Before I come down to Florida, I want to apologize and bury the hatchet with all the New York racquetball and paddleball players who are still so upset with me about humiliating Ruben Gonzalez in Coral Springs eight years ago. I didn't know you'd take it so personally when I barely let him score a point at the indoor legends final. I know it was wrong for me as a far superior player to beat much lesser player so bad. I didn't try to run up the score but it was just too easy. It was a shame that Ice man and Andy and you guys had to witness such a beat down. I think though enough time has gone by to forgive. I also think it's wrong to hold an indoor racquetball beating against somebody at an outdoor event. I still sincerely apologize that you had to see it. I didn't know he had so many hometowns I'd already given him a courtesy win in Puerto Rico and played lefty so he could win in New York. If you guys will forgive me I'll never pick on the weak and elderly again. I want it on the record that I Love New York and I've done free exhibitions and junior clinics in Puerto Rico. I hope you can forgive me by Friday because this weekend me and Mighty Joe Young are going to break Ice and Freddy's one wall streak! Hope this patches things up.
Marty
Steve Serot, the first player to ever win a professional racquetball tournament and still the youngest player to ever win a pro stop is finally getting in to rb the hall of fame. Steve's power game inspired mine and he had the first real power backhand in racquetball. He was also a great doubles player winning multiple national doubles titles indoors and outdoors and the first player to make the dive and re-kill a part of the game. Congrats to Serot!
Marty
I was thinking of just how incredible Kane's undefeated streak is and trying to think of something comparable related to our sport. Even the very best ever have an off match and the fact Kane hasn't had one he lost in years is mind blowing. The only other streak I can think of since I entered my first tournament in 1967 is Keeley's streak in paddleball. Steve Keeley went from 1971 - 1979 without losing a single match in paddleball. He entered the National singles event five times from 71-78 and never lost even one match as well as winning every other event he played. This is even more incredible than it sounds when you consider guys like Brumfield, Muhelheisen, Finger and Lawrence considered the best ever played during the streak. As great as Brumfield was and I'd consider him the second best paddleball player of all time, he never beat Keeley with a paddle losing to him in both the 1971 and 1973 Paddleball Nationals. When Keeley finally lost a match in the1979 National finals to me, the best way to describe it was a fluke. I was a very good paddleball player but not even in Keeley's league day in and day out. I bring this up because Keeley is one of the great pioneers of the game and probably the only one who could identify with dominating the way Kane is.
Marty
What can be done to get some more players on tour? I have seen bad times in pro racquetball but never such a very thin crop of pros. It's easy to predict the top eight because it seems like only eight guys play full time. You have one great player in Kane some good pro players like Rocky, Crowther, Vanderson and a couple young guns in Croft and Rojas but that's basically the whole tour. Not only can nobody push Kane. I mean losing Jack, Alvaro, Mitch when they were all in their prime made what was already the thinnest field in the sport much thinner. I'm not blaming Kane, they line em up and he beats them, that's his job. Let's drop the defense and all talk about how to help fix this very real problem going forward!
Marty
I think everyone pro or am can look back at that one match that was the most brutal and most memorable they played. For me it was in the first event I won in Burlington in the semis against Steve Serot. Everyone talked about me upsetting #1 ranked, Brumfield in the quarters and #2 ranked Keeley in the finals but my toughest match ever was a 21-20 tiebreaker win over #3 Serot in the semis. The tiebreaker lasted over an hour and we both had multiple opportunities to win. Every point seemed like it took forever and the intensity and pace was unbelievable. I had never beaten Serot even a game before that match. I played hundreds of other tough matches but never one that topped Serot in Burlington.
What was the toughest match you ever played and or watched?
Marty
I think everyone pro or am can look back at that one match that was the most brutal and most memorable they played. For me it was in the first event I won in Burlington in the semis against Steve Serot. Everyone talked about me upsetting #1 ranked, Brumfield in the quarters and #2 ranked Keeley in the finals but my toughest match ever was a 21-20 tiebreaker win over Serot in the semis. The tiebreaker lasted over an hour and we both had multiple opportunities to win. Every point seemed like it took forever and the intensity and pace was unbelievable. I had never beaten Serot even a game before that match. I played hundreds of other tough matches but never one that topped Serot in Burlington.
