Fall, 2011 - New England Senior Tennis Foundation

Transcription

Senior Tennis 2011 – 1
Volume Seven • Number Sixteen • Fall • 2011
THE NEW ENGLAND SENIOR TENNIS FOUNDATION BULLETIN
2011 Addie Cup held in Wilmington, Delaware
2011 New England USTA Hall of Fame inductees:
L - R – Jim Biggs, Diane Hoffmann, Al Rogers, and Errol Coard.
2011 New England Addie Cup
team championship: Front row:
L to R – Middle States referee
Melissa Jackson presenting
the Addie Cup to Molly Hahn,
the New England captain,
accompanied by congratulations
from organizer and captain of
the finalist Middle States team,
Pat Keleman. Middle row: L to
R – Sheila Weinstock, Christine
Chiminello, Nancy Grimes,
Jean Osachuk, Judy Smith,
Allyson Bolduc,
Bernadette Lehmann
(N.E. trainer).
Back row: L to R –
Ann Knoblock, Tina Smith,
Sue Benoit, Michelle Wright,
Aileen Eleey, Heidi Attfellner,
Johanna Bickford,
Mary Mayotte, Lee Delfausse,
Jeanne Hulsen.
By Judy Smith
For the fifth year in a row, Molly Hahn
assembled, coached and inspired another winning
New England Addie Cup team. After an 11 - 7 win
over Mid-Atlantic the team played Middle States
in a tense, nail-biting final, winning 10 - 9.
Indoors, in rain-soaked Delaware, our injured
and resourceful team competed valiantly, treating
the rapt audience to three final match tie-breakers
all played at the same time and determining
the outcome. Molly Hahn and Lee Delfausse,
Allyson Bolduc and Mary Mayotte, and Nancy
Grimes with Sue Benoit were our competitors
extraordinaire – netting the required two out of
three wins – sending the Addie Cup back to New
England again.
This event will long be remembered
for the spirit, cohesiveness, camaraderie and
Continued on page 30
2 – Senior Tennis 2011
New England Senior
Tennis Foundation, Inc.
An organization established by Bernice and Irving
Levine for the general purpose of promoting tennis
among senior adults in New England.
Administration
Peter Allen, President
Rich Heath, Treasurer
Bats Wheeler, Clerk
Board
Irving Levine
Wade Frame
Carol Jaffe
Amy Read
George Ulrich
Carol Redden
Ken Miller
Dorcas Miller
To facilitate the promotion of senior tennis, the
following strategies will be implemented:
1. To provide instruction for seniors interested
in learning how to play the sport or improve
their skills;
2. To support the publication of material to
help seniors learn how to play the game, improve
their skills and knowledge of the game, and understand the latest health research information
relating to the sport of tennis;
3. To distribute a newsletter on a regular basis
that freely discusses issues in the sport of tennis and at the same time reports the results of
tournaments and other competitions and news
of interest to seniors;
4. To run tournaments and other competitions for seniors innovatively and in such a way
as to help participants fully enjoy the sport;
5. To develop and support interstate, intersectional and international competitions for
seniors;
6. To respond to changing needs and interests
of senior tennis players;
7. To recognize and respond to opportunities
to provide leadership within a larger context
for the development of tennis (i.e., to support
or oppose actions by tennis groups that either
further or diminish the growth and support of
the sport);
8. To provide where possible and to support
facilities for senior players at either a reduced
rate or at no cost to them;
9. To create and support a governance structure that ensures continuity to the Foundation
and support for its goals and strategies.
Jean Selvig, Rich Heath, and Carol Jaffe. Rich is treasurer
of NESTF and manages to come to Naples to get some tennis
and fun.
Senior Tennis Newsletter editor
Dick Ernst of Cranston, R.I. The
Barrington High School boys
tennis coach and a ranking
senior circuit player.
Send stories, pictures and articles to:
Dick Ernst
71 Philmont Ave., Cranston, RI 02910
401-785-0532; or [email protected]
Advertising in this publication is available at
$500/page and $300/1/2 page.
N.E.S.T.F. website www.neseniortennis.org
Editor’s Corner...
with Dick Ernst
Cliff Richey – Facing his Toughest Challenge
By Jerry Johnson
Cliff Richey was one of my tennis heroes when I was a young guy learning the sport. I saw him play at
the Longwood Cricket Club and also on TV. I loved his game. I loved his tenacity, his never-give-up-aninch attitude on the court, his intense concentration, his desire to win. I loved the fact that he played with
a Bancroft Player’s Special. So, I started playing with the same racquet. I wanted to be like Cliff. To me,
Cliff displayed all the attributes of a champion on the court. I was also proud for him when he became the
number one player in the U.S. and one of the top players in the world. I was to learn that Cliff Richey is
also a hero to many people off the court as well. His toughest challenge – fighting depression most of his
life – reveals his tenacity and never-give-up approach to life in his new book.
A few months ago I befriended Nancy Richey on Facebook. Nancy and Cliff Richey indubitably are the
best sister/brother duo to have ever played the game. Nancy is a winner of two Grand Slam singles titles
and four Grand Slam doubles titles. She is also a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Nancy
had that same fire on the court that Cliff displayed, and I admired that.
One day Nancy posted something on Facebook which caught my eye. It had to do with a book that
Cliff had written: Acing Depression – A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Challenge. Nancy’s posting included
a website for Cliff’s book. I went to the website and read: “Acing Depression is a firsthand account of
the life and tennis career of Richey, providing readers with his real-life drama – on and off the tennis
court. Richey’s depression is a constant theme, from his genetics and family history, to the tensions of his
professional tennis career and family life, to his eventual diagnosis and steps to recover from his condition.
Jimmy Connors, the five-time U.S. Open champion and a friend of Richey’s, penned the Foreward for the
book.”
My reaction was “Cliff Richey suffered from depression!” I could hardly believe it. I wanted to read
the book and find out what happened. I also wondered if I could talk with him. So, I sent Nancy a message
on Facebook, telling her a little about myself as a player and writer and asked if I could talk with Cliff. She
replied back with his phone number.
I called the number almost immediately. Cliff picked up the phone. My goodness, I was talking with
Cliff Richey, a hero of my youth! I told him a little about myself as a New England player and writer
of tennis stories and poems. We spoke for about an hour. He shared stories about some of his great
matches against Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Zeljko Franulovic and many others.
He told me about a number of his best wins and tough losses. He also went into some detail about the
clinical depression he suffered from throughout his career. He was extremely open about everything. I was
impressed with his candidness.
I then asked Cliff if he could send me an autographed copy of his book. I said I would like to write a
story about him and his book. He said, “Sounds great!” I then asked if he could have Nancy also sign the
book. He replied with “Why don’t you ask her? She’s right here.”
Holy mackerel! I was now talking with Nancy Richey! I felt like a kid in a candy store! Nancy, too,
shared many stories about her career, her terrific battles with the likes of Margaret Court, Ann HaydonJones, Maria Bueno and Billy Jean King. She also freely told me about the depression that affected Cliff’s
life. I sensed a strong bond between Nancy and Cliff.
Both were gracious, warm, articulate and open. When I got off the phone, I said to myself: “I can’t
believe it! I just spoke with Cliff and Nancy Richey!” I thought: “Years ago when I watched Cliff play
tennis at Longwood, I did not get depressed. On the contrary, I got psyched up! I loved his fight, his nevergive-up-on-any-point attitude. I wanted to be like him.” Little did anyone know, including Cliff, that he
NESTF President’s Message
Another fine New England outdoor tournament season concluded in September. The special New
England Senior Slam events, initiated in 2010 by the vision and commitment of NESTF Board members
Ken and Dorcas Miller, were again our USTA section’s best attended. They attracted an average of 105
competitors for each surface: hardcourt, clay, and grass. The Millers were honored in June at Newport
as USTA NE’s Family of the Year for their past service; they also deserve our ongoing thanks for their
continued time-consuming devotion to their remarkable contribution to senior tennis.
For the second straight year, almost every summer weekend provided an opportunity for seniors to
enter a very enjoyable weekend tournament. For example, during less than four months between late
May and mid-September, I played in eight fun, well-run sanctioned tournaments and two regional Cup
competitions (Friendship and Atlantic Coast.) Senior players in New England greatly benefit from the
subsidies that NESTF awards to a number of such events, providing funds to make them more appealing
for players. Just as importantly, we senior tournament players again owe great thanks to all the Tournament
Directors and hosting Clubs for always holding their senior events so hospitably, treating us as special
annual guests.
Rest assured that this Foundation’s entire Board membership remains committed to NESTF’s original
sole focus on promoting senior tennis. Having generously co-founded NESTF with his wife Bernice in
1966, Irving Levine turned 90 in September and still plays competitive tennis regularly, an inspirational
model for us all to emulate. NESTF continues to invest roughly $20,000 annually in a mix of areas:
grants (up to $2,000 each) for effective senior tennis programs and events, plus these semiannual online
Bulletins. Please feel free to call (508-366-0312) or e-mail me ([email protected]) any time you
might have a suggestion to improve senior tennis in New England.
Best wishes for an active, healthy (and less snowy) winter. Resolve to be ready to participate even
more next summer with your senior tennis friends at NESTF-supported events!
Pete Allen, President
New England Senior Tennis Foundation
National Mother/Daughter Grass
During the week of August 15, 2011, Longwood Cricket Club of Brookline, Mass. hosted the National
Mother/Daughter National Grass Court Tournament. Ann Murphy of East Hartford, CT and her daughter
Kim Murphy-Francis (of Glastonbury, CT) won the Super Senior event. They had played 12 times during
the late 70’s and 80’s (‘76-’88), reaching the final five times. They lost to the number one nationally ranked
team, Bunny Vasters and Gretchen Spruance each time in the past. This time they won the Gold Ball by
defeating Frances and Tracy Maloney of Quincy, MA, 6-2, 6-2; Juliet and Jennifer Roth of Kenilworth, IL 6-3, 6-3; and Kathleen Power and Elaine Power Cosselboom of Sudbury, MA, 6-0, 6-0. Longwood did
an excellent job of hosting the event and a splendid time was had by all!
Louise Cash and her daughter Lauren of Allendale, NJ won the open division.
National Grass Mother and Daughter August 17, 2011 at LCC.
L to R: Ann Murphy and Kim Murphy-Francis, winners
Juliet and Jennifer Roth, runners-up
Past USTA New England Hall of Fame Inductees
The New England Tennis Hall of Fame exists to recognize those members of USTA New England,
players and non-players, whose achievements as players and as sportsmen or sportswomen
are worthy of the highest recognition; or whose contributions as officials or as people in some
tennis related activity have been so outstanding over a period of time as to justify the highest
commendation and recognition.
