All Guts, All Glory

By Brett Erasmus

Last week, the Trinity College squash team, who are on the longest winning streak of any American collegiate sports team in history (undefeated for 11 years now), played a few exhibition matches at clubs in the city. How many squash teams do you know of, that actually do road shows like this? Despite being marketed only to Trinity Alumni, these events were well attended, owing to the massive popularity of this team. They are the best young players from several countries around the world. And they are seriously like rock stars. Ask anyone who went to Trinity and they will tell you, it’s not just court-side where they are well known, it’s like that everywhere on campus. It’s all jokes and smiles and signing autographs, as they push through the crowd. These guys are awesome.

So anyway, if you are a fan and watched a bit last week, but only got a taste for the action and desperately want to see more topflight squash, then do I have good news for you: The world’s best professional squash players will be competing in the Tournament of Champions starting next week. And, because the entrance fee is pricey and economic times are tough, allow me to tell you how you can watch the world’s best without paying a cent:

You can watch qualifying games at the StreetSquash Center in Harlem next week (http://www.streetsquash.org/get-involved/directions/),

You can also watch opening rounds in Long Island City next Wednesday and Thursday (http://www.cityviewracquet.com/squash.asp),

You can volunteer to be part of the ToC team at Grand Central (ushering services, very easy job) - the volunteer form is at www.tocsquash.com under Volunteer,

If you are a women 5.0 or a men’s 5.5 (or stronger) you can still sign up for the Grand Open Tournament (http://www.msra.net/tournaments/GrandOpen_index.asp),

You can even get your kids in (U13, U15, U17), if they play in the junior tournament, look under ToC Junior Open at www.tocsquash.com,

Failing that, you can just show up and watch from the all-glass front wall, like I normally do, where there will be standing room.

All the info you need is at www.tocsquash.com. It’s almost Squash Week in New York - it’s going to be entertaining, just like Shark Week, except the action will be live and it’s all guts, all glory (and hopefully not gory).