Pumps (American English) or court shoes (British English) are shoes with a low-cut front and usually without a fastening. However, some have ankle straps. They are usually worn by women, but are still traditional menswear in some formal situations, when they are sometimes called opera slippers or patent pumps.

As women's shoes[link]

A pair of circular-head Pumps in black leather with 8 cm (3.14") stiletto heels

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2008)

Pumps for women are usually heeled. The shape is as dictated by the fashion of the time. In the UK, in 2007 a closed toe and wide (non-stiletto) heel were worn by the very fashion-conscious, but most still wore stilettos of mainly 'kitten' height to medium height. Outside the fashion trade in the UK, the term "pumps" would normally imply flat or low-heel dancing or ballerina pumps, or even rubber-soled canvas plimsolls.

Pumps can be made from any material, but traditional patent leather is popular. Pumps are mostly worn with a suit or a uniform, but are also worn with formal and informal dresses, skirts, trousers, and jeans. White, stiletto-heeled Pumps are the standard attire with swimsuits in beauty pageants.

Pumps are also part of the costume of a ballroom dancer. They are made of satin, usually tan, though other colors are made as well, and worn on both the competition and practice floors.

As men's shoes[link]

A patent leather pump, with grosgrain bow, quilted lining, and leather sole; as worn with white tie and sometimes black tie

In the Regency period, during the day upper-class gentlemen in western Europe wore dress boots, and boots or pumps by night, which accompanied silk knee-high stockings and breeches. The shoes originally had silver buckles, but these were removed by the influence of Brummell,^[1] and a square grosgrain bow was added. By Victorian times, evening footwear was pumps when there would be dancing or music (hence the name opera shoe or opera slipper), and patent leather dress boots otherwise. Pumps remained as standard with evening full dress until the 1930s.^[2] At that time, the dress boot was also going out of fashion, as laced shoes began to be worn at all times.

Even though it now survives in much the same form as it was at the start of the 19th century^[3] (though it is occasionally now worn with plain, not patent, calf), pumps have been largely displaced by Oxfords, perhaps because of an effeminate image and the declining use of white tie. It remains acceptable (though rare) with black tie, and, since formal boots are now hardly ever worn, pumps are standard with white tie, their only remaining common use. They can be also seen today on British high court judges, and are still preferred with formalwear by many leaders of style.^[4]

The construction of pumps is simple, using a wholecut leather top lined with cloth. The sole is either glued onto the bottom, common on cheaper styles, or sewn, as on more costly bespoke styles still made traditionally, using a shallow slit to lift a flap of leather around the edge to recess and hide the stitching. The sole is, as on ordinary shoes, several layers of leather put together. The bow, not always added, is made of grosgrain silk.

Bibliography[link]

• Antongiavanni, Nicholas (2006). The Suit: A Machiavellian Approach to Men's Style. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-089186-2. 
• Flusser, Alan (1985). Clothes and the Man: The Principles of Fine Men's Dress. Villard. ISBN 0-394-54623-7. http://www.throughtherye.com/flusser/index_current.html. Retrieved 2008-09-20. 
• Flusser, Alan (2002). Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-019144-9. 

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pumps (shoes)

v t e High-heeled footwear Shoes Court shoe Mule Peep-toe shoe Platform shoe Slingback Boots Ballet boot Beatle boot Cowboy boot Fashion boot Kinky boots Knee-high boot Platform boot Thigh-high boots Winklepickers Types of heel Clear heels Kitten heel Spool heel Stiletto heel Wedge heel People and brands ALDO Group Manolo Blahnik Jimmy Choo Kenneth Cole Patrick Cox Terry de Havilland Salvatore Ferragamo Maud Frizon Cole Haan Hush Puppies Charles Jourdan Beth Levine Christian Louboutin Steve Madden Bruno Magli Nine West Beatrix Ong Prada Sergio Rossi Yotam Solomon United Nude Roger Vivier Stuart Weitzman Giuseppe Zanotti

Rudy Gay

Gay in 2011
No. 22 – Memphis Grizzlies
Small forward
Personal information
Born	(1986-08-17) August 17, 1986 (age 25) Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Nationality	American
High school	Eastern Technical HS (Essex, Maryland) Archbishop Spalding HS (Severn, Maryland)
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
College	Connecticut (2004–2006)
NBA Draft	2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Pro career	2006–present
Career history
2006–present	Memphis Grizzlies
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2007) Consensus All-American Second Team (2006)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals Competitor for  United States FIBA World Championship Gold 2010 Turkey Team competition

Rudy Carlton Gay, Jr. (born August 17, 1986) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played collegiately at the University of Connecticut before turning pro.

