An Island in the Desert...

March 7, 2013

That's how Mark Norby described the El Paso Table Tennis Club's (TTC) location.  

Mark is correct, there is approximately 350 miles to Tucson, AZ and over 500 miles to Austin, TX with desert all around.  However, I'd add one word, "a paradise island .  (for table tennis crazies) in the middle of the desert."

I'm way ahead of myself though, to bring everyone up-to-date I've played at the following clubs on this cross country journey:  Berkeley TTC; I TTC in Albany, CA; Indian Community Center (ICC); Ping Pong Dojo; Pong Planet (aka Planet Pong); San Francisco TTC; Fremont TTC Academy; Badminton & Table Tennis Academy; Silicon Valley TTC; Sacramento TTC; Citrus Heights TTC; and Folsum TTC....all in northern California.  Thanks to Bob Palgon we visited 3 or 4 clubs a day for three days.

I was entered in a Sacramento tournament however severe flu caused withdrawal.  Since I wasn't playing in the tournament, decided to head to Henry & Jackie Blankenships in Las Vegas.  Sill under the weather, got to play at Mr. Lee's TTC in Chinatown and the Las Vegas TTC, run by Errol Resek.  Errol lived in Alaska once and this year was inducted into the USATT Hall-of-Fame.

Drove from Las Vegas to play at the Phoenix and Tucson Clubs, just enough to play a few hours and hit the road.  This trip would be easier with two people for driving, documenting, and visiting with the various club members.  Finding many clubs have their own location, not sharing with other activities.  Young players are taking serious coaching, and the internet has opened up a new world.  Years ago, if you didn't know someone who knew someone in a certain city, you'd be lost to find a club.

Arrived in El Paso early in the morning and got a chance to look around at a really beautiful city.  Average price for a four bedroom, two bath home is $125,000.  The El Paso TTC is probably the best kept secret in the entire ping-pong world.  They have 9 Butterfly tables always set up, rubber floor, great lighting, pictures of professional players on the wall (in nice frames), two showers down stairs, and a break room.  A local lawyer/ping-pong player bought the entire building because he got tired of being kicked around at the neighborhood recreation center.  The attorney hired Mark Norby to coach and promote table tennis in El Paso.  Mark says he's a coach but doesn't do well at promoting.  However, as a coach Mark is outstanding.  He's taken several 900 level players to over 1900, truly amazing.  Whenever traveling through El Paso make it a point to play there....it's a first class venue.Andy and Karl visiting another table tennis club on another adventure in 2009

Club's that do not have a permanent location struggle to keep a core number of members.  And some that have a permanent home also struggle.  In northern California families show up at the local club to encourage their children.  Older member clubs have members drop out for a few years and then come back.  Difficult to manage when there is overhead.

Doing most of my driving at night.  Clear skies, thousands of stars, and a bright moon lite night I thought it would be pleasant to hike through the desert, until I crossed Rattlesnake Creek....reality check.  Half way between Vegas and Kingman, AZ there are two road signs next to each other.  One is advertising the Skyway over the Grand Canyon and the other is offering the opportunity to shoot a .50 caliber machine gun.  Since it was 3 am I expect both were closed, however you never know about those machine gun operations.

Sending this email from the Austin TTC, approximately 20 tables in their own building, once again a local business person donated the building.  Adult training going on while 2000 level players are practicing.  The manager is allowing me to park the VW EuroVan Camper outside for the night.  Friendly people those pongers.

Best regards, Andy