On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:57:04 -0400, "D.Duck" wrote:

I played a lot of ping pong in the 60s at Jefferson Park on the far NW side,
Irving and Central (?).

Sounds right. My dentist was at Irving & Ausitn and there was a big
park nearby. In fact I think it went to Austin.

. We only had about half a dozen regulars, not
really enough for a tournament. We played mostly doubles. I really enjoyed
it, but caliber of play was not *quite* up to the Chinese. 8).

It was fun to watch the Chinese. They're good. We played only
singles, and there were some long volleys, usually ending when one
player hit a slow high/slow one which got slammed.

About the same time I got pretty heavily involved in racket ball at the YMCA
in Park Ridge. Again no tourney stuff but lots of fun and a terrific
workout. My BIL was State amateur champ some time in late 60s.

First racquet ball court I ever saw was in the Monroe Street Naval
Armory when I doing reserves in the mid-70's.
I played a couple times and managed to get out uninjured.
Man, that game winded me.
One sailor got hit square in the eye by the ball on a Saturday
and on Sunday had the biggest shiner I ever saw.
Ping pong is safer
There was a Y on Irving & Keeler, probably still there.
I'm through Park Ridge on the way to my dentist who's on Cumberland
and Higgins now, but never saw the Y there. I go down Greenwood and a
piece of Cumberland.
Used to get a room in the Y when I was on the move. Probably spent
a couple months total in them. Chicago, Manhattan, Portland, Oregon.
Checked that Y on Irving when I moved to the North Side to be near my
girlfriend, but they had a waiting list so I got an apartment - and
married.

--Vic