Posted By ItaE on 03/11/2009 7:00 AM
Yikes, it's belt tightening time!!! the pro tour is starting to feel the economic pinch too - these are hard times, even if temporary.
Care to share any "Agony of defeat" rball story? <> the most painful racquetball match loss that you recall or don't want to recall, hah, hah!
& what about the "Thrill of victory"? <> the Lockman's most thrilling/memorable racquetball match victory:)
There are a few matches over the years that I do not like to reflect on but one rashes me the most and that was losing to Brett Beugen at the state singles tournament back in either 1990 or 1991 (cannot recall the date without going back into the archives - Brett may be able to shed some light on the dates?). Brett had a hot hand coming into our match and I felt I was playing pretty decent but obviously not well enough as he took me out in the semi finals. Brett is the last player to ever beat me in the Men’s Open division at state singles.
I have numerous “Thrill of Victory” matches that are memorable to me but not one of them can really be singled out as the “best” so I have mentioned a few below:
· Taking out the defending 18 & under champion Tim Doyle at the Junior Nationals in Denver, Colorado. Doyle was the heavy favorite to repeat and was receiving huge press. I knocked him out in the semi finals in 2 straight games but then eventually lost in the finals to Mike Guidry.
· Winning my first ever Men’s Open State Title by defeating defending champion Bruce Erickson. It was a huge accomplishment for me at the age of 17 which provided me with tons of confidence to apply towards the future of my racquetball career.
· Knocking the #1 player in the world Sudsy Monchik out in the round of 16’s in Denver, Colorado during the 1999-2000 IRT season. I then eventually defeated Tim Doyle in the quarters, Mike Ray in the semi’s and on into my first IRT Pro Stop Finals eventually losing to Cliff Swain.
· My epic 5-game battle against #3 ranked John Ellis at the US Open. I was released about 5hrs earlier that day from receiving IV fluids to treat severe dehydration from my previous evening match against Mike Guidry. Mike and I battled for almost 2 hours the night before and I had to go to the local hospital for treatment. Ellis was up on me a quick 2 games and during our break after game 2, I just told myself to relax and enjoy the moment. Next thing you know, I had tied it up at 2 games each and eventually won the deciding 5th game to go on to my first US Open Semi Finals appearance against Sudsy Monchik. Sudsy took me out in 4 games to go on to win the tourney by beating Cliff Swain in 3 games.
· Taking out Cliff Swain in the semi finals in Modesto, California with someone else’s racquetball gear. My racquetball bag had been stolen from the club there and I had to scrape equipment from a friend of mine by the name of Peter McMillan. I did not have one piece of my own equipment for that match other than my shorts….It was hilarious to say the least.
Oh yeah, one more that I forgot to mention....winning the Men's A singles at the White Bear Club years back while playing "left handed" |