Winning the Cowles, Jacobs, Barnaby in NY

2013

All:

After my second round of chemo, it took a long and slow while for my depleted body to build up the white blood cell counts for my immune system to ward off whatever it was that kept my temperature hovering at 100 degrees. The counts have improved, allowing me to escape the ICU and rest back in the comfort and solitude of my room.  My body temperature's returned to normal and as of today it seems that the bastard blasts of leukemia haven't returned. Keeping my fingers crossed that they won't.

John

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As I previously posted on my blog, I shall always see myself as a teacher and all that it implies.  Every player who has ever taken a squash lesson from me was the recipient of my squash experiences in toto, distilled down to the vital essentials gained after years of trial and error competing in the court.

With that said, I want to share a letter that Jack Barnaby wrote to me after I won the eponymous annual event at the Harvard Club of NY in 1992.

As do I, Jack saw himself as a teacher.  The reward of being a teacher is hearing this simple phrase from his student, "Thank you".

P.S. (May 2020)

With the leisurely passage of time and looking back on one of my glorious squash adventures, I have come to realize that until I read Jack's letter, I was a fragmented player at best.  Upon further reflection, reading his letter became a seminal episode that pushed me, at long last, to stop roaming and begin traveling on a focused path to establish myself as a truly competitive player.

Such was the power of his prescient words that over time, I have fully and truly come to appreciate.  I became much more resolute. 

John

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Dear John,

Thanks for the kind note.

It is amazing how few people can learn other than by example.  You obviously have filled out your game thoroughly. One other fellow did this. He won the Mass State Title and I refereed the final and afterwards complimented him on his variety of serve. "You better say that. They're right out of your book."

In my writing, I have put it all there, exactly how Harvard  has managed to do better than anyone else. Do other coaches do it?  Not for a minute. Again this year, Harvard Men's and Women's Teams were tops and again it was because of being more well-rounded.  Other coaches seem to get stuck on the "basics" and never get past them.

So I really get a kick out of seeing someone from afar really pick it up, practice it, and DO it. That guy Linden is good. You can be truly proud of winning in '92.

Very best,

Jack

Jack Barnaby passed in 2002. Here's a remembrance that was published in Harvard Magazine.

Related Posts:

Thanks, Jack

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