Tennis History FYI - Chris Evert , Her Dad Jimmy And Her Great Friend And Rival Martina Navratilova

I'll copy and paste here a great read seen in this Sunday's New York Times about Chris Evert and her post Greg Norman life. The pic you see above is of her at an event promoting the Harlem Youth Tennis Program in NYC, moreover they are playing tennis atop the Empire State Building.

Your parents surely know Chris Evert, as she is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Her and her family, but specifically her father Jimmy here, are tireless promoters of tennis. The USTA Player Development Program is now involved with Jimmy Evert's famous 'Holiday Park,' a public tennis complex located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Jimmy Evert, age 86, still teaches tennis there a few times a week. There are a lot of horrible tennis parents,its really cliche at all levels, and many of the worst offenders make it with their children to the pro tour.

Jimmy Evert is one of the best tennis teachers and tennis parents of all time, is well known as being a class act to the nines, and this should be lauded. Jimmy has coached Harold Solomon, Jennifer Capriati and Brian Gottfried. Couple that with coaching Chris and you have 4 of the best tennis players our country has ever produced. His two other children, Jeanne and Drew Evert, spent time on the professional tennis tour. Jeanne and Drew have always been involved with the family business, the Evert Tennis Academy. Which is separate from Holiday Park

I foresee a push in the next few years, by tennis media and others who have influence to have him inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame as a lifetime contributor. Newport needs to recognize more contributors like Jimmy, as his credentials are as impressive as that of Nick Bollettieri, who got shafted in this year voting but is sure to get in next year. Jimmy is also a Notre Dame alum who played there on scholarship and captained their team his senior year. He turned that 'C' over the next year to his brother. Tennis and the Evert's have a far reaching history in the sport, but Chrissy was the shining star whose already enshrined in Newport.

I've always admired Chris Evert's coolness and intensity while competing, as this is something I wish I was better at and I feel all should mimic. Her nickname was the 'Ice Maiden.' Her rivalry with Martina Navratilova, and how long it lasted, is as legendary as any sport has ever had. It did wonders for the boom in tennis participation in the 70's and 80's.

It also laid further substance to women's tennis being the most watched and important female pro sport. The prize money offered today can lay further proof to that. Martina and Chrissy played as big a role as Billie Jean King in bringing women's pro tennis to the top of all womens' pro sports. I believe that this idea is something that makes tennis even more special and unique. Its another reason I am proud to be involved with the sport.

Martina, age 53, still play competitive doubles, at all the majors and world team tennis, usually with women half her age. This is one of the most remarkable accomplishments in all professional sports. I believe her feat can give encouragement and support to male and or female participation in any sport at any age. She's an amazing women who speaks her mind and wear's her heart on her sleeve. When I read that the poem "If," by Kipling(previous blog post) I think of the arc of her entire tennis career.

Truth be told I've always identified more with Martina, her attacking style and the emotional player she has always been. My first born girl will be named Martina. I love em' both, as i grew up watching this rivalry. I remember as a kid, waking up at 8am and turning the TV to NBC, on one of many Saturday mornings in June and July, to watch them do battle in a major final in Paris or London.



May 29, 2010, 6:06 pm
New York Times
30 Seconds With Chris Evert
By VINCENT M. MALLOZZI

Chris Evert won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including seven at the French Open, during her 17-year tennis career. She lives in Boca Raton, Fla., where she is raising three teenage sons and has a tennis academy. Evert, 55, continues to promote her sport and was part of the United States Tennis Association’s tribute to tennis mothers in May, National Tennis Month. She recently gave a lesson atop the Empire State Building to children from the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program.

Q. You won the French Open seven times. Can anyone today equal or surpass that?

A. That’s a hard question. I doubt it, and it’s nothing against today’s players, but because there is so much more depth right now in the game of tennis, it’s harder for any one person to win a lot of Grand Slams. I think it would be really hard and quite an achievement.


Q. What are you doing now?


A. I have three teenage boys, so my first priority is with my kids, being home with them. I also have my tennis academy in Boca Raton, and I have a hospital named after me that I do a lot of work for. I’m also the publisher of a tennis magazine, but the most important thing for me right now is to be a mom.


Q. How concerned are you about Martina Navratilova, who has breast cancer?


A. I think she’s very optimistic. and I’m optimistic for her. She’s strong and she’s healthy and she’s taking this like a champion, and she knows we are all thinking about her.


Q. Are you still playing competitive tennis?


A. Not competitive, but I do go to my academy and play there three or four times a week, and that’s enough for me right now. I don’t play any other sports, though I have gone skiing and I have surfed, but tennis is the main thing.


Q. Who is your favorite tennis player?

A. Roger Federer has always been my favorite. He’s a gentleman. You would want to have him as your son, or your boyfriend or your brother. He’s just a wonderful human being.


