Hi Pugal,

Lets play this coming Friday @ Briar Creek.  As you know I cary 2 extra
hardbats for loan,

to incurage more hardbat competition, and as usual we will use a new
Nittaku 38mm from my stash.

BTW check out my new yahoo profile, I belive it is more politically
correct.

Hi Bob.

See ya Friday @ 6:30pm, Peter(Titanium)


--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, Pugalenthi Natesan <pugal74@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks Tandy,
>
> I sure will try to meet you when I come to Santa Monica.
>
> If you're coming to Raleigh, let me know. There are a few hardbat
players around here, we can meet and play.
>
> Thanks,
> Pugal
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Tandy Goldberg theplayer007@...
> To: hardbat@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 9:39:44 PM
> Subject: [hardbat] PUGAL: Santa Monica, CA: Let's play
>
> Pugal,
>
> You ever make it to Santa Monica, lets play.
>
> Tandy G.
> Chief Instructor
> Hardbat International
> --- Pugalenthi Natesan pugal74@yahoo. com> wrote:
>
> ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
> Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new
Car Finder tool.
> http://autos. yahoo.com/ carfinder/
>
>
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panel and lay it on us.
http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7
>

The 2nd Hardbat Fest on the River was a success. Many thrilling
moments, and lots of unprecedented footage was captured.  Watch this
board for the upcoming highlights clip (in production), which is
guaranteed to amaze even the squishiest skeptic!

The hardbat ratings have been updated, and reflect the following
tournaments:

Feb 24  2007 - Sacramento Winter Open (CA)
Mar 18  2007 - U.S. Classic Open (Cary, NC)
May 05  2007 - Sacramento Hardbat Fest (CA)
Jun 03  2007 - Meiklejohn Seniors (CA)
Jul 4-8 2007 - U.S. Open (Open, O40, U2000, U1500) (NV)
Aug 17  2007 - Florida Hardbat Championship (Lakeland, FL)
Aug 24  2007 - Sacramento Summer Open (CA)

Check out Freddie Gabriel's ascent to #4 on the UHRL list!
With wins over 2006 U.S. Open finalist Trevor Runyan, and
2006 U.S. Nationals champion Loc Ngo, it's not a surprise!

Let's also welcome the following six players new to
the fulltime USATT hardbat list...

    2232 Franz-Josef Huermann (the new #1 USATT-rated hardbatter)
    1945 Dmitri Moundous
    1942 James Rautis (returning after a squishy sojourn)
    1785 Tony Ettinger
    1717 Alberto Prieto
    1429 Dean Norman

John Tannehill has dropped off the list, as he has been
playing sponge lately to help his son train.  OH, OK.

Let's keep those hardbat events rolling...

Pugal,

You ever make it to Santa Monica, lets play.


Tandy G.
Chief Instructor
Hardbat International
--- Pugalenthi Natesan <pugal74@...> wrote:




________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Choose the right car based on your needs.  Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder
tool.
http://autos.yahoo.com/carfinder/

Pugal,

Sam Steiner may have a hardbat division in his annual tournament in
Erie, PA near the end of Oct. And I believe there will be another
hardbat classic at Cary, NC in mid March 2008. And of course the
Nationals Closed in Las Vegas in Dec 2007. And if you get to
Cleveland anytime we play on Tuesday and Thursdays at our downtown
club where myself and Bill Dorsh play hardbat matches.

Dean Norman

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Pugal Natesan" <pugal74@...> wrote:
>
> I'm a new member to the group.
>
> Can someone send some information on hardbat tournaments ?
(schedule)
>
> Thanks,
> Pugal
>

check www.usatt.org -tournaments (tab)- schedule, US nationals in
December in Las Vegas, and the big one in Cary, North Carolina in
March 2008. Those two are the biggest hardbat events in the horizon.
Hope you can make it and see you there.

