detroit preview
Seems like everybody fires up the computer during the couple of weeks right before one of our Nationals; I’d bet BBO experiences peak North American traffic as we all come out to practice for the Nationals starting next week in Detroit.
It’s the last NABC of the Open 2007-08 cycle; it’s been my experience watching Open bridge that by now most teams have arranged themselves for “next year.” This year rates to be different — though I don’t know for certain, it feels like many teams are still in flux. There’s an interesting vibe at tournaments where there’s significant teammate-shopping going on, it should be fun to watch.
The last tournament turned stressful for George when Zia came to him during the Reisinger to announce his decision to pursue a partnership with Bob Hamman on the team captained by Nick Nickell. It wasn’t a surprise, or at least not exactly a surprise, but it was unexpected and tossed George into a whirlwind of activity he doesn’t particularly enjoy. (Though he may not enjoy shopping for teammates, he’s certainly great at it. Starting at the Summer NABC he’ll play with Ralph, Levin and Weinstein and Walid El Ahmady and Tarek Sadek from Egypt.)
Lots changed when Zia left to partner Hamman; Michael Rosenberg, apparently partnerless, won the affection of all my non-bridge-playing girlfriends when he was reported to have said that now he gets to play “with my favorite partner,” (Debbie, his wife). My fiction-writing brain focuses on where the Rosenbergs end up, will be interesting to watch and see.
Earlier this week I had an opportunity to congratulate Norberto Bocchi and Augustin Madala on their recent win at the White House tournament and to wish them a long and successful partnership together. “After 20 years,” Norberto said about the breakup of his celebrated partnership with Giorgio Duboin, “new stimulation.”
On behalf of George, the cherubs, and our collective teammates, condolences to the family and friends of Peter Hecht-Johansen.
I’ll blog from Detroit if there’s WiFi, please stay tuned.
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