Q. Tell us something no one knows about you.


A. I have a very weird sense of humor.

Q. Your three marriages ended in divorce. Are you dating, and would you consider marrying again?

A. Right now it’s the last thing on my mind. I’m not dating. I got the wind taken out of my sails on this last one and so I’m not considering it. It’s the furthest thing from my mind.

French Open Tennis Schedule For TV - 'Tennis Channel ' & NBC

I love watching the French Open on the slow clay of Roland Garros and I recommend you check it out as the TV schedule is below. All the power and shorten points you may see on the grass of Wimbledon and the hard court in the US is less amplified. You really get to see extended rallies and more point construction on the slowest surface of all the four majors.

The 4 majors, which are the most prestigious tennis tournaments and the surfaces that they are played on are: Wimbledon (grass) US Open (hard) French Open (red clay) Australian Open (hard)

So here is the TV schedule and I hope you all get a chance to see the play in Paris over the memorial day weekend or as we approach the semi finals and finals next weekend.

LIVE means shown on 'Tennis Channel,' as i don't know what the 'Tennis Channel' may be on your cable server. Have a happy and safe memorial day weekend.


DATE ROUND TIME (all ET) NETWORK
Sat, May 29 Early-round play 5 a.m.-12 p.m. (Live)
Sat, May 29 Early-round play 12p.m. - 3 p.m. NBC
Sat, May 29 French Open Tonight 3p.m.- 6:30p.m. (Live)

Sun, May 30 Round of 16 5 a.m.-12 p.m. (Live)
Sun, May 30 Round of 16 12p.m. - 3 p.m. NBC
Sun, May 30 French Open Tonight 3p.m.- 6:30p.m. (Live)

Mon, May 31 Round of 16 5 a.m.-12 p.m. (Live)
Mon, May 31 Round of 16 12p.m.-6:30p.m. (Live) ESPN2
Mon, May 31 French Open Tonight 6:30p.m.- 10p.m. (Live)

Tues, June 1 Quaterfinals 8 a.m.-12 p.m. (Live)
Tues, June 1 Quaterfinals 12p.m.-6:30p.m. (Live) ESPN2
Tues, June 1 French Open Tonight 6:30p.m.- 10p.m. (Live)

Wed, June 2 Quaterfinals 8 a.m.-12 p.m. (Live)
Wed, June 2 Quaterfinals 12p.m.-6:30p.m. (Live) ESPN2
Wed, June 2 French Open Tonight 6:30p.m.- 10p.m. (Live)

Thur, June 3 Mens Doubles Semifinals 5 a.m.-8 a.m. (Live)
Thur, June 3 Womens Semifinals 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.(Live) ESPN2
Thur, June 3 Womens Semifinals 1.pm - 6:30p.m. Replay
Thur, June 3 French Open Tonight 6:30p.m.- 10p.m. (Live)

Fri, June 4 Mens Semifinals 11a.m. - 5p.m. (Live EST) NBC
Fri, June 4 Mens Semifinals 5p.m. - 12a.m. Replay

Sat, June 5 Womens Final 9a.m - 12p.m. (Live) NBC

Sun, June 6 Mens Final 9a.m. - 2p.m. (Live) NBC




You may remember this blog post I did in February entitled 'FYI - The Clown Prince of Tennis.' The great story of Mansour Bahrami, the native of Iran, who overcame many an obstacle to make it on the pro tennis tour. Well this video clip, in German, is of him again, playing on the red clay of the French Open. We don't ever play on clay, except Bishop Eustace, but watch for all the sliding that he and the great Boris Becker do in this clip. I love Mansour and his act. He cracks me up. Enjoy it !!!

Tournments That I'd LOVE all of you to play in this SUMMER

There is nothing that adds as much confidence to your game, win or lose, than to get invaluable match play experience in a tournament. These tennis tournaments are right in our backyard and run by Coach Mitch. These are just darn good tournaments that fit the needs and experience levels that each and everyone of you at JV and varsity level may be at right now. Sincerely no one on the team should be afraid to sign-up and play in these tournaments.

There is no time like the present to capitalize on your tennis skills, that are quite polished after 3 months of playing. I can't tell you how great it is that Coach Mitch offers this to you and works his back side off to help organize. I highly recommend that you sign up and play all of these tournament offerings. I will put more up in a few days.

Coach has a tournament scheduled for June 25-27 as you see below, and as there isn't an entry form here, you can just filled out another entry form and switch the dates. You can also call Coach Winkler as his phone number is on the forms, and he'd be glad to get back to you with information. He also runs a summer camp at those same PVI courts. Mitch has been part of the PVI Family for almost 20 years now, and his summer camp has been at those same courts for about 10 I think.

