing to stand behind your words, just shut up. There are enough issues to be dealt without you clouding the facts with your name-calling and scorch the earth approach. You actually have caused more harm to Ark Tennis than any one else. For the second group, thank you for being mature and remembering that in America, we are innocent until proven guilty.
As I understand it, a grievance was filed, proper procedures were followed, and the decision was made. Let it go. You got your pound of flesh. If you do not like the ruling or the rules, stand up and be counted and try to do something about it. Stop hiding in the weeds and being a coward. My name is on this. Where is yours, Anonymous??
I am just throwing this out for consideration. Doesn't a lot of the so called multiple-anonymous comments appear to come from the same person??
Innocent until proven guilty? This is not a court case, this is team tennis where their are well known and well publicized rules that should be followed and there are NO excuses for a D1 college player to be playing 4.0! Since you like referring to the justice system try this one on for size....ignorance is no excuse for the law. Want to know a definition of a coward? Using a D1 player to win 4.0 State because that team is obviously insecure and doubts their ability to win without having to blatantly cheat.
Ive been told with99% accuracy that Maureen is no longer the ATA coordinator! VICTORY for AR tennis! She has however been moved to a new position. She is now in charge of the CTAs all over the state. I'm sure her bubbly personality is more suited to that line of work. Thankfully she no longer has anything to do with leagues. She has screwed around with, policed, lied, deceived and politicked them way too long.
Thanks to whomever made that change! Its a start anyway..
I agree totally
There are only so many words in the English language and obviously all feel the same so of course it sounds alike.
Shella Stellabarger played favorites and then Maureen.
Put some people who know how to run a business(men) in charge of the day to day operations of team tennis and there will be a lot less drama in Arkansas team tennis.
90% of the arguments in Mixed is because of the females shady line calling or catty remarks trying to get under the skin of the guys and they have proven that so far the only thing they should be doing is playing tennis or staying in the kitchen.
Does anyone know what the Southern ruling has been on the King team? I understand they still intend to go & represent AR 4.0. If so shame on Southern USTA & the Arkansasans that sit on the grievance board for league - since we have so many law experts on this board & innocent till proven guilty is thrown out there freely then let me add another saying -- recuse yourselves from the boards you sit on in regards to this matter, you know who you are.
Has there been any decision from Southern?
Teresa Williams didn't mind being so harsh with her comments regarding Shannon Kings team, but is now doing the same thing with her tri-level team. She should receive the same harsh comments that she didn't mind dishing out. Brandi Mikula lied on her self rating questions, and should be a 4.0, but is rated a 3.5. She played in the high school championship 2 years in a row, and has just graduated high school. She by the rules should be a 4.0. Teresa is so judging, but will do the same thing.
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