My illustrious career
Thursday, January 17th, 2008
My mother found these 30-year-old trophies when my parents moved last month.
In 1978 I apparently took third at the Yonkers YMCA Christmas tournament and second at the 12 Towns YMCA tournament.
I didn't stop there: in 1979 I took third at the Kennedy-King Judo Games, and second at the Eastern Queens YMCA Great Neck.
To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if one or both of those third place showings were in pools of three. I rarely won matches, although I always tried to play nice, stand-up judo.
I only remember throwing for ippon one time, using a left ippon-seoinage to left osotogari combination. The ref's call was disputed, but he said the other guy had landed on his scapula. I remember him using the word "scapula." That wasn't my only ippon, though; I'm pretty sure I got at least one by osaekomi.
I know I had one good tournament where Sensei Williams's son Chris beat me in the finals with a big, hard-won ippon after I was up a waza-ari. That day was by far the highlight of my illustrious tournament career.