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Articles and photos from LTA's chief traveler and super senior champion, Rita Price
October 2005
10/18/05 Hello from Chris Gartner's pad in Istanbul. It's like a tale out of the Arabian Nights. What a kick! Chris and I reminisced about his days at Mt. Vernon and on the tennis courts. He remembers –and spoke kindly of- all of you. Tomorrow I’ll get a look at the Maltese Falcon (the sailboat that Chris is building), perhaps play some mixed doubles and then off to tour Istanbul. I cannot believe I'm really here!
10/19/05
The Maltese (Chris’ sailboat currently under construction) is coming along beautifully. We climbed four
decks to watch the men working on it. The steel hull is sleek and jet black shiny and you can see your reflection in it up
close. It's a dream world to view the cabins and see how the other half lives. Can’t wait to see it launched.
10/20/05 More on Istanbul: We had dinner at a marvelous five-star restaurant atop the Galata Tower with Chris, his top
engineer, Jed, and Anne, Jed's mom. The room was filled with people from all over the world, each table showing flags
of the nations. We had a view of Istanbul all aglow. The opening performance, folk dancing men and women with the
belly dancer stealing the spotlight, only to be upstaged by a portly Turkish singer who regaled the audience with songs
from each represented nation. Sinatra's "My Way" was for the U S folks and Hazlik, the singer, held the mike in front
of me for the last few bars. I belted out the song's title words for the finale receiving a roaring applause from the crowd.
Next, Hazlik went into his rendition of Sachmo's "Hello Dolly" but when he got to the last song, N.Y. N.Y., I bolted at
his bidding and together we sang the chorus and ended the show with a bang! We left the place at midnight but I
couldn't sleep until 4 am. What a Ham, I am! But, what a kick in the pants! I could not have had a better ending to
what I deem to be four days in Paradise, in Istanbul.
10-21-05
Flying down to Antalya today where I'll play in the World Championship Tournament. The tournament will
feature ages 60 to 80 for men and 60 to 75 for women. I hope to find time to take a tour of Ephesus during my trip.
Gotta go…
10-25-05
Whew! Just beat the #4 seed from Hungary in a 10-point tie breaker (10-2). Lots of scrambling to drop shots
and lobbing overhead on both sides. I'll probably be bounced by Olga Mahaney, the second singles player from the
U S, so will most likely be dancing tomorrow night. The flora here at the club is glorious, but it's the culture and the
people, both the natives and the friends with whom I played in Porschach that made my visit a real dream. Life is
GOOD! Thanks for listening and for being such a positive presence at this time in my old life. Ciao Rita
JULY 2005
League season is in full swing and our Super Senior Team (2004 winners) just back from Kansas and made it to the semis losing in two tie breakers. Had a blast driving with the gals and the Kansans showed us a great time at the banquet held in a huge convention center in Overland, Kansas. Nine piece band with a great jazz singer ( in her 80's) belted out old tunes. It was a tournament for men and women, so the dance floor was filled with couples swinging, twisting, bunny hopping (ladies in poodle skirts) and lots of prizes and delicious dinner finishing with tiramisu, a chocolate delight!
L to R: Maralyn Negley, Bonnie Champion, Jannet Canfield, Jan Ford, Jimmie Crabb, Barbara Toby, Rita Price, Joyce Smink, Rosalie Dinenbereg
Semis and finals moved over to the "show me" state. Tennis Center is cradled in the famous Plaza with a bell tower in Spanish Architecture whose sounds rang out on the quarter hour. Had lunch at the Cheese Factory: divine avocado egg rolls with a tart dipping sauce, huge green salad, veggie sandwich with eggplant, peppers, onions, stir fried in an aoli sauce topping off the meal.
No room for those enormous desserts, but all in all we had a ball! Nuf said. Off to Kansas end of the month into June for the second National without my team mates. Just received a letter from USTA and our president of the National Senior Women's Tennis Association stating that I am being "considered" for the Cup Team (75 and over) headed to Antalya, Turkey in October all expenses paid by the USTA. Keep your fingers crossed that I compete well in Kansas Indoor National which will be important to the nominating committee. Love Rita.