There are many divisions in his tournament, separate Girls and Boys 16's & 18 and under, separate Men's and Women's Open Divisions, and a Men's B Tournament. So please feel free to print an entry form and pass it on to anyone who you think would be interested in playing in it. Remember tennis is SUMMER!!!

The shirt situation hasn't been fully resolved yet but Mrs Roxas has been quite thoughtful in her assistance to help out, and Andre has his shirt back. But please if one of you has a shirt or shorts, and you find it do turn it in. Thanks again

Just click on, and then print the tourney forms below.

Help!! We Need That Pavl VI Tennis Shirt, HELP WE ARE MISSING ONE NEW WHITE SHIRT STILL!!! State Championship Results From Mercer

There is still one new white Paul VI tennis shirt missing. Please do the right thing and turn it into the athletic office. Just turn it in and we'll be happy that the situation is resolved. Someone will need this shirt next year. This is especially important considering that the shirt is BRAND NEW. This is very sad that someone wouldn't turn their shirt in, and that the athletic department and I now have to put in an increased effort and time in finding it. Mr Mitchell and Mrs Harris are aware of the current problem and desire a solution to.

Secondly, our team parent Mr Burns has offered to arrange for our Conference Champs apparel. So I will touch base with him today and have that information on the blog tomorow. I still want to touch the felt, as Mr Mitchell explained that he will send our banner away to Massachusetts, where they will sew '2010' on our tennis banner. He also explained to me that the banner will be in the gym with '2010' on it for the start of the new school year.

Please listen to John, Ringo, Paul and George who will plead our shirt plight better. Enjoy another Beatles video below.




HELP!! You Know we need that PVI tennis shirt!!! HELP!!!



Please turn in the shirt before the athletic department and I will have to turn up the 'Pressure.' Please watch the fantastically inventive music video below, as the incomparable genius Blly Joel, will describe pressure much better than I. This video was quite advanced and creative for being made in 1982. Don't forget that MTV started in 1981.





Today's early results, 11am semi final matches From NJ State Championships at Mercer County Tennis Complex

Group 4 Semi Final
Lenape 3 Montgomery 2 - Huge UPSET, but I knew they had it in them ... Lenape plays for state championship @ 3pm @ Mercer Tennis Center ... Lenape will bring home a state championship to South Jersey.

Group 2 Semi Final
Haddonfield 3 Manasquan 2 Love them Bulldogs, always hot at the right time ... they play for the Group 2 State Championship against the top team in the state, Chatham @ 3pm @ Mercer

Group 3 Semi Final
Millburn 3 Ramapo 2

Group 1 Semi Final
Pitman 5 South River 0 - Pitman proves me quite wrong, as they are playing for the Group 1 state championship right. Pennsville put up a darn good fight in the sectional final!!

Group 3 Semi Final
West Windsor North 3 Moorestown 2 Moorestown had a heck of a tussle with another North Jersey beast before falling bravely.

Group 2 Semi Final
Chatham 3.5 Pascack Hills 1.5 The two beasts bang on each other. Good luck Bulldogs, my fingers are crossed and my heart is with ya.

State Championship Matches - 2nd Set Of Matches Today - 3pm Start Time - 530pm results

Group 2 State Championship

Chatham 3 Haddonfield 2

WOW!!! The Bulldogs take the top ranked team in the state to the limit. Man oh man I am quite proud of the boys in black

Delbarton 5 Christian Brothers 0

This is our Group A State Championship Match. Its shocking to see CBA blanked in a state championship match, this is not your father's CBA. This is a senior heavy CBA team that will be reloading next year, but still darn good I'm sure. However this Delbarton team is ranked in the top 5 in the state.

We always get disrespected in South Jersey in the state ranking, per the Newark Star Ledger. Well if you see the link for NJ.COM here on my blog, check to see what they are saying tomorrow about South Jersey Tennis. Specifically look for Haddonfield's amazing championship match with Chatham and what they say about Lenape's huge upset in the State Group 4 semi-finals.

The strangest part was Moorestown's team being home in time for a nap before dinner. They were the highest South Jersey team in the state rankings for all of the tennis season. Lenape must be in a barn burner right now, as that result isn't up yet on my NJSIAA site scoreboard yet. Needless to say a great day for South Jersey HS Boys Tennis at the beautiful Mercer Tennis Center.

I Am Short On Uniforms Which I Requested All To Turn In

This shirt came from one of the bags that should have contained a uniform. Would the person who this shirt belongs to please claim it. They still have their PVI tennis shirt and shorts in their possession.




This is Andre's shirt, as I am trying to contact him now.

