T:It's so nice to see your wife and children come out to see you play..
L: Yeah – they are very supportive.

 T:  When did you become involved in racquetball?
L: About 11 years ago. I came from Cuba and I used to play squash there. I didn’t know anything about racquetball then. Then one day someone asked me if I wanted to play racquetball. I didn’t know what it was and didn’t know the rules. I started watching people play and learning the rules.

 T:  Did you find it weird at first how "alive" a racquetball is compared to a squash ball?
L: It's completely different. Speed and bounce. I just love racquetball so much. I wish I had more time to play. The squash ball is heavier and smaller.

 T:  And in squash you don’t use the back wall at all, right?
L: Right, but you have to be faster in squash. The ball is slower so you have to go get it.

 T:   Are your kids interested in racquetball?
L:  No – they play basketball. Especially my oldest.

 T:  How many tournaments do you play per year?
L:  I try to play 3. State singles here, and I go to Syosset NY too.

 T:  Do you make it a habit to watch someone before you play them?
L:  If I have the chance I will. I'll try to see what shots I can use against them. If I've never played them before or seen them play I will usually start with a drive serve to their backhand and see how they handle that. Then I'll mix up my serves a little bit and watch how they react. It takes about 6 or 7 points to figure them out. I watch how they swing, how they move, if they bend their knees. It's the same thing when I watch the pros: I try to watch every little detail.

 T:  What do you do if your opponent has you figured out? How do you handle that?
L:  I try to mix it up so they can't predict what I’m going to do. I can hit a 130-140 shot or I can hit a soft shot. I think people are surprised that a big guy can hit a soft shot too.

 T:  Tell me about one of your great matches.
L:  Last year I played Joe Carrano – it was unbelievable. He’s a great sportsman. He dives all over the place and I don’t. I just kept trying to put it away before he could get to it. I won in the 3rd match.

 T:  Sometimes (for me, anyway) it’s more gratifying to win in 3. I think it really tests your endurance and you can’t let up not even for 1 point.
L:  No, not for me. I want to win in 2. I don’t like to play tiebreakers because it can get a little complicated. You can get tired and that's when you can make mistakes.

 T: When did you come to the United States?
L:  1991

 T:  Did you come with your entire family?
L:  I came with some of my family. I escaped from Castro’s government.

T:  Fidel Castro is pretty sick now, right?
L:  Yeah, but I don’t think things are going to change much because his brother has the same mentality.

 T:  Do you think you'll ever go back if things change?
L:  I love my country but I don’t know if I can adjust to living over there anymore. It’s a different lifestyle and my family is here now.

 T:  How did you escape?
L:  On a boat. 15 people came in a 15 foot boat. It took 3 days to get here.

 T:  How old were you then?
L:  I was 26.

 T:  Wow! That is incredibly risky!
L:  Yeah it was scary. If someone gave me a million dollars right now to do the same thing I wouldn't do it. It's too risky. When I left there I didn't want to be in that system anymore. In the beginning I believed in it because I was born and raised over there. As I grew up I realized it was all a mistake. You don't have any opportunities to do anything. When I came to this country everything was different. I'm not saying it's easy because you have to work hard to get what you want, but you can get it. Nobody says you can't have something. If you work hard you can have it.

 T:  It must have been an incredible feeling when you finally knew that you made it here.
L:  It was unbelievable. I remember seeing sharks next to the boat maybe 1 or 2 feet from me swimming around the boat waiting for somebody to drop out of the boat. That is something I will never forget.

 T:  Did you have people here that you knew were waiting for you?
L:  No, I didn't have anybody. One of the guys that came with me had a father that lived in Miami so that's where we started. I came to Key West, then to Miami, then to Union City. There were large Cuban communities where everyone spoke Spanish. I didn't speak any English when I came here. I remember going to McDonald's because everyone has heard of McDonald's. Well, when I got there I couldn't speak any English so I just pointed to what I wanted. People were laughing.

 T:  How many people do you think try to escape Cuba and never make it here?
L:  A lot of people. A lot die in the Ocean. We lost 2 people on the way over.

 T:  So let me get this straight. 15 people in a 15 foot boat for 3 days?
L:  Yes, we were shoulder to shoulder with no extra space. No food, only some water. We couldn't bring food because the boat was already heavy. The heavier the boat the bigger risk of it sinking.

 T:  No food? So you had to get there as fast as possible. I can't even imagine. Did you get past the Coastguard?
L:  No the Coast Guard was there but at that time as soon as you entered American water you could stay. But now it is totally different. They will send you back to Cuba now.

T:  Did you have any trouble finding a job when you got here?
L:  In the beginning yes. It took me about a year to get all of my paperwork together. Before that I didn't have a green card or a Social Security card. Now I have my own Home Improvement Company. (note: it's Woodworks & Windows: Handling "All of your carpentry needs." If you need work done see Lazaro at the next tournament!!)

 T:  Did you meet your wife in the United States?
L: Yes, I met her when I worked at a hospital. She taught me a lot of English because I didn’t go to school here and learn it.

T:  What a fantastic story. You really made it.
L:  Yeah, you’ve got to keep going!

 

If you know someone who you think would be a great person for the NJAR to "spotlight" please let us know.