Alberto Prieto
www.valortabletennis.com

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, Pugalenthi Natesan <pugal74@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Francis,
>
>   thanks for the info.
>
>   I am more interested in US Tournaments, will keep looking.
>
>   Thanks again,
>   Pugal
>
> Francis LEIBENGUTH <francisdef54@...> wrote:
>             Hi Pugal,
>   You can find some informations on my site :  http://hardbat-
france.blog4ever.com/,  "Annonces Tournois" section (it's in french).
You'll find essentially european events, but I also put some US ones
when I have the informations.
> Otherwise, you can go to the USCTTA site :  http://www.usctta.org/,
but it's not often updated.
>   Francis.
>
> --- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Pugal Natesan" <pugal74@> wrote:
> >
> > I'm a new member to the group.
> >
> > Can someone send some information on hardbat tournaments ?
(schedule)
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Pugal
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Shape Yahoo! in your own image.  Join our Network Research Panel
today!
>

Pugal,

Sam Steiner may have a hardbat division in his annual tournament in
Erie, PA near the end of Oct.  And I believe there will be another
hardbat classic at Cary, NC in mid March 2008.  And of course the
Nationals Closed in Las Vegas in Dec 2007.  And if you get to
Cleveland anytime we play on Tuesday and Thursdays at our downtown
club where myself and Bill Dorsh play hardbat matches.

Dean Norman



--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Pugal Natesan" <pugal74@...> wrote:
>
> I'm a new member to the group.
>
> Can someone send some information on hardbat tournaments ?
(schedule)
>
> Thanks,
> Pugal
>

Hi Pugal,

You can find some informations on my site :  http://hardbat-france.blog4ever.com/,  "Annonces Tournois" section (it's in french). You'll find essentially european events, but I also put some US ones when I have the informations.
Otherwise, you can go to the USCTTA site :  http://www.usctta.org/, but it's not often updated.

Francis.

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Pugal Natesan" <pugal74@...> wrote:
>
> I'm a new member to the group.
>
> Can someone send some information on hardbat tournaments ? (schedule)
>
> Thanks,
> Pugal

Hi Pugal,

You can find some informations on my site :  http://hardbat-france.blog4ever.com/,  "Annonces Tournois" section (it's in french). You'll find essentially european events, but I also put some US ones when I have the informations.
Otherwise, you can go to the USCTTA site :  http://www.usctta.org/, but it's not often updated.

Francis.

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Pugal Natesan" <pugal74@...> wrote:
>
> I'm a new member to the group.
>
> Can someone send some information on hardbat tournaments ? (schedule)
>
> Thanks,
> Pugal

I'm a new member to the group.

Can someone send some information on hardbat tournaments ? (schedule)

Thanks,
Pugal

I know that the 802-1 is not close to the classic rubbers (Barna, Leyland, Reisman...), but I think that if the official list must continue to exist, it would be good to increase the number of the rubbers on it, and in that way 802-1 seems interesting to me, because I think it's not a very spinny rubber, comparable for me to BTY Orthodox. Anyway, if the HB Commitee decides not to add it on the list, well, I won't make a fuss.

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Mark Johnson" <manxpingpong@...> wrote:
>
> The 802-1 is not a suitable rubber for the classic game in my
> opinion, for the following reasons.
>
> 1 The pimples are very large at the top and even larger at the
> bottom, because of this configuration it gives a very stiff pimple
> with no "give" whatsoever.
>
> 2It is this high stiffness that generates the spin, not as once
> thought just the grippiness of the rubber, which due to the
> widespread use of spinmax can make any rubber grippy.(Spinmaxing
> Leyland or Andro classic has no significant effect)
>
> 3 As a quick test, if you bounce the ball in vertical direction on
> the bat, come across with a bit of wrist now watch the ball shoot
> off sideways as it leaves the bat. Again with classical rubbers the
> ball still comes up vertical with minimal deflection
>
> 4 We tested both 802 and 802-1 in Gloucester using modern and
> classic players the result was that in the hands of top sponge
> players found quite vicious spin serves are possible as is quite
> heavy topspin , the shots were very similar to the sponge game. The
> classic players felt the rubbers had poor control for defence
> finding it hard to neutralise the opposing spin and had to "distort"
> their classical strokes to use it.
>
> Conclusion, use whatever makes you happy, but Francis its the very
> kind of rubber that could bend our game out of shape if it became
> accepted through ignorance , if you don't believe me, speak to Marty
> Reisman.

Thanks for the link hermann, some players over here have started to
use spinmax blue which is claimed to add increased speed as well.

It looks that the Spinmax you are talking about has been outlawed
and discontinued (contained solvents like speed glue).

A new waterbased version (Spinmax Green) is being sold by Joola. I
have no idea how well this works and so whether it will be a problem
for us renegade hardbatters.

