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HISTORY OR THE RULE BOOK 

One wall paddleball has over the years gone through several different changes, these changes, all of them becomes the history of the sport. From the inception of the game, believed to be created by Mr. Beale. There are several versions and remarks to the actual origin. Some that might create a "who really cares debate". But for history there should be some factual data, information and a need to record it. What has become a who's who of organizations and attempts to legitimize the sport. We provide a few of the rule books from some of those organizations and associations. In looking back on them and the matter in which the sport has evolved through the groups makes players wonder why it could never become something more? What if it had?

Looking at the era's, the 60's. The players that dominated the game, where was it played? Was it just New York? How come it wasn't played in other states?

Looking at the 70's (my era). But I won't admit it! It seemed in those days the game (sport) wasn't for lack of a better word. As complicated as it has become. There were great players then too. With the Hammer paddle, you could nailed a picture on the wall. I have all the books that were published on the sport from Hammer to Brusschi. They describe the game, how to play it and of course the original rules.

To put date stamps on eras. The players would need to validate the issues in the 70's. But the question could be asked. Why would they want to do that? Why would they care? Someday it may be a focal point to understand the hows and whys? It's like kids today trying to relate to the  Michael Jordan era. Some kids today ask why he is on their sneakers? To understand that era and how it led into the 80's and what is said to be the beginning of the largest growth in paddleball. The player's again from that era can relate to the games, challenges and the movement of the sport. To put this in perspective in the 70's. Tennis stars like Connors, McEnroe, Everett and others were establishing the ground work of the American tennis Association. If you read the history of the USTA, you begin to understand it was always a business venture. Never a desire to serve history, to become nothing more than a money train. If you wanted history. You could join the all England Club. Because American businessman wanted to compete with other countries for a piece of the pie and this was the gateway to create the organization.

The sport (game) of tennis was ready to stand on it's own, for the public to see and appreciate. The wars that took place were in a gentlemen's fashion. You didn't have the type of disorganization that paddleball exhibited. One obvious reason was "Money". That says quite a bit. A player was force to accept and rely on the calls of the lines persons and the umpire. If the player pushed the envelope. He would be fined by the USTA and that would hurt him or her. Where it hurt the most !

With control of the players, came the need to establish codes of the sport. The dress code was tested many times. But in Wimbledon if you didn't wear white, say good night. Simply stated. Here with the sport so localized there was a more important concern then the dress code. To have enough players to play the game. To establish some sort of rules and or ruling body. Is like saying "Badges, we don't need no stinking badges". We just want to play. Tournaments had to have a broad range of lead way. Some rules were not enforced, sometimes. If you want the top players to play, you had to make it worth the while. But who was watching. NO ONE! Just the small group of players and their friends that played in those days. (Am I lying!).

So what was the incentive? To be "King of this little fish bowl?" Meantime the sharks are roaming the oceans. The 70's lead to the 80's. With that, the move of "urban" New York paddleball was growing. But on the course of two fronts. One of the main reasons the sport started to grow was the texture of the game via the players who were playing. Truthfully, the white contingency. Players like Bobby Schwarz, Andy Krosnick, Steve Rothfeld, Barry Porris, Mel Frankel and others were among the main push to develop the sport. With this "white champion" and for anyone to come out and say at that time, this is true, would be rattling the door of racial stereotyping. But sadly, it was true. Businesses would invest money in a white champion. It's ok. I'm not trying to state things that were not thoughts. But the story was never addressed in those days. It was "looked at" that way, but not considered "that way".

The other front was the companies themselves, marketing the sport. First you had paddles made by companies directly involved with the sport. Considering at the time players like Bobby Schwarz, Andy Krosnick, Women players like Cleo were dominating the sport. Players like Andre Hopkins and later Mike Melendez were starting to create the bridge in the sport. Even though considered an urban sport. It was a selective urban sport. Just look at the player's history. Go over the list for yourself. Read the names of the players. Other than a few top players there was very little inter racial playing. Andre Hopkins became one of the pioneers in the late 70's. He couldn't be overlooked. He brought a style to the game that even today is still talked about. Yes, other players emulated his style. But they could never produce the power and shot selection that Andre Hopkins did. If you put the ball at waist high level. He would roll it out! Simply put. He would walk to the middle of the court and dare you. Drop the serve and hit it. And dare you to return it. He created a spraying. Angling the low serve to the corners. Many players just shook their heads. Disbelief! I am of the opinion, that in those days. Andre Hopkins wouldn't get some of the right calls. What make me say that? I am playing this game forty years. That's what makes me voice an opinion.

I am surely, certain there are players out there that would deny this opinion, there are players out there that would agree. Neither matters. It won't change anything!

Ball companies, there were a few. They perfected a ball based on a select few players, those who "represented" the sport. That didn't matter. Paddleball needed a good ball. One that could provide the bounce, the speed, size and durability to last under some of the heavy and hardest hitters. Players like Hopkins, Lenny, Brown, Diaz and Crag Ruiz. I think at that time, with Feddy Diaz and Craig Ruiz, they could break the ball before they finished their warm up. But again, opinions are everyones. The Spalding Green Ball in the early 90's was considered a great ball. There was the Mikasa Kangaroo, Reactor had a ball on the market also. Heavy. Seamco had the Black (555). But it would break too easily. I remembered you had to buy three cans. I uses to buy from Tiny. Do you remember "Tiny". He knew the game. His era had come and gone. I use to talk with him at many tournaments. He knew the players well. He was a wealth of knowledge. Some what opinionated, but that ok he spoke his views. We watched new blood flow into the game. In the early 90's to the mid 90's paddleball was on the rise. Because in the late 80's players began to see a different view of the sport. The paddleball world saw players like Mike Melendez, Freddy Diaz and Wellinton Cabrera. And one woman, I thought (in my opinion) and again, regardless what anyone says till this day. I think she will be considered for the sport to be the greatest women player of her time. Anita Maldonado, she could be classy, she could be a bitch! The wars and I do mean wars between her and Sarah Washington were classics. Maybe Maddy Fredericks might have won more trophies and titles. But in those days it was Maldonado !

