I meant to post this before the site was temporarily down. I googled Kane a couple of weeks ago and it took a few pages of hits before I found a reference from outside the racquetball world of coverage, albeit coverage of his drug suspension by an Edmonton newspaper. I would think his story would be a good one for SI or ESPN the magazine.
Jim
(1) The Streak continues, now over 120 consecutive match wins for Kane.
(2) South-of-the-Border rising- International competitions during the year highlight the up-and-coming prominence of players south-of-the-border.
(3) IRT Tour reorganization-From the vigorous IRT schedule posted for the season, to the new products, to the new buzz with the pro game.
(4) O Canada?-the decline of racquetball in that once-proud racquetball country.
(5) Media expansion for racquetball-The IRT Network and MAV TV show promise for expanded exposure for racquetball.
Honorable Mentions: (1) Despite a protracted economic recession and quality issues with manufacturing in China, racquetball companies continue to produce high quality racquets at affordable prices; (2) New courts continue to pop-up in both the private and public sectors, with new Ys having courts, Lifetime and LA Fitness chains commitments to racquetball in the private sector, etc.
I'm sure I've missed something.
Jim
I wonder if many of you have been watching the MAV TV broadcasts. I've seen 3 now......Kane v. Crowther, Kane v. R.Carson, and Crowther v. T.Carson (this last one just today). Overall, I really like them. The camera angle low on the left part of the backwall gives a real nice view of that line and the players' backhands. Today's broadcast had Shawn Royster, who is excellent, with Cliff, who is also excellent at the mic'. Earlier broadcasts had Shawn and Sudsy, and Shawn, Sudsy, and Cliff. Very nice job, all of them!
Jim
We are in a unique time period for our sport. Marty Hogan, Cliff Swain, Sudsy Monchik, and Kane Waselenchuk are all still playing the game and are the consensus top 4 legends of our sport, not to slight Mike Yellen as a member of the top 5 legends (but Mike isn't playing anymore). Wouldn't it be a nice exhibition to get these 4 great players all together in one place, perhaps with charity fund-raising as the beneficiary? I wonder what ideas our MNP community might have for such an event, whether supporting the favorite charities of these legends, or designated IRT charities, such as RAFA House.
Jim
When the mistaken posting of Shane Vanderson beating Kane last weekend went up, it was all the more remarkable, in my view, because of its believability. Shane has a game style, I believe, to do what many now view as the undoable. And he has the talent, especially when he gets hot. The person to one day beat Kane will have to out-shoot him and Shane has streaks of unbelievable shooting.
Jim
Even with current unemployment rates, what are the worst jobs you have either had, observed, or heard about from friends, media, etc?
The one I observed is this: Being the men's bathroom attendant (yes they still have these) in Cheli's Chili Bar in downtown Detroit.
Jim
Having seen several IRT matches this past weekend, here are my impressions:
1) Andy Hawthorne-Wow. He'll threaten for a top-4 in the not-too-distant future. His movement has improved and he really guts out points. His round-of-16 battle with Tony Carson was fantastic, and he battled Kane better than anyone this past weekend.
2) Speaking of Tony, he's knocking on the top-8 door. He's the round-of-16 opponent from hell. Good luck to Tony.
3) Ben Croft-What a warrior. His semi-final battle with Crowther was epic. Ben guts out every point, moves well on every point. He's the new game-style version of Jason. His return of serve against Chris was fantastic, as Chris was hitting bombs but got very few aces. I know he was disappointed in that loss, but he gained some fans in Davison, for sure, and number me among them.
4) Chris Crowther - Penn should use him for all ball-testing, along with Kane. He hits the ball at speeds I've never seen, and I've seen the bombers over the years.
Finally, the drive serve is back. Last year, the pros were still adjusting, but those days are over. The fast game is back.
Jim
I've been pondering the pro tour and travel. The recent Davison stop, while finally back on the map, was one I expected a bigger turnout of IRT qualifiers. "Team Adrenaline" must have needed a shot of epinephrine, because except for their two top-8s, they were absent. Why was this? Well, they all came in to Minneapolis just a few weeks before, and now have Seattle this coming weekend. Davison was right in-between. Criss-crossing the country may not be in the cards for many qualifiers in terms of costs, etc. Overall, there are 19 Tier-1s on this year's schedule, so if you want to move up, it would seem wise to play all 19. That's still a lot of travel. In major-league baseball, the season is 6 months long, plus 6 weeks for Spring Training. So, many of those players leave their families for 7.5 mos., or 30 weeks. They may get near their homes on various road trips (very few live in their home team's city anymore), but they're also very well paid for their commitments and livelihoods.
I wonder if racquetball can get to the point of pro golf, where there is a "west coast swing", "florida swing", etc. and tournaments are bunched a bit for convenience. The upper midwest would be a good swing in the fall, so perhaps bunching some events around the US Open might be prudent. And, if you hook in "staying with volunteers" at the events, it would make it cost-effective for the pros. In golf, for example, former pro Brad Faxon stayed with the same family in Grand Blanc for years while coming here to play the Buick Open. And, I'm absolutely sure that our club would have hosted the pros for their "between tournament" workouts before our event, much like you will see golf pros play practice rounds at their venues, and set-up many host families for lodging. Does this sound too "old school"?
Just a thought....
Jim
I watched from the 32s thru the final. Here are my impressions for those interested:
1) I love watching Hiroshi Shimizu. Hope he stays on the tour.
