by Ted Gross
With the World Team Championships just nineteen days away, only one American men's team member, Chris Gordon, chose to play in this week's British Open, the most historically significant event in the sport.
It is a disgrace that in early June, US Squash will be sending a team to the World Championships in France, all expenses paid including a coach, when only one player demonstrates a commitment.
Playing the British Open should have been a requirement for all US team members and alternates.
More importantly, the team members should have wanted to play, in what would have been the ideal tune-up environment before the World's.
And this time, there can be no ranking-related excuses: the British Open pre-qualifier was open to all players worldwide.
Team:
ReplyDeleteJullian Illingworth- injuries
Christopher Gordon- playing
Gilly Lane- busy coaching
Todd Harrity- graduating...
Todd Harrity will be graduated from Princeton this coming Tuesday. This weekend, Fri. through Sunday, is Princeton reunion weekend. Is he supposed to blow off his college graduation to fly to England and get blasted 3-0 in the quallies? Personally I don’t think so. He can make a lot of great contacts at Reunions which can help him greatly in launching his career in addition to attending his own graduation with his family and friends.
ReplyDeleteGilly Lane can make money staying home and coaching, and anyway he’s retired from the tour. Why should he spend his money to go to England and get blasted 3-0 in the quallies? I wouldn’t if I were he.
The cause of Julian’s absence can only be explained by Julian.
By the way, there were more people in the packed gallery at the NY Racquet and Tennis Club on finals night three weeks ago watching West-Morris vs. Detter -Chaudhry than attend the final of most professional singles tournaments in America. And if the RTC gallery were larger, there would have been even more people watching amateur doubles at 52nd and Park. The marketplace of games, in action.
Guy Cipriano
Illingworth ever play in the Britishopen?
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why, if you play at that level, you would not passionately want to be there.
ReplyDeleteIllingsworth is not injured he's playing in another tournament.
ReplyDeleteTed Gross's comments pertain to a notion that US professional squash is an embarrassment. And I love that he singled out Chris Gordon as the lone wolf out there...I have so much respect for Chris gordon and his efforts to represent the true spirit of American sportsmanship. This guy has been criticized with the born with a silver spoon in his mouth crap, he has worked so hard to get to where he is. I recently watched him spend practicing 45 minutes on each side of the court hitting his shots without interruption and without a break. If you can't comprehend the significance of playing in the British Open, the gift and opportunity that presents, then stop playing this sport. Guy C's comments, I understand, but looking back would I forgo my college graduation to play and lose in the first round of the British Open, without a doubt absolutely. You know why, because I would work my arse off if I was meant to play this game at that level the following year and get past the first round. We need to open up the American team to players who are really and truly hungry, give the long shot a chance the dark horse, that is what this country is really all about. I applaud Ted for this, he is right on target.
ReplyDelete