Paul VI Tennis

A New Dawn In Tennis ? An American Wins The French Juniors For The 1st Time Since John McEnroe in '77 And China's First Ever Grand Slam Champion

2011-06-06T21:32:00.001-07:00

I've cut and pasted two articles I found on the web relative to the subject title above. Two historical events in the tennis world occurred to end the French Open this weekend in Paris. These two events had nothing to do with Roger and Rafa's renewal of their rivalry on a 'Grand Slam' stage, that said NBC's ratings for the men's championship were up 63% from last year. One event was aided by a young American named after Bjorn Borg, whom Rafa just moved past in the French Open record books with his 6th title, surpassing Borg's five.

Hopefully the impact of both these events snowballs into something bigger and better in the near future, wherein the growth of the sport here and in China will steadily rise. If tennis participation rises in both these immense countries, it will undoubtedly rise the world over.

'Barron Collier coach saw how good French Open junior champ Bjorn Fratangelo would be'

By ADAM FISHER

Naples Daily News -Posted June 6, 2011

NAPLES — It was early in the spring of 2009, and the Barron Collier boys tennis team was starting its season against state powerhouse Miami-Dr. Krop. Cougars coach Eric Manring was excited about the upcoming season, largely because of the arrival of a talented freshman who was expected to be the team's top player.

In the first match of the season, Manring saw just how talented his new No. 1 player was. Bjorn Fratangelo, the freshman, went head-to-head with Dr. Krop's top singles player, Billy Federhofer, a senior with the edge in experience and a scholarship to the University of Florida.

Fratangelo didn't flinch. The freshman beat Federhofer, and showed his coach a flash of his potential.“It was one of the best junior matches I've seen to this day,” Manring said. “I was sitting there in awe. It really blew me away. For him to win that match. … I could tell he was going to be something special.”

The rest of the world found out Sunday what Manring has known for more than two years. Fratangelo, 17, put himself on the international tennis map by winning the French Open boys singles titles. He is the first American to win the event since John McEnroe in 1977.

Fratangelo played just one year at Barron Collier. He moved to Naples with his family from the Pittsburgh area before his freshman year, and helped the Cougars win district and regional titles in 2009.

After concentrating on national junior tournaments rather than high school tennis, Fratangelo had some big victories the past two years. He won back-to-back titles at the USTA National Clay Courts Championships in 2009 and 2010, and won the championship at the prestigious Easter Bowl in 2010.

Fratangelo's biggest victory yet came Sunday. Unranked in the French Open field, he dropped his first set before coming back to beat Dominic Thiem of Austria, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6. The French Open is one of four major tournaments in tennis.

“It's pretty amazing,” Manring said. “I knew Bjorn is very talented, but to pull that off is quite a feat. It's unbelievable.”

Though he spends summers in Plum, Pa., Fratangelo lives in Naples the rest of the year. He his home-schooled and takes online courses while training with his father, Mario, a local professional who has worked with several Barron Collier players.

Manring said he sees Fratangelo from time to time at Barron Collier matches. The former Cougar is still good friends with many of his former teammates, including No. 1 singles player Brett Clark. Clark, who led the Cougars to their second straight state championship this season, still plays with Fratangelo.

The French Open is played on clay, which Manring said was to Fratangelo's advantage because most the courts in Naples are clay. Fratangelo's intense training schedule also helped, his former coach said.

“He's just a super, super consistent player,” Manring said. “He trains sick, disgusting hours on the court. He's definitely put in the work. He deserves it.”

Post-Match Interview - 2011 French Open Junior Champion Bjorn Fratangelo

'Tennis industry thanks Li Na'

By Liu Chang for the 'Global Times' - June 7, 2011

The umpire's cry of "Game, Set, Match, Li Na" in the French Open final on Saturday not only marked the first Grand Slam title for a Chinese player, but represented a watershed mark for tennis in China as courts, training centers, and sports shops braced for good business.

According to Xinhua, 95 million Chinese watched Li defeat Italy's Francesca Schiavone to become the nation's latest sports darling. Her official Weibo microblog saw her followers climb from 1.6 million to more than 2.1 million since her semifinal win over Maria Sharapova.

Li's name also became the latest buzzword for selling tennis products. On e-business platform Taobao, "Li Na" has become a synonym for tennis-related products. A search for the name will return thousands of tennis-related items, such as rackets and clothes. Some saw their tennis gear sales more than double during the weekend.

Aibo Sports, a popular tennis center in Hangzhou, received at least 100 calls from parents wanting to enroll their children for classes over the summer.
Tang Gengguo, director of the center, was quoted by the Hangzhou-based City Express as saying he expects to see more students over the summer than in all of last year.

The Nanjing-based Modern Express said that sales of Li Na's model of tennis racket were going through the roof and that tennis courts across the city were close to being fully booked.

In Shenyang, the situation is similar. According to a report by the Liaoshen Evening News, shops saw an uncommonly vast number of customers on Sunday, while the phone lines at the Shenyang Tennis Center were jammed with calls.

At the Kuaixue tennis center in Beijing, Su, the center's director, told the Global Times that he changed the tag on the center's website to "Powerful Li Na" before her semifinal, and had seen an increase of online visitors since.

"I am also receiving more calls about tennis training," Su said.

This new craze for the sport is not without similarities with the passion for snooker in 2005, after Ding Junhui won the World Snooker China Open and the UK Championship.

Despite being virtually unknown in China before Ding's rise to prominence, China now owns the world's largest snooker table and cue manufacturers, and has the sport's largest annual procurement value in the world. There are 60 million snooker players nationwide now, with about 300 professional players, according to City Express.

This clip is HILARIOUS - 2011 Australian Open Semi-Final On-Court Interview - Li Na

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

2011-05-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

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, at our Paul VI tennis courts. 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. It is a very laid back environment compared to most tournaments. Which is what I love most about it. Remember 'TENNIS IS SUMMER & SUMMER IS TENNIS'

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 this type of tournament is offered to you and all area high school tennis players. You'll see members of the Collingswood, Cherokee and Haddon Heights boys and girls tennis teams.

You'll see adults who are 3.5 to 4.5 rated players. 'B' division would be a 3.5 player and 'Open' would be 4.0 and above. You'll see both 'Girls and Boys' divisions, with 16s & 18s and under draws. I highly recommend that you sign up and play one or more of the tourney dates. Our boys and girls varsity players may think of playing multiple divisions, and girls please don't worry if you don't feel your strokes are that polished right now. AND there are prizes, which is quite unique to say the least.

Just DOUBLE CLICK on any of the forms, and then print out the necessary one.

The boys 18's is filled up but if you contact coach mitch ASAP there is still a chance to sign-up for this coming weekend.

Two Short And Simple Mental Video Tips - Concentration, Leave Mental Baggage Off The Court

2011-05-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow our friend the sun will reappear. Remember him from a blog post last year. We will be indoors but we will bring the sun in and we'll all bring our own sun ray and contribute it to a group concentration and success at River Winds. It is there where all our minds and eyes will see is the next point and the next successful shot we're going to hit to win that point. Your a ray of sun and all you see it what is in front of you, and RBC will be blinded by our collective energy.

Once you get on that court, as I've stated before, such a place is your cocoon and nothing is important but the next point you'll play. We will all succeed tomorrow, and those winning bus rides back to PVI, and how fun they were, well it is not more than 18 hours before it happens again. BUT!! We have to focus our ray's energy on the ball we are about to hit and only that ball, wherein the happy bus ride will just happen .. if we stay in the moment.

These mental vid tips go hand and hand with yesterday's piece. Leaving the past and not thinking into the future. BE IN THE NOW FOR TWO HOURS TOMORROW!

I have a fresh role of 'Tourna Grip,' and will gladly re-grip your racquets if you need such, just ask and I'll do it tomorrow on the bus.

I also just got back from Trader Joe's, and came to the conclusion that we should go back to the 'Pomegranate White Tea.' This same tea was with us in our first round match-up last year. This was the first Ice Tea we started with, and I am superstitious.

See you all tomorrow. I will be on the bus and ready to rock at 1050pm. See you all ASAP, as I know you get out at 11pm. I hope we'll have time for a short warm-up at River Winds, so be prepared.

Mental Tip

Mental Tip

And A Little Music To Accompany - Our Team On The Road, In The Bus, And On The Run To Victory - Wings

A Kind Of Common Opponent Of Red Bank Catholic Is Bishop Eustace ... Read Between The Box Scores

2011-05-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

We play Red Bank Catholic on Thursday at noontime at River Winds Racquet Club in West Deptford. This time last season Bishop Eustace played them in the first round of the playoffs. There are two box scores below, one of that playoff match and a recent box score where RBC played Rumson a couple weeks ago. You'll see some different names in each but some are the same.

Tomorrow if it rains I'll have a short indoor practice for Terry, Frank, Mark, Nick, Marcos, John and Mitchel. We'll have it in the gym and it'll run 245-330.

All members of the tennis team are allowed to attend the playoff match on Thursday at River Winds. Please print out the permission slip below and have it signed by a parent. We will be dismissed at 11pm and the match will start at noontime.

I also put a Haddonfield v Pennsville box score, wherein a number of our team members have played both. Terry won against Pennsville's first and Mark lost in a close match to their 3rd singles.

I thought the recent Cherry Hill East/Shawnee match was interesting. We have played East, wherein Shawnee is ranked considerably higher than the Cougars, but played them close from 3 down and won both doubles positions. We were going to play Shawnee but as you know now that match was canceled.

The last one is fascinating. I see that a 6-11 Oakcrest team could beat St Augustine's 3rd singles, a fill-in, but not a JV fill-in, a member of their 2nd varsity doubles team. Christopher Polizzi has played about half of Prep's matches at 2nd doubles this season. The doubles matches were also quite competitive. The Prep drops off a cliff after 2nd singles, and we'll get another shot at them soon.

Red Bank Catholic 4, Bishop Eustace 1

The Star Ledger, May 13, 2010

1st Singles: Paul Sansone, Red Bank Catholic, def. Bill Celano 6-0, 6-0.

2nd Singles: Matt Rider, Red Bank Catholic, def. Jay Vatson 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

3rd Singles: Tim Swenarton, Red Bank Catholic, def. Eric Mintz 6-2, 6-3.

1st Doubles: Stephen Baldo and Peter Glover, Red Bank Catholic, def. and Brian Miller 6-2, 6-1.

2nd Doubles: Matt Lieve and Steve Smith, Bishop Eustace, def. JV Mennie and TJ Schissler 7-6 (7-2), 6-0.

Records: Bishop Eustace 4-11. Red Bank Catholic 9-7.

5/5/2011

Red Bank Catholic 4 Rumson 1
(9-4-0) (6-9-1)

1st Matt Rider (Red Bank Catholic) d Simon Rubin (Rumson) 6-3, 6-2

2nd Ralph Primavera (Red Bank Catholic) def Drew Hitchner (Rumson) 6-3, 6-2

3rd Campbell Dickson (Rumson) def. Tim Swenarton (Red Bank Catholic) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2

1st Stephen Baldo & Peter Glover (Red Bank Catholic) def. Andrew Henderson & Mike Mahedy (Rumson) 6-2, 6-2

2nd Jimmy Glover & J.V. Mennie (Red Bank Catholic) def. George Ketterer & Anthony Leli (Rumson) 6-2, 6-2

OLYMPIC CONFERENCE 5/13/11

Shawnee 3, Cherry Hill East 2
Justin Kang, S, d Alfred Sebastian Gonzalez 6-0, 6-0; Tyler Arsenault, S, d Alex Feldman 6-1, 6-1; Kyle Sparkman, S, d Hank Davis 6-2, 4-6, 6-2; Jared Kaufman and Max Silverberg, CHE, d Dan Doyle and Tom Annin 6-1, 6-2; Jordan Elmowitz and CJ Smith, CHE, d Mike Cataldo and Joe Forelli 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

Haddonfield 5, Pennsville 0 5/12/11
Max Oberholtzer d Cory Finlaw 6-1, 6-1; Luke Grabiak d Brett Lankenau 6-4, 6-2; Matt Godlewski d Matt Drummond 6-0, 6-7, 6-4; Isaac Anderson and Sean Campbell d Sam Stafford and Tyler Ascenzi 6-0, 6-1; Anthony Celenza and Max Prescott d Brandon Chambers and Josh Wyshinski 6-0, 6-1.

5/13/2011
St Augustine 4 (13-3) Oakcrest 1 (6-11)
Oakcrest, Mays Landing, NJ

Shane Monroe (St. Augustine) def.David Battistelli (Oakcrest) 6-0, 6-0
Matthew Monroe (St. Augustine) def. Mark Perkins (Oakcrest) 6-0, 6-0
Jimmy Smith (Oakcrest) def. Christopher Polizzi (St. Augustine) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles
Brian Balchiunas & Andrew Moffa (St. Augustine) def. Hamad Hasan & Nicky Race (Oakcrest) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4

Jason DelRe & Ryan Lim (St. Augustine) def. Joe McGarvey & Jerome Walker (Oakcrest)
7-6, 6-0

'Staying in the Moment,' by Brent Abel ... And A Couple Of Other Important Points And Sugestions

2011-05-16T10:10:00.001-07:00

This was a great short piece I saw on a tennis website, wherein it is a point I have empathized since I began coaching here, 'Staying in the Moment,' by Brent Abel,' see it cut and pasted at the bottom of this post. 'point by point concentration,' 'don't let the frustration of a lost point lose you the next two points,' etc ... these are points I strongly believe in. PLEASE READ IT.

Hopefully you'll get to use it's information tomorrow, if we get to play Red Bank Catholic, but with 90% chance of rain I am worried. Mr Mitchel is attempting to have the match moved indoors, and I hope to have an answer to you all tomorrow ... or lets hope it doesn't rain ... but check your emails in the late morning for an update.

I also found out that the Philadelphia Freedoms, of World Team Tennis, are having ball boys tryouts. I've been a ball person at handful of tournaments, including the 'US Open' and 'Virgina Slims of Philadelphia,' back in the day at the old Philadelphia Civic Center. I think it is a great way to connect to the sport and see it in a whole different light.

To be on court level with the best in world, and to see the speed and control they exhibit, is truly amazing and inspiring. I highly recommend this experience, and here is your opportunity. I also recommend you go see some of the action if you get a chance. Check the website below for ticket information and their schedule. The person in charge of the ball boys is also listed.

Philly Freedoms (cut and pasted from 'Freedoms' website)
Freedoms are holding ball kid tryouts, June 4th 12-1pm. ages 10-16 outside the Macy's in the King Of Prussia Mall! Hope to see you there!!

Ballkids Coordinator - Philadelphia Freedoms
Rose Weinstein - 610.265.7440 - TennisRose@comcast.net
http://www.philadelphiafreedoms.com/teams/page.aspx?article_id=210

It seems Rob, who once held the 'Tennis Company Pro Shop' at the Cherry Hill Racquet Club is now at Green Valley, and strings racquets there from 10-7 daily. He can have your racquet re-strung within the same day. I just spoke to him and told him that I have a couple players who need re-stringing. I strongly recommend the RPM Blast.