June 2005
The USTA Women's 65 - 75 - 85 National Indoor Championships was held May 31 - June 5, 2005. It was a solo drive over the flatlands for this reporter and not nearly as much fun as the drive with my Super Senior Team several weeks earlier. Hope you took a look at the photo Bob Lesher put on the website of our team, captained by Jan Ford, who is in Pittsburg at the Senior Olympics, playing mixed doubles in the 75's with Warren Foltz and ladies doubles with Barbara Tobey.
Once again the hostesses at the Kansas National Championships, brought the players delicious lunches three days during the early part of the tournament. Speaking of good food, you might try the avocado eggrolls at the Cheesecake Factory which comes second to those Kansas cook's wonderful homemade BBQ Brisket, Pastas, Salads, and Scrumptiuos Desserts. Love those luscious lemon bars!
OK, enough, how about tennis. Dodo Cheney, at 89 years young this year, captured another two gold balls in singles and doubles and won a few more dollars at the bridge table suckering in a few Kansans. Denver's, Katie Koontz and partner, Norma Veal, seeded number one, almost lost the third set, but managed to come from behind to start their bid for another grand slam in 2005. Two more nationals to go, on grass in Philly, and hard courts in Folsom, California. You know the place that houses that prison.
In my age bracket, it was as Seinfeld's George Castanza would say "Even Stephen". I took fourth in singles and doubles. I should have kept my mouth shut while waiting my turn at the rest room. I told the ladies occupying the two stalls: "Hurry it along folks, flush fast, wer'e on"! My opponent, numero uno in the world, Louise Russ, flew out uttering in jest, I think, "I'll flush YOU out"! And indeed doggone it, she did! It was the semis, and we had a judge calling the score.
I managed a great deep lob in the corner which got me the one and only game of the match. She complimented me after the match, pointing out that there was only one game she won at 40-0. The judge said he enjoyed the match and some of the audience admired my "attitude" because I found humour in some of the looney shots I returned, even though I couldn't put enough topspin to lift her weird slices. I then lost to my partner who captured her first bronze of this year. I've sent a photo of the before match with Russ, and "after" the match for the bronze with my partner, Jane Lutz, at the bar. It's back to the drawing board, before the next national on grass in Philly.
Wish me luck on making the "Queen's Cup" team going to Antalya, Turkey in mid October, all expenses paid by USTA. At this point, looking at my ranking on the internet, it is rather "iffy", because of my preliminary singles ranking at number five. Doubles alone, I'm third in the nation, even though I've played with four different partners. They rank you alone for doubles and then with your individual partners. As one of my friends pointed out, if they make the decision on "enthusiasm for the game" your'e a cinch to make it. More later.
Ciao rita
May 2005
Subject: News from Kansas National
Sixteen USTA Sections of men and women, of various levels, competed in the Super Senior (60 and Over) Nationals in Kansas May 13-15. There were three flights of four teams competing against Jan Ford's 3.5 Super Senior Team. The winner of each flight plus a lucky loser from one flight were in contention to make the semis on Sunday! Pouring rain on the first day, forced the Director to move us indoors where we had to play an 8 game pro set. We beat Hawaii 3-0 first round! Yeh! We lost to Northern Pacific 1-2 second round. Phooey! Then the sun shone and we moved outdoors with regular scoring on Saturday. Took it to the Lone Star State with a 2-1 win, followed by a second win against Missouri Valley (Kansas) 2-1. Guess what? Mo. Valley beat Northern Pac.
I love it, I love it! It was a 3 way tie and the winner of all the flights would be announced at the banquet that night at the Overland Kansas Convention Center.
From former experiences Joyce suggested that the meal would either be road kill, or greying chicken, but we all went anyway ...
...snip...
... veggies, two kinds of pastas, one red with meat sauce and one in white sauce with broccoli and mushrooms and bread sticks.
