Eddie Petrizzi
by Ben Brighton

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	Eddie Petrizzi at NYC Big Blue Doubles 2004

But due to better training, nutrition and in some cases steroids today’s athletes are so huge it’s hard for young fans to identify with them. But if you want to look for inspiration to a “smaller” person playing much larger than his height, look no further than Eddie Petrizzi.

A mainstay at the Coney Island handball courts for two decades, Eddie at 5’7” 140 pounds and 43 years old with silver hair looks like he should be calling the short line.

But put him on the court with the city’s best big blue players and you can’t take your eyes off him. If you compare his skills with those of the premier players such as “Rookie” Wright, “PeeWee” Castro, George Figueroa, etc. he comes up lacking in the important skill categories. His left hand and power are just average compared to the other “A” players. But what Eddie has are a great defense, excellent quickness and a knowledge and understanding of the game and what it takes to win.

Like a center fighting for position under the basket, Eddie fights for control of the short line where games are won and lost. He uses the top of the wall, a lost art form for many, as well as anybody.

Then there are intangibles ­ heart, desire, and determination which you can’t measure on a chart but make a player play “bigger” than he is. At the end of the day Eddie’s back, legs and arms are covered in black and blue bruises, a small price to pay to retrieve a ball or prevent a killer from his opponent. He has competed in dozens of tournaments, and to his credit, has placed in the “top four” many times.

He doesn’t limit himself to just handball. Each fall he plays in a football league. His position ­ wide receiver ­ putting his body in harm’s way against bigger opponents and has won team MVP honors.

In the movie “Damn Yankees” the song “You Gotta Have Heart” inspired the Washington Senators to beat the mighty Yankees. That is something that “Fast Eddie” has plenty of heart.

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