Nick, Terry and Johnny use it, wherein I like the 17 gauge better because I get more feel. I just took my racquet to Dick's, with gift card, and I WILL NEVER do that again. Green Valley is less than a 1/4 mile from Paul VI. His information and phone number are pasted below. I love Steve and Everyone's Racquet, but we are pressed for time. I've been on a couple of you to take care of this.

New for the 2011 Summer Season...Green Valley Tennis Club welcomes The Tennis Company Pro Shop!

The Tennis Company Pro Shop
Green Valley Tennis Club
429 Crystal Lake Avenue
Haddon Twp., NJ 08033
www.thetennisco.com 856-869-3490
rcort928@yahoo.com

See the picture of over-wrap below. I've been using some cheaper Wilson over-wrap, but then I splurged the other day at Walmart and bought 'Tourna Grip' for $3.96 a 3 pack... and I felt like an idiot for ever going cheap on such. I've used the 'Tourna Grip' on and off for years... let's just say I'll never use anything but 'Tourna Grip' again. It is 'head over heels' the best over-grip on the market and the most popular one on either tour.

All our team members should over-grip their racquets at this point in the season, therein more frequently than I see they do ... DO THIS TO AVOID SLIPPAGE ON CONTACT THAT SWEAT AND DIRT BUILD-UP CAN CAUSE ... AND in light of starting the season with a new grip all together. Who read and followed that recommendation made here on the blog. It is suggested, by any major racquet manufacturer, to re-grip your racquet, from anywhere between three to six months, depending on how much you play.

A great shot I recently took with my camera, the other day at the Audubon laundromat. I'll call it 'A Tennis Coach Drying His Tennis Balls After A Rainy Session' .. enter laugh here!!!

The Hardest Thing To Do In Tennis
May 16, 2011 By Brent Abel

Learning stroke technique, the fundamentals of the swing, footwork, strategy, all of that, that’s the easy part.

The tough part about becoming a better competitive tennis player (which translates to simply winning more matches against players at your current skill level) is NOT thinking ahead into the future.

“Well, let’s see, if I win this point, then…”.

We get ahead of ourselves out there…

Between points we think about the consequences of winning and losing future points. We think about what our opponent might do with this shot we’re just about to play.

And during side changes, we think about what a great victory or a depressing loss this is going to be.

The thing that helped me become a better tennis player at the senior level was to find ways to fool myself into staying in the present.

Sounds so simple. But for me, and maybe also for you, the mental part of competing is way harder than improving my swing mechanics.

Here’s what I do in those 3 situations where we can get ahead of ourselves during a match.

* Between points – I go though my 4 part 20 second routine that I immediately start when a point is over.
* Side changes – I do a lot of singing to myself. Sounds goofy, but it helps me to not think into the future or dwell too much on the past. Towel, water, deep breaths, sing…
* Prior to making contact with the ball – This has far and away been the biggest challenge for me. Michael Wayman has helped me trust that I can stay in that moment of contact and not think the nano second of what if…
* And there’s actually a 4th situation which is before the match – I used to get all worked up about what if I lose to this guy or what if I get beat 0 and 0.

What’s worked for me is visualization off of the court.

I see those situations in my mind and act out how I want to be. I have to practice this regularly or else I tend to go back to living in the future when I play a match.

I have to fool myself sometimes especially between points after I’ve just blown an easy shot. Most of it is just acting a certain way.

But if I haven’t rehearsed how I want to act with the off court visualization, I usually don’t manage that time well.

So blah, blah, blah. Let’s get to work.

Take some dedicated time to rehearse exactly how you want to stay in the moment during those times we discussed above and NOT look out into the future.

How about you? What other times before or during a match do you tend to think into the future?

Right below in the Comments area, let us know. Thanks in advance…

Brent

Our Playoff Road .. We Got The Three Seed And A Home Match vs RBC - 2011 Boys Tennis Non-Public 'A' South Bracket

2011-05-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

We did get the #3 seed but most importantly we got a home playoff match against the #6 seed Red Bank Catholic. I am thrilled that all our family members and PVI peers will get a chance to support our tennis team, without having to travel too long a distance. The match will be played on or before May 17th, wherein the RBC athletic director and Mr Mitchel will negotiate a date best for both schools. PULL THE MOUSE TO & DOUBLE CLICK EITHER PICTURE TO ENLARGE AND VIEW BETTER.

Below is last year's playoff bracket, wherein RBC was the #7 seed, so they have also improved. We should have a good match on our hands.

Cherry Hill East Was A Battle ... And We Had Some Good Moments - Pictures Of A Beautiful Day At The PVI Courts

2011-05-10T15:46:00.001-07:00

Johnny and Mitch communicate quite well, and will never get down on themselves and show their opponents their frustrations. Don't want to give your opponents added confidence ...

The twins made it though a first set quick server. We've all played a quick server once or twice. They slowed it down, a great idea by Marcos.

Mark played our 2nd three set match of the year and really went at it with another Davis at 3rd singles for Cherry Hill East. There is always a Davis at 3rd singles at East.

Frank has amazing concentration on that ball, or coach might just have a good camera that catches such. Or could it be his skills with his camera are really starting to come together with repetition and practice. See the picture below that I put on the blog from the first match of the year against Seneca. I got a great shot of the rust on the fence, but not so good focus on the Seneca players. Practice makes perfect.

Terry played Omar's son and found some shot combinations that worked to win points against a very experienced opponent. Terry did a lot better than yesterday, and I hope his back is doing better. He'll have a tough opponent tomorrow in Dave Blystone of Cherokee. Dave was quite an emotional player when Terry played him last season. If Terry can be consistent and find a way to frustrate him, and then notice such and take advantage of the re-occurrence, I think he could win. You always have to watch and take advantage of the emotional downturns of your opponent(s) when they may be frustrated with their tennis game and show such in words and body language.

We Had A Great Experience At Haddonfield Today That Will Serve Us Well In Our Future Playoff Match-Up

2011-05-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

The Legion of Lamberto played a great first set, much better than the first set they played last Saturday at Cumberland against their Bulldog opponents. They were up 4-3 on Issac Anderson and Sean Campbell. I was quite proud of them, and they seemed pleased on the bus ride home, but hungry for more.

Mark was on the attack all day and his lightning quick hands at the net won many points. He can now effectively use this skill, in match situations, to win points. He was up 4-3 in the first set. His opponent, Matt Godlewski, was steady and consistent with every stroke I saw him use today. I can clearly see that Mark is almost over that hump.

Terry's legs may have been a bit like jello today, after yesterday's conference tourney marathon. The 'Vitamin Water' was a necessity that helped him battle through the fatigue. He fought hard against Max Oberholtzer in a match that John Anderson correctly predicted would be as long as it was. It was the longest of the day and I was proud of the heart that he showed.

Frank's serve and forehand were big today, and he had many good moments against Haddonfield's Luke Grabiak. Both players had big serves and forehands. I was quite proud of the hustle and heart Frank showed. Today he used his racquet to show that he does indeed care.

Mitchel (serving in the picture above) and Johnny were in the "Centennial Courts Steel Cage Match" against Anthony "The Anvil" Celenza & Max "Monster Mash" Prescott. A tough match-up and venue for anyone in South Jersey for sure, wherein they fought hard and I was quite proud of them as I always am.

I told all the Haddonfield boys that this year's State Championship which they are gunning for isn't just for the team and Mr Holman, but for 'The Anvil,' their fearless senior leader. The boys state championship drought must end. I hope this group of boys does just that and that Paul VI might join them on that same day at Mercer County Park. I also hope Mitchel is studying for his SAT as we speak.

It was a pleasure to spend some time with Mr Holman(black jacket)today. I was a little disappointed that he didn't wear his tie as I told him of my apparel a few weeks before. I was going to wear an oxford button down and some light colored Khakis in his honor. I think he took off his tie as he was driving the van up to the courts this afternoon. Maybe it wasn't his best tie or it didn't feel right with that pinstripe shirt he had on.

When I played for Mr Holman you couldn't help but notice that he was the only coach who always wore such attire, and having a tie was standard. I never saw him without it, in school or at the courts. It must be a Princeton thing. I compare Mr Holman to Tom Landry, the legendary Dallas Cowboys coach, in manner and dress. Someone should get a 'Haddonfield Tennis' fedora for Mr Holman to really bring his look home. I don't like the Cowboys, but its hard not to see the similarities between the two long time coaches.

John, Pat (ObliterAsian) and Jimmy weren't sure where the pretzels went, but the Ice tea was close by.

The team behind court 1, in support of Terry. That recently added wall is a great new addition to Centennial Courts, where parents and supporters can sit and enjoy the action.

Today's tea was a special edition 'Bulldog Blend,' of Red, Green and Black. I think it worked better than the previous blend of White and Black Tea. I was thrilled that members of both teams enjoyed it. It was great to be home so to speak, and get a warm welcome from David George and Solomon Tanebaum, who were once part of my summer recreation program. I am thrilled that David, Solomon, Anthony and Brandon Coyne are all still playing and enjoying tennis. They were all real good athletes, and I hope the fun and learning they once enjoyed in the Summer program, played a small part in their continuing the sport at HMHS.

It was also great to speak to Mr. Oberholtzer, Max's dad(see Max sitting in the picture with Mr Holman), and I was thrilled to hear that he enjoys the blog too. The blog is a direct reflection of Mr Holman and the tireless work he does to support and promote high school tennis here in South Jersey. I know it is not as popular as the other team sports, so his work to get as much press as possible for any and all South Jersey tennis players and high school teams, made an impression on me long ago. I hope in my own small way I am doing something that helps to support and sustain the sport on the high school level.

I use the Paul VI tennis blog in many ways, but primarily to promote the team aspect here on the high school level and the learning that is new to many. One way I use it is to enhance the learning of the finer aspects of the sport, through simple videos, which give an important visual element to the learning. I hope these short videos encourage and communicate to parents who may not be familiar with the sport, to see what their kids are working on in practice and matches.

A secondary hope is that these same parents may even take up the sport themselves. I now love doing the pictures and stories for each match. I hope the parents, your grandmother in Florida and team members alike all enjoy seeing and hearing what went on in today's match. Mr Holman just heard of the blog and now can see daily what a positive influence he had on me many years ago. So such is also my way of saying thanks to a former teacher, and something I recommend all students do one day, in some shape or form. I clearly understand now what I've been told about teaching being a thankless job at times.

I know Mr Holman has done many things, for the past 30 years, to promote the sport in our area. He runs both the South Jersey High School Tennis Tournament held annually for the boys and girls in Vineland, and the same for the Camden County Tennis Tournament, which we just participated in at Eastern High School. He also started and serves as head of the South Jersey Tennis Coaches Association, which awards scholarships to scholastic and collegiate tennis players, male and female, who play or once played in South Jersey. The SJTCA runs seminars for high school coaches through-out the year. I think there are 20 other things he does which I don't even know about.

Another Conference Doubles Title For The Lamberto Two, A Spirited Fight For The Trophy With Mitch & John & All Singles Players Made the Semi-Finals

2011-05-05T20:43:00.001-07:00

It was a beautiful but long day at Seneca for the Olympic Conference Tourney. The day started with Mark 'Million Dollar' Mc Shane barreling through a very good Sedric Thomas. It ended shortly before 7pm with Terry playing his best match to date against Bishop Eustace's Jay Vatson. The sun really showed up at the end, as we started with cold and wind and a slight overcast.

I was equally proud of all our team members. They all played many matches in one day. I know they all got an invaluable experience with match toughness as their reward, and even if I wasn't thrilled with how much we had to play. We have a tough match tomorrow at Haddonfield. We'll see then how we respond.

But today was our day at Seneca, and with all our singles players making the Semi Finals and both our doubles teams fighting for the title, you could say it was the '2011 Paul VI Open.' Mark was quite impressive in his easy win over the 1st singles player from Seneca. He was a man on a mission today. Terry ran head-long into Jay Vatson for the 3rd time this season and had his best showing yet. Frank casually walked into the Semi's before his meeting with 'Too Tall' Terry Long.

Our Doubles toyed with the competition and then battled each other as the afternoon glare sparkled behind them. Enjoy the pictures below and I'll see all of you tomorrow @2 for a very simple and non-exerting practice(Serves, Volleys, Etc) before we hop the bus and old coach here walks you into his backyard and up the path to Haddonfield's Centennial Courts. A walk I've made a million times, and now am excited to make as your coach.

A Blog photo-op before the Championship Match

Terry, Frank, Johnny and Mitch love showing their PVI spirit and supporting Mark in his match against Cooper Morrison of Seneca.

Johnny and Mitch were stretched and ready to conquer Seneca's 1st doubles team in their Semi-Final match-up.

The Legion of Lamberto at the conference tourney is a facsimile of Casey and Storm playing in the singles draw in the previous years.

Frank casually walked his way into the Semi-Finals

Terry was all business today. He was focused and cool as a cucumber.

Mark starting off the day feeling cold but playing hot.

Lloyd and the pizza guy

A close-up of the soft pretzel. We may have had some mustard on the pretzel too.

Coaches Sue, Lloyd, and Linda

Paul VI 4 Bishop Eustace 1 ... Paul VI has now won the Olympic Conference National Division Title For The 2nd Year In A Row ... Pictures And Review

2011-05-03T19:11:00.001-07:00

Jay Vatson BE d Terry Long PVI 6-2, 6-4

Mark McShane PVI d Eric Mintz 6-3, 6-0

Marcos Lamberto PVI d Matt Lieve 6-4, 6-4

Jim Connelly and Nick Lamberto PVI d Ed Rohn and Jeremy Muhr 6-2, 6-3

Mitchel Rodgers and John Villari PVI d Bobby Bohny and Jamie Gillespie 6-2, 6-2

With our win today over Bishop Eustace, Paul VI has won the 2011 Olympic Conference National Division title. Our National Division record now stands at 5-0, and neither Bishop Eustace nor Seneca can match such by season's end.

We have beaten both schools twice this season. Last season we split our two matches with Seneca, wherein we have won 5 of the last 6 matches we've played against Bishop Eustace. Nick and Marcos also won last season's National Division doubles title against Bishop Eustace.

We shared the team title last year with Seneca, but now it is ours alone. The last time and only other time Paul VI won back to back Olympic Conferences titles was '94 & '95. '94 and '95 were the first and second Olympic Conference boys tennis titles that Paul VI won.

Dave Eves, the Courier Post writer, who's time covering tennis this season has been cut due to budget concerns, sends his congrats. He will do a write-up this week and just sent me an email stating such, which I will paste and put here. Mr Villari was curious about some press for our title clinching win today, a good point for sure, and now thanks to Dave we will.

cpsports@courierpostonline.com

Coach,

I want to put something in the notebook this week on your Olympic Conference title. Just email me back at d.eves6@yahoo.com and let me know the best time and number to reach you at tomorrow (Wednesday) night. Thanks coach, and congratulations.

Dave Eves

Terry on the attack and toward the net

Mark and Johnny have their game faces on

Mark sees the ball and he'll be the ball

Jimmy Connelly and Nick formed a pretty darn good doubles team for the first time this season. Jimmy's confidence with his tennis game is growing right before our eyes. He's letting his racquet do the work, and his game looks that much smoother and consistent. Something as described is the essence of why I show up everyday to be your tennis coach.

