Bob Zalatel  “Shuffleboard Bob” has always felt that Shuffleboard has been a big part of his life.  It all began in 1955 when his Dad hand-painted a Shuffleboard Court in their basement in Lorain Ohio.  He started playing the game seriously in 1988 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Sand’s Hotel in the city’s Corporate Challenge- he was a schoolteacher there for 30 years.  In 1993 he helped bring the 13th ISA Tourney to Las Vegas- it was the first of his 9 ISA events.  In 1997 he collaborated with Sam Allen to make an ISA Video for newer nations coming into the game. Brazil was the first nation to use it and today it is on YouTube.  In 2004, he worked closely with the ISA under Joe Messier to bring the 23rd annual ISA Tourney to Mesa, Arizona-he raised $7,300 prize money for a World Singles Tourney in conjunction with the Team Event.  Along the way Bob authored 3 books on the game.  Currently, he is chairperson of the ISA constitution-By-Laws Committee.  Bob says that making the many friendships from around the world has been his greatest joy in these ISA events.

Bob Zaletel ~~ Shuffler Extraordinaire!!

Some of you may have met Bob Zaletel ~~ better known as SHUFFLEBOARD BOB, for the first time at the 25^th ISA in Lakeside.  Bob, perhaps more than any other person I have met, personifies shuffleboard.  Always positive, always maintaining records, always testing a new hypothesis, always competitive on the “Boards”, (AZ for Courts), and always willing to share a story about the game!!  I was told while at Lakeside that Bob’s bed sheets are patterned with Shuffleboard Courts!!  By now you have an understanding as to the reason that Bob Zaletel has become known as SHUFFLEBOARD BOB!! 

Bob has written a book devoted to shuffleboard with the emphasis on Western Courts.  He is now in the process of completing his 2^nd book ~~ MIND OVER MATTER, how to play winning shuffleboard on any court.  If you are interested in purchasing either, send an e-mail along to Bob @ Shuffleboardbob@aol.com    Bob offers “strategy sessions” at various clubs in Arizona and during these sessions he shares his ideas, his views, on how best to succeed at the game.  From all accounts these sessions are both well received and productive for those who participate.  As our regular readers will remember, Bob was instrumental in obtaining $7,000.00 in prize money for the 1^st International Singles Tournament held in Mesa, AZ and it was Don Norris who placed 2^nd in the Men’s Division.  (We will not report how much money Don won ~~ “Uncle Sam” may want some of it!!  lol) That is Don in the top pix with Bob.   

As Sam Allen once said about Shuffleboard Bob: “I love him.  I think we need lots of people like him.”  Stan McCormack of THE SHUFFLER 2006 08 27.