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One-Wall
News Archives
Old Black & White
photos
Posted Monday, July 1, 2002 by 1-wall
You've got to check out this
album of old black and white photos. Many
of them were supplied by Mark Levine.
Hold your mouse over the photo to see if you
were able to identify the people correctly.
Requiem for a
handball player
Posted Tuesday, June 25, 2002 by 1-wall
by Pedro Antonio Garcia
I knew that his name was Mike, and he told me
his last name once, but I can’t remember it
now. I do remember that I spoke with him last
week on the bench at Bailey Park, and that the
day was a beautiful one, with a clean sky and
a bright sun that warmed our foreheads and
made us happy. He told me he lived alone, in
Riverdale, not far from the Courts. His wife
passed away earlier this year, after a long
stay in a nursing home. He told me he was 83,
and that he drank martini lunches when he
worked as an executive in the garment district
years ago. Now, he mixed himself a drink at
home after a day at the Courts. He would
usually have dinner with friends, arriving
home afterwards to sleep and wake the next
morning for the daily trek to Bailey Park.
Before this day, I had never had an extensive,
exploratory conversation with him, the kind
you would have with an old friend while
sharing a beer. But, we sat for an hour,
joking, talking and listening. There were
liver spots on him, and he had expensive and
archaic dental work, gold fillings and slanted
bridges. He spoke with a deep, resonant and
garrulous voice, and his laugh was hearty and
gentle. I told him I had two Monte Cristo
Cigars I would share with him. We smiled, and
we were happy.
He always brought a blue folding chair with
him, the same kind the other older players
brought with them, which he would place under
a large and resilient oak tree, a tree
impervious to the vitriolic demands of the
players to perish as a result of the mottled
shadow it cast on the "A" court.
From his vantage point, he bantered with the
older players who sat with him. He engaged in
brief conversations with the younger ones who
waited listlessly on the bench for their turn
to play. He would salute Armando with
"How are you, Champ", never
forgetting to remind Armando that he won the
"C" championship. Armando would jibe
playfully, "Mike, you’re always calling
me Champ."
And Mike would respond that Armando was the
Champ. And this made Armando happy, for no
reason other than that a handball player
cared. Sometimes Mike fell asleep on his
chair, and he would awaken to a vision of
handball players and the smack of a ball on a
leather glove, the bang of the ball on the
concrete wall, and he was always safe, secure,
and at peace, comfortable in his place,
surrounded by handball friends, basking in a
clean day and a golden sun.
He passed away one week later, on an
identically brilliant and beautiful day. A
ball had rolled to his chair, one which he
would normally kick back to the players, as
his arthritis prevented him from sudden
bending and making quick and instinctive
movements, the same ones which he needed for
handball. When Aaron noticed him asleep, he
spoke to him, then shook him. I glanced over
from my seat on the bench, and initially he
appeared to be asleep. Serenity settled in his
face, the sun radiating on his cheeks, his
skin slightly reddening. Aaron began shaking
him, and Mike responded by slumping over. We
picked him up off his chair and laid him on
the ground under the shadow of the large oak.
Abe the Fireman began mouth to mouth
resuscitation, while I cradled my cellular
phone between my right cheek and shoulder,
shouting directions to a 911 operator and
obeying the instructions of Abe the Fireman by
pressing down hard on Mike’s chest cavity.
There were exhortations of "Mike!",
"C’mon Mike!", "Wake up
Mike!" I pressed down harder and cracked
his sternum, above where he had major heart
surgery months ago, the scar clearly visible
from his navel to his neck. A slight smile
crept on his face. As Abe the Fireman blew air
into him, Mike’s stomach distended. His lips
fluttered with departing air each time I
pushed his chest. Immediately afterwards, EMS
arrived. His short sleeved dress shirt was cut
with scissors right down the middle.