If it is the improvement of one of our team members or even Bishop Eustace's, it is a pleasure to witness. I spoke to Jay(Eustace's #1 singles) and Matt(Eustace's #3) after their matches today and took a moment to compliment each. I have now seen both many times over the past three seasons. I love the heart, drive and determination that each shows every time they have played us. It is a blast, as a coach, to see such individual improvement of any student athlete on our team or whomever we compete against.

Johnny and Mitch were our first point on the scoreboard

Marcos filled in at third singles and looked real good. You could really sense his confidence against a determined Matt Lieve. He won in straight sets.. 6-4,6-4.

Jim Burns and Anthony Ragone looked pretty darn good for playing as a team for the first time this season. They won and were quite happy after the match.

Matt Corbett in deep thought on how to approach his next point against his Bishop Eustace opponent.

Camden vs. PVI Highlights And Pictures - We All Supported Our Fellow Team Members Today

2011-05-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

Paul VI 4 Camden 1

Sedric Thomas Camden def John Villari PVI 6-3, 6-2

Jimmy Connelly PVI def Alex Negron 6-0, 6-0

Anthony Ragone PVI def Frankie Rodriguez 6-0, 6-0

John Chavez and Patrick Villarante PVI def Chris Mosby and Denzel Walker 6-0, 6-0

Henry Laigaie and Jim Burns PVI def Jose Mendarte and Joe Enriquez 6-0, 6-0

These were my best pictures this season. I had NO fence-line in my way and I kept my digital camera on the 'SIMPLE MODE.' I got close to the action and it showed. I think I have learned my lesson per the camera for the rest of the season. I am learning and getting better with my camera each and everyday.

Enjoy the pictures, many of our team members and specifically seniors(OblitierAsian/John&Pat)who got an opportunity to be in the varsity line-up for the first time this season. I know all the varsity regulars were thrilled to see them get such a moment. They sat back, pour themselves coach's new blend of 'black & white' ice tea, and cheered on their PVI tennis brothers. They also played that game they love, between cheering and sipping.

Do get the 'Courier Post' tomorrow and you'll see all your names in the box score, just look in the 'Sports Section' and you'll find it.

Jim Burns owns the net with a crisp volley

Lady Of Lourdes Hospital in the distance - Who knows which saint this is? There may be a prize if you do. Tell me tomorrow.

Pat and John aka 'ObliterAsian' are in the house and looking fierce with their tennis racquets

Pat

Johnny returning serve against a very good Sedric Thomas

Johnny returning serve from the 'Ad Court'

A great shot along the net line

Hank

Hank and Jim feeling confident

Anthony serving with gusto

Jim and his Camden opponent pose for the blog photo-op

Colt Classic - Team 'Flight' Tennis Tournment - This Weekend At Cumberland Regional HS - A Great Experience For All - The Brackets And Pics Below

2011-05-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

We had a great experience at the 'Colt Classic' this weekend. We all played fantastic in our first round matches against quality opponents. We played even better opponents in the second round and you could see our team members growing right front of our eyes.

Anthony Ragone filled in admirably at second singles. He got invaluable match play experience for a freshman, and will surely return to the 'Classic' next season and be match tough. I gotta say that I was especially proud of Terry Long who was in the 'Zone' when he beat Pennsville's #1 singles player. This was a break through moment for Terry and you could sense he felt it.

Mark played a tough Pennsville opponent and although he didn't win I could see the improvement and sense that Mark will peak at season's end, just as he did in his academics. Both our doubles teams had tough matches against Haddonfield, wherein they dropped the first sets quick, but both fought hard, and it showed in their second set scores. Marcos and Nick went 7-5 and Johnny and Mitch went 6-4. This experience will serve them well when we met at Haddonfield latter this week.

I was so proud of both doubles teams and their showing against my alma mater and my former coach, Mr Holman, which I was privileged to once play for. I think the world of him. It was a pretty cool moment for yours truly, as Mr Holman had been my guidance counselor from 8th grade all the way though high school, in addition to being my tennis coach. He has coached both the boys and girls teams for the past 30 years, and accumulated over 1000 wins between the two programs.

We had our most loyal fans, Mrs Donna Villari, Master Timmy Long and Mrs. Sherry Long who braved the cold with their Flyers Blankets

Terry, Anthony, Nick, Mrs Long, Mrs Villari, Marco

Johnny & Mitch

Johnny and Mitch with Cumberland County in front of them and those thick bushes where tennis balls went to die. I got lost in those bushes looking for quite a few tennis balls.

Mark's technique is improving in front of my camera's eye

Mark, Marco and Nick watch Terry's match

Terry "Too Tall" Long put his foot down against his Pennsville opponent

Marco and Johnny enjoy the action

The great hat that we were all given

The tourney backets tell a good story which I sense is the beginning of a better playoff story. Last season against Cherry Hill West was where we turned the corner and started to soar like the eagles we are. It is ironic that yesterday, against Cherry Hill West, may have been a bit of a low point. HOWEVER!! The next day at Cumberland, the sun initially struggled to come out. In the afternoon the sun finally showed itself and we were all much warmer, on so many levels than we were the day before at West.

We Got To Cherry Hill West Just In The 'Nick' Of Time And Squeeked Out A 3-2 Win - Box Score, Pictures & Videos

2011-04-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

Paul VI 3 Cherry Hill West 2

1st Singles: Terry Long, Paul VI, def. Edgar Aliferov CHW 6-4, 6-3

2nd Singles: Kevin Catenalla CHW, def. Frank Raggio PVI 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)

3rd Singles: Mark McShane, Paul VI def. Jordan Greene CHW 6-3, 6-0

1st Doubles: Marcos Lamberto and Nick Lamberto, Paul VI, def. Geoff Bondad and Kevin Ryan CHW 2-6, 6-4, 7-5

2nd Doubles: Max Matez and Tarik Bittout CHW def. Michell Rogers and John Villari, Paul VI, 6-3, 6-4

A Reminder About Tennis Team Apparel - Mr Burns Jim's Dad, And One Of Our Team Parents, Placed Our Order Last Year And Was Nice Enough To Again

2011-04-28T17:47:00.000-07:00

This is the super comfortable and well made track jacket which Mr Burns assisted in purchasing from MBM Sports, at the end of last season. I love it and I strongly encourage you order a hoodie or a sweatshirt so you can look darn cool walking the halls of PVI representing the tennis team. Mr Burns and I agree that parents, or even grandparents will look just as cool with a hoodie or sweatpants representing the tennis team. The PVI Tennis Team is now pretty gosh darn COOL.

Anyone is encouraged to order such. Mr Burns only has 4 orders thus far and may not be able to complete the order. SO PLEASE contact him soon if you are interested, wherein we'd like to get the apparel back within 2 weeks. See the order form below and Jim's contact info.

Sincerely,
Coach

To All,

In case you missed the first email on April 8th, please read below. If you are interested, please give me your order by the end of the week.

Thanks,
Jim Burns

--------------------
I stopped at MBM sports to get a quote on sweats and hoodies for this season. MBM Sports is the place we ordered from last year.

The cost of sweatpants (draw string at waist and elastic at bottom) is $14.50. On the left leg will be PAUL VI TENNIS with two rackets. We can order the sweats in either navy or royal color and the lettering is white. The team can vote on what color they would prefer. Minimum order is 20.

The cost of gray hoodies (pull over) is $22.50. On the front will be PAUL VI TENNIS in blue lettering with white borders. Minimum order is 12.

This is not limited to just the players....if parents want to order them for themselves or other family members it would show great support for the Paul VI tennis program.

It will take about two weeks from the time of order for us to get them from MBM Sports.

Please email me asap and let me know if you are interested and what you want to order (including size).

Please pass your order (see below form) and your payment to my son Jim. Checks are to be made out to MBM Sports.

Thanks,
Jim Burns

Name :_________________

Sweatpants : Qty_____ x $14.50 = ___________ Sizes/Qty (Adult Small___) (Adult Medium_____) (Adult Large_____)

Hoodies : Qty______x $22.50 =____________ Sizes/Qty (Adult Small___) (Adult Medium_____) (Adult Large_____)

Total Dollar Amount $_____________

Jim Burns
jab1993@comcast.net

A Beautiful Day At Seneca And A Great Win - With Pictures of The Action And Two Puppies

2011-04-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

Paul VI 4 Seneca 1

1st Singles: Terry Long, Paul VI, def. Cooper Morrison 6-1, 6-2

2nd Singles: Mark McShane, Paul VI, def. Matt Riches 6-2, 6-2

3rd Singles: Ira Vought, Seneca, def. Anthony Ragone 6-0, 6-1
Doubles

1st Doubles: Marcos Lamberto and Nick Lamberto, Paul VI, def. Justin Rangel and Stanley Tarasewiecz 6-4, 6-4

2nd Doubles: Michell Rogers and John Villari, Paul VI, def. Ryan Rossi and Jake Davies 6-2, 6-3

PVI and Camden In Today's Tennis Action

2011-04-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

Paul VI 5 Camden 0

terry long PVI def Sedric Thomas 6-0, 6-1

frank raggio PVI def Alex Negron 6-0, 6-0

mark mcshane PVI def Frankie Rodriguez 6-0, 6-0

nick and marcos lamberto PVI def Chris Mosby and Denzel Walker 6-0, 6-0

John Villari and Mitchel Rogers PVI def Jose Mendarte and Joe Enriquez 6-0, 6-0

Paul VI 4 (3-0) Moorestown Friends School 1 - Our Courier Post Box Score & Pictures of Today At Triton's New Courts

2011-04-19T17:22:00.000-07:00

The rain did us in today at Triton Regional, and their spanking new courts. It was too wet and after we saw them drying their courts with rollers, when we first arrived. I saw many of our players not moving much, at about 15 mins of the match's start. We were under a very light drizzle at about 5 mins from the start of match play. I wanted to play but for some reason I just felt wise to err on the side of caution Here are pics of some of the action we did get in.

We will all met at the tennis courts for a 45 min practice before Camden's team arrives shortly after 315. We will also practice; Thursday 315-445, Friday no practice, Saturday 345-530. We will have drill and skill specific games for each practice. The Thursday and Saturday practice are mandatory for the varsity 7, with Thursday being optional for the JV tennis team members.

John Coltrane - Saturday Jazz & Disc Golf, Which We Played On Friday

2011-04-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

Where else but the boys tennis blog can 'John Coltrane' be merged with a 'Disc Golf' experience. Enjoy his 'Music Video' below. He is the man with the name that is jazz.

' John William Coltrane (aka "Trane"; September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967[1]) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz. He was prolific, organizing at least fifty recording sessions as a leader during his recording career, and appeared as a sideman on many other albums, notably with trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Thelonious Monk. ' (Wikipedia Excerpt)

John Coltrane - My Favorite Things - Live '65

How To Putt For Disc Golf ... We got to play one team round on a made up disc golf hole on Friday at the end of practice. Disc Golf is a blast. If you are down the shore during the summer time there is a free course near the Cape May Zoo. Click the link below to find out more.

http://www.capemaycountygov.net/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=5&TPID=3752

Pictures And Match Results Of Today's Win Against Bishop Eustace. We Are 2-0 in the Olympic Conference National Division.

2011-04-11T16:08:00.001-07:00

Jay Vatson BE d Terry Long PVI 6-2, 6-0

Frank Raggio PVI d Eric Mintz 6-1, 6-3

Mark McShane PVI d Matt Lieve 6-0, 6-2

Marcos and Nick Lamberto PVI d Ed Rohn and Jeremy Muhr 6-2, 6-4

Mitchel Rogers and John Villari PVI d Bobby Bohny and Eric Karponitz 6-3, 6-0

Mitchel and Johnny received this trophy as winners of the consolation bracket of the Camden County High School Tennis Tournament. This trophy will join Marco and Nick's Olympic Conference Doubles trophy from last season, in PVI's athletic trophy case

Terry had a tough match against a savvy and experienced Jay Vatson.

Frank with a backhand volley against BE's #2 singles Eric Mintz.

Frank with good form on his serve today.

Mark with the big thumbs up. I don't know if it was his mid-match soft pretzel, or his confidence against his opponent, after a first set win.

The softball umpire kept both coaches away from Marcos and Nick's match. The fence-line is in foul territory. So I didn't get many good shots of our 1st doubles win.

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=08033

I just checked weather underground and it appears that there is a 95% chance of rain tomorrow. So it'll be 100% chance that we'll have a varsity only workout in the gym tomorrow.

Pictures And Summary Of Today's Camden County Tourney

2011-04-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

Terry, Johnny and Mitchel each participated in the annual Camden County Tennis Tournament. It was a splendid day at Eastern HS and all won their first round matches. Terry beat Eric Mintz, Bishop Eustace's #2, right after the courts dried. Johnny and Mitchel beat Haddon Township's #1 doubles team 6-1, 6-4. They all ran into very tough Eastern HS players in the second round. I was very proud of the effort and I know the experience will serve them well for our matches on Monday and Tuesday.

Terry against Eastern's #1 singles - another tough Olympic Conference opponent which he will met again in a few weeks. He'll be ready to rumble for sure!!

Terry thinking and soon realizing that he got a lot better and knows that Eastern's #1 is in his sights. Terry was a little tired, but his opponent hit a wall and looked even more tired toward the end of the match.

Terry going wide to hit a backhand against Eastern's #1

Terry going wide for that same backhand - The 'Burst' button on my camera supplied this quick progression of the same moment. There are a lot of functions and buttons on this digital camera, which I recently purchased to help document our tennis season on the blog. I hope by season's end I am moderately proficient with some of them.

Mitch and Johnny will met Eastern again, and they will be excited for that challenge.
Notice the toss arm position(the trophy pose) by the Eastern tennis player. We work on this everyday in hopes of having as good a serve as he did. Ask Johnny or Mitchel
what they thought of this strong Eastern doubles player. Some of our singles players may even take note of his knee bend as he's serving.

Our doubles team was prepared for Haddon Township after a morning warm-up at PVI. They started off quick and won the 1st round match 6-1, 6-4.

Our 2nd Doubles running Haddon Twp's 1st doubles ragged.

Mitchel, Johnny, Mr and Mrs Rogers all know now why Haddon Twp didn't want to play us. A good win breeds confidence!! Gentlemen grab hold of it, and don't forget what it does for your game!! Mr Long is there too, and quite excited for another PVI triumph. Thanks to Mr and Mrs Long and Mr and Mrs Villari for the great support today.

Our Indoor Work Out And Tennis Specific Stretch In Pictures

2011-04-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

We did many simple ball exercises today, with the goal of improving our tracking, reaction & hand/eye skills. We did our normal footwork routine with the fitness ladders and cones. We started with a normal stretch and then some sprints. We layered the sprints with slow movements such as knee bends down and knee bends up. We seasoned that with the Carioca movement for improved flexibility of our core and hips.

