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Catching up with TBB: Then, Now, and What’s Next originally appeared on WPH Patreon (HERE) on May 3, 2020. If you want breaking news, rare interviews, and handball exclusive daily, become a WPH Patreon Pledge Supporter.
Known as “The Blonde Bombshell” for his golden locks and two-handed power, Allan Garner was one of the game’s most exciting and best players for nearly a decade after making his first national semifinal in 2005. TBB was ranked #1 on the WPH (pre R48) pro tour in 2010, won the 2010 Simple Green U.S. Open, made the finals of the 2009 World Championships, and was a contender for every major title until he stopped playing full-time in 2014. TBB has rarely spoken about his prodigious talent and sensational career, but the Texan opened to Patreon, discussing his best match, his biggest win, the matches that got away, Dave Chapman, his incredible left and much more in Catching up with TBB. Enjoy!
You played in so many great matches in your pro career. What was the best match you ever played?
I’d have to say the ‘09 world finals would be the best. I had tough match after tough match against the worlds best (still remember my opponents and scores of each match), and was completely worn out by the time the finals rolled around. I did play well, and fought hard to win the second game, but came up short in the tiebreaker unfortunately. I have many fond memories of the entire tournament!
You were always on the short list of contenders to win any big event. What was the biggest pro tournament win of your career?
Definitely the 2010 US Open. We have many tournaments but only a few majors, and getting one was always important. I would be lying if I said that the money wasn’t important, but the money has been spent yet I still have the trophy.
As with all top athletes, there will always be those matches and tournaments that slipped away. What match sticks out for you that you still wished you would have won?
There’s a few. I’ve lost five 11-10 tiebreakers, and they all sucked. The one that really sticks out was against Danny Bell in the semifinals at the 2005 Nationals. I remember being up 9-3, and a little conservative play combined with Danny hitting a bunch of crack serves is what did me in. It sticks out because I was starting to move up in the pro ranks, and was contending for a major title for the first time. It was a brutal way for that run to end.
Dave Chapman served as a mentor and coach for you and your brothers when you were teenagers. What was it like to have Dave coming to your house and teaching you the fundamentals while also developing a friendship with him?
Hangin’ with Dave was always a good time. He came down to San Antonio a couple of times, and my younger brother and I went to St. Louis a few times as well. We learned a lot from Dave (Specifically a lot of the fundamentals that were lacking), which was great; however, hanging outside of the handball court was just as good or better. He was always down to do anything that involves some sort of competition, which is right up our alley. I was lucky to have Dave as a mentor and friend.
Fast forward about five years from Chapman traveling to your house to coach you. Dave became one of your greatest rivals and your match-ups seemed to always produce sensational two and half hour thrillers. What was it like playing Dave in those big pro matches, usually in the semis or finals of big events?
Some of those matches were so damn grueling, but I always looked forward to the challenge of playing him. The match-up was so good for a few reasons. We knew each other’s game really well, so we both knew what to expect for the most part. What I had going for me was that he couldn’t count on my defensive strokes breaking down and him getting back wall setups all day, I had good passes and kills with either hand, and I had a really good back wall with either hand. What he had going for him were those amazing hands, defensive strokes, control, anticipation, and the best back wall game. It all added up to a great match almost every time we played against each other.
You were known as having the best left in handball for more than a decade. Some people even argued that you were left-handed. How did you develop such a strong left?
I was always ambidextrous, but used my left primarily for writing, eating, brushing my teeth, among other things. I usually had a stronger right for throwing, and sports in general; However, I can use my left for almost every sport fairly well with a couple of exceptions. For handball, I would always warm up my left the exact same way that I would my right, in fact I’d try to practice more with my left. During the practice games I would try to eliminate unnecessary footwork by hitting the ball with whatever hand it was going to. For example, if I was on the right side of the court and it was headed to my left side, I preferred to hit it with my left rather than move around to hit it with my right, and vice versa.
You stepped away from the game in your 20’s at an age when you could have become the best in the game due to work and family commitments. Have you missed the game?
I miss it every day. I miss the competition, the preparation, but most of all I miss the camaraderie. It’s a cliche, but true nonetheless. Is a comeback possible? Of course. I know that if I decide to do it, it will be absolutely brutal trying to get back in playing shape. My shots are still there, but stamina is nonexistent and reflexes have gotten slow since I’ve been away! I can say that I’m loving life and have zero regrets, but handball will always be a part of my life.