Electrodes were pasted in squares to both
sides of his chest. A technician inserted a
catheter down his mouth attached to a plastic
cloudy ball which he squeezed to give direct
oxygen to the lung. When there was no
response, Mike was shocked upon the
technician’s order, once, twice, three
times, all to no avail. When nothing more
could be done, Mike was quickly removed to the
Columbia hospital annex.
I didn’t attend the funeral, and I still do
not know why. I know that the coffin was
large, for Mike was a large man. He stood
six-two now, so he must have been strapping
and powerful when he was younger. But there
are those sketchy details of his personal life
that I am only now glimpsing. I had never seen
Mike play handball. There was talk that he
played when he was younger, but none of the
handball players ever saw him play, not even
the old timers. Pete the Cop told me Mike
first came eight years ago. I, like others,
assumed he was here for as long as Bailey Park
existed. I have been coming to Bailey for 28
years, and I believed I had always seen him,
that Mike was here all that time. But no one
ever saw him on the court, playing the game.
We did see him though, day after day, on ice
cold days where you had to dress in parkas and
shovel snow off the court, on days where the
rain blurred your vision and slapped against
the concrete as hard as the handball, and also
on the sunny days that made you believe in the
beauty and magic of life.
Mike was always there, omnipresent, watching
the games, enjoying the camaraderie, drinking
in the passion for handball. He was as much a
part of Bailey Park as the courts, the large
oak, and the fresh scent of the Stella Dora
Bakery that wafted across the Deegan and
settled onto the Park. In my own selfishness,
I wish that he were still here, so that I
would not have to bear his loss. I look at the
two cigars in my drawer and I feel empty and
sad. Oh what a fool I must be to miss an old
man who never stepped on the court. But it is
now I feel the hypocrisy of my attempts to
resuscitate him. I think of how serene his
face appeared while we frantically tried to
revive him, the slight smile, and I know now
that our actions were antithetical to his
wishes. I know now that I am ashamed that I
stopped pushing on his chest, that I doubted
that Mike wanted me to do this, but I believed
that Mike was where he wanted to be, sitting
in his chair, on the handball courts,
surrounded by his constant companions,
enjoying a glorious day with what truly made
him happy. And above all else, I know now, as
much as any one of us, that Mike was a
handball player.
July 31st - August
3rd 2003 USHA 1-Wall Nationals info page
Posted Saturday, June 8, 2002 by 1-wall
Visit the USHA One-Wall Nationals information
page.
Handball Chat Room
Posted Saturday, April 20, 2002 by 1-wall
Jimmy
has added a Handball Chat Room to his website.
Spread the word, he think players will enjoy
it. They can all talk live with each other.
(50 people can be in the room at one time).
http://www.handballcity.com/chat.htm
One-Wall Video Tapes
Posted Tuesday, July 10, 2001 by Albert
Apuzzi Jr.
Copies of the video tapes listed are
available for purchase. Duplicates of the
tapes marked "original" will come
out clearer than those marked
"copy". Contact Albert
for more information. All proceeds will go
towards promoting one-wall handball.
