Robert Lansdorp
From Another Storyteller

Almost everyone who spent time around Robert Lansdorp has a story, usually more than one.

I am a member of the "Lansdorp Storytellers" having watched him give lessons, talked with him about his teaching philosophy and the meaning of the game. Did it for decades. And came away with an appreciation for who he was.

My understanding was made more complete thanks to time spent discussing life--his, along with the way other people went about leading theirs.

Lansdorp had the gravely "Don't mess with me" voice of a nightclub bouncer. On court, he regularly had the same demeanor. A big man, with monstrous hands, he had a thick shock of dark hair that gradually turned gray... which added to his aura. His teaching style left no room for slackers.

He scolded, threatened and cajoled . He made juniors cry, throw up and sometimes both. Yet they kept coming back for lessons.

After the first performance I watched, I told him his abusive, sinister behavior was appalling. He gave me his standard Lansdorp "Who the hell are you..." look before getting in my face. Then for some reason, (and I have no idea why), he began to talk about what he was doing. It was the beginning of a relationship that lasted for decades.

It is important to note, I didn't regularly attend lessons; often there were lengthy gaps between our exchanges but when I needed insight for a story I was developing, he would always respond.