Politics and racquetball

The latest trend is political bashing, Cant say I blame the Michael Grab's of the world but in reality politics in a broader sense are a part of life.School,job and yes even racquetball has its politics.There are many different levels to the "political" process of our sport. We first need to start at the international/national level. Hiser,Negrette and a host of other people have a lot to say about how racquetball gets developed and how your newly increased membership gets spent. They have to play the role of politicians by keeping both the pros and amateurs happy. One serve for the pros to keep it moving two for us. The importance of national junior development and getting the fast ,furious ,fitness message out to the masses. Then comes the state level,one I am much more familiar with. A large board,generally speaking,of different people with different views of how to do things. Unlike our politicians or USAR representatives there is no financial compensation for them. Though ideas are passed down from the USAR, the implementation is at the state level. Even though everyone on the board is motivated by the same thing there are many questions and differences that may occur though all seem to agree on the chicken cutlet sandwich on tournament day. Where should resources go to Juniors or the tournament players. Better shirts or maybe no trophies. Now that I think about it I am glad I don't go to those meetings with all those tough decisions. For a guy like me an hour or two of that hurts the old noggin. That is very true being a dictator your whole life running your own business and making all your own decisions and since I have never made a mistake my whole life it is hard to be part of a political process. Any way enough about me being perfect lets get to the real topic I started this blog for .COURT POLITICS. After playing for many years you are bound to get better usually ,and the opportunity to get on the A challenge court is more and more of a possibility. As being invited in as part of the A crowd now I see the process as sometimes cruel but I also look at it in many other ways. First of all at many clubs your time is limited on the courts,do you want to spend your time on the court with a jaboop. Safety is a huge issue for me when inviting in new double players,almost all of us will hold on a call. Will the caveman racquetball player trying to prove his self worth do the same. A persons style could also be a safety issue when you are not used to a player like a very wide swing,shadowing, or not being mobile. Sadly a few times it has been the stink issue. I have had some very nice people with either terrible body odor or taken a bath in Ben Gay before they got on the court. Either way after they are long gone they are still there. The issue that affects players the most is odd man out . We discussed at Red Robbins after playing the other night (thanks for dinner Chubby)about 7 being the worst scenario 4=perfect 5= 1 player rotate out 6= team waiting on deck 8= two courts rotate out winner and loser courts 7=Please go run on the treadmill or something until someone quits or someone else shows up. Then the notorious lock out game reserved for the ultra elite players(hum sincerity ?) Everyone has to learn to respect this scenario,I wasn't always the first kid picked when splitting up the teams for baseball. You don't get over it but you do develop a desire to play better and show those guys someday how great you can play. In the famous words of Rodney King "Why can't we all just get along ? " and every one is equal. Well I am not one for communism and kumbayya(I am 100% sure I spelled that wrong). Hard work reaps great rewards,someone has to sweep and being hungry makes you stronger. Nuff said. my
next blog" Legal ways to have open players removed from the courts" Jon "Hit smarter not harder"

You get what you pay for

Many people who play racquetball have more than one membership. I used to have three up until not that long ago. I have belonged to many rat gyms(musclehead) when I was younger ,and have had the pleasure of visiting the Atlantic club which is probably that nicest I have been to. I currentlly belong to the chain of LA fitnesses and the Club at Woodbridge. My last blog about clubs was from the perspective of a board member and their effect on tournaments. I am going to change caps and be the player today. I would like to start with my "home" club,The Club. I will try to give a days experience of each club. When you enter the club you are greeted by a friendly staffer,scan your card and (with an annual membership)ask you if you would like one or two towels for your work out.You then head down to the racquetball courts where the four glass wall courts appear.Everyone greets you like an episode of cheers,trash talk and all. You see the players and you know it will be a challenging night ahead of you. If it does get busy their are five additional side courts also bringing it to a total of nine. You drop your gear and sit on the individual captain like chairs or spread out on the couch style seats. When the courts are turned on early in the morning it is set up that the AC or heat goes on automatically with them. Near by their are two soda machines,and a snack machine in the galley like kitchen with a refrigerator,microwave,toaster oven and ice machine for the players.When finished playing plastic bags on rolls are provided for your wet clothing. It is time to head down to the showers now. A wide open shower with about 18 shower heads with great water pressure. Heading out of the shower you have an array of mouthwash,hair gel,lotion,and deoderant.Dry off and head up stairs to a full service restaurant with seating for about 40,I might add the food is excellent order the "AL".While waiting for your food there are two computers where you may surf the web or if Bobby and his crew is there,a shot of Patron'.That is an average day.In addition The Club is the most generous club Probably in the country.It is a family run club.They help the community with so many charitable functions it is hard to know where to begin.They are always giving back to the players such as summer reward program and outdoor parties with Elvis.In addition to signing a one year contract you receive free child care(all day mon - fri and sat 8 -12).The clubs membership runs around 75 dollars a month . Now we have LA Fitness. A huge conglomerate of approx 400 clubs nationwide.You can use almost all of them except for two Staten Island and Manhatten. You enter the club and are immediately hit with a desk where I feel ike you are passed through like cattle for there are probably people already on your tail(no towel,boo hoo) You walk into a club that is usually packed and work your way to the five glass courts.The courts are very well taken care of just as the whole club is. You walk in not really sure of who will be coming. You plop your equiptment on the floor and sit on one of four wooden benches. You hope that the courts are cool because the design does not allow for free air flow,also the courts are panel so once the humidity gets trapped it is a death sentence. If it is a league night there is only one challenge court,where you can have a mob in front of you. Even on the regular days courts are hard to come by. There is a nice but limited Cafe style restaurant right by the courts. Instuctors are constanly passing by with their clients doing lunges and such really limiting your space to hang out and watch the matches. Time to head to the showers now.They should call them trickles not showers,I can pee harder. Though not a small locker room it always seems a little crowded due to the amount of members. Time to go home.Membership is about 35 dollars a month. Do you want to be catered to or treated like a cattle,your call. Jon "Hit Smarter not Harder"

