Dec 16, 20205 min read

D.F.O Hall of 3.0 Fame - The Process

Updated: Oct 4, 2023

Introduction

The D.F.O. Hall of 3.0 Fame is comprised of a group of amazingly special tennis people who have made amazingly important contributions to 3.0 level tennis in the entire Ohio region (which I guess we could have just called "Ohio). While not a very expansive group, this group nonetheless has been instrumental in the creation of 3.0 level tennis, the the growth of 3.0 level tennis, and the success of 3.0 level tennis (if you can call the lowest level of rec league tennis "successful"). The backgrounds of the D.F.O. Hall of 3.0 Famers are all quite different, and their stories are all incredibly, rivetingly, awe-inspiringly interesting. To be considered a D.F.O. Hall of 3.0 Fame member is the highest honor that ... well ... okay, it's not that big of a deal, but it's something. And that's ... something, right?

Well, we at the D.F.O. think so. And if you'd like to know EXACTLY what we think (and who wouldn't?!), read below to learn more about the Nomination Process, the Voting Criteria, and the Selection Process. All of which we totally invented ALL ON OUR OWN.

The Selection Committee

The D.F.O. Hall of 3.0 Fame Selection Committee shall consist of the following:

- Any D.F.O. team member who has played an official U.S.T.A. 3.0 match, thus showing they are eminently qualified to pass tennis judgement on others

- Tie-breaking votes will be given to any D.F.O. team member who has picked up an actual tennis racquet

- The Twelve Apostles will be given voting consultation before a shiny coin, preferably a nickel, will be given final tie-breaking vote status

- In lieu of the Twelve Apostles, a fan vote may help in the selection of these most deserving candidates

Nomination Process

To be nominated for the D.F.O. Hall of 3.0 Fame, the following criteria must be considered (and to show this is totally legit, we borrowed the following ideas from all these lesser known sports leagues):

- A nominee must have been active as a competitor at the 3.0 level for at least three 3.0 seasons, though more than three 3.0 seasons is obviously preferred

(MLB/NASCAR)

AND

- A nominee must be "retired" from 3.0 play for a minimum of at least one day

"yo-yo'd" back to 3.0 play

active in 3.0 play for 10+ seasons

(MLB/NFL/NBA)

AND

- A nominee must have earned a finalist appearance, Championship or Consolation, in at least one tournament

have 50 or more 3.0 wins via league, playoff, or tournament play

have been a member of a USTA Midwest Ohio State Championships Championship team

(D.F.O.)

- Any 3.0 nominee may be nominated by any fan or player or family member or ... themselves

(obviously we encourage self-nomination)

(NFL)

The D.F.O. Hall of 3.0 Fame voting panel will consider the following criteria when reviewing a nominee's Hall of 3.0 Fame status (and we may have borrowed these ideas, too):

- A distinguished record of competitive achievement at the near-lowest level

(TENNIS)

Note: 3.0 level play, and only 3.0 level play, is considered!

- Playing ability, sportsmanship, integrity, character and contributions as an individual and/or to his or her team and to 3.0 tennis (NHL/TENNIS)

Note: Singles and doubles players are eligible, as are players who have contributed something fantastic that may not even be tangible.

- Recognition will be given for the tireless efforts of individuals who over the years have demonstrated service and devotion, ideas and ideals, and have made contributions above and beyond the ordinary to 3.0 level tennis

(BOWLING)

Note: Not just players are eligible, but coaches (does any 3.0 player have a coach? And if so, would that coach want to advertise that?), tournament directors (who probably deserve huge recognition as they put up with us 3.0ers messing up their schedules with all of our terrible play), and probably spouses (who are really the ones who put up with the most nonsense)

- Recognition to those who have made a great impact on some facet of 3.0 tennis will also be considered

(BOWLING)

Note: Styles of play, amazing individual matches, buying everyone rounds of post-match beverages ... all kinds "great impacts" are eligible!

- Any 3.0 player on the ineligible list shall not be eligible to be a D.F.O. Hall of 3.0 Fame candidate

(MLB)

Note: We're not sure how someone would get on this, but that would be pretty awesome.

Selection Process

The D.F.O. Hall of 3.0 Fame’s Selection Committee is charged with the vital task of continuing to be sure that new enshrinees are the finest representatives of 3.0 level tennis that 3.0 level tennis has produced. The Committee consists of D.F.O. members who are, or were, members of the USTA and who have competed in at least one official NTRP rated USTA tournament event. As the DFO is such a large organization, there could be, at any one time, many, many D.F.O. members on the Selection Committee. Or ... just two. Kinda all depends.

The Selection Committee meets annually, sometimes in person, but usually online (to make better sure they represent the varied cultural interests of the nation ... and because of the fact it's really, really expensive to fly to a central location since the D.F.O. is far-flung geographic organization). Typically meeting in December after the most recent USTA NTRP rankings have been updated, meetings can also take place when the Selection Committee is really, really bored.

During the meeting, the Selection Committee takes the initial list and, over a series of rounds of voting, narrows the field by half until only half of the last half of 3.0 players remain.

Huh?

For example, the initial Preliminary List of nominations is compiled and sent to the Selection Committee. Included are all eligible and ineligible candidates nominated by any person. Why ineligible? WHY NOT?!

The First Round of voting narrows the list by at least half, although perhaps more, for only nominees who have achieved 100% of the vote from the Selection Committee will move to the next round (proving this is totally the most exclusive Hall of Fame of them all!). Rounds of voting will continue until the field of nominees have been narrowed to a final 20'ish. At this point, the Selection Committee will call on the Twelve Apostles, or a random fan survey, and a final round of voting will take place, with discussions being allowed regarding the final 10-20 nominees who may not have received 100% voting approval from the Selection Committee. Discussion will continue until the list is pared down to a final group of five. Why five? Well, there are five lineup spots during a league match, so that symmetry is pretty amazing, eh?

At that point the final five will be discussed further, and up to five may be selected. Or up to ... one!

The final selections are then inducted into the DFO Hall of 3.0 Fame. AND WHAT A PARTY THAT WILL BE!