LIVE Show Announcement

Racquetball Junkie will be streaming a live show from the Maverick Athletic Club in Arlington, TX during the NMRA National Doubles Racquetball Championships. The National Masters Racquetball Association (NMRA) is a not for profit 501 (c)(3) organization of men and women racquetball players who are age 45 to 90 years young. This event features top players such as Ruben Gonzalez, and Tom Travers. Come join us as we will provide live commentary as well as interview players during the event. The live schedule is below.


Thursday-Dec. 1
Show starts 12pm CT/1pm ET
Friday-Dec. 2
Show starts 12pm CT/1pm ET

Streaming video by Ustream To watch and listen to the live show for FREE, click the play button on the live player once available.
Or you can visit our Ustream Channel and sign-up for a free Ustream account as well. Our channel is: www.ustream.tv/channel/racquetballjunkie
There is also a chat mode that you can participate in as a member of Ustream.

You can also watch for FREE on your iPhone or Android phone with the FREE Ustream app. Download the app from the app store for your smartphone.

Interview with Richard Eisemann

Interview with Richard Eisemann at the recent WPRO Ektelon Texas Open in Dallas, TX. I had a chance to visit with Richard after the tournament and get his thoughts on the event and his behind the scenes involvement with the sport.

Getting Ready For The US OPEN

Just wanted to let everyone know that due to my involvement with the US OPEN Racquetball Championships, I will not be able to host a LIVE show tonight, Sunday-Sept. 25 on www.racquetballjunkie.com. I do appreciate all the watchers and listeners and hope you can make it a week without all the live interviews and fun, and I can give my co-host Eddie Vann and Sunday off.

I have been doing my fair share of work behind the scenes that goes beyond my Media Coordinator position and involvement with this year's US OPEN. I am working with someone in Minneapolis to bring inner city youth kids to the US OPEN and provide them an unforgettable experience at the event. We are coordinating some projects and activities to make sure this happens. Nearly 100% of my time has been devoted to start this program since we did not make the connection until after the US OPEN started last year. I will be having two conference calls tonight about the program and can't make the show happen tonight.

I am excited that I will be doing something that goes beyond racquetball and could possibly change the lives of kids that are not so fortunate. I saw my good friend Kane Waselenchuk do this last year at the US OPEN as he befriended a young man that seemed like he was down on his luck and also needed a role model or a father figure. This young man had wondered into the Life Time Fitness looking for a job, didn't have much money and was wanting to see what was happening inside the club. Kane just happened to be standing there and started talking to him and asked him if he played racquetball. That led to Kane asking him if he wanted to watch one of his matches and extended an invitation. He accepted and rode the bus to the Life Time Fitness-Target Center for all of Kane's matches including the finals. The picture above was taken after the finals on Sunday and you can see Devin there on the right side kneeling.

I will keep you all posted on this program and hope you all enjoy a good Sunday of football.

See you at the US OPEN!

IRT 2011-2012 Begins

Winning a Tier 1 IRT event on the Men’s IRT tour seems to have eluded most of the players currently playing professional racquetball; in fact, Rocky Carson and Alvaro Beltran are the only full-time players currently on tour that have won a Tier 1 event since “King Kane” took over. This weekend, Kane Waselenchuk will take his streak of 113 matches won on the court (i.e., not counting forfeits) to Overland Park, KS for the 12th Annual Ghost of Georgetown Championships presented by NovaSors.
This event kicks-off the 2011-2012 season for the IRT and promises some exciting match-ups in the early rounds. 


To watch online visit: www.irtnetwork.com


To view the draws visit: www.irt-tour.com

Interview with Cristina Amaya

Watch Our Recorded Show from Sunday-Sept. 4

You can view one of the recorded show's here below. Just click the play button on the video player. Or you can visit our Ustream Channel and sign-up for a free Ustream account as well. Our channel is: www.ustream.tv/channel/racquetballjunkie


Live video from your Android device on Ustream

Live Show NEXT Sunday, September 4, 2011

Just wanted to let everyone know that there will be no live show tonight on Sunday, August 28th. We will have our next live show on Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 8pm CT. Hope you can tune in then.

Ben Croft Takes Position With Racquetball Warehouse

Racquetball Junkie is reporting that Racquetball Warehouse, official retailer of USA Racquetball and the International Racquetball Tour, has announced the hiring of top-ranked professional player, Ben Croft. Croft will join the team as Business Manager with additional responsibilities as a buyer and content provider. During his transition from the court to the office, Croft will continue to play on the pro tour, attending most major events and tournaments. Croft finished # 3 on the IRT tour at the end of the 2010-2011 season and he has been on the pro tour full time since the 2006-2007 season. A native of Illinois, the right handed Croft currently resides in Denver, CO with his fiance.

