> The inescapable fact is that most everyone here is playing, promoting,
> discussing and analyzing a considerably butchered and bastardized version of
> the game of the Golden Era, so let's not try to palm it off to the world, to
> each other, to me and especially to generations to come, that this is
> Classic table tennis, because it's not. When you see it played you'll know
> it. So will everyone on the planet.

It's not only a matter of equipment Marty, even if I set up a
tournament with ONLY Leyland the game will not be like that in the
TRUE Classic Era. You know that! Only a few people in the World can
play like in the Classic Era, all the others have learned and are used
to play in the "sponge style" and when they take a Leyland in their
hand they try to adapt those habits to the equipment. I think there's
nothing to do with that. Only true Classic training can resurrect the
true Classic Era play, but unfortunately I can not see the way it can
be possible. Can you?

Do you think that if no sponge come up in the '52 the play of
'30s/'40s would be to much different from the actual no sponge play?
I'm not sure of this. (...and I don't know if I wrote it in the right
way :D)

Do you think that the final of the 100'000$ Hardbat Classic is more
near the Classic Era than all the other hardbat tournaments? (don't
think only at the BEST Classic Era champion but at the game it self)

Thank you Marty, I think is important to know what a true Classic Era
Champion think about this things.

Ciao from Italy!

--
Lorenzo aka Giorno
giorno @ gmail dot com
Tennis-Tavolo.com