How Ping Pong Man got a bounce from diplomacy

The US table tennis team that toured China in 1971 set in motion not only a thaw in relations between the United States and China but also a lifelong commitment to the sport on the part of a young Scott Preiss.

In the year following the US team's historic visit to China in what became known as Ping-Pong Diplomacy, the players went on a national tour and Preiss, who was good at many sports including ping pong, was asked to play with them at a performance in Long Island, New York.

"That really changed me. I was inspired because they were so good. I was only 13 or 14 years old," said Preiss, adding that he was attracted to the sport by the speed required and the convenience of play. "You don't need a team to play ping pong and you can play all the time".