Couples danced to a nine piece swing band with an 80 year old famous jazz singer (and former tennis player) Ruth Rhoden. Bonnie Champion and I entered the twist contest, and the poodle skirt brigade led the Bunny Hop. Prizes were distrubuted to lucky winners and then came the announcement of winners from each flight! Lakewood won the 3 way tie with, would you believe? ONE LESS SET LOST!! There were 158 matches played thus far with 474 cans of balls, so our Lakewood Team "captured the brass ring" don't you think?? OK- Sunday the tournament moved to the "Show Me State", Mo. Kansas at the Tennis Center cradled in the famous Plaza built in 1922 by J.C. Nichols. The Tennis Center courts are adjacent to the Giralda Tower, a smaller replica of the one in Sevelle, with its carillon bells that chime every quarter hour. I loved watching doves fly over the courts and listening to the bells, but I think it threw a few players off their game. We lost in the semis in two tie breakers to Southwest from another flight, who were then defeated by a lucky loser team "The South Rose Again " Southern! The Plaza is an outdoor museum featuring myriad sculptures, fountains, and murals plus fabulous shopping places and restuarants. I hope to get a few photos off to Bob who might put them on the website.
Ciao
March 2005
Former Lakewood Tennis Association member, Blake Bennett's baby, Bryce arrived February 8th, 2005 and all are doing fine! See Mirella for photos. Teresa Stochel, the Polish tennis player who entered the Polonia Open in West Palm Beach won the singles and mixed doubles! Way to go Teresa! Big upsets at the Houston Clay Court National Tournament for the 75 and 85 age brackets.
The tournament ran from February 28-March 6th. In the 75 age bracket, Betty Eisenstein (she'll be 82 in December) took out a grand slam winner and numero uno in the world, Louse Russ, in the quarterfinals, then the number third seed, Olga Mahaney, in the semis. It was a dreary, drizzly sunday morning when the finals in both 75 and 85 was scheduled to go side by side for good viewing. Eisenstein, number fifth seed, faced Louise Owen the number two seed. Her drop shots were too good for Owen who lost the first set 4-6. Second set, Owen got to the drop shots and maneuvered just back of the service area to volley winners back at the octegenarian. During the split, I met Betty in the lady's room and she confided that she had "run out of steam". Guess taking out Russ and Mahaney took their toll, but a remarkable road to the silver ball winner. Betty is number one in the 80's. This hacker has her work cut out for next year when I'm certain to meet her in the 80's on the clay in Mississippi's Diamond Head Tournament!
Now to the 85's: whose final match featured world famous Hall of Famer, Dodo Cheney in her almost 89th year (this Sept.), facing her opponent, newcomer to the 85's, Mary Mentzer. At the Checket Cup last month Dodo took out Mary Mentzer 6-3, 6-3. Since the Checket Cup was a Catagory II tournament only money and a bouqet of flowers was presented to the players. It took Mary three sets to oust Dodo winning her first gold ball! That is remarkable, don't you think, when one considers that League Players in the 50 and 60 ages play a ten point tie breaker for the third set?
My partner, Eva Barbiero and I seeded 4th took out the 3rd seeds to take the bronze and in singles Eva beat me in the round of 16, so I did manage to get to the finals in consolation rounds to win over the number 8th seed. I was seeded #9. There were 35 singles players and 20 doubles teams in this first National Event! All you need is a USTA card and a passion for this great game of tennis to join me and other players from Colorado. Try it! You'll like it??? Ciao rita
February 2005
The Checket Cup Tournament
held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in February 2-6 , 2005 featured the "5's: that is players aged 35,45,55,65,75,and 85 competing in singles and doubles on green clay under one cloudy, drizzly, day in Florida when Denver's temperatures hit a balmy 70 degrees, as reported to me from Lakewood's Bonnie Champion via Marvin who stayed home this trip.
In spite of the weather on that one dreary day, the tennis was superb, (especially the young ones), hospitality friendly, and food priced right and delicious. It's a wonderful place for singles who can pick up games easily and in some cases partners in life, as well.
My Canadian partner Eva Barbiero and I spent a few days in Naples to get used to each other's game in preparation for the tournament in Ft. Lauderdale as well as the first National Claycourt Tournament in Houston February 28-March 6th. At the Checket Cup, we made it to the finals in doubles, but ran into the "numero uno double's player's in the world": the( 2 ) Louises-Owens and Russ, who wiped us off the court at 6-1, 6-1. How humbling can that be? However, the prize money for making it to the finals in doubles and quarterfinals in singles more than made up for the $110 entry fee, and put a smile on our faces. Picture (LEFT) of the world's most famous octegenarian who still wins at 88 years young going on 89 in September-Dodo Cheney and her partner Jean Selvig. I met a young player (45) (PHOTO RIGHT) who had just flown in from Cracow, Poland and after competing in Ft. Lauderdale was going to that posh place in Florida: West Palm Beach to play in the "Polish Open" would you believe?
