Today I will focus in on 7 features that I feel the reader will enjoy; in other words, I'm going up close and personal with some of the participants

"Shuffleboard Bob" (Bob Zalatel)

Feature 1 The Store Comes To You The Mesa shufflers are the luckiest shufflers in the world! Not only do we have a shuffleboard store close by, BUT, at most of our 16 or so Tournaments the store is at the games. The idea is a brainchild of it's bother/sister proprietors - John & Judy. The store's name is M&S. Fred Summer(Arizona), a fellow shuffler, offers the goods. Here you can see Fred helping Jan Schichtel (Arizona) and Arnold Empey (Alberta)
Feature 2 Improving The Game   Here you can see Jim Freer (Washington), a fellow shuffler, showing you two great ideas at the scoreboard end. A Mesa Spirit RV Resort resident, Jim has done 2 things to improve play: One is a large writing, area used to put the scores from the foot to make viewing the scores easier (he borrowed this idea from Hemet, CA). The other item is to use brightly colored close pins to indicate the frame being played. Currently, only this park, of the 60 or so in the valley, use this idea. Hopefully, others will follow.
Feature 3 All Dressed Up - Lookin Snazzy Shuffleboard, like most sports, have players who stand out because of their dress. While we have many who measure up, I've selected the following: Pat Fuhrer Pat, a 5th year player, has a great hat displaying many of the events she has played in and has had success in. Carl Howell Carl is Captain of the Dessert Howelers - two time defending team Champions in Hemet,CA. He proudly wears his shirt along with some great hat pins from different states and Nations, along with a good many event pins
Feature 4 Val Vista Players Bud Walrath lived in Val Vista RV Resort during his playing days. We have 2 players from that park. They, too, represent it well. The are: Jack Sell (Alberta) Charles Fuller (Washington)
Feature 5 The Young and the younger People of all ages play this great game. There is evidence of that at this Tournament. Here are --such players: Left to Right Fran Kardish, Age 51 (Alberta) Karen Beddow, Age 57 (Alberta) Scott Davenport, Age 57 (Arizona) Charles Fuller, Age 85 (Washington) Eric Sandstrom, Age 87 (Illinois) Roy Hatley, Age 88 (Oregon)
Feature 6 The Greatest Name Obviously, all of our names are special, especially to us. However, some names are indeed special - we have 2 such players in our Tournament this week. They are: Mystery Yelle (New York) Mystery is an accomplished shuffler here in the valley - always with a smile on her face. George Admiral (Ontario) George is one of the top men shufflers in the valley. He won the 4th Bud Walrath National Singles here in 2004, along with many, many other titles.
Feature 7 Our New Players We all agree that the lifeblood of shuffleboard are our newer players. I've had the opportunity to meet such a player this week. His name is Harold Bax (Missouri) Harold is my kind of player - he's enthusiastic and very eager to learn. He's fortunate to be working with an accomplished player in his park named Marty Wilharm (Illinois) Harold has a bright future ahead of him.

February 13, 2008