Early life[link]

Gay was one of five siblings and began playing competitive recreational basketball at 12 years old in the Turner Station community of Baltimore County, Maryland in one of the toughest youth basketball leagues in the area. Early exposure to Baltimore AAU basketball and summer league games in the Tom Jones Youth Summer League in Washington, D.C., showcased his abilities against top competition.^{[citation needed]}

At the age of 14, Gay began playing for the nationally-known Cecil-Kirk AAU program under Coach Anthony Lewis with other blue-chip players such as Josh Boone (UConn), Paris Carter (New Mexico State), and Chester Frazier (Illinois). During the spring of his 8th grade year, Gay and teammate Scott Dozier were highly sought after by several private schools. Gay attended Eastern Technical High School in Baltimore County, while Dozier enrolled at the St. Paul's School.^{[citation needed]} Gay transferred to Archbishop Spalding High School of the Baltimore Catholic League after his sophomore year at Eastern Tech.^{[citation needed]}

High school career[link]

Gay played his first two years at Baltimore County's Eastern Technical High School, a magnet school in Essex. He played varsity basketball both years. Although Eastern Tech was a Blue Ribbon academic institution, Gay's parents were concerned about his college preparation and during the summer of his sophomore year solicited help from Coach Collins who suggested several private schools in the area, including Archbishop Spalding High School. After reviewing each school's long term academic curriculum, it was decided that Gay would attend Spalding. Gay began playing for Spalding his Junior and senior years.^{[citation needed]} He was one of the top recruits entering college play after attending Archbishop Spalding High School where he earned first team All-Baltimore Catholic League honors as a junior and senior, and was also honored as the Baltimore Sun's co-player of the year. He was the Washington Post All Met Basketball Player of the Year, McDonald's All-American, and a Parade First Team All-American in his senior year after averaging 21.2 points per game, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks.^[1]

Gay's college recruitment and decision to attend the University of Connecticut over the University of Maryland were controversial.^[2][3] Gay had expressed a desire to attend Maryland and said that he grew up rooting for the team, but he ultimately chose UConn. Because of the heavy involvement of an AAU coach and a high school coach, there was the appearance of impropriety, although no NCAA recruiting violations were discovered.^[4] The NCAA adopted a new scheduling rule after UConn paid $25,000 to schedule a game against the Beltway Ballers, an ad hoc AAU team that consisted of Gay's former teammates.^[5] Although it violated no standing rule at the time,^[6] media observers and Connecticut staff considered it directly connected to the recruitment.^[7] According to individuals close to Maryland head coach Gary Williams, the recruitment demonstrated that rule bending is often necessary to secure highly touted players, which Williams said he is unwilling to do, even at the expense of recruiting.^[4]

College career[link]

Gay with his college coach Jim Calhoun

During his first season at Connecticut, Gay was a co-winner (with Jeff Green of Georgetown University) of the 2005 Big East Conference Freshman of the Year award. Gay was also named the National Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News.

In the summer of 2005, Gay was invited to play for the USA's Men's Under-21 World Championship Team. He posted one double-double while averaging 10.5 points a game and 5.5 rebounds.

Before his sophomore season began, Gay was nominated as Big East Preseason player of the year, along with Syracuse star, Gerry McNamara. After the season concluded, Gay was one of four division one college players nominated for the Naismith College Player of the Year Award (along with J. J. Redick, Adam Morrison, and Allan Ray). Also, he was a unanimous selection to the Big East's First Team. He tallied his career high in points with 28 versus Arkansas in the second game of the 2005–2006 season. Gay led the UConn Huskies to a 30–3 record, often the highest scorer, before losing to #11 seed George Mason in overtime, 86–84.

NBA career[link]

Draft[link]

Gay, widely regarded as one of the top future NBA prospects, announced on April 17 that he would enter the 2006 NBA Draft.^[8] He was selected with the 8th overall pick in the draft by the Houston Rockets, who then traded him and Stromile Swift to Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Shane Battier.

Memphis Grizzlies[link]

On July 12, 2006, Gay signed a multi-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies who acquired his draft rights from the Houston Rockets. Gay averaged 10.8 points per game to help the Grizzlies win 22 games in 2007. After earning Rookie of the Month honours in November of 2006, he was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team for the 2006-07 season and finished third in NBA Rookie of the Year voting behind Toronto’s Andrea Bargnani and Portland’s Brandon Roy, who won the award. ^[9]

In 2007–2008, Gay's second season, he averaged 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game; After Pau Gasol was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers during the season, he became the team's leading scorer. The Grizzlies still ended up with the same record as the previous year.

After his invitation to the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest, Gay and YouTube teamed up for the Rudy Gay Slam Dunk Contest promotion, in which he asked fans to upload footage of their best dunks for him to attempt during the contest. During the contest he performed a one handed reverse clutch dunk in the first round and during the second round teammate Kyle Lowry alley-ooped the ball off the bar and from behind the backboard Gay regathered and pulled off a windmill dunk. He ended with a score of 85 but did not advance to the second round. He was invited to participate in a second dunk contest during the 2009 All-Star Weekend, but was replaced by J.R. Smith due to injuries.