The MSDS is at this link:
http://www.joola.de/pdf/DB_SPINMAX_GREEN.pdf

Hermann

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Mark Johnson" <manxpingpong@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Al, thanks for the link ,it really does all it says and more
and
> posses a possible dilema for all of us who love the classical game.
>
> With the use of Spinmax most pips rubbers we have tried it on have
> changed its ability to spin the ball dramatically (especialy
smooth
> top pips) so much so that even the least spinny rubbers on the
> approved list become lethal in the hands of modern sponge type
> players,using very fast modern blades limiting the rallies through
> effective spin services and freaky sponge type strokes.
>
> Thats why I am so concerned that the really spinny rubbers,the
ones
> with the really stiff pips, if they are accepted...well you get
the
> picture.
>
> The only rubbers we have found that are not significantly changed
by
> the application of spinmax are good samples of Leyland and Andro
> Classic, An old Johnny Leach bat had its grip improved slightly
but
> as it did not restore the original elasticity of the pips,it
played
> no differently than before.
>
> The reason why Leyland and Andro are not effected is most probably
> due to the pips on both being softer, smaller and having serrated
> tops.
>

Hi Al, thanks for the link ,it really does all it says and more and
posses a possible dilema for all of us who love the classical game.

With the use of Spinmax most pips rubbers we have tried it on have
changed its ability to spin the ball dramatically (especialy smooth
top pips) so much so that even the least spinny rubbers on the
approved list become lethal in the hands of modern sponge type
players,using very fast modern blades limiting the rallies through
effective spin services and freaky sponge type strokes.

Thats why I am so concerned that the really spinny rubbers,the ones
with the really stiff pips, if they are accepted...well you get the
picture.

The only rubbers we have found that are not significantly changed by
the application of spinmax are good samples of Leyland and Andro
Classic, An old Johnny Leach bat had its grip improved slightly but
as it did not restore the original elasticity of the pips,it played
no differently than before.

The reason why Leyland and Andro are not effected is most probably
due to the pips on both being softer, smaller and having serrated
tops.

The 802-1 is not a suitable rubber for the classic game in my
opinion, for the following reasons.

1 The pimples are very large at the top and even larger at the
bottom, because of this configuration it gives a very stiff pimple
with no "give" whatsoever.

2It is this high stiffness that generates the spin, not as once
thought just the grippiness of the rubber, which due to the
widespread  use of spinmax can make any rubber grippy.(Spinmaxing
Leyland or Andro classic has no significant effect)

3 As a quick test, if you bounce the ball in vertical direction on
the bat, come across with a bit of wrist now watch the ball shoot
off sideways as it leaves the bat. Again with classical rubbers the
ball still comes up vertical with minimal deflection

4 We tested both 802 and 802-1 in Gloucester using modern and
classic players the result was that in the hands of top sponge
players found quite vicious spin serves are possible as is quite
heavy topspin , the shots were very similar to the sponge game.  The
classic players felt the rubbers had poor control for defence
finding it hard to neutralise the opposing spin and had to "distort"
their classical strokes to use it.

Conclusion, use whatever makes you happy, but Francis its the very
kind of rubber that could bend our game out of shape if it became
accepted through ignorance , if you don't believe me, speak to Marty
Reisman.

So, I tested the 802-1 yesterday : it's definitely less spinny than the 802, comparable to BTY Orthodox. I tried it on a BTY Kenny Style blade (yes, THE real Kenny Style), It's faster than the Dr Evil and the BTY Orthodox. I think it might be a good rubber to be put on the list.

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Francis LEIBENGUTH" <francisdef54@...> wrote:
>
>
> OK, the Dr Evil has been addes to the list, and the 563 is out now. Any
> other rubber that is expected to be added also ? Any suggestion ? I have
> one : the Friendship 802-1, which is given as less spinny than the 802
> (which is a bit less spinny than the 799). I will test it tonight behind
> the table, but the first impressions I have are that it seems maybe a
> little bit more spinny than the BTY Orthodox. More informations later.
>
> And is it possible to have the list of the tested rubbers that were
> rejected by the HB Commitee ?

