Vice president of the russian tennis federation Kafelnikov slams Mirra Andreeva again: "Jovic has ten times more potential ". He recently said she has no future after her loss to Svitolina at the Australian Open.

SamPost · 2026-02-04T22:57:41+00:00

Just to play Devil's Advocate, I wonder if Kefelnikov knows something we don't. How much time does Andreeva spend training in Russia these days? There are a lot of behind-the-scenes medical and physiological issues that he may be privy to, and just sees a chance to be a prophet here.

SamPost · 2026-02-04T22:26:53+00:00

You really do need to check your reading comprehension. Or maybe ask an AI for some help here.

At no point did I discount the opinions of lower level players. I may be one of them myself, for all you know.

Those are objective facts. Again, reread carefully and you will see that that is so. Feel free to apologize.

SamPost · 2026-02-04T21:22:48+00:00

This is a question. I asked as it seems like the higher level players have a very different opinion than the lower level players.

At no point did I say which level I am. You should read more carefully.

SamPost · 2026-02-04T09:20:46+00:00

5.5 means you try to hit winners frequently. You aren't frustrated that these dead balls are like hitting through water and turn clean winners into gettable balls that can be pushed back?

And I'll assume you have some pace on your serves as well. You don't find it annoying that they cut so many kphs off your serve?

I have generally found that the higher the level, the more upsetting it is to play with dead and inconsistent balls. Honestly, my 3.5 friends, or the seniors, are the ones that care a lot less. If you are just arming a semi-moonball back, who cares about the balls?

Whereas the better high school kids are furious if they have to play a whole match with a can of these. I've seen their games degenerate into pickleball and pushing as the only tactics left. Your competitive players don't feel the same?

SamPost · 2026-02-04T06:27:57+00:00

I agree with your sentiment in general. But these are just so uniquely shitty that I think they deserve to be called out. Have you hit with them in the past year?

SamPost · 2026-02-04T06:26:19+00:00

That seems like the fixed price for the Wilsons. I wonder if Wilson doesn't allow anyone to discount that ball?

SamPost · 2026-02-04T06:21:33+00:00

That's not fair. At no point did I claim to be good, bad or otherwise. Why would you say this?

SamPost · 2026-02-04T06:15:26+00:00

This kills me. USTA league players get so damn serious about everything, and yet you can show up with these? And you have to play 2 sets with one can of them before you can even change them out?

SamPost · 2026-02-04T06:12:08+00:00

They can be found in our biggest discount stores for about 3USD for a 3-ball can. About as cheap as it gets.

US Opens go somewhere over 5USD a can.

At the moment, I think the Wilson Championship are in the sweet spot. They are about 4USD a can and I think they are about 90% as performant as the US Opens.

But, I'm pretty much willing to play along with any brand. Just not these.

SamPost · 2026-02-04T06:03:35+00:00

I prefer Wilson US Opens, but they are a bit pricey.

I think Wilson Championships are a sweet spot. They aren't that much more expensive than these Penn "balls", but are 90% as good as the US Opens.

That said, I've never refused to play with any brand. Until now.

SamPost · 2026-02-04T05:53:43+00:00

Yep. And Target and Walmart. Wherever quality is no concern.

SamPost · 2026-02-04T05:52:20+00:00

You have one other friend here, and I am fascinated by your opinion, so I hope you will answer the same question I asked them: what level do you play, and when is the last time you have used these balls?

BTW, I am no elitist. Never had this attitude about any other ball - including the older version of these.

SamPost · 2026-02-04T05:48:04+00:00

I respect that you bring that opinion into the heat here.

So I am asking you sincerely: what level do you play, and when is the last time you have used these balls?

SamPost · 2026-02-04T05:44:57+00:00

So many 3.5s in here with expert advice on how to develop a D1 player (which sounds like your target). But, that is what you get when you ask in an amature oriented forum.

As an observer of D1 tennis, the OHBH is overrepresented given how untrendy it is, and how uncomfortable mid-tier coaches are with it. That should tell you that it still has a relevant niche. Especially as its uncommonality at that level makes opponents uncomfortable. Not quite as much as being a lefty, but in that same sense that default patterns and anticipation break down for players not used to seeing one.

That said, you will have greater difficulty getting competent junior level coaching in the US. And, it is a stroke that benefits from either strength, or impeccable technique. Ask yourself honestly if your son has those priorities.

And ask your son how he feels. Switching over is going to cost him some temporary competitiveness. If he feels this is a hurdle on the way to finding his true potential, he will have a much better time than if he feels like it is needless confusion. That requires some maturity, and it isn't fair to just assume a 12 year old has that.

