January -
February 1998
Vol. 9, No. 1

U.S. OPEN: Story Sidebar #2

From the Sidelines

PRO AM DOUBLES FOR ST. JUDE
Some exciting Pro Am doubles kicked off the 1997 Promus Hotel Corporation U.S. Open by raising $8,000.00 for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Thirty-two amateur players each donated $250.00 for an opportunity to be paired with a top professional tour player for a “mini-tournament” played out Tuesday evening. Each donor also received an autographed racquet from their pro partner.

At the close of the short, five-round event, #6 ranked IRT pro Mike Guidry of Carrollton, Texas and defending Pro-Am Doubles champion Dino Tashie of Germantown brought home the gold with a 15-11 win over IRT regular Doug Eagle (also of Carrollton) and former U.S. national team coach Larry Liles of Memphis. Tashie won last year’s benefit event with Derek Robinson. Over the course of their “streak” Guidry and Tashie outlasted current intercollegiate champion Brian Simpson and Tom Chambers, Darrin Schenck and portable court designer/builder Randy Stafford, Louis Vogel/Pete Petty, and semi-final opponents Woody Clouse/Fred Heros.

ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
During the award ceremony, the U.S. OPEN handed over the biggest check to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dick Hackett accepted the $13,155 donation from the event and the Promus Hotel Corporation, which brings the two-year total to $25,000 in support to the hospital and its programs.

BIG NAME SPONSORS
The Promus Hotels U.S. OPEN drew the attention of a series of national sponsors, which contributed to the event in both cash and services, including: Coca-Cola, Cellular One, Grayson Mountain Water Company, ICI Acrylics, Home Box Office and Alamo Rent a Car.

EYES & EARS
Professional photographers Mike Boatman of Memphis and Vicky Hughes of Naylor, Georgia logged impressive numbers of hours (and rolls of film) during the U.S. OPEN, from their exclusive behind-the-front-wall “picture window” to high in the bleachers — and plenty of points in between. Between them, the cover and all of the feature shots are just about the best action photos of racquetball you’ll find.

The daily site newsletter also drew some additional support from cub reporters Jan Chayt, Kory Duarte, Eddie Meredith and tour regular Todd O’Neil. In fact, Duarte and Meredith ended up in a foot race back to the press room following Hogan’s volunteer forfeit, to see who would be able to report the news first. Meredith won .

Tournament directors at the two outlying venues also did their best to keep “information central” up to date — thanks to Kay McCarthy & Martha Butler at Wimbleton, Jen Yokota & Carol Pellowski at the University of Memphis, and the tireless Mary Lyons ... everywhere.

PROMUS RENEWS SPONSORSHIP
At the event “Party with the Pros,” Promus Hotel Corporation CEO Ray Schultz made a surprise presentation to event promoter Doug Ganim — announcing that Promus Hotels had renewed its sponsorship support of the U.S. Open through the year 2001! At left, Schultz is thanked for his support by Michelle Gould and Laura Fenton. Photo: Vicky Hughes.

EASY DOES IT
Jeff Phillips of Arnold, Maryland stopped traffic at the Wimbleton Sportsplex during his first Open division round against Matt Adesso of Columbus, Ohio. Charging into back court for a forehand, Phillips proceeded to crash through the glass backwall, then continued out into the hallway as plexiglass rained downed around him.

“It’s designed to break like that” said portable court builder Randy Stafford, “in little pieces.” Phillips sustained minor cuts and bruises, and was able to return to finish his match — on another court. “I felt invincible after that,” he remarked, but still couldn’t advance past Adesso, who won their tiebreaker 11-1. Photo: Bruce Adams, Tulsa, Okla.

ROBERTS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
RACQUETBALL caught up with Roberts in front of his locker at The Racquet Club of Memphis following his announcement at the Promus Hotels U.S. OPEN.

“I knew that I was only going to play one more year,” the 6-4, 225-pound shot veteran stated. “That’s long enough, there’s no reason to play any longer.”

When asked what was pushing him towards retirement, Roberts replied, “It’s the traveling, it’s the training and there comes a time when things have to change. So, I'm going to play this season and next season and that’s going to be it.”

According to the former Memphis State star, “This was decided two years ago. If my knee didn’t perform, this would have been my last. But, my knee’s doing fine and I’m playing well so I wanted to play one more year.”

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
This year’s U.S. OPEN attracted athletes from across the globe, with large contingents from five countries in addition to representatives of 46 states.
Canada: Mike Ceresia; Jacques Demers; Jeff Deslippe; Josee Grand’Maitre; Mike Green; Francis Guillemette; Brian Istace; Amanda MacDonald; Adam MacKinnon; Cindy McTaggart; Tom O’Brien; Corey Osborne; Lori Jane Powell; Simon Roy; Jennifer Saunders; Chantal Turgeon; Christie Van Hees; Debbie Ward.
Mexico: Diana Almeida; Oviedo Baca; Pablo Baca; Javier Moreno.
Japan: Sayaka Amida; Naoko Kato; Matthew Lands; Irtsuko Matono; Hirotada Nagase; Kazushige Oikawa; Kenji Onoki.
Venezuela: Fabian Balmori; Roberto Bruschini; Carlos Falkenhagen; Pedro Hernandez; Juan Lopez; Juan Silva.

HOGAN BOWS OUT
Keeping his motives to himself throughout his Men’s Open quarterfinal, Marty Hogan offered his opponent a surprise advance at 10-6 in their tiebreaker. Hogan defeated Luis Bustillos 15-13 in the first game, then lost the second 11-15 to go to a tiebreaker. Then, serving for the match, Hogan took a time out, smiled at the crowd and informed the referee that he intended to forfeit.

Scheduled to attend a fundraiser back in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, Hogan opted to step aside gracefully and allow Bustillos to continue, rather than take the chance of winning the match and later logging a “no-show” forfeit.

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