2013 New York Sportimes season
The 2013 New York Sportimes season was the 19th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis including the history it inherited from the 2011 merger with the New York Buzz, the 15th season since the founding of the New York metropolitan area-franchise and its third playing home matches in both New York City and the Capital District.
The Sportimes finished in last place in the Eastern Conference and had the worst record in WTT in 2013. The team played five of its home matches in Guilderland, New York and the other two in New York City. This was the opposite of what it had done in the first two post-merger seasons.
On January 15, 2014, Sportimes CEO Claude Okin announced that the franchise had been sold to businessman Russell Geyser and his minority partner Jack McGrory, and the team would be relocated to San Diego, California and renamed the San Diego Aviators. Okin said, "This is a bittersweet event for me personally. I am very glad to have found a motivated and able new owner for the franchise: a person who will be able to re-imagine it in another great tennis town – but I will miss my team."
Season recap
Personnel changes
Prior to the 2013 roster player draft, the Sportimes traded Martina Hingis to the Washington Kastles for financial consideration. Also prior to the draft, the Sportimes acquired Anna-Lena Grönefeld from the Orange County Breakers for financial consideration. Robert Kendrick, Jesse Witten and Květa Peschke all returned for the 2013 season. Although not protected by the Sportimes in the marquee draft in February, John McEnroe was signed as a wildcard player in March, and played for the team in 2013. Claude Okin, the team's principal owner and CEO, also served as the team's coach for 2013. Abigail Spears was re-signed before the start of the season as a substitute player. She only appeared in the opening match. During the season, Eric Quigley was signed as a substitute player as well and appeared in one match. James Blake was also signed during the season as a wildcard player and appeared in one match for the Sportimes. Since WTT teams are permitted to have only one wildcard player of each gender, Blake was effectively released by the Sportimes when McEnroe was designated as the team's male wildcard player on July 18, 2013.Return to Guilderland
After a temporary one-year absence during which it played its Capital District home matches in Troy, New York, the Sportimes returned to SEFCU Arena in Guilderland. The team reversed what it had done during the first two seasons after the merger with the Buzz by playing five of its home matches in the Capital District and only two at Sportime Stadium at Randall's Island in New York City.Disappointing results
The Sportimes finished with a dismal record of 4 wins and 10 losses, last in the Eastern Conference and the worst record in WTT. The team's final home match in Guilderland was a 20–13 loss to the Orange County Breakers on July 18, 2013. The team's final home match in New York City was a 23–15 overtime loss to the Washington Kastles on July 23, 2013.Event chronology
- March 11, 2013: John McEnroe who was not protected by the Sportimes in the marquee draft one month earlier, was signed by the Sportimes as a wildcard player.
- March 12, 2013: The Sportimes traded the rights to Martina Hingis to the Washington Kastles for financial consideration.
- March 12, 2013: The Sportimes acquired the rights to Anna-Lena Grönefeld in a trade with the Orange County Breakers in exchange for financial consideration.
- July 11, 2013: The Sportimes signed James Blake as a wildcard player. Blake appeared in only one match for the team.
- July 18, 2013: The Sportimes' designation of John McEnroe as their male wildcard player results in the effective release of James Blake.
- July 18, 2013: The Sportimes played what would be their final home match in the Capital District, a 20–13 loss to the Orange County Breakers at SEFCU Arena in Guilderland.
- July 23, 2013: The Sportimes played what would be their final home match in New York City, a 23–15 overtime loss to the Washington Kastles at Sportime Stadium at Randall's Island.
- July 24, 2013: The Sportimes lost their final match of the season, 20–11, to the Philadelphia Freedoms at the Pavilion dropping their record to 4 wins and 10 losses and eliminating them from playoff contention.
- January 15, 2014: Sportimes CEO Claude Okin announced that the franchise had been sold to businessman Russell Geyser and his minority partner Jack McGrory, and the team would be relocated to San Diego, California and renamed the San Diego Aviators.