1990: Clarence C. Chaffee, Bud Collins
Sarah Palfrey Danzig, Lois Felix,
Katharine Hubbell, Donald W. Manchester,
Katherine Winthrop McKean,
William P. Power, Chauncey Steele, Jr.
Charles E. Swanson, Edward W. Weld,
Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman
1991: Marjorie Gladman Buck,
Malcolm D. Clarke, Albert P. Everts,
Paul L. Guibord, Virginia Rice Johnson,
Nancy P. Norton, Harrion F. Rowbotham,
Henri R. Salaun, Majorie Marrill Painter
Whiting, Marjorie Sachs Pickhardt Wilson
1992: Robert J. Freedman, Ted Hoehn,
Frances Jennings, Mercedes Lewis,
Thomas L. Raleigh Jr., Sumner Rodman,
Ruth Jeffery Ryder
1993: Stan Gibson, Larry Lewis, Ann Murphy,
William M. Powers, Argyll Pryor Rice, Eleonara
Sears, Richard D. Sears, James Smith,
Titus Sparrow, Beals C. Wright
1994: Elizabeth Barber Corbiere, Edythe
Sullivan McGoldrick, Dr. Walter T. St. Goar,
Paul W. Sullivan, Patricia Sullivan Thompson,
Joseph W. Thurston
1995: John M. Barnaby, Harry R. Kirsch,
Mary Richards Johnston, Stephen H.
Ogilvy, James H. Van Alen
1996: Pat Brummer, J. Brooks Fenno Jr.,
Tim Mayotte, Midge Stafford, Peter T. Vieira
1997: C. Clement (Clem) Easton, Barbara
C. Potter, Frank Sulloway, Henry R.
Tiberio, Edward van Beverhoudt
1998: Joe Bouquin, Irving Levine, Ginny
Gilbane Mahoney, Chum Steele
1999: Carol & Rubin Jaffe, Philip L.
Maloney, Lilian Peltz Petow, Dr. James
Dwight, Edith Sigourney
2000: Nathanial (Nat) Niles, Percy C.
Rogers, Theodora Shepherd, Ferdi Taygan,
Clark R. Taylor, Mary (Mollie) Yeaton
2001: Justine Herman Butler, Walter E.
Elcock, Hobart & Virginia Holly, Michael E.
Leach, Nicholas B. (Chick) Sharry,
Irving C. Wright
2002: Alfred H. Chapin J., William S.
Drake, John M. Huber, Leo F. Power Jr.,
Helen Pedersen Rihbany,
Sheila J. Weinstock
2003: Stephen S. Armstrong, Jack Lynch,
Carol L. Newsom, Beth Norton-Keibler,
Bud Schultz, Edward J. Serues
2004: Paul Gerken, Laury Hammel,
William S. Packer, Norma P. Taylor,
Wadleigh W. Woods
2005: Dick Ernst, Dorothy Bruno Hills, Phil
Kadesch, John T. Moter, Sally B. Utiger,
Elizabeth Freeman Young
2006: Russ Adams, Alan Chandronnait,
Andrea Voikos Dorr, Robert E. Leach,
Ann Rogan, Kay Ruel
2007: Jack Dunmead, Molly Hahn, Harvey
Harrison, Richard Heath,
Charles “Whitey” Joslin, Gordon Steele
2008: Lee Hall Delfausse, Judy Dixon,
Richard “Dick” Morse, Samuel V.
Schoonmaker, Ill, Ralph E. Stuart Jr.,
Gerald Slobin
2009: Peter R. Allen, Jules A. Cohen,
Avis R. Murray, Jean Osachuk,
Aileen Smith Eleey
2010: Pamela Hobbs Atkinson,
William “Bill” Hart, Al Rogan
Past Gardner Chase Memorial Award Recipients:1953 E. Blair Hawley, 1954 Frank J. Sulloway, 1955
Chauncey Depew Steele, Jr., 1956 Harrison F. Rowbotham, 1957 Harry F. Wolf, 1958 Harold F. Fenerly,
1959 J. Brooks Fenno, Jr., 1960 Robert J. Freedman, 1961 Percy C. Rogers, 1962 Thomas L. Raleigh,
Jr., 1963 William P. Rockwell, 1964 Harry R. Kirsch, 1963 Bud Collins, 1966 James B. Smith, 1967 Ned
Weld, 1968 Rob Rowbotham, 1969 Titus Sparrow, 1970 Stanley Gibson, 1971 Mrs. David McGoldrick
(Edythe Sullivan), 1972 John M. Barnaby, 1973 WGBH-TV, 1974 Walter St. Goar, 1975 Charles W.
Briggs, 1976 Samuel V. Schoonmaker, III, 1977 William M. Powers, 1978 J. Ann Rogan, 1979 Rubin I.
Jaffe, 1980 Jack Moter, 1981 Charlie Peix, 1982 Gordon E. Steele, 1983 Kay Ruel, 1984 Leo F. Power,
Jr, 1985 Mirial Lasher, 1986 Louise Bodden, 1987 Ellen Goldberg, 1988 Barbara Flynn, 1989 Suzanne
Grant, 1990 Patricia Arnold, 1991 Laury Hammel, 1992 Mark Beede, 1993 Virginia Bride, 1994 Ken
Rickson, 1995 John A. “Jack” England, 1996 Pamela Accardi (posthumously), 1997 Allison McCance,
1998 Robert W. Greene, 1999 Geroge E. Ulrich Jr., 2000 Jack Schubert, 2001 Rich Heath, 2002 Joan
L Wulfson, 2003 Ron Friedman, 2004 Gary Pina, 2005 Art Goldblatt, 2006 Dick Mount, 2007 Daniel
Bonfigli, 2008 George Robbins, 2009 Mark Stenning
Past Edwin Goodman Family of the Year Award Recipients: 1965 The Sullivan Family, 1967 The
Rowbotham Family, 1968 The Hills Family, 1976 The Kinney Family, 1977 The Norton Family, 1978
The Brady Family, 1979 The Leach Family, 1980 The Power Family, 1981 The Joslin Family, 1982 The
Dudley Family, 1983 The Rickson Family, 1984 The Bodden Family, 1985 The Nyman Family, 1986 The
Barker Family, 1987 The Maloney Family, 1988 The Grant Family, 1989 The Arnold Family, 1990 The
Piorkowski Family, 1991 The Accardi Family, 1993 The McCance Family, 1994 The Bell Family, 1995
The Banner Family, 1996 The Raite Family, 1997 The Dressier Family, 1998 The Blake Family, 1999 The
Johnson Family, 2000 The Ernst Family, 2001 The Wong Family, 2002 The Finicane Family, 2003 The
Crichlow Family, 2004 Don & Diane Cortese, 2006 The Rubinstein Family, 2007 The Mayotte Family,
2008 The Heath Family, 2009 The White Family
2010 Gardner Ward Chase Memorial Award
Phil Parrish (Framingham, MA)
Phil Parrish is Director of Tennis at the Longfellow Club.
Parrish, a USPTA- and PTR-certified teaching professional, helped to develop
Longfellow’s Zip Zone, one of the first indoor tennis facilities in the United States
focused on introducing tennis to children ages 10 and under.
His vast coaching experience includes time with the Harvard University men’s
team and countless volunteer hours with grass-roots programs.
A fine player, Parrish has been ranked in New England, Mid Atlantic and Southern
sections in singles, doubles and mixed-doubles.
2010 Edwin Goodman Family of the Year Award
Ken and Dorcas Miller (Concord, MA)
Ken and Dorcas Miller have been the driving force behind the creation of the
Senior Slams, a series of senior tournaments played at some of the best venues in
New England.
The Millers both serve as board members for the New England Senior Tennis
Foundation, and Ken also serves as that organization’s web master.
Ken also contributes to USTA New England, serving on the Adult Players
Committee.
The Millers are accomplished on the court, as well, as both have been consistent
winners at the section and national level.
Quincy 65 Doubles champ. L to R: John Fournier and Ted Underwood. Mike Kenney,
Quincy president of Tennis Club, Paul Ludwig
and Bill Litwin, runners-up.
Quincy 70 Singles champ Dag Williamson.
L to R: runner-up Dick Ernst, Mike Kenney, and
Dag Williamson.
Newest Hall of Famers
NEWPORT, R.I. - USTA New England introduced its newest group of Hall of Famers at its annual
ceremony June 11 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The four members of the class of 2011 are Errol Coard, Albert Rogers,
Diane Hoffman, and James Biggs.
Coard (Dorchester, MA) is a longtime tennis player, instructor, official and
advocate.
Coard owned an accomplished career as a player, consistently ranking
among the top 10 players in multiple USTA New England age-based divisions.
While his playing career was exemplary and worthy of a spot in the Hall of
Fame on its own, Coard solidified his selection with a lifelong dedication to
teaching the game to others, most frequently at the Sportsmen’s Tennis Club in
Dorchester and through the Franklin Park Community Tennis Association. He
has been a United States Professional Tennis Association-certified instructor
Errol Coard
for more than 35 years.
Coard also earned a reputation as one of the finest officials New England has produced. His career
included multiple officiating appearances at men’s and women’s pro and amateur events at Longwood,
Forest Hills and Flushing in addition to the Boston Lobsters of World Team Tennis, the Women’s Amateur
Tournament at Longwood and the Virginia Slims Championships.
Coard is a lifetime member of the USTA, the New England Tennis Association and the USTA Umpires
Council.
Diane Hoffman
Al Rogers
Hoffman, who did not begin playing tennis until she was 42 and now lives
in Palm Beach, FL, held multiple No 1 rankings in her age group among New
England players.
Hoffman is also a winner of multiple national championships in both singles
and doubles competition. In 2007, while playing the National Grass Courts
at Forest Hills, Hoffman captured both the singles and doubles titles. The
following year, she defended both titles.
In addition, Hoffman represented the New England for many years as part of
the section’s Friendship Cup team, which pits top-flight New England players
against Canadian players. Hoffman also represented the U.S. in the Queens
Cup in Turkey and helped the Americans to a championship.
Al Rogers, a native of Maynard, MA who has lived many years in Brookline,
MA, has held a New England ranking for more than 50 years and owns the
distinction of being equally accomplished off the court. As a player, Rogers
excelled in doubles, holding No. 1 rankings with both Tom Raleigh and Ken
Rickson. Rogers also owns victories over Bobby Riggs and Vitas Gerulaitis.
