What's On My Mind
by Guy Cipriano

January 6, 2014

I recently finished reading James Willstrop’s book entitled “Shot And A Ghost.”

On pages 194 and 195 Mr. Willstrop makes several assertions about US squash: the junior and college games, and Coach Paul Assaiante’s Trinity program and the book co-authored by Coach Assaiante and Jim Zug called “Run To The Roar.” What Mr. Willstrop wrote is utter nonsense, and here’s why.

1. Trinity Coach Paul Assaiante regards himself as an educator first and second, and a squash coach third. Trinity is an elite college. Students go to Trinity  to receive an elite education and prepare themselves for professional and business careers. The Bantams field a top squash team, they train hard, they fight to win within the rules, and their players are legitimate student- athletes. They have no pretensions as to being world class players. Do the Trinity players expect to be known by touring pros? Of course not- that’s not the point. If Baset Chaudhry  had wanted to pursue a pro career he would never have entered Trinity. If Yasser El Halaby had wanted to pursue a pro career he would never have entered Princeton. They both chose a different path from Mr. Willstrop and their decisions should be respected , not belittled.

2. Only .001 % of squash players have the ability to become professionals. However, American players and other young players  from overseas have a great experience playing for their university/college squash team, improving their standard of play,  while getting a superb education and positioning themselves for a career later in life. Should they be mocked  by Mr. Willstrop as not being worthy of playing the game  because they chose to pursue formal  education and a career over pro squash? Of course not.

3. Yes, there is some different jargon in the USA . So what? A rail is a rail  is a rail- does it matter what it’s called? No. That is simply misplaced snobbery.

4. If Mr. Willstrop wants to really see exciting squash he should watch the recent Briggs Cup doubles final between Mudge/Gould and Price/Leach. The game he plays is B O R I N G by comparison. When the SDA gets a demountable all -glass touring court and brings top class doubles into big venues, the crowds at singles events will melt away like a snowball on July 4th and will migrate to the more entertaining and exciting game. Does anybody want to see Mr. Willstrop hit a drive off  the 7000th  consecutive working boast when they can watch Ben Gould hit a Philadelphia boast off a reverse corner at 130 MPH? The answer is self-evident. And  I’m not even  going to bother suggesting that he watch the recent world racquets doubles championship on www.realtennis.tv won by James Coyne and Will Hopton….


Guy Cipriano was NJ state champion in 1995 and Met NY doubles champion in1988 in partnership with Steven Berliner. He was competed in league and tournament play since 1977. Guy was USA Lapham- Grant captain in 1993. He plays at the Whippanong , Short Hills and Tuxedo Clubs.






 


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