We wanted to add to the article "Of Gold Medals and Gold Rings" [GeezerJock, April/May 2006]. My wife and I met through racquetball, have been married for 21 years and are still playing mixed doubles together. The article on "Racquetball Double Winners" in the same issue notes our latest gold medals. We have 27 national titles between us, including four together.
--Mike and Leslie Pawka, North Plains, Ore.
Another Masters Marriage
Marj Radin and Henry Wolstat, M.D.
I always look forward to receiving GeezerJock and the April/May issue was no exception. I was drawn to the article on Masters Marriages. Seven years ago I met my wife (Marj Radin) on a bicycle tour of Michigan. A three-year bicoastal romance ensued. I was 65 years old, semiretired and living in California and competing actively in road races. Marj was 54 years old, an avid cyclist, a neophyte runner and living in the Boston area. Four years ago I moved to Boston for our marriage. The day before our wedding we led a group of friends and relatives on a three-mile run on the Charles River. Since then we have competed in road races and triathlons and continue cycling together.
--Henry Wolstat, M.D., Brookline, Mass.
Masters and USA Track & Field
Relative to the article by Sean Callahan on "The State of Masters Sports," [GeezerJock, April/May 2006], it did not present the problem in USA Track and Field's Masters Track and Field committee (MTF). I am a member of the MTF executive committee. MTF presently has a seat on the board of directors of USA Track and Field, as does the Masters long distance running committee. The United States Olympic Committee has been pressuring the various national governing bodies for Olympic sports to reduce the size of their boards of directors. They are seeking that the USATF reduce our board of directors to nine, composed of three professional athletes, three outside parties and three representatives from USATF. This would effectively cut out the Masters from serving on the board. The professionals are important in obtaining sponsorship. The emphasis of USATF has always been concentrated on the professionals. The Masters are important to USATF as we provide officials, organizers, sponsors, officers and coaches. In effect, it is the Masters who run the organization. We are not objecting to the present arrangement. We do object to being cut out of the board. It is not our desire to leave USATF, if for no other reason than we care about the sport and feel that USATF needs us more than we need them. George Mathews, the MTF chair, has been exploring other possible affiliations for the Masters if the USOC proposal is passed.
--Robert G. Fine, Delray Beach, Fla.
A Cycling Complaint
In your last issue ["The State of Masters Sports," GeezerJock, April/May 2006], the COO of the NSGA talked about the need to create growth in senior athletics. Apparently, there is one area that is exempt from this need: cycling. The NSGA has changed its rules to allow bronze medalists in the state qualifiers in 2006 to compete in the National Games in 2007 -- but not cycling. Track and field and swimming have more than a dozen events in each age bracket both at the National Senior Games and the state qualifiers. However, cycling has two relatively short time trials and 20k and 40k road races. What is missing is an event geared to the short sprint racers such as the mile time trial.
--Eddie Taylor, Chatham, Ill.
"Disappointed"
How very disappointed I was in the article about Veteran's Cup soccer in Wilmington, N.C. ["More than 2,000 Expected," GeezerJock, April/May 2006]. There was no mention of the women's teams. As a 59-year-old playing in my sixth VC this summer, I would have hoped that the writer (a woman!) would have mentioned that last year dozens of women's teams participated, playing as many as six 90-minute games over the course of the tournament in brutal heat and humidity. To me, that's way more interesting than reading about how prepared the local pubs are.
--Carol Foss, Burke, Va.
Likes the Mag, but...
I like the magazine, but everything seems to be about the great athletes in their personal sports. Why not pay some attention to the geezer athletes who "dabble" in many sports, never really becoming great in any one of them? For example, I'm 81 and I keep fit enough to participate each year in a number of different sports events in our valley's week long North Idaho Senior Games. Each year I try a new activity. Last year it was skeet shooting. The year before that I learned to throw the discus and javelin. This year I may try cycling.
--Rob Loeffelbein, Clarkston, Wash.
"Loving It"
I just ran into my first copy of GeezerJock at my health club and am loving it. I especially enjoyed the fantasy camp article ["Happy Campers," GeezerJock, February/March 2006]. I have attended several baseball camps with ex-pros and Hall of Famers, but mostly I attend similar camps that are much more affordable. The baseball camps you mentioned run from $3,000 to $8,000. The camps I attend are for ballplayers over 30 years of age and are run virtually identically to the pro camps -- but without the pro players and cost $350 to $450. These camps are perfect for the geezers who want to play ball, not necessarily rub elbows with the ex-pros. But let me tell ya, the geezers can reminisce about war stories and lie just as good as any ex-pro.
--Alan Rogers, Warner, N.H.
Wants Shuffleboard Coverage
Thank you for sending me your excellent magazine. One thing I would like to see in it is the sport of shuffleboard. I won the gold medal in singles and doubles shuffleboard in the 55-59 age group at the 2005 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh. I am a chronic pain patient disabled since 1987. I underwent many major back and neck surgeries with rods and plates. I also had a heart attack at the age of 23. I had a morphine pump implanted about four years ago, which made my life tolerable. Though there's still pain, it's overshadowed by the love of the sport.
--Christine J. Corven, Tavares, Fla.
Where's the Softball?
I really enjoy your magazine. However, this last issue seemed to be missing something -- softball. "The State of Masters Sports" [GeezerJock, April/May 2006] had a chart on frequent sports participation. I did not see softball on the list. I will look for more info on softball in the future. I will be 80 in August and still play competitive softball. Like the 90-year-old in Florida said, "When I die I hope it's when I'm rounding second base with my cleats on."
--Charles W. "Todd" Mettler, Circle Pines, Minn.
"Good Work"
I greatly enjoyed the feature on Philippa Raschker ["A masterful athlete," GeezerJock, February/March 2006] and the story on the married athletes ["Of gold medals and gold rings," GeezerJock, April/May 2006]. Keep up the good work!
--Bob Dalton, Fayetteville, Ga. (The writer is the president of the Peachtree City Running Club)
Keep going, Mr. Sydow
How much is too much? The answer to that question for Dan Sydow ["How much is too much?" GeezerJock, April/May 2006] is his lab results are improved, he feels better, he looks better -- how much more affirmation does he need? Keep it up. I love GeezerJock. I take it to my doctor's office hoping to help motivate other people.
Cycling
