Monday, March 14, 2011 Volume 54, Number 4 Daily Bulletin NABC National Tournament • Louisville • March 10-20, 2011 54th Spring North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Dave Smith Big comeback still a vivid memory Early on a Thursday morning in March 45 years ago, Tobias Stone walked the streets of Louisville outside the Brown Hotel, disconsolate after his squad in the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams had blown a 37-IMP lead to lose the event. As he walked around, he spotted Bob Hamman, a member of the so-called International Team – the squad that had come from behind with an 88-5 final quarter to wrest the championship from Stone and Joel Wooldridge and John Hurd won the company. Platinum Pairs. “Nice match, Bob,” said Stone. Hamman, always a needler, passed up his New Yorkers claim chance to gloat. “Thanks,” he said. Platinum Pairs Hamman is the only member of the John Hurd and Joel Wooldridge, both of New International Team at the 2011 Spring NABC in York City, charged into the lead with a 63.91% Louisville. His memories of the tournament – Bob Hamman game in the first final session and cruised to an easy especially the Vanderbilt – remain vivid despite the were some strong teams in the field of 72, and there win in the Platinum Pairs. passage of time. were some close calls for the Internationals. “We played well and had good luck,” said The International Team was so named because “Against the Paul Trent team,” Hamman Wooldridge. the six-man squad had qualified the previous year recalls, “we were ahead by 53 IMPs with a quarter The winners were in fifth place after two to play in the 1966 Bermuda Bowl in Italy. The to play and won by just four.” Hamman remembers days of play. Their huge first final-session game team was Hamman, Lew Mathe, Eric Murray, Sami that Trent went down in a game and a slam he propelled them into a three-board lead. They scored Kehela, Phil Feldesman and Ira Rubin. Murray did might have made – and if he had brought either one 52.61% in the second final session for a final score not travel to Louisville in 1966 because of a slipped home, his team would have won. of 432.05 (with carryover), more than 33 points disk. Hamman played mostly with Mathe but some Hamman recalls sitting down to play the final ahead of second (13 was top). with Kehela. against the Stone team (Bill Eisenberg, Ivan Erdos, The pair came through the Junior ranks Hamman’s team was a slight favorite, but there continued on page 5 together where they were successful in international play. They have been NABC regular partners for 11 years. Wooldridge has four previous Bridge player comes up aces NABC titles and Hurd has three. The winners use Mike Edwards says bridge has been good to an aggressive 2/1 style of bidding. him over the years, so at the 2011 Spring NABC he In second place were Laurie and Ken Kranyak returned the favor. of Bay Village OH. They were ninth in the field On Sunday, he turned over a collection of before the second final session. Their 58.87% score playing cards – most of them aces – autographed allowed them to move into the runner-up spot with by famous athletes, most in the halls of fame of a final score of 398.98. their respective sports. The collection of 23 cards Xiaodong Shi of Naperville IL and Jiang Gu of is intended for ACBL’s Bridge Museum, located at Mountain Lakes NJ finished third. Their final score ACBL Headquarters in Horn Lake MS. was 392.39. Here’s the lineup of cards donated by Edwards, who lives in Rock Island IL, one of the so-called Vogel, Mohan lead Quad Cities, along with Davenport and Bettendorf IA and Moline IL: Silver Ribbon Pairs • Baseball players Lou Brock, Brooks Robinson, Two Chicago-area players, Claude Vogel Pete Rose and Willie Stargell. and Sangarapil Mohan, enter play today in the • Football greats Dick Butkus, Earl Campbell, Leventritt Silver Ribbon Pairs with a lead of 19.85 Larry Csonka, Tony Dorsett, Dan Fouts, Jack matchpoints. The final two sessions will be played Ham, Jim McMahon, Walter Payton, Gale today. Sayers, Leroy Selman, Ken Stabler, Fran Mike Edwards shows off some of the In second place are Texans Dan Morse of Tarkenton and Johnny Unitas. memorabilia he has donated to the ACBL Houston and Ira Hessel of San Antonio, followed • Basketball stars George Gervin, Moses Malone Bridge Museum. by Floridians Ed Schulte and Joe Godefrin. and James Worthy, plus Al McGuire, legendary basketball coach. of Iowa. “I had about five masterpoints,” Edwards International Fund • Hockey pros Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. recalls, “and he had about 15.” In NABC+ events, $1.50 (per person, per Edwards, 71, is a retired accountant. When he Over a long playing career, Edwards has session) of each entry free will be allocated to the was working he was an internal auditor. “I was the sat across the