OK, the Dr Evil has been addes to the list, and the 563 is out now. Any other rubber that is expected to be added also ? Any suggestion ? I have one : the Friendship 802-1, which is given as less spinny than the 802 (which is a bit less spinny than the 799). I will test it tonight behind the table, but the first impressions I have are that it seems maybe a little bit more spinny than the BTY Orthodox. More informations later.

And is it possible to have the list of the tested rubbers that were rejected by the HB Commitee ?

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Francis LEIBENGUTH" <francisdef54@...> wrote:
>
> Well, it seems that this list hasn't moved from the beginning, no new
> rubber, though there are a lot to test : what about the Dr Evil, and
> all the short pimpled rubbers after removing their sponge, like Tibhar
> Speedy Soft for example, which seems to be one of the less spinny ?
> Will the USTTA Hardbat Commitee add other ones on the list ?
>

POSTED TO YAHOOHB SITE, MAYBE:
The LA TABLE TENNIIS CLUB is Hardbat friendly...Closed at 1:30 am last
nite...It's very close to Hoover & Olympic and is listed on Google
Maps.

Thank you very much, uh, huh...

Your boy,  Tandy G

Victor, as a follow-up, I thought I'd let you know that I submitted an
article yesterday to our magazine editors -- Steve and Marie Hopkins
-- covering this Challenge Match as well as the results of the hardbat
events at the Open.

As to the viewing of any moving images of the match, thus far, Serina
Maier of Radical Media could not commit to loading any clips she
recorded onto YouTube.

But the match was also recorded by a friend of Marty's who promised to
provide Marty with a CD of it soon, so that's another possibility.  In
the interim, I've loaded three still images of the evening at:

http://public.fotki.com/HardbatTT/nyc-lower-east-side/?cmd=fs_slideshow

Bob

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "bobpalgon" <robertpalgon@...> wrote:
>
> Victor, not to my knowledge -- apparently Tim Boggan was contacted to
> see whether he wanted to do a write-up but I understand he begged off
> saying he wasn't there, and didn't want to write about something he
> hadn't seen personally.
>
> I just may put something together and submit it if I get a couple of
> free hours this week,, seeing how no one who was there is apparently
> coming forward to do so.
>
> Thanks for the kind words.
>
> Bob
>
> --- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Victor Kan" <victor.kan@> wrote:
> >
> > > Thanks Bob, great report. I wonder if the rest of the world will be
> > > able to get the details of the match through the USATT?
(Probably Not)
> >
> > Has anyone written a magazine article on it and submitted it to the
> > USATT magazine?
> >
>

>
> From: "bobpalgon" <robertpalgon@...>
> Date: 2007/08/06 Mon AM 12:40:26 EST
> To: hardbat@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [hardbat] Re: Reisman /Yokoyama Hardbat Challenge Match, August 3,
2007
>
> Victor, not to my knowledge -- apparently Tim Boggan was contacted to
> see whether he wanted to do a write-up but I understand he begged off
> saying he wasn't there, and didn't want to write about something he
> hadn't seen personally.
>
> I just may put something together and submit it if I get a couple of
> free hours this week,, seeing how no one who was there is apparently
> coming forward to do so.
>
> Thanks for the kind words.
>
> Bob
>
> --- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Victor Kan" <victor.kan@...> wrote:
> >
> > > Thanks Bob, great report. I wonder if the rest of the world will be
> > > able to get the details of the match through the USATT? (Probably Not)
> >
> > Has anyone written a magazine article on it and submitted it to the
> > USATT magazine?
> >
>
>
>
>

Radical Media was there with their camera and crew.
I don't know if anything will be written, but hopefully
something was preserved.  I wish I could have been there.

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Victor Kan" <victor.kan@...> wrote:
>
> > Thanks Bob, great report. I wonder if the rest of the world will be
> > able to get the details of the match through the USATT? (Probably
Not)
>
> Has anyone written a magazine article on it and submitted it to the
> USATT magazine?
>

Victor, not to my knowledge -- apparently Tim Boggan was contacted to
see whether he wanted to do a write-up but I understand he begged off
saying he wasn't there, and didn't want to write about something he
hadn't seen personally.

I just may put something together and submit it if I get a couple of
free hours this week,, seeing how no one who was there is apparently
coming forward to do so.

Thanks for the kind words.