2) Chris Crowther-couldn't keep his down the line backhand pass off the backwall last year and couldn't this year. Great talent. Needs to get his passes down, though.
3) Mitch Williams-most improved from last year. Look for more from him next year. He was leading in his match when he spained his ankle. Kept playing despite a clear hobble. Great composure and maturity, too. Go Mitch, next year.
4) Shane-Wow. He's one of the big boys now. Look for really big things next year.
5) Jason-He's now the elder on the tour. What a run this year and a blast to watch.
6) Jack-Validated his #1 with this win. Nice post-match speech, too. Yes, us Michigan racquetballers are proud of you, Jack. It's been 20 years since Yellen.
7) Jason Thoerner-How he refs so well without linesman is amazing.
Dave Negrete-Great job again. Please, please consider a limited appeals process. Jason can't see certain gets and calls in front court. The HD ball has made for a greater front-court game. You need a linesman on the short-line, sidewall.
Motorola/Verizon-You guys are the best, too.
Jim
Where is the hub of racquetball in Boise?
Jim
Welcome everyone to the 2006 World Series in the fine city of Detroit, and our wonderful state of Michigan. Glad to have you and our Tigers!
Jim
Looks like Shane broke thru to the semis and, while he's been there before, the Cliff win is an excellent one and may be the breakthrough anticipated with Shane. Jason goes in pretty fresh from the looks of the scores. The Jack-Rocky semi on top is nothing new.
Any comments from folks on the scene?
Jim
Anyone have the stringing instructions for the Head Metallix? My stringer called me today and is trying to get them from Head. If you can e-mail me them on an attachment, please e-mail them to Reader516@charter.net.
Thanks
Jim
Is it me, or is the entire athletic world these days on something? Our guy Landis comes up dirty and embarrasses America. Boy, we sure needed that!
Now the entire sport of Track and Field is coming up dirty, especially if they were coached by Graham.
Barry Bonds passes the Babe and everyone goes, "Right, the Babe was on beer, Barry's on the clear!"
Rafael Palmeiro tells Congress, "I've never taken steroids!" He even points his finger at them for emphasis. Then, Mr. 500 home runs tests dirty for them weeks later.
Is it me? It's me, isn't it? I'm being overly-critical, aren't I? I'm not feeling sorry that Roger Maris's hair fell out in '61 and he didn't have Rogaine to turn to? Or, should I actually buy the almost pathetic responses by the athletes, usually in stages......1) "I have no idea how that test could show that!", 2) "Maybe someone gave me it without my knowledge.", 3) "Well, it might have been a part of a nutrional supplement I was taking", 4) "Give me time and I will prove to you that the test is wrong....well, that both the A Test and B Test are wrong".
Someone should do a remake of Reefer Madness, title it Steroid Madness, and let all of these guys play themselves!
Jim
I am curious about the presence of racquetball in retirement communities in the southern or southwestern US. I'm talking about the presence of racquetball courts in community centers within targeted retirement communities (e.g., any of the Del Webb communities) at one end of the spectrum, to a vibrant set of community services (e.g., YMCA, JCCA) near nice retirement areas at the other end. The presence of private clubs isn't that attractive to me as I've watched those change over 25 years; sold by one owner to the next and the new owner putting in bowling alleys, etc. So, I won't judge a retirement community that positively if the racquetball is largely restricted to one owned by private interests.
Any information provided will help me in my own retirement planning.
Jim
What "club" (club, Y, JCCA, etc.) has been the foundation for producing the greatest players ever?
The Staten Island Club that produced Ruben, Sudsy, and Jason can now claim 3 #1s.
The St. Louis JCCA produced Marty Hogan and a host of top pros in the 70s/80s.
The San Diego area has a club or two that could lay some claim here.
Right now, I give the nod to Russ Mannino's club in NY.
What does everyone else think?
Jim
Jason
My off-season is over and in the little bit I've been back, I'm really benefitting from the camp experience, especially with the off-speed serve discussions. As you know, I'd been using your slop serve for some time leading into the camp, but the experience really improved how I approach its use and execution. Thanks again for that.
You might make this point in future camps. As players age, the drive serve becomes less and less tenable in terms of its wear-and-tear on the body; at least that's the case with me, now age 53 and playing for 30 years. I can't drive serve a lot anymore due to its effect on my back. I have a good one, but I just can't use it as much as I'd like in tournaments. The slop serve fits the bill as a replacement.
Jim
I have a unique opportunity to spend the weekend of Sept.8-10 in center city, San Francisco. I'll be staying at the Holiday Inn-Golden Gateway, arriving on Friday, Sept. 8. Does anyone know of any racquetball options within a short distance of there? I don't expect to rent a car while there, however. Before checking with the Concierge, I thought I'd try all of you, as you've always informed me well. If there are options, I may bring my sticks.
Jim
Well, the Kane issue turned the MNP towards the usual summer trollness when the IRT is idle. So, let me brighten the mood. All indicators in my racquetball worldview are positive. The IRT/USRA union at Pro Nationals looked nothing but healthy; Hiser and Negrete work their a**es off for us (thank them next chance you get). Jason held a camp in our state in mid-May and 15 campers enrolled at a time when all of their friends were playing golf. Jr. Nats in our state was a huge success. A new Y in Center City Detroit puts in racquetball courts. A new Y in Grand Rapids puts in racquetball courts. The Reno project is underway.
I'm going off to work today feeling pretty good about racquetball.
Jim