I need to have all the uniforms accounted for and turned in. Sister has conveyed this requirement to all PVI coaches via Mrs Harris and Mr Mitchell many, many times. This has been a costly problem for the athletic department in past seasons, so now the coaches are well aware that we have to pay for the unaccounted uniforms. I conveyed this to you when I handed out the uniforms in the beginning of the season. These are brand new uniforms and someone will need them next year. The school can't just buy one or two new shirts or shorts with 'Paul VI' printed on them. The shorts and shirts cost around $45 per piece.

Please do the right thing and turn in your uniform if you still have it. A few of you didn't put a slip of paper in your uniform bag with you name on it. You can simply put your shorts and or shirt in the tennis mail slot in the Athletic Office. I have that sheet you signed with the sizes of the shirt and shorts that I gave you in the beginning of the season.

We End The 2010 Season Ranked #20 Where We Began, Another Surprise & The Poem I Wrote You At The End Of Last Season

What an awesome surprise which Mrs Villari first informed me about yesterday. We end the year in the Courier Post Boys Tennis top 20. We'll end the year there without a doubt. This is another great motivating factor for our preparations for next year. See also the unlined portions of the article below.

This short piece in the Courier 4/2009 describes what the Pennsville team was doing to improve their team for that season. They finished that 2009 campaign with about the same ranking we will this year. Tomorrow they play for a sectional title, which they will undoubtedly win. It is quite obvious to draw the comparisons between the two of our programs. Where such work they put in last year lead them to this year, and all the joy and trophy that they are less than 24 hours away from.


See you all tomorrow in the same classroom, for a very short meeting that starts at 240 and ends at no latter than 3. We will have a team vote on our year end awards to be handed out at the June 9th Spring Sport Banquet. Enjoy my poem below that I wrote at the end of last year's season and sent to you in one of my FYI emails.



As we come to our close
and our end time is near
I wish all of you who strived to be better
the hope for improvement
in the off year

for a 2nd serve with a bit of strength
is something you all need
and the grip change we spoke of
must be practiced the SAME

But practice is the word
as the racquet is like
the instrument you might play
you need to remember it
so your skill set may stay

if it goes in the closet
your skill will surely rot away,

as you know
I've been here
and never
let proper technique go astray

Remember those who came before you
and heard my voice in their dreams
"READY POSITION"
I Say
our knees at a bend
where our eyes stand still

and where we must begin
for the foundation we built
will only be as strong
as where we begin

Sincerely
Coach

* REVISED * Next Year's Goal, This Trophy And A South Jersey Parohcial A Championship Win

A great coach I once had gave me one of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten. She explained to me her "24 hour rule." She offered me this piece of advice when I was frustrated about a turn of events that almost cost me opportunity to compete. You all know that I LOVE to compete. I miss our ability to do just that already, and were now 72 hours away from that last moment.

The rule is, I wait 24 hours, wherein I have fully digested the situation and its facts, then I state my observations and feelings to whomever the necessary parties are. In this case I waited 72 hours, I think, and I am glad I did.

Well I followed that rule and kind of made up a new one, when it pertains to a year end summary. Now about our semi-final playoff match against St Augustine, and my observations about it and a season summary.

We lost 5-0 to the number one seed in our bracket on a beautiful Thursday afternoon in Richland, NJ. Remember that place and its layout or any random things that come to your mind and mint them in your head, cause we may be back there. That's where you'll be visualizing a great moment happening for our tennis team in the near future, on a sunny and warm May afternoon. This same time in May of 2011.

We were prepared to play, but we may not have had our flow as Marcos pointed out to me once. Some days you just don't have it. We've all been there in our sport, and in this match, against the top seed, our margin for error was razor thin. I think we still had enough to win two points and I feel both our doubles teams know that. Therein both doubles teams were certainly not that much better than ours. I can state that unequivocally, and I know our doubles players believe that to be true. It feels good to say that, and it clearly shows how far we all have come. We are a 3-2 match with them right now.

We did walk away with one set win at 2nd doubles and for that I am proud. Its funny cause we also won one set in our 5-0 loss to Bishop Ahr in the playoffs the year before. We came a long way, and finish with our goal accomplished, a playoff win with semi-final appearance, a 13-4 record and co-champions of the Olympic Conference National Division. The Lamberto's big win to claim the National Division doubles title was another great 2010 moment. Notice our once ranking, the picture to the side here, well we will start next year as a ranked team. I am so proud of all of you guys for all the great things we did this year.

Take a look at our 2010 playoff bracket seen here with our name included in a foursome with Christian Brothers Academy, the somewhat faded beast of all NJ tennis programs. Cherry Hill East was once seriously dwarfed by CBA. Ask coach Mitch about CBA and the beat downs they use to put on everyone. That bracket looks oh so beautiful, now that I figured out how to print it correctly. We'll all have another great moment to revel in these accomplishments at the Spring Sports Banquet.




