Mission to Remember Little-Remembered Handball Legend
Published in the Chicago Tribune by John Wilkens on 1/13/2022
WPH Press
The WPH has proudly presented the WPH Sunday Stats since the start of 2020, highlighting the Race 4 Eight’s and Icebreaker’s greatest champions and stats, longest winning streaks, greatest accomplishments, tournament directors, nicknames, obscure stats, handball’s origins and history, handball champions featured in national publications, and so much more.
This Sunday we will revisit an article written by John Wilkens in the January 11, 2011 edition of the Chicago Tribune discussing the life of Paul Haber, and his protégés’ quest for his hero to be remembered.
Mission to Remember Little-Remembered Handball Legend HERE
Paul Haber was a polarizing figure in handball, most well known for his incredible touch and control, as well as his unconventional late night approach to prepare for championship matches.
“An intense competitor, Haber was big on intimidation, once leaving two doughnuts outside the court before a final as a prediction of his opponent’s game scores that day — two doughnuts as in two zeros. He screamed at referees, threw tantrums, and generally made the handball establishment wish he’d gone into tennis. Except that he was a valuable magnet to other players, the media and fans,” from Mission to Remember Little-Remembered Handball Legend.
Andy Hollan became Haber’s protégé when he was 15 and has been determined to ensure that Haber’s legacy and the memory of his championships and sublime skill is never forgotten.
Watch Andy Hollan’s Paul Haber – Against the Wall documentary HERE
Mission to Remember Little-Remembered Handball Legend HERE
David Fink
Handball Historian