Interview with WPRO's Paola Longoria

A sneak peak at the interview with Paola Longoria, World Champion and US OPEN Champion. The complete interview will be available soon.

Interview with Doug Ganim

Watch a highlight of the interview this past Sunday-August 14, 2011 with special guest Doug Ganim, US OPEN Event Director. Listen as Doug Ganim talks about the upcoming US OPEN in Minneapolis, MN.

For more information about the US OPEN visit their official website at: http://www.usopenracquetball.com/

Mexican Selection Tournament

Mexico is currently hosting a selection tournament to pick their Mexican National Team to compete in the upcoming 2011 Pan American Games. All of the top male and female players in Mexico are competing for top spots on the team including Alvaro Beltran, Gilberto Meija, Polo Gutierrez, Javier Moreno and Alejandro Landa. The women's competitors include Paola Longoria, Samantha Salas, Susy Acosta, Jessica Parilla and Rosy Torres. For more information and final results visit the Mexican Racquetball Federation official page.

Pratt and Carson Host Racquetball Shootout

Thursday, August 4 · 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Charlie Pratt and Tony Carson, two of the supestars of the IRT will be hosting a one-day shootout where amateur players get a chance to play the Pro's in both singles and doubles. Come watch compete, eat, drink, and hangout with the Pro's. For more information click the link to their Facebook events page.

• Entry: $40 for first event, $20 for second
• Singles Draw: Limited to 8 Amateur Players
• Doubles Pool Play: Limited to 12 players

Sunset Athletic Club
13939 Northwest Cornell Road
Portland, OR

Thanks to Our Fans

Streaming Live by Ustream

Thank you to all our racquetball friends and fans that watched and listened to the live show on Sunday night. Also, a very special thanks to our call-in guest, Otto Dietrich for taking the time to answer all the text questions from our listeners.

Join our Ustream Channel group channel by going here: www.ustream.tv/channel/racquetballjunkie

LIVE Show This Sunday-July 31 @8pm CDT

Mitch Williams Weds Jesi Fuller

Congratulations to former IRT pro player Mitch Williams who recently exchanged wedding vows with Jesi Fuller, a six-year member of the Junior Olympic Team, on the beautiful island of Hawaii near Maui on Wednesday. Hard-hitting Mitch Williams retired from professional racquetball and is now in the medical sales industry with a Johnson & Johnson company, Depuy Mitek, which specializes in knee and hip joint replacements.Jesi is pursuing a position in the medical industry as a dental hygienist. The couple will reside in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Paola Longoria Suspended For First WPRO Pro Event

Racquetballjunkie.com is reporting that WPRO Paola Longoria has been suspended for the first WPRO pro event of the 2011-2012 season due to some disciplinary action she faced from an event during the 2010-2011 season. Longoria will miss the Ektelon WPRO Texas Open in Dallas, TX which will be August 26-28, 2011. Is this really healthy or fair to the players and sponsors of the WPRO event in Texas?
There is much talk about the actions that were taken against Longoria who was disciplined for her actions that took place at the Stockton pro event last April.

Team USA Competing in Junior World Championships

The USA Junior National Racquetball Team is competing in the IRF XXIV World Junior Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic this week. Play started Monday with round robin or pool play format for all countries in singles and doubles for World Cup and Esprit Cup divisions. Junior Team USA completed the first day of competition in World Cup play with an impressive overall record of 10-2 in singles and 5-0 in doubles. The Esprit Cup players also finished the day with a 2-2 record in singles and went 2-1 in doubles.

For more information about the event including live video streaming of selected matches, visit the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) website at: www.internationalracquetball.com

Brady Yelverton Future Racquetball Superstar

This is 13 year-old Brady Yelverton from Garland, TX playing in the Men's C at the 2011 Texas A&M Aggieland Shootout. Brady just recently returned from playing in the USA Racquetball Junior Olympics in Portland, OR where he won a gold medal in the Boy's 12 and Under Blue division. Brady's dad, Joey is also an avid tournament player as he travels around playing and taking his son to all the local, state and national tournaments. Racquetballjunkie.com congratulates Brady on his recent success and loves the future superstars of racquetball.

Shane Vanderson Signs Two-Year Contract With Head/Penn

Racquetballjunkie.com is reporting that Head/Penn recently re-signed top IRT pro Shane Vanderson to a two-year contract. Vanderson decided to stay with Head/Penn racquetball, the company that has supported him since before he started his professional career at the age of fifteen. Now a tour veteran, the thirty-year old’s accomplishments include Intercollegiate Champion, Rookie of the Year, World Doubles Champion, and 8-time US Team Member.