half way through the summer

It is about that time when us married people are saying its half way to having the kids go back to school.I am starting to see a small drop in the attendance at the junior/parent classes. I guess it only makes sense with time winding down for summer with the kids.I have never worked with a person on their game for extended periods of time and I realized that Rick and I are very different on the courts with the kids.Rick is there to make sure the kids have fun primarily.I think he is a big kid watching him work. He is really great at coercing the kids on the courts with ladder drills and crazy ball games.Sometimes he is out there having so much fun and he must be, because the pay is only minimal at best.Anyone who personally knows Rick knows he has a daughter that is handicapped and I do believe that a lot of his motivation does come from that. Me on the other hand have always loved analyzing players,whether kids,adults and even senior players.I love to compare mentally what this person is doing so well or so poorly,or even better why a person is so successful at executing a shot when their mechanics are so flawed.I ask during games to myself why is this person constantly getting passed,or why is this person skipping all of the time.It has brought me to a greater appreciation for watching the pros,and probably why I love the diving aspect of the game because as illogical as it is it feels like you are beating the odds by getting that "unplayable"ball.Which will tell you that I am the one with the more technical teaching method though I do try to remember I am talking to kids.There is a greater satisfaction watching a junior player execute a shot though.Half the time I think I am the only one noticing the improvements.I have a feeling when this junior thing runs its course I am going to learn many things and hopefully it teaches me how to stay like a child.

On a side note the Club at Woodbridge held its annual Fran Davis Camp with Jason Mannino.I understand that Jason got Sudsy on the court Thursday night along with Eric Mueller,two on one that is.Despite Sudsy's explosive power and Eric's experience I heard the J man came out on top.Maybe Jason can get Sudsy to stop making bagels and start giving them out on the court again,prob not.I would like to thank Fran for autographing a ball for my daughter also,see you all on the court soon enough.Jon" Hit Smarter not Harder"

Second time around

For those of you that used to follow my blog this is my new place. I was starting to get very jealous of Mike Grab and Joe Delgado in the spotlight.Enough about them lets talk about a very important topic,me.My summer so far has comprised of lessons and drilling,drilling and drilling. Soon my right arm will look like Clays ,one inch bigger than the other. Drilling is strange because as physically challenging as it is it does not provide an aerobic workout which has led to many questions such as :Have you started drinking beer because you are getting a beer belly,What happened to you and hey whats up you fat bastard.Yes I put on a few pounds but it will be gone before the season,I promise. Many of my friends have converted to playing outdoors for the season,myself I have been there,done that .I am truly an indoor person at heart. Maybe it is the nice air conditioning,or the lack of the blaring cancerous sun,or the fact that outdoor diving brings blood to the surface much quicker,chasing after the ball every time someone misses it or the schmuck playing tennis on the other sides ball stopping play every five minutes giving you shell shock,cancelling plans because of bad weather,breaking racquets on the concrete and lack of uniform rules from city to city .I mean otherwise I think it is awesome.To each their own ,I may make a guest appearance here and there but otherwise I will be in my indoor cocoon .