The game goes to Sweden

Tom Rodgers at Eastern Mountain Platform Tennis built the first court in Stockholm, Sweden in the Fall of 1988. Rick Williams and Fritz Odenbach helped promote the game by conducting an exhibition and clinics.

Rick Williams reported on the experience in the Mid-Winter edition of Platform Tennis News:

“Our host was Jan Stenbeck who is an enthusiastic player now residing on Long Island but still cultivating many strong Swedish ties. Located on city property near a public tennis/sport facility and in the shadow of the 1912 summer Olympic stadium in Stockholm, the public exposure is tremendous. This could be the beginning of a paddle tennis explosion in Sweden.

The climate is perfect for paddle with an average winter temperature a touch below freezing, short days with a long season and the Swedish passion for outdoor sports. It is a natural. A wonderful gentleman named Per Tornell was our host, organizer and guide during our week-long stay. Per is an enthusiastic player, thus making him currently one of Sweden’s finest. An exhibition was organized complete with incredible food prepared by Master Chef Erik. The shrimp and caviar finger sandwiches were very tasty.

During the week, interested people stopped to watch our play as clinics and pointers were given. This culminated at the exhibition where the crowds chanted for the USA vs. Sweden. Our opponents were Ola Hallgren and Dan Rastland, both previously A TP touring pros. Ola and Dan played on the NCAA tennis circuit with University of Utah and Rice University, respectively. Both are very accomplished tennis pros and players, and after a few go rounds, paddle players as well.

The exhibition took place in the pouring rain; fortunately the crowed was protected by a large tent. With television cameras rolling, the play began. The crowd was tough and the friendly cheering and jeering added to the flavor. I asked Fritz if he knew any good jokes. We tried to work the crowd, but now we know how Rodney D. feels. No respect. The first set went to the U.S. 6-2 and the second set battled to 5-5 before the U.S. prevailed 7-5. Hence the Swedish National Champions.

We realized that based on the skills and ability to pick up the game very quickly, the Swedes were naturals. Given a year’s time Dan and Ola could compete against anyone in the game. The cultural exchange and friendships made were fantastic and in keeping with the spirit of platform tennis. Fritz and I would like to thank all those involved in this exchange and hope that this sport will continue to grow internationally. Most of all, we’d like to thank Tom Rogers and Jan Stenbeck for this opportunity to give something back to the sport that has given us all so much.”

Source: Platform Tennis News, Mid-Winter 1989

Paddle around the world

Platform tennis was not only enjoying a resurgence in the United States, but its boundaries were expanding worldwide.

Alfred Schulter sent expansion news from Austria. Schulter had built the first two courts in his country with construction information and encouragement from the APTA home office. At the time, he was building new courts for the Sporting University in Graz, in the south of Austria. The Second Open National Championship of Styria (Graz region) was scheduled for Nov. 10-12.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1989

A history of Platform Tennis?

The Spring edition of Platform Tennis News carried the following article from an anonymous paddler from Troy, NY who was obviously unaware that the eminent historian and Old Army Athlete C. Alison Scully had already provided a history of the game to Fess Blanchard in 1935 for an article Blanchard had been asked to write for Esquire (See Tracing the Origins of Paddle Tennis).

The History of Platform Tennis:

THE EARLIEST SIGNS

Carbon dating has fixed earliest known relics of platform tennis around 40,000 B.C. Signs at the tundra town of Jhurk, have unearthed early paddles, probably made of caribou or whale skin, laminated by placing under eskimos. Over what must have been a precipice have been found thousands of round, resilient projectiles, leather around packed fur, which were called furballs.

Piles of rock forming the perimeter of a rectangle were originally thought to be a ceremonial ground, then a sacrificial area, an early solar calculator, or a platform playing ground. Most archeologists are willing to accept that all of these are essentially the same thing.

Computer calculation of the sun’s position 40,000 years ago determined that in the spring, as the tundra thawed, the rock mounds were used to elevate platforms. Present hypothesis is that the softening tundra no longer allowed the furballs to bounce.

This discovery sparked a branching of thought in platform archeology academia. Since the softening tundra would not allow a ball to bounce, while one group thought of the platform solution, a second group of lhurks applied their neolithic imaginations to develop a new game. They would put the ball on the ground-or elevated a little above it on a bone shard-and using the same clubs they used to brain their early arctic meals, would hit the ball, seeing how far they could make it go. The proliferation of prized penguin pellets indicates that wagering often accompanied this latter game. The debate rages about which game came first.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1989

Paul Molloy’s thoughts on players and matches

When Paddle Tennis News asked about the memorable matches he saw, this was his response. These recollections appeared in the March edition of PTN:

“I wish I had some vivid recollections of the classic matches involving Hebard, Carver, Pardoe, Harrison, O’Hearn and others. They were all great. Ted Winpenny comes to mind as the cagiest player I ever saw. Very steady and sneaky good.