I now turn my eye to the future and our preparations for the 2011 season. I know we can and will be better tennis players tomorrow. We have so much incentive to make next year a very special year. We've seen the number one seed in our bracket, and we now see how close we could be with another year of hard work. I know the formula and i'll throw a couple more ingredients into the blend to show our opponents some variety next year. You've all seen this recipe work as it will be much the same one we'll use to prepare for next year. Next year starts right now, cause if it doesn't this South Jersey Championship isn't a lock. If it starts right now, a little each day and then some more in a month with that sustained till next March, IT IS A LOCK. That's what I'm really promising you right now. I will be there to help, advise and do anything I can if you show the desire and stick to it ness.


We should all want to improve as tennis players before the start of next year. I know we are all capable of such improvement with the individuals on our team right now. This is a very obtainable goal, as all of mine have been, to win that sectional title match next year. This process starts right now. I met with most of you on Friday as you handed in your uniforms. I told you about how we will meet once a week for an hour and a half as a team in summertime to drill and play.

I think this is imperative to assuring our success next year, thus not letting this amazing opportunity that you all have before you to acquire some hardware and put an everlasting stamp on Paul VI athletics. I expect all of you to be at the majority of those sessions. No Paul VI boys tennis team has ever won a South Jersey Group A Parochial Championship, and you have an excellent opportunity to be the first.

How many of your current Paul VI athletic peers can say they have a South Jersey Championship with their name on it. I, as your coach, know it is an opportunity that is quite rare and doesn't come around that often. Just like the Conference title we won this year, as that hasn't happened in 15 years and the first time it happened in Paul VI's 40 year history was the year before that in 1994. So this is clearly a special moment that we have all arrived at. I am very excited, and I hope you are too. I hope you are motivated to put in the effort to be as special as I think you can be.

What is even a more beautiful thought is when we win that South Jersey Parochial A Championship next year we will go to Mercer County Park and play the North Jersey Parochial A champion for the State Championship. How many of your Paul VI peers can say they played in a State Championship, mind you how many in the history of your school can say such. I think that is enough of an incentive to work hard and put in an honest and discipline effort in practice from this moment forward.

Mercer County Tennis Center is quite a special place where all the NJSIAA state tennis championship are held each year. Its tennis courts are arranged in groups of two and four, and sit on small grassy knolls that are strew in no particular order over whatever number of acres the center is placed on.

The tennis complex itself sits right in front of a large wooded area which makes up the bigger portion of the park. It has a beautiful Swiss Chalet type tennis clubhouse right in the middle of it, with a center court and grandstand connected to it. Once we walk through its doors and compete for a state championship, its an experience that will be with you forever. I am prepared to do any amount of work that needs to be done to get us their, and I believe in all of you 100%.

As your coach it is my responsibility to ensure our future successes. We are either one point away with the individuals we have now or a very good tennis player who will come in from 8th grade or transfer over to start school in the fall of next year. So not only will we work hard in future practices but I have already been working hard on encouraging another good tennis player or two, to take advantage of our opportunity.


I feel that they have great reasons to want to be at Paul VI and assure our goal, a Sectional Title, of happening. I also feel it is important to make our team as competitive a team as possible. I'd add too that the longer I'm here I feel a certain joy and a great energy in the air as everyone seems so happy to be a Paul VI Eagle. This is an easy sell. I feel more like and eagle everyday. I know too that such competition between team members only makes us all better and prepared for the tough Olympic Conference matches to come.

Now after this outstanding season, my 2nd with you, I hope my vision is seen with more clarity and that you now believe in it and want to travel the next stage of this journey with me. We had some fantastic team accomplishments, and that is what I lay to you as my proof of what we are capable of. Really my vision of what we could be started to take shape the moment we lost that playoff match last year. I love a challenge, and was greatly motivated by that loss. Coaching you guys has presented me with many challenges that make me a better person and coach. For that I thank you again.


When we work together as owners of our tennis program and take responsibility for our individual roles within it we can't do anything but thrive. Really its your tennis team as its your school, as I've told you this before. We went on one heck of a ride, as the three bus rides home from Seneca, Bishop Eustace and St Joe's are a simply summary of our season. The joy of victory we cherished and celebrated was well earned. That feeling is forever, and we all own it and no one can take it away from us.

Seventy-two hours latter and I just got a wave of sadness that our 2010 season is really over. I wish we had one more match, one more chance at improving and winning, one more moment in 2010. But we don't. We have to look forward.

Next season will be filled with more great moments, if you start planning and thinking about the sacrifices and work you need to put in to your game to assure an even better ending. We could all leave an historic mark on our tennis program and your school. There is something so special and unique about being the first.

DON'T take this moment for granite!!! I and your parents will tell you something you can't understand yet, but applies here. I really want this statement to stick with ALL of you. Life goes by so much faster than you think, therein don't let the end of the season mean you simply put your racquet down. This summer is where WE ALL have to make the headway that is needed to put us closer to that championship moment that is not as far off as you think.

