President's Report

May/June 2005

By Sheri Soderberg Pittman

With the passing of table tennis icon Jimmy McClure, I’d like to devote much of this issue’s president’s report to recognizing him and his contributions to USATT.  In the ongoing “association primer series,” I’d also like to educate the membership on the general relationship between the USTTA Foundation and USATT.

Many will recall the immense financial success of the Olympic Games hosted by Los Angeles in 1984.  The marketing genius behind the success, Peter Ueberroth, is the current president of the United States Olympic Committee. 

Shortly after the final profits of the 1984 Games were known, Jimmy McClure was appointed to a 5-person USOC committee charged with recommending an appropriate distribution of the multimillion dollar windfall.  According to Jimmy, representatives from the large sports had felt that they would receive greater proceeds than the smaller less-known and less-successful sports.  They even felt that the committee would rubber-stamp their proposal.  But Jimmy protested and spoke up for all of the other sports.  Ultimately, each sport was given roughly $1 million.

As Tim Boggan recounts in Jimmy’s obituary (see p. 26), as then-USATT president, Tim felt that Jimmy would be the best person to safeguard our association’s windfall.  Jimmy established the USTTA Foundation.  Having a separate Foundation ensured that USATT would benefit from the windfall through a permanent annual flow of interest proceeds.  It also shielded the money from being liquidated to cover USATT obligations, debts, or legal judgments.  To bridge the relationship between the national association and the Foundation, USATT accorded the Foundation a seat on the USATT Board of Directors.  Until his death, Jimmy was the USTTA Foundation president and USATT Board representative.      

Jimmy was rightly very proud of his many contributions, political accomplishments, and athletic achievements.  As Jimmy was growing older and older, he maintained his passion for continuing to serve our sport at all levels – within USATT, the USOC and the ITTF.  He also chaired both the ITTF Merit Award and USATT Hall of Fame Committees.   The ITTF is planning a special commemoration of Jimmy at this year’s World Championships. 

Regarding his glory days, I once asked him what he attributed his success to.  Jimmy paused and recalled, “After every tournament my parents expected me to tell them how I did.  I knew if I lost, they would want an explanation.  So when I would play against someone, I’d always say to myself, “What reason would I give to my parents if I lost?”  As the match went on, I’d say to myself, ‘There’s no reason I could give for losing to him.’  So, I’d just do my best to win, and I usually did.”  

For more details about Jimmy, please read his Hall of Fame profile at www.usatt.org and sign the guestbook at www.caringbridge.org/fl/jimmymcclure.  USATT extends its great appreciation to Jimmy’s widow, Nell, for supporting Jimmy’s ongoing service to table tennis throughout so many decades.  On USATT’s behalf, I extend our condolences to her.

Congratulations to Dell Sweeris who has been selected to succeed Jimmy as the Foundation president.  Dell was also selected by the Foundation to fill its allocated USATT Board seat.  Dell’s table tennis achievements and contributions have spanned decades – as a former champion player and coach, husband of Ping Pong Diplomacy participant Connie and father of Olympian and former USATT Board member Todd.  Dell formerly served on USATT’s Board and we welcome his return.

Congratulations also to Steve Isaacson who has been appointed the new USATT Hall of Fame Chairman.  One of the objectives Steve has already stated that he would like to achieve is to have a dedicated table tennis exhibition in the proposed National Sports Museum in New York City.  USATT asks all of our treasured champions and aficionados to consider donating your special trophies, medals and memorabilia for the cause of ultimately having our very own Hall of Fame collection.

Please read the accompanying Executive Director’s report by Doru Gheorghe.  It provides an update of recent USATT activities and accomplishments.  I’d like to add my congratulations to Gao Jun and Adam Hugh for winning, respectively, the North American Women’s Singles and Junior Boys titles.  Congratulations also to Stephanie Shih, Elena Sowers, Jeff Huang and Steven Chang for qualifying to participate in the World Cadet Challenge Cup. 

Please also review the Treasurer’s Report for an overview of USATT’s 2004 financial status.  As the report alludes to, the arbitration matter between USATT and Killerspin has not yet been resolved. 

As always, I thank the many contributors who are working hard to spearhead USATT’s projects and initiatives.   If you are willing to volunteer your expertise and/or time, please contact Doru or me.