I just wanted to send out a huge Thank You to Dave for putting on the season, a great Pro Nationals and for putting up with all we do as players throughout the year. I know a lot of you rip on him here at MNP but you have to understand how little he has to work with and what a great job he does pulling things together. If Pro Nationals is any indication then great things are to come because of his tireless work for the tour. I know he would rather be at home with his family instead of flying all over the place trying to sign up new tournaments and running the current ones. So the next time the rankings aren't out immediately or you don't see the tour as much as you would like then step right up and take his place. I am sure he would love to just go throw a ball with his son or watch his daughter sing the national anthem somewhere.

Thanks for the hard work and all the things you give up to help improve the tour!

Thoerner

Thoerner

I just wanted to send out a huge Thank You to Dave for putting on the season, a great Pro Nationals and for putting up with all we do as players throughout the year. I know a lot of you rip on him here at MNP but you have to understand how little he has to work with and what a great job he does pulling things together. If Pro Nationals is any indication then great things are to come because of his tireless work for the tour. I know he would rather be at home with his family instead of flying all over the place trying to sign up new tournaments and running the current ones. So the next time the rankings aren't out immediately or you don't see the tour as much as you would like then step right up and take his place. I am sure he would love to just go throw a ball with his son or watch his daughter sing the national anthem somewhere.

Thanks for the hard work and all the things you give up to help improve the tour!

Thoerner

...well put JT

...well done Negretz

I agree, from one tournament director to another, Dave should be applauded for his efforts this season. Alot of people that tirelessly work in racquetball inside and outside the sport are sometimes never thanked or thanked enough. Thanks for your efforts Dave!
Have a great summer! See you in Houston.

JT, I can't remember when in the last couple of years that Mr.Negrete got slammed around here. And before then the very few times posters that took a shot...got blasted back! ' ' )

Thanks JT, for hanging around here and nice show at Pro Nats!... wow!!!

It would be cool to see more of you guys around here.

Dave's the man!!! I need to get a hall pass and make next year's Pro Nationals!

bill

JT, I can't remember when in the last couple of years that Mr.Negrete got slammed around here. And before then the very few times posters that took a shot...got blasted back! ' ' )

Thanks JT, for hanging around here and nice show at Pro Nats!... wow!!! It would be cool to see more of you guys around here.

I was gonna say...I dont remember when the last time was anyone complained about Dave. I know we banter a lot about the rankings. . but ...who cares? I think that Dave is doing an awesome job! I know his assistant, whose name is blank to me right now, is also doing a great job! I'm glad that Dave acknowledged him and all the hard work he has done this year for the tour as well! Kudos to IRT and CO

jackie

you mean Bryan Crosser.....is that him????....the right hand man to the commissioner and "THE" Tour...:mrgreen:

Bryan...I think thats right. I should remember that, thats my bros name...

Jackie

jtmariece

I was gonna say...I dont remember when the last time was anyone complained about Dave. I know we banter a lot about the rankings. . but ...who cares? I think that Dave is doing an awesome job! I know his assistant, whose name is blank to me right now, is also doing a great job! I'm glad that Dave acknowledged him and all the hard work he has done this year for the tour as well! Kudos to IRT and CO

jackie

I think it was more so when Marty was still posting on the threads and the Legends forum had more steam. Not much anti-Dave since then, as there shouldn't be.

LOL, I'm so not commenting...

Jackie

I admit I complain sometimes. It's not the best thing to do, but this isn't a perfect world, and I'm not a perfect person. I do think during Dave's tenure, the sport has seen more positive growth than any of the other organizations, and since the sport was in it's hey-day.

Just to consider what his formulas for success might be, it seems like a lot of the time sports are governed by very traditional mentalities. Sports is a pretty focussed endeavor, you don't see a whole lot of Rodman's exuding creativity. It seems more about seeing the goal and practicing reaching it over and over. That traditional, somewhat conservative mentality seems to permeate a lot of related business activities. Along with that typically comes something of an aversion and defensiveness to non-traditional approaches and attitudes,as well as some very old-guard power-broking. I think where Dave Negrete has prevailed is that he has not blocked those concepts and missions that may fall outside of a traditional outlook and method. Proracquetball.net and meetandplay radio and the dynamic relationship to a broad er audience via the net and his website are all things he has somewhat nurtured and embraced. It has taken his endorsement, plainly stated or unspoken, for these projects to gain momentum and success. Also, you can see that he is not threatened by the competition. He seems to be making approaches to the web technology on his site, but he doesn't try and stifle any competitive interests on the meetandplay site.

I think the other organizations would do well to follow his lead of allowing entrepeneurs the freedom to get involved and expand. They seem stuck in somewhat boxy management styles that do not seem to be working very well for them. And mostly what I have observed about the organizations over the past 10 years is that they tend to be VERY territorial and defensive, and they do not like outside competition which they seem to perceive as threats to their position, and that is what has hurt the sport the most. I would save under Dave Negrete's leadership, the IRT as an organization has moved away from that hurtful mentality, and the other orgs would do well to emulate the attitude.

Of course, this is all just the opinions after a lot of caffeine and some good outdoor racquetball last night. But anyway, I'm pretty happy about where he's letting things go. So please add my thanks to the list.

JT is right, Dave got slammed on here on more than one occasion...He's doing a tremendous job.

Vin C
NYC

Not lately...and when the off remark is made it generally meets alot of opposition. Not since Marty made comments did anyone chime in and that was quite a wile ago Vinny.

veritas,

Just out of curiousity when did Dave ever get slammed here, can you cite who where and when?

It doesn't seem likely, but if so then I would like to, at least, here their side.

Dave is a darn good commish in my oppinion.

VA, there is/was some bad blood between the now defunct legends tour and the IRT leadership. Whats funny is that it was all onesided on the legends camp side. Mr. Negrete never publiicly stated any response to all the banter. He showed sound decsion making on that score IMO. Dave is a class act!

Marty who?

Bill, there was soem threads post Marty and the Legends tour regarding how the present IRT was run. They were short winded but they were still here. Doesn't much matter to me I know how good a job he's doing and so does everyon else.

That would be ah big ten four good buddy. ' ' )

Bill,

Thanks for the info. Is it at least resolved?

Racquetball was in its heydey in the late 70's and early 80's.....................since then it has steadily gone down hill. Dave N. has taken the reins of the IRT and started to turn the corner on the racquetball downturn.......................I see great things for racquetball in the future.................I was always taught that cream rises to the top.....................well there is no disputing the fact that the top IRT pros are some of the greatest athletes in the world.................hopefully in the next 10 years, they will paid what they are worth..............just my .02 cents..................................keep up the great work, Dave...........................:lol: