What Would Marty Reisman Think of 'Marty Supreme'?

"I was ahead 17 to nothing. I needed just four more points and I'd humiliate the legend. Cut to ten minutes later: Marty beat me 21 to 19. I'd totally underestimated Marty. Even though he was a septuagenarian, he could still zing backhands so fast that the ball was a blur. Marty stayed in one place, barely moving his feet, as he sent me lunging back and forth."

"When I watched the table-tennis matches in Marty Supreme, I flashed back to one of my own epic battles with Marty Reisman, the man who inspired the movie. It was the early 2000s, and we were on opposite sides of a Ping-Pong table in the basement of a Manhattan apartment building. Marty had on his trademark Panama hat, his shirtsleeves rolled up. He was 70 years old and stoop-shouldered, not exactly in his prime. Things were not looking good for Marty."

Marty Reisman, at age 70, recovered from a 17–0 deficit to win 21–19, demonstrating lightning-fast backhands, minimal foot movement, and relentless trash talk. He routinely spotted opponents large leads yet relied on precision and placement to force opponents to lunge. Marty wore a trademark Panama hat and rolled-up shirtsleeves, appearing stooped but deceptively formidable. He served as a table-tennis expert and instructor, offering practical advice like extending the nonplaying arm as a counterbalance. Marty maintained friendships through drinks and office demonstrations, and he performed exhibitions at a magazine office that housed a Ping-Pong table.

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