A final evening spent in Naples, Florida with my hostess, Gina Reed, was fitting for this "old ham". Gina belongs to Naples Opera Society, so off we went to a performance of Viva Italia at the Norris Center. Towards the end of the performance the soloists asked the audience to join them. I belted out "Santa Lucia" in Italian and my neighbors nodded in appreciation for my efforts which I'm told could be heard from the back row of the auditorium! And, with that I will segue into the final report from the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala and CTA's Ass. Annual Awards Celebration held at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center February 11th.
It was an evening of comradarie at dinner attended by Karla and Chuck Henkart, Sue and Jim Honaker, Barbara and Ron Tobey, and this reporter. Ed Greene from TV was at the helm MC-ing the Gala event. The speeches were done in a professional manner with appropriate applause and appreciation for the recipients whose lives were spent in pursuit of our great game. "If you give kids a chance, dreams can come true." Thanks once again to Lakewood Tennis Association for their donation for this worthy cause.
Ciao
December Social, Intn't Cup, and More . .
The December Social captained by our great Director, Bruce McKay was a fun filled night of good food and drinks, great tennis, bridge, and a 6 month membership to Meadow Creek as a prize. I sent a photo of a few happy "hackers" beside the Christmas tree to Bob Lesher, our wonderful web site master for your viewing. He is to be congratulated for a top draw job and a formidable bridge player, as well. The lucky winner, Linda Felz, was picked out of the bowl by this reporter and Paul Felz gave me a hug when he heard the good news!
The international cup teams and world championships for Group A (Senior 35-55) will be March 27-April 1, 2005 in Perth, Australia on grass courts. Group B (Super Seniors Men:60-85 and Super Seniors Women: 60-75) will be October 17-22, 2005 in Antalya, Turkey on red clay courts. To that end, this 79 year old next year will headed south to Ft. Lauderdale January 29-February 9th for a Catagory II tournament on clay in preparation for the first Catagory I (National) to be held in Houston February 28-March 6th on clay. Team selection by the USTA International Team Competition Committee will be held late in the season, with emphasis on the surface (clay) for my age group, plus National and International singles and doubles ranking and records against players in the particular age group, good sportsmanship and teamwork, and physical and mental condition of a player. My Hip Hop instructor will aid me in aerobic workouts and the strengthening done by the same instructor for the Silver Sneakers workouts have given me confidence to "hang in there" during my matches.
It would be a miracle if I made the team because there are many new gals moving up to the 75 age bracket. If I don't make the team, I'm still headed to Turkey to stay and visit with a young friend in Istanbul. He is managing the building of the largest sailing vessel in the world for his boss with whom he has sailed in smaller sailing ships for a number of years. Wish me luck folks.
I write these articles to tempt more players, male and female to get on the circuit. It's a blast and great tennis and comradarie! So join Jan Ford, Bonnie Champion, Katie Koontz, Susan Wright, and many other tough Colorado competitors who vie for top four positions in the Nation to make the Team USA. All expenses paid by the USTA! Nuf said??? Thanks Sue for lending an ear. Ciao rita
REPORT FROM THE LAST NATIONAL TOURNAMENT October 31, 2004:
Folsom, California was the site of a tournament October 4-10th whose proceeds from entry fees and sales benefited the Susan Koman Breast Cancer Research Fund. Several Colorado natives were in attendance. Susan Wright from Grand Junction, playing in the 45 age division, played a hard hitting three setter against the number one seed, Diane Fishburne. Her dad, who is ranked in Colorado, told me, “she ran out of steam” not able to sustain such a “hard hitting” three setter. Susan went on to capture gold in doubles, however. Our own Katie Koontz, from the Denver Tennis Club, won the grand slam with her partner from California, Norma Veal. That implies she and Norma won National Tournaments on Clay, Grass, Indoors, and Hard Courts. This was in the 65 age division. Lakewood's own Bonnie Champion is listed number 21, (two spots below Katie) nationally in singles in Katie Koontz' age division which is quite an accomplishment.
