As a 3-year resident of Bellingrath in the mid 80s, I dodged plenty of dead tennis balls as I passed through the court on the way to anywhere on campus. The game was played almost daily, and the players were almost always gracious and considerate. I enjoyed many afternoons sitting on the wall watching great people play a really cool game while the Violent Femmes and/or Depeche Mode blasted from the window of White Hall. A Rhodes tradition that should be resurrected!
I lived in the dorm room to the upper right 2nd story room if you look at the white ball roof. I graduated in 1993, The ball would often hit my window about 4 feet from my bed. White ball was played by hippies and intellectuals alike.
A good documentary. We played (and I cheered for!) Roofball 1971-74. The teams were on opposite sides of the roof then.
I agree with the comments on the seemingly less tolerant or interested or just plain less cool nature of the later student body(s). I suppose Things Fall Apart, as Bob Elfirt (and Yeats) teach us...
Of course, WE were the coolest *laughing*, and we invented Roofball and its attendant funweird behaviour patterns.
I played Whiteball some. It was the perfect Spring Fever pastime. One more game and I'll start that paper. One more game and I'll study for that exam. Always one more game until the light faded. For a shy young man, it was nice even to sit near my secret crushes in the Whiteball crowd: Kathleen Goedecke, Susan Murray, Trinka Dykes, Diana Williams, Leslie Phillips, Ruth Bryant, Marian Benjamin ... I'd like to be 19 again and spending one more day on the Whiteball court!
Thanks for the memories. This needed to be documented. Well done. I had forgotten the rules and the jargon, but its like riding a bicycle. Next time I'm in Memphis, anybody up for a game? Big shout-out to Diana of the year 82.
Whiteball is unique to its setting. Impossible to play anywhere other than there, between the dorm and refectory. The slate roof and craggy court walls make for unpredictable bounces that requires quickness in reaction thereby increasing the fun. I remember seriously playing the game advancing quite deep into a couple of tournaments with my partner Don L. I remember sitting at the court watching others play and socializing. It was a great hang. Nice Doc. Allen.
Amazing stuff. I lived with my suite mates just inside the window visible on the left side of this fabled court back in the mid 1980's. As I recall, my suite mate...I believe his name was Les...was taking a long shower when an errant and well struck whiteball hit him squarely in the temple. He was briefly knocked unconscious. He never sought medical attention but as the years have gone by, I am more and more certain that he suffered severe brain damage...
Nice documentary. I can still remember the players outside my Neely dorm room (It was the Int'l House those two years.) I also remember many of the folks into whiteball were also into ultimate frisbee, or, ultimate flying disc as Chip Tarrara always insisted on calling it. I don't really like hearing *explitive deleted* all the time, so that part was a little annoying, but all in all, I guess I'm pretty nostalgic. Thanks.
I played whiteball nearly every day from '86 to '96. Great game...loads of fun. I think I'm less impressed with Rhodes students these days than they are with whiteball.
I remember the guys who played Whiteball were "on the fringe" of society. The ball would often come in the window in Neely and they would yell up for us to throw it back out. Yes, they were noisy but always respectful of people walking through their "court". I do not remember there ever being a conflict over Whiteball. As far as the video is concerned... I think the piano background was a bit loud, drowning out the dialogue. I enjoyed the view looking down from the Neely dorm room.
The students who live there now are fortunate to have this kind of tradition, because it's this kind of thing that gives a college character. I hope the students there now learn to play and keep it up.
Thanks..that was very interesting, although it made me kind of sad. Partly because of the piano soundtrack, which was really kind of nice. But mostly because I still have a Spring Open t-shirt from 1979, and I remember meeting my first husband on the whiteball court. He was playing in the tournament and he stopped to let me through, and it was the way he smiled at me that did it. He still has the slate he got as a trophy from winning the tournament that year.
Finally someone had the genius to document this piece of Rhodes History. Very comprehensive. The rules are still the same as when I played it in 94'. But the people who had the rooms in White Hall and over the court were much cooler.
As a 3-year resident of Bellingrath in the mid 80s, I dodged plenty of dead tennis balls as I passed through the court on the way to anywhere on campus. The game was played almost daily, and the players were almost always gracious and considerate. I enjoyed many afternoons sitting on the wall watching great people play a really cool game while the Violent Femmes and/or Depeche Mode blasted from the window of White Hall. A Rhodes tradition that should be resurrected!
veggieflute 7 months ago
I lived in the dorm room to the upper right 2nd story room if you look at the white ball roof. I graduated in 1993, The ball would often hit my window about 4 feet from my bed. White ball was played by hippies and intellectuals alike.
jbbumpy 1 year ago
Oh yes, there were t-shirts for both the fall and spring opens - handmade screenprinted shirts - not sure who the artists were.
buckandpatrice 1 year ago
A good documentary. We played (and I cheered for!) Roofball 1971-74. The teams were on opposite sides of the roof then.
