How times (and ages) have changed
Back in the early days (somewhere in the Fifties), with the exception of Billy Rosen who won the Bermuda Bowl at the tender age of 25 in 1954, most of the major championship winners were in their thirties, forties and older. Today, look at the “kids” going to the world championships in Holland and those in their late twenties, early thirties and forties winning prestigious events – unlike many of our heroes of old. The LV Bridge World was ecstatic that Fred Hamilton and Bobby were among the winners of the 2011 Seniors Team headed for Veldhoven, along with Captain Richie Schwartz, Lew Finkel, Arnie Fisher and Dan Morse. Bobby who will turn 79 the day after he arrives in the Netherlands jokingly refers to himself as being the eldest contestant in the “Old Geezers’ Brigade”). This goes to prove that bridge is a game for all seasons.
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HBJ : Lovely sentiment…….and great testament to the game itself, and how top class players can be of any age, race, upbringing and background.
For me reading about the colourful and great characters of the past comes as a real joy. As yet the young stars of the game still have a long way to go to match the wit, personality, guile, wisdom and panache of the Old Brigade.
Yours HBJ.
HBJ:
You bring back electrifying times when I was first introduced to the big time. Besides Goren, there was Schenken, Leventritt, Becker, Rapee, Ogust, Koytchou, Crawford, Roth, Stone, Ozzie, Crane, Helen Sobel, Silodor, and dozens of others (forgive me for missing some) before the Normans, Edgars, Bobbys, etc. came on the scene. The former group ignited bridge and hoisted it into the limelight as the most majestic game in the world in the fifties and sixties and publicized to the hilt by Charlie Goren. There followed dozens and dozens of outstanding partnerships who continued to put bridge on the map — but the “kids” of today (even in their teens like Adam Kaplan) are what make us oldtimers stand at attention. Many of our sons and daughters have made names for themselves and can’t get enough of the game.
It is sad that Bridge is not taught in the schools as in Europe, Asia et al. We tried and failed but that does not mean we should stop trying. The BOD could do something very constructive by appointing a special committee to dedicate the next few years to speak to the Boards of Educations all over. After all, it is a fun game (sometimes) — but more importantly, develops so many skills that help us immeasurably in later years.
I’ll get off my soap box now!
Thank you for the trip down memory lane. You rekindle a lot of thrills and excitement of days gone by and produce hope for the future if we could get more talented young ones to take up the game. The idea of teaching in the schools is marvelous but I know it has failed until now (at least in the States).
Your blogging subjects are very provocative. Keep them coming.
Thanks, Alan.
Your comments are most appreciated. I do not profess to be an expert or even a teacher espousing my bridge views (though I taught at the Philadelphia suburban country clubs in my earlier days). However, I’ve been privileged to be on the bridge scene for over fifty-five years and wined and dined with the best of them (taking in every precious word of their bridge critiques, discussions and advice). I will always treasure those friendships, especially since most of them are now gone. I enjoy sharing my memories with those of you who were not privileged to have known the legends of old.
They were somethin’ else!