Sunday Stats: Paul Haber: Part 2
Paul Haber: A Win for Booze and Nicotine published in Sports Illustrated on March 31, 1969
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.
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.
Part 1 of Paul Haber Sunday Stats HERE, we revisited 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
In Part 2 of Paul Haber on the WPH Sunday Stats, we will revisit the feature story A Win for Booze and Nicotine HERE, written by Pat Putnam and published in Sports Illustrated on March 31, 1969.
A Win for Booze and Nicotine chronicles Paul Haber’s national championship run in 1969 in Austin, defeating Billy Yambrick in a three-game final. A Win for Booze and Nicotine also details the generosity and benevolence of the USHA founder Bob Kendler.
“Look,” Haber said, “I know a lot of people don’t like me. But I didn’t come out here to win friends; I came out to win the handball championship. Dammit, if they ever gave me the sportsmanship trophy, I’d give up handball. And I can’t understand why everybody doesn’t feel the same way. So I drink and smoke. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. Why should I quit just because I’m playing a game?”
A Win for Booze and Nicotine HERE written by Pat Putnam and published in Sports Illustrated on March 31, 1969
Watch Andy Hollan’s Paul Haber – Against the Wall documentary HERE
Mission to Remember Little-Remembered Handball Legend written by John Wilkens in the January 11, 2011 edition of the Chicago Tribune HERE
David Fink
WPH Historian