Can a Tiger Really Change his Stripes?

By Brett Erasmus

A little While ago I joked that if squash were to ever make the Olympics it would take 1. a fight on court and 2. someone seriously imploding off-court, basically in order to spur media interest. I wrote this in jest obviously. Well, nevertheless, I got my first wish a few weeks ago (if you don't know what I am talking about, don't even worry about it). And now with Tiger finally appearing from the woods to play in the Masters next month, I wonder if one of our squash celebrities can fill the void he leaves behind..?



Doubt it though: They are a group of good clean All American boys. Just look at the magazine that came with the Wall Street Journal last Saturday. The US number one squash player, Julian Illingworth, has a full page spread, alongside a few other prominent US sportsmen. He looks very respectable and quite dapper in his Armani suit. Good thing he won the US National Champs last weekend in Rhode Island, for the 6th time running (the Journal picked the winner).

It was not an entirely one-sided affair though. Illingworth played US number 2 Gilly Lane in the finals and actually dropped a game for the first time in the tournament. This does not happen often in US competition. Illingworth is currently ranked 31st in the world and is (arguably) the best squash player the US has ever produced. But, absent of Illingworth, this honor may have belonged to Gilly Lane. In fact, he is quietly and steadily climbing the world rankings. He started last year at 79th is currently 59th. And like Illingworth, he is quite the gentleman, a good sport, and would have looked just as good in an Armani suit. Hang in there Gilly Lane, we know it's tough being number two. (and please don't go tiger, whatever you do).