Thursday, September 11, 2008

University of Alabama Tournament 9/26-28, 2008

Hey, guys -- I feel bad about not getting the Alabama Tournament on the schedule faster, but here it is -- Chris Olmsted and I went to another tournament hosted by 'Bama, and it was great -- well worth the drive!

Here are the details:
University Of Alabama
Student Recreation Center
401 5th Avenue East
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487

Tournament Dates:
September 26th – 28th

Entry Deadline:
September 24th – 12:00 Noon

Entries:
Mail: 1432 Paul W. Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Email: crock021@bama.ua.edu
nac432@aol.com
Fax: 205/985-2305
Phone: 205/369-1903 (Chris Crockett)
205/369-2622 (Natalie Crockett)

Fran Davis/Jason Mannino Camp 10/19-22, 2008

Fran Davis, the #1 Coach/Clinician in the World, and Jason Mannino, two-time US Open Champion, teamed up with assistants specialist and National Doubles Champ Russ Mannino; sharing their racquetball knowledge and experience with a group of players who gather from around the US in a tropical paradise called Aruba...

The Aruba Racquetball Fantasy Camp is a dream vacation ... 5 hours of racquetball, sports psychology, fitness training and to top it off fun in the sun ... everyday! This is our most advanced camp with hours of playing, critiquing, playing the pros and mental toughness. If you want lots of "One on One Instruction" and want to rub elbows intimately with Fran and Jason this camp is for YOU!

What Does The Camp Include?

25 - 30 hours of instruction, critiquing live play, and playing with the pros, Jason and Fran
Physical and mental aspects of the game...Mental Toughness Coach and Fitness Trainer based on 13+ campers. Video taping and analysis.
Camp manual
Camp T-shirt
Can of Penn balls
Celebration dinner
Several group fun activities such as a welcome party, a camp barbeque, mini-tournament and much much more
Lots of fun, golfing, gambling, sightseeing, shopping, water sports and free time

Hurry! DON'T delay as your game will improve DRAMATICALLY...and instead of losing you will be winning! Go to www.FranDavisRacquetball.com to get more details on the camp or e-mail camps@FranDavisRacquetball.com if you have any questions.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Southern Open August 22-24, 2008

Hi Everyone

The very next Atlanta area event will be the Southern Open which will be played at the Southern Athletic Club on August 22 - 24.

Briefly, there will be singles AND doubles. Entry fees are very low -- $35 for the first event, $20 for the second, and if you play Mixed Doubles as a third event, you can do that for FREE.

We are using R2Sports again (hope you liked it) as we got no complaints the last time we did. Here is the URL:

http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=4401

If you want more information, go to the GRA website at:

http://georgiaracquetball.com/:

You can download a copy of the application there and there is also a link to the R2Sports website.

If you enter on-line, there is NO ADDITIONAL COST and we will not charge your card until the Monday prior to the event. So, there is no strong reason for not playing in this event now is there?.

If you have any questions, please contact the club at 770-923-5400 or you can email me.

Hope to see you there!

Otto

OTTO DIETRICH
Tournament Director

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

UGA Remembers Bijal, among others

Athens, Ga. – Forty University of Georgia students, faculty and staff who have died since last May will be remembered at the university’s annual candlelight memorial service April 29 at 7 p.m. at the University Chapel.

The service, called “Georgia Remembers...A Candlelight Memorial,” has been held each spring since 2000 to help the university community find comfort while honoring deceased friends, family members and colleagues.

Twenty-four students, 13 staff members and three faculty members -- Bijal included -- will be remembered in the ceremony. Each name will be read aloud, followed by the toll of a bell and lighting of a candle.

The names will be read by Connor McCarthy, president of the Student Government Association; William Vencill, chair of the University Council Executive Committee; and Shannon Scott, president of Staff Council. Members of the Arch Society will light candles

UGA President Michael F. Adams will make opening remarks and introductions. Southern Wind Quintet, a student woodwind group from the Hodgson School of Music, will play, and representatives of the Campus Ministry Association will offer opening and closing prayers.

The Chapel Bell, traditionally rung at this service, will not be available due to repairs on the bell and its tower. A large bell that sits on the plaza in front of Snelling Dining Hall will be moved to the Chapel for the service, then returned to Snelling.

On edit: 40 is an unusually high number to be honored.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Gathering in Honor of Bijal -- Please tell all his friends and colleagues!

Hello people,

I am hosting a get together this afternoon at 6:30 in Bujal's memory while his brother Nirav is here. I would like to have as many of his friends here as possible.