There are pictures below of the all important pre-match tennis specific stretch. Some of these activities we've performed with PVI trainer Greg White. They are all important, as going on court before a match with such under your belt is KEY to maximizing your success. Starting off prepared and quick, wherein winning the FIRST TWO games sets you up perfectly. Many tennis opponents you'll play now and in the future won't be as prepared as you mentally or physically. I feel strongly about such as you all must know by now. Being prepared physically sets the right tone mentally.

Win or lose, it doesn't ever matter. If your not prepared to try to be the best that you are capable of being at that moment, that matters. The simple activities above aim to help you prepare to compete in match play.

Agility Ladder Drills - Carioca Step

A Short Video On The 'Wrist Assist,' A Teaching Aid Which I Put On Your Wrist, Which Some Have Used During Practice + The Seneca Box Score

2011-04-06T18:16:00.000-07:00

The 'Wrist Assist' is especially great for the volley. This tennis teaching aid gives you instant feedback, and makes the learning and the teaching more dynamic, and can expedite the learning for many, in our large group setting.

http://www.squarehittennis.com/

Here is their website, 'Square Hit Tennis' where you can get further information on the 'Wrist Assist,' and the 'Toss Assist,' which a few have you have used during our toss drills. Sadly there are very few good training/teaching aids for the sport of tennis.

This is a short video on the all court setting, which some have used for any tennis stroke you could hit.

Paul VI 5 Seneca 0 - The Weather Was King

2011-04-04T17:33:00.001-07:00

A good win to begin the season. I saw some good things and I saw some things we need to work on. When we have a home match I want to have a more efficient pre-match practice because today it wasn't. We work on our footwork, stretching, 1st and 2nd serve, return of serve, volleys, overheads, approach shots, cross court, down the line. A simple pre-match practice that is standard, and part and parcel to our success.

I most certainly want to see everybody have a more confident second serve. A 'nervous' or 'paddy cake' second serve, without any pace or direction, gives up too much court to our opponent(s), handing them a very easy offensive opportunity. When we play better teams that type of second serve, which I have worked diligently to improve, will be almost as bad as a double fault. This type of serve is also harmful in doubles. Thinking about where we want to target our serve (body, backhand) can benefit our 1st serve success in addition to occupying our mind on the 2nd serve, thus lessening the jitters.

We will work on such when the seniors are gone, along with our doubles movements. I hope the seniors have a great time on the trip, and they come back refreshed and focused for the meat of our schedule. I want to thank Mr and Mrs Rogers for those fine pretzels and spicy mustard. The box score will be in the Courier Post tomorrow, and a line score in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Listen for the morning announcements and it should be noted there too.

Here are a few pictures of today's action

Stride Pianist Art Tatum - Saturday Night Jazz Piece

2011-04-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

Arthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. (October 13, 1909 – November 5, 1956) was an American jazz pianist and virtuoso. He was nearly blind. Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. He is also know for his ability as a stride pianist. Critic Scott Yanow wrote, "Tatum's quick reflexes and boundless imagination kept his improvisations filled with fresh (and sometimes futuristic) ideas that put him way ahead of his contemporaries ... Art Tatum's recordings still have the ability to scare modern pianists." (Wikipedia Excerpt)

Tennis is on TV this weekend. The Sony Ericsson Open is being held in Miami, played by both the top men and women. It is unique to see both in a non major. This tournament is regarded as the 5th major. The four other majors are the Australian Open, Wimbledon, The French Open and The US Open.

Sunday, April 3 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm Miami(M): Men's final CBS[Live]

If you have the 'Tennis Channel' you can see replays of many of the top matches at anytime.

Rare footage of Art Tatum playing his rendition of Humoresque by Dvorak

SEE YESTERDAY'S TENNIS INSTRUCTION POST
http://paulvitennis.blogspot.com/2011/04/javascriptvoid0.html

VIDEOS - Poaching For Doubles And Game Style For Singles AND PROPER BREATHING FOR EVERYONE

2011-04-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

Poaching Video - We practice our serve, on the deuce side, to our opponent's backhand (into the body or down the middle) we offer our partner a simple opportunity to poach as you'll see in this video. I want all our doubles teams to use in our match Monday what we have spent much time working on in practice. I want all to use this simple move to get easy points.

How To Choose A Game Style Video - Singles - What style do you feel most comfortable playing. Watch this video and tell me what you think your game style is.

When And How To Breath - this is something I have stressed from the beginning. Watch tennis great Chris Evert speak of its importance.

A Nice Bit Of Press In Today's Courier Post. Don't Forget That Each Ranked Team Is 0-0

2011-03-31T17:39:00.000-07:00

Terry had some nice recognition too. See 'Players To Watch,' to the right of the rankings.

Three Very Simple But Important Points For The Return of Serve, Doubles Communication And Footwork

2011-03-30T14:47:00.000-07:00

Bill Tilden(left)- best player, 1st half of the 20th century
Rene Lacoste(right) - one of best French players of all time
and the man who birthed the polo shirts with alligators
you all must have seen or may have. link is a history lesson
http://www.lacoste.com/rene_lacoste#/rene_lacoste-rub-1

We worked on our return of serve today, and as always our footwork. We did our sprints, wherein we haven't done the mile run in a week. We mixed in the deep knee bends and carioca movements. Please view the simple and short video tips below, as these are also things that I have spoke of before. WHEN WE'RE AT THE NET AND THE BALL IS IN THE AIR OUR FEET ARE MOVING!!! WHEN THE BALL IS IN THE AIR OUR FEET ARE MOVING!!!

doubles communication

Ball is in the air my feet are moving

Return of Serve Positioning

Doubles And Singles Tips That Are A Necessary Part Of A Game Plan For Success

2011-03-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

A good practice on a sunny but cold day at Paul VI. We've been working on serving and volleying with the varsity members the last few practices. We also had two very important challenge matches today. I got to spend some time and work with some JV members on some simple doubles principles, wherein below are two short video clips on "Doubles Principles." which I want all doubles players to watch and use in their upcoming matches.

You'll also see a video on singles strategy. This can be helpful to all players on the team. The singles strategy talks about shot tolerance.

doubles principles I

doubles principles part II

singles strategy - shot tolerance

Jazz and Tennis - Guitaritst Wes Montgomery For The Saturday Night Jazz Piece

2011-03-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

The Saturday jazz piece,viewed at the bottom, is a crisply done video of Wes Montgomey performing 'Four on Six.'(1965) Wes has influenced many great guitarists, including Jimi Hendrix, George Benson and Kenny Burrell. I love this video, with the close-ups you can really see the musicians work.

If you ever get a chance, say in the summer time, do make a trip to Newport, RI. One of the world's premiere Jazz Festivals is held in Newport. The International Tennis Hall of Fame is also in Newport, RI. This beautiful seaside town with legendary mansions from the 'Gilded Age' is a priceless trip, and where jazz and tennis share a home.

http://www.newportjazzfest.net/

http://www.tennisfame.com/

I have always felt that jazz and tennis have a unique connection on many levels. Sport and rhythm, jazz beats and tennis played with power which could be closely followed and complimented with finesse. Tennis players and jazz musicians need to sense when and where to use power and touch, and they must balance and practice both. This can come from observing and replying to what your opponent(s)are giving you. Jazz musicians listen and respond to what each other is playing. Both of said occurrences are often unpredictable and happen in the moment, and require an immediate reply. We both need our opponent(s) and partners to create music or a game.

BACKSPIN - The Volley & Continential Grip - Click On Article Below - I Mentioned Backspin In Yesterday's Volley Blog Post

2011-03-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

The correct way to hit the forehand or backhand volley is with the continental grip. Your volley will stay low and you'll force your opponent to hit up, typically from below the net. This will then give you(singles) or your partner(doubles) an easier return shot from which you can then hit that ball down. In a nutshell, that's the simple essence of what doubles is about. Think about the return trajectory. If the ball sits up your opponent(s) have more time and options when hitting the ball. When your at the net volleying you want your shots to stay low.

You can't get backspin with the Eastern Forehand Grip. See the backspin piece below. The backspin is only accessible to you by volleying with that Continental grip. Wherein the racquet face becomes slightly open at contact, by the way you hold the racquet. This is what the Continental grip affords you for the volley. You'll see the diagram in the picture below where the racquet face is open. See the practice exercises also, you could do them in your room. No need for a court. I gave these same exercises to you last year in the blog.

Our Volley In Pictures And Video - I Saw Some Need For Improvment Here, And Here's Some Help

2011-03-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

Continental Grip ... Bevel 1 ... Eastern Grip Bevel - Right Side ... Left Side for lefties. We are using that same Eastern forehand grip for our backhand too ... we're using 2 different grips, so to simplify ... notice the circled area on the hand print ... its just a quick shift up or down from that circled point on your hand. The racquet angle you see in the pics below is the same no matter the height of the ball received.

Don't forget to lower your head with your racquet's head, and step forward to met the tennis ball. A little bit of looseness in the wrist, but increased pressure on your grip with your forefinger and thumb, same as with the serve. Keep your elbow firm, and lead with it and your front shoulder. We practice our volley, but every time we practice our serve we are using the same grip as we use for our volley and overhead. This grip is crucial to getting backspin on the ball, thus keeping the ball low as it bounces on our opponents side.

The Volley - A Short USPTR Video

Your Racquet needs NEW Strings Every 50 hours or 3 months - Information On Strings, Grips & Shock Absorbers

2011-03-23T16:15:00.001-07:00

I started that first meeting reminding all to have their racquet re-strung to start the season. I will continue this conversation with your parents when we have our meeting on Monday. The information below gives you more necessary information on your racqets needs. Your tennis racquet is your tool for the sport, so properly maintaining is vital for success on the court. You spend many hours playing and practicing, this is a mutual investment. I want to maximize this learning experience for you by making sure you are properly prepared.

The proper shoes are a no brainer, as your safety is first and foremost. Re-gripping your racquet, which is something I've reminded a few of you about, is done without thought for those who have played the sport for a long period of time. The shock absorber is a personal thing, which some like, but some don't. Most pros don't use them. It is personal preference, and could be purchased for a $1.00 at some tennis establishments and even Walmart. You can also buy a three pack of over-grips at Walmart for $3.00. I helped many of you with this task, and I recommend you all have an over-grip in your bag. Cherry Hill Health and Tennis has a small tennis shop, where you can find a variety of grips and over-grips. Dicks and Sports Authority has a bit more variety than Walmart or Target.

Other sports require a heck of a lot more investment in equipment. I've heard from a few of you the cost of soccer equipment and league play. Tennis is minimal in comparison. You can buy a replacement grip at Walmart for $4.00, which I can help you put on. This should be done every 6 months. A good pair of 'Tennis' shoes may only cost $45-60.

One racquet that I am recommending, Prince's Hornet Hybrid O3 Mid Plus, with stringing, is only $75.00. This is a racquet that balances power and control. A string job, which I can have done, is only $20. Head's Liquidmetal 4 is another racquet that properly balances power and control. Both are not too light, over 10oz and under 11oz, and the head size is no more than 100 square inches. Both have been highly praised by various tennis publications for their quality and value. You do not need to spend $200 to get a real good tennis racquet.

In all honesty every varsity player should have two of the same racquet. If you break strings on your primary racquet while playing a match, your play may be affected with a back-up racquet that is different in weight and feel, and has year old strings. I am certain that varsity players at the good to top Olympic Conference schools have two of the same racquet. I understand this maybe perceived as costly, thus it isn't a requirement.

This is something to think about for some of you as we go forward. I also would want any of you interested in purchasing a new racquet to ask me for some advice. Tennis Warehouse is an inexpensive online retailer where you can purchase the aforementioned racquets and necessities. You may also purchase the same grip you have on your racquet now from them. www.tennis-warehouse.com They have a dearth of information for every racquet they sell, including customers reviews and specs. I can help you with this too.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_O3_Hybrid_Hornet_Midplus/descpageRCPRINCE-PO3HH.html

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Head_Liquidmetal_4/descpageRCHEAD-LM4.html

"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves." + The OVERHEAD - Short Video Tip

2011-03-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

I found the excerpt below on a website about pre-game speeches which a coach may make to his team. We work on all the little things each and everyday in practice. We work on our service toss, our serve, our lobs, cross court ground strokes, our footwork and discipline. Our serve is the only stoke where we have total control.

Take Care of the Little Things
(this speech can be adapted to any sport. It can also be easily lengthened or shortened depending on your time constraints.)

"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves." Most of you have heard that phrase before, right?!?! Did you ever stop to think about what it really means? What are the little things? What are the big things? And, how do the big things take care of themselves?

As an athlete you need to focus on the "little things", the aspects of your game that you directly control. You have control over how you execute your offense and defense. You have control over your hustle, your speed, your drive and your effort. You have control as you are positioning your body against your opponent. You have control over your attitude, your spirit, your passion, and your good sportsmanship.

The bigger things are not in your direct control. Don't concern yourself with the referees (or officials), or the way the other team is performing. You can't control the crowd, the coaches, or your teammates. Don't focus on these aspects. The bigger things will take care of themselves.

If you focus on the bigger things- the score, the calls, or the opponent, then your individual effort will suffer. Blocks will be missed, rebounds will be lost, turn-overs will happen. Keep your mind and body focused on only the items that you can control and that you need to perform.

When you execute the little things to perfection, then the score and the victory will take care of themselves! The victory will happen. It will happen because each one of you has done your part. Your collective efforts will come together as a victory.

Two Little Things About A Stroke We Use - An Effective Way To Hit An Overhead

Bicycle Inner Tubes & The Crab Walk

2011-03-21T16:43:00.000-07:00

See the picture & short amount of information below. We've used the inner tube during practice as a resistance band, for our core, shoulders, forearm and wrist. I have tied quite a few of them on the fence. We'll use them more often in the future, but they are there for anyone to use when waiting during drills. We've also done the crab walk outside, but more inside. We'll do that as part of a Indoor routine, and you can do any one of these on your own.

I have a bag of tire inner tubes, and I will surely give you one if you desire. You can take it home and tie it wherever and do 3 sets of 10. Do it slow forward, hold, and slow back. See below the recommended way to do one exercise with the inner tube tied to the net post. I'll show you one for your shoulder, with the inner tube tied to the fence.

Important And Simple Tennis Strategies - And How Jazz Can Be Related To A Successful Business or Athletic Team

2011-03-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

We work on keeping the ball deep in the court, everyday in practice. We work on extending any given rally, everyday in practice. Remember the pressure-less balls and our simple short court/cross court game. This is for consistency and extending a rally. The cones I set up when we are drilling are targets related to how deep in the court you need to hit the tennis ball. See the shaded area at on the second picture and make note of what 'depth' means. Though these two pages reference 'singles strategy,' being consistent and keeping the ball deep are part of the 'Doubles' game too.

Please read the jazz article by a great Trumpeter, and New Orleans favorite son, Wynton Marsalis. He penned this piece for a business medium, and noted the similarities a successful business has with a successful jazz group. I think the same can be likened to a sports team, and especially a tennis team. Where we're all on a team, but also compete and act as individuals and often pairs, within a team framework. This is one of my favorite articles, and I hope you enjoy it.

Enjoy the unique style and beats of one of my favorite jazz pianist, Thelonious Monk. He'll be performing 'Epistrophy' for the Saturday night jazz piece.

