May - June 1999
| Vol. 10, No. 3

FROM THE EDITOR: Love or Money?
by Linda Mojer

Love or money? In preparing this issue, with its background look at tournaments, I had to think about what it is about racquetball that seems to bring out such strong feelings among its participants. Granted, my theory is that we’re all a bit less traditional than most (... I don’t wanna play tennis ... you can’t make me!), and have tendencies toward more unusual ways to spend our time. Nonetheless, it’s becoming more and more obvious that the demand for quality racquetball is on the rise.

So let’s say you do it for love. You’re a fanatic. Can’t get enough court time — ever. When you compete in a tournament, all you want is an opportunity to test your skill against your peers — preferably long enough to be in the hunt on Sunday. Food? Maybe. Clothing? Maybe. But first and foremost, it’s the play. You want the tournament director to share your passion — maybe even enough to show up as one of your opponents at some point — and you expect them to “speak the same language” over the course of the weekend, as you fidget and pace, waiting to play more ...

Or you do it for money. For the purpose of this discussion (knowing that very few athletes in our sport earn substantial cash), let’s add the standard formula: time is money. You have the best equipment and accessories. When you compete in a tournament, all you want is a return on your investments, value for your tournament dollar, and to make good use of your weekend. You want your tournament director to share your concerns — maybe even enough to give it full-time effort at some point — and you expect them to provide you with the highest quality experience, as you fidget and pace, waiting for ... lunch.

Yes, these are the extremes, and most players will say that they want both a great time and a good value. But the majority of tournament directors happen to fall squarely into the “love” category. Just like so many of us, they have real lives with full-time jobs that demand their attention, but — because they want to make sure that tournament opportunities continue to exist, for themselves as well as others — they take on this added responsibility, for little or no personal gain.

Is racquetball ready for a new breed of promoters who will develop and run events that actually turn a profit and, in the process, offer exceptional customer service to get your return business? If so, it’s doubtful that those same promoters will be able to claim the type of personal experience in the sport that keeps it ... well, personal. So, will it be love or money? Are you ready for change?