Welcome to the new International Racquetball Tour! This year’s tour will feature increased prize money, stops in new cities, expanded international competition, more satellite events and a renewed spirit. You’ll also find a stronger relationship between the IRT and its “colleague” associations, the USRA, LPRA, IRF and AmPRO.

Earlier in the summer Hank Marcus stepped down as the commissioner and offered me the opportunity – with the support of the players — of becoming the next IRT commissioner. I look forward to the challenges that the job has to offer, and to continuing to build on the foundation that Hank has worked so hard to establish.

I know many of you from playing at the national level myself and I hope I can count on you all for added support in bringing the IRT to cities that we haven’t yet been to. Also, we hope to expand our fan base at ongoing events that have been running for years. Check out our new website, www.irt-tour.com for all the latest IRT information.

I encourage your input, so please feel free to email me anytime at negretz@mindspring.com, or by phone to: 630-893-9577. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

The “new” IRT will be managed by a board of directors consisting of former Commissioner Hank Marcus, newly-hired Commissioner/Board Chairman Dave Negrete, three players, and two outside directors. For the 2001-2002 season, the player/board members will be the top two tour finishers from the preceding year (Sudsy Monchik, Cliff Swain), plus an active tour representative selected by the players (Derek Robinson). The board’s “at large” members will be Leo Klimaitis and Eric Muller.

When asked about his role in the changeover, Marcus recalled “When IRT first got involved in professional racquetball [in 1990], the tour had been cancelled and the Commissioner had just resigned. The pro game was at crossroads. It was important that an entrepreneurial spirit be preserved in order to rebuild the tour and make it a viable marketing venue for both racquetball manufacturers and outside the industry sponsors. Having accomplished this, it is IRT’s — and the players belief — that it would be in the best interest of professional racquetball and the IRT’s continued success that the IRT be converted to a more sustainable entity, not as reliant on a few key individuals.”

The new structure will provide the professional players with more input in the management of the tour. Currently ranked No.7 on the tour, Derek Robinson represented the players in working with the IRT to create the new structure, and added “This is great opportunity for the players to add value to the pro tour and the sport in general. We are all deeply appreciative of Hank’s effort and look forward to working with him [as a board member] to take the pro game to the next level.”