OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Do you think you can make those statements hold up in court? Never mind, just try to sell those nonsense stories to any respectable journalist without rocksolid proof of what you are claiming and we will see how far even the "independent" press is willing to go along with you.

Great way to bring about change though, is it not? Concerted smear campaigns by the new power body in table tennis bodes very well for the future, I think. I mean, I would really trust people using such methods to represent me...

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NITTAKU SEPTEAR cpen | FH: 729 802, 1.5, black | RPB: CORNILLEAU PILOT POWER, 2.0, red
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Of course, rock solid proofs were needed. I would also prefer those headlines with question marks, so that the readers could judge for themselves. E.g. "Shaved Blades Hoax?" instead of simply "Shaved Blades Hoax". And, of course, with reasonable argumentation. Like the President of the ITTF failed to provide any proof of mere existence of such blades. No reference to players, manufacturers, tournaments. No comments about technical impossibility of a rubber to fit an uneven blade. He still remains conspicuously silent about the issue. The same approach goes for other "headlines".

I believe it is important to understand, that the reasons for ideas like players union, alternative federations, involvement of the press etc are the actions of the ITTF since 2000 and their plans for our future.

Agreed that seems like a good list of people, and it does indeed sound like the ITTF is using them for advice. I don't some of the people of that list, although I recogise a few of them as current or former elite players, so am I right to assume most of them are?

Perhaps this is where the problem lies... As far as I know, the ITTF's prioriy is to make rules/changes for the Elite levels, and it sounds like they're probably well represented for this. However these rules can have a huge impact at the non-elite levels (like most of ours), and the main representation we have is our National bodies. Although I'm sure many of these people care about the non-elite level, their priority would also be for the benefit of the elite levels.

The so-called 'frictionless ban' was one that would have had almost 'zero' impact at the elite levels, but a huge impact among the non-elite levels, particularly in the veterans events. I don't want to get into discussions whether this decision was right or not, but I feel this is an example of where decisions may have been made with little consultation (or say) by those that it affected most.

Yes totally agree with you regarding the Press issue brab... that won't help us or our sport... it's definitely not something I would want to get into either...

I've found this a very worthwhile discussion though and brings up points I had not thought off, lets keep it going

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Like this then?

The International Table Tennis Federation ITTF Illegally Bans Player's Equipment?
Speed Glue Ban Swindle?
TT Players Forced to Buy New Equipment Again and Again?
Shaved Blades Hoax?

No, those headlines really does not makes me comfortable at all. Adding question marks only adds to the feeling that they are designed to smear instead of exposing wrong doing with facts. It reeks of speculation and looks more like tabloid press headlines than a serious attempt at exposing any actual wrong doing. Also, why leave it up to the readers to judge for themselves? If you know you are right and have the proof to back it up, then why give the readers even the slightest chance of misjudging? You only do that when you have no proof and seek to sow doubt and pass off speculation for truth.

The question is if this is the way we as table tennis players want to change the current situation. I believe not, as people like you are prepared to bend the truth and alter facts to suit your own ends. Your methods have already assured that you will fail in drumming up the trust of the majority of players out there. Why? Because every one of them reading this will ask themselves when the bending of the truth ends. Has it? Will it ever? How will I know? How can I trust this new organisation when they are in power?

You fail because your methods are not trustworthy. Therefore there is no reason to respect your views.

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NITTAKU SEPTEAR cpen | FH: 729 802, 1.5, black | RPB: CORNILLEAU PILOT POWER, 2.0, red
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Googling them gave me these results.

PRIMORAC Zoran - active. World rank 28
DESJARDINS Lyne - inactive?! World rank 368, 1999
BOUDJAJA Sofian - active?! Ranked 69 in France in 2004.
MATSUSHITA Koji - inactive. Had some small success as a player.
STEFANOVA Nikoleta - active. World rank 46
SUBONJ Viktor - active. USATT 2550
MONTEIRO Thiago - active. World rank 95
LI Karen - active. World rank 155
AGGARWAL Neha - active. Junior. Senior World rank 286
KNIGHT Darius - active. Junior. Senior World rank 280

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NITTAKU SEPTEAR cpen | FH: 729 802, 1.5, black | RPB: CORNILLEAU PILOT POWER, 2.0, red
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OK, I understand, it's a matter of opinion.

I personally think those "headlines" are justified. Maybe it would be a good idea to summarise the arguments in a special topic like "Illegal Rules?" or something like that.

However, the fact is, that some people disapprove of certain actions of the ITTF and are thinking over alternatives.

Athlete commission isn't powerless according to Adham. If I remember well, he said in a previous post that the AC was responsible for the glue ban delay after 2008 Olympics. It was scheduled first for 2006 but the athletes brought up it would be unfair towards them to change the rules in between 2 Olympic games. The board received their point and delayed the ban.
Now for an Union...Anything which can counterbalance ITTF self domination is a good thing. Someone mentioned above that such thing doesn't exist for tennis. On the contrary, it does exist and it's very powerfull. ITF doesn't do anything without the approval of ATP and WTA.
The point saying TT pros goals and ours (amateurs) aren't the same isn't valid. Because their goals are much closer to ours than ITTF's. They want to play and practice on an equal equipment basis. They don't want rules to be changed every year.
As far as I can see, at the moment, the sole counterpower ITTF board is facing is chinese federation and players who continue to do whatever they want regardless ITTF says. Since ITTF canno't afford to go on a clash with the chineses, they let it be...
Now, will the pro players be interrested in such action ? Very doubtful...It's a lot of hassle for very little reward. They are so few to be concerned that creating an union would seem nonsense. But since the all situation is nonsense, who knows...?

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Joola Rossi Emotion
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According to another Adham's comment, the glue ban was scheduled for 2007:



(http://www.ittf.com/stories/Forum_detail.asp?ID_Forumn=80&)

So all the Athlete's commission allegedly reached was 1 year delay.

As far as I understand, the purpose of creating an alternative organisation should be prevention of bad rules, not just delay of some of them.