"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
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

I always wore sport goggles when playing racquetball. It was bad enough to
get hit anywhere on the body, the welts could last for weeks. First rule
was always face the front wall when someone was hitting behind you. And
your right, when you get involved in racquetball it can really get the
cardiovascular system pumping.

My first owned home after marrying was located just East of your dentist in
the Harlem/Higgins vicinity.

In the late 40s ~ early 50's I went to the Y on Keeler and Central. Went
there most every Saturday during the winter months.

The Park Ridge Y I'm referring to, if I remember correctly, is/was on the NW
Highway maybe a mile or two East of Greenwood. Also I think the Park Ridge
Country Club backed up to Greenwood at NW Hwy. Caddied there for a couple
of years at about 12 ~ 13 years of age. My childhood home was very close to
Harlem and Touhy. Peddled my bike to the CC on Saturdays and Sundays.
Funny thing, at that time caddies could play for free on Mondays, but I
never took up the game till after college. Now it's a passion. I find
myself golfing more than my second passion, fishing, now a days.