Rogers, a longtime educator, has been the recipient of more than a dozen
tennis-related service awards.
Clarence C. Chaffee, William F. Hart, Nancy Alden
Memorial Senior Tennis Tournament,
July 22-24, 2011
by Ron Plock
What a difference a year makes! Last year the annual Chaffee-Hart-Alden Senior Tennis Tournament was
plagued by three days of thunderstorms and lightning, and much of the tournament had to be completed
indoors. This year, the three day tournament held at the Pittsfield Country Club in western Massachusetts,
was played in a major heat wave with temperatures in the 90s on all three days. As a result, some of the
older players withdrew prior to the competition, with one expectant 89-year old participant calling to say
his doctor advised him that when the temperature reaches his age – “time to pull out.”
But the tournament, more than half-a-century old, drew nearly 60 players from throughout New
England, New York State, and elsewhere on the East Coast. Lots of fluids were consumed and tubes of
sun-screen were spread liberally on faces, legs and arms. Tournament Director John Clarno and his staff
were somewhat hampered by the use of only four Har-Tru (clay) courts on the first day of the competition,
but managed to complete all the first-round matches.
In the Men's 60 singles, William MacArthur overwhelmed Jay Lubker 6-4, 6-0 to take home the title.
A field of six vied in the draw.
Nicholas Ourusoff emerged as the number one player in the Men’s 70 singles with a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory
over George Lynch. Ourusoff and Lynch were seeded one and two in the field with eleven players taking
part in the draw.
Long-time tournament participant Dick Canepa topped the field of 10 players in the Men’s 75 singles
draw with a straight-set win over George Boyce 6-3, 6-2. Boyce got to the finals with a 3-set victory over
last year’s Men’s 75 champion, Robert Schmitz, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.
The top seed in the Men’s 80 singles, Marvin Sears, was dethroned by Owen Landon 6-1, 7-6(1).
Landon had to overcome Richard Bowker to reach the final in a long 3-set match, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
The Men’s 85 singles draw consisted of two longtime opponents – Yutaka Kobayashi and Irving
Levine, with Levine filling in for Henry Tiberio who withdrew on the advice of his doctor because of the
90-plus heat. Kobayashi and Levine were tied at 2-2 when Levine retired, giving the title to Kobayashi.
There were only two women entrants in the various age brackets. Judith Platt and Rollice Ernst played
for the title in the Women’s 60 singles draw and Platt came out on top 6-3, 6-3.
Turning to the men’s doubles category, George Lynch and Ernest True easily won the Men’s 70 doubles
championship with a 6-0, 6-1 trouncing of Jason Bosseau and Ron Plock. Lynch and True got to the final
with an equally impressive 6-2, 6-0 win over Allan Gardner and Gerald Rothman.
David Lowry and Eugene Wheeler lived up to their top seeding with a straight set victory over the
second seed team of George Boyce and Richard Mount 6-2, 6-3, in the Men’s 75 doubles.
The team of Levine and Kobayashi prevailed in the Men’s 80 double category with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph
over Andrew Campoli and Alan McNabb, members of the host Country Club of Pittsfield.
The top seeds in the 45 Mixed Doubles draw, Tim Heath and Dixie Thompson Passardi, lived up to
their standing with straight set win over the husband-wife team of Scott and Susan Wynn 7-5, 6-4. Tim
Health and Susan Wynn are siblings of longtime New England Senior tennis Foundation Treasurer and
USTA/NE Hall of fame member Rich Heath. All four teams in the 45 Mixed Doubles category included
members of the Heath family.
The same scenario took place in the 65 Mixed Doubles division when the top seeded team of Yoshi
Akabane and Ann Murphy prevailed over the husband-wife team of Howard and Carolyn Peelle 7-6(4),
6-1. The match was very close until Carolyn Peelle dislocated her hip early in the second set, which
limited her mobility.
Division winners were presented with a box of glasses emblazoned with the name, date and location of
the tournament.
In addition to winning the 45 Mixed Doubles competition, Tim Heath spoke at the annual dinner on
Friday night. He urged his audience to actively support USTA programs throughout New England. Tim is
currently a Section Delegate of the New York chapter of the USTA.
Action at three of the clay courts at the Pittsfield Country
Club.
L - R: Alan McNabb, Andrew Campoli – runners-up;
Yutaka Kobayshi, Irving Levine – winners in men’s 80
Doubles.
L - R: Irving Levine – runner-up;
Yutaka Kobayshi – winner in Men’s 85 Singles.
Jay Lubker – runnerup; William MacArthur – winner in
Men’s 60 Singles.
L - R: Judith Platt – winner; Rollice Ernst – runner-up in L - R: George Boyce - runner-up; Dick Canepa – winner
Women’s 60 Singles.
in Men’s 75 Singles.
Induction Speech for Albert Rogers
By Jerry Johnson
USTA New England Hall of Fame Ceremony – June 11, 2011
International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport, Rhode Island
Albert Rogers, his lovely wife Ann, Hall of Fame Inductees, and Fellow Friends of Tennis:
I would like to begin with a poem.
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood
We have come together at the tennis Hall of Fame
Which honors the best that have ever played the game –
Here at the famous Casino Royale
To pay homage to Al Rogers, our tennis pal.
I wish to welcome you to Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood –
So, pick up a racquet and play as you should.
You will surely smile with Al as your coach,
He’ll teach you to serve and perfect your poach.
His love of the game is second to none,
Whether playing or teaching he always has fun.
In the game of doubles his game was a peach –
He triumphed with Raleigh, Pipes, Crone and Leach.
With Howe and Smith, Rickson and Miller
More victories came and Al was a killer.
Add Bell, Flater and Romanowski to the bunch
Who would set up big Al for his overhead crunch.
On the New England tennis scene Al is a fixture,
Prince Albert and Queen Ann – the perfect mixture.
So let me begin my induction address
And tell of a career that has met with success.
It was an honor for me last year to nominate Albert Rogers for the USTA/New England Hall of Fame. I
am honored to present him before all of you. I have known Al for many years. However, our paths never
crossed on the tennis court and I was only somewhat aware of his prowess in the game. It was not until
a couple of years ago that I became aware of the extent of his excellence on the court, his numerous
contributions to the game, and his innate love of the game. After reading his tennis bio, I became fully
cognizant of his extensive and outstanding record as a player, contributor, coach and teaching pro.
Al’s contributions include: extensive volunteer and charity work, chairman of United States
Professional Tennis Association’s Tennis Across America, sponsor of grassroots programs, USTA/NCAA
Commonwealth Conference Director, clinician work, tournament director, founder of Acton Indoor Tennis
Association and Nashoba Tennis Club, and tennis therapist for injured players.
Al has received numerous awards including: several multi-year service awards, Ed Serues Award
(twice), the Presidential Sports Award, New England Tennis Professional Coach of the year and, from the
tennis players of New England, a USTA special recognition award. Al is a USPTA “Master Professional.’
Under his coaching, Curry College won two championships. He was a successful high school coach. He
has coached nationally ranked players. He has been a teaching professional at Acton Indoor Tennis Club,
Chamberlain Pines, Westboro Tennis Club, Nashoba Valley Tennis Club, Longwood and B & T. Al has
also written about the game he loves in various newspapers, two booklets and two books.
Al has been ranked more than 50 times in USTA/New England and the USPTA in a playing career
spanning three decades. His singles record reflects a number of #1 and #2 rankings and a number in the
top 10. Al once modestly said to me, “Jerry, I was just an OK singles player. But I was much better in
doubles.” Al’s doubles record is strictly top-notch. He and his partners were ranked #1 nine times, #2 five
times, #3 five times. That’s one heck of a record. Al’s lengthy record as a player is extremely applaudable.
His many years of service to tennis are very significant. His many years as a teaching pro are highly
noteworthy. He has passed down his tennis wisdom to countless players.
In an email I received from Al, he wrote: “Imparting a love for the game of tennis is what I would like
to be noted for. I know the technical aspects of the game and can impart those to my students. However,
making the game a ‘game of passion’ is another thing! When I can get that ‘passion’ into my students,
that’s when they and I know that I made learning fun!”
Al Rogers is one of those rare individuals who comes along far too infrequently. For more than sixty
years, Al Rogers has contributed much to tennis. He has had a positive impact on the sport at all levels
and in many venues. He has taught many athletes, young and old. The numerous honors and awards he
has received through the years are symbolic of the admiration and respect he has so richly deserved and
justifiably earned.
Al Rogers, we thank you for playing a major role in the great sport of tennis and we congratulate you
on your well-deserved induction into the New England Tennis Hall of Fame.
Continued from page 10 (Newest HoF)
In a tennis career that has spanned seven decades, Jim Biggs has competed
both nationally and internationally throughout the United states, as well as in
Canada, Mexico, Australia, South American, and Europe.
Biggs, a Southport, CT native, has been a career winner, beginning with
Connecticut junior state championships in 1957 and 1958.
Biggs continued his career at Dartmouth, where he captured the ECAC
doubles championship with teammate Gordon Aydelott in 1961.
Biggs won a USTA New England doubles title in 1967, teaming with Charlie
Hoeveler. In 2000, Biggs and his son, Charley, claimed a USTA National
Father/Son championship and were the No. 1 ranked duo in the country that
Jim Biggs
year.
In a tennis career that has spanned seven decades, Biggs has competed both nationally and internationally
throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Mexico, Australia, South America, and Europe.
Poetry
Team Richey
NancyandCliff,CliffandNancy–
Oneisabull,theotherisfancy.
Outonthecourttheywentforthekill,
Knockingoffplayerswastheirultimate
thrill.
One’sintheHall,theothershouldbetoo–
Whatelsemustaplayerofhiscaliberdo?
Hetookonallcomerswiththeheartofa
lion,
Hisopponentswerefacingthehunter,Orion.
Sisterandbrother,brotherandsister–
Outonthecourttheballtheydidblister.
Nootherteamofsisterandbrother
Broughtasmuchtotennisortooneanother.
ItistimefortheNewportCasinotoreceive
Thebullwhoworehisheartonhissleeve.
Achampionwasheofthehighestcaliber–
It’stimeforhishall-of-fameinvestiture.
By Jerry Johnson
Our Precocious Poet
– For Axel Kaufmann
Mr.Kaufmanniswittywiththepoemshe
doespen
abouttennis,theplayers–betheywomenor
men.
Foryearshehascomposedmanyaline
forLongwood’sCricketeerinthetownof
Brookline.
