September 2005 - 6

Viewpoint
By Brent Manley

The best way to succeed is to discover what
you love and then find a way to offer it to others
in the form of service.
- Oprah Winfrey

They're good
As I write this in mid-July, I'm preparing to head for Atlanta to work at
the Summer NABC. I enjoy the big tournaments for many reasons, not the
least of which is interacting with my tournament director friends.
The ACBL is blessed with many exceedingly good TDs, and most of them
show up at the NABCs. We offer only the best at our big show. In a nod to
baseball's annual All-Star Game, here's my for-fun lineup of star TDs along
with some scouting reports (apologies to SI).
Starting pitcher - Harry Falk, Palm City FL. Smooth delivery, aboveaverage fastball. Comes through in the clutch.
Catcher - Patty Johnson, Sebring FL. Forceful, always in charge.
First base - Guillermo Poplawsky, Cuernavaca, Mexico. Multi-lingual
with an easy-going manner. Global experience.
Second base - Tom Marsh, San Antonio TX. Great range, terrific team
player.
Shortstop - Matt Smith, Victoria BC. Vast, varied experience gives him
an edge. Doesn't muff the easy ones.
Third base - Olin Hubert, Atlanta GA. Tough competitor. Wry sense of
humor keeps clubhouse loose.
Left field - Gary Zeiger, Phoenix AZ. Plays shallow with great speed.
Catches everything.
Center field - Dianne Barton-Paine, San Francisco CA. Diminutive
size belies toughness. One-time teen all-star.
Right field - Chris Patrias, St. Charles MO. Great concentration, deep
knowledge of the rules.
Middle relievers - Brian Russell, Burnaby BC; Martin Ware, Vernon
BC. Tireless workers. Always where they should be.
Closer - Mike Flader, Eagan MN. Rock solid, student of the game,
handles pressure well.
Manager - Susan Patricelli, Bloomfield CT. No-nonsense approach
keeps team focused. Flawless tactician.
Hitting coaches - Jackie Matthews, Roseville CA; Judy Cotterman,
Kokomo IN. Both great with new players. Mother hen types.
Third base coach - Su Doe, Irving TX. Calm under pressure. Willing to
take risks.
First base coach - Steve Bates, Edmonton AB. Encyclopedic knowledge
of every opponent.
I wish I had room for more. Suffice it to say I'm a fan of all our TDs.
You should be, too.

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Letters to
the Editor
Proud rookie
To the Editor:
The Tennessee Bridge Association
(Unit 144) invited winners in all the
masterpoint categories to our annual
awards party. Betty Wheeler, who
lives in Union City, 112 miles from
Memphis, could not attend, but she
sent a note to our unit secretary,
who read it at the party. There was
a rousing ovation when the last sentence was read.
"I feel very honored," Betty wrote,
"and had so hoped to be there. . .
I do love this game. There aren't
many things in which you can make
Rookie of the Year at 71."
JANICE VAN DYKE
Memphis TN

Only once
To the Editor:
With reference to the truly bad
hand described in the June issue
(page 6), I was reminded of the
antithesis of that hand, which I held
in a game at the West Orange NJ
Duplicate Bridge Club many moons
ago. This was the monster:
A K Q A K Q A K Q J 10 A K
Several weeks later, my wife and
I encountered Norman Kay at a
tournament in Atlantic City. I told
him about the hand and asked about
the odds of being dealt a hand that
strong. He said, "Infinite."
DR. ALVIN HOLLENBERG
Waterford MI
Bridge Bulletin

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2005