Doug...Charlie will be smiling his big happy smile when I tell
him about your comments. Although I actively played only one season
with him at Ft. Pierce in 1975, I can tell you we were inseparable
during that year. Of all the close friends that I have from playing
many years of pro...Charlie ranks up in the top ten. He is beloved
and equally considered a legend in his own way by many of his
peers in the sport whether they played with him or not. He is
much younger than you guessed...happy, healthy and always the
fun loving, easy going guy that you remember.
I was already playing pro when I first met Charlie in 1971...he
was an amateur and we hit it off. When he played for the U.S.
team at the World Championship in St. Jean-de-Luz in 1972, I was
playing partidos in Spain. I transferred to France to play 2 weeks
of partidos in St. Jean and Biarritz and hang with the American
team (which included Joey). Charlie and I have some great memories
of that time spent together. We later hooked up again at Ft. Pierce
1975...his 1st pro year. Rosie was Charlie's girl friend...we
had many fun times that year. We parted ways and hooked up again
in Connecticut. Charlie was playing Bridgeport and I was in Hartford.
After I left Connecticut, I knew about his AAJA...we kept in touch
and I finally hooked up with him again at the Citrus Tourney 3
years ago. I met his 2nd wife and we had a great evening together.
Charlie is doing well and living in Miami. We remain close friends.
My book memoirs will certainly include a chapter devoted to him...we
have some very funny stories about some VERY well knowns of the
game.
