From A Reader: Why I'm Not Playing in the US National Doubles
Posted February 24, 2016
I
heard there was a conference call yesterday about next weekend's US
doubles nationals in Buffalo, led by Preston Quick. Very few teams have
signed up. There is one team signed up for the women’s open
doubles- Dana Betts and Stephanie Hewitt.
Mike McGorry and
the Buffalo organizing committee have worked very hard to make
the event very good, and it’s frustrating to them that more people,
including me, aren’t showing up. Some of my explanations are :
1
I have no desire to spend $1000 ( all- in with transportation,
hotel, entry fees, etc.) or possibly even more money, on a squash
weekend in Buffalo.
2 I can’t get a
good partner to play with me because nobody I approached even
preliminarily wanted to go to Buffalo.
3
There is no USSRA yearbook anymore, so even if lightning strikes
and I win it, it won’t be recorded for posterity and nobody will
give a damn.
4 There are no formal published rankings, so even if by some miracle I win, nobody will give a damn.
5
As far as the younger players not entering, the draw in the NY Met A is
stronger than the US Nationals. The Gold Racquets draw at Rockaway is
stronger. The Silver Racquets at the NY RTC is stronger. The NYAC
Invitational is stronger. In fact the club championship at the NY
Racquet and Tennis Club is stronger than the US Nationals, so
why should they bother when the young people can get competition
which is just as good and sleep in their own beds?