On December 13, 2009, Gay scored a career-high 41 points against the Miami Heat.^[10]

On July 1, 2010, Gay re-signed with the Memphis Grizzlies for a contract worth $82 million over 5 years.^[11]

On March 22, 2011 it was announced Gay would undergo season-ending surgery to repair a left shoulder subluxation sustained during a February 15, 2011 game versus the Philadelphia 76ers. At the time, Gay was averaging 19.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in his fifth NBA season while posting career highs in assists (2.8), steals (1.69), blocks (1.07), field goal percentage (.471), three-point field goal percentage (.396), free throw percentage (.805) and minutes (39.9, 3rd in the NBA). As a result, Gay was forced to watch on the sidelines as the Grizzlies went on to clinch a 2011 NBA Playoffs berth and pull off a historic first round upset of the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. ^[12]

On January 31, 2012, Gay tied Shane Battier as the franchise’s all-time steals leader (523 steals) while playing against the Denver Nuggets. ^[13]

International career[link]

Medal record
Competitor for  United States
FIBA World Championship
Gold	2010 Turkey	National team

Gay helped USA win its first gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship since 1994, averaging 7.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.00 steals in 13.4 minutes in nine games for the undefeated Americans.

Statistics[link]

2003–2004 (High school – Senior)

• 21.2 Points Per Game
• 9.2 Rebounds Per Game
• 3.7 Blocks Per Game

2004–2005 (UConn – Freshman)

• 11.4 Points Per Game
• 5.4 Rebounds Per Game
• 1.5 Assists Per Game
• 1.9 Blocks Per Game

2005–2006 (UConn – Sophomore)

• 15.2 Points Per Game
• 6.4 Rebounds Per Game
• 2.1 Assists Per Game
• 1.6 Blocks Per Game

NBA Career Highs

• Points: 41 @ Miami 12/13/09
• Field Goals Made: 15 @ Miami 12/13/09
• Field Goals Attempted: 28 (2 Times)
• Three Point Field Goals Made: 5 vs. Phoenix 04/08/08
• Three Point Field Goals Attempted: 10 (2 Times)
• Free Throws Made: 11 @ L.A. Clippers 11/07/09
• Free Throws Attempted: 13 @ L.A. Clippers 11/07/09
• Offensive Rebounds: 7 vs. Sacramento 02/20/09
• Defensive Rebounds: 11 @ L.A. Lakers 03/27/07
• Total Rebounds: 13 (3 Times)
• Assists: 7 @ Minnesota 02/02/11
• Steals: 5 (4 Times)
• Blocks: 6 vs. L.A. Lakers 11/30/10
• Minutes Played: 52 (2 Times)

NBA career[link]

Regular season[link]

NBA Playoffs[link]

Philanthropy[link]

In 2010, Gay was named an ambassador for the Hoops for St. Jude fundraising program for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis and donated $20,000 to the program, which allows donors to pledge a set amount of dollars for each point scored by Gay and other participating NBA players.^[14]

In 2012, Gay was awarded the KIA Community Assist Award for April in recognition of his outstanding efforts in the Memphis community and his ongoing philanthropic and charitable work, particularly his ongoing support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. As a result, KIA and the NBA have committed to donate $10,000 on Gay’s behalf to the charity of his choice. Gay, who wears number 22, made a personal donation of $22,222.22 to the hospital. The longtime 'Hoops for St. Jude' campaign ambassador also recorded a PSA to raise awareness of, and funding for, the campaign. He also led a group of his teammates on a visit to St. Jude’s Grizzlies House, where they spent time decorating cookies, playing, and reading with the boys and girls. In addition, Gay treated one young patient, Cortavious, and his family to a dream dinner and subsequent Grizzlies game. When reflecting on the award and his involvement with the hospital, Gay said, “I am a huge fan of the organization – they truly work miracles for so many children and save lives every day. The work that St. Jude does makes my job look small.” ^[15]

Gay has served as a keynote speaker at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis’ annual Steak N’ Burger Dinner, which helped the organization raise more than $300,000. Gay also is a supporter of the Stax Music Academy in Memphis, where he has spent time with students and helped them raise money for Staxtacular, the school’s annual fundraiser, by collecting autographed memorabilia for the silent auction and hosting meet and greets with the event sponsors. With Gay’s help, the 2012 Staxtacular raised more than $100,000. ^[16]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rudy Gay

• The Official Site of Rudy Gay
• Rudy Gay at NBA.com
• Rudy Gay at Basketball-Reference.com
• USA Basketball profile
• ESPN college profile
• Bio at uconnhuskies.com

