Posted Bycustardchuk on December 07, 2001 at 07:46:06:
I am sitting here with a carton looking at the office Christmas Tree. The fairy is looking a little ragged.
It is fair to say that this year has not been the best for the civilised world (probably not great for the uncivilised world if you want to look deep enough) and not the best for this sport that I hold dear.
Internal turmoil, challenges to our very strata, conflict, accusations, crime and death.
That's not why I love this sport.
What can I do to to refocus on the fundamentals, the real reason we all congregate at the computer screen and at bars, clubs and community halls around the world?
I can tell a story about the old days.
And here it is:
It is common knowledge that I held WRPSS No 1 ranking in 1978 and 1979. How that came about is not so widely known.
Late in 78 I was locked in a titanic struggle with Eddie "The Edge" MacNamara for the No 1 spot. At the last(as we thought at the time) officially sanctioned tournament of the year, and with me holding a 32 point lead, I threw a finger in round two and had to retire giving Eddie full points and the number one position.
As you do, I returned to Australia, one half of me happy with what I'd acheived and the other half of me disappointed at what I'd failed to acheive.
When you lose the big trophy you find solace in in the small stuff. I accepted an invitation to the Cooktown New Years Eve Centennial celebrations where a tournament had been been arranged to honour pioneers of that town.
Cooktown is a sleeply one pub town of a couple of thousad residents but in it's goldrush heyday had 46 hotels and 35000 people.
As part of the celebrations records from that time were on public exhibition. Imagine my surprise when I found records of an officially sanctioned WRPSS tournament in Cooktown in 1878. I was even more surprised when the local bush lawyer insisted that the Cooktown Tounament had never been de-sanctioned.
Apparently the sport had faded with the towns demise but no one had ever done the paperwork.
The tournament I was in was worth the full 50 points.
History shows that I won that tournament and became WRPSS No 1 at 10:36, 31st December, 1978.
When the season started again in late January I was still No 1. Unfortunately my injury prevented me playing in the season opener and I was dethroned by Eddie immediately.
Let me just say at this point Eddie was a true champion. He was understandably miffed when WRPSS officials confiscated his trophy on 1st January, 1979 however he took it on the chin.(Eddie was present in 1975 when I was a real chance for the spot and Phil "The Lizard" and his team of lawyers managed to secure the top spot during the final round at Ottawa by having all the potential competition arrested, Phil winning by forfeit.)
As Eddie said, "You win some, if you're lucky."
While I know that I may not have been half the player Eddie was I value the trophies just as much. I gave my best and when all seemed lost I was rewarded.
When I am introduced as " WRPSS No1 1978/1979" I feel good. The marketing department loves it and so do I.
I hope this story encourages those who are questioning to consider, not what was, but what can be.
regards
custardchuk