Thelonious Monk - 'Epistrophy'

Paul VI 5 Pitman 0 - A Good Warm-Up To Start Our Season, But There Are Bigger Olympic Conference Fish To Fry

2011-03-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

1st Terry Long 6-3, 5-7. 7-5 v. Torey Langlois

2nd Frank Roggio 6-3, 6-2 v. Drew Shirley

3rd Mark McShane 6-2, 6-1 v. Jeff Dutill

1st Marcos and Nick Lamberto 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 v. Josh Pacana and Fernando Roman

2nd John Villari and Mitchel Rogers 6-1, 6-3 v. Hayden Delia and Ryan McIntyre

We had a good day with beautiful weather for our first road win of the year. Pitman has a nice program which has had much success over the past 10 years. They have built a nice tennis facility in a local park, which also hosts summer tournaments. Their team is re-building this year, but did have 3 starters back from a Group 1 state finalist team of last season. Enjoy the pics below of today's action.

The LOB - And Let's Hope We'll Have Our Scrimmage Tomorrow Against Pitman HS

2011-03-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

We worked on our self feed lob drill for the first time of the year today so here's two quick tips on the "lob." When visualizing the lob, think modern tennis warfare and another weapon in your tennis stroke arsenal. Connect the LOB of a tennis ball as the same as putting your opponents in retreat, and or use it to confuse them!!! A change of pace is another way to view the lob. Today we practiced our lobs with the self feed drill and the trash cans were in the correct target areas.

Use a lob, not only when your in a defensive position, but as an offensive weapon, wherein it is a set up shot for an easier next shot. A 'singles tactic' can be to hit a very short ball, maybe by mistake, and then LOB the next one over their head. Key point is to use it and not forget too. You may use it more in doubles, but it can be VERY effective to use in singles also. You'll see a yellow colored diagram in the video.

Think of this targeted area as your swinging your tennis racquet gently toward the sky. Your actually lifting the ball high over the net(10-12 ft) and carefully placing over a an imaginary secondary net, which is the service line, and into this yellow targeted area.

Its a great tactic to change the height(low, medium and high) of your ball during a rally, in singles and doubles. You don't want you opponent to get a comfortable groove with the same pace and height. Most of the time you'll use medium height cross court shots, 4-8 feet over the net, for most of your balls.

Its a great shot to use when you sense the opponent(s) don't like to hit overheads and or to confuse your opponent(s) by giving him something to break his rhythm/timing, and maybe even sneak into net under it. This will really confound them.

Our Serve - A Graceful Movement Meant To Be Short and Simple

2011-03-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

Read both short pieces related to the serve and the correct grip. One is informative and explains pronation. The wrist snap, to be done effective, must be done with the continental grip, with a wee bit more pressure with your forefinger and thumb on the grip. The forefinger and thumb are right next to each other. You have a little bit of looseness in your wrist, which you'll also have when volleying and hitting overheads.

These are all strokes performed with the same continental grip you use for your serve. Your forefinger is extended up the grip just as you do with your eastern forehand grip. Look above, 'Bevel 1 One' is where you place your palm for the continental grip(hammer grip) if your a right handed player. See the circled area, this is where you rotate up or down for the grip change. Palm on the 'right side' or 'left side' for your ground strokes(handshake grip). A Handshake has a bit more pressure in the palm than the fingertips. I've joke about it before with the team, wherein nobody, say a potential employer, likes a 'deadfish' handshake. REMEMBER a firm handshake, not a death grip. Don't forget to look he or she in the eyes.

The other is a simple activity to practice the service movement. You need not practice it with 'tight' clothing on, as you'll read in the piece. However please do it in front of a mirror. I was working with a few of you on this today. This is important to practice the weight shift in relation to the entire service movement.

Start The Season Working On Consistency - Control Your Mind And Body And You'll Control The Ball

2011-03-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

I had Nick read this article to the team before practice on Friday. The article described Collingswood's tennis team prospects for the up coming season. In it Coach Topeka specifically talked about consistency and working on the little things during practice. He spoke to his boys about ball control and how it is unnecessary to over hit. He reminds his boys that they don't need to serve a 100mph. These are all things that I've had us work on since our beginning. I imagine all coaches are running their practices along the same lines. So take heed that you are doing pretty much the same practice as everyone else.

I now remind us for the hundredth time that we warm-up our serve at 70% power. I understand young men, heck probably all men of any age, love to serve the ball as hard as they can, from the first moment on court for the day. This will lead to shoulder problems. I see many trying this and I hope this article and now blog post will hit home my point.

The Inner Game of Tennis - A Chapter From The Most Read Tennis Book Of All Time

2011-03-12T17:51:00.000-08:00

I want you all to read these 6 pages. The information seen here about the mental aspect of tennis will be invaluable to your success this season. In varying degrees, we all know how to hit a tennis ball with ease and success, when we don't feel the pressure of a match situation. The information below will help you feel the same thing you feel in practice, that can often be fleeting in matches. Ego, nerves and confidence can ride a roller coaster during any given match. Point by point concentration is a point I've touched on before. This clarifies that point anew.

You will learn how to gain a mental edge in your tennis game. You'll learn about the two selves. You'll hear about confidence and how to avoid losing streaks related to points, while grabbing winning streaks and not letting go. I've been waiting for the right moment to present this information to you and I think the time is now. This is the most read and printed tennis book of all time. I will ask for your reflections on Monday. Enough said, start reading now.

DOUBLE CLICK EACH PICTURE TWICE TO ENLARGE IT SO TO READ MOST EASILY

Remember The What & Why Of Our Anarobic & Aerobic Workout For Tennis - Clearly Reasoned By Dr Jack Gropell

2011-03-09T16:06:00.000-08:00

We had a good practice today. I had to reel us in a few times, but I remind you with the videos below why we do what we do, without the ball. Remind yourselves where we finished last season by looking at the newspaper clipping here. This is the first time the boys team at PVI, your tennis team, finished the season ranked. To be the first to do anything for your school should be enough incentive to put a soild effort each day at practice. We have much to gain by working hard and always thinking of the bigger picture.

I know it isn't that fun to hit balls and run in the cold. Not everything we always do will be fun. I knew that and tamed some of our activities. We know if we arrive at the end of the season and what we think will happen doesn't, that won't be fun either. We have a simple and realistic goal. We won a playoff match last year, and our goal is to win two this year. If we win two playoff matches, we will play for a NJSIAA Sectional Title, the first in your school's history. We sit at a very reasonable 60/40 possibility of winning that match. Each moment from now until this match we can increase that percentage. We could also decrease that percentage with time wasting shenanigans. We are better than that, and its my job to hold us to a representative standard. Never forget, the harder you work, the luckier you get.

The All Important Service Toss

2011-03-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

I found a cartoon book called 'Snoopy's Tennis Book," and thought I'd add it to the blog for a little variety. Please watch the short video on the service toss below. (2min) I took an excerpt from a previous post about the service toss. This is the only shot we control, and frequently when we are tightening up in a close match our toss will fail us, affected by nerves. See the form of Venus Williams in the picture above. She is holding those fingertips to the sky with the ball already released. Her chin is up and her eyes looking at the ball.

Notice the target dot in the video that he uses to practice the toss. Please hear where Brad recommends to start the toss and where to release the toss. Remember put a very little bit of pressure on the ball with the forefinger and thumb of your toss hand. Notice Brad holding his toss arm up after the release of the ball. See his eyes and head still held up after the release of the ball. Notice where he holds the tennis ball in his hand. It was great to find this new training aid product, on brad's "square hit" website.

When we all do this simplest task perfect, I am certain that you'll see how it can increase your service percentage, while giving you a certain piece of mind.

Head Still, Eyes On The Ball & Bend Your Knees.

2011-03-07T17:37:00.000-08:00

Good practice today. These are two points which I have stressed before. I saw some today adhering to such and some not so much. These are two points that we all need to refresh as tennis season begins and we adjust to playing again. I have played the sport a long time and know that these two points are things I have to concern myself with after any layoff.

We need to remind our knees that the tennis season began.

We need to remind our head to stay still and keep our eyes on the ball
as the tennis season begins. See the 1 minute video for further explanation.

http://paulvitennis.blogspot.com/2010/02/head.html - original post link

'Friendship' and 'Team Spirit '

2011-03-06T15:00:00.000-08:00

This is what I spoke of before our practice yesterday and on Friday. 'Friendship' and 'Team Spirit.' See the circled areas below. Read each and truly grasp their meaning. I expect these two descriptive definitions will continued to be followed by all members of the team. John Wooden's formula for team success, seen below, is what I have followed since day one with the team. His 'Pyramid of Success,' worked quite well at UCLA, so I think it'll work quite well here. It worked last year. 'Loyalty' will be the next talk. These three words and what they mean, go to the core of who I am as a person and how I approach coaching.

http://paulvitennis.blogspot.com/2010/06/video-essays-coach-wooden-pyramid-of.html

This is the blog post I wrote in June '10 which described his recent passing. and The post also includes a biography video of his amazing life. Three short videos.

Don't forget to scroll down and see yesterday's blog post if you hadn't already.

DOUBLE CLICK TO ENLARGE THE PICTURE TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND READ IT.

An answer about the forehand grip which was asked during practice today & some time appropiate Saturday evening jazz

2011-03-05T14:29:00.001-08:00

We've had two good practices to kick off our season. So I begin the blog anew and describe what I think important for the beginning of our journey. A well conditioned athlete can cut down his risk of getting injured. When you get tired, you run a greater risk of getting injured.

The cardio conditioning, stretching and footwork is the foundation of our sport. The running helps our leg strength while enhancing our quickness and releasing more happy dopamine to the brain. The stretching helps our limbs to re-acclimate their tennis flexibility needs. We all worked with resistances bands today. If you have been to a PT and done some rehab you know what I am speaking of. We'll continue to use the bands throughout the season. A good idea here is three sets of 10 done slowly with a suffice range of motion.

I have always felt that paying attention to these three aspects is part and partial to why we haven't had any injuries in my three years with the team. I also feel that proper footwear, which I insist on you wearing, helps too. During practice today I noted our perfect injury record, so I am worried I may have jinxed us. I now feel we need the power of the entire team, acting as one, to negate my words.

See Jim Burns knocking on wood in the picture to the right. He did this during our playoff match with St Joe's Metuchen when one of our matches was turning in our favor. He observed the favorable turn and said, 'We have this in the bag." I was shocked what I just heard uttered, and being superstitious I then asked him to go to the nearest tree and knock on it. SO everybody please help me out and knock on wood right now.

See the eastern forehand grip description below. This was taken from the book 'Tennis," by Pancho Gonzales, my favorite tennis player. His bio video(Feb'10)was one of the my first blog posts.

http://paulvitennis.blogspot.com/2010/02/pancho-gonzales-tennis-history.html

I took about 10 pictures on that glorious day in Metuchen, but sadly I think I lost many of them during the recent tornado. We will continue to work hard each and everyday, wherein we can all experience the same success we had last year, and then some. "We will work on the little things to make the big thing happen." This idea is taken from John Wooden's Pyramid of Success which you can find on many blog posts here.

If I find the pictures I will post them. BUT KNOCK ON WOOD NOW. Our ability to avoid a jinx, is each and everyone of us knocking on WOOD, right after they read this!! If one person forgets, who knows what may happen next.

This picture and the circled area is the exact place on my hand where I turn the racquet down, from the serve grip to the eastern forehand grip, and up from the same forehand grip to the volley and overhead grip. We've noted this important movement in practice many times. Enjoy Dexter Gordon and the rest of your weekend.

2011-01-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

Take The Right Moment To Be Aggressive ... Be Smart And Don't Be Scared

2010-10-18T19:16:00.001-07:00

Please watch these two great 'tennis vid tips.' One is on doubles and one on singles strategy. We have our Olympic Conference National Division Singles and Doubles Tournament tomorrow at Seneca HS in Shamong. So we'll leave at 1030 ... Only the varsity 7 ... and you are to leave at 948 after said period and take 15 mins to change and 15mins to eat. We'll be home between 4-430pm.

We will have a full team practice on Wednesday ... from 245-500.

Singles Tactics ... When to Approach Down The Middle

Doubles - Poaching ... please get a visual for this as we've spoke of before

Playoffs Tomorrow @ Holy Spirit High School

2010-10-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

Holy Spirit High School
500 S New Rd
Absecon, NJ 08201-2599
(609) 646-7082

See Our NJSIAA Girls Tennis, Non-Public South A Tournament's first round matches and seedings at very bottom.

I am excited for tomorrow, we had a good practice today with those who were able to attend on a fine Columbus Day at PVI. Holy Spirit is a good program with a tradition, but this is a bit of a down year for them. This will be a fun test. I think you will all surprise each other with your play tomorrow. I have a really good feeling. Remember we are leaving at 115 for a 3pm start at Holy Spirit and we should be back to PVI by no latter than 645.

Listen to PA for weather related changes.

Its an hour from PVI to Absecon, NJ. They have 6 courts ... so all who can come bring their racquets as there maybe opportunity to hit and cheer on our fellow tennis eaglets. I understand if JV members can't make it due to school or travel concerns. Any parent who can come, here's the address and it would be great to have your support.

I'd love for all the JV to come as you've earned such a playoff journey with the rest of your tennis travelin sisterhood ya-ya pants. The picture below is a tennis artifact that the ya-yas' once used, probably the 1920's. It was used to clean tennis balls. Tennis balls and the material used to make them used to be VERY expensive and the felt wasn't as tough as what you see and play with now.

Part of our practice routine is a simple lob drill. A lob is another tool in our tool box of tennis skills that we've worked on in practice this year. Today was no exception as we performed our self feed lob drill with the cones as targets on the opposite side of the court.

We'll use all our tennis tools, which we've polished in practices, to play a consistent and thoughtful tennis match tomorrow. We'll get our first serve in and place it where we want to. We'll focus real hard to not make errors on our return of serve. We'll stay out there as long as it takes to win a point and try to win the next one.

Please remember tomorrow to add a dash of discipline with a sprinkle of intentness when we feel were getting frustrated, so our emotions don't lose points. We refocus and try again, to get one more ball back. We'll use that lob tomorrow, maybe a little more than we normally do

The lob is used often in doubles as a change of pace or to force our opponents to adjust their court positions, wherein we make them uncomfortable. We can use it in singles as a change of pace and height our opponent receives. Giving your opponent balls at different heights is an important strategic tactic to use. A lob maybe a defensive shot, to buy time for you to prepare for your opponent's next shot ... AND to catch your breath.

The two pages below(just click on and enlarge them) describe in further detail the idea of the need for a proper follow through and a sense of feel and touch when executing the shot. Remember feel and touch are vital for all your shots. These tips from this great book by Bob Harman(see below) are some of the points I've made to you during our practices.

As with all the instructional points I've made here I used the blog to reinforce the learning and instruction I give you from practice. Upon watching a few of you today during our lobbing drill I saw some follow-thrus' that are good but actually got better when we repeated the 'lob target drill.'

We performed the 'lob drill' while also using 'target drills' to work on our ground strokes ... forehand and backhand sides. We did another target drill with our approach shot, volley and overhead. We worked on our return of serve and we played three games using each of our cross court ground strokes and a net game with approach shots, volleys and overheads. We started today's session, after the flexibility exercises, with a 'target drill' for our serves.