What was the toughest match you ever played and or watched?
Marty
These would be my top five. All except Ellis finished #2. I know many other outstanding players didn't finish #1 but I stopped at five. Who else would you include?
1. Steve Serot
2. Brett Harnett
3. Steve Keeley
4. Jerry Hilecher
5. John Ellis
Keeley Awards
The Best Original & Moderns
This introduction to the pioneer and modern Champions breaks down their serves, strokes, strategies and more to clue you which early pro pictures to view and which living pros to watch for tips to improve your own game.
Best Forehand Original - Bill Schmidtke Best Forehand Modern - Kane Waselenchuk
Best Backhand Original - Steve Serot Best Backhand Modern - Sudsy Monchik
Best Pinch Shot Original - Davey Bledsoe Best Pinch Shot Modern - Alvaro Beltran
Best Splat Shot Original - Marty Hogan Best Splat Shot Modern - Kane Waselenchuk
Best Killshot Original – Steve Keeley Best Killshot Modern – Sudsy Monchik
Best Serve Original - Jerry Hilecher Best Serve Modern - Cliff Swain
Best Strategist Original – Carl Loveday Best Strategist Modern - Jason Mannino
Best Competitor Original - Charlie Brumfield Best Competitor Modern - Cliff Swain
Best Outdoor Player Original - Charlie Brumfield Best Outdoor Player Modern - Brian Hawkes
Best Doubles Player Original - Charlie Brumfield Best Doubles Player Modern - Ruben Gonzalez
Best Diver Original - Steve Serot Best Diver Modern - Jason Mannino
Best Hands Original - Bud Muelheisen Best Hands Modern - Kane Waselenchuk
Most Power Original - Marty Hogan Most Power Modern - Chris Crowther
Fastest Player Original - Davey Bledsoe Fastest Player Modern - Jason Mannino
Best Lefty Original - Bud Muelheisen Best Lefty Modern - Cliff Swain
Best Winning Streak Original - Marty Hogan Best Winning Streak Modern - Kane Waselenchuk
Best Sportsmanship Original - Bill Schmidtke Best Sportsmanship Modern - Mike Ray
Best Gamesman Original - Charlie Brumfield Best Gamesman Modern - Kane Waselenchuk
Best Pass Shot Original - Mike Yellen Best Pass Shot Modern - Jack Huczek
Best Serve Return Original - Charlie Brumfield Best Serve Return Modern - Rocky Carson
Best Coach Original - Carl Loveday Best Coach Modern - Jim Winterton
Best Author Original – Steve Keeley Best Author Modern – Steve Keeley
Keeley Awards
The Best Original & Moderns
This introduction to the pioneer and modern Champions breaks down their serves, strokes, strategies and more to clue you which early pro pictures to view and which living pros to watch for tips to improve your own game.