Hispoemspourforthfreely.Itisquiteclever
howhefindstherightwordsinhiswriting
endeavor.
Hewieldshispenashedidwithhisracquet
andnailsallhisrhymeswithathunderous
“whackit!”
Hail,hailtoourprecociousrhapsodist
andeachofhispoemswiththeirAmerican
twist.
Hisverseshavecoveredeverypossible
approach
fromdropshottoserveandeventhepoach.
Tennisisblessedtohavethisman
calledAxel–
hisdecadesofpoemsformatennistimecapsule.
Hehaswrittenaboutthegamewhich
weplay
ongrassandcementandourbeloved
redclay.
Justine Butler, 77, Tennis Star and Teacher
Justine Herman Butler, who was a Hall of Fame tennis player and
teacher, died Friday, July 1, at her Ridgefield home. She was 77 years old
and the wife of Clarence Butler.
Ms. Butler was born on June 1, 1934, in Norwalk and had lived in
Ridgefield for more than 53 years.
An avid tennis player, regional pro, and Tennis Hall of Famer, she
was honored for her community contributions by the recent naming of
the Old Ridgefield High School tennis courts in her name. She taught
tennis in Ridgefield for decades; many of the classes were on those
courts.
“Through her tireless efforts in teaching, supporting, and encouraging
the sport of tennis, Justine was recognized both at the local and national
level by the naming of the old Ridgefield high school tennis courts, and
induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., in 2001,” her
family said.
“A special and strong woman, whose passion and dedication will
be missed by her husband, family, and our community, Justine will be
warmly remembered.”
Justine Herman Butler,
Besides her husband of 54 years, she is survived by her three
June 1, 1934 - July 1, 2011.
children: Bradford and his wife, Sue, of Terryville; Scott and his wife,
Patti, of Easton; and Kay and her husband, Paul, of Shelburne, VT.
“A loving and caring wife and mother of her children, Justine remained fully committed to her six
grandchildren, Brittany, Alexander, Shane, Krystyna, Olympia, and Amanda by attending endless sporting
events, academic activities, and sponsoring multiple family gatherings,” her family said.
Donations in her memory may be sent to the Justine H. Butler tennis scholarship fund, c/o Ridgefield
Parks and Recreation, 195 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877.
Jean Selvig and Carol Jaffe
Jean has played in many tournaments in New England –
mainly in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. With several partners
and a huge number of victories, especially mixed
doubles and women’s doubles. Beside New England
tournaments Jean has played in national and international
tournaments. She and Dodo Cheney have many Gold
Balls to show for their efforts! Jean doesn’t play any
more but has played in the 90s in recent years.
Carol got a total knee replacement Sept. 10 and with an
excellent recovery has been playing since Christmas.
L to R: Jean Selvig and Carol Jaffe.
The Reprise in Surprise!
The Bad Boys of Boston Do One Better of the USTA National 60 Team Championships!
by Laury Hammel
The USTA New England Men’s 60’s Team, infamously known as the Bad Boys of Boston is back
from a third consecutive campaign at the USTA National Team Championships in Surprise, AZ. Once
again captained by the highly regarded tennis coach, Bill Drake, the Bad Boys improved their results by
nailing down the third place prize in this year’s Championships after finishing fourth in last year’s national
playoffs.
A new twist in the year’s national championships was the emergence of the New England Women’s
60’s Team who came out of nowhere to go undefeated and garner this year’s national championships!
Affectionately known as the New England Goody Goodies, this group of feminine tennis fanatics would
not be denied and their dominant play raised the bar forever for New England senior teams.
The Roots of the Bad Boys Reprise
Some of you may remember the major surprise at Surprise, that the Bad Boys of Boston pulled off at the
2010 championships by placing fourth and coming a few measly points from reaching the finals (see the
2010 article in "Breaking News" on the NE Senior Tennis Foundation website, http://www.neseniortennis.
org/breakingnews.htm). And they did this in dramatic come-from-behind fashion while handicapped with
a depleted team of 5 and 1/2 players in a three team format – Hop-along Hammel was limping around the
court with a leg injury and doing his best imitation of a tennis player. After returning to Boston last spring
Captain Bill Drake and Lieutenant Bob McKinley caucused and assessed what was needed to take home
the gold in the next campaign. They came up with a four-step plan:
1. Convince the Bad Boys to stay together and give it another go in the 2011 national championships.
2. Improve the level of training of the Bad Boys by competing in more USTA doubles tournaments
and practicing more together in the winter.
3. Add two more Bad Boys capable of competing at the highest level.
4. Preach injury prevention to the Bad Boys and pray for some good luck in the health department.
Step One was fairly easy as everyone enthusiastically wanted another crack at the Championships –
only John Mayotte couldn’t make it because of a previous commitment.
Part A of Step Two was put into action all summer and early fall as Lieutenant McKinley and Conway
Felton won the 60’s doubles tournament at Beverly, beating Bad Boys Laury Hammel and George Deptula
in the finals. George and Laury continued to hone their doubles skills and ended up being ranked #1 in
New England in the Men’s 60 Doubles despite a loss to Bad Boys Captain Drake and John Mayotte at the
New England Slams Grass Courts Championships. This USTA tournament experience turned out to be
invaluable to the improvement of the Bad Boys.
Part B was put into practice beginning in the fall as Lieutenant McKinley continued his organizational
wizardry and week after week created world-class senior doubles games on Sunday mornings at Bass
River. The Bad Boys also benefited from their own personal Yoda, Henry Tiberio, who looked on with
wise approval and offered sage advice afterwards while holding court in the lobby.
Step Three was a tough one because the job had grown to needing three new highly-skilled players
over 60 which is not an easy task. It appeared that a mini-coup was in hand when Paul Shaw agreed to play
on the Bad Boys, only to find out that he was somehow rated a 5.0 which means he couldn’t play on the
team. Bad luck. Fortunately, Lieutenant McKinley teamed up with Conway Felton in a USTA tournament
as a way of luring him into becoming a Bad Boy – and by the end of the summer it was one down and two
to go. Long-time New England senior player, Bill Busiek was putting in major time into perfecting his
doubles skills and played several tournaments that earned him and Neil Proulx the #4 Men’s 60 Doubles
ranking in New England. He agreed to accept the invitation to become a Bad Boy and now they needed
only one other. Long-time New England senior competitor and a member of the #2 ranked Men’s 60
Doubles team, George Ulrich, later agreed to join the team to give the Bad Boys a really Handsome Eight!
Step Four, as suspected, turned out to be a bit more dicey than anticipated. Hammel came up with inner
tennis elbow in January and couldn’t play tennis until the first week of April. That injury kept him out of
all of the Bass River practices in the winter. He was fully healed by the time he landed in Arizona, but he
wasn’t tournament tough. Then Chum injured his left arm and it hurt so bad that it severely hampered his
ball toss every time he served while in Arizona. Despite these minor ailments, the Bad Boys were healthy,
badder than ever, and fully prepared for an improved Reprise in Surprise.
The Bad Boys of Boston
Bill Drake, The Captain
Bill is two-time #1 New England Men’s Open player, coach of world-class professional players, highly
successful national senior player, Director of Tennis at The Country Club in Brookline, MA, and partowner of the Kingsbury Clubs.
Bob McKinley, The Lieutenant
Bob is aptly called The Lieutenant because he was in the Navy for three years and won the All-Navy
tennis singles championships. He played junior tennis in Buffalo, NY and played number one singles and
doubles at MIT. Bob’s been a perennial standout on New England senior doubles teams.
Chum Steele, The Legend
One of the best male players to ever play tennis in New England, Chum played at ten US National
Championships at Forest Hills and five Wimbledon Championships. At the US Professional Championships
at Longwood he defeated the then number five player in the world – Thomas Koch.
Laury Hammel, The Slicer (and team Historian)
Laury is a highly ranked national senior player, has earned nine New England number one senior singles
rankings, is the owner of The Longfellow Clubs, and is best known for his heavily sliced ground strokes.
George Deptula, The Microwave
George is one of the biggest hitters in New England senior tennis who can heat up like a microwave. A
late-bloomer, he has been a strong competitor for many years as a top senior singles and doubles player
in New England and national competition. In 2010 he earned the New England #3 ranking in Men’s 60
Singles and the #1 ranking in the Men’s 60 doubles in New England with fellow Bad Boy, Laury Hammel.
Bill Busiek, The Big Mover
Bill moves with great speed and agility on the court, but he developed a new reputation with wowing the
fans on the tournament party dance floor. Captain Drake was so impressed with Bill’s footwork skills that
he demonstrated during the Electric Slide, that he teamed up with him on the playoff match for third place
which they won handily.
George Ulrich, The Volleyer
George is a perennial top senior player and is known for his ability to win matches serving and volleying
on any surface including clay. He’s a volleying demon! Not only were his volleys lethal in this event, but
he moved to the net so quickly that it put extraordinary pressure on his opponents.
Conway Felton, The Roller
Conway is one of the best kept secrets of New England senior tennis. He is a big guy who hits even bigger.
By teaming up with doubles specialist Lieutenant McKinley he found the perfect match as a partner –
Bob’s touch and consistency complemented Conway’s power!
The Preparation in Surprise
The Bad Boys are into preparation. Captain Drake, the Lieutenant, and three others set the tone by
arriving on Tuesday with the other three arriving on Wednesday and an eight-man practice was held on
Wednesday and two practices on Thursday. The Captain knew that since it was the Bad Boys first time
this year outside and in the heat and the wind, the team needed at least two full days of preparation. This
decision turned out to be pivotal to the success of the Bad Boys of Boston.
Thursday was the night of the traditional players welcome party where the Bad Boys got to strut their
stuff. Last year’s party was a bust because of frigid temperatures, and the Bad Boys left early. But this
year’s party was a pure delight on a warm night with a star-filled sky. Inspired by the lead dancer of the Bad
Boys, George Deptula, the Bad Boys cut more than a few rugs at this shindig. George succeeded in getting
most of Bad Boys up dancing with the New England Goody Goodies and Bad Girls Carol McKinley and
Sally Felton. The Bad Boys got the party rocking and rolling to the max. After the Bad Boys outlasted the
Goody Goodies who headed back to the hotel for an early sleep because of their 7:30 a.m. start, the Bad
Boys lived up to their name and descended on various tables of unsuspecting women’s teams from other
sections and by the end of the evening few women’s teams escaped the Bad Boys’ invitations/exhortations
to rock and roll. The night proved to be a delightful diversion that loosened up the Bad Boys and got them
laughing and having a good ole time.
