Open Or Closed - Two Sides Of The Coin
by Bob Hanscom
March 13, 2012 - Ted Gross wrote yesterday: "The dismal turnout of 23 players total for this past weekend's US National Men's and Women's Championships makes it clear that the 'closed to non-US citizens' format, which was adopted in the mid 1990's, needs to be shelved."
No doubt, the turnout was dismal! However, there are "two sides of the coin" to consider.
When US Squash (then the USSRA) began recognizing international softball as the official game in the United States, the national championship switched to softball. The first (1990) softball national championship, (also known as the S.L. Green), was conducted and was won by Mark Talbott. The S.L. Green, unlike previous US National Championships, is limited to U.S. citizens only, primarily formatted to select those players eligible (US citizens only) to represent the US in international competition, i.e. the Pan American Games, World Championships, etc.
In the year 2000, with many professional players now migrating to the US, Bob Hanscom, then teaching professional at The Los Angeles Athletic Club, believed it was time for those players now RESIDING full time in the US to have an opportunity of competing with its "citizen" pros - and inaugurated the the Epstein Becker & Green US Professional Squash Championships.
This was the only USSRA-sanctioned tournament in the nation where the top 16 USSRA nationally-ranked professional squash players RESIDING in America, citizens or not, regardless of age, would be eligible to compete head-to-head in one single event for decent prize money - also without having to go up against the World Tour players.
The concept was simple! This was to be a USSRA sanctioned Squash Championship held for ALL squash professionals RESIDING in the U.S. who had committed themselves to making a contribution to and improving the level of squash in America.
Winners of this event included: Stefan Casteleyn, (2000) Chris Walker, (2001) Preston Quick, (2002) Jamie Crombie, (2003), Casteleyn again in 2004, and Walker again in 2005, overcoming Casteleyn in four hard-fought games.
In this same year, it was announced that the event would add a women’s professional division featuring the eight top female squash-players living in America. As it turned out, Natalie Grainger (not yet a US citizen) overcame former US Champion Latasha Khan in four games.
So...Ted is (sort of) right! There should be a US Squash Championships where All permanent residents (regardless of age and/or citizenship) have an opportunity to compete against each other in one single US Squash sanctioned event. Any sponsors out there listening!?.
FOOTNOTE: As for the "closed" events, which is a compromise for sure, there isn't much that can be done regarding the "criteria" for "selecting" those "eligible" to represent the US in international squash team and individual competition.
Bob Hanscom is best-known for staging many unique professional squash events in Los Angeles during his 21-year tenure in southern California as the pro at the University Club of LA and later the Los Angeles Athletic Club. He retired in 2008. Over the years Bob was USSRA ranked #1 in his age group eight different times, beginning with the inaugural National Softball Championships in 1984.
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