Friday, August 22, 2008

Happy 35th Birthday Mike Green!

You've been the dominant men's racquetball player in Canada for most of the past decade, winning Canadian championships in singles in 2002-04, 2006 and 2008 as well as doubles titles in 2000 and 2004-07.

During your most active period on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) you worked your way up to be the 8th ranked player at the end of the 2003-04 IRT season.

Furthermore, you've been selected 19 times to play for Canada - the most for a Canadian man - beginning with the 1996 Pan American Championships. You won the 1999 Pan American Championships in singles and were a part of three World Championship men's gold medal teams (1996, 2000, 2002) as well as the overall team gold medal in 2000.

Earlier this month, you got to the quarter finals at the IRF World Championships, losing to Alvaro Beltran, but in so doing qualified for next year's World Games in Taiwan.

But looking forward to the time of the 2010 World Championships in Korea and the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico, which are expected to include racquetball, you'll be in your late 30s, so we wonder whether you'll be a part of those teams.

We wouldn't bet against that, but if the rumours of Brian Istace's retirement, who's your current doubles partner, are true, then perhaps now is the time to recruit one of the good young Canadian players as a doubles partner, so as to continue your international career.

1 comment:

mike said...

Even at 25 its hard to say where you will be in 3 years so its even harder at 35. But as of today I am planning on attempting to make the team for all those events. But ask me again next week. It may ultimately be up to the back strength of my new stud partner Eric Desrochers to see if that happens. No pressure Eric!!!!!