Grand Central Terminal is unique enough on its own to be pretty awe-inspiring when you walk through it. The ceiling alone is jaw dropping, and will most definitely cause you to bump into a few angry commuters (I’m sorry). But when I was passing through GC last week on my way to Park Ave. I came across something so beyond cool that I had to chronicle it for you all – The J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions Squash. Effing nuts, man.
So basically someone one day said, “I want to play squash in the craziest place possible,” J.P. Morgan sponsored it, and this was the end result. Oh my god there’s a tournament poster! I’m falling in love with all of this as I type.
According to ESPNW, “the Tournament of Champions has become a premier stop on the international squash calendar, and organizers promote it as ‘the world’s largest squash spectator event.’ An estimated 200,000 commuters and sold-out crowds filled the 500-seat stadium throughout the tournament’s weeklong run.”
This year’s male winner was the number-two-in-the-world player Nick Matthew, who, despite being the tournament’s top seed, had to defeat then-#1 James Willstrop in the final match. Matthew ultimately regained the #1 ranking with the win. Intense stuff.
Recently the tournament was ranked among the world’s most unusual places to hold a sporting event, which include an air craft carrier and Fenway Park, natch (ok, it’s really hockey inside Fenway Park, but I couldn’t resist). Incidentally, it’s also the place I watched the Giants overtime win against the 49ers (unfortunately all the cheering was not for the two guys hitting that rubber ball against the wall over and over again).
If you’re ever in NYC in January, I think you should stop into Grand Central and check this out. Free admission goes to anyone willing to stand and watch the matches through a plexiglass wall. If only for five minutes, I guarantee it will be worth it.
NoMad Blogger 