Comments on: What Is To Be Done About Doubles?

By: Guy Cipriano

Guy Cipriano — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:29:42 +0000

PS the courts which you described , with the exception of Bowdoin College and City AC never really got that much play . The court at Lone Star Boat Club was dreadful from the day it was built, and some of the other courts just collapsed and had no constituency. The legit clubs who do have courts report tremendous support and high court usage. As for Middlebury I didn’t know they had a court, and the University Club of Detroit has been out of business for at least 15 years, taking a racquets court out of service as well, which is a damned tragedy, but the UCLub Detroit was in a combat zone and there was just no chance for survival. The trend is defintely on the rise, though. PPS David LeTourneau, son of Michael LeTourneau, is an outstanding player and current intercollegiate champion. Peter Cipriano would surely like to get a shot to play with or against him next year - they would do some serious damage!

By: Guy Cipriano

Guy Cipriano — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:25:10 +0000

I really think that hardball doubles is here to stay and that the softball version, while fun and a good diversion, can’t compare. I”m not too worried about the erosion of the game because unlike hardball singles, hardball doubles is tied to private clubs and their constituency couldn’t care less what the ISRF or the colleges do or don’t do. I just read Niederhoffer’s description of doubles in the final chapter of Barnaby’s book- really great stuff and super advice. Your dad is featured prominently, with great respect from Victor! I”m not sure we’ll be able to make much headway internationally, but I do think that Gordon Anderson is the key to the promoting the game long term in private clubs which is the bastion of the game. Incidentally, rumor has it that a glass wall court is being fabricated for ISDA play next year. IF that’s the case and it’s true, I think we’ll see a real fire lit , esp. if the USOpen is held in an open place where people can watch. Watching Mudge /Berg v Price Gould is indescribably better than watching Ashour v Palmer and they get great crowds at Grand Central. That could be the key to igniting a fire. Hope it’s true. GUY CIPRIANO
PS The ISDA is the best value for a spectator dollar in the world, hands down. It’s so exciting and the players are all so great that singles pales by comparison. I hope the ISDA can convince Jon Power and guys like Ricketts and Palmer to play. They’d be flat out NASTY and the more, the merrier!

By: Viktor Berg

Viktor Berg — Fri, 23 May 2008 03:28:20 +0000

Always enjoy your work Zug…

By: KERRY MARTIN

KERRY MARTIN — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:59:27 +0000

Your article ‘What is to be done about Doubles’ is both interesting and thought-provoking.
There is, however, one reference which I wonder about. You write that “McGuinness also becomes the first guy to win it before he matriculated in college.” In your book (Pg.106) you wrote that Diehl Mateer passed up athird intercollegiate title to play in the national doubles. Since he won the doubles in both 1949 and 1950 he presumably did so as an undergraduate.
Am I missing something here ?
Cheers.

By: Michael Letourneau

Michael Letourneau — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:31:31 +0000

Great article and well said. An update on Canadian hardball doubles courts for you. Calgary (Alberta, Canada) now has 2 doubles hardball courts ( 1 new one on past 6 months) with 2 other clubs considering adding to that total. While Calgary is a softball town we had at one point 1 softball doubles court that basically bombed due to lack of interest. Our current 2 hardball courts are used often with the hardball doubles player base getting bigger and better.