So I was chatting with the SL Green finalist who happens to also be a former Intercollegiate Champion (he will obviously go unnamed), and I was surprised by his somewhat stunning lack of squash knowledge. I’m not talking arcane squash trivia, but basic, if-you-play-squash-there-is-no-way-you-don’t-know-this type of facts. I’m talking who is Hashim Khan? Who’s that guy who went undefeated for 5 and a half years? Who is that other Pakistani guy who then started beating Jahangir? I was floored. Really? Really?? And you are the guy I have predicted will make it to the world’s top 20?
So I got to thinking about what are the basic squash facts that all players really need to know to actually consider themselves squash players. Its like if you are an American you should know your States, capitals and Presidents. If you are English, you should know your Kings and Queens. If you are Italian, you should know your opera composers. If you are Canadian, you should know your hockey players. If you are a squash player, dear god you must at least know who Hashim Khan is.
So in preparation for the Friday or Saturday evening cocktail party at your next squash tournament, here are 20 things you must know or be able to comment upon intelligently:
- Who is the godfather of modern squash, born in Peshawar, and head of the greatest-ever family in squash? Extra credit #1: What is the name of his book? Extra credit #2: What is the name of the documentary about his life? Extra credit #3: How old was he when he won his first British Open?
- What are the two basic theories about where squash was first played? Which one is probably true?
- Who is the squash player who introduced serious physical training to the game and wrote “Murder in the Squash Court”? How many hip replacements has he had?
- Who was the great Australian who won 8 British Opens between 1969 and 1981? What happened to squash in Australia?
- Who went undefeated with the softball for 5 and a half years? Extra credit: What was the brand of his squash racquet? Extra credit #2: How old was he when he won his first British Open? Extra credit #3: Who ended his streak? Extra credit #4: Did this player lose any hardball matches during this time? Does that affect the significance of the streak?
- Who went undefeated for 18 years? How many individual games did this player lose during this stretch?
- Who was the top-ranked hardball player from 1983 – 1995? Extra credit: What was his record in hardball against Jahangir Khan? Extra credit #2: How many professional tournaments did he win?
- How many consecutive matches did Trinity win? Is this a collegiate sports record? Extra credit: Who is their coach? Extra credit #2: What is the name of his book?
- Tricky one for you to show off a bit: Who won the most combined British Opens and World Opens between 2001 and 2008?
- Who comprises the top-ranked hardball doubles team? Who individually has been the most successful doubles player of all time? Is softball doubles actually a game that is played outside the Commonwealth Games?
- Who is the Tournament Director of the Tournament of Champions? Where is it held?
- What is the name of the legendary Harvard squash coach who wrote Winning Squash Racquets? How much should the fact that he coached at Harvard be counted against him?
- Who is the great French-born American player who beat Hashim Khan in the inaugural US Open in 1954? Hint – he also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1958.
- Who are the top three women players of all time? As long as your answer includes Sarah Fitzgerald, Nicol David, and Heather Mackay, any answer is acceptable.
- Who is the greatest male player of all time? As long as your answer is Jahangir Khan, there is no wrong answer.
- For how many years has squash tried to get into the Olympics? Is it time to cut bait and put the money into something more productive? Like building courts?
- Who will be the first American-born to make it into the top 10 in the world? Is her little sister really better than her or was she just exhausted from winning the Intercollegiates, a pro tournament and playing the US Nationals all in the same week?
- Who is the best player in the world right now? Will he ever take enough time off to let his various injuries fully heal? Please?
- How many former World Junior Champions played intercollegiate squash this past season?
- I think that is enough squash talk. I’m going to get another Guinness. Anyone want anything?