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.