Bob

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Victor Kan" <victor.kan@...> wrote:
>
> > Thanks Bob, great report. I wonder if the rest of the world will be
> > able to get the details of the match through the USATT? (Probably Not)
>
> Has anyone written a magazine article on it and submitted it to the
> USATT magazine?
>

> Thanks Bob, great report. I wonder if the rest of the world will be
> able to get the details of the match through the USATT? (Probably Not)

Has anyone written a magazine article on it and submitted it to the
USATT magazine?

Thanks Bob, great report. I wonder if the rest of the world will be
able to get the details of the match through the USATT? (Probably Not)

Alberto

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "bobpalgon" <robertpalgon@...> wrote:
>
> Well,Dean, like Bogart in "Casablanca", it turns out I was
> misinformed.  The sandpaper match between Marty and Wally never took
> place -- the promoters had rented the theater only until 12 midnight
> and they were running a couple hours late.  So I guess this
sandpaper
> match will have to take place on another occasion -- sorry about
that,
> Dean -- and Al.
>
> Speaking by phone with another spectator late last night, I learned
> something about yesterday's event that surprised me.   He said that
> contrary to what you might expect, the audience was not made up
mostly
> of the old Reisman faithful but that a good 85% were made up of a
> cross-section of local neighborhood folk, 30 years old and younger,
> male and female equally, and ethnically diverse, as is the Lower
East
> Side once again these days.
>
> He didn't think many of them knew anything about Marty or table
tennis
> so he was glad when, at some point, just after the warmup -- or
> perhaps between games, he couldn't remember which -- Marty took the
> time to explain the various changes that the game had undergone
since
> the 1950's.
>
> Asked what was the high-point of the evening, he felt it was the
> electrifying feeling that you could sense in the excited onlookers
> throughout the match ... as if they themselves could sense that they
> were in the presence of a kind of polished and superior play unlike
> any table tennis they had ever seen anywhere before.  The spectators
> roared at the long exchanges, and looked, often, one to the other in
> wonder and joyful amazement.
>
> They knew, he thought, that they were in the presence of something
if
> not magical, then certainly extremely special -- and that they were
> darn lucky they decided to spend Friday night watching what turned
out
> to be a blast from the past -- classic table tennis.
>
> Well, it probably didn't hurt that Marty did his shoe return and a
> number of other tricks that are sure crowd pleasers.  Sixty years of
> showmanship kind of insures a certain amount of eating out of your
> hand.  But even Marty was amazed when people came up afterwards and
> asked if they could shake his hand.  Marty tells me that without
> exception, he graciously assented.
>
> Well, after all was said and done, Marty said he was especially
> invigorated both by the way he played and the crowd's appreciation,
> and feels that it was just a terrific evening, one that hardbatters
> everywhere can take some pride in.  "You know," Marty said, "Kaz is
> far from a slouch -- he is a major modern player -- to think I could
> beat him, even with classic racquets ... many thought I must have
gone
>  insane.  Perhaps -- but to my way of thinking -- the outcome was
> never in doubt."
>
> Classic Reisman!
>
> Bob
>
> --- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "wallyswoods" <wallyswoods@> wrote:
> >
> > And the results of the sandpaper duel with Wally Green?  I
predict
> > Wally did well, because he is a hitter.  I played him at Cary a
> > couple of years ago, and he said, "Man, hardbat is hard!  You
can't
> > just hit the ball once and win a point.  You have to keep hitting
and
> > hitting and hitting."  But he did keep hitting and hitting and
> > hitting.  Let us know, and I hope there is a video to see.
> >
> > --- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "bobpalgon" <robertpalgon@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Although I was hoping to have passed on near real-time results,
in
> > all
> > > the excitement, this hope did not materialize.  But the warmup
> > period
> > >  finally got underway at 9:50PM NY Time, and the match
completed
> > only
> > > about thirty minutes ago.
> > >
> > > The size of the crowd -- estimated to be about 250 vocal
> > spectators --
> > > cheered both players as if they were watching the finals of the
US
> > > Open.  Indeed, a spectator present both at this match, and the
> > finals
> > > of this July's US Open, said this crowd was even more intense,
more
> > > vocal, and more appreciative than the one at the Open.
> > >
> > > What's more, he reported, the size of the audience at this
match was
> > > far greater than that of the non-tournament-participating
spectators
> > > at the Open's sponge final.  Quite a compliment to the players
and
> > to
> > > hardbat play itself, I think.
> > >
> > > Many people present at the match thought the 77-year old Marty
had
> > > probably bitten off more than he could chew, and it appeared
early
> > on
> > > that that might be the case, but Marty took the first game 21-
16
> > and,
> > > catching his stride, took a 20-7 lead in the second game, which
he
> > > then went on to win 21-14.
> > >
> > > On the last point, on the next to last shot, Marty hit a ball
behind
> > > his back, and then followed that with an explosive, match-
winning
> > > forehand smash.  At that, I am told, the crowd erupted with
extended
> > > applause, chanting "Marty! Marty!" -- as Marty basked in the
glow of
> > > appreciation he always thought he was rightly born to
receive.
> > >
> > > His 2563-rated opponent, Mr. Yokoyama, surrendered gracefully,
> > > congratulating Marty by saying, "You're AWESOME!!"
> > >
> > > Quite an evening, but it isn't over.  The spectators almost to
a man
> > > remain and Wally Green has agreed to play Marty a sandpaper
match
> > > which I understand is happening right now.  As I learn that
result,
> > I
> > > will provide an update.
> > >
> > > Bob
> > >
> > > --- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Palgon" <robertpalgon@>
> > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > As of 9:10PM, the Kazuyuki Yokoyama / Reisman Hardbat
Challenge
> > > match has
> > > > NOT yet gotten underway.
> > > >
> > > > Over 200 spectators are already either seated or standing in
the
> > > theater,
> > > > but the line of people waiting to buy walk-up tickets is still
> > > lengthy.  As
> > > > a result, Ben Smyth has requested that the match be delayed
until
> > > all who
> > > > want admission are accommodated -- with due regard to city
fire
> > safety
> > > > regulations.
> > > >
> > > > Reisman is said to be resplendently decked out in gold
gabardine
> > > slacks, red
> > > > polo shirt, matching red sneakers, no socks, and his ever-
present,
> > > signature
> > > > Panama hat.  No report of Mr. Yokoyama's attire has been
provided.
> > > >
> > > > Updates to follow as I receive them.
> > > >
> > > > Bob
> > > >
> > > > >From: "bobpalgon" <robertpalgon@>
> > > > >Reply-To: hardbat@yahoogroups.com
> > > > >To: hardbat@yahoogroups.com
> > > > >Subject: [hardbat] Reisman /Yokoyama Hardbat Challenge Match,
> > > August 3,
> > > > >2007
> > > > >Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2007 23:48:54 -0000
> > > > >
> > > > >The latest information regarding this match is that it is
> > scheduled to
> > > > >take place at 9PM tonight, NY Time.
> > > > >
> > > > >Reportedly it will be followed by a sandpaper duel between
Marty
> > and
> > > > >Wally Green, a 2254-rated, lefthanded sponger.
> > > > >
> > > > >Bob
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
_________________________________________________________________
> > > > Puzzles, trivia teasers, word scrambles and more. Play for
your
> > > chance to
> > > > win! http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=CLUB_hotmailtextlink
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