I also want to thank all the tennis parents for their support throughout the season. I know you all made sacrifices to not only come to our matches but by driving to and from practice each week day and some weekends. The pretzels and drinks that you traded off in bringing to matches was quite thoughtful. Your support and energy that you brought to each and every match was a vital component to our 13-4 record.

I'll put another post up in a few days, as I thought long and hard about this one. You know we could have another practice or mini tourney before the end of the school year if you'd like. With that said I need to have one more meeting with the whole team, after-school on Tuesday, where we will have a team vote on the year end awards to be given at the Spring Sports Banquet.

I think a vote is the right way to go on these awards. That's when we could talk about a singles and doubles tourney for the entire team. We'll met in that same classroom we always do and at 240. See you then. I know its a day late but I hope the Lamberto's had a great birthday with a Carvel ice cream cake to boot. See you all soon.

Love Always,
Coach





Does anyone notice anything funny about these three challenge match sheets. Look for the assistant coach line on each. The first one is quite different. Notice the names of the assistants on the 1st one as they are obviously parents of the participants, which is something I've never seen before. Heck that coach was so scared of us that he needed a coach on each court. The integrity of this simple sheet means everything to our competition. Now see the rules below, as this is a rule that has long needed clarity, as even the revision of the rule seems odd. You be the judge.

We Have Arrived At A Beautiful Moment ! And It Is Ours

This is our time. We were suppose to arrive at this moment. We were suppose to be the road warriors that we began this journey as in March, and at Seneca. We did just that the other day against St Joe's. We were going to win that playoff match on Monday, and we did just that. We are one of the most successful tennis programs Paul VI's history. I can point to that banner in our gym to prove such, and I can say with certainty that after our last match that we are all playing our best tennis of the year.

We have proven over the course of the season that we are a resilient bunch with many a close victory, we kept finding ways to win. Tomorrow at St Augustine we will look our opponents' in the eyes and we will demand that they respect us. We will use such to show them that we are here, and we are ready to compete and we will win. We will fight for every point, we will RESPECT each and everytime we hit the ball tomorrow.

The moment is ours and I have little doubt that if we believe in this spirit that has carried us to a 13-3 season. That confidence which began at Seneca that I know has taken hold and will not be shaken by any situation that we are presented with on the court tomorrow. You heard the scouting report that I gave you today and read the box score of their playoff match yesterday. You know the match-ups where we have had our success this year, as they will be the same for our match tomorrow.

Remember the match and our success starts the moment you wake-up tomorrow, as you are re-affirming this belief. Remind yourself of this at any given moment before and during the match. If we remember what point by point concentration truly means. If we keet ourselves in the moment, then we will succeed.


There is a video on confidence that you'll see below that encourages such affirmations, "We love to play big matches. I love to play big points." Say that in your head as you walk the halls of PVI tomorrow. Visualize that forehand or volley winner as you enter the hallway from the class you just left. We've all won big matches and big points this year, so we are rightfully empowered with that thought.

We ended practice today on a high note and I am very confident in what I saw. I saw such confidence in your body language and spoken words. I was worried as we didn't have an outdoor practice the day before, but I left practice on a high and I can't wait for tomorrow to come. Each and everyone of is ready for this opportunity, one that we have all truly earned. I've worked hard and did my best to help each one of you be prepared for this opportunity.

Tomorrow will be special, and tomorrow you will all be special. All of us have a role tomorrow that is vital to our success. Once again this is our time and their time has past. Like many of our opponents this season they didn't see us coming. I can assure you that they don't see us coming either. We are just another round and another playoff match-up that they've been to before. This means more to us than it does to them. They are taking us for granite, and with two HQ seniors at the top of their line-up, but a big drop off after #2. Well this seems a lot like Seneca.



Enjoy these two great videos. One is on 'Confidence' described by Dave Porter, the tennis professional I've put videos up of before. The other is the great speech from the movie 'Miracle' about the US Olympic hockey team that pulled an amazing upset of the Soviet Olympic team at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.

As this blog has had other hockey themes this season, the gold medal game and the Flyers huge upset, I thought this motivational speech to be most appropriate. Enjoy this video and see how the themes of our match against the #1 seed could run concurrent to the 'Miracle' game. As the ideas you'll see in this video are much of what I've stated to you the past two years, per blog and emails.

Enjoy yorself tomorrow, as your time has arrived. I will be there, on the other side of the fence, as Coach Winkler will be too. All of us will be there to support and encourage each other in anyway possible.

