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Mark Goldstein – PFA Weekly Player Profile (6/19/17)

Mark Goldstein – Weekly Player profile (6/19/17)

Mark is a left handed player that started playing paddleball with his dad in the 80’s at castle hill beach club and at parks in the Morris park neighborhood in the Bronx. He prefers Small ball paddleball game. Currently his home park is Van Cortland. He usually play twice a week Saturday and Sunday and more if he get some free time during the week. His favorite paddleball shot is “the overhand spike that only Kareem Abdul Jabbar could return” He does not have a particular favorite player. He “watches those he admire live and on video and take pieces of their game and try to copy their style of play into his game”. Mark has a solid game and has placed in various tournaments.

When asked what he thinks about the sport his reply was “This sport is my addiction!. A day doesn’t go by where I don’t look at my schedule and see if there’s any way for me to get to the park and play”. He feels that in order to grow the sport it needs to be introduced to the youth and is the key for its revitalization without question. His view is 100% in line with the PFA’s view. His advice to the paddleball community is to “Keep doing what we’re doing. We should never let this game fade away..I Got Next”  .

CONGRATULATION Mark!!

Manny Hernandez – PFA Weekly Player Profile(6/11/17)

Manny Hernandez 
Manny is a right handed player who started playing paddleball 27 years ago at the age of 28. It all started when he saw his brother Sam play the game and soon he was on the courts smacking the little black ball against the wall. He discovered his love for the sport at the courts of Yankee stadium. When the stadium’s courts were knocked down as part of the new stadium he took his game to Van Cortlandt Park which became his home park. His favorite player is his “compadre” Anthony Rodriguez. He loves his compadre serve and has incorporate it into his game.
 
I asked him what he thinks of the sport of paddleball and his response was “ITS THE GREATEST SPORT, NO MATTER HOW TALL OR SHORT OR STRONG ANY ONE CAN PLAY”. He believes that to grow the sport “MORE EXPOSURE ITS A PRODUCT, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A PRODUCT? ADVERTISING”. His advice to his paddleball peers is ” SPORTSMANSHIP, ITS ONLY A GAME, SOME GUYS GO OVER THE LIMIT, TRASH TALKING IS GOOD ,BUT DON’T GET PERSONAL, WE ARE A PADDLEBALL FAMILIA. PLAY HARD ,STUDY THE GAME”. His last statement was  “I GOT NEXT…..”.
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CONGRATULATION Manny. You Got Next!!

Ross Strauss – PFA Weekly Player Profile(6/5/17)

ROSS STRAUSS

Ross is a right handed player that has been playing paddleball for 17 years. He is a humble and respectable player liked by the paddleball community. He developed a love for the game at an early age when his father used to take him to the park where Ross would practice by himself and sometimes hit the ball around with his Dad. He started playing paddleball at Newbridge Rd. Park/Cedar Creek Park. He sharpened his game by watching other players and then incorporating what he saw into his own game/strategy. Ross has done very well in paddleball tournaments. He has won many tournaments and finished in the top 3 in many other tournaments.

He said paddleball is a “good way of getting exercise/fresh air, meeting people, using strategy & developing new shots”. He believes that to grow the sport of paddleball we need to “Get the youth interested in playing & following the game, & somehow get more sponsors” His advice to his paddleball peers is to “Concentrate on having a good time & developing your game when playing”.

He would like to give “Thanks to all those who have done things to help keep the game alive – including A-1 & the PFA!”

CONGRATULATION Ross!