Well,Dean, like Bogart in "Casablanca", it turns out I was
misinformed.  The sandpaper match between Marty and Wally never took
place -- the promoters had rented the theater only until 12 midnight
and they were running a couple hours late.  So I guess this sandpaper
match will have to take place on another occasion -- sorry about that,
Dean -- and Al.

Speaking by phone with another spectator late last night, I learned
something about yesterday's event that surprised me.   He said that
contrary to what you might expect, the audience was not made up mostly
of the old Reisman faithful but that a good 85% were made up of a
cross-section of local neighborhood folk, 30 years old and younger,
male and female equally, and ethnically diverse, as is the Lower East
Side once again these days.

He didn't think many of them knew anything about Marty or table tennis
so he was glad when, at some point, just after the warmup -- or
perhaps between games, he couldn't remember which -- Marty took the
time to explain the various changes that the game had undergone since
the 1950's.

Asked what was the high-point of the evening, he felt it was the
electrifying feeling that you could sense in the excited onlookers
throughout the match ... as if they themselves could sense that they
were in the presence of a kind of polished and superior play unlike
any table tennis they had ever seen anywhere before.  The spectators
roared at the long exchanges, and looked, often, one to the other in
wonder and joyful amazement.

They knew, he thought, that they were in the presence of something if
not magical, then certainly extremely special -- and that they were
darn lucky they decided to spend Friday night watching what turned out
to be a blast from the past -- classic table tennis.

