Interview with Barney J. Reed: "King-Pong" Returns to Competition

By Larry Hodges

What have you been doing and where have you been the past two years?

First and foremost I would like to say thank you for granting me this interview. I would like to take this opportunity to say that I made a very unfortunate mistake and have learned a lot through this whole process. A word of caution to all athletes: Be very careful with anything that you put in your body. "Over the counter" does not mean that it is OK to take, especially not for Olympic events. Please call everything in to the USADA Hotline and check it out with the authorities, no matter what it is. Even some cold medicines can cause you to test positive.

The past two years have been very challenging for me. I went from playing the best table tennis of my life to being suspended and not competing at all. This time was quite tough for me and I had serious thoughts of quitting the sport. Truly, if it were not for the constant press that I kept receiving from the media, especially Sports Illustrated branding me with the name "King-Pong," I may have walked away from something in my life that I have not yet had a chance to finish.

Being away has helped me appreciate how much table tennis is a part of my life. I believe this whole unfortunate incident has turned out as a blessing in disguise. Now that I’m back in competition I have some unfinished goals that have been on hiatus, and I intend to accomplish these and much more. The amazing thing that came from all this is the way the media has followed my story. As I make my comeback, while continuing to follow through with my career, I plan to use my connection with the media to promote table tennis. My goals are to assist USA Table Tennis in regaining the status we deserve, while promoting our sport through the public awareness that I have received.

For the past two years I have been a practice partner for some of the best players in the world. I am especially thankful for the relationships that I have developed with the coaches and players on the Taiwan Team. They have been very helpful in so many ways. In the future I would like to bring these players to the United States to help with our development. Having the opportunity to train and compete (in training) with these world-class players has shown me that I have what it takes to reach their level. Practicing without tournament competition has given me the opportunity and focus to take my game to the next level. Most athletes at the career stage I was in do not have the opportunity to focus on just training, due to their competition schedule.

Is there anything in particular that you have developed or worked on in your game over the past two years?

Yes, I have worked on three main areas of my game. The first one being the mental side of my game, my approach to tournaments, along with my state of mind during matches. A major role in this has been my training with David Zhuang. He has helped me tremendously on the mental side of the game. In my opinion, David is the best in the world when it comes to mental toughness. The second is I have retained a professional physical trainer named Bob Grimwood. He has been a huge asset in my development as a professional table tennis athlete. He has made me work on specific strength training drills that target the muscles used for table tennis, as well as developed a proper nutrition regiment. The third is as always working with my father (Barney D. Reed) on redefining and maintaining the proper technique. With proper technique there is no limit to what maximum level one will ultimately achieve.

Where are you living and training these days? Who do you practice with?

Most of my time has been spent in Taiwan, California, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. My residence is in California, but I travel and train staying with my family and friends. When I am not overseas, or training with David Zhuang, I train specific drills on the Newgy Robot under my father’s watchful eye. The Newgy Robot has and always will be a huge part of my training program. I am planning to take advantage of the U.S. Olympic training center in San Diego. It has sports psychology and sports medicine along with some of the best athletic trainers in the world, giving me the complete package of a world-class athlete.

What will be your first USATT sanctioned tournament?

I am not sure what my first USATT sanctioned tournament will be but when I left competition I was the top American born athlete. Now that I am back, I will be retaking that elite status. As for my first major tournament, my planned itinerary will be to play in the Japan Open, Korea Open, China Open, Malaysia Open, German Open, Danish Open, Swedish Open, and all ITTF Pro Tour events. My intent is to gain the international tournament experience that is needed to be one of the world’s best. The current world champion is in his thirty’s and I am only 25 years old. This has given me a lot to shoot for. My commitment is to stay on this training schedule through the 2008 Olympic Games.

Anything to add?

Yes, I would like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge those who have stood by me over the years, and through all of this: GOD, my parents/family for their never-ending love and support, Mr. Joe Newgarden, Escalade Sports, Stiga, Mr. Mitch Rothfleisch, Mr. Jerry Wartski, Mr. George Winn, NYAC, Mr. Mark Abrams, Mr. Andrew Murray, the Zhuang family, Mr. Dick Miles, Mr. Bill Cooper, Mr. Bob Grimwood, Mr. Byng Forsberg, Train Yard Gym, B-Fit Fitness and my many friends and fans around the table tennis world. As always, no athlete can reach the top without a strong support group. You are all a major part of my success that lies ahead. My apologies to anyone that I may have left out, or forgotten. Also a special thank you is in order to those naysayers and their constant pursuit to destroy and discredit me. For without them the name "King-Pong" would not be as sweet. In closing, I am very confident that everyone will be pleased when they see me play. From here on out I will let my racket do the talking.

Note: Two years ago, at the 2001 U.S. Open/ITTF Pro Tour, Barney tested positive in drug tests for 19-norandrosterone, a USOC banned substance that is available over the counter. Pursuant to the United States Anti-Doping Agency Protocol for Olympic Movement Testing, Barney was suspended by the American Arbitration Association’s Court for Arbitration for Sport Arbitration Tribunal for two years. The suspension ended on July 6, 2003, and Barney is now back in action.