Of the players I have umpired for over the last 16 years, there are several that stand out in my mind. Bob Kingsbury gave the most effort. I wish I had a dollar for every time he scraped himself up going for and usually getting an impossible shot.

Greg Brents was the fastest I ever saw. There was no way you could send a ball past him that he couldn’t get back and retrieve. Watching Hank Irvine was a joy. He has great style and no one ever covered his partner as he did. Herb Fitz Gibbon’s serve return and Keith Jennings backhand off the side wire were the best.

From where I sit, Doug Russell doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Only Dick Hebard rivals Russell for partnering so many championship caliber teams. Over a period of about 15 years, he won big matches and championships with Dick Squires, Graebner, Gray, Bob Kleinert and probably some others I have missed.

My nomination for the best all around player of the last decade would have to be Rich Maier. Consistent, aggressive, and punishing. He keeps coming at you, always applying pressure and forcing errors.

My favorite match was the win by Irvine and Greg Moore in the Nationals three years ago. To see Hank come back and win after being out of the game for a few years was tremendously popular and exciting.”

Source: Platform Tennis News, March 1989

First APTA website proposed and over skepticism becomes a reality

The Platform Tennis News, Summer 1996 had a summary of the Annual BOD meeting which included looking at the development of a website:

….”Looking to the future to provide greater service to the membership, John Horine was directed to look into an Internet site…”

The BOD Minutes of Sept 19, 1996 indicated a somewhat luke warm response to the proposal subsequently presented by Horine and funding was not approved…

“The Board’s reaction was varied, ranging from enthusiastic to skeptical. A motion to appropriate up to $5,000 to fund an adventure (sic) on the Internet was defeated.

John, however, was not dissuaded and the website became on eventuality in 1997.

The Sept. 24 1997 Minutes of the BOD reflected the reality:

“John Horine reported the revised Web site looks good, and it has generated much activity. He asked each Regional President to sell advertising space for their regional page. The cost for the year would be $250, and if each region sold the space, the cost to support the site for the APTA would be cut in half Each advertiser would have their own banner on the region’s page, and if the advertiser already had an Internet site, a link will be created to connect the two sites. Also, John reported that three applications were received via the Internet and many application forms have been printed from the Internet site.”

Jerry Manhold retires from APTA Board

Manhold had served a five year term and was a major force behind the development of the Senior Paddle Scene.

A former National Champion, he worked tirelessly as a Board Member to improve the plight of the Senior paddler.

“The Legend,” aptly dubbed by Howard Sipe, had striven to broaden the scope of competition throughout the U.S., and had introduced and chaired The Manhold Senior Challenge Cup competition.He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Source: Platform Tennis News, September 1984

Donald M. White ( -1987)

Don was the APTA President from 1942-1944.

He began playing paddle in the early 1930s, and became a National Champion in 1943 with Charles O’Hearn as his partner.

He was friendly with Blanchard and Cogswell and often contributed to the direction in which the game has evolved.

Don was a member of Innis Arden Golf Club in Old Greenwich, CT, and an enthusiastic promoter of the game to the membership.

The Innis Arden Mixed Invitational Tournament trophy is dedicated to him.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Spring 1987

Sallie Van Norden McClure (1924 -1987)

Sallie Van Norden McClure moved to Chicago in the 1960’s, bringing with her a platform tennis heritage. She was the daughter of Fox Meadow President John Van Norden (1937-1938) during the Depression years when paddle was critical to the survival of the Club. The Nordens were neighbors of the Cogswells who built the first two courts.

Norden McClure had been paddle tennis’ greatest Midwest sponsor, right up to her death. While many of her paddle tennis accomplishments are engraved on the trophies on display, it was the unrecorded teaching and organizing efforts that helped Chicago build a program of 57 women’s teams (over 600 players) and 63 men’s teams (800) players.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Nationals 1988

Walter J. Stoessel, (1920-1986)

Stoessel was the former Ambassador to both the Soviet Union and Poland, and was responsible for the paddle courts built at both Embassies.

In 1982, he had been appointed Deputy Secretary of State.

Senior President’s Cup

Jerry Manhold, with the help of Howie Sipe in Chicago, Chet Kermode in Cleveland, Jack Wales in Pittsburgh, and Bill Ballard in North Jersey, obtained APTA sanction to explore starting a Senior President’s event.

There were some changes in the President’s Cup format used by the Senior President’s Cup players.
• Players would be selected from among active league players in the four largest leagues: Chicago area, Cleveland area, Pittsburgh and northern New Jersey.

• APTA membership was mandatory.

• Play would be along the lines of the Gordon Cup competition in tennis, i.e., two matches at 45+ and 1 match at 50+, 55+, and 60+.

• Play would be over one day only, which would provide a senior team with three matches in one day, followed by a fellowship dinner.

• The Senior Cup was to be a prelude to a major senior championship;

Source: Platform Tennis News, November 1984