table from many famous players, ACBL International Fund. These funds are used to guy you didn’t want to show up.” including Paul Soloway, Jeff Meckstroth and Eric underwrite part of the expenses of ACBL members The autographing process began during the Rodwell. He says the legendary Barry Crane once who participate in international competition. Riverboat Regional, which took place each year asked him to play, but he turned Crane down. “My on the Lady Luck Casino. According to Edwards, biggest mistake,” Edwards says. riverboat gambling – now commonplace – started Regarding the collection he has donated, Goodwill Message in the Quad Cities area. Edwards says his big regret is that he lost the Today is Goodwill Day and my co-chairs and At the Lady Luck, sports stars often visited and autographed card that could be considered the pick I invite members of the National signed autographs. His collection was started at the of the group – the one signed by former NBA star Goodwill Committee to join us at casino, and all the cards were signed there. Wilt Chamberlain, who had taken up bridge and a reception from 5 to 7 p.m.. Edwards is a veteran bridge player with more become hooked on duplicate before his death in We hope to see you there. than 10,000 masterpoints. He recalls once sitting 1999. “I don’t know what happened to that card,” Rose Meltzer, Chairman down to play with Ron Andersen at the University Edwards says. National Goodwill Committee Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Monday, March 14 Wednesday, March 16 9 a.m. “Beyond the Deals” seminar with Per Jannersten: Room: 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course (Session 2). An update Stanley (3rd floor, Suite Tower) course for club directors to refresh and renew their skills 10 am-Noon Competition and Conventions Committee meeting. for directing club and bridge cruise games. Anyone who is Room: Beckham (3rd floor, Suite Tower). a club director or a director aboard a cruise ship is invited 11 am-Noon Get Online with BridgeBase.com. Don’t miss this to participate. Fee: $15. Room: Breathitt (2nd floor, Suite opportunity to meet with Fred Gitelman, creator of the Tower). ACBL’s Learn to Play Bridge program. Get a guided tour 5-7 pm Junior/Expert Get Together. Valerie Westheimer and of the Bridge Base web site and its outstanding teaching Lynn Deas will host a Junior Meet-Up. All Juniors/Mentors/ features. Room: Nunn (3rd floor, Suite Tower). Experts welcome! Room: Combs Chandler (2nd floor, Suite 11 am-Noon Open Team Trials meeting. CaNCelled Tower). 5-7 pm Goodwill Reception. Room: Combs Chandler (2nd floor, Suite Tower). (Members of the aCBl Goodwill Committee Thursday, March 17 are invited). 10:30 am-Noon Foundation for the Preservation and Advancement of Bridge meeting. Room: Stanley (3rd floor, Suite Tower). Tuesday, March 15 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course (Session 1). An update Friday, March 18 course for club directors to refresh and renew their skills 11:30 pm-2 am Women’s Team Trials meeting. Room: Stanley (3rd floor, for directing club and bridge cruise games. Anyone who is Suite Tower). a club director or a director aboard a cruise ship is invited to participate. Fee: $15. Room: Breathitt (2nd floor, Suite Tower). CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss these free lectures in Louisville from expert players. Location: Wilkinson Room (1st floor, Suite Tower). Tuesday, March 15 Monday, March 14 9:15 a.m. Mike Flader Ruling The Game 9:15 a.m. Ken Monzingo Hand Patterns 6:45 p.m. David Berkowitz Partnerships 6:45 p.m. Coley McGinnis & Linda Hanson Takeout doubles LATE NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT Monday: Soft Pretzel with mustard sauce. Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer, Suite Tower, second floor. Entries Life Master news Monitoring All North American championships with no Elaine Said has At this and future North American upper masterpoint limitation $20 advanced past the Championships, ACBL will be monitoring NABC+ (Note: only aCBl members are eligible to play 15,000-masterpoint events with visible, real-time cameras. The images in NaBC+ events. $1.50 per person per session plateau. She is a will be recorded and will be available for later benefits the International Fund.) Platinum Life Master official inspection and review. Other North American championships $17 who currently serves By general monitoring of the session and (Note: only aCBl members are eligible to play on the Unit 179 Board participants’ behavior, ACBL has another source in these events.) of Directors and was of information that may be useful in determining Regional championships $16 on the ACBL Board facts and settling issues arising from some types of for ACBL members, $18 for all others of Governors for ethical and behavioral complaints or actions.