After a good night’s sleep and an early morning practice, the Bad Boys made the scene at the Surprise
courts at 8:30 a.m. Friday morning, April 29 – ready to play and charged up to pull a few more surprises.
Day One – Friday, April 29th
This year there were twelve teams – three flights of four teams. The winner of each flight and one wild
card advance to the semi-finals on Sunday. The Bad Boys flight was a tough one and included last year’s
second place team from the South as well as Northern California and Missouri Valley.
The Bad Boy’s were deep, with all four teams playing solid tennis and with no team dominant,
Captain Drake had the flexibility of several choices when he made his lineups. The Bad Boys faced a
tough Northern California team in the first round and as predicted the result wasn’t determined until the
last match. Hammel and Deptula, New England’s #1 ranked 60’s team, had a sluggish first set losing 6-4
and then turned it up a notch and took the second set 6-3. In the Tiebreak, Hammel, who was coming off
an injury and was a bit rusty, missed a few easy volleys that ultimately cost the Bad Boys the TB and the
match, and they were now down 0-1 in matches. McKinley and Felton had been burning up the courts in
practice at Bass River for weeks and they kept their hands hot and won handily 6-4, 6-4. With the team
match now knotted at 1-1 in matches everyone congregated on the court featuring Drake and Steele and
watched the momentum shift as The Captain and The Legend lost the second set 6-4, after winning the first
convincingly. So here the Bad Boys were in their first match, one Tiebreak from losing the team match.
The Match Tiebreaker was nerve-wrackingly close, but with a couple of key lobs and reflex volleys, The
Captain and The Legend lived up to their reputations as fierce competitors and eked out the TB 10-8.
In any tennis competition, the first round is always a challenge as everyone gets accustomed to the
conditions and courts. The Bad Boys gave a collective sigh of relief when they got through this round
relatively unscathed. However, the Bad Boys were well aware that one individual match could determine
the ultimate outcome because last year they squeaked into the semi-finals based on a one individual match
advantage over two other teams tied for second in their flight – every single match counts!
The second opponent of the day was a solid Missouri Valley team. Busiek and Ulrich replaced Hammel
and Deptula for this round. Felton and McKinley were playing on the court next to the crowded bleachers
and found themselves in a dog-fight where every point was contested. Hammel and Deptula along with
Carol and Sally formed the Bad Boys Block and the noise level became a bit raucous. The Lieutenant
and Conway won a tight first set 7-6, and were even in the second set when a Mo Valley player hit an
angle volley winner that was heading for the 4-foot high fence on the side of the court. Now anyone who
knows Conway knows he doesn’t know the meaning of ‘give up’ or ‘let go,’ so he instinctively charged
for the ball. He reached the ball, but the dern fence got in the way and suddenly he found himself faceto-face with a chain link fence. Intelligently, Felton, rather than colliding with this obstacle, opted to roll
over it, which he miraculously and gracefully performed and landed in the dirt/gravel with a perfect belly
flop. This unusual acrobatic feat that ended with a loud thud brought a hush to the crowd, and everyone
was hoping Felton was alright. Fortunately, within a few seconds he was getting up on his knees, saying:
“Bring it on, I’m OK, we’ve got a match to win.” No sissy, Felton wiped off the blood and dirt and got
right back into the match and hit a volley winner. With Felton’s effort serving as an inspiration, Felton and
McKinley went on to win the second set 6-2 and put New England up 1-0. Hammel who was the closest
eyewitness to this extraordinary ‘roll,’ was seen after the match studying the fence and the court and trying
to figure out the geometry of how this ‘roll’ actually happened. Felton, on top of helping win this critical
match, was rewarded for his hustle and gymnastic coordination by being forever known as ‘The Roller.’
In their first match of the week, Busiek and Ulrich came out swinging big, hitting some clutch
overheads, and jumping out to a one set lead. However, as can happen in doubles, after a couple of
dramatic points went the way of Mo Valley, the momentum shifted and Mo Valley won the second set 6-2.
The super Tiebreak was dramatic and could have gone either way, but in the end Mo Valley prevailed and
tied the team match up 1-1.
So once again Drake and Steele found themselves the last team playing, with the team match on the
line. The Bad Boys won the first set 6-3 and looked to be dominating the match, when all of a sudden there
was another momentum shift and they found themselves in a Tiebreak in the second set. When the going
gets tough for the Bad Boys, the Bad Boys get going. Not wanting to be in another Match Tiebreak, they
won the set Tiebreak and the Bad Boys of Boston were now sitting pretty at 2-0 and leading their flight.
Day Two – Saturday, April 30th
After winning two tough team matches that went down to the final individual match, the Bad Boys
now found themselves in control of their own destiny – win two matches in the final round robin match
and they are into the semi-finals for the second year running. The problem was that the Southern team they
faced was the team that beat the Bad Boys in the semi-finals last year, and they were returning with the
same basic team loaded with nationally ranked and highly experienced players. That being said, the Bad
Boys were far from intimidated and were eager for a little redemption after last year’s loss.
The Lieutenant and The Roller were playing with great focus and were ‘locked-in’. They took charge
quickly and never let a tough team of Southern boys (that included legendary Hugh Thomson) get into the
match and they won with surprising ease 6-4, 6-0.
But things were looking bleak in the other two matches. Drake and Steele had lost the first set to a
highly successful team in a back-and-forth Tiebreak and were down a break in the second set. Meanwhile
Hammel and Deptula were playing Bill Hester, the son of former USTA leader Slew Hester, and David
Beauchamp, were crushed 6-1 in the first set, and were on serve in the second set. But this where the Bad
Boys slogan came into play – ‘Never Give Up, Never, Never, Give up!’ Drake and Steele were fighting
to get that break back in the second set, and Hammel and Deptula were unwilling to give an inch on their
service games. Although unable to break the boys of the Southland, Hammel and Deptula held their serves
six times in a row forcing a set Tiebreak. By this time Hammel was moving into a state of mind known as
‘Hammel Time’ where high energy and boisterous self-expression are the order of the day. Hammel and
Deptula jumped out to an early lead in the TB and won it handily, forcing a match TB to give new life to
the Bad Boys. After a series of terrific and tense points, Hammel and Deptula (and the Bad Boys) found
themselves in a major role – Hammel and Deptula were down double match point with Hester serving
at 9-7. Meanwhile, Drake and Steele were still down a break in the second set and time was running out.
This is when the decibel level increased and the focus narrowed for Hammel and Deptula. Playing the
deuce court Hammel hit a perfect lob return off a first serve that set up an easy overhead for Deptula –
one match point erased. Now the second match point had Hammel serving and he hit a serve into the
body of Beauchamp for a service winner – match point number two erased. Now with things even up at
9-9, Hammel served to Hester who hit a low return that he’d been hitting all match and as Deptula later
described it, “That soft forehand slice volley of Hammel’s seemed to take forever to go over the net and
land, and it was so short that Hester couldn’t reach it. That was tense.” Now the Southern boys found
themselves down match point and Deptula was determined to get this match over with. He crushed one
of his patented backhand drive returns and followed it up with a winning volley to close out the match
and put the Bad Boys into the final four. The spontaneous jubilation after this comeback was heard all
the way back to Boston as the Bad Boys rejoiced in their Phoenix-like rise from the ashes. The Bad Boys
of Boston then joined to watch the finish of the third match (which now was meaningless) that Steel and
Drake eventually lost, 7-6, 6-4. The Bad Boys are a closely knit team and this team victory was an ultra
sweet moment for these tennis warriors from Bean Town.
There are few things more thrilling and satisfying in competition than to come back and to seize
victory from the jaws of defeat. The Bad Boys and their coaches/health advisors, Carol and Sally, decided
a little merriment was in order after their advancement to the semi-finals and they dined at a Japanese
restaurant that cooked the food in the center of the table – a perfect setting for a team celebration. As it
turned out, the party had another special significance – it was a birthday party for Lieutenant McKinley.
The impromptu Bad Boys’ chorus of Happy Birthday sung to Lieutenant McKinley was remarkable in its
enthusiasm if not its quality.
After the food was ordered, at The Slicer's request, the Bad Boys showed their sensitive side and one
by one shared what this team experience and the Bad Boys meant to them. At this point the rough and
tough exterior of these guys melted away as more than a tear or two was shed as the Bad Boys (many who
had been friends fro over 40 years) opened up about the importance to them of competitive tennis and the
camaraderie it elicits. Sally then took it one step further and asked for another round of sharing where the
Bad Boys revealed what interesting and new things they learned about each other on this trip. It was a
tender and sweet night for all.
However, as the victors from New England were leaving the restaurant, the reverie was ending and
they were already putting their game faces on in preparation to win the semi-final match at 8 a.m. Sunday
morning.
Day Three – Sunday, May 1st
In the semi-finals the Bad Boys faced a talented and experienced Southwest team from Phoenix. Last
year the Bad Boys edged them out of the last semi-finals berth by a single match, and this year they were
all business and determined to take full advantage of their home court/climate advantage. In Arizona it’s
usually windy in the spring (certainly more windy than indoors at Bass River) and the Southwest team
knew this gave them an advantage. The Bad Boys didn’t buy into this thinking because of the two days of
preparation and the three matches they’d already won. The stage was set for a highly competitive match.
Hammel and Deptula started off hot and jumped to an early two-break lead which soon became a
one-break lead as their opponents began nailing their return of serves and earned a service break. At 4-3
in the first with the momentum shifting and Deptula found himself down 0-40 and it was time for some
new heroics from this team. Deptula served three consecutive aces with serves landing on the line each
time. This serving exhibition really turned things around and led to a first set victory for the Bad Boys. The
second set was a see-saw battle that ended up in a Set TB where Hammel and Deptula took charge early
and closed out the match and the ad Boys of Boston were up 1-0.
Meanwhile, Felton and McKinley continued their hot hands and took a two service break lead against
Peter Bronson (the holder of many national singles and doubles titles) and his partner Phil Anderson. But,
the Southwest gunslingers were not to bed denied and they started making some shots and fought back to
tie the set at 6-6. In the TB the Bad Boys had their chances but couldn’t quite convert and they lost a very
close TB and the first set. In the second set, Felton and McKinley lost their serve early and had several
chances to even the match but it as not to be, and they lost the second set 6-2. The Bad Boys’ team match
was once again down to the last match with Captain Drake and Ulrich fighting for every point. Their
opponents were Bill Austin and Myron Snow, a pair of wind-ball masters – they needed no weathermen to
know which way the wind blew. It was uncanny how many critical points were won by lobs that seemed
to be going long or short and then reversed direction. It was like a great putter in golf reading greens
– the Southwest duo read the wind perfectly. After a long hard-fought match Drake and Ulrich finally
succumbed 7-5, 7-5, and the Bad Boys were booted out of final round of the championships.
