Interview with Barney J. Reed

By Larry Hodges & Tahl Leibovitz

Photo by Larry Hodges Copyright 2001.

Age: 23

Club: Manhattan Table Tennis Club

Equipment: Stiga Clipper with Innova Rubber max.

How old were you when you started to play, and how did you start? 

I don’t really know.  Probably one or two years old. When I started my dad tied a ball to the end of a string, and hung it from the ceiling. As you hit it, it swung back and fourth like a pendulum.  I had to hit it every night before I went to sleep to learn a stroke. Then my dad cut the legs off a table and set it on crates.  He would play me on his knees. I was able to hit fifty forehands in a row before I could count to fifty.

Who were your coaches when you started out? Who are your coaches now? 

My first, and still my coach, is my father. [Editor’s note: that’s USATT Vice President Barney D. Reed. See middle initials – “D” is for Dad, “J” is for Junior.]

Who are your sponsors/supporters?

My parents, Newgy, Stiga and Manhattan Table Tennis Club (Jerry Wartski) and numerous friends who are always there for me.  Without all of these people, reaching my goals in table tennis could not be possible.

Who do you practice with, and how often?

I practice between 4-6 hours six days a week. My practice partners are Newgy robot, Atanda Musa, Tahl Leibovitz, Lee McCool, Wang Chen, Jerry Wartski, Alexis Perez, Renata Peluchova  and Wally Green (he is in Germany training now).

What are your major titles?

•  1997 U.S. National Under 18 Boys’ Singles Champion

•  1998 National Men’s Doubles Champion

•  1998 North American Men’s Doubles Champion

•  1998 Under 22 Men’s Singles Champion

•  4-time U.S. Team Member

Photo by Larry Hodges Copyright 2001.

Have you ever trained overseas? Where?

Yes.  I’ve trained in China, Taiwan, Japan, Sweden, Croatia, England, Dominican Republic, Germany, so yes, basically everywhere table tennis is played seriously.

Who is your favorite player and why?

Waldner is my favorite player because of his innovation and anticipation of the ball.  Also he has been on top for so long.

Outside of table tennis, what do you like to do? Hobbies, sports, etc.

I like playing basketball, running and working out.  I like watching basketball.

Are you a full-time table tennis player?

Yes.

What are your table tennis goals? Both short-, intermediate- and long-term?

My short-term table tennis goal is to win the nationals.  My intermediate goal is to be the #1 player in this country.  My long-term goal is to be the first player in the United States to win a Medal in the Olympics for table tennis.

How about your non-table tennis goals?

Securing my future financially and emotionally.  Also being able to share the beauty of life with my girlfriend.

Any advice for new players who would like to someday make the USA Olympic Team?

Train and work hard.  No matter what you do never give up.  You can always improve, if there’s a will there’s a way.

Anything else you’d like to say?

I want to thank all my fans and supporters that have stood by me over the years and believed in my goal of becoming the best table tennis player I can be.