Congratulations, resolutions, and one confession

By Tracy Gates

The end of the league season is upon us. Later this week, we will see what squashmates look like in regular clothes at the MSRA league party; we will cheer as the plaques are distributed to the division winners and finalists; and we will honor the most improved players of the season. If we don’t win anything, we will be happy that our sport comes with an occasional open bar and (mostly) such convivial comrades. Congrats to all.

Speaking of congratulations, I have a bit of a confession to make—which I don’t believe that I’ve owned up to until now.  I was awarded the most improved female player award last year. The plexiglass award is sitting on my mantle. I am very proud of it. But I should not have received it.

'Are you ready for this, champ?

photo courtesy Rob White (www.robwhitephotography.com)

By Brett Erasmus

Have you ever seen the movie Rudy? You know, the one about the Notre Dame student who lacks the talent and physical size to be a serious football player, but at the end of the last game in his final year he finally comes in - and sacks the opposing quarterback in a perfect ending. It is an inspiring story and every now and then you are lucky enough to stumble across an experience that moves you like this. This happened to me on Wednesday night...

Winning and Losing It

By Tracy Gates

During a round of drinks to celebrate our finals win against the Harvard Club, one of my teammates mused aloud that competing was perhaps too stressful to be worth doing. This was from the teammate who had played more challenge matches than anyone else AND won most of her matches during the season.  Another teammate nodded her head vigorously in agreement. What? We’d just won the finals in our division and they were already bailing on next season??

An Even Bigger Apple

By Brett Erasmus

Why is New York called the Big Apple? Opinions vary, but some think it dates back to old horse racing days. New York was the race to win, you see.

Well, this weekend the Eastern Athletic Club hosts the Big Apple Open squash tournament. This event has been on and off over the years and we are glad it has found a new home in Brooklyn. The MSRA is quietly expanding into the boroughs of New York. Not surprising given that one of the stated organizational objectives is to support squash in all 5 boroughs of NYC, as well as Westchester County, Fairfield County, and all of Long Island.

Pre-playoff update

The winter league season is coming to a close; playoffs and finals matches run through April, and the season closes with the annual League Party on April 29.

Here are some things to look out for in the upcoming playoff matches:

- Men's 3.0: Season-long rivals NYU and HRC may be heading for a finals showdown. This will be a particularly interesting match given the drama between the teams this year... and the fact that neither of these scrappy teams even has home courts.

Heart, Mind, Body and Soul?

By Brett Erasmus

On September 4 last year I wrote a note about our Summer of Fun at the SL Green StreetSquash Center. You know, the place in Harlem that Hilary Clinton opened about a year ago. A bunch of you stepped out of your comfort zone, made the trip uptown, and competed against unknown opponents under quite different conditions; i.e. younger opponents who could run forever on very hot brand new ASB squash courts. Everyone had loads of fun doing this. If you missed the opportunity to see the place (it is quite impressive) you will get more chances in the future, don’t worry.

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..?

Top Gun

By Brett Erasmus

Last weekend the country's finest college squash players gathered in Hartford to see who is the top gun for the 2010 season. Harvard took the honors, with the best male and female players, Colin West and Laura Gemmell respectively.

And a Harvard junior who you may know, Jason Michas, won the mens' B section trophy. Last year he played in the MSRA 5.5 league in New York under the tutelage of Richard Chin. It is nice to see Harvard take all these awards after another dominating season by the Trinity Mens' team. In fact, this is the first time in over a decade that the mens' title has not gone to either Trinity or Princeton. This can only be good for the game. And for American squash.

Character Test

By Brett Erasmus

With the sportsmanship debate raging over the incidents at the College Squash finals a week ago, it is nice to see good character prevail. The Trinity number one has withdrawn from competing in the singles champs this weekend, even though he is the top seed and clear favorite to win the whole thing for the 4th time running. This means a college other than Princeton or Trinity may claim their first mens’ singles crown in over a decade..

The Trinity number one, Baset Chaudhry, is the defending national singles champion, a title he has won for the last 3 years. In fact, for the last 4 years he has been the US college number one squash player. Before him Princeton players had ruled. For the decade up until Chaudhry took over in 2007 Princeton players had taken the number one spot (aside from Bernardo Samper’s one victory). Chaudhry’s decision to step down has left the door wide open this year. Princeton’s top player and Trinity’s number two are both contenders for the title, but Harvard have a very strong number one, and, I suspect, they will break the Trinity/Princeton domination of the mens’ singles title.

Dishonorable Discharge

By Brett Erasmus

The College Squash Association National Championships were decided last weekend. Trinity claimed their 12th consecutive title by beating Yale by a winning margin of 6-3. In the process they made all the news channels (even ESPN) but, unfortunately, not for the right reasons..

Trinity number 1 Baset Chaudhry’s 3-0 win over Ken Chan of Yale gave the Bantams their 5th win of the day and clinched them the title. The real news is this though: apparently there was a verbal barrage between the players on court, as well as from the supporters (again!? really!?). The players were even staring each other down between points as their tempers flared.