Well, it probably didn't hurt that Marty did his shoe return and a
number of other tricks that are sure crowd pleasers.  Sixty years of
showmanship kind of insures a certain amount of eating out of your
hand.  But even Marty was amazed when people came up afterwards and
asked if they could shake his hand.  Marty tells me that without
exception, he graciously assented.

Well, after all was said and done, Marty said he was especially
invigorated both by the way he played and the crowd's appreciation,
and feels that it was just a terrific evening, one that hardbatters
everywhere can take some pride in.  "You know," Marty said, "Kaz is
far from a slouch -- he is a major modern player -- to think I could
beat him, even with classic racquets ... many thought I must have gone
  insane.  Perhaps -- but to my way of thinking -- the outcome was
never in doubt."

Classic Reisman!

Bob

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "wallyswoods" <wallyswoods@...> wrote:
>
> And the results of the sandpaper duel with Wally Green?  I predict
> Wally did well, because he is a hitter.  I played him at Cary a
> couple of years ago, and he said, "Man, hardbat is hard!  You can't
> just hit the ball once and win a point.  You have to keep hitting and
> hitting and hitting."  But he did keep hitting and hitting and
> hitting.  Let us know, and I hope there is a video to see.
>
> --- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "bobpalgon" <robertpalgon@> wrote:
> >
> > Although I was hoping to have passed on near real-time results, in
> all
> > the excitement, this hope did not materialize.  But the warmup
> period
> >  finally got underway at 9:50PM NY Time, and the match completed
> only
> > about thirty minutes ago.
> >
> > The size of the crowd -- estimated to be about 250 vocal
> spectators --
> > cheered both players as if they were watching the finals of the US
> > Open.  Indeed, a spectator present both at this match, and the
> finals
> > of this July's US Open, said this crowd was even more intense, more
> > vocal, and more appreciative than the one at the Open.
> >
> > What's more, he reported, the size of the audience at this match was
> > far greater than that of the non-tournament-participating spectators
> > at the Open's sponge final.  Quite a compliment to the players and
> to
> > hardbat play itself, I think.
> >
> > Many people present at the match thought the 77-year old Marty had
> > probably bitten off more than he could chew, and it appeared early
> on
> > that that might be the case, but Marty took the first game 21-16
> and,
> > catching his stride, took a 20-7 lead in the second game, which he
> > then went on to win 21-14.
> >
> > On the last point, on the next to last shot, Marty hit a ball behind
> > his back, and then followed that with an explosive, match-winning
> > forehand smash.  At that, I am told, the crowd erupted with extended
> > applause, chanting "Marty! Marty!" -- as Marty basked in the glow of
> > appreciation he always thought he was rightly born to receive.
> >
> > His 2563-rated opponent, Mr. Yokoyama, surrendered gracefully,
> > congratulating Marty by saying, "You're AWESOME!!"
> >
> > Quite an evening, but it isn't over.  The spectators almost to a man
> > remain and Wally Green has agreed to play Marty a sandpaper match
> > which I understand is happening right now.  As I learn that result,
> I
> > will provide an update.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > --- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Palgon" <robertpalgon@>
> wrote:
> > >
> > > As of 9:10PM, the Kazuyuki Yokoyama / Reisman Hardbat Challenge
> > match has
> > > NOT yet gotten underway.
> > >
> > > Over 200 spectators are already either seated or standing in the
> > theater,
> > > but the line of people waiting to buy walk-up tickets is still
> > lengthy.  As
> > > a result, Ben Smyth has requested that the match be delayed until
> > all who
> > > want admission are accommodated -- with due regard to city fire
> safety
> > > regulations.
> > >
> > > Reisman is said to be resplendently decked out in gold gabardine
> > slacks, red
> > > polo shirt, matching red sneakers, no socks, and his ever-present,
> > signature
> > > Panama hat.  No report of Mr. Yokoyama's attire has been provided.
> > >
> > > Updates to follow as I receive them.
> > >
> > > Bob
> > >
> > > >From: "bobpalgon" <robertpalgon@>
> > > >Reply-To: hardbat@yahoogroups.com
> > > >To: hardbat@yahoogroups.com
> > > >Subject: [hardbat] Reisman /Yokoyama Hardbat Challenge Match,
> > August 3,
> > > >2007
> > > >Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2007 23:48:54 -0000
> > > >
> > > >The latest information regarding this match is that it is
> scheduled to
> > > >take place at 9PM tonight, NY Time.
> > > >
> > > >Reportedly it will be followed by a sandpaper duel between Marty
> and
> > > >Wally Green, a 2254-rated, lefthanded sponger.
> > > >
> > > >Bob
> > > >
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > Puzzles, trivia teasers, word scrambles and more. Play for your
> > chance to
> > > win! http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=CLUB_hotmailtextlink
> > >
> >
>