Kane vs Sudsy

Thank you to everyone that watched, called in and visited the Ustream chat room last night. We had a great time talking about who would win between six-time world champion Kane Waselenchuk and five-time world champion Sudsy Monchik. I think the topic of next Sunday's show will be..."Who will be the first player to beat Kane?".
Join us next Sunday, July 31, 2011 at 9pm CST, right here or visit the ustream channel: www.ustream.tv/channel/racquetballjunkie



You can watch here for free....LIVE You can call in if you have a Skype account.
Add or call: racquetballjunkie

You can chat and listen and watch by going to the Ustream channel:
www.ustream.tv.channel/racquetballjunkie


Live broadcasting by Ustream Slideshow images copyright Geoff Thomsen Photography

Interview with Paola Longoria

Today I had the privilege of sitting down with Paola Longoria for an interview at the Maverick Athletic Club in Arlington, TX. Paola was in town visiting her boyfriend and I invited both of them out to my club to get in some practice time and workout afterwards. I sat down with Paola for about 45 minutes and asked her all sorts of questions for an interview to be released very soon. It was great to listen how she started playing racquetball and also how much support she received from her family while playing on the WPRO women's pro tour. In fact, her younger brother was on his way to the Dominican Republic to compete in the IRF Junior World Championships.
I would like to extend a very special thank you to Jansen Allen and Paola Longoria for coming out to the Maverick. Paola, gracias por tomarte el tiempo de sentarte para platicar conmigo. Eres una gran persona y deportista!

It is also worth mentioning that Paola has designed her line of sports apparel and clothing. Check out her fashion line at www.topplaygear.com and click on her name to see all her merchandise.

Happy Birthday Paola Longoria

Happy Birthday to WPRO Professional Racquetball player Paola Longoria who turns 22 today. She is the first Mexican woman to attain the #1 ranking on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour, doing so at the end of the 2008-09 season and at the end of 2009-2010 season as well.
Paola is also the first Mexican - woman or man - to win the prestigious US OPEN Racquetball Championships in 2008. She has been a finalist the last two years losing only to Rhonda Rajsich in those finishes.
Also, Longoria won eight consecutive International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships from 2001 to 2008, winning twice in each age category from 12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under, and 18 and under.

WPRO Announces New Racquetball Commissioner

WPRO Names Rock as New Commissioner

Maryland, USA ~ July 12, 2011 ~ The Women's Professional Racquetball Tour today announced that it has wrapped up its search for a new commissioner, and named Gigi Rock to replace outgoing Shannon Feaster in the tour's top administrative post. Known for her boldness, outspoken honesty, and no nonsense approach, Rock is President and Owner of Gigi Rock Productions, and will begin the day-to-day operations as Commissioner for the WPRO, effective July 12. Although she's not a racquetball player in her own right, Rock is a quick study, who promises a fresh, new business approach to the WPRO. "I've been in business for many years now and began my sports experience

in golf. I would have never looked for a position like this but my entire career has lead me in this direction and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build upon the success of the WPRO and help it develop into a world-class tour and business," Rock said in a statement. I have worked for clients from Super Bowls to Olympic events - and everything in between - and will be charged with furthering the WPRO's brand. "We are confident that Gigi's proven marketing, brand management and sponsorship development skills will take the WPRO to the next level," said former commissioner Shannon Feaster, who led the tour for five seasons. "It is time for these athletes to get the recognition and compensation they deserve and for racquetball to be in the forefront of the sporting industry where it belongs."

The Rock Files:

· Name: Gigi Rock

· Age: LOL

· College: University of Lincoln Nebraska & Bellevue University

· Hometown: Born and raised in the military; married a military man; no real 'hometown'

· Residence: Arizona

· Other: Motto: Concept to Completion - Anything is Possible!! A strong leader with a motivational management style and reputation for building high class events and marketing brands. A results-oriented achiever with an excellent record of accomplishment, identifying opportunities to accelerated growth and minimizing the risk factor for the lifetime of the project.

Taylor Knoth and Jack Huczek

Here is a short video clip from the 2010 US National Singles Racquetball Championships in Houston, TX. Taylor Knoth vs Juck Huczek.

Racquetball Junkie Announcement

Racquetball Junkie is an independent news site devoted to the latest racquetball information for amateurs and professionals around the world. This will be a blog to share exciting news, rumors, player interviews, event previews and recaps. Check back soon for broadcast times of live internet shows and interviews.