Who did you consider your toughest rival when you were at the top of your game?
I’d say that my toughest rival was David Chapman. We had some legendary matches, quite a few in fact. I never played Paul Brady that much, I lost to Sean Lenning many times, and was lucky enough to beat Luis Moreno more than I should have. Those are my reasons why we weren’t considered a rivalry. Just my opinion!
Can you talk about your World Championship run at the 2009 World Championships? You advanced through arguably the toughest draw in history to the final, defeating Chapman, Moreno, and Kennedy before you ran into Brady. Can you describe how you were feeling through that run? What was working for you in that event?
I had trained very hard leading up to worlds, lost a lot of weight. About six weeks before the tournament I started eating more, worked out less, and played more handball. I also met my future wife, which played a huge role. I can’t tell you exactly why, but I had more confidence than ever before. Not only was it the first tournament that Erika attended, but I had my parents, my brother Aaron, and my friend Landon Curry acting as my coach, all of which helped. I’ve had some tough draws that I wasn’t happy with (Tucson 2012 Hahahaha), but decided that I had to prove myself no matter what. I played Joe McCann in the round of 32, Eoin Kennedy, David Chapman, Luis Moreno, and finally Paul Brady. That draw was stacked! I gained more confidence after every victory, and was a different player after it was over. It’s one of my best, if not the best accomplishments I’ve had in handball.
You faced Brady in the final of the 2009 Worlds. After losing game one and falling behind in game two, you stunned the then two-time world champion by winning the next 14 points to force a third. You staged another incredible comeback in the tiebreaker but came up just short. Is that a match you remember fondly or with regret? What could you have done differently to have changed the outcome?
If my memory serves me correctly, I believe I was down 14-7 in the second. I was exhausted, but my left caught FIRE. It was one of those moments in time when everything is effortless, and every ball you hit is perfect; he seemed pretty shocked at the end of the second game. I have fond memories of that match, mixed with a little regret that I missed a few in the breaker. I do believe that Brady should never have been allowed to take an injury timeout, it was completely bogus to me.
You have played just a few events in the past six years and the cast has almost completely changed from your time at the top. The Cordovas, Killian, and Martin were just coming onto the scene as powerhouse players as you were stepping away. Who do you like to watch today and why?
I still like to watch Sean, he is such a great shot maker that just hits some unbelievable shots. Martin has so much power, really unbelievable how he’s hitting it. Killian gets absolutely everything, as do the Cordova’s. I can tell you that Daniel Cordova has a great hop serve, I witnessed that first hand! I also like watching some of the older matches with Chapman, Bike, Silveyra, Muñoz, and Naty. I believe that there was a greater variation in their style of play, but maybe the ball had something to do with that.
Who would you have liked to have played amongst today’s players when you were at your best?
I’d like to really get in shape, work my way up, and have another crack at Daniel Cordova. I took an absolutely terrible L the only time I’ve played him, and I’ve played everyone else at least twice without taking a beating that bad.
What would you tell an aspiring pro player who is trying to reach the heights that you reached in pro handball?
I would tell aspiring pros to play every tournament possible. I believe that nothing will make you better at handball than playing against the best possible competition.
Handball is a huge part of your family. Your dad plays, your younger brother Aaron has been in the R48 Elite 8 and is currently in the R48 top 20 and your older brother Alex also plays. What has handball meant to your family?
Handball is a huge part of our lives; We still play as a family to this very day. It has been a bonding experience as well as a competitive outlet for all of us. Handball has given us thousands of memories over the years.
Can you explain the “Vamos” cheers we started hearing in your 2009-2010 run?
Ha! Handball is a gentleman’s sport, similar to golf. The fans, for the most part, seem the same. Erika was different. Always cheering, and loud. Encouraging. Motivating. Some loved it, some didn’t, but I sure as hell did. She is so genuine, and never cared who heard her. I remember that (after a rally) the clapping would die down, and right then she would yell out her famous phrase: “vamos!”
What do you do these days without pro handball (before the coronavirus)?
I work a lot, and spend much time with the family, what you would call a “ family man.” I did start playing again, after a 10 month hiatus due to a shoulder injury. Now seems like a good time to tell you that Erika is pregnant again, we’re expecting a third in October!
Word Association
Chapman: Coordination
Bike: Thumper
Brady: Machine
Killian: Speed
Portland: Brother
Austin: Hippie
Race 4 Eight: Savior of pro handball
David Fink
WPH Patreon Writer