Draft picks
Marquee player draft
The Sportimes passed on both of their selections in the marquee player draft. They did not protect John McEnroe.Roster player draft
The selections made by the Sportimes are shown in the table below.| Round | Player chosen | |||
| 1 | 6 | 6 | Robert Kendrick | Y |
| 2 | 6 | 14 | Jesse Witten | Y |
| 3 | 6 | 22 | Anna-Lena Grönefeld | Y |
| 4 | 6 | 30 | Květa Peschke | Y |
Match log
Regular season
| Match | Date | Venue and location | Result and details | Record |
| 1 | July 7 | Joan Norton Tennis Center at the Manchester Athletic Club Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts | BOSTON LOBSTERS 20, New York Sportimes 18
| 0–1 |
| 2 | July 8 | Kastles Stadium at The WharfWashington, District of Columbia | WASHINGTON KASTLES 23, New York Sportimes 15
| 0–2 |
| 3 | July 9 | SEFCU ArenaGuilderland, New York | NEW YORK SPORTIMES 22, Springfield Lasers 21
| 1–2 |
| 4 | July 10 | Joan Norton Tennis Center at the Manchester Athletic ClubManchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts | New York Sportimes 24, BOSTON LOBSTERS 17
| 2–2 |
| 5 | July 12 | SEFCU ArenaGuilderland, New York | Philadelphia Freedoms 20, NEW YORK SPORTIMES 19
| 2–3 |
| 6 | July 15 | SEFCU ArenaGuilderland, New York | NEW YORK SPORTIMES 22, Philadelphia Freedoms 17
| 3–3 |
| 7 | July 16 | SEFCU ArenaGuilderland, New York | NEW YORK SPORTIMES 21, Boston Lobsters 14
| 4–3 |
| 8 | July 17 | The PavilionRadnor Township, Pennsylvania | PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS 21, New York Sportimes 16
| 4–4 |
| 9 | July 18 | SEFCU ArenaGuilderland, New York | Orange County Breakers 20, NEW YORK SPORTIMES 13
| 4–5 |
| 10 | July 20 | Kastles Stadium at The WharfWashington, District of Columbia | WASHINGTON KASTLES 21, New York Sportimes 20
| 4–6 |
| 11 | July 21 | Mediacom Stadium at Cooper Tennis ComplexSpringfield, Missouri | SPRINGFIELD LASERS 22, New York Sportimes 16
| 4–7 |
| 12 | July 22 | Sportime Stadium at Randall's IslandNew York, New York | Texas Wild 22, NEW YORK SPORTIMES 20
| 4–8 |
| 13 | July 23 | Sportime Stadium at Randall's IslandNew York, New York | Washington Kastles 23, NEW YORK SPORTIMES 15
| 4–9 |
| 14 | July 24 | The PavilionRadnor Township, Pennsylvania | PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS 20, New York Sportimes 11
| 4–10 |
Team personnel
Reference:Players and coaches
- Claude Okin, Coach
- James Blake
- Anna-Lena Grönefeld
- Robert Kendrick
- John McEnroe
- Květa Peschke
- Eric Quigley
- Abigail Spears
- Jesse Witten
Front office
- Claude Okin, CEO
- Jed Murray, General Manager
- Dan Fromm, Assistant General Manager
Transactions
- February 13, 2013: The Sportimes left John McEnroe unprotected in the marquee player draft effectively making him a free agent.
- March 11, 2013: The Sportimes signed John McEnroe as a wildcard player.
- March 12, 2013: The Sportimes traded the rights to Martina Hingis to the Washington Kastles for financial consideration.
- March 12, 2013: The Sportimes acquired the rights to Anna-Lena Grönefeld in a trade with the Orange County Breakers in exchange for financial consideration.
- March 12, 2013: The Sportimes left Ashley Harkleroad unprotected in the roster player draft effectively making her a free agent.
- July 7, 2013: The Sportimes re-signed Abigail Spears as a substitute player.
- July 11, 2013: The Sportimes signed James Blake as a wildcard player, resulting in the effective release of John McEnroe.
- July 12, 2013: The Sportimes signed Eric Quigley as a substitute player.
- July 18, 2013: The Sportimes' designation of John McEnroe as their male wildcard player results in the effective release of James Blake.