Best Forehand Original - Bill Schmidtke Best Forehand Modern - Kane Waselenchuk
Best Backhand Original - Steve Serot Best Backhand Modern - Sudsy Monchik
Best Pinch Shot Original - Davey Bledsoe Best Pinch Shot Modern - Alvaro Beltran
Best Splat Shot Original - Marty Hogan Best Splat Shot Modern - Kane Waselenchuk
Best Killshot Original – Steve Keeley Best Killshot Modern – Sudsy Monchik
Best Serve Original - Jerry Hilecher Best Serve Modern - Cliff Swain
Best Strategist Original – Carl Loveday Best Strategist Modern - Jason Mannino
Best Competitor Original - Charlie Brumfield Best Competitor Modern - Cliff Swain
Best Outdoor Player Original - Charlie Brumfield Best Outdoor Player Modern - Brian Hawkes
Best Doubles Player Original - Charlie Brumfield Best Doubles Player Modern - Ruben Gonzalez
Best Diver Original - Steve Serot Best Diver Modern - Jason Mannino
Best Hands Original - Bud Muelheisen Best Hands Modern - Kane Waselenchuk
Most Power Original - Marty Hogan Most Power Modern - Chris Crowther
Fastest Player Original - Davey Bledsoe Fastest Player Modern - Jason Mannino
Best Lefty Original - Bud Muelheisen Best Lefty Modern - Cliff Swain
Best Winning Streak Original - Marty Hogan Best Winning Streak Modern - Kane Waselenchuk
Best Sportsmanship Original - Bill Schmidtke Best Sportsmanship Modern - Mike Ray
Best Gamesman Original - Charlie Brumfield Best Gamesman Modern - Kane Waselenchuk
Best Pass Shot Original - Mike Yellen Best Pass Shot Modern - Jack Huczek
Best Serve Return Original - Charlie Brumfield Best Serve Return Modern - Rocky Carson
Best Coach Original - Carl Loveday Best Coach Modern - Jim Winterton
Best Author Original – Steve Keeley Best Author Modern – Steve Keeley
Best Forehand
1. Bill Schmidtke
2. Jerry Hilecher
3. Charlie Brumfield
4. Cliff Swain
5. Bret Harnett
Best Backhand
1. Steve Keeley
2. Sudsy Monchik
3. Steve Serot
4. Gerry Price
5. Dave Peck
Best Serve
1. Cliff Swain
2. Egan Inoue
3. Bruce Christensen
4. Jerry Hilecher
5. Freddy Calabrese
Smartest Player
1. Charlie Brumfield
2. Steve Keeley
3. Victor Neiderhoffer
4. Carl Loveday
5. Steve Standemo
Best Court Coverage
1. Davey Bledsoe
2. Steve Serot
3. Rich Wagner
4. Donny Thomas
5. Benny Koltun
Best Competitor
1. Charlie Brumfield
2. Dave Peck
3. Steve Strandemo
4. Cliff Swain
5. Jerry Hilecher
Best Sportsmanship
1. Bill Schmidtke
2. Steve Keeley
3. Craig McCoy
4. Gregg Peck
5. Scott Oliver
Best Doubles Player
1. Charlie Brumfield
2. Steve Serot
3. Mike Zeitman
4. Steve Mondry
5. Cliff Swain
I'm am basically a 100% lock in the 40+ Singles Division in Florida but below are the odds of anyone who may be a contender.
Rob Mijares 2-1 He wins all outdoor 40+ titles but I see a few weaknesses I think I may be able to expose.
Cliff Swain 3-1 I've always beaten Cliff three out of every four singles matches we played, so these odds are easy to calculate.
Angel Calderon 5-1 I've never played Angel in singles and he seems oddly confident of beating me.
Rick Bernstein 6-1 Underrated and local, could be tough.
Harvey Bernstein 7-1 Lots of experience and has shown fast hands on the grill.
Strormin Norman 8-1 Always tough and likes those courts.
Tim Hansen 10-1 Has never beaten me in singles or doubles but has big forehand.
Corey Brysman 100-1 I have beaten him so many times that psychologically he's defeated when he walks on the court. The Bald Beagle has every shot and talent but no chance.
The Field 1,000-1 I don't see it.
Vic 1,000,000-1 Don't let the slightly long odds fool you in to betting on Vic. He has been ducking me forever and has virtually no chance, though he may score 14 in both games!
At my best in the 70's and 80's I felt threatened and pushed by Charlie Brumfield, Steve Keeley, Steve Serot, Jerry Hilecher, Rich Wagner, Steve Strandemo, Crag McCoy, Davey Bledsoe, Mike Yellen, Dave Peck, Brett Harnet, Cliff Swain, Ed Andrews, Ruben Gonzales. I won more tournaments than anyone in the 70's and 80's but it was never a sure thing and I thought any of those guys could beat me at any given time, as confident as I was.