USHA 1-Wall "Indoor" Nationals
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1983 MD finals (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Mike Dikman/Graham Palmore vs. Artie Reyer/Joel
Wisotsky
1983 MS finals (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Mike Dikman vs. Al Torres
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1983 OS semis (AHC) Brooklyn copy VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Al Torres
1983 OS semis (AHC) Brooklyn copy VHS
Joe Durso vs. Ed Golden
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1983 OS finals (AHC) Brooklyn copy VHS
Joe Durso vs. Al Torres
1985 OS finals (AHC) Brooklyn copy VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Joe Durso
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1984 OD finals (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Mike Demetriou/Mike Dikman vs. Ed Golden/Eric
Vidal
1984 BD finals (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Ben Brettner/James Torres vs. Stan McInnis/Bob
Saraceno
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1985 OS semis (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Dan Maroney
1985 OS semis (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Joe Durso vs. Fred Feit
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1985 OD finals (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Albert Apuzzi/Joe Durso vs. Mike Demetriou/Mike
Dikman
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1985 MS finals (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Graham Palmore vs. Charlie Sheldon
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1985 BS finals (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Wes Cancel vs. Ben Brettner
(on same tape as the 1985 big blue OS semis
& BS finals)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1986 OS semis (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Joe Durso vs. Ed Golden
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1986 OS semis (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Al Torres
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1986 OS finals (AHC) Brooklyn copy VHS
Joe Durso vs. Al Torres
1986 OS semis (AHC) Brooklyn copy VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Al Torres
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1986 OS third place (AHC) Brooklyn original
VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Ed Golden
1986 OS finals (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Joe Durso vs. Al Torres
1986 OD finals (AHC) Brooklyn original VHS
Mike Demetriou/Mike Dikman vs. Paul Lonergan/Al
Torres
USHA 1-Wall "Outdoor" Nationals
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1982 OS semis Brooklyn original VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Joe Durso
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1983 OS finals Bronx original VHS
Joe Durso vs Al Torres
1983 OS third place Bronx original VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Ed Golden
1985 OS semis Bronx original VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Al Torres
1985 OS finals Bronx original VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Ed Golden
1985 Pinkball singles semis Bronx original VHS
Angel Cintron vs. Reggie Langston
1985 Pinkball singles semis Bronx original VHS
Angel Marquez vs. Dave Melendez
1985 Pinkball singles finals Bronx original
VHS
Reggie Langston vs. Angel Marquez
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1986 OS finals Brooklyn original VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs Ed Golden
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1986 OD finals Brooklyn original VHS
Albert Apuzzi/Joe Durso vs. Ed Golden/Eric
Vidal
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1987 OS finals Brooklyn copy VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Joe Durso
1987 OD semis Brooklyn original VHS
Ed Golden/Eric Vidal vs. Eric Klarman/Al
Torres
1987 OD finals Brooklyn original VHS
Albert Apuzzi/Joe Durso vs. Eric Klarman/Al
Torres
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1990 OS finals Brooklyn original VHS
Joe Durso vs. Eric Klarman
1990 OD finals Brooklyn original VHS
Eric Klarman/Dan Maroney vs. Paul Lonergan/Al
Torres
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1991 OS finals Brooklyn copy VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Joe Durso By Matt Paris
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1991 OS finals Brooklyn copy VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Joe Durso By
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1991 Women's OS finals Brooklyn copy VHS
