A Racquetball Story by Shane De Witt

[@tercelfan]

I met Sudsy and Kane this past weekend in Billings, Montana. Sudsy was coaching, live streaming, playing, visiting and promoting the sport to anyone who would listen. He seemed to know almost everyone at the event. He is a true ambassador for the sport.

[@whowonthatballgame4298]

Been following the GOAT Kane return since the injury. Believe he won the last 2 tournaments . Prize money posted for 1st place if correct was 1000 dollars. Mike Trout for 1 at bat is 66 thousand dollars.

[@Farsider3955]

🤔…..nice vid. Good to learn a little more about you 👍 - thanks! You have had an impressive career, no doubt! Here is the MAJOR OBSTACLE to Racquetball achieving the recognition & status level of sports like Tennis and Golf for example, at the Professional level : Try as they certainly did back in the ‘70’s (when it seemed like there was a racquetball club on every other corner in every city - and Marty Hogan & Charlie Brumfield ruled the courts)….the TV networks (basically, NBC, CBS & ABC) tried to cover the sport by televising tournaments (at least the tournament Finals). But it just didn’t catch on - and didn’t achieve the viewer ratings the Networks needed. The main problem? Racquetball is a GREAT sport, but it is so fast and the ball is hard to see on TV, plus because of the court size and its configuration, TV camera angles were also a huge challenge. Unlike professional tennis, for example, people who watch televised racquetball events mostly just saw the game from behind the court - so all that the viewers saw most of the time was the players’ backs. Very different from the tennis game where TV viewers could see the players….up close….facial expressions….body language after volleys…..Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Chrissy Everett, Martina Navratilova, etc. became international personalities back in the ‘70’s. Viewers really got into their favorite players and the rivalries were amazing. Also, when you watch Pro Tennis you can see the ball (it’s fast, but not like racquetball), you can watch the players’ strategies….you can even anticipate where the players are going to try and place their shots. But the amazingly fun sport of racquetball is so fast - ESPECIALLY at the pro level, that TV viewers have a very difficult time seeing the ball….and volleys go by so fast (often just serve & return, or serve and maybe a couple of shots back & forth….taking just seconds - well, honestly, it is not a great sport to watch on TV. Consequently, the players never got the worldwide fame that Pro Tennis and PRO Golf players achieved. So when the Television Networks stopped Racquetball tournament coverage, the potential for international fame and for “BIG” money dried up. Over the years (in the U.S.) racquetball has declined in recognition and popularity because it is not a television viewer-friendly sport. It IS a great sport to play….and one of the best sports for people to develop and maintain balance, agility, eye-hand coordination, and endurance. In my opinion, there is no better sport for overall fitness.

[@arzdbacksfann38]

imo the ball is too hard to see on tv like hockey, and the cameras weren't as good back then to capture the tenacity of what was actually happening. Now that gym's are expensive and racquetball courts are now studios or removed for more machine space building more courts won't happen. Think people per square foot metrics and racquetball is toast. Also racquetball can't be performed on a basketball court like volleyball, pickleball, badminton. The walls are the key and limit its accessibility.

[@racmiroechalar9848]

Es lo máximo, a seguir el ejemplo.

[@wolfmanracquetball]

Good Video guys! Promote, Promote, Promote the best sport (Racquetball)!

[@beliefsbelievers3681]

Been around since 1973 So. Cal started three wall outside. Wilson wooden racquet (ya baby) then the evolution began with metal composite titanium 220 grams boom! Spaulding, Wilson etc with white gut synthetic strings. Back then you bent your racquet back and forth with cracks in the frame no worries. As the game caught fire the gymnasium clubhouse was modeled for weight lifting not racquetball. But soon enough someone designed the indoor court. Which in my opinion took away from the outdoor play. At first my core racquetball buddies were skeptical about this because now you’re paying for club membership instead of playing for the hell of it. Okay, I get it corporate took a business model and wanted to make serious sales from sneaker brands to head bans etc. Why not just leave we’ll enough alone? We enjoyed scraping our sides necks elbows making scabs especially with sand mixed in with a few pebbles. C’on! Boom box blaring music whatever. Great times we’re had fights broke out over shorts gets skips. Those days are............ great for the game. Open arguments amazing points taken and no one ever got hurt mostly 😅. Now city parks and recreation are closed or almost non-existing. Public funding is gone to other more important things 😢. Just saying the obvious folks. Make the sport of racquetball great again for your community firsthand. Is racquetball being offered in the schools anymore? We used to have two sets of wooden outdoor courts in school. Just saying maybe there’s a good resource for the kids that taxpayers would be willing to help with. Can’t imagine if everyone in each individual state would start a initiative that would have a positive impact on the people. Hell handball courts are disappearing for Pete’s sakes. Just saying maybe there is a opportunity for action. Someone took the time to teach my sorry ass how to play. Is anybody out there if not if you could here me is there anyone home? Ebay is a great resource for vintage racquetball racquets and accessories. Who loves the game like I do?