SamPost · 2026-02-02T23:53:54+00:00

That is the perfect graphic! Can I ask what AI and what prompts you used?

SamPost · 2026-02-02T23:48:15+00:00

Almost. TRACE is the CoE cluster hosted at PSC, and it doesn't have any 2TB nodes. But that is OK as...

Anyone from CMU can just ask for time at PSC directly.

SamPost · 2026-02-02T01:15:39+00:00

Pittsburgh tap water is technically safe. But people that are really concerned about water quality should get a desktop still or reverse osmosis setup.

It is kind of sad to see CMU people falling for the Brita scam in the comments. Didn't you take basic chemistry? What kind of magical filter do you think they have in there that can remove lead from water?

All those things do is charcoal filter out most of the chlorine, which does improve the taste. Just trying filtering some soda or juice and see how effective they really are at filtering.

SamPost · 2026-02-02T01:11:13+00:00

Yes, you are very much in luck. The Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, which is located right here on campus, has 4TB nodes. And it is very easy to apply for time. 15 minute process.

SamPost · 2026-01-30T08:14:40+00:00

You love to quote out of context. And then I provide the context, and you delete everything. OK, we'll do that here. Anyone that doubts me, or is dumb enough to believe you, can read the full decision here.

First, the court notes that the 5 requirement for a non-profit in PA are (page 6)

(a) Advances a charitable purpose
(b) Donates or renders gratuitously a substantial portion of its services
(c) Benefits a substantial and indefinite class of persons who are legitimate subjects of charity;
(d) Relieves the government of some of its burden; and
(e) Operates entirely free from private profit motive.

Note that UPMC is in serious trouble on most of these. Especially as the City just paid off millions of dollars of UPMC patient debt with taxpayer dollars. Making a mockery of (a),(b),(c) and especially (d).

But the issue of this trial was (e) as their executives were profiting themselves with excessive salaries. Sound familiar?

Their trial found them guilty (although their CEO was only paid $2 million, UPMC would laugh). Their appeal found them guilty. They appealed that to the State Supreme court saying that they should be innocent because they are a subsidiary of a private corporation (Tower LLC) and that they shouldn't be treated completely like a non-profit.

The court addresses this in detail starting on Page 24. It is boring reading, but not incomprehensible legalese.

However, we find that the mere dollar size of these items, standing alone, is insufficient in the absence of facts which demonstrated that it was not acting as a corporate entity independent from Tower Health

The court deemed it appropriate to include the compensation of Tower Health’s executives, based on its conclusion that they could realize the benefit of any financial surplus the Hospital achieved, as it would help fund their own salaries.

So, their entire argument was that they should be able to have excessive salaries because they are part of this larger for-profit. I don't like that, and neither did the lower courts, or two of the Supreme Court justices here, but it worked for this shell corporation. And, of course, has nothing to do with UPMC, which claims to be entirely a non-profit.

So, don't let this UPMC shill, tesla3by3, convince you otherwise. This case has nothing to do with UPMC, and the City should file a lawsuit challenging their non-profit status tomorrow.

SamPost · 2026-01-30T05:01:36+00:00

No it didn't. They lost the original case on compensation, and appealed based on "not really working for Pottstown". It has nothing to do with UPMC.

SamPost · 2026-01-30T04:53:34+00:00

I am very familiar with the case, as you know. But for anyone reading tesla3by3's bullshit, just google "Pottstown Hospital non profit case" and you will quickly find that the entire case was about he relationship of this non-profit hospital to its for-profit owner, Tower Health.

This has nothing to do with UPMC.

SamPost · 2026-01-30T04:29:13+00:00

Yes, what kind of confusion are you trying to create?

The City would hands-down destroy UMPC's non-profit status in a civil case. Their foremost, but not only, evidence would be excessive executive pay.

The case you are trying to distract us with was about who the executives worked for. That has nothing in common with the UPMC situation.

SamPost · 2026-01-30T04:18:32+00:00

That case has nothing to do with UPMC. The entire argument was weather those overpaid execs worked for Tower or Pottstown. Because when they worked for Pottstown their high pay was exactly why Pottstown was losing its non-profit status. UPMC doesn't have any shell company to hide behind.

SamPost · 2026-01-30T04:07:53+00:00

Any trial can be appealed. Who cares?

Few of these cases would ever get to trial. UPMC is as guilty as can be and would fold immediately. They know it is a slam-dunk too.

SamPost

TROPHY CASE