Live
Longer, Play 
Live
Longer, Play
ClubAn unofficial, non-organization, not currently approved by Purdue University.
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Break out of frames
Left to right, back:Leon Trachtman, Dennis Hart, Noah Yannie, Pat McCarthy, Gary Bennett; front: Jim Knapp, ME (Dale Forsyth), Ralph Cherry, David Goldberg.
Sixteen regulation courts are available, including one with a glass back and viewing area. At noon, reservations are almost never needed. There are also 5 older, smaller courts, left from a time when singles courts were smaller than regulation doubles (according to my information), that are seldom used for handball anymore.
Entry to the Co-Rec is restricted (see regulations). Alumni bring evidence of Purdue graduation. Other visitors must be sponsored: Call one of the active participants or show up by 11:30 at front entrance and make presence known; handballers will be coming in (some come in the back, though) and will sponsor you. Identification by both hand gloves on bag is obvious, but some have all their things in the gym. Alternatively, attempt to have one of the regulars paged; they'll be present by 12:05. The author of this page is regular and will help, too.
In the beginning there was handball. It was on five small(er than normal) courts and was played with a black (brick) ball. It was before the invention of racketball (named for the noise it makes and NOT the stringed instrument replacing the hands, I think). AND IT WAS GOOD!
In the old days, 1972 or before, the reigning champion was a local radiologist, Dr. Chad Phelps. I saw him play, but it was after his injury(/injuries) and not at his prime. He controlled the court and killed with both hands well. He was smooth as silk. It would be great if he were still playing, which he would like to do, but injuries (back) make it unwise. His son Tad is a good player and joins us occasionally, when visiting.
Others I remember from those days: Steve Ackers: still around and at the gym regularly, but no longer plays, due to injuries or 'worn out parts'. Steve I remember as aiming at the bottom board (our boards are only ~3/4" on side, on those old courts :-) and he was unhappy unless he hit the bottom half of it. Steve Miner also played then.
Martin Stob, from Animal Sciences, was a proficient player, and had a reputation in our department for the game. Martin is retired from Purdue, but still swims at our gym.
Certainly the very most ardent supporter and recruiter of the game at any time at Purdue from 1972 to now was Marc Weineger (spelling may be correct). Marc was one of the top players, and spent hours with 'want to be's' and young people in general that might play the game. He was hard for me to get a game with, but would play me about once a month, helping me greatly to improve in the game.
From those earliest times, the players still active THAT I REMEMBER PLAYING were John MacDonald and Dick Hunt. John is currently on injured reserve. Another that was around, at the bottom of the A ladder, was Pat McCarthy - more about Pat in a minute. Some of our older players were probably active then but I didn't know them then.
We had an active challenge ladder, split into 2 main parts, A and B. I played in B.
I remember when a new Animal Science staff member came and scouted out the club. Mark Diekman played with me in a foursome in an evening call-out. He only ever hit the ball to the ceiling with an underhand fist, that I recall. He was wasting his time with the likes of me, at that time. Mark is a good player but other activities have taken priority and though he's still around and has handball slogans dressing his door, I can't call him an active player.
More recent times have seen the emergence of one clearly superior player. Pat McCarthy, when he returned from a sabbatical in California, took over as top dog. He rarely looses a match now. Left handed, he kills the ball or sends it to the ceiling almost equally well with either hand. He is a shooter, and some days playing him is like being a duck in a shooting gallery; returning the ball is just to set up his next kill attempt. He hits the ball so hard I expect to see a hole develop someday in both the palm and back of my glove at the same time, with the remainder of my hand continuing with the ball. Only Noah Yannie, recently departing (unfortunately) the Purdue Staff at the Co-Rec, and Jim Knapp, Planning and Engineering, I think, seriously challenge Pat to the point of winning. (Update, Pat has moved from Purdue to the Atlanta, GA area now, decimating us of any of his caliber player).
That's enough about my recollections for now. You've got to love our group or the game or Purdue or all of those to have read this far anyway. I'll probably revise the previous in response to comments I'll receive.
Recorded by: Dale M. Forsyth quote:"When I started I couldn't stand in the back of the court and throw the ball with my left hand to the front walll". (Some don't think I'm too much better yet).
I'll make these names hot links to email addresses, in some cases, eventually, if they approve.
(Pat McCarthy- now gone but visits), Jim Knapp, Dick Hunt, Dale Forsyth, David Goldburg, Dennis Harp,
(Noah Yannie was here, but has moved East)
Ralph Cherry, Brad Venable - Both now live out of town and seldom here.
Irwin Treager, Gary Bennett, Leonard Wood, (Leon Trachtman-has left our sport now for other activities, but I'll keep him mentioned here) (These guys generally play doubles)
Another group of guys play regularly at noon, with the soft ball (white ace), in groups of two or three (not doubles). (Guys, send me your names and I'll include you here).
http://www.cohandball.com/ Handball for the entire State of COLORADO.
http://users.aol.com/MNhandball/MNHANDBALL.HTML
http://ushandball.org/cgi-bin/db/sites.display.pl The list of handball sites listed at USHA.
http://www.bobsymon.com The Bob Symon Memorial Handball Tournament page