I love watching tough players compete. But sometimes it gets ridiculous. Some of the divisions look more like Professional Wrestling than racquetball. Players begging calls, trying to get every call, running into each other instead of tracking the ball, and hitting each other with the racquet during rallies to distract (a quick flick of the frame on your opponent’s leg to distract) are but a few of the things I saw recently at a national tournament.
A few years ago a player who was of this ilk asked me to watch their match and give them my take on their play.
While this player was warming up people began to show up for the match. Why? Like watching a modified stock car race, everyone wanted to see the wreck! The show was about to begin.
The player began begging every call, stalling, asking for the tournament director etc.
After the match I gave my report. He did not like it, but to his credit he took the advice and got better!
My advice? Here is what I told him:
“You might as well be a rodeo clown. You are a distraction to the sport. People do not come to watch you play, they watch your clown show! You are so busy being a clown, entertaining people, that you are forgetting something. You are a good player. That is what you should do. Play. Play hard and be a champion, not a rodeo clown! Then people will come to watch you play, not be a clown!”
I am happy to report this player was a winner, took the advice and ran with it and has several national titles. Sometimes we forget why we play.