| |
BGonline.org Forums
American Backgammon Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Video
Posted By: Phil Simborg In Response To: American Backgammon Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Video (Bill Riles)
Date: Wednesday, 18 March 2015, at 2:17 p.m.
The dinner was the single most memorable event in my life in backgammon. As well done as the video is, what it does not capture is all of the emotion of the people in the crowd. Many were very touched and had tears in their eyes several times. Most of us who were not lucky enough to be around in the Golden Years of Backgammon (the 70's) got a glimpse into what amazing things people like Oswald and Paul Magriel and Kit, Malcolm, KG, Senk, Nack, Robertie and others did for and with this game, without the aid of computers and technology.
I didn't know Malcolm has been in the finals of 75 major events! That was the single most amazing fact I heard. To me, that is about as great an accomplishment as anyone has ever done in any game or sport in history.
Before I heard this, at the Awards Banquet, I always listed Heather McKay as having the best record in any sport or game. Heather became a friend of mine when she became the top woman's Racquetball player, taking up the game in her 40's after retiring from Squash. Here is what Wikipedia says about her amazing squash career:
"She dominated the women's squash game in the 1960s and 1970s, winning 16 consecutive British Open titles between 1962 and 1977, and capturing the inaugural women's World Open title in 1979, whilst remaining undefeated during that period."
"undefeate" meaning she NEVER LOST A SINGLE MATCH. With the luck factor in backgammon, of course that is not possible, but making 75 finals I think might be just as tough as what Heather did.
The only other accomplishment that I think comes close was the day Bill Bartholomay beat me in 22 consecutive heads-up money games on Sunday, April 17, 1994.
| |
BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.