January - February
2000 -- Vol. 11, No. 1

Cohen’s New Look Dared on Denver Radio Station

Prior to the Colorado State Doubles Championships, Joe Cohen made a special appearance on a Denver radio station. While on the show, 49-year-old Cohen explained that his partner at the championships would be 13-year-old Tim Bjorkman. In an earlier tournament, the duo made it to the semifinals, but the nationally-ranked junior was used to winning tournaments, and was ready to lose his older partner until Cohen sweetened the pot. As part of the pair’s agreement to play together at State Doubles, Cohen agreed to shave his beard (which he’d worn for 21 years), plus dye his hair blonde and spike it. Photo: John Foust.

Sadie Weds

On August 14, former Junior Team member and national titlist Sadie Gross became Mrs. Scott Hall in her hometown of Yankton, South Dakota. The newlyweds will reside in Memphis, where Sadie is completing the MBA program at the University of Memphis. The groom is a Memphis native who works as a sales representative and financial planner in the west Tennessee region.

College Athletes Start Season
by Pat Bernardo

The ECRC (Eastern Collegiate Racquetball Conference) got its season underway at the University of Maryland this year, where over 130 collegiate players from all over the east coast gathered for this weekend meet.

The Men’s #1 finals saw Daniel Escobar from the University of Georgia against Jason Sylvester from Penn State. Mr. Sylvester took the crown. In the women’s division it was an all Penn State finals with Bridget Todd playing Kelly Lyon. Ms. Todd came away the winner. Penn State swept up the team competition to boot!

With twelve courts, over 300 matches and a heavyweight championship fight all to finish before high noon on Sunday, we have Paula Pero and the University of Maryland to thank! At least, for me, it was no sweat! Complete ECRC team standings, 1999-2000 schedule and other information can be found at www.Racquetworld.com/ECRC/

Baby, Baby, Baby!

Baby fever has hit the racquetball circuit. Former-racquetball all-star Michelle Gould and her husband Rod are expecting their first child in mid-January. IRT player Derek Robinson and his wife Tina are expecting their first child not long into the new year as well. Top-ranked IRT player Sudsy Monchik was spreading the good news at the U.S. OPEN that he and wife Lisa just found out they will be expecting a bundle of joy this summer, as well.

Dave and Lisa Peck had a first-rate Thanksgiving, with the birth of their first child, son Grayson. Dave’s announcement read: “Here is why we are giving "thanks." His name is Grayson Heuer Peck, born on 11/16/99, weighing in at 7.5 lbs - 19 inches long. Laura is doing great and Grayson is surviving Dad being a spaz.”

Congratulations and best of luck!

Good Knight!
by Jay Aimis
Sunrise Florida

For my 60th birthday, my cousin said he would do something completely "off the wall" for me. I have had 12 surgeries, five on one knee and four on the other, one shoulder, one elbow, and one heel spur. He went ahead and got my records from my orthopedic surgeon and put together this "Knight In Shining Armor" to protect my body from any more injuries. Every part of my body that had surgery was labeled with what kind of surgery plus the dates.