Naturally in his memory the main course will be Nathan Hotdogs which
will be provided along with some snacks. Please feel free to bring whatever you would like to throw on the grill and the beverage of your choice.

I don't know everyone of his friend so PLEASE pass this along to
as many as his friends as possible.

Arthur Bastidas
260 Tanglewood Drive
Athens, GA 30606

(706) 340 4060

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result.php?q1=260+tanglewood+drive%2C+30606

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Bijal Patel Memorial Tournament

Just a few reminders regarding upcoming events in memory of Bijal:

1. The Microbiology Department Service is April 18th, which is one week from Friday.

2. UGA Annual Memorial Service is either the 28th or 29th of April.

3. Tentatively, June 6-8, 2008 will be the dates of the Memorial Tournament.

2008 Regional Singles Deadline Coming Up!

The deadline for entering the 2008 Regional Singles in Atlanta on April 18-20 is rapidly approaching – it is midnight THIS Sunday April 13th.

Of the many ways to enter this event, we highly suggest doing so “on-line” by merely clicking here and following the instructions.

This is the very best and least expensive way of entering. You will save about $5 by entering on-line for this event and be assured that your entry will be exactly right (assuming that you don’t make an error, that is).

This will surely be the best event of the season featuring great play in lots of divisions and capped off with the Saturday night poolside Steak Dinner.

Late entries will also be taken through the same website, but for an added $10, until 2 pm on Tuesday April 15th.

If you would like to receive a copy of the application listing the other ways of entering and other details, you can simply reply to this email indicating that you’d like to receive one and I will send it to you right away or else go to the GRA website and download one:

Hope to see you there!

Otto

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The 2008 Motorola Pro National Racquetball Championships and USA Racquetball Adult Regional presented by Verizon Wireless are set for April 23-27, 2008. After a very successful event last year, Motorola and Verizon Wireless have renewed their sponsorship for the 2008 event. The event will be held at Schaumburg Tennis Plus, which is owned and operated by the Schaumburg Park District. Forest View Racquet Club will be the secondary site located in Arlington Hts. Schaumburg and Arlington Hts.. are northwest suburbs about 20 minutes from O'Hare International airport and 45 minutes from downtown Chicago.

Men's Pro Qualifying will begin on Wednesday and Regional amateur matches will begin Thursday. The new all Lucite court will be present creating the sports most exciting grand slam event in history. The event will be broadcast on ESPN and streamed live on ESPN360.com and details on other networks are being negotiated at this time. International players will be able to play in all divisions offered. The event will feature a Rock-n Roll theme and promises to be cutting edge. This year we will be adding an IRT Pro Doubles to the event as well as a Classic Pro Racquetball Tour division.

The event will offer a charity doubles event with the top 16 professionals on Wednesday evening. Cost of playing with a professional will be $500.00 with the funds going to a local chapter of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Last year the event rose over $8000.00 and hopes to better that amount this year. The event will also benefit Prevent Child Abuse America and The Hopeline. You may contact Dave Negrete for details at negretz@comcast.net

VIP box seats are available for purchase by contacting Dave Negrete at negretz@comcast.net. Space is limited so reserve you box now. There will be a huge party on Friday night featuring local live rock n roll entertainment as well as the Party with the Pros on Saturday evening.

Look for information about the event in the next racquetball magazine here or here, or you can call 800-234-5396. You can enter online here. A $20 discount for early registration discount ends April 1st.

I look forward to seeing you all in Chicago at the 2008 Motorola IRT Pro National and USAR Adult Regional Racquetball Championships presented by Verizon Wireless.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Looking forward: Bijal Patel

Though Bijal has passed on, there are many upcoming events planned which will memorialize him. Below is a partial listing of the events of which we are aware.



April 18, 2008



Please check here for detals about the Celebration of Bijal's life which will held on Friday April 18th at 4 pm in the University Chapel on North Campus. A reception will follow in the President's Garden, adjacent to the Chapel, or in the Demosthenian Hall, if it rains. If you would like to be part of the program for the memorial please contact Dr. Anna Karls, akarls@uga.edu, 706-583-0822.



April 28 or 29, 2008



Annual Memorial Service. Sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs. The annual memorial service remembering students, faculty and staff who have died during the past twelve months. 6:00 p.m. Chapel steps.



Date TBD -- approx. May



The UGA Racquetball Club, assisted by various other entities in the racquetball world, are planning a tournament in Bijal's honor, from which the proceeds will be used both to further memorialize Bijal and to support a cause important to him. Details at this point are very tentative -- watch this space for more details, anticipating that the event will take place in May or June.

