…with Gary Moss

The national scrabble community, generally, and the southern California scrabble community, specifically, are very special. They are made up of people who care about each other as much as caring about the game that they love to play.

Last week, July 6th, when 14 year old Ruben Radlauer decided that he wanted to attend and compete in the NASPA National Scrabble Tournament, in Dayton, Ohio (August 1 – 5), he learned that he was ineligible. Even though Ruben had played and shared honors in the 2009 National School Scrabble Tournament, he had never played in an NSA or NASPA sanctioned tournament. That was one of the prerequisites for competing in Dayton.

Bob Vanech is the father of Tristan Vanech; Tristan is Ruben’s good friend and was his teammate at the recent 2009 National School Scrabble Tournament. When Bob learned of the technicality that was blocking Ruben from going to compete in Dayton, he didn’t sit back moaning; he took action.

Through a series of phone calls to NASPA leaders, Bob learned that Ruben had until July 15 to qualify. When Bob looked at the Official Tournament Calendar, he learned that there weren’t any local tournaments listed where Ruben might play, in order to qualify.

Bob didn’t give up; instead he took a next step, even though he was busy with his own work. He posted an email to the club directors in southern California.

I receive and read Bob’s post. It described Ruben’s plight. At first, I didn’t know if I could legally put together an event, so I called NASPA officials. I learned that a ‘club tournament’ did not require posting information on the Official Tournament Calendar, thus, I could conduct a spontaneous tournament and if Ruben played in it, that would qualify him to play in Dayton.

I called Bob and suggested I hold a club tournament on Sunday, July 12, at CLUB #350 in Aliso Viejo, at The Neighborhood Cup. He was delighted.

I posted an email to my readership, and within hours had responses from other players who wanted to come and be a part of the event. I contacted the proprietors of The Neighborhood Cup and sought their cooperation for a few minor needs; they were happy to help.

Pictured above are the players who came to help make it possible for Ruben to play in Dayton. We all feel great about being a part of this. (left to right: (back) Kevin Rickhoff, Bob Vanech, Dan Radlauer, Donna Dwaileebe, Beverly Moutet (front) Laura Rickhoff, Tristan Vanech, and Ruben Radlauer) photo taken by Jim Cassidy

Scrabble Players Are The Bomb!