I find it no surprise that Jack Baker (right), some bar/pub (call it what you will) player, won the $100,000 hardbat classic which I posted about not too long ago. He's from England and attends the University of Southern Alabama, and why am I not surprised he won? Well because he's unrated. Did you know there are ratings for table tennis players who attend tournaments?

My rating is currently 1815, and for the Hardbat tournament, the rules were "If your opponent has a rating that is 1000 points or more higher that you, you get a 17 point handicap". Can you believe that? So pretty much there was no hope for the professional players to begin with, considering that all these "basement players" could just come in and beat the pros starting out with 17 out of 21 points.

Are you aware how much effort it takes to get 4 points when your opponent has to try to get 21? It's like running a 25 meter race with a professional athelete, but the twist is that you get a 20 meter head start. Yeah...That is almost the perfect analogy... Oh yeah...Did I mention that the first place prize was $100,000 and the second place prize was a measly $5000? Yeah....Rigged much?

For all the table tennis players...It not news that there is going to be a $100,000 hardbat event held in Las Vegas. I've heard that paraolympic table tennis player Tahl Lebowitz(rated around USATT 2400) is probably the best hardbat player in the US. You're probably wondering what a hardbat is... it's pretty mucha ping pong paddle with a rubber and no sponge. The video above is of actor and comedian from the show 30 Rock Judah Friedlander and Tahl Lewbowitz doing a funny bit on their "training" for the $100,000 hardbat tournament. Of course the way they are training is all fun and games...but still Prettttttay funnnnnayyyy!

Check out the teaser they have for the tournament!