Because the Bad Boys had come so close to reaching the finals, the disappointment was monumental
and deflating. Nonetheless, the Bad Boys were determined to improve on the previous year’s fourth place
by taking home the third place trophy. The Pacific Northwest team was loaded with exceptional talent
(including two top ten ranked doubles players) and until the semi-finals they were also undefeated.
Hammel and Deptula lost in a tight match to Doug Ruffin and Stephen Hoggs 7-6, 6-4. Ruffin is
currently ranked #3 in the nation in singles and #4 in doubles (with another PNW teammate, Al Lockwood)
and he was able to dominate the math with his combination of power and consistency. Felton and McKinley
returned to their winning ways and won back their match handily 6-3, 6-2. Once again the deciding match
fell on the shoulders of the Captain and his partner. Drake and Busiek played solid tennis and were met
with little resistance in their 6-1, 6-2 victory that clinched the number #3 trophy for the Bad Boys of
Boston.
Now all that was left was picking up the trophies, posing for photographs, and saying goodbye to new
and long-time tennis friends. It was a job well done!
Epilogue
The Bad Boys of Boston landed in Boston with their third place crystal trophies in hand and happy and
proud that their female cohorts took home first place. And they anticipated their reentry into the humdrum
of everyday life, they did so filled with vivid memories of passion and pathos. They were feeling the full
range of human emotions ripple through their bodies – including pride, humility, frustration, and gratitude.
Pride because the Bad Boys...
• Played as a team and made the WE bigger than the ME
• Fought their hearts out and left nothing on the court
• Exhibited superb sportsmanship
• Played some fine tennis and took home third place out of a group of 12 worthy competitors
Humility because the Bad Boys...
• Found out first-hand that no matter how good you think you are, there are many fantastic players
over 60 who are as good or better than the Bad Boys
• Learned once again that this sport is wonderful in so many ways, but in particular it exposes our
failings and weaknesses for the world to see – there is nowhere to hide
• Saw time and time again how the best players are almost always the most humble, and their humility
is one reason why they are so good
Frustration because the Bad Boys...
• Remembered the shots they could’ve made that might have made a difference and put them in the
finals. Remembering the whatmighthavebeen’s is the curse of a competitive tennis player
• Understood that third place is cool, but they aren’t going to be satisfied with anything less than the
championship trophies – in fact, they know that the championship is their destiny
• Knew they can still do better and it is this frustration will drive them to practice harder, improve on
weaknesses, and come back stronger next year
Gratitude because the Bad Boys...
• Love playing tennis and are thrilled that they are healthy; can still compete at a high level; and can
run around the court throwing themselves at moving tennis balls – unlike some of their close tennis
friends who have either passed on, can’t play because of injuries, or even worse are standing around
playing golf
• Appreciate the time and energy Captain Drake and lieutenant McKinley put into bringing the Bad
Boys together and keeping them focused
• Know that there are guys like them in every corner of this nation practicing hard and aiming to get
better so they can beat the Bad Boys next year which is what makes this competition so much fun
• Are grateful for the support of the Bad Girls – Carol McKinley and Sally Felton for their faithful and
unwavering support and healing therapy
The Reprise in Surprise was a definite improvement as the Bad Boys brought home the #3 trophies.
Far from satisfied, they have their sights set on winning number one before they’re done!
Six of the “Bad Boys” hoist the 3rd place banner.
“Bad Boys” pre-semi-final dinner (and Bob’s birthday).
The “Bad Boys” yuck it up at team celebration.
The “Bad Boys” and the “Goody Goodies”
celebrate success.
Bob Hatem and Rob Glovin
to Ogunquit, Maine, when they are not playing in Florida.
If you see Bob Hatem and Rob
Glovin smiling their way through
New England this summer it has
a lot to do with their success as a
doubles team when the Rally for
the Cure tournaments were held at
Jupiter Ocean and Racquet Club
in Jupiter, Florida.
The New England snowbirds
teamed together against a strong
field to win the men’s doubles.
Word has it that both have had
help with their serves from
Roscoe Tanner who is associated
with JORC. Glovin returns to
Dennis on Cape Cod and Hatem
Continued from page 12 (Memorial)
L - R: Marvin Sears – runner-up; Owen Landon – winner L - R: Scott Wynn, Susan Wynn – runners-up;
in Men’s 80 Singles.
Dixie Thompson-Passardi, Tim Heath - winners in Mixed
45 Doubles.
L - R: David Lowry, Eugene Wheeler – runners-up;
Dick Mount, George Boyce – winners-up in men’s 75
Doubles.
L - R: Ron Plock, Jason Bosseau – runners-up;
Ernest True, George Lynch – winners in Men’s 70
Doubles.
The Unstable Shoulder
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body. Greater mobility, however, increases the risk
of instability. Simply, the more contact between cup and ball, the more stable the joint. The hip is a simple
example of this. Three major forces hold the shoulder joint in place. First there is a suction between the
ball and cup. Second, the capsule and incorporated ligaments of the capsule provide the primary restraint
against dislocation. The capsule is often torn or detached from the cup (glenoid) of the joint with an
acute traumatic dislocation. Third, the muscles of the rotator cuff act like the reins of a horse holding the
humeral head or ball of the joint in place (located). The rotator cuff acts as a dynamic secondary stabilizer.
The labrum (lip), a cartilage borer between the capsule an cup, also increases the conformity of the joint
and the effective diameter of a small glenoid (cup) relative to the large humeral head (ball) of the joint.
Dislocations can be acute and traumatic as in a sports or work injury, or they can be chronic and relatively
atraumatic. The former is generally associated with capsular tears or labral detachment, and effectively
destroys the primary stabilizer of the joint. Non-operative management of this injury is generally indicated,
however, the recurrence rate is roughly 90% in the twenty year old or under. This dramatically decreases
with age, and over forty years of age is under 20%.
Atraumatic dislocation is often associated with capsular laxity, generalized ligament laxity, and repetitive
ligament overload. For this reason it is commonly seen in the swimmer and throwing athlete. It is often
associated with subluxation without frank dislocation. This may make for a confusing constellation of
symptoms and a long history without correct diagnosis.
These Patients in 85% of cases or more respond to exercise program which increase the strength of the
rotator cuff and the secondary stabilizers of the shoulder.
Symptoms
Symptoms of dislocation are obvious especially when reduction is required by manipulation by a
physician. Subluxation, however, may be more elusive. Symptoms here may mimic those of impingement
especially in the swimmer or throwing athlete. Overhead work may cause pain and reaching up with the
arm externally rotated may result in apprehension, or the sense that dislocation will occur.
Diagnosis
The capsule is often torn or detached from the cup (glenoid) with an acute traumatic dislocation. Diagnosis
is generally made by physical exam. Plain X-ray exam only rules out other problems or injuries associated
with dislocation and confirms that the joint is indeed located. MRI is in general not highly sensitive nor
specific in the diagnosis of capsular injury. This can be greatly improved with views done in several
positions of rotation. CAT scan enhanced with arthrogram contrast is at least as diagnostic as MRI, but
more invasive. Ultimately accurate diagnosis may be made during evaluation of the joint during anesthesia
and direct joint evaluation with arthroscopy. When therapeutic exercise fails to decrease symptoms to
a tolerable level, exam under anesthesia with arthroscopic or open repair may be indicated. Generally
this follows an intensive rotational strengthening program, unless recurrent dislocation occurs without
provocation.
Surgery
Repair of the attachment of the capsule of the shoulder to the neck of the glenoid (Bankart repair) is
now the most successful and anatomically preserving method of surgical repair. Reports give this greater
than 95% success rate when performed by an open surgical approach. With this procedure, generalized
capsular laxity may be addressed in patients with atraumatic dislocation and subluxation. Open surgery
is uncomfortable, and immobilization is required for a full 4 to 6 weeks. Arthroscopic repairs are now
possible, however, even in the hands of those who developed the techniques, the incidence of redislocation
is higher (about 10%). The obvious advantage is less pain after surgery and a short hospital stay (often
outpatient). Immobilization should be identical to that with open repair. Less pain with arthroscopic repair
may in fact lead to a higher risk of redislocation, because patients tend to begin activities prior to adequate
capsular healing.
Complications
As in all surgery, there are risks. The greatest risk is that of repeat dislocation. The risk of infection is
below 0.5%. The risk of nerve injury or unresolved pain is also very small. Only you can weigh the risks
and benefits of surgery and make an informed decision.
Rehabilitation
As noted above, rehabilitation begins with immobilization and then progresses from isometric (strengthening
without motion), to active rotational strengthening, and passive to active motion through a progressively
more normal range. Generally a full range of motion is expected to return by 3-4 months after surgery. No
extreme measures should be taken to regain full motion rapidly, or the repair may be damaged. Clearly
following specific guidelines for rehabilitation are as important as the repair itself.
Timecourse
1) Sling immobilization 4-6 weeks
2) Isometric strengthening of rotator cuff begins at 4-6 weeks.
3) Active strengthening of rotator cuff and early deltoid strengthening 6-8 weeks.
4) Active and passive elevation (elbow and hand above shoulder) 8-10 weeks.
50 Light lifting and functional use of the shoulder 4 months post-op.
6) Return to relatively normal shoulder use (sports and heavy lifting) 6 months post-op.
Compliments of: Sports Medicine, Orthopaedics & Podiatry
400 Massasoit Ave., Suite 200, East Providence, RI 02914
sportsmedcenter.com
Senior Slams Here to Stay
by Helaine Block
Concord, MA – Dorcas and Ken Miller have
a genuine passion for tennis. Their love of the
sport is apparent from the moment you meet
them and pose the question of when did they
first become involved in the sport.
A very likeable and humble couple, the
Millers are a pair of highly-skilled and highlyranked tennis players who have participated in
national and New England senior tournaments
on a regular basis for just shy of three decades.
Dorcas currently holds the No. 1 ranking for
2010 in the women’s 70-year-old division in
New England and is seventh nationally. Ken
Ken Miller (middle) with 60's grass court winners George Dep- represents half of the No. 2-ranked doubles
tula (left) and Ken Newman.
team in New England in the 70-year-old
division.
Ironically, neither picked up the sport until they were in their 30s. In her younger days, Dorcas was a
stay-at-home mother and an equestrian who enjoyed riding horses.