Read this short piece on the lob ... a tool in your tennis tool box. I underlined the necessary information which isn't more than 4 sentences, so read it and remember it when we practice and or play again.

Oct. 12th, 3 p.m. - Red Bank
Preview | Box Score
(8) Msgr. Donovan ---
(1) Red Bank Catholic ---

Oct. 12th, 3 p.m. - Holmdel
Preview | Box Score
(5) Notre Dame ---
(4) St. John Vianney ---
Oct. 12th, 2 p.m. - Pennsauken
Preview | Box Score
(6) Bishop Ahr ---
(3) Bishop Eustace ---

Oct. 12th, 3 p.m. - Absecon
Preview | Box Score
(7) Paul VI ---
(2) Holy Spirit ---

Elvis Has Left The Building ... And On His Way Out He Promised Sun For Tennis

2010-10-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

Elvis also said that these are two of coach's best tennis videos and that you all must watch them to insure improvement. Elvis loves my blog and he knows his tennis game has improved because of it. Hopefully Elvis is right and there is no rain tomorrow and we can practice.

Doubles Positioning Video - for everyone - doubles is for everyone ... 3min

Tennis History FYI - Beginnings Of Tennis - 1 min

Elvis 1973 - Hawaii Concerts - Music FYI 1 37 sec

Good Practice Today ... A Good Test Tomorrow Against Cherry Hill West

2010-09-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

We had a good and well needed practice today. I feel good about our readiness for our match tomorrow against Cherry Hill West. I believe tomorrow, that both varsity and junior varsity players will have competitive matches against opponents of similar skill level. I am excited for such an opponent, and the opprotunity to compete and polish your tennis skills during match play. We should be ready to leave at 245 and I expect us to be back no latter than 6:00.

Here is one quick video tip. It is about feel, something we all forget about, so here is a reminder. Remembering 'Feel' may help settle your game down and channel your focus when you need it. I know it can give you more power.

Feel Video Tip

Confidence and Shot Tolerance Vid - THE Rain Is Dampening Our Tennis

2010-09-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

Here are two tennis video tips. Each is no more than 1 minute. One is 'singles strategy,' and one is a general tip on confidence. There are good points in each video which we all can benefit from. Do a little each day to improve your tennis game. Thinking about tennis and watching the instructional videos here, is a little something you can do each day to assure improvement. I am sorry that the rain has put a damper on the growth and improvement of our team. We will be back on the court tomorrow, practice will be from 145-415.

Confidence - David Porter

Shot Tolerance - Singles Strategy Vid Tip

The above picture is of Bill Tilden and Suzanne Lenglen, and taken in the 1920's I think. They are two of the all time greats of the sport. Tilden is a UPenn grad and the best American tennis player, of the first half of the 20th century. Lenglen is the greatest French female player of all time.

A Good Ending To Our Week ... With A Win At The Eagles Tennis Nest Against Triton

2010-09-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

A beautiful Friday it once was, and the end week win takes the Lady Eagles to 6-4. Our feet survived a tough test Thursday at Wilson, and for that Nicole got a rest on Friday. We had many good moments during the week and they had nothing to do with wins and loses of matches you played in.

I saw a ton of growth and increased confidence during match play. That is the goal of the season. I am thrilled when I see it and I hope you feel great when you see improvement. I saw it with Sam in her focus while attempting her service toss during the Eustace match. I saw it with Kaitlin, as I caught her 3rd match Saturday, at the Camden County tourney. It was a moment where she was a bit frustrated during the match, when in a moment she found her groove on her serve. She found confidence from her serve ... and then in a flash, she found herself right back in the match, winning the 2nd set and taking it to a 3rd.

We'll keep on working on all the little things next week so we can all grab increased confidence when we succeed using these skills on the court. Think our 'Service Toss Activities.' Click on the picture below. Its John Wooden's 'Pyramid of Success.' One of Wooden's ideas is a time honored coach's cliche. 'The little things make the big things happen.' Its a simple idea and one of many I ascribe to, from Wooden's Pyramid Theory. I think his ideas are priceless, for use in team sports and life. I want you all to read it. Here's another post I did in June on Coach Wooden. http://paulvitennis.blogspot.com/2010/06/video-essays-coach-wooden-pyramid-of.html We will talk about the Pyramid in the near future as rain may throw a money in a wrench.

Zen Video Tip, Today's Ice Tea - AND We Have A Home Match vs. Triton Tomorrow Against Triton ...

2010-09-23T15:27:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow we will have a home match against Triton HS. They will have enough players for us to field 4 more JV doubles teams. I want everyone to come dressed. We will have a short practice from 240-325, right before the start of the match. JV who won't play can stay and or go at this time. I understand. We should be finished the team match by 530. I was alerted to this match by our AD right before our 5-0 win today at Woodrow Wilson HS... so what to say, we know its not on our schedule.

Triton should have a nice squad with competitive matches at all positions. I see them as maybe a small step down from the competition we got from Timber Creek. I expect the JV competition to be equal, with maybe a slight edge to our Eagles. Please get to the courts asap ... so we can get in our normal pre-match practice routine ... footwork, flexibility and strokes.

The above picture is of the ice tea we've been having thus far ... for those who are interested. Today we had that 'Red Mango Tulsi' blended with a little 'Organic Cranberry Herbal Tea' ... I did a blog post on tea and great places in our area you can get HQ Tea, if you are interested ... tea is perfect! http://paulvitennis.blogspot.com/2010/06/ice-tea-recipe-which-i-brought-to-our.html

Ed Tseng is a respected tennis pro from the Princeton area ... listen to his Zen Tip and don't laugh ... please use his advice to to stay focused during our matches ... and even in preparation for a match ... and to help us deal with the ebb and flow of any match we play in ... During a match many points are played and many won and lost by you and your opponent ...

Great Match Against Bishop Eustace = Best Learning Experience Thus Far

2010-09-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

We played this same darn good Eustace squad just two weeks ago. We were at different points of learning and had less polish to our game then we did today. This was another great experience for all of you. I observed each and everyone of our tennis team members taking full advantage of the opportunity to improve their tennis game...AND we all took on the challenge with GOOD ENERGY.

Great attitude from each and everyone of you. It was another beautiful day and once again thanks to the parents who came out to support the team. Below are 2 short '1 min videos' I want you to watch them, and start to see the mental part of the sport. Tracy Austin, one of the all time greats, speaks in the 2nd video. Tracy is 5'4 and never had any huge wepons, but did have a mental toughness that separated her from all other competitors. Tracy Austin won 2 US Opens and is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Tracy is a tennis expert and one of the greatest American tennis players of all time.

What are 4 areas of tennis improvement?

Tracy Austin - Mental Toughness ... listen to what she says about keeping the ball deep and footwork

Great Win Against Winslow Township. And Another Beautiful Day !!!

2010-09-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

We stand today 3-3 fresh off a good win against a game squad from Winslow Township. That was a great way to begin the week. Everyone played great and nearly gave up more than 3 games in any set we played. I see much improvement on everyone's service toss and first serve percentage ... with that 'no doubles faults' goal.

I think Bishop Eustace will give all of us a great test today that I am thrilled to accept. Have fun competing today, don't worry about the score but only worry about the point your playing in the game your in. I hope you have a blast. It'll be another beautiful day to play tennis. Thanks to all the parents who came out yesterday to support the team. I'll see you at the courts at 245 where we'll get a quick warmup in. Bishop Eustace will have a full JV squad and we will all play.

Lindenwold Success First In Play Second in Score

2010-09-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

It was a stunning Friday afternoon and a great moment to play some tennis and feel success in many ways. Once we walked on the court to play our white horse pike foes we were focused and held it throughout our matches. Everyone got out front early, wherein you all settled in nicely and held that focus. AND Everyone got to play and practice all the little things needed to improve our whole tennis game.

Its good to start a match with a dash of discipline. The first game 'feel out.' You wanna take that beginning to look at a small picture of there strong and weak points...Whose the weaker doubles opponent? Are my opponent(s) fast or slow? Which ground stroke is weaker.

Look for those strengths and weaknesses during your warm-up, but concentrate on grooving your strokes first. Hold on to one or two pieces of information you've observed. That first game is where nerves may show the short comings of your opponent's tennis game ... let them make a mistake or two. There are moments during a match where you may be helping or letting your opponent beat themselves.

Here's a short video on what to do when playing in the wind ... please watch it. This is something we'd communicate with our doubles opponent. Thanks to all the parents who came out to show support.

How To Play In The Wind - 1 min video

Doubles And Singles Vid Tips - Lindenwold Tomorrow ... Everyone Will Play

2010-09-16T21:22:00.001-07:00

We had a rain shortened match today that will be completed when we travel to Seneca and play them this season. My Verizon has been down ... and then on and then quickly disconnected. I have been short on email and blog. So here's four ... 2 for singles and 2 for doubles ... thus get this back on track. Please use the weekend to refer back to the vid tips seen below, and spend a moment each day thinking about your tennis game ... we have a match on monday.

I am sorry for the JV who didn't get ... but got washed out by the rain. You will all play on friday. Be out at the courts as soon as you are dressed and ready so we can get in a condensed practice. I will be at the courts by 240. This 'home pre-match' routine is the way we've been doing it for home matches and we will continue as such ... so no matter what curve ball we are thrown, we have spent part of each day this week improving and practicing our service toss, serve, ground strokes from both sides and volleys too.

We should be complete the full varsity and jv match shortly before 6pm.

Singles Strategy - please see the "21" and "12" patterns

Doubles Strategy - Simple Principle To Go By

Momentum Video Tip - Doubles

Return Of Serve Tip - Singles Return of Serve Pattern - We can all get a tiny bit of good info here on why we should move in on a second serve we receive from an opponent

US Open TV Tennis Schedule - 9/11 to 9/12 - Watch Some Tennis

2010-09-11T00:30:00.000-07:00

Here is the TV schedule for the US Open during the semi-finals and finals. I insist you all watch some of it over the weekend. Watch how they hit volleys and overheads. Watch and think a little but enjoy watching the best tennis players in the world. You'll see below you can catch the tennis coverage on 'Tennis Channel,' 'ESPN2' and your 'CBS3.' Women's Final Saturday Night 8pm CBS3. Men's Final Sunday 4pm CBS3.

Sat. 9/11
11 am 12 pm
Breakfast at the Open
Tennis Channel

12 pm-6 pm
Men's Semifinals
CBS

8 pm-10 pm
Women's Final
CBS

11 pm-12 am
US Open Tonight
Tennis Channel

Sun. 9/12
1 pm-3 pm
Women's Doubles Final
ESPN2

4 pm-7 pm
Men's Final
CBS

9 pm-11 pm
SportsCenter at the US Open
ESPN2

11 pm-12 am
US Open Tonight
Tennis Channel

Good Match Today Against Bishop Eustace ... But Great Learning Experience

2010-09-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a great learning experience today against a very good Bishop Eustace team. They will be ranked in the Courier Post top 20, between 4-8. Good competition helps to sharpen your tennis skills which we work on in practice.

I am proud of each one of you for going out there to improve and compete today. I see much talent, who can, with work ... experience confidence and success playing this sport. We're all at various points in the process of improvement as tennis players. By season's end we'll all share the improvement as a team and as individual tennis players.

I hope it was enjoyable as it was a great weather day, a great day to play. See you all tomorrow for our 130-330 tennis practice and we'll work to improve all the little things.

Here are two videos I want you to watch and then use in your tennis game. One is a drill and IMPORTANT explanation on the vital skill of using your knees and getting low to begin to strike the tennis ball. The 2nd video is on the 'volley,' ... about ball placement when you are playing at or near the net and receive a ball at different heights.

GET VERY LOW, BEND YOUR KNESS - Vid Tip

Volley At Different Heights

New Blog Post for Girls Team - Labor Day '10

2010-09-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

This is a a funny ESPN TV commercial with Maria Sharapova. I'll try to have some fun with the blog this season with tennis related stuff. (30 secs video)

Read and watch the short pieces on tennis instruction seen below. These information pieces are always references to things we have gone over at tennis practice or a few points that we will go over in the near future. The learning is important and especially if you are new to the sport. All that is seen her on our blog is meant to be simple to grasp. I believe such visual learning will enhance and quicken you the improvement of your tennis game.

You all had a great first week of practice and I saw much promise and a good degree of effort. I hope you all felt a degree of improvement with the many aspects of sport we worked on together over the last 9 days. I certainly saw some. From our first practice and now with the time we've spend together on the courts. I without a doubt know that each one of you are talented and very capable of success and improvement over the course of the season.

I am excited for the upcoming season's journey. I think we have a very coachable group and I promise to work hard and encourage all of you toward such improvement over the course of the season. I assure you that by season's end you will be thrilled to see how you've improved through the sport of tennis.

I've posted one 2 minute video and three short tips. Watch the first video and think about the fine and gross motor skills you've learned thus far. The gentleman you see in that video is the author of the study '34 Reasons,' that you'll see at the bottom of this introduction piece, just double click on it.

These reasons actually are a simple framework for what we do and talk about everyday in practice. Team members, after they read the '34 reasons' will see the connections, think foot work for one reason/connection. Read the 34 reasons why tennis is a great sport, so to see all that is to gain through this great sport, 'sport for a lifetime.' I think I've said that many times by now.

I posted an easy wrist/hand/forearm exercise here that I'd like you to do, its simple and not strenuous at all. Try one of the three listed, moreover think more stretching work. Strength in these muscles is a good thing for your improving tennis game. Finally see some simple rules of doubles that you should follow.

Hope you and your family are having a happy and relaxing holiday weekend. See you tuesday, 1-3pm.

Fine And Gross Motor Skills

Less Running ... Hip Hip Horray ... Volley Vids ... Please Watch

2010-09-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

I guess I am getting soft in my old age, as I don't like to sweat as much as I once did. I do a bunch of small and large group tennis instruction for most of the summer. By the end of the summer I've spent a good portion of the previous 2 months, and say 5 hours each day covered in sweat.

So you guys won today as we ran less than we normally do. That said I see the upcoming weather forecast wherein today may have been the last of the really hot days of the year. We'll run again and the temperature will be much lower. I promise to toughen up my new soft self.

Please watch the short vids to give you a different and enhanced visual aspect of the learning we've been doing with the Volley. Please email me your challenge match scores and opponents so I have a record of such.

Volley With Your Feet

Volley with your eyes - See Volley Ready position - your base may not be as big as the instructor in the video

Girls Post # 3 Three Short Tennis Video Tips

2010-08-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

See our schedule in the 'Links' section of the blog here. See link below this paragraph too. I'll see all of you at or shortly after 9am on monday for our scrimmage at Haddon Township High School. We should be done shortly after noontime. We'll all return to school where your parents can then pick you up after our individual meetings, no one should be there latter than 130.

www.highschoolsports.net/defaultcal.cfm?ct=s&schoolid=NJ080332150&spt=9&lvl=1&division=2

Paul VI Girls Tennis 2010 Schedule as seen at the website above. It is subject to change due to rain or unforseen conflicts of either school. This may occur once or twice during our season. Please check the blog to see any updates or cancellations, as I will post them here for parents and tennis team members alike. This blog is for both of you.

