Hitting it around with Sudsy Monchik
Well Sudsy your back. What brought you back to the game?
Negretz brought me back!!! Truthfully I was never away from the game totally. I have been with doing various things with Head/Penn behind the scenes and my contract has been in tact sine I announced my retirement .Doug Ganim called me at the end of last season to see if I would be interested in coming back and the rest is history.
What did you do doing your time away from the game?
I gained weight and played with my kids! That in itself was a fulltime job. I played a ton of golf and also learned an entirely new business. Internet marketing.
How good is Philadelphia Phillies star Jeff Conine on the racquetball court?
“Niner” is awesome. He is obviously an incredible athlete and can still hit the racquetball like any professional. He easily could have been one of the best had he chose racquetball over baseball. I think he made a decent choice.
Family is important to you how did they feel when you decided to return?
They were exhilarated. Everyone has always been so supportive no matter what decisions I have made. But when I told them I was coming back it was high energy. My brother and sisters were screaming and my mom and dad were excited. They are all anxious to come to Memphis again.
You made a move to Florida from New York a few years ago … still a Yankee fan and are they your pick for the series champion?
I have been in Florida for 3 years now and it is a different world compared to NY. I will always be a real Yankee fan and they will be my pick to win the series every year until my son is pitching for some MLB team.
How did you feel walking into the court the first time back in Kansas City?
I was amped up! Really excited. It was funny but I actually felt like I was starting over. Cliff and Jason even called me rookie a few times which was funny. The KC fans and club was a perfect way to start. Great event and great people in charge. Thanks Mike and Julie.
Do you feel the direction of the tour is going well?
The tour is fine. Things take time and Negretz is working hard. There will always be room for improvement or more money but we all need to be positive and stay together.
How much longer do you think it will take for you to get into “racquetball condition” where you feel that conditioning will not be a factor?
I really felt fine after playing Rocky in KC. My body feels great and I have been training real hard at home. I just need to see more tournament play and court time. Practice is practice but it is like sparring in boxing. My conditioning is fine now. I just need to get more action on the court.
Who is your favorite baseball player?
I have many friends that play on various teams in MLB so its tough to pick one or the other but at this point Derek Jeter is just top shelf. Everything he does he does hard and with class.
This is your first year on the tour with the new Pro Penn HD ball. What do you think of it?
The ball is perfect for pro play and television. The color is great and I think it will be beneficial to television. And I like the way silver sharpies look on them for autographs!
Do you have any comments on the announcement that this will be Cliff’s last year?
Where do I start? Cliff is a walking freak show. He is 40 or 50 and he plays like he is 20. He is the toughest competitor I know and I am happy to call him a great friend. Cliff will definitely be missed. Maybe if we have a good enough time this year he will stay but I can not imagine the IRT or professional racquetball without Cliff. What he has done in this sport over the past 20 something years is incomparable. He has always been an inspiration to me personally and my game. I have always tried to emulate his style and it is a real honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as him when talking about the greats. We both look forward to another 20 years of fun at his new bar/restaurant. Lucky’s@951 is the place to be when in Florida!
What did you miss the most while you were off?
The competition. The fight and grind to be the best. Entertaining the fans and crowds. Having a cocktail with the guys after wanting to kill eachother on the court. I missed it all and that’s why I am back!
Who wins the Super Bowl this year?
Da’ Bears………
You and IRT star Jason Mannino are good friends. Are you looking forward to hanging out with him on tour again?
First off we are best of friends. Basically brothers. We were born and raised together and will be until we die. Hanging out with him is filled with uncontrollable laughter. Rooming together is a blast. We can definitely do a reality TV show. Just follow me and Jay around…WOW!
Are you looking forward to getting on the portable court again at the US OPEN?
THE THING I WANT TO DO MOST IN MY RETURN IS WIN MEMPHIS AGAIN!
I really think part of my existence on this earth is to play on that court as much as possible.
Thanks for the time Sudsy. The IRT and fans are all excited about your return and look forward to watching battling back on the court again.