Rosemary Bellini vs. Dori Ten
1992 OS semis Brooklyn copy VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. John Bike
1992 OS finals Brooklyn copy VHS
John Bike vs. Joe Durso
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1993 OD finals Brooklyn original SVHS
Albert Apuzzi/Ed Golden vs. Robert Sostre/Al
Torres
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1994 OS finals Brooklyn copy VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Joe Durso By Matt Parish
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1994 OS finals Brooklyn copy VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Joe Durso By
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1995 OS quarters Brooklyn copy VHS
Joe Durso vs. Dan Maroney By Matt Paris
OS quarters Brooklyn copy VHS
Ed Maisonet vs. John Bike Jr. By Matt Paris
OS quarters Brooklyn copy VHS
Ed Golden vs. Robert Sostre By Matt Paris
Interviews Brooklyn copy VHS
Vic Hershkowitz & Ruby Obert By Matt Paris
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1995 OS semis Brooklyn copy VHS
Joe Durso vs. Robert Sostre By Matt Paris
Interview Brooklyn copy VHS
Carl Obert By Matt Paris
OS finals Brooklyn copy VHS
Ed Maisonet vs. Robert Sostre By Matt Paris
Interview Brooklyn copy VHS
Ed Maisonet By Matt Paris
Interview Brooklyn copy VHS
John Bike Jr. By Matt Paris
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1995 OD semis Brooklyn copy VHS
Maisonet/Williams vs. Kadish/Sylvia By Matt
Paris
OD semis Brooklyn copy VHS
Bike/Ginty vs. Sostre/Torres By Matt Paris
OD finals Brooklyn copy VHS
Maisonet/Williams vs. Bike/Ginty By Matt Paris
Interview Brooklyn copy VHS
Robert Sostre By Matt Paris
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Assorted 1-Wall Events
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1991 Pro Doubles quarters (AHC) Brooklyn
original VHS
Ben Brettner/Louie Brettner vs. Howie Kadish/Fred
Sylvia
1991 Pro Doubles semis (AHC) Brooklyn original
VHS
Buddy Gantt/Paul Williams vs. David
Sheldon/Robert Sostre
1991 Pro Doubles semis (AHC) Brooklyn original
VHS
Howie Kadish/Fred Sylvia vs. Paul Lonergan/Al
Torres
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1992 Pro Doubles quarters Brooklyn original
VHS
Buddy Gantt/Al Torres vs. David Sheldon/Robert
Sostre
honoring Paul Williams
1992 Pro Doubles semis Brooklyn original VHS
Joe Durso/Howie Kadish vs Joe Lonergan/Paul
Lonergan
honoring Paul Williams
1992 Pro Doubles semis Brooklyn original VHS
Albert Apuzzi/Ed Golden vs. Buddy Gantt/Al
Torres
honoring Paul Williams
1992 Pro Doubles finals (AHC) Brooklyn
original SVHS
Albert Apuzzi/Ed Golden vs. Joe Durso/Howie
Kadish
honoring Paul Williams
1992 Pro Doubles finals (AHC) Brooklyn
original SVHS
Albert Apuzzi/Ed Golden vs. Joe Durso/Buddy
Gantt
honoring Morris Levitsky
1992 Pro Doubles semis (AHC) Brooklyn original
VHS
Albert Apuzzi/Ed Golden vs Paul Lonergan/Al
Torres
honoring Morris Levitsky
1992 Pro Doubles finals (AHC) Brooklyn copy
VHS
Albert Apuzzi/Ed Golden vs. Joe Durso/Buddy
Gantt
honoring Morris Levitsky
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1-Wall Big Blue Handball
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1985 Big Blue OS semis (AHC) Brooklyn original
VHS
Albert Apuzzi vs. Ed Golden
1985 Big Blue BS finals (AHC) Brooklyn
original VHS
Ben Brettner vs. Morris Franco
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1985 Big Blue OS finals (AHC) Brooklyn copy
VHS
Joe Durso vs. Ed Golden
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1985 Big Blue OD semis (AHC) Brooklyn original
VHS
Albert Apuzzi/Joe Durso vs. Ben Brettner/Louie
Brettner
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1985 Big Blue OD finals (AHC) Brooklyn
original VHS
Albert Apuzzi/Joe Durso vs. Ed Golden/Paul
Previti
1985 Big Blue OD finals (W5th) Brooklyn VHS
Ben Brettner/Louie Brettner vs. Ed Frangione/Richie
Spataro
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1986 Big Blue BS semis Brooklyn copy VHS
Louie Brettner vs. Nelson Alvarez
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1987 Big Blue OD Challenge (AHC) Brooklyn
original VHS
Ben Brettner/Louie Brettner vs. Ed Frangione/Richie
Spataro
1987 Big Blue OD Challenge (AHC) Brooklyn
original VHS
Louie Brettner/Joe Durso vs. Ed Frangione/Richie
Spataro
1988 Big Blue Singles (AHC) Brooklyn original
VHS
Ed Frangione vs. Steve Sandler
1988 Big Blue OS semis (AHC) Brooklyn original
VHS
Joe Durso vs. Paul Previti
1988 Big Blue OS finals (AHC) Brooklyn
original VHS
Joe Durso vs. Richie Spataro
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