This is a yearly diversion, like when Tom Rush gives his annual concert in Hum 9b. The United States Amateur Squash Championships, both individual and team, were held in Chicago this weekend, and while the Crimson racquetmen didn't make any headlines, what's more patriotic than spending Washington's birthday in Lincoln country?

Unfortunately for the five-man Harvard contingent, it didn't have to stay there too long. Facing the third-seeded unit, California, the Crimson could manage but one victory--Ned Bacon's four-game triumph--and lost 4-1 in the opening round.

On the individual side of the coin, the Crimson's best, Mike Desaulniers, who is too good for the team competition, advanced to the quarter-final round before succumbing to John Reese in a five-game masterpiece.

Reese is Desaulniers' age times two, and he also happens to be the top-ranked amateur in the country. He was a finalist in this tournament a year ago in Philadelphia, but Desaulniers "played a super match" according to his coach, Dave Fish. "He just needs some seasoning."

While Reese hung on to take the deciding game 15-13, Desaulniers ruined his chances for further advancement by basically wearing the older man out. In the semis, Reese fell to the eventual tournament champion, Tom Page, who flunked out of Princeton last term but made the Dean's list in Chicago.

Happy Birthday, George.