The Budlight $100,000 Hardbat Classic (HBC)was quite the spectacle -- and
goodness knows it excited the whole American table tennis community -- still it
was first and foremost a TV special, whose commercial overtones and predictable
outcome ultimately made even the best players just so many extras in a basically
scripted Hollywood-style, made-for-television movie, masquerading as a sporting
event.

But don't get me wrong. I wouldn't have missed it for the world, and I'm glad I
attended and participated, but without Marty and true classic leadership, the
event was permitted to be turned into a beautifully-staged farce, but still a
farce.

Besides the Killerspin-paddle fiasco, there were a number of incidents reported
to me that demonstrate just how far a-stream from the original intent the event
wandered. For example, when the ultimate winner, Jack Baker was introduced and
asked where he was from, he first said, "London, England". Ed Hogshead lowered
the mike and then whispered to Jack that he should say "London, Kentucky" and
then they re-did his introduction for the cameras with Jack saying he was from
London, KY.

Here is a sample of just three other circumstances worthy of note at the HBC:

1) Beating David Zhuang, the number one seed, in the opening round brought me
notoriety but no satisfaction as a seventeen-point spot is quite a mountain for
anyone to climb.

2) Dean Johnson surprised Alex Perez who lost in the first game unable to cope
with Dean's hardbat experience and the spot of about 15 points that he had to
give. In the second game, Alex had figured out that he could win with
controlled rolls, and he caught up to Dean at 19-up. Alex knew if he won this
game, he would win the third and advance.

Just then Dean got a net dribbler winner for 20-19, and in the next very tightly
played point, Dean suddenly unleashed an all-out winning forehand smash up the
line that hit within one inch of the side and one inch of the back of the table,
to take the match. It was the only forehand smash that Dean attempted in the
match. Alex and his wife took a while before they again reached the equanimity
they had had before the match.

3) Jay Turberville played Freddie Gabriel with a spot of about 14 points, and
beat Freddie with a very high level of play. It wasn't as if Freddie choked;
Jay beat him – with the spot, of course.

Turning to the US Open, I truly couldn't play to save my life. I had thought
that after practicing and playing with the crappy $15 Hardbat Classic bat that I
would be in fat-city once I returned to my Hock. But that would not prove to be
the case. What's more, in most of my matches my opponents played very well and
I only occasionally managed a few decent points. On the whole, they played
surer, stronger, and more confidently from the very first point; I played just
about the opposite. But win or lose, of course, it's grand just to have the
opportunity to compete ... and to reconnect with friends that I'm always happy
to see.

One of the big hardbat stories at the Open were the great wins Scott Gordon had
over Loc Ngo and Larry Hodges to take 1st place in the Hardbat Over 40 Singles
Event. In the final game with Loc Ngo, Scott was down 10-2, and then 18-12 but
overcame those deficits to win. Against Larry, Scott's consistency, and Larry's
erratic 3-ball attack combined to give Scott the win.

The other big hardbat story at the Open was Trevor Runyon's three-straight win
over Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi in the Hardbat Singles final. Homayoun had come
through two close matches to get into the finals. The first in the Quarters
against a Seemiller-type blocker from Puerto Rico took Homayoun to five games
before succumbing; and then against a chopper who also took Homayoun to five
games in the Semifinals. In both matches, Homayoun was the on-top-of-the-table
attacker, spraying backhand and forehand smashes from side to side. In the
finals, Trevor took the hit away from Homayoun, and Homayoun could not find a
way to adjust. To get to the finals,Trevor had to beat both Dean Norman and
Freddie Gabriel which he did handily.

Less consequential in terms of the record books, I got a great personal kick out
of warming-up with Dean Norman in the main arena and especially after we played
one particularly lovely classic-game point which onlookers Chen Wei-ing, Stephan
Feth, Rosskopf and Franz rewarded with acclaim and applause in appreciation.

And I had truly enjoyed playing before and between the two tournaments at the
Las Vegas Table Tennis Club with Ivan Slade, Dean Johnson, Freddie Gabriel,
Trevor Runyon, David Sakai, David Rubin, Scott Preiss, Jones Baldonado, Jerry
Ladd and lots of others. The principal owner of the club was especially
hospitable and has my gratitude.

A shame that Courtney Roberts was barred from competing in the Hardbat Singles
event after wearing a yellow shirt to a match the previous day that the official
wanted him to change at the table, but which Courtney went to a restroom to
change. At the time Courtney believed the official only disqualified him from
playing that match. He didn't realize he was barred from playing in the
remainder of the tournament. Some say Courtney should have known better, others
say, even so, the decision to bar him from the remainder of the tournament was
over the top.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge and thank Jeff Morrison for all the kindnesses
and friendship he showed me throughout both tournaments and the assistance he
provided as a staff man for the HBC.

Bob Palgon