Love Always,
Coach



Confidence - David Porter



'Miracle' speech by Herb Brooks

Tomorrow You'll Get Out At 1230 And We'll Leave At 1245 Sharp for Richland, NJ And St Augustine Prep

This is the permission slip again and you can print it out and hand it in to the office tomorrow. Put 1230 on the departure time. We will leave at 1245 sharp. I will be at school at 1230 tomorrow. You can and are encouraged to wear your tennis shirt during classes tomorrow. To show team unity.

Everyone can bring their tennis racquets. We will be traveling to Richland, NJ and as i see on the map this is near Millville, NJ. I hope all the JV can and will come. Its a privilege they have earned as members of our team and you'll be an invaluable support cast to your PVI peers during their matches. I can't wait!!!

I will write another blog post right after I eat dinner, as I had a lesson after I finished with our practice.

Could someone fill the water jug up, it will be in our Athletic Director's office. I'd really appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Coach Bozarth

Practice Tomorrow - 450 - 7pm - Optional For JV - We Got Some Press From Our Great Win

We had a short practice today and after a 25min footwork and cardio routine we played a pick-up basketball game with those who attended. Hank, Mitchel, John and Terry mixed it up with Coach, Pat, Jim and Chris.

Once again I am impressed with some of the talent I see on the basketball court. Everyone present played with heart and gusto. I've just put in a call to a friend of mine who books games for the Harlem Globetrotters and after the season we will play a benefit game against them at our beautiful Paul VI Gym. You know what that means basketball practice for the tennis team now. Coach here loves practice ya know.

So remember as tomorrow is Wednesday and I have my school program I won't be at school till 450. We'll start practice at 450 and end at 7pm. We're going to put in a full and disciplined practice tomorrow, focused on all the finer points we've been working on this season and carried out in the same fashion.

We have a semi-final playoff match to prepare for on Thursday, so there is much incentive to work hard and stay on task in practice tomorrow. When they do the brackets for next year's tourney they look at our performance in this year's tourney and the scores of these individual matches.

I will have more details on when we get out of school and other points of interest tomorrow at practice. The Varsity is expected to be there and this is an optional practice for the Junior Varsity.

Just click on any of the pictures to enlarge and read them. You'll see we now have our first appearance in the Philadelphia Inquirer, couple that with our previous appearance in the Courier Post. I'd say we are doing good.

I was surprised to see the Inquirer piece. I called the scores into the paper's sports desk after the match, on the bus ride home, but my phone was getting bad reception and it was loud on the bus. But that was a good and well deserved loud. Anyway see you all tomorrow and I got another great feeling about our playoff match on Thursday.

An Awesome Win Today And We Get Another Opprotunity To Cherish And Compete Again In The Playoffs

I'm super proud of each and everyone of the 14 members of the Paul VI tennis team today as we were road warriors and accomplished our season's goal. We upset the 4 seed St Joseph's of Meutchen and have advanced to the semi-finals of the South A playoffs. We are one of four teams left standing in the South A group, and that really feels great to say and I know you guys are as amped as I am.

Franklin Delano Raggio came through with the biggest win today. He dropped the first set quickly, but didn't fade and kept his composure to come back to win in three sets. His middle name was consistency today, as is a nickname I've given to all of you this season. He picked his moments wisely to be aggressive and take a short ball to the net while also allowing his opponent to make unforced errors by keeping the ball deep in his opponent's court. He played a very balanced and disciplined final two sets and move the ball around the court with ease and purpose.


Mark McMillions showed the coolness that is one of his best attributes, as his opponent exhibited the opposite and beat himself. Mark clearly recognized this and his opponents other weakness's. He also picked his moments wisely to approach the net and use his quick hands for volley winners. Mark played with the same discipline and moved the ball around the court with the same consistency that Franklin did during his match. He had another clutch win for the tennis Eagles this season

The Legion of Lamberto showed great confidence in their strokes today, and you could see it in their execution. They got out a head of their opponents today, smelled the blood on the water, and took care of business. Once you have momentum you have to give it a bear hug and not let down your guard for one minute. This is a crucial concept for our sport. Terry, John and Mitchel all put up valiant fights and for that I know I and the team are grateful. We'll all get another opportunity to fight again, and I am amped for that chance.

I know you all see the benefit of the practices we had leading up to the match today and the short one we had today before the match. Those tennis specific skills and repetitions of each we practiced all gave us more confidence to execute them in our match today. You all were more polished and your strokes were grooved. It was great to see all the pleasure that I sensed many of you were having by simply being consistent and making few unforced errors today.

That was a great bus ride home and a terrific dinner at Five Guys and Chick-Fil-A, as we could all savor the victory and such a great burger or chicken sandwich tastes that much better. It was great to get the post match opportunity to enjoy each other's company, as I think such a bonding event is important to team success. Its something I've thought about all season but wasn't sure how to kick start. So thank you for all the frivolity and enjoyment of our post match dinner. I really did have a blast.