What players do you think Kane feels pressured by? Who if anyone do you think threatens him this season?
Vic,
I just want to make sure you're back to health and playing well. I need my rival back! I talked to Mike Yellen for a few hours, it was great but he won't play racquetball again, Dave Peck doesn't travel, he has young kids and Ruben won't play me. Hilecher and Bledsoe claim to be hitting some but no tournaments. Brumfield and Fleetwood will only play paddleball. It's down to me and you in the 50+ world. I just want to make sure my last rival is healthy and ready for Vegas. If you say so, I'm in the singles. WE NEED A REMATCH! Tell McDonald and Bernstein, Tall Jeff and the other Florida golden oldies to get in our division so we can have some fun. The more the better! I proved I can still play pro singles in Florida but those kids aren't fun to play like you are. They don't even talk during the match!
Marty
PS: Any other old guys who want to have fun join me and Vic in Vegas for some consistently great trash talking and story telling and some inconsistent racquetball!
After reading some recent facebook postings about The Catalina Tour, I must now confess to the whole thing. Even though I was a 22 year old player when the tour was conceived I had the authority to overrule Charlie Drake, the tours National Director and Ed Murphy the CEO of Catalina a division of Gulf Western, a multi-billion dollar company. I got this power by threatening not to cash the big checks they were giving me and not to wear Catalina swim trunks when I went in the pool at The J. My first demand was they keep my three childhood friends Jerry Hilecher, Steve Serot and Benny Koltun off the tour. After all why would anyone want their best friend on tour, so Benny Koltun was out. I also insisted that they keep Lindsay Myers off the tour, even though I was 9-0 in matches against Lindsay, he wasn't ranked in the top ten and we never had a problem between us. I figured the first nine times in a row I beat Lindsay might have been flukes so why chance it. I also specifically was afraid to play Jerry Hilecher even though I'd beaten Jerry five times in a row and seventeen out of the last eighteen that may have been luck as well. I also remembered Jerry beat me 21-3, 21-9 in my first tournament when I was nine years old and he was fourteen. I thought if my game reverts back to when I was nine, I'm in trouble. I insisted they included the two toughest players on tour Mike Yellen and Dave Peck as well as the most talented young players like Bret Harnett and Gregg Peck because I thought they were all due to start playing poorly. After all how long could they keep consistently killing the ball the way they did. Unfortunately my evil plan backfired and even though I won more tournaments than anyone in the 1982 and 1983 seasons I won two non-Catalina events in 82 and three in 83 and got no Catalina ranking points for them. I fell to number two both years in the Catalina rankings, even though I controlled the tour and could of ranked myself #1. In 82 after I won the Nationals and the most prize money on tour I forgot I was in control and ranked Dave Peck #1 stopping my five year streak as #1. Similarly I forgot I was in control in 1983 and ranked Mike Yellen #1. As for Jerry Hilecher I failed there as well. Jerry qualified for the first two events and won them and took Dave Fleetwood's place on the tour when he retired settling his court case that I was not involved in even though I called all the shots. Jerry never missed even one Catalina event. I hope my confession clears it all up. It really makes sense when you think about it, doesn't it.
Marty
One thing I remember about the first time I watched Kane play is how solid his game was and how he had all the fundamentals of the game. Many of today's top players still have a fundamental weakness. Kane had great and early racket preparation, good foot work and outstanding stroke mechanics on both his forehand and backhand. These basic fundamentals are learned early in the development process and bad habits are hard to break later even with good coaching. Darren taught Kane the game as it should be played early on and he developed these traits as a kid. Lots of people have been praised for helping Kane get to the top and I think it's time we give his original teacher some credit. I know without coaching from my mom, I'd never of been able to do what I did.
Marty
The below doesn't always reflect the outcome of the national tournament or the "official" ranking but is a true assesment of who the best players were every year from 1972 to 1989. I think I followed racquetball as closely or closer than anyone during these years. Some years more than one player was deserving of the #1 ranking or of the #2 or #3 spot and ties are reflected with an *. I believe this list to be the most accurate assesment of who the best players were every year.