I agree with the comments on the seemingly less tolerant or interested or just plain less cool nature of the later student body(s). I suppose Things Fall Apart, as Bob Elfirt (and Yeats) teach us...
Of course, WE were the coolest *laughing*, and we invented Roofball and its attendant funweird behaviour patterns.
Ball On, dudes!
missopowers 1 year ago
I played a little whiteball back in 89...but I didn't attend Rhodes. This was really cool to see!!
mimilicious1024 2 years ago
I wonder how many points I hindered in my day.
lonestarlawyer 3 years ago
Should have added Nancy Gable to that list ...
willifp 3 years ago
Just to clarify:
Paul Williford
Class of 1982
willifp 3 years ago
I played Whiteball some. It was the perfect Spring Fever pastime. One more game and I'll start that paper. One more game and I'll study for that exam. Always one more game until the light faded. For a shy young man, it was nice even to sit near my secret crushes in the Whiteball crowd: Kathleen Goedecke, Susan Murray, Trinka Dykes, Diana Williams, Leslie Phillips, Ruth Bryant, Marian Benjamin ... I'd like to be 19 again and spending one more day on the Whiteball court!
willifp 3 years ago
Thanks for the memories. This needed to be documented. Well done. I had forgotten the rules and the jargon, but its like riding a bicycle. Next time I'm in Memphis, anybody up for a game? Big shout-out to Diana of the year 82.
Montie '85
ZombyWoof32 3 years ago
Whiteball is unique to its setting. Impossible to play anywhere other than there, between the dorm and refectory. The slate roof and craggy court walls make for unpredictable bounces that requires quickness in reaction thereby increasing the fun. I remember seriously playing the game advancing quite deep into a couple of tournaments with my partner Don L. I remember sitting at the court watching others play and socializing. It was a great hang. Nice Doc. Allen.
Robert '82
rugmanrocking 3 years ago
Amazing stuff. I lived with my suite mates just inside the window visible on the left side of this fabled court back in the mid 1980's. As I recall, my suite mate...I believe his name was Les...was taking a long shower when an errant and well struck whiteball hit him squarely in the temple. He was briefly knocked unconscious. He never sought medical attention but as the years have gone by, I am more and more certain that he suffered severe brain damage...
Woodson648 3 years ago
Nice documentary. I can still remember the players outside my Neely dorm room (It was the Int'l House those two years.) I also remember many of the folks into whiteball were also into ultimate frisbee, or, ultimate flying disc as Chip Tarrara always insisted on calling it. I don't really like hearing *explitive deleted* all the time, so that part was a little annoying, but all in all, I guess I'm pretty nostalgic. Thanks.
jhnmhmltn 3 years ago
I played whiteball nearly every day from '86 to '96. Great game...loads of fun. I think I'm less impressed with Rhodes students these days than they are with whiteball.
ndifference 4 years ago
I remember the guys who played Whiteball were "on the fringe" of society. The ball would often come in the window in Neely and they would yell up for us to throw it back out. Yes, they were noisy but always respectful of people walking through their "court". I do not remember there ever being a conflict over Whiteball. As far as the video is concerned... I think the piano background was a bit loud, drowning out the dialogue. I enjoyed the view looking down from the Neely dorm room.
RSB '82
drstevo123 4 years ago
So great to see Whiteball is still around. Keep the dream alive, Alan. Wish I could join you for a game!
-Diana (Williams) Hamann, '82
ovaria 4 years ago
woot! whiteball forever!
best game on the planet, period.
yeshe11111 4 years ago
The students who live there now are fortunate to have this kind of tradition, because it's this kind of thing that gives a college character. I hope the students there now learn to play and keep it up.
buckandpatrice 4 years ago
Thanks..that was very interesting, although it made me kind of sad. Partly because of the piano soundtrack, which was really kind of nice. But mostly because I still have a Spring Open t-shirt from 1979, and I remember meeting my first husband on the whiteball court. He was playing in the tournament and he stopped to let me through, and it was the way he smiled at me that did it. He still has the slate he got as a trophy from winning the tournament that year.
buckandpatrice 4 years ago
@buckandpatrice you had t-shirts for the tournament?!
davidvagyok2 1 year ago
Finally someone had the genius to document this piece of Rhodes History. Very comprehensive. The rules are still the same as when I played it in 94'. But the people who had the rooms in White Hall and over the court were much cooler.
oconprop 4 years ago
neat video. Interesting tradition from what seems like a pretty traditional school. Lucky as hell yall can smoke in your mess hall too!
andysay 5 years ago