Chances are that if you play racquetball anywhere, you know Ruben Gonzales has chosen to play full time on the International Racquetball Tour this season. And if you know, chances are also good that you are interested in knowing how he is doing with his quest to break the top 10 rankings. How you gauge his quest and even his success depends on your point of view. 

Ruben's view is that as long as it draws attention and promotes the sport, it will all end up well, regardless of ranking success. "I just wanted to get out there one more time and dedicate myself. I've been finding that my body needs time to recover between pro stops and hinders my ability to fully train, but it's something that I'm recognizing and working through ...I'm glad I'm here."

It's interesting to see Ruben's progressions through some matches. Against other players trying to break into the rankings, his matches often follow a pattern of Ruben winning the first game or two, and then him trying to figure out the following games as his conditioning comes into play. When this happens, those rooting for him feel like they are on a roller coaster, which can be a ton of fun to experience. Often after, those who just finished playing Ruben (win or lose), ask him for his autograph. It's cool to see.

Though against top tier players, the outcomes and have been pretty much what you would expect so far. Still, it's an opportunity to see him on the court along with the best players in the world, again. Ruben's take is that it is good for the sport, if only for this season and his personal journey.

Here are two other takes we found:

Taken from The Racquetball Blog written by Evan Pritchard...

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Recently, Ruben Gonzalez, racquetball legend and former #1 men's pro player, signed an agreement with Ektelon that will see him play on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) the next two seasons with the stated goal of being in the top 10 when he turns 60 on July 22, 2012.

Yes, 60. Sixty. Six decades on the planet.

The collective response to this around The Racquetball Blog office has been a collective "huh?" We don't wonder why Ektelon is doing this, as it's a great promotional thing. Gonzalez is an esteemed member of the racquetball community, so it's completely understandable that Ektelon would like to align itself with him.

Indeed, Gonzalez is so esteemed that this move has not been met with out and out derision. But a sixty year old thinking he can be a top 10 pro racquetball player? Who's kidding who here?

Racquetball is a speed and power game requiring significant flexibility, and all of those qualities decrease significantly with age. They decrease even if one remains active, as Gonzalez has. He remains a very good player, and has a streak of making at least the Round of 16 once (or more) for 28 consecutive IRT seasons, though he has yet to do so this season.

But making the 16s once a season is much different from being in the top 10 at the end of a season.

However, consider for a moment that Gonzalez is able to do that: be a top 10 player at 60. How would that reflect on the other IRT players? Short answer: badly.

If a 60 year old can be a top 10 IRT player then it begs the question as to how good the IRT field is. And if a 60 can be a top 10 IRT player it doesn't put anyone winning IRT events in a good light, so Kane Waselenchuk, the current IRT #1, should be rooting against Gonzalez because if Gonzalez is successful it suggests that all of Waselenchuk's wins are partly due to a lower quality pool of IRT players compared with past years.

Perhaps Gonzalez's plan is to play all the events, make the 16s at each, and hope that gets him enough points to be in the top 10. But he'd have to pass players currently on the edge of the top 10 - such as Charlie Pratt and Anthony Herrera, who have both won matches against higher ranked competition this season. Could Gonzalez beat anyone in the top 8?

Of course, the game is played on the court not on paper or in the imagination, but we can't imagine Gonzalez defeating anyone currently in the top 8.

Gonzalez's top 10 goal is good for him and Ektelon, and from a marketing perspective maybe even the IRT and racquetball in general.

But it's craziness.

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Taken from the Racquetball Strategy Blog -written by Dirk Newnam

(Slightly edited...you can read the complete entry here.)

Farewell Pro Racquetball Tour - A too brief interview with Ruben Gonzales

-November 8, 2011

What kind of a guy is Ruben Gonzales? Everything you've been told. A class guy in every way. I was at the Seattle Open men's pro stop and amateur open this last weekend; having never seen this group of pros live...

...It's a funny thing to see people (both pros and broadcast people and coaches) from the tour that you have only seen, or heard, on the Irt Network on your computer. You feel like you can walk up to them, and they will know you, and be ready to carry on a conversation with full familiarity. Of course not the case.

In Rubens case; the transition was quick. Like an excited kid I talked too much, but Ruben was able to get a word in edgewise enough to, with his permission, and at his suggestion; for me to write about his plans for his future in racquetball. This is his farewell tour. He will cease and desist from just the pro IRT tour at the end of this season in mid 2012. He will however continue to play in all other venues of his choice locally and abroad. I didn't ask him if that included the CPRT, but we can hope. We are three years difference in age. Ruben, as I told him, has been one of my inspirations since 1988; when he won the pro tour at the advanced age of 35. We just couldn't believe that someone that old could win the pro tour!! Then when we found out that he was a "getter" of opponents shots keeping him in the rally using foot speed and diving, it was even more unbelievable for a 35 year old who should be declining in this skill. It inspired all us early 30 year olds that there was still hope to make a serious impact on the racquetball world.

I suppose that is still the case now for us early to mid 50 year olds, since Ruben is still in the pro game, and not doing all that badly; all things considered. He has gone to five games with his last two early round opponents; which is an incredible feat for a guy almost 60! I watched one (not here in Seattle much to my disappointment) a week ago on the IRT Network (.com) He works his opponent with a high percentage racquetball game that keeps him in the game, without his foot speed of the past, controlling center court like a boxer cutting off the ring and chasing down a faster opponent.

He is doing this tour, as we both agreed, so that he would never have to look back and say "what if". He's leaving it all on the table. He's working out on weights and doing all he should be doing.

All this aside, it was a delight to talk to a 30 year inspiration that is Ruben Gonzales. I hope to have another chance. Here is a direct link to Ruben's website. It contains all kinds of great stuff. He is also an artist and some of his work is displayed here. http://www.rubenracquetball.com/ I'm not so sure he is still using this site to sell products, but I included a facebook link below where you can get a hold of him. He has a number of racquetball related services. Well worth spending some time here if you want the input of the games longest lasting professional; well known for being a gentleman on and off the court. Oh, and his direct contact information is at the bottom of his website. And here is Ruben's facebook page link if you want to send him a message, or find our how to get or find out more about his new specialty racquetball racket. http://www.facebook.com/people/Ruben-Gonzalez/765034270. There is also fantastic slide show on Ruben's facebook page. Lots of photos of many of the great pros, both past and present, with Ruben.

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LEGACY

His legacy is unique in that he may not have multiple years as a world number one yet he is considered a legend. Even he isn't sure how many national divisional titles he has. It is admirable that through all these years, he's never stopped playing, proving his intense love of the game. He is a true journeyman. And deserves the place he holds in the Hall of Fame.

MEANING

One thing is clear, Ruben Gonzalez continues to be a presence in the world of racquetball that inspires. His physical abilities belies his age and you can't help but admire his dedication to racquetball, in all it's forms.There isn't a racquetball community in the country that doesn't know of him. Whether at the biggest event of the year, the US Open or at an inner city  park in New York hitting around with a kid who's never heard of a Kane or a Rocky, he transcends any differences in how people play this sport and taps into the reasons we play. We play because it's important in our lives to do so. We derive a richness in our lives from the time and effort we put into the competition and community. His story is deep and a conversation with him can leave you looking at your own involvement in the sport with a renewed enthusiasm.

Special thanks to Evan Pritchard and Dirk Newnam for their contributions.

----Restrung Magazine