And the results of the sandpaper duel with Wally Green?  I predict
Wally did well, because he is a hitter.  I played him at Cary a
couple of years ago, and he said, "Man, hardbat is hard!  You can't
just hit the ball once and win a point.  You have to keep hitting and
hitting and hitting."  But he did keep hitting and hitting and
hitting.  Let us know, and I hope there is a video to see.

--- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "bobpalgon" <robertpalgon@...> wrote:
>
> Although I was hoping to have passed on near real-time results, in
all
> the excitement, this hope did not materialize.  But the warmup
period
>  finally got underway at 9:50PM NY Time, and the match completed
only
> about thirty minutes ago.
>
> The size of the crowd -- estimated to be about 250 vocal
spectators --
> cheered both players as if they were watching the finals of the US
> Open.  Indeed, a spectator present both at this match, and the
finals
> of this July's US Open, said this crowd was even more intense, more
> vocal, and more appreciative than the one at the Open.
>
> What's more, he reported, the size of the audience at this match was
> far greater than that of the non-tournament-participating spectators
> at the Open's sponge final.  Quite a compliment to the players and
to
> hardbat play itself, I think.
>
> Many people present at the match thought the 77-year old Marty had
> probably bitten off more than he could chew, and it appeared early
on
> that that might be the case, but Marty took the first game 21-16
and,
> catching his stride, took a 20-7 lead in the second game, which he
> then went on to win 21-14.
>
> On the last point, on the next to last shot, Marty hit a ball behind
> his back, and then followed that with an explosive, match-winning
> forehand smash.  At that, I am told, the crowd erupted with extended
> applause, chanting "Marty! Marty!" -- as Marty basked in the glow of
> appreciation he always thought he was rightly born to receive.
>
> His 2563-rated opponent, Mr. Yokoyama, surrendered gracefully,
> congratulating Marty by saying, "You're AWESOME!!"
>
> Quite an evening, but it isn't over.  The spectators almost to a man
> remain and Wally Green has agreed to play Marty a sandpaper match
> which I understand is happening right now.  As I learn that result,
I
> will provide an update.
>
> Bob
>
> --- In hardbat@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Palgon" <robertpalgon@>
wrote:
> >
> > As of 9:10PM, the Kazuyuki Yokoyama / Reisman Hardbat Challenge
> match has
> > NOT yet gotten underway.
> >
> > Over 200 spectators are already either seated or standing in the
> theater,
> > but the line of people waiting to buy walk-up tickets is still
> lengthy.  As
> > a result, Ben Smyth has requested that the match be delayed until
> all who
> > want admission are accommodated -- with due regard to city fire
safety
> > regulations.
> >
> > Reisman is said to be resplendently decked out in gold gabardine
> slacks, red
> > polo shirt, matching red sneakers, no socks, and his ever-present,
> signature
> > Panama hat.  No report of Mr. Yokoyama's attire has been provided.
> >
> > Updates to follow as I receive them.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > >From: "bobpalgon" <robertpalgon@>
> > >Reply-To: hardbat@yahoogroups.com
> > >To: hardbat@yahoogroups.com
> > >Subject: [hardbat] Reisman /Yokoyama Hardbat Challenge Match,
> August 3,
> > >2007
> > >Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2007 23:48:54 -0000
> > >
> > >The latest information regarding this match is that it is
scheduled to
> > >take place at 9PM tonight, NY Time.
> > >
> > >Reportedly it will be followed by a sandpaper duel between Marty
and
> > >Wally Green, a 2254-rated, lefthanded sponger.
> > >
> > >Bob
> > >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Puzzles, trivia teasers, word scrambles and more. Play for your
> chance to
> > win! http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=CLUB_hotmailtextlink
> >
>