MEET ME IN ST. LOUIE .. LOUIE

… the words from a song in a 1944 Judy Garland film of the same name – but today more reminiscent of the hundreds of bridge players who converged on St. Louis for the Spring Nationals which are going on as we speak.  I remember one tournament I attended in that city – but so long ago, I cannot be sure of the year.   1987 rings a bell.  In fact, I think there were three others held there – all Spring Nationals.

I have been following some of the results via the Daily Bulletins from the ACBL NABC site.  With the exception of nearby San Francisco, I have not attended a National in nearly five years when it was held here in Las Vegas.  As I read some of the names and events, I felt like I have been residing in outer space and lost contact with the real world.   There are so many new names with whom I am unfamiliar and for the most part – a changing of the guard at ACBL headquarters both at Horn Lake and St. Louis(with a couple of staunch exceptions like Brent Manley and Paul Linxweiler).

Few of the real old timers are still around.  In particular, I scanned the names on the Vanderbilt rosters, an event I kibitzed for half a century.   Though an impressively strong field, it was a muddle of American experts (some of whom have migrated here and attained citizenship) and visiting professional standouts from abroad – rounded out by some optimistic sponsors.   It is a gigantic field and I  look forward to watching BBO and hearing the commentary.   However — not as entertaining as when Ron Anderson et al. were at the vugraph mike, always playing before a crowded and enthusiastic audience.  Those are delightful memories to me – but as I have said before – things change and time marches on.