March - April 1998
Vol. 9, No. 2

By Kevin Vicroy

John Ellis made his third consecutive pro finals appearance at the Laundry Land Pro-Am in Lincoln, Nebraska just before press time. Heading into the season, Ellis had only one pro stop title to his credit. But the new year started out just fine for the 5-foot-6 Californian as he took career wins #2 and #3, back-to-back, at the Ralph Schomp Automotive Pro-Am in Denver on January 19 and the Columbus Pro-Am the following weekend. RACQUETBALL spoke with John about his recent good fortune on his return from Lincoln.

ELLIS BREAKS INTO THE TOP THREE

RB: With three straight finals showings and two victories, how do you account for your recent stellar play? What’s going on with you?
Not a whole lot. I’m pretty settled in my life, as far as what I’m doing these days. I’m living in Stockton again – my hometown. I bought a house and I’m around my closest friends. I’m working with my dad a little bit more seriously as far as coming up with game plans for everybody. Getting in better shape – just putting the whole package together helped on this little three-week run.

RB: What about your finals?
I don’t want to be too surprised about them. I’ve very pleased, but I don’t want to seem too surprised because this is what Cliff and Sudsy are doing all the time. I want to be up there with those guys and make it a three-way fight instead of a twosome. I just have to try and make it so I get used to it. I expect to get (to the finals) every time. I know there are a couple of other guys ranked below me that are thinking the same way.

RB: You seem more reserved on the court, is that just the kind of person you are?
I’d say I’m one of the more laid back guys on tour. Pretty relaxed. I think people like to watch me play because I’m a shorter guy who’s pretty built. I’m not skinny or anything. I’m fast, I hit the ball pretty hard and I think that intrigues people when you have a shorter guy doing that. I don’t mind that. I like playing in front of people so that’s nice and I don’t go off the handle too often. I won the (IRT) Sportsmanship Award last year. It’s funny, but when I won it, I didn’t really care. But now, that’s really become a big part of my game – to stay really relaxed, very controlled and not let past points matter to me. The only thing that matters is the up-and-coming point. Now, I’m pretty proud (of the award). I think it has a direct influence on my play.

RB: You work with kids at a lot of camps and clubs, do you see yourself as a role model for racquetball’s youth?
I never thought I’d be asked that question. I don’t necessarily think that I should be considered (a role model) at all. I think it’s the player’s responsibility to be professional, look professional and to act professional at the tournament when you’re in your own setting like that. As far as a role model and all of that stuff, I don’t think so. What I do in my personal life is totally personal. I think every kid’s parents . . . that’s what they’re there to do. To provide the role model, the rules and that sort of stuff. If kids are going to look at me and say that he is very controlled on the court, very relaxed and he doesn’t go off the handle and want to incorporate that into their games, then I think that’s a good idea.

RB: Can you give us a little insight into John Ellis?
I’d say that what I’m like on the court is pretty much what I’m all about. Right now, I’d say that I’m just finding that out myself. It’s all a learning process, even when you’re really good at a sport. I’d say that it’s all one big learning process. One thing that I learned at the beginning of the season is that the best way I’m going to succeed is to stay under control out there. I don’t think it has always happened, but for the most part, it’s going to be happening like that because I choose to have that be the situation.

RB: When you’re facing the best, be it Sudsy, Swain or whoever, what puts you over the top?
Well, this (winning) has just happened two times recently, so I really can’t say I’m being consistent about it. My record in finals is 3-12 or whatever it is. Right now, I’m pretty strong mentally. I would say that I have as much desire to win in the sport right now as anyone. If that’s being mentally strong, then I’m right there. But through the years, I’d say that (mental toughness) wasn’t my strongest asset, maybe even the weaker part of my game. This year has been different. It has a lot to do with my dad (Dave Ellis) and it has a lot to do with being a little bit older. I really want to make a living at this sport and don’t want to have to go back to college to find something else to do. I want to play racquetball for a living and retire as a racquetball player and have money for myself later in life.

RB: How much has your dad helped you this year?
We talk on the phone a lot. What we’re working on, big time, is game plans for every player out there that I could play. He’s a smart man and knows a ton about the sport — more than I could ever know at this point. He’s helping me come up with game plans to attack every player’s game out there.

RB: What can we expect in the future from John Ellis?
I’d say just a lot of semis and finals and good play. For about another 10 years, a lot of being right there in every match in every tournament. Somebody who’s gonna beat me will have to play well. That’s all I really want to ask of myself – just to be in every match, mentally and physically. To be honest with you, I really don’t care about being ranked #1. That’s not a goal of mine. I don’t want to say, “I’ve got to be ranked number one.” I want to win tournaments. I don’t care if it’s for $15,000 or $50,000. It’s the idea of beating the best players in the world. Beating the Cliff’s, the Sudsy’s, the Andy’s (Roberts) and the Jason’s (Mannino). Just competing and playing hard is what you can expect.

RB: What’s homelife like between stops?
Adam Karp lives with me, along with another guy I grew-up with. I own the house and they’ve got to pay me rent. So, of course, Adam is my second favorite player on the tour right now. I want to see him win as much as possible so he can pay me. And it’s nice to have somebody to train with. Our New Year’s resolution was to become totally shredded. Mine was to become shredded and have the body that I want. His was to get bigger because he’s already shredded. We’re both working out a lot here.

RB: You recently signed a contract with Pro Kennex through the year 2000, can you give us any details?
Here’s the thing, I think everybody should be giving details. But I’m not going to be the first one to say prices. When, as a sport, the players start letting each other know what they’re making . . . It’s a cycle like in every other professional sport. One person deserves this and that and another deserves something else. (Disclosing details) has yet to happen and that’s probably because we don’t have enough money in the sport yet. Let’s just say that Pro Kennex is taking care of me very fairly and I’m very happy with the contract I signed. I’m most happy with the products that they have now. I think Pro Kennex has the best racquet (the Kinetic Diamond 15 g) out in racquetball right now. I’m totally satisfied with it and everything about them right now.

RB: You’re also sponsored by Courtesy Sports, right?
I’m not truly sponsored by them, they’re just some longtime friends in racquetball. They make a headband for me and do it for a couple other guys. Yea, I’m sponsored by them somewhat, but basically I just want to see them do really well in the sport because they are putting a lot back into it. So, whatever I can do to help them I generally try to do. Other than that, I’m looking for sponsors. The good deal with Pro Kennex is that I don’t have to wear head-to-toe Pro Kennex. They allow me to go out there and try to make a living for myself by getting other sponsors. I paid for my last pair of shoes. Right now, I need a shoe company, a clothing company and that’s the stuff I’m working on. I need the money, too.”


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