Monday 8/30 10:00AM @HaddonTownship(scrimmage)
Friday 9/10 3:45PM vs. Woodrow Wilson postponed
Monday 9/13 3:45PM vs. Lenape
Tuesday 9/14 3:45PM vs. Timber Creek
Wednesday 9/15 3:45PM vs. Camden High
Thursday 9/16 3:45PM vs. Seneca
Friday 9/17 3:45PM vs. Lindenwold High School
Monday 9/20 3:45PM vs. Winslow Twp
Tuesday 9/21 3:45PM vs. Bishop Eustace
Thursday 9/23 3:45PM @ Woodrow Wilson
Monday 9/27 3:45PM @ Washington Township
Thursday 9/30 3:45PM vs. Cherry Hill West
Friday 10/1 3:45PM vs. Camden High
Monday 10/4 3:45PM @ Cherokee
Wednesday 10/6 3:45PM @ Seneca
Friday 10/8 3:45PM @ Eastern Regional
Tuesday 10/12 3:45PM @ Cherry Hill East
Wednesday 10/13 3:45PM @ Moorestown Friends
Wednesday 10/20 3:45PM vs. Shawnee High School

Great week ! I hope you all have a safe weekend and do practice your service toss and find a wall or partner to practice your strokes.

Sincerely,
Coach

'Singles Strategy Tips' for our singles players and anyone having to play a challenge match - this is a great general video that those new to tennis can take a few points from that can help them now

Service Toss Tip

This is a blog post I put up here for the boys' team in February. Please watch the video and heed the simple advice. I was thinking about this as I left practice today. Relaxed muscles can help you hit a tennis ball with more power, control and fluidity than tense and constricted muscles that aren't getting air.

Please watch this short clip and listen for the connection between breathing and your muscles when making contact with a tennis ball. This is a fantastic tip. Remember a couple deep breaths though the nose can do wonders for your body, mind and soul. It can help you relax and refocus. Do it as your sitting in a classroom and taking a test. BUT please practice it, even though it may sound goofy, so it starts to become natural when your on the court.

Service Toss Advice and Two Other Short Videos

2010-08-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

See the first video below that further explains to us the importance of the Service Toss. You'll see Brad Gilbert, the same gentleman who's in the video describing the 'toss assist.' The last blog post video. You'll also see a short video on the 'Service Grip' we've been working on. This is the same grip we'll use to volley with. We will get further into the scoring and any other necessary questions relating to match protocol tomorrow.

Service Toss Video

Scoring Of A Tennis Game and History FYI

Service Grip Explained

www.highschoolsports.net/defaultcal.cfm?ct=s&schoolid=NJ080332150&spt=9&lvl=1&division=2 - The Link To Our Fall Schedule

Tennis Training Aids By 'Square Hit Tennis'

2010-08-23T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hey Paul VI Girls Tennis Team Members ...
This is one of my very first posts of the blog seen here. Its about the service toss. If you were with me today you got to use it and the wrist assist ... go to this link http://www.squarehittennis.com/instructionsTA.html ... if you don't want to read the whole post here. You can click on the left, after you click on the link above, to see to short video pieces about the 'Wrist Assist' and the 'Toss Assist.' I decided to take a Flyer and buy them, and after today's experiment with some of you, I see their usefulness.

Those who were with me thanks for being my test run. Those who hadn't used them yet will use them in the near future. BUT I want all of you to watch the video and learn about what important aspects of your tennis game that these aids can help improve. We will be working on those same aspects of your tennis game in practice each and every day this season. The volley is a stroke that the 'Wrist Assist' is particularly useful for. You'll see it instantly.

Good practice and I saw lots of good stuff. BUT We all can do an 8 min mile. I was reminded today that my old high school coach had us do a 2 mile fitness test, and in no more than 16 mins. Which one of our transfer students had the pleasure of taking with him last year. The two mile road run was a blast, even though I may have tried to hide along that route on occasion, to shave 1/4 mile off at the end.

Hey !!! If anyone wants to try a 2 mile fitness test, we could put it to a team vote.

I will email you all tomorrow, an hour before practices starts, if rain appears to be an issue.

Sincerely,
Coach Bo

REPOST - Paul VI Tennis - Service Toss 'How To' - Feb 2010

What is the most important shot, yet hardest to master in the sport of tennis? The Serve. I want you all to visit this you tube site and watch the video there on the service toss. Listen and pick up some necessary tips to improve your service toss. Note why Brad Gilbert thinks the toss is so important.

Brad Gilbert is one of the best in the tennis coaching business, he resurrected Andre Agassi's career in the late 1990's and spent time after that coaching Andy Roddick and Andy Murray, both in the top 10 now. This simple activity was something we did each and everyday of the first part of practice. Gilbert thought it so important that he and his partner invented a teaching aid for that specific reason. To mold it to you muscle memory in the most effective and efficient way.

The advice he gives about the toss is point for point the same as I gave all tennis team members each and every time we practiced such. Many of you didn't seem to like it. I hope this video sways your opinion now of its importance.

Notice the target dot in the video that he uses to practice the toss. Please hear where Brad recommends to start the toss and where to release the toss. Remember put a very little bit of pressure on the ball with the forefinger and thumb of your toss hand. Notice Brad and Venus above holding their toss arm up after the release of the ball. See his eyes and head still held up after the release of the ball. Notice where he holds the tennis ball in his hand. It was great to find this new training aid product, on brad's "square hit" website.

1st Girls Season Blog Post - Why We Run Vid Tip, Grip We'll Use For Serve, Volley, Overhead & Vid Tip On Why Proper Footwear Is Important

2010-08-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

A good practice today, and I'll see you all Monday from 1-3 for the continuation of tryouts. Here's is a short video bit about the need for proper footwear. The last video tip seen here is on the need for aerobic conditioning for tennis. We must all be able to run an 8 min mile. The grip change is something we'll start work on Monday with, so such is a heads up. PLEASE check out the blog and have your parents check it out too as all the information seen on it we'll cover during the course of the season.

Continental Grip ... Bevel 1 ... Eastern Grip Bevel - Right Side ... We are using that same Eastern forehand grip for our backhand also ... we're only using 2 different grips, so to simplify ... notice the circled area on the hand print ... its just a quick shift up or down from that circled point on your hand.

Here are two videos, one on the proper grip for the volley, which is the same grip for the serve and overhead. This was the very first thing I tried to implement in our daily practice routine last season, through our extended practice of the serve.

Notice in the volley video about the contact point and keeping the ball in front of you while still improving your technique. This is something I've always stress when were drilling you on the volley. The second clip is a video is about the need for proper equipment to avoid injury.

Grips and shoes are discussed. Tennis specific shoes have extra side support, that cross trainers and running shoes don't. We have never had an injury, which is a fact that I'm very proud of. KNOCK ON WOOD RIGHT NOW PLEASE!!! That is the central reason I've been tough on your need for the right footwear. Injures to the feet, leg, knee and ankles' are all to common to tennis.

Tennis requires much running with frequent starting and stopping. You do all of this on essentially asphalt, which isn't that soft. Playing tennis for 2+ hours a day without said shoes would put you at an unnecessary risk. I don't want you to get injured !!! How much would and MRI cost due to a tennis injury, then compare that to the cost of a pair of tennis specific shoes? $50-$60 compared to maybe $1000 for the MRI on your ankle to check for ligament damage. Whatever you'd pay I don't know. Safety 1st, 2nd and 3rd !!! I think I remember a teacher once saying that phrase???

'String Theory in Paris' - New York Times Article Reprint

2010-06-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

This new string by Babolat is quite fascinating and now I'm excited to try it out. The article below further explains what all the buzz was about with this new string. Some of you may have heard the announcers reference this new string during the French Open TV coverage. Sam Stosur, this year's French finalist, as seen above, using Babolat new 'RPM Blast' tennis strings. She beat Serena Williams and Justine Henin in succession, that was a first in a major, before losing in the French Finals to Francesca Schiavone, who used the same strings.

I'm not much into strings even though I just started using a popular polyester blend, which had been hyped the past couple years. A 16 gauge synthetic gut has usually been fine with me and my racquet. But upon seeing Robin Solderling, confidently smacking second serves in the 135mph range, in the fifth set of his semi final match in Paris. I thought there could be something to this hype of the increased feel, spin and control that the unique shaped strings offered.

Maybe these new strings helped Robin beat Roger in the quarter-final round. He was 0-12 before that match against him. Roger, Serena and Justine all use Wilson strings and racquets. Technology's affect on tennis is fascinating, as I wonder how Wilson will respond now. I put a short Babolat promo video, at the bottom of this post, with Roddick, Nadal and other pros describing the benefits of the new 'RPM Blast' tennis string.

Francesca Schiavone, kissing the clay after her French Open Final victory, the first time an Italian women has won one of the 4 Grand Slams.

June 3, 2010,
By THOMAS LIN, New York Times

The two long shots Samantha Stosur and Francesca Schiavone stormed to their first Grand Slam singles final on a wave of confidence and underdog grit. But they have something else in common. They both use Babolat’s black, apparently well-named RPM Blast strings, made popular this year by the men’s semifinalist Rafael Nadal.

Babolat’s Web site describes the strings, announced in February, as maximizing spin and feel because of “cross-linked silicone” and “high density co-polyester.” Its octagonal shape may also have something to do with its perceived ability to generate extra spin (RPM = revolutions per minute) and improve control. Nadal, Andy Roddick and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, sponsored by Babolat, all wield this string.

The Sports Illustrated writer S.L. Price described Stosur’s switch to Nadal’s black synthetic string:

With all that, at Roland Garros Stosur also had an edge that is, the last few days, all the talk among equipment geeks. Just after losing to Williams at the 2010 Australian Open, Stosur swapped out her longtime blend of gut and Luxilon — the synthetic string that, for the last few years, enabled pros to hit harder, with more control and spin, than ever before — and replaced it with a new black synthetic from Babolat. That the new string is also used by a revitalized Rafael Nadal, not to mention Francesca Schiavone, the Italian who upended No. 3 Caroline Wozniacki to set up one semifinal against Elena Dementieva, is lost on no one.

One of Wozniaki’s advisers, Sven Groeneveld, sat behind the court for that quarterfinal match Tuesday, watching the straight-hitting Wozniaki get constantly yo-yo’d into the doubles alley by Schiavone’s hyper-rotating shots. By Wednesday morning he had tested the new Babolat strings himself, becoming convinced that the new strings allow for a larger sweet-spot, an even broader grip on the ball — or as Nadal put it, “the ball stays more time on the racket, so is easier to have the control”. Then Groeneveld all but declared them a new state of the art.

Before we start assigning too much credit to a piece of equipment, it’s worth remembering that Roddick, seeded sixth, lost in the third round. Tsonga, seeded eighth, retired in his fourth round match because of injury.

Babolot Promo Video - RPM Blast Tennis String

Video Essays - Coach Wooden, Pyramid Of Success Author, Dies At 99

2010-06-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

An Athletic Director explained to me once that the sports field was the biggest classroom in the school. Please look at the picture below for a second, the pyramid, which you've heard me profess it's virtues many times by now, in practice and here on the blog, over how ever many seasons. This has been my guide, as not only a teacher here, on the tennis court, but really a map which I hope you can draw guidance from, and see it's human values as a simple connection to both life and sport and inspire you to strive for success in both.

One quote, that you'll see in the pyramid below, which I particularly love, "The little things, make the big things happen," was one I often referenced, during our tennis season(s). Now think about our service toss practice, and how many times we practiced it, as one example. His two convergent theories, 'The Pyramid of Success,' and 'Twelve Lessons In Leadership,' intertwine life and sport. The 12 points are noted below in the pyramid in the picture. Maybe watch the first video than come back and read my piece here.

Sadly, Coach Wooden died last night at age 99. An amazing life span lived by an amazing person. The two short videos below are now being shown over and over again on ESPN in light of his death. Your sure to hear about his passing on the TV this weekend. Enjoy the videos and see why he was so special and you'll gain a further understanding of the substance and importance of Coach Wooden.

Coach Wooden and his famous pyramid were simple truths which he idealized to encourage life successes and growth with team sport as metaphor. He took 14 years to ferment and distill his ideas, wherein he carefully arranged and coordinated his best ones to act as support blocks within the shape of a pyramid, which symbolically pointed to success for the individual and team.

Coach Wooden hoped all his pupils accepted and try to embody the virtues contained in the pyramid. His team speeches would often start with one word from the pyramid. It now seems the staying power and strength of those speeches is attributed to the simplicity of those words which you see in, and outside of the pyramid. Coach Wooden used these same words as individual building blocks for whatever the subject of that particular speech might have been about on. Think a coach giving a pep talk at halftime, where Coach would use one of said words and talk about its meaning, characteristics and maybe give real life examples of such.

He hoped that his players would carry these same virtues off the basketball court and into their lives. The video essays by his former pupils will support this statement. The teachings of the pyramid did stay with them and continued to strengthen their moral fiber as they journeyed into adulthood. The pyramid continues to influence and shape their lives, and even their families lives to this day. The pyramid is dynamic and the more I look at it, and read it, the more fascinating and thought provoking it becomes. Its' complexities and possible adaptations appear to be many. You could use to achieve success in the business world for sure.

For example look at the pyramid from a slightly different perspective. You then identify an individual with a block. Wherein each pyramid block needs the other for support, as each teammate needs each other for the team to thrive. Wrapped within this is the individual always striving to improve and reach the top and the betterment of himself and the team.

If this support and competition naturally exist within a team, then the team can do nothing but succeed. The team's success, often tied to wins, but mostly the team member's growth and improvement occurs organically, if they use the pyramid as a guide for improvement on the tennis court or in the classroom. Winning has always taken a back seat in Wooden's theories, wherein the strive to win really is the never ending journey towards improvement. That we all should appreciate those moments of improvement within the journey. "Success is the piece of mind in knowing that you made the effort to be the best that you are capable of being." (Wooden quote)

In his pyramid winning is secondary to preparation, wherein preparation points to winning. The top of the pyramid. This is why I feel strongly about practice and the time we spend preparing in various ways. One of Coach Wooden's sayings is, "failing to prepare is preparing to fail." If I as your coach and you as the athlete are always striving to learn more and better prepare our athletic craft in partnership, then winning to some degree will happen. We will all improve, and it can never and should never be wholly defined by wins and loses.

If you look at the middle block of the pyramid you'll see it contains the word, "Skill." Under "Skill," it states, "what a leader learns after he's learned it all is what matter most. I see this to define the role of the coach. That no matter how much knowledge I have as teacher of whatever it is that I am called to teach, moreover I must continue to challenge myself to learn more and improve my ability to teach all.

Coach Wooden really had been working on his theories, and their arrangement, since childhood, inspired by the teachings of his father, a struggling farmer from rural Indiana. He wanted to take his father's faith, influence and ideas and adapt them in his own way, to assist his adolescent desire to find success on the basketball court. Basketball is now and was then king in Indiana, where Coach Wooden grew up during the depression. The pyramid was the formula he eventually came up with many years latter, as he transitioned from player to coach.