One day, while riding, she was thrown from her horse. Fortunately, her injuries were minimal and she
walked away with only a separated shoulder. Once the injury healed, her doctor recommended rehabilitation
in either physical therapy or playing tennis to regain the strength in her arm. She chose tennis and the
passion for the sport began. Shortly afterward, Ken joined her on the court and tennis became a large
component of their lives.
Back in the summer of 2008, while driving to a New England senior tournament in Williamstown MA,
the Millers began discussing what could be done to spice up senior tennis for the New England region.
They felt as though local senior tennis could use a much needed boost and the timing was ideal.
“Ken and I both believed that the sport was fading and no one had an interest in revitalizing it,” Dorcas
said.
Equipped with their love of the sport, sense of determination, and genuine passion, they started the
New England Senior Slams, a series of three United States Tennis Association New England-sanctioned
tournaments for senior men and women between the ages of 50 and 85.
As the Millers’ dream was becoming a reality, it was time to find enthusiastic supporters as well
as financial backers. They approached USTA New England and the section offered support in anyway
possible. USTA New England backing of the idea was crucial, but they also needed a senior organization
in conjunction with the USTA to gain additional credibility. Their answer was the New England Senior
Tennis Foundation, a Massachusetts-based organization founded by Irving and Bernice Levine to promote
the sport amongst seniors in New England. Both Dorcas and Ken are on the Board of Directors and Ken
currently serves as the webmaster. The Board of Directors loved the idea and quickly became ardent
supporters.
“Finding a grass surface that could accommodate our draw size in New England was quite the
challenge,” Ken said. “There are a limited number of single standing grass courts in New England alone,
never mind enough grouped together to accommodate a tournament.’
After much networking, lobbying, and research, the three surfaces finally were secured for the 2010
New England Senior Slams. The hard court tournament was held at Yale University in New Haven, CT.
Yale offers an extensive venue with beautiful outdoor as well as indoor facilities in the case of inclement
weather.
The grass tournament was held at the International Hall of Fame in Newport, RI, a beautifully-situated
venue right in the heart of historic downtown Newport. The clay tournament was split between the Concord
Country Club in Concord, MA, and the Beverly Golf and Tennis Club in Beverly, MA.
The 2010 New England Senior Slam was a huge success and exceeded the Millers’ expectations. There
were 365 individual participants competing in either singles, double or both.
The 2011 New England Senior Slams will be held a the same venues again during the summer months.
The next and exciting addition will be the inclusion of a mixed-doubles 65-year-old bracket tournament.
For additional information on how to participate in the Senior Slams and to support the New England
Senior Slams, visit: www.neseniortennis.org.
Continued from page Front Cover (2011 Addie Cup)
sportsmanship of each team member not only to their age group team but to the team as a whole. Our 40s
team welcomed newcomers Nancy Grimes, Sue Benoit and Christine Chiminello. Their combined energy
and engagement with the team were infectious. They were joined by veterans Michelle Wright and Aileen
Eleey. Aileen even played with stitches in her right hand finger which ultimately became infected.
The 50s team also welcomed newcomer Johanna Bickford who had a decisive singles win even though
she turned her ankle and was hardly able to walk the last few games. And after an easy first day doubles
match Ann Knoblock had to retired with a pulled calf muscle while leading in her second day’s singles
match. Likewise Tina Bougas-Smith who joined the team after many years, was forced to retire from
her match with a very swollen knee. This was a true blow to the team since the original 50s roster was
undeniably the strongest of any team and rarely gives up a single match. It is safe to say that Molly was
now worried. However, Jeanne Hulsen posted her second singles win and we all were ecstatic when Jean
Osachuk added a gutsy singles win, despite a sore knee, to even the score 6 - 6 following the singles
matches. Jeanne and Jean team together to uphold New England’s dominance at first doubles.
The 60s were Queens of the Tie-Breakers! Allyson Bolduc played five tie-breakers in three winning
matches. Mary Mayotte played four tie-breakers in two winning matches and in both cases there were
Match tie-breakers. With noses glued to the window we watched the final match on the court, Molly Hahn
and Lee Delfausse fight their way to a final Match tie-breaker win that put New England over the top.
In the 70s Heidi Attfellner and Sheila Weinstock won all their singles matches and Sheila and Judy
Smith won both their doubles matches. These were all won in two sets.
In addition to our seriously injured players the rest of us were ably attended to by our favorite travelling
friend and physical therapist, Bernadette Lehnmann, who massaged our aches and pains and carefully
wrapped us with kinesio tape.
In Molly’s words: “This New England win is a tribute to the depth, strength, determination and
tremendous support of the entire team.”
Irving Levine still living the dream at
Clem Easton Super Seniors tennis tournament
Longmeadow – Local tennis royalty Irving Levine began playing
tennis during the Great Depression. Wilbraham’s Fran Calarese
picked up the sport after completing his service in World War II.
Sunday afternoon at The Field Club, the two met for the men’s
90-and-over singles championship at the Clem Easton Super Seniors
event.
The 89-year-old Levine overcame the effects of a broken pinky
finger to cruise past 90-year-old Calarese in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.
Due to a tournament rule, Levine played in the 90-and-over age
division because his 90th birthday will come later this year.
Not that he acts his age.
Levine still works for Copley Fund, Inc., which he founded in 1978
and has operated ever since. He plays tennis whenever he can, drove
himself two hours to the Longmeadow tournament from his Rehoboth
home and still contributes money and time to help develop tennis
programs in the region.
90-and-over New England champ
Irv Levine hits a smashing serve.
In 1996, Levine founded the New England Senior Tennis Foundation
with $250,000 from his own pocket.
“The focus was on youth, which is good,” he said, “but we wanted to establish an organization that
would promote senior participation.”
The foundation continues to serve it purpose, with the Clem Easton Super Senior tournament providing
the latest evidence.
“It’s just a great tournament,” said Calarese, who once served on the tournament committee. “They
treat us right.”
Levine’s easy win against Calarese was the latest championship victory in a celebrated local and
international tennis career. In 1971, Levine won the 40-and-over doubles national championship in Atlanta,
Ga.
He owns the record for most number one rankings in New England tennis, has been ranked as high as
number three in the country in the 80-and-over age division and once represented the United States in the
80-and-over World Championships alongside two former Wimbledon champions.
Tennis wasn’t the only racket sport he thrived in, either. Levine was selected to the 40-and-over
national table tennis team in the 1970s and once played table tennis at the Boston Garden during halftime
of a Boston Celtics game.
His opponent Calarese was no pushover. A two-time winner of the Easton tournament, Calarese has
won so many tennis trophies that he occasionally needs to throw some away to make room for the latest.
Though he was disappointed with Sunday’s showing, Calarese is healthy again after briefly being sidelined
by a recent injury.
“My doctor told me not to play on hard courts,” he said. “Little does he know, I do.”
Calarese appreciates that he can still play tennis so deep into the fifth set of his life.
“Who knows what life has in store for you when you reach your eighties and nineties,” he said. “Some
of us are just lucky.”
In other tournament action, Paul Fein, head professional of the Chicopee Parks and Recreation
Department, fell to Richard Klaffky in the men’s 65-and-over singles Championship, 6-1, 6-3.
Grass Slam at Newport Starts with Rain,
but Ends Up Successful
(but, no hurricane like last year)
The 2011 Grass NE Senior Slam at Newport started with rain and all play on Thursday was cancelled,
as there were no backup courts available then. Weather cleared on Friday and remained good for the rest
of the weekend but Friday and half of Saturday saw the grass courts too wet for play. Unfortunately, the
prospect of playing on hard courts instead of grass caused some who entered the tournament to withdraw,
but most of the players soldiered on.
Friday play on hard courts commenced in the morning at Carey Mansion (3 courts) and Salve Regina
University (6 courts), both close by. Carey Mansion was not a venue used last year and there are some
interesting stories associated with it. It apparently is thought to be a haunted house – a tourist bus came by
in the morning and its guide made a point of telling the tourists it was haunted and had been on television
a couple of weeks before on a program highlighting haunted houses. Also, during play in the morning, a
woman and man came up to volunteer Rollie Ernst who helped at Carey and asked her who the players
were and who owned the tennis courts. The woman was a private investigator hired by the neighbors of
the Carey Mansion as they all disliked the woman owner. Apparently, she regularly had “wild” parties
at the mansion with 40 cars clogging the narrow street. She also went out nude in the night at times and
sometimes slept outside in the nude! Maybe she comes out to commune with ghosts?
Back to tennis. In mens 50 singles, John Geilfuss had a long hard fought singles win in the finals (on
grass) over Yale Slam singles winner Russ Strong 6-3, 0-6, 7-5. Mens 50 doubles had three teams and they
played round robin. Mark Lueders and Rich Wilson won a tough three setter over John Geilfuss and Rob
Pease 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 to give them two Slam 50 doubles wins as they also won the Clay Slam. All matches
except finals where the draw was four or more played a supertiebreaker in lieu of a 3rd set to make up time
due to the loss of the first day.
50 singles winner John Geilfuss shaking hands with
finalist Russ Strong after their hard fought match.
Finalist Russ Strong with winner John Geilfuss
In womens 50 singles, unseeded Pam Wolf defeated 1st seed and doubles partner Vicki Hibbard 6-1,
6-4 in the semis and then defeated 2nd seed Lynn Kaufman 6-0, 6-3 in the finals. The womens 50 doubles
draw was the largest doubles draw in the tournament with seven teams entered. At the Clay Slam, the CT
team of Barbara Clarke and Holly Shaefer had so much fun that they said they were going to recruit their
league team players for the Grass Slam and they delivered. Holly and Barbara made it to the finals but then
lost to winners Vicki Hibbard and Pam Wolf 6-2, 6-3.
Mens 50 singles finalist Russ Strong in action
Mens 50 doubles winners Rich Wilson and Mark Lueders
Womens 50 singles finalist Lynn Kaufman with winner
Pam Wolf
Womens 50 doubles winners Vicki Hibbard and Pam Wolf
In mens 55 singles, 1st seed Wade Frame defeated unseeded Brigham Metcalfe 6-1, 6-4 in the final.
Brigham had a very tight semis match defeating 2nd seed Hany Teylouni 2-6, 6-2, 10-5. In mens 55
doubles, 1st seeds Wade Frame and Phil Kadesch won the round robin (there were three teams) to take the
title.