1972-73 1) Brumfield 2) Keeley 3) Schmidtke
1973-74 1) Brumfield *2) Serot *2) Keeley
1974-75 1) Brumfield, 2) Serot *3) Keeley *3) Strandemo
1975-76 1) Brumfield 2) Hogan *3) Wagner *3) Hilecher
1976-77 1) Hogan 2) Bledsoe 3) Brumfield
1977-78 1) Hogan 2) Brumfield *3) Wagner *3) Beldsoe
1978-79 1) Hogan 2) Hilecher 3) Yellen
1979-80 1) Hogan 2) Yellen 3) D. Peck
1980-81 1) Hogan 2) D. Peck 3) Yellen
1981-82 *1) Hogan *1) D. Peck 3) Hilecher
1982-83 1) Yellen 2) Hogan 3) D. Peck
1983-84 1) Hogan 2) Yellen 3) D. Peck
1984-85 1) Hogan 2) Yellen 3) G. Peck
1985-86 1) Hogan 2) Harnett 3) Yellen
1986-87 1) Harnett 2) Hogan 3) Yellen
1987-88 1) Harnett *2) Gonzalez *2) Swain
1988-89 1) Swain, 2) Harnett 3) Hogan
I rated the players I played coming up in the early and mid 70's in a variety of categories. I've never played Dr. Bud Muehlheisen, the best player of the 60's.
BEST BACKHANDS
1. Steve Keeley - still thru today the smoothest stroke I've ever seen
2. Steve Serot - his lefty backhand was was the most dangerous weapons in the 70's. Especially impressive because he was a converted righty.
BEST FOREHANDS
1. Charlie Brumfield - he seemed to make every big shot with it and rarely missed. He was the best player and the forehand was his shot.
2. Bill Schmidtke - a perfect forehand stroke it was flawless
3. Davey Bledsoe - his forehand pinch was automatic and he had the early power forehand.
4. Jerry Hilecher - killed virtually every ball he touched with his forehand and ran around virtually all backhands to do it.
BEST SERVE
1. Jerry Hilecher - He introduced the serve and shoot game to the sport. He had the best serve in the early days.
TOUGHEST COMPETITORS
1. Charlie Brumfield - nothing he wouldn't do to win a point.
2. Steve Strandemo - played every point like it was his last and never let up
BEST DOUBLES PLAYERS
1. Charlie Brumfield - even better at doubles than at singles. Won the national invitational (the big doubles event in those days) every year. He played with Muhelheisen, Serot, McCoy and it dominated with all of them.
2. Steve Serot - was the best leftside player in the game.
BEST OUTDOOR PLAYER
1. Charlie Brumfield - he was unbeatable and maybe better outdoors than indoors.
BEST PADDLEBALL PLAYERS
1. Steve Keeley - he won six national championships with guys like Brumfield, Lawrence and Finger in the draw.
2. Charlie Brumfield - won multiple national singles and doubles titles but second to Keeley with a paddle
FASTEST PLAYERS
1. Davey Bledsoe - an athlete with speed to compete with any guy today in any sport
2. Steve Serot - could get anything on the court.
3. Rich Wagner - never stopped moving and won many matches on court speed.
BEST CONDITIONED
1. Steve Keeley - wouldn't be unusual to play four hours of racquetball followed by ten mile run or hundred mile bike. Once rode his bike from San Diego to St. Luis played the Nationals and then rode home to Michigan.
2. Steve Strandemo - Never stopped training and practicing. Never tired.
3. Steve Mondry - trained as hard as Strandemo and loved to play for hours.
BEST LEFTYS
1. Steve Serot - #2 in the world , won first ever sanctioned pro racquetball tournament
2. Craig McCoy - smooth swing. made many pro finals.
3. Ron Strom - great lefty forehand. Beat both Strandemo and Schmidtke many times. Not well known but tough!
