"What do Paul Assaiante, John Nimick and Hashim Khan have in common?
Winning. Not Charlie Sheen-esque #winning and tiger-blood and other
ego-related nonsense: Skill, persistence, perseverance and endurance.
Lots of winners will be in the house on Wednesday night for the
screening of Khan’s documentary/biopic Keep Eye on Ball: The Hashim Khan Story.
Why is this interesting? Less so, for many, the opportunity to see
the story of one of the greats in the underappreciated professional
world of squash, than to hear about the impact that one local initiative
has on the community. RhodySquash,
directed by co-founder Ross Freiman-Mendel and hosted at Newport Squash
on Freebody Street, is a gem in Newport that few know about.
RhodySquash works with kids from Thompson via squash and academic
entrenchment.
Urban squash initiatives are few and far between but are highly
successful. RhodySquash, in its infancy, is no exception. By focusing
squarely on academics, community service and squash – and partnering
students with dedicated tutors, teachers and coaches – RhodySquash
fosters more than just academic and physical fitness: it fosters
confidence, teamwork, individual success and provides the opportunity to
excel.
So who are Paul Assaiante, John Nimick and Hashim Khan, and why are
they interesting? Hashim Khan won the British Open and changed the sport
of squash forever. John Nimick was a top-ranked professional squash
player and formerly was the Executive Director of the Professional
Squash Association. Paul Assaiante, squash coach at Trinity College, led
his teams to 252 consecutive match victories and 13 straight national
championships. That’s over ten years that Trinity went
undefeated, and was the longest winning streak in collegiate athletics.
Paul’s teams have records that will stand for a long time in NCAA
history.
Please join Ross, Paul, John Nimick and many others Wednesday night
at the Casino Theatre on Freebody Street for RhodySquash’s friendraiser.
In conjunction with newportFILM, they are presenting a screening of the
movie, but there will also be a wine reception at 6pm and a
post-screening Q&A with the film’s producer, Beth Rasin. This is an
event worth attending.
This is a great organization doing great good in Newport. Please spread the word!
Liz MacGillivray, Middletown RI"
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