Words cannot begin to describe what debt of gratitude I owe to the game of Tennis. Some of my fondest memories as a child were when I was chasing a tennis ball around public tennis courts with my brothers and sister. I first learned this game at Tacoma playground, a public recreation center in Washington DC. My brothers and sister, Dad and I would go there to chase tennis balls when I was first able to walk. My first thought was what is this all about. Funny that I still harbor those same feelings about the game
When I grew up, Takoma Park was a home of tennis player of all walks, all races, ages, even a disable colleague of my fathers. I remember one player would come with his rainbow dyed colored balls. There was a sense of community and sharing that had a tremendous impact on my developmental years. When I was nine years old I was referred to in a Washington Post Style section article News to ME…Scottie Lanahan, “Tennis for Everyone Is Their Racket” regarding children learning to play tennis. Tennis is was just beginning to shift from country clubs to public courts
Interestingly, today the politics and money have not fully promoted the message to the public of the opportunities this game for life provides. Besides the physical exercise, tennis provides a wonderful excuse to meet new people, travel, share stories and incredible benefits tennis provides.
Back in mid 1990’s, I had the honor of taking my mentor’s trophies up to the International Hall of Fame. For a quarter of a century I have had the honor to work with and become great friends with World Champion Pauline Betz Addie. Walking in the Tennis Hall of Fame with a huge Forest Hill trophy, I asked the receptionist, “I bought this at a thrift shop. Is it worth anything?”
The folks at the Hall of Fame we wonderful and game me a personalized tour of the museum. I got see many of all the magnificent people I have meet, ball boyed and even played exhibitions with. After this memorable tour I commented to the historian, “You have left out an important part in your collection. Tennis was not always a game of the selected few. There are many world champions who grew up playing at public not private facilities. This museum could celebrate the advent of public tennis revolution.
Tennis is a game the goes beyond the “me” mentality to the “we” mindset to share to a larger segment of people of all walks this game for life. This is a game for life with many happy returns. This is a wonderful sport since the more you give it the more it returns back to you just like a backboard
Words cannot begin to describe what debt of gratitude I owe to the game of Tennis. Some of my fondest memories as a child were when I was chasing a tennis ball around public tennis courts with my brothers and sister. I first learned this game at Takoma playground, a public recreation center in Washington DC. My brothers and sister, Dad and I would go there to chase tennis balls when I was first able to walk. My first thought was what is this all about. Funny that I still harbor those same feelings about the game
When I grew up, Takoma Park was a home of tennis player of all walks, all races, ages, even a disable colleague of my fathers. I remember one player would come with his rainbow dyed colored balls. There was a sense of community and sharing that had a tremendous impact on my developmental years. When I was nine years old I was referred to in a Washington Post Style section article News to ME…Scottie Lanahan, “Tennis for Everyone Is Their Racket” regarding children learning to play tennis. Tennis is was just beginning to shift from country clubs to public courts
Interestingly, today the politics and money have not fully promoted the message to the public of the opportunities this game for life provides. Besides the physical exercise, tennis provides a wonderful excuse to meet new people, travel, share stories and incredible benefits tennis provides.
Back in mid 1990’s, I had the honor of taking my mentor’s trophies up to the International Hall of Fame. For a quarter of a century I have had the honor to work with and become great friends with World Champion Pauline Betz Addie. Walking in the Tennis Hall of Fame with a huge Forest Hill trophy, I asked the receptionist, “I bought this at a thrift shop. Is it worth anything?”
The folks at the Hall of Fame we wonderful and game me a personalized tour of the museum. I got see many of all the magnificent people I have meet, ball boyed and even played exhibitions with. After this memorable tour I commented to the historian, “You have left out an important part in your collection. Tennis was not always a game of the selected few. There are many world champions who grew up playing at public not private facilities. This museum could celebrate the advent of public tennis revolution.
Tennis is a game the goes beyond the “me” mentality to the “we” mindset to share to a larger segment of people of all walks this game for life. This is a game for life with many happy returns. This is a wonderful sport since the more you give it the more it returns back to you just like a backboard.
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