Womens 50 doubles finalists Barbara Clarke and
Holly Schaefer
Mens 55 singles winner Wade Frame with finalist
Brigham Metcalfe
In mens 60 singles, 1st seed Alex Levichev defeated 4th seed George Ulrich in the finals 6-4, 6-3. Both
had tough semis matches with Alex prevailing over Stephen Sasson 6-7(10), 6-2, 10-4 and George
defeating 2nd seed George Deptula 6-4, 6-4. In mens 60 doubles, the final between 1st seeds George
Deptula and Laury Hammel and unseeded George Ulrich and Bill Busiek was played on 9/24 as it was the
only match not able to be completed on Sunday. It was about as close as it could be with 1st seeds George
Deptula and Laury Hammel winning the title 7-6(1), 6-7(4), 6-4.
Mens 55 doubles winners Phil Kadesch and Wade Frame
with finalists Brigham Metcalfe and Peter MacPartland
Mens 60 singles winner Alex Levichev with finalist
George Ulrich
In womens 60 singles, 1st seed Dorcas Miller was upset by Eszter Chase in the finals 6-3, 6-1. Womens
60 doubles saw Ruby Curtis and Carolyn Fournier win both matches in the round robin (three teams
Womens 60 singles winner Eszter Chase with finalist
Dorcas Miller
Womens 60 doubles finalists Eszter Chase and
Dale Walker
Womens 60 doubles winners Carolyn Fournier and
Ruby Curtis and the first TRIPLE SLAM WINNERS
Mens 65 singles finalist Yoshi Akabane with winner Ken
Newman
entered) with one a nailbiter against Eszter Chase and Dale Walker 2-6, 7-6(3), 10-5 to not only win the
Grass Slam title but they became the first to win a TRIPLE SLAM! A Triple Slam is the winning of all
three Slam tournaments in the same year. BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO RUBY AND CAROLYN!
In mens 65 singles, Yoshi Akabane got to the finals with a default from injured 1st seed Rick Klaffky so
he did not have to put on a spectacular run like he did at the Clay Slam. However, 2nd seed Ken Newman
defeated Yoshi 6-4, 6-3 in the final. In 65 doubles, the two Bills, White and Ruth (1st seeds) defeated Pete
Allen and Ken Newman in a tight final 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Mens 70 singles saw an upset in the finals. 2nd seed Ray Brodeur defeated 1st seed George Lynch for
the first time after many tries 7-6(5), 6-4. His cry of joy at winning could be heard throughout the courts.
Ray teamed with partner Ken Miller to win two matches in the round robin play, 6-2, 6-2 against Lynch
and partner Mac Farmer and a very tight 6-2, 5-7, 10-7 win against Mal Swanson and John Bradbury to
take the title.
Mens 70 singles winner Ray Brodeur with finalist
George Lynch
Mens 70 doubles winners Ken Miller and Ray Brodeur
In mens 75 singles, there was again a round robin between three entries. Larry Sears won the title with
very convincing wins over Mal Swanson and Bob Fougere. Mens 75 doubles did not happen as there were
originally two other teams both of which dropped out due to the weather and the prospect of playing on
hard courts.
Mens 75 singles winner Larry Sears with finalist
Mal Swanson
Mixed 65 finalists John Kielty and Judy Schmid with
winners Frances Ferguson and John Bradbury
In mens 80 singles, Marvin Sears took the title with wins over Harry Kirsch and Dick Morse. Marvin
had a tough time with Dick, prevailing 6-1, 5-7, 10-7.
In mixed 65 doubles, there were only two teams. The New York husband and wife duo of John Bradbury
and Frances Ferguson defeated John Kielty and Judy Schmid 6-1, 6-3 to take the title.
Mens 80 singles winner Marvin Sears
The 2nd floor porch, scene of the party
The party was held on Saturday at 6PM and was a great success. Those who had been at the grass slam
party last year agreed this caterer provided better food and drink than the one from last year. Ken and
Dorcas Miller presided over the drawing with some great prizes won.
After the possibility of a disaster due to weather, all turned out well. Special thanks to volunteers Rich
Heath and Rollie Ernst that helped with the tournament, Jim Purington from USTA/NE who came down
on Friday to help, and to official Tom Fayed who again provided great wisdom and help in making the
tournament run smoothly.
Tom Fayed doing his official's duty. He does a great job.
View of play from the 2nd floor porch
Continued from page 3 (Cliff Richey)
was suffering then from the early stages of depression.
My copy of Acing Depression arrived a couple of days later. It was autographed by both of the Richey’s.
Cliff wrote: “To Jerry – With best wishes – Never ever ever give up. Cliff Richey March 28, 2011.” I spent
the next few nights totally absorbed in the well-written book. Cliff wrote about everything – the good
times and the bad, his memorable wins and losses on the court. Interspersed throughout the book are
detailed accounts of his battles with depression and how it affected his tennis game and his relationships
with friends and family off the court. The book is written with complete frankness. Acing Depression was
co-written with his daughter, Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, PhD.
At the beginning of the book, Cliff wrote the following about writing the book with his daughter: “The
experience turned out to be deeply healing for me and, I hope, Hilaire. A new form of family healing
took on a life of its own as the book progressed. This could only have been possible with total honesty.
Anything less would have created still more wounds, more dysfunction – set town on paper, never to be
reconciled for all time. I decided to start the rest of my life with a clean slate. I’m asking my family to give
me a mulligan.”
At the beginning of the book, Hilaire wrote the following about helping her father write the book: “As
a child, I did feel imprisoned by my family of origin, although that part of the analogy would have to
end here. However, it has been a tremendously liberating and healing experience for me to learn how to
empathize with a person who – at least at one point – used to be capable of wounding me so deeply. We’re
an unlikely combination, the jock and the scholar. But we’ve come to identify with each other so closely
that at some points, it has been almost frightening. All and all, this has been a magnificent adventure.
Besides, isn’t that the true definition of empathy?”
I would like to quote a portion of the book found on page 231: “I have no problem with people calling
my clinical depression a mental disease. I am not in any ashamed of my disease. And I certainly don’t care
who finds out about. I don’t have endorsements to lose any more! I guess another thing which helps me
talk about it is the fact that I never really cared what people thought anyway. I know so many people have
it. It’s a common thing. I have always enjoyed going against the grain. But I’m mad at our system that
forces people underground. There is still such a taboo, still such a stigma. My sports success gives me a
license to speak. I like to use whatever celebrity I do have for a good cause. I see myself as a cheerleader
for the mentally ill. I’ve made it to the top of my profession, so my life shows that depression can happen
to anyone. It’s not just for ‘losers’ who end up depressed. In fact, it’s the ‘winners’ who more often do.
As former football player and actor Ed Marinaro told me, ‘You’ve got the successful man’s disease.’
Remember that just because you’re successful doesn’t mean you’re a winner in every area of your life. It
might be even more difficult for a successful person to admit he or she needs an overhaul.’”
Cliff concludes his book with “The bottom line is: depression can be beaten. Far worse than losing is
not staying out on that court. Depression will tell you it’s not worth fighting, but yo don’t have to listen to
that voice. Listen to what I’m telling you instead. Even if you forget everything else, remember the words:
NEVER, EVER, EVER GIVE UP.” His words remind me of the Cliff I saw on the court – a combatant
who gave it his all each and every time regardless of who his opponent was. An estimated 19 million
American adults are living with major depression. It is hard to go through life without knowing someone
who is not suffering from or battling this illness. We are all affected in some way.
Acing Depression is written with poignancy, emotion and unmitigated honesty. Since depression affects
people regardless of their place in life, it is not just a book for tennis players or other athletes. It is a
recommended read for everyone. If I had 10 thumbs, I would put them all up.
The book can be ordered at www.cliffricheybook.com. If you wish, you can ask Cliff to autograph it for
you. If he does, I’m certain he will write “Never ever ever give up.”
NEW ENGLAND
SENIOR TENNIS
FOUNDATION
N.E.S.T.F. Has Financial
Support for TennisRelated Projects
The New England Senior Tennis Foundation is soliciting proposals for programs which will support and promote the goals of the
Foundation which are: to promote tennis among senior adults (45 and
older for men and 40 and older for women) in New England and, by
instruction and education through the operation of clinics, programs
and competitive events, to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing and thereby their quality of life. The Board of Directors of the
Foundation will award a grant of up to $2,000 to an individual or
organization that submits a proposal that is consistent with the above
goals. The deadline for submission is February 28, 2012. The program
can be run any time in 2012. If you have any questions on your idea
for a program you may call George Ulrich at 860-443-2098. Please
consider submitting a proposal using the attached form.
NEW ENGLAND SENIOR TENNIS
FOUNDATION, INC.
PROGRAM GRANT REQUEST
Description of Program:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Grant Policy / Discussion
Our policy, as stated in our program grant request, is to “promote tennis among seniors in New England and by instruction and education through the operation of clinics, programs
and competitive events, to enhance their phsycial and mental
well being and thereby their quality of life.”
This is a good general statement but in the review of grant
requests other considerations arise. We are guided by the following:
Grant requests, where appropriate, are considered as seed
money only, and that after a short period of time, grantees
should become self-supporting.
We have been following a policy of partial funding,
and require grantees to tap other sources including participants.
As a matter of administrative policy, we request that grantees
report to us in detail as to the success of their ventures and
how the grant was spent. We also ask grantees make participants aware that NESTF is providing financial assistance.
George Ulrich
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Budget for Program (Please provide breakdown of all expenses,
e.g. salaries, materials, equipment, court rental, etc.)
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Date(s) Program will be run:___________________________________
Geographic Location of Program:______________________________
Number of Seniors Expected to Participate in Program:____________
____________________________________________________________
Goals and Objectives of Program:_______________________________
____________________________________________________________
Contact Person for Program:
Name_______________________________________________________
Telephone
Mail to:______________________________________________________
George Ulrich
New England Senior Tennis Foundation, Inc.
6 Shore Rd
Waterford, CT 06385
Tel. 860-443-2098
Fax 860-437-3175
e-mail: [email protected]
Address_____________________________________________________
Telephone___________________________________________________
The Atlantic Coast Cup Grant, named for Ray Barbero,
a former captain of the New England team for ten
years, is to be given to the Men's Atlantic Coast team.
We look forward to receiving some worthwhile ideas. Let us hear from you! – Donations to NESTF
are accepted at any time.
New England competitors and top contributors
to the New England Senior Tennis Foundation
At Pittsfield Country Club, L to R: Richard Heath, Dick Ernst, Dixie Passardi and Tim Heath
Left, Sheila Weinstock and Right, Lil Peltz-Petow in Huntsville, Alabama, spring 2011.

Fall, 2011 - New England Senior Tennis Foundation

Transcription

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