Though he has passed, his pyramid will live on through the Paul VI tennis teams and countless other athletic teams at various levels, but really anyone striving to be a better person, who may or may not play a sport. I am forever grateful that I learned of him and his wisdom so many years ago. Back then, when I was a junior in high school, I was only an athlete with no inkling I'd ever be a coach. I just knew of his UCLA teams, and their record 10 NCAA national championships, by watching ESPN specials. However his pyramid, when it was first described there, seemed like such a logical connection between sport and life. I had heard other youth coaches make the parallel between life and sport often, so now I was quite intrigued in my newly discovered 'sports theory.'

There were a few ideas within the pyramid that I already knew of and believed to be true, but how the connections were made and shaped in a singular working theory fascinated me. I went to the library to read further, as I always loved books on any and every sport. I took away a few points from this reading that have stuck with me ever since.

That the experience of athletic practice and competition, contained so many possibilities for individual and team growth, beyond winning or losing. When you can teach yourself to give up both you gain a feeling and freedom that is priceless. That a new path is possible and there is no end to it, and fear(losing) has been removed as a road block in journey. I NOW, many years latter, meet this challenge anew as coach. It is crazy where life can lead you, without you even knowing it at the time, as all of this is just an extension of my childhood love of anything sports related. I still have it and now I can put it to use here, as your tennis coach.

Thankfully I will have his pyramid to help guide my improvement as a teacher and coach each and everyday. I also hope I can continue to grow in using his inspiration in order to have a positive effect on anyone I come in contact with through tennis.

Wooden Video Obituary - You can't miss the pyramids, as images shown in the backround, as persons are interviewed about Coach Wooden.

William Nack - Senior Writer Sports Illustrated -
Video Essay on Coach Wooden

A Cool Gatorade Commercial - directed by Spike Lee - a poem read by John Wooden with Michael Jordon and other college basketball images

2010 Olympic Conference National Division Tee Shirts, Hoodies and Jackets Are Available For Purchase

2010-06-04T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hey all you Olympic Conference Tennis Champions, parents and team members. These are the images from the jacket and tee shirt. The Tee Shirt(PVI logo pic) will note, "2010 Olympic Conference National Division Champions," On it. Mr Burns has been quite kind to take the time and locate a athletic apparel company in Sewell, NJ who can produce such Tee Shirts, Hoodies and Jackets for anyone who wants to purchase and have as a great memento. We've earned this honor, to wear such posh apparel by the great season and 5-1 record we had in the National Division.

Its kind of cool to think that we are in the same company as Cherry Hill East(American Division) and Shawnee(Patriot Division) as 2010 Boys Tennis Conference Champions. Remember that this is the first time in 15 years that a boys tennis team could call them selves 'Champions.'

I think you would all look quite cool sporting such threads around PVI, and your athletic and academic peers will know that you were a member of a select few that walk your PVI halls this year. Everyone who buys such will look quite hip.

Mr Burns and I talked and we both agreed that we hope and want our tennis team parents, and even your grandmother in Florida, to buy any piece of apparel too. I really hope our team parents will make a purchase. All the parents who supported the team this year were a necessary part of our success equation, thus you all deserve and would look great in something that said 'Champions.'

Here's the letter that Mr Burns wrote to me as I know he sent you all an email too.
The price list he gave me is below. I hope to see you all at the June 9th spring sports banquet.

I think you'll all be happy to hear that I specifically requested all the tennis tables get fresh Maine lobsters and specially aged Porterhouse steaks for dinner. Mr Burns agreed that this was a great idea and a deserved treat for winning the conference. It appears he loves a good surf and turf as much as I do, and now we'll all get that same pleasure at the banquet. I want to thank Mr Mitchell who has assured me that our request will be obliged, and only because it took 15 years for another number to be place on our banner in the gym. The others PVI parents and athletes who are being served chicken may not like us, but I won't mind if you don't. My mouth is watering already, mmmm!!!

To All,

I case you didn't have a chance to check out Coach's blog recently, I stopped by MBM Sports and got a quote for the Tee-shirts, hooded sweatshirts and jackets.

The tee-shirt is gray with a PVI logo on the left front and on the back center "2010 Olympic Conference National Division Champions"

The hooded sweatshirt is navy with a PVI logo on the left front and on the back center "2010 Olympic Conference National Division Champions"

The jacket is made by Holloway and is a warm-up jacket embroidered with PVI Tennis on the front and "2010 Olympic Conference National Division Champions" on the back.

If we order 20 to 24 of the tee-shirts/sweatshirts, the tee-shirt will cost $12.25 a piece and the hooded sweatshirt will cost $24.50. The cost goes down the more we order. The Holloway turbo jacket cost is $54.50 (if we order 6 or more).

If you order all three, the total cost would be approximately $91.25.

MBM Sports will accept any form of payment (including checks). Parents can make the checks out to MBM Sports. They said it will take 10-14 days from the time of order to the time they are done.

Please email me what you want to order as soon as possible. You can give your order/check to me on Wednesday at the Sport's Banquet or mail it to me at 34 Daytona Ave, Sewell, NJ 08080.

If you have any question please email me at - jimburns@att.blackberry.net

Thanks,
Jim Burns

French Open FYI - The Red Clay Is A Needed Disguise

2010-06-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a great article from the NY Times that I cut and pasted here because I love the French Open and the red clay they play on. There's an art form to keeping clay courts at its best for tennis play, as you'll read and see here. Do watch the French Open Finals, women's - Saturday at 9am on NBC 10, and men's - Sunday 9am on NBC 10. Its great tennis, enjoy!!!

New York Times Article - May 31, 2010 - John Branch

PARIS — It really is not red clay. The famous courts of the French Open are white limestone, frosted with a few millimeters of powdered red brick dust. This was evident as Bruno Slastan, second in command of court maintenance at Roland Garros, scraped the surface of Court Suzanne Lenglen with his shoe. With a few swipes, the reddish powder gave way and revealed a firm white base below. (See the profile of what makes up this red clay surface in the picture to the right)

The “brick broken,” as Slastan, a Frenchman, gamely explained in English, is a cover-up, applied for three reasons. It keeps the otherwise white courts from blinding players and fans. It allows the players to move and slide. And it looks cool. In other words, the beauty of the Roland Garros courts is only skin deep.

It is created by a powder with the look and feel of ground cinnamon. For 20 euros (about $24) at the souvenir stands, fans can buy a flacon de terre battue — a glass, bell-shaped flask filled with a few ounces of pulverized brick from a factory about 60 miles north of Paris.

Roland Garros estimates that it uses 99,000 pounds of the crushed brick each year on the courts. All those tons are spread to about the depth of a tenth of an inch across 20 courts. Each of the courts, including the surface surrounding them, measures nearly 10,000 square feet.

Every morning during the tournament, the courts are dusted again, ever so lightly. Much of it ends up in that night’s laundry, especially on the players’ socks. But the crushed brick is just deep enough to allow footprints and, quite helpfully, ball marks. It is shallow enough not to make the court too spongy or slippery, or to allow all of the powder to accumulate into tiny piles that could affect the way the ball bounces.

“With one millimeter, if you slide, you see the white limestone,” Slastan said. “But with a few millimeters, you don’t see the white limestone on the television.”

Before matches and between sets, a couple of workers smooth the red surface by dragging rectangular swatches of chain-link across the surface, a quick fix commonly used on baseball infields. Other workers hurriedly sweep the dust from the white lines. The result is a satisfying dress-up, like a just-vacuumed carpet.

By the end of a set, the baseline areas are trampled from the foot traffic. There is a worn line on either side of the net where the ball boys and girls zipped back and forth. The space between the net and the baseline is a Pollock rendering of the recent action.

Tennis began as a lawn game in England. But in warmer, drier climates, grass courts are not practical. “It’s too hot,” Slastan said. “In England, it is raining very long.”

Most courts at Roland Garros are constructed of several layers of materials, about three feet deep. Most of that is filled with small stones topped with smaller gravel. (The two main show courts and three other courts are built on slabs of concrete, topped with a thick layer of sand.) The base is topped with a six-inch layer of volcanic rock and three inches of porous limestone.

Drainage is the reason play after a rain delay can begin just minutes after the tarps are pulled. “All clay courts are different,” Venus Williams said. “None play the same. This one plays the best.”

Each April, a tractor churns the limestone, like plowing a field. The limestone on Court 11 has been there 20 years, Slastan said, but the other courts received fresh limestone about 12 years ago. Over time, it takes on a pink hue as it mixes with what is left of the previous year’s crushed brick. The courts are pressed back into shape with rollers and exacting planes. For a day, they are white.

But about a ton of the crushed brick is pressed onto the surface of each court with rollers, then drenched in water. The process is repeated several times until a thin, compact layer of red frosting tops each court.

Lines are measured and scraped out of the red surface, down to the limestone, and then painted white with the same type of thick paint used on roads. Getting all the courts ready takes about a month. When the French Open begins, four workers (six on the show courts) are assigned to the care of each court.

At the end of each day’s play, the courts are doused in water, then covered for the night. The limestone can dry and crack if allowed to simply bake day after day, Slastan said. During the first few days of this year’s French Open, the courts were dry and played fast, but rain and cooler weather slowed the action.
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Early each morning, long before the crowds arrive, 55 pounds of crushed brick, packaged in a plastic bag like topsoil, is spread evenly around the court. The courts were pristine and ready on a recent morning.

A couple of players and coaches came to practice at Lenglen Court. Slastan spotted an enemy of his handiwork a specific style of shoe that, he said, scrapes the court’s surface more than others. He watched with a bit of resignation as the players dug up his handwork.
“They attack,” he said.

Ice Tea FYI And Recipe Which I Made For Our Matches

2010-06-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

I am certain you are all missing your fix of White-Pomegranate Ice Tea. Tea of any type, be it Oolong, Rooibos, Green, White and Black has a ton of great health benefits and some scientific evidence now points to cancer prevention.

Tea has long been know for being high in antioxidants that can strengthen your immune system and fight off any number of infections. You'll even read, if you double click the article/picture to the left, that tea can lower your cholesterol. Combine that with the simple experience of a flavorful cup of any variety you desire, its easy to see that tea is an amazing beverage.

I see regular tea consumption as a form of preventive health maintenance, but if your under the weather drink much green tea and water. The enclosed article will give you some more information to that point. Most teas have some caffine, with White and Rooibos having none, but such is far less than coffee and most sodas have. I love Ice Tea and especially as it gets hot out.

Wegman's Market has a excellent tea section, which is the largest in our area. I am a big fan of Wegman's whole leaf teas, many of them are organic, which you'll see in large metal tins there. These whole leaf teas are even cheaper than their other packaged teas. I listed some places below where you can get whole leaf tea and other necessities for brewing.

Whole leaf tea is better and more beneficial than bag tea, and their is scientific research to this point. I use a mesh strainer to help make the tea and remove the leaves. Wegman's has disposable tea bags in their teas section, right below the metal tins containing the loose tea. These bags make is easier to brew a bigger batch for ice tea, and simplifies the clean-up. I wrote a couple of emails to their corporate HQ's in Rochester, NY requesting these disposable tea bags. You can also get these same bags at Target for cheaper.

There are tea making instructions on the bags you use to purchase their whole leaf teas. Please remember to always follow the instructions about temperature, steep time and amount of tea leaves used per 8 ounces of water. These specifics are important to making the tea taste right, and not overdone,bitter or burnt. Tea bags usually have a teaspoon of chopped or broken tea leaves in them. But all tea is good, and surely better than a Mountain Dew or even a Red Bull.

I always used organic unprocessed sugar to sweeten our ice tea. I feel strongly that organic sugar is far better for you than regular processed sugar. Processed sugar is in almost everything we eat. I also think that we and maybe you have far too much bad sugar, which is in much of the foods we eat but mainly the garbage sodas that I am even guilty of on occasion.

My ice tea not only had all the great benefits that tea offers you, but Pomegranate(fruit) is a 'Super Food' and does wonders for you to. I hope you enjoyed the ice tea these past two seasons, and it made you think of a simple way to kind of eat healthier. I'll make some different teas' next year, more whole leaf oolong and green tea.

Think about eating good sugars more which come in the form of blueberries, apples and oranges. Eat more WHOLE FRUITS. There is sugar in these fruits and they TASTE SWEET. Please remind yourself of that fact once in a while. I'd recommend to spend some time in the summer learning how to cook, as this will give you a whole new perspective and appreciation for food and what you put into your body. Remember no good tennis player could fuel their body with soda and chips and expect it to do anything but harm there physical and mental performance during practice or competition.

Eating healthier is not just a fad, its something your parents do and something you'll all do more of the older you get, if you don't already. There is more information available to us about the ingredients in our foods. I think it helps all of us, including athletes live healthier and more productive lives, as it gets harder to ignore how many health issues can occur through food and diet.

As you get older and more thoughtful about your diet, do think and understand more about how much bad stuff you may put in your body on a daily basis. I'd say to you to please think of more ways that you can make or find something that may be tasty and or sweet, but not have say high fructose corn syrup in it. Get into good dietary habits now by being a little more thoughtful each and everyday about the accumulation of things you put in your body on a daily basis.

High Fuctose Corn Syrup is a very, very, very bad ingredient that is in way to many things we eat and drink, and it is the main ingredient in all sodas. It's even found to a lesser extent in some bread and many other foods we eat. Remember these sodas we drink (coke,pepsi)could be used as a paint stripper, now imagine what it does to your stomach. Try pouring it on an old piece of painted wood and lay it in the sun for a couple hours and see what happens. Maybe even try to clean that soda stain off with some soap and water and see how hard that is. Its and eye opening experience for sure.

I love this cold brewing method you see to the left.

Other places in our area that have good tea sections are:
Asian Food Market
100 Barclay Walk
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-2108
(856) 857-1388

Han-Ah-Reum Asian Market - in Danzizen & Quigley's shopping center
1720 Marlton Pike E
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003-2301
(856) 751-6659

Teavana‎ - Cherry Hill Mall, go through Nordstrom's into the mall, a bit to the left
2000 Route 38
Cherry Hill, NJ‎
(856) 663-3380‎
www.teavana.com
this is a great specialty tea store that sells much loose tea and brewing supplies

Mulberry Tea House‎ - An authentic English tea room experience
60 South Main Street
Medford, NJ‎
(609) 714-0640‎
www.themulberryteahouse.com

TBar - and if your in Philly, this and the one below are excellent tea bars
117 South 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA‎
(215) 625-3936‎
www.tbarteas.com

Premium Steep
111 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA‎
(215) 568-2920‎
www.premiumsteap.com
'Holy Detox' one of their signature herbal teas, with Tulsi (holy basil). This chai style blend is awesome as it seems to simply attack any sickness or cold i've had. I swear by it and its their best selling tea for this reason as others concur. It's perfect for ice tea to, with lemon myrtle, rose hips and spearmint. Click here to learn more about Tulsi, its a facinating herbal remedy.

www.hinduism.about.com/od/ayurveda/a/tulsibenefits.htm

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

2010-05-30T23:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

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 !!!