Where else but in tennis, would a person hanker to get older to be the youngest in the next age division. Of course, this is only one person's opinion. As “old blue eye's song goes: “It Was A Very Good Year” for this old “hacker.” My four black toes from last year's Folsom tournament have turned to white again. Made a few dollars in Folsom from a second place finish in doubles, and fourth place in singles. All of the cash went to sales for Cancer Research: Christmas presents for friends and family.
The most memorable moment on court was not winning silver in doubles, but playing the number two seed, Louise Owens (tops in the world in doubles with her partner Louise Russ). Louise Russ, seeded one, is not only numero uno in doubles nationally and internationally, but has accomplished the grand slam in singles, as well. During my three setter in the semis against Owens, Russ couldn't help urging her partner, to beat me, and kept commenting that I played like the “Everready Bunny” getting to shots presumably out of my reach. I lost in three sets to Owens, and after a two setter in doubles I had to come back next day to play off for third and fourth spot in the main draw. Well, this “Everready Bunny's” battery ran down, so I took fourth place in singles, but found some small comfort in doubles against the top world champions when I was able to run Russ back and forth along the baseline with my lobs! Lost 5-7, a close first set, but succumbed next set 1-6! After all they are tops in the world!
As a result of the battery “run down” in Folsom, I decided to take advantage of a free fitness club membership offered to us “Silver Sneakers” by the HMO, Secure Horizons. Next year, no excuses from this “Bunny”. Hope to see some of you “hackers” working out too!
Photos from the International in Philly and last National in Folsom may be seen on the Lakewood Tennis website. Additionally, in a salute to three captains in the 3.5 division, who took their teams to Districts and to one National (held next year) there will be a photo on the web site featuring Jan Ford: Super Senior Captain, Joyce Smink: USTA Adult League Captain, and Betty Jo Cottrell: Senior Captain, taken at the home of the Senior Captain, Betty Jo. Some members were not in attendance but were named in the Lobber. Thanks to Tillie Weithern for this delayed report for the Lobber to be seen in December. CIAO Rita Price
THE INTERNATIONAL TENNIS TOURNAMENT AT PHILADELPHIA October 29, 2004:
The 2004 World Senior Tennis Championships September 10-18 drew over a thousand top four tennis players from over 21 countries for “Team” competition followed by a week of individual matches. September 19-24 on grass and clay. It was a “United Nations” kind of week with a Davis Cup kind of atmosphere with cheers in many languages from the rambunctious audiences. I bowed to the most enthusiastic bunch; the Japanese group, who graciously allowed their photo to be taken. My “pick-up” partner and I managed to take third place winning the bronze against the best Australian and German “Cup Team” players, but neither had played together before this match.
The most memorable match that I watched was on grass at the semi- finals between 92 year old Gardner Mulloy, former Davis Cup player, and Bill Rogers, from Australia. Bill's wife Joan, told me they were financially able to make it to the states, because she entered a contest entitled, “Why Should You Win $5000.” In a nutshell, she wrote on Bill's behalf saying: “I am a ninety two year old tennis player from Australia who has no opponent in this country. As a result, I must roam the world to find competition in my age group.” By golly, she won it!
First set Mulloy and Rogers got to six all. Tiebreak time, right? Nope, because neither player called out the scores during the entire match. Two games and into a third game later, the referee summoned by Joan and I, finally appeared and started them over again at six all. Mulloy took the first set, tie breaker, 7-6: Rogers won the second set, 7-5. Mulloy won the ten point tie breaker 10-6. These two ninety two year olds played three hours of tennis without a ball boy or girl. Twice I retrieved the ball, sent my way, to which Mulloy, quipped: “Thank you Dearie!” A true gentleman!
“A few years ago, 60 Minutes interviewed tennis players in that age group, asking why they continued to play the game despite their advanced years. “I do it for the camaraderie, to see my old friends again.” “I like winning national titles,” one player said. “I do it because I like to hit on the other player's wives,” another said. “Clearly, age is often only a number.”