Lastly I want to point out that our rock star doubles team, 'Obliterasian' was offered by the St Joe's coach to play one of his doubles teams while the varsity match played. Well John and Pat both said thanks but no thanks as they would rather stay by the fence-line and support Frank and Mark during their matches. This was a selfless act that sincerely warmed my heart.

I am very proud of you gentleman for doing such. I am also proud of Chris, Hank, Joe and Jim for the support they showed for Mitchel and John today. The whole set-up of park's tennis courts was quite nice, the best I've seen all season. It was a good energy felt by all today, and even if the sun wasn't out on a Monday.


See any and all who want to come for a quick and easy indoor practice tomorrow, in the gym at 315. I want the varsity to come for sure. We'll run it to a little after 4 and I hope we can have a pick-up basketball game. This is another great bonding activity.






A Great Motivational Football Speech By The Best At Such - Lou Holtz

WE ARE Eagles About To Take FLIGHT & SOAR !!! We Are Ready For Tomorrow's Playoff Match.

Tomorrow the entire tennis team will travel to Middlesex Community College for our quarterfinal playoff match against the #4 seeded team in the South Group A section. It'll be St Joseph of Meutchen against the soaring tennis eagles of Paul VI. I am excited as I suspect you are to, and getting out of school early is a nice reward also. Everyone will get out of class at 1230, all will get dressed in their uniforms and then board the bus with your lunch as we will be leaving PVI at 1pm sharp!!!!

We had a good practice today and I think we've done all we could to put our best foot forward tomorrow. As I've said here before we should cherish the opportunity that such a match presents us and appreciate the challenge each and every moment we're on the court competing tomorrow. I am very grateful to be your coach and be presented with a like challenge and to stand by you tomorrow to encourage, guide and support you in any way you need.

Its been a heck of a ride this season, my second with you. We had 7 wins in the 2009 season with 4 seniors in the starting lineup. We stand now with 12 wins, co-champs of the National Division and no seniors in the line-up. We've now got one last road to travel and maybe one last bus trip to take.

The pre-season goal that I presented to you in February during the first meeting of the year will be achieved tomorrow. All you have to do believe in yourself and each other. I know I do and have always. I and your teammates will be on the other side of the fence to cheer for you when you succeed and pick you up if you fall. As a tennis match contains many of both so be steadfast in this belief and never question yourself.

If we simply be ourselves, play focused yet relaxed, and keep our head between the white lines while competing we will succeed. If we rely on the tennis skills that we feel most confident in. Then find anyway to hit those shots as much as possible but specifically at game point and the point before(15-30 15-40), then we are going to be successful. If we know when to take chances in a game and know when to play conservative(30-0 40-0) then we will be successful.

I know Too Tall Terry Long has a beautiful forehand that he can hit with much spin, power and depth. He can hit this shot with great confidence and with very few errors during a match. I also love these same characteristics of Franklin's forehand. Frank is quite talented in seeing and creating angles on the court. Mark Mc Win has the best hands on the team and I love when he finds his way to the net to use them. His overhead is equally as effective and I feel great confidence when I see him use it.

I left practice today thinking about the soft touch I noticed from Mark's lob, as he used it in our final game to beat his opponent time and time again. It was a weapon. We've all improved our lobbing during the season, and we want to use it tomorrow to keep our opponents off balanced and weary. I know our doubles teams will pay particular attention to the importance of the lob to their success tomorrow.

The Legion of Lamberto will continue their reign of doom that they have on all their opponents this season. The Legion will serve with the strength and consistency they've exhibited all season long. Nick has had so many moments during the season where his aggression at the net has taken over the match. I love watching it. Marcos ability to successfully hit down the line and past the net person may be the most successful and important tennis skill that anyone on the team has. That is quite fun to watch too.

Johnny Dangerously is the mover and shaker on our team. His desire to be active with his feet during a match is something that I've stressed and worked on since day one last year. Its great stuff that sincerely warms my heart to see and I know this worries his opponents. I see John create many opportunities for Mr Rogers to spread his wingspan along the net and cash in. That is what successful doubles is about, creating opportunities for your partner to get easy winners from the net. Really both are great at doing such for each other.

Tomorrow we'll all succeed for each other, and we'll give everything of ourselves for each other. We'll support each other, by communicating and touching racquets as many times as possible during the match. We'll show unity no matter what the situation. We'll love each other as we always have, even if that may sound corny.

I may not have believed that when I was your age, but I look back now and can say with all certainty that I love my teammates that I once played with many moons ago. Those memories and feelings I see in a new light of life experience and I know my once teammates feel much the same. I promise you will one day feel the same. A team of individuals can do extraordinary things when they truly care for each other. A team of brothers and the experience we are all about to have should never be taken for granted. Thanks for showing and reinforcing that priceless feeling to me once again. See you soon.

Love Always,
Coach