The Funeral: Bijal Patel

1. I went to the funeral in New York with members of Bijal's racquetball, laboratory, and poker circles last week, while the Microbiology department held a memorial potluck in Athens in Bijal's memory.

On behalf of everyone on that trip, I would like to thank the Patel family for their hospitality -- we were all incredibly honored to be part of the ceremony recognizing the end of Bijal's life. And personally, I found it really moving.

2. For those who may want to send memories or condolences to the family, here is the family's contact information:

3511 Dekalb Ave Apt. 5C
Bronx, NY 10467

Upcoming: Regional Singles

The 2008 Regional Singles Championships are going to be held at the Southern Athletic Club in Lilburn, Georgia on April 18 - 20, 2008. The initial deadline to sign-up for it is midnight on Sunday, April 13, 2008, but late entries (for an added fee) will be accepted until 2 PM on Tuesday, April 15, 2008.

NOTE: For this event, we are using the USAR's new R2Sports tournament software and are offering a discount of more than $5 for those who sign-up ON-LINE. To do that, use the link on the left side of this screen. Other types of entry (email, FAX, phone-in, and in-person) will also be accepted, but are discouraged.

In the meantime, be sure to mark your calendars and, if there are questions, you can either call (770-972-2303) or email (odietrich@usra.org) Otto or contact the Southern Athletic Club at 770-923-5400.

See you there!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

More on Bijal

I'm up in New York with some of Bijal's friends preparing to attend the service, which is tomorrow. Meanwhile, I wanted to highlight the incredibly nice tribute prepared by Erinn Howard:

From the very first days of graduate school, when Bijal Patel would organize his graduate student class for study sessions and social gatherings, it was clear that there was something special about him. He had an unmistakably caring and pure nature and wanted to succeed as much as he wanted his fellow graduate students and friends to succeed.

Bijal was not only an excellent mentor in lab, but also an excellent teacher in the classroom. He enjoyed teaching and shared his enthusiasm and excitement for science with his students. Never critical or mocking of his students’ progress or grasp of material, he only ever hoped they would understand what he taught and succeed. His caring and generous nature, however, went beyond the lab bench and beyond academia.

From being an avid racquetball player and racquetball club promoter to being a fantastic poker player with a quick eye, Bijal was very involved because he loved to learn about and try new things. He enjoyed skeet shooting with the guys and playing softball with the Seamonkeys team. He brought more to these groups of people than merely an extra player, he brought camaraderie, laughter, and a kind heart.

He frequently donated platelets and blood to the American Red Cross. When he was hosting the Superbowl, as he loved to do, or a Friday night poker game, Bijal was always inviting and always generous, making sure the favorite snacks of his guests were there.


More than a racquetball player and more than a poker player, more than a graduate student and more than a scientist, Bijal was a friend. Bijal was a good friend. And he will be missed.



Also, there is a new article in the Red & Black.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Bijal Patel -- Funeral Information

A conglomeration of information that has recently become available: Note that this is an update from anything you may have read elsewhere in the last few hours.

From Bijal's brother:

It is okay if you wear black, just I didn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable if they noticed that we (the family) were not wearing black. Also, the service will be from 9-12 PM on Thursday [in Mount Kisco, NY], and the plan is ritual part of the service will begin around 10:30 AM (most auspicious time as per my grandmother) After the ceremony, we will go to the crematorium and have our final goodbyes in a chapel there and then Bijal will be brought into the cremation room and will be cremated. I guess I wasn't too clear about it with Ryan since I was driving at the time. Please make sure everyone know this.

Floral Information: Local florist is 914-237-3900, ask for Michael.

Separately, Bijal's brother is trying to put together a slide show and needs pictures of Bijal. If any of you have some please email them to Ken Bradshaw at jbradsha@uga.edu so he can forward them.

Photos of Bijal




Here are some photos of Bijal taken over the last few years. These are also on the Facebook group.
The first photo was taken by some kind tourist on the slopes at Cataloochee in North Carolina. It features Bijal, Chris Olmsted, Nicki Hendrix, Ken Bradshaw, and Arthur Bastidas. This was Bijal's first downhill skiing trip, but by about the 2nd or 3rd hour he was outskiing most of us.

I think the second photo was taken by Nathaniel "Than" Peck while he was visiting from New York. It features Ken Bradshaw, Bijal, Ilona Bostian, Ken's friend whose name escapes me, and Frank Cochran before a UGA game at the pre-game tailgate. I don't think Bijal missed any home Dawgs games.