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (March 2010)

Nick Matthew
Nick Matthew holding his 2006 British Grand Prix Squash Championships trophy
Full name	Nicholas Matthew
Country	England
Residence	Sheffield, England
Born	(1980-07-25) July 25, 1980 (age 31) Sheffield, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	77 kilograms (170 lb)
Turned Pro	1998
Retired	Active
Plays	Right Handed
Coached by	David Pearson
Racquet used	Dunlop
Website	www.nickmatthew.co.uk
Men's singles
Highest ranking	No. 1 (June 2010)
Current ranking	No. 1 (February 2012)
Medal record Competitor for  England Squash Commonwealth Games Gold 2010 Delhi Singles Gold 2010 Delhi Doubles Competitor for  United Kingdom Squash World Games Gold 2009 Kaohsiung Individual
Last updated on: January 1, 2012.

Nicholas Matthew (born 25 July 1980 in Sheffield) is a professional squash player from England who won the British Open in 2006 and 2009 and is the reigning World Champion. He reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 1 in June 2010.^[1] His home squash club is Hallamshire Tennis and Squash club in Sheffield which has named a squash court 'The Nick Matthew Showcourt'.

Career overview[link]

Matthew, who attended High Storrs School,^[2] first came to the squash world's attention as an outstanding junior player. He was the 1999 British Junior Open under-19 champion, a semi-finalist at the 1998 World Junior Championships, and a member of the England team which won the 1998 world junior team title. He made his first appearance on the professional tour in 1998.

In 2006, Matthew became the first home-grown English player to win the British Open men's title since 1939. In the final, against Thierry Lincou of France, he came back from 0–4 down in the fifth game to win 11–8, 5–11, 11–4, 9–11, 11–6. In 2007, Matthew won the US Open title, beating James Willstrop in the final 11–7, 11–4, 11–7.

Matthew won the British National Championship title in 2006 and 2009. In 2006, Matthew played Lee Beachill in a tight final, which he won 11–9, 6–11, 11–9, 10–12, 12–10. In 2009, he defeated Adrian Grant in the final 11–4, 11–3, 11–9. Matthew was a member of the England team which won the World Team Squash Championships in 2005 and 2007.

2009 saw Matthew soar up in rankings to world No. 4 in December. His best achievement of the year is by winning the Qatar Classic Open title in November. In the Saudi International Open, Matthew's fine run was halted by Ramy Ashour who beat him in the final that decided the next world No. 1. Matthew lost in 110 minutes in a gruelling 5 set match.^[3]

In the singles final of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Matthew defeated compatriot James Willstrop 11–6, 11–7, 11–7 in 66 minutes to win the gold medal.^[4]

Nick Matthew became the first Englishman ever to win the World Open Squash Men's Title in December 2010.^[5]

Matthew won the PSA 2010 World Open, defeating James Willstrop of England in the final by 3 games to 1 in 74 minutes at The Sunset Beach Resort in Saudi Arabia on Friday 10 December 2010.^[6]

Matthew won the PSA 2011 World Open, defeating Gregory Gaultier of France in the final by 3 games to 1 in 92 minutes at the Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on Sunday 6 November 2011.^[7] After struggling with an injury in late 2011, Matthew entered the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions, beating then world number 1 James Willstrop. He has since regained his position as world number 1.

British Open[link]

Finals: 3 (3 titles, 0 runner-up)[link]

Outcome	Year	Location	Opponent in the final	Score in the final
Winner	2006	Nottingham, England	Thierry Lincou	11–8, 5–11, 11–4, 9–11, 11–6
Winner	2009	Manchester, England	James Willstrop	8–11, 11–8, 7–11, 11–3, 12–10
Winner	2012	London, England	Ramy Ashour	11-9, 11–4, 11-8

World Open[link]

Finals: 2 (2 titles, 0 runner-up)[link]

Outcome	Year	Location	Opponent in the final	Score in the final
Winner	2010	Saudi Arabia	James Willstrop	7–11, 11–6, 11–2, 11–3
Winner	2011	Rotterdam, Netherlands	Grégory Gaultier	6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5

See also[link]

• Official Men's Squash World Ranking

References[link]

Nick Matthew (Official)

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nick Matthew

• Nick Matthew profile on the PSA official website
• Nick Matthew profile on SquashInfo
• Page at Squashpics.com

v t e Professional Squash Association: Top ten English male squash players as of March 2012 James Willstrop (1 1) Nick Matthew (3 2) Peter Barker (7 ) Daryl Selby (11 1) Adrian Grant (16 1) Tom Richards (20 1) Jonathan Kemp (38 7) Chris Ryder (39 ) Chris Simpson (47 1) Adrian Waller (53 2)