CBC International Racquetball Classic, Winnipeg 1980: Semi-Finals MARTY HOGAN vs. STEVE STRANDEMO

Rare footage of the semi-finals of the CBC Canadian International Racquetball Classic from June 1980. An exciting match-up between world champion Marty Hogan, 22, and veteran pro Steve Strandemo, who they called an "old man" at 32 years of age. The co-commentator Charlie Brumfield also calls Strandemo "The Rat," which he claims is an affectionate nickname since Strandemo is such a scrambler and plays close to his opponents.

In the first round of the CBC Classic, the top 16 Canadian players are matched up with the top 16 U.S. players. In the first round, Marty Hogan beat Canadian Bob Daku, then fellow St. Louis JCC player Ben Koltun in the quarters.. Meanwhile, Steve Strandemo beat Canadians Sherman Greenfield in the round of 16 and Ross Harvey in the quarters.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation brought racquetball to an estimated 22 million viewers in the U.S. via ESPN and in Canada via the CBC. Back in 1980 you rarely saw racquetball on TV, so this was a big boost for the sport. The quality of their coverage is phenomenal when you compare it to anything else from that era.

16 Ross Harvey (Canada) def. Craig McCoy (USA) 21-9, 21-13
16 Marty Hogan (USA) def. Bob Daku (Canada) 18-21, 21-15, 11-7
16 Ben Koltun (USA) def. Wes Hadikin (Canada). 18-21, 21-15, 11-4
16 Lindsay Myers (Canada) def. Rich Wagner (USA) 13-21, 21-12, 11-5
16 Dave Peck (USA) def. Brad Kruger (Canada) 21-15, 21-6
16 Steve Strandemo (USA) def. Sherman Greenfeld (Canada) 21-4, 21-6
16 Donny Thomas (USA) def. Wayne Bowes (Canada) 21-12, 21-8
16 Mike Yellen (USA) def. Ken Suffron (Canada) 21-8, 21-6
Quarters Marty Hogan def. Ben Koltun 21-16, 17-21, 11-5
Quarters Dave Peck def. Lindsay Myers 21-18, 21-11
Quarters Steve Strandemo def. Ross Harvey 21-14, 21-17
Quarters Mike Yellen def. Donny Thomas 21-15, 21-8
Semis Marty Hogan def. Steve Strandemo 21-17, 13-21, 11-6
Semis Dave Peck def. Mike Yellen 21-9, 21-11
Finals Marty Hogan def. Dave Peck 21-14, 21-13

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