You had divisions or so called "zones". If you prefer to call it that? You had a few indoor paddleball facilities in New York. Early on it was "Take One". My first experience indoors. I was in a telephone company league. Players came from far and wide. "Don't you love it when a writer says that?" They came to play the top players. Friday nights were big nights. Were talking early 80's to mid 80's. The top guns in Brooklyn and Queens would find their way to "Take One". Jerry Resnick was the owner. He would sit at his counter downstairs and bark out court assignments and lights. But a great person. Always had a sharp and quick answer. But he treated you like a person. That's what counts.

You would find Schwarz, Porris, Frankel, Hopkins, poole, Donnie & Rachel and several other "A" players as they were called. Did you ever wonder who decides this "A" player's status? In all my years I felt that it's what your peers would say! But somehow some players made that list. They were rally (B+) at the most. But again that's just opinions. But you knew who they were. Then there were players that for years other players would say, why isn't he/she an "A" player? They didn't receive the blessing!

This leads us to the turn of the sport. In the mid 80's Mike Melendez was considered the "King". He had won almost every title they created. Budweiser Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles champion. For several years. He ruled the kingdom. He had defeated Schwarz a few years earlier. But don't forget Schwarz carried that crown for several years himself. There was nothing for him to prove or be ashamed of. In his era, it was the serve and volley game. That was the 60's and 70's. In the early 80's Mike Melendez didn't want any part of that. In his early days he had a dynamic cross court serve that took you into the next court, and I don't mean the base line either. He would shoot that serve and it would land and kick outward. Blow your mind! You were timing it to come off the floor and you would step into the return. It wasn't there! Say, good night!

But not to digress to much from the article, I could write about forty years of all the tournaments at Zerega's, Take One & Two, McFadden's, Steinways and a little place called Riis Park. This is not to forget places like Forrest Park (Victory Field) Qns. Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, Starriett City, Brooklyn. Carmine Street in the village, NY.  There are so many. Wrinkles on a face! The 80's brought a different type of player, with a different attitude. The organization at the time was the Professional Paddleball Players Alliance. Many of the readers and viewers were part of that. I felt Ray Gaston did a great job. No one knew how, where or what to do to make paddleball more. He was trying. I think he was one of the reasons "Budweiser" stayed with the tournament so long. But to continue with the sport. The ethnic culture turned from the "white guy" to a Latin flavor. And again, please we are not stereo typing the groups. But this was the make up of the paddleball world. Mike Melendez was a classy champion. He always to the public was articulate in conversations. He probably looked at me at that time and saw me as some white dude. Not a journalist trying to understand the game, the organization. Nothing racial, but that was it. You had so many different ethnic and diverse players in the late 80's and into the 90's.

Paddleball needed that little boost, it needed something to take it to the next level. But what was it? Who knew? You, me? Time proved no one really knew. The solution laid in the hands of the people with the dollars. And what they wanted to do with it.

The growth they say in the 90's was large? How is large measured? I am a 10 1/2, does large mean size 13? I can say that I traveled throughtout the five boroughs and into Jersey. You notice I didn't leave New York really, what does that say? I went to California, Venice beach, Malibu Beach, Muscle Beach, San Diego and Pasadena. No paddleball there. Been to Florida in the mid 90's. Other than Garfield St. no real ball being played. So what size did you say?

So the concept of growth depends on your prospective. The glass is half full or half empty? Where are you standing? The 90's brought another change of the guard. The world of paddleball had perhaps the best player to ever play the game. Sostre (not much more to say). He surpassed all players. Name the game, Singles, Doubles and it didn't matter who his partner was. They reaped the benefits of playing with him. Mixed Doubles, I feel he could not of had a better partner than Kathy Guinan. He played with several partners in mixed and won many titles. But for all that with perhaps some cash in his pocket. Where has it taken him?

The powers to be, the sport needed that push in the 90's to take it to the next level. Where does it come from? Correct me if I am wrong! The paddle companies and there were a couple. Were having internal issues, Spalding was taking a hard look at producing the ball. Budweiser was backing away, there was no more fish to fry for a lack of a better word. But there were the organizations a few. What was their take on the situation? What was their plan for salvation?

It's the mid 90's several years since McFadden's indoor and the big tournaments that brought the players to places like Zerega's and McFadden's. How to explain this stage in the history of one wall paddleball. It's not to point a finger and say they should have did this or that based on the times. But the signs were there. Organization(s) throughout the mid 90's did very little. They sort of went through the motions, for a lack again of a better word.

We are going to continue this article in next month's issue. We'd like you to digest what has been put out there and what you think and feel. If at all! We could write garbage. We could write nonsense and publish it. No one would care! Because this sport as we expressed to others is unless something changes, "Dead". But again, from the history stand point. Like the Roman Empire, if no one wrote about it. It would be a void in time. Like saying 65 million years since the dinosaurs and we appeared. What happened?

United States Paddleball Association's (USPA) current Rule book 2005

Professional Paddleball Players' Alliance 1990 Rule Book

American Paddleball Association Rule Book 1979-80

Paddleball Players Association Rule Book 1976