By Richard Romero

The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it. -- Norman Schwarzkopf, retired US Army General, Commander of US Central Command and was Commander of the Coalition Forces in the Gulf War, 1991.

It started out as a few active duty military personnel, retirees, and civilians getting together on a military base for friendly games of racquetball. They were racquetball amateurs who were either on active military duty serving their country or prior military personnel now working federal jobs but still serving their country.

There was plenty of friendly trash talk between the varying military services and naturally that led to one day the gauntlet being tossed down to have a challenge.

Spearheaded by AF Retiree Jared Fernandez and Navy Retiree Ernie Costelo (Navy retiree representing the Army, Sports Director at Forrest Gym, Fort Carson) it was decided that the matches would be held at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado because it had five RB courts.

The format would be the standard two games to 15 and a tie-breaker to 11 if it was needed. Each military service would provide two Open teams, three A teams, and four B teams. There was only one rule – have fun.

You can well imagine that the rivalry was strong between these two military services but their ethos said it all…
US Air Force: As a warrior I will provide service before self; my mission is to fly, fight, and win.  US Army: As a warrior, I will always place the mission first; I will never accept defeat; I will never quit; and I will never leave a fallen comrade.

Match after match there was discipline, there was courtesy, and there was respect. These warriors had gathered because of two very strong bonds…love of their country represented by their military service and love of the sport of racquetball made real by their commitment to preserving this sport.

It is no surprise that when a group of military servicemen get together they always think of others. The tournament included a canned goods collection that was donated to US Veterans via the Peterson AFB Morale, Welfare, and Recreation at the base commissary. 

Racquetball is a competitive sport after all and so with the total wins tied by both services it came down to the final OPENs match. In a great tie-breaker the US Air Force took the victory.

Notice that in this article we shied away from naming names. That is because the emphasis is not on the people….it is on the event. This event did bring together people with a passion and compassion and who came away as winners because they exercised their American right to gather and to team….and they exercised their hearts and bodies. Whoever you are, wherever you are…remember that you are an ambassador for racquetball. Please represent us well.