harry cicma

By Justin Cohen @JustinCohen44

United States Tennis Association to replace parkland in Flushing Meadows Corona Park

According to a press release, the United States Tennis Association announced on Tuesday, May 7 that it has reached an agreement to return to New York City a portion of its currently leased Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (NTC) land in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in exchange for the parkland it proposes to add as part of its improvement plan for the NTC. The USTA will surrender 1.56 acres of parkland in return for 0.68 acres of parkland, the latter being mostly an existing asphalt road. “At the outset of the project, the City suggested that park improvements would result in a more meaningful degree of public benefit than an in-kind replacement for the 0.68 acres that is proposed for alienation. However, understanding that every inch of parkland is precious and after seeking input and recommendations from the local Queens communities and elected officials, the USTA, in consultation with the Parks Department, decided it was in the best interest of all parties to propose a parkland swap,” said Daniel Zausner, COO of the National Tennis Center. The replacement parkland, which is two parcels totaling 1.56 acres, and is more than double the land it will replace, is located east of David Dinkins Circle. The parcels include 0.75 acres of passive open space accessible to any member of the public and 0.81 acres of space for active recreation containing five tennis courts. “We are pleased that the USTA has agreed to replace parkland,” said Council Member Julissa Ferreras, who represents Corona and Flushing Meadows Corona Park, home to the USTA. “It is the right thing to do. Our community has too little green space and losing even an inch would be felt by the working people who depend on Flushing Meadows Corona Park. As the City Council begins to consider this proposal, we are ready to work with the USTA to address our community’s other major concerns.” The two parcels were added to the NTC lease in 1993 and would be returned to Flushing Meadows Corona Park for recreational use under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation. The NTC lease would also be amended, so these parcels would not be part of the premises. The USTA would maintain and repair the five courts, at it has done in the past, and would have usage during the US Open and, possibly, other major tennis events. “This is a positive step by the USTA and the Parks Department,” said NYS Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry, who represents Corona. “I look forward to continued progress on this important project.” The USTA’s Strategic Vision, which calls for the least amount of additional parkland possible, 0.68 acres, will ensure the NTC remains a top public recreational facility and world class spectator venue and also continues being an economic catalyst for Queens and the City of New York. Since 1978, the USTA has invested more than $500 million of its own funds into the NTC, and this project, which will primarily entail the replacement and renovation of aging facilities and infrastructures that have reached the end of their useful lives, will require the USTA to add an additional $500 million to its original investment.

Roddick, Venus acquire minority ownership share of Mylan World TeamTennis

American tennis legends Andy Roddick and Venus Williams are now part-owners of World TeamTennis. The former World No. 1 players have each acquired a five percent minority ownership share. Becoming co-owners will not affect their playing status. This summer, Williams will be playing two home matches for the Washington Kastles, while the recently retired Roddick will compete for the Springfield (Mo.) Lasers. According to WTT CEO and Commissioner Ilana Kloss, Roddick is very interested in bringing a franchise to his adopted hometown of Austin, Texas.

NY Sportimes name Sportime Founder and CEO Claude Okin as Coach

Claude Okin, founder and CEO of Sportime, will serve as the new head coach of the New York Sportimes starting this July. Okin, who has been an active force in the Sportimes’ success as the owner of the Mylan World TeamTennis squad since the 2003 WTT season, will take on the coaching duties for the first time. The Sportimes play their home matches at SEFCU Arena in Albany and at Sportime Stadium on Randall’s Island in Manhattan. Claude purchased his first tennis club in 1981 at the age of 19, and founded SPORTIME in 1994. Okin played collegiately at Vassar College and at New York University and has coached hundreds of players at all levels of the game. In his role as CEO, he provides vision and leadership for all SPORTIME corporate directives, supervising SPORTIME’s Executive Management Team and managing relationships with SPORTIME’s Partners and funding sources.

Antigua Group partners with Doug Cash of CashFlow Tennis

The Antigua Group, Inc., the official apparel sponsor of the 2013 Family Circle Cup, today announced the beginning of a partnership with tennis industry veteran Doug Cash. With the agreement, Cash will help promote the Antigua Tennis brand during all his industry engagements. Prior to starting his own business, CashFlow Tennis, Cash found success as a teaching professional, a club manager and as the COO of Tennis Corporation of America, where he founded TCA University, a training program for teaching pros and club managers. Cash, a PTR and USPTA professional, has been awarded both the New England and Midwest Professionals of the Year and has been inducted into the Midwest USPTA Hall of Fame. “Doug has an exemplary resume, and his list of accomplishments in the tennis industry is admirable,” said Ron McPherson, President and CEO of Antigua Group. “He is a highly regarded voice in tennis, and we know he’ll make a difference in promoting the Antigua Tennis brand.” Doug’s next speaking engagement is at the PTR International Tennis Symposium on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina from May 2-5, where he’s delivering a speech on “How to Grow Your Programs and Membership.”

2013 Wilson/ITA National Promoter of the Year Award Winners announced

The Central New Jersey-based Intercollegiate Tennis Association recently announced that Michael Schaeffer of the University of Oregon and Orlando Superlano of Texas Christian University have been selected as the 2013 Wilson/ITA National Promoter of the Year Award winners. Both Michael and Orlando will receive a paid summer internship to work at Wilson’s global headquarters in Chicago. The Wilson/ITA National Promoter of the Year Award recognizes individuals who promote the game of tennis at the collegiate level by devoting consistent time and effort to promotional activities and who support and bring awareness to either their school program or to the sport in general.

Boston Lobsters of Mylan World TeamTennis to support One Fund Boston

From today until Flag Day on June 14, a portion of all Boston Lobsters match ticket sales will benefit One Fund Boston. For more information on season tickets, call Darlene at (508) 435-2023.

Save the Date: An Evening with Billie Jean King, Holly Hunter and Chris Evert

The Philadelphia Freedoms of the Mylan World TeamTennis Pro League are asking fans to save the date for an evening with Billie Jean King, Holly Hunter and Chris Evert. On May 18 at 5:30 p.m., EST, in Gladwyne, Pa., King, Hunter and Evert will take part in an unforgettable cocktail party to benefit Assistance in Healthcare. For a donation of $250 to Assistance in Healthcare, your ticket will include a cocktail reception with King, Hunter and Evert, as well as a conversation with the stars. Also included in the evening is a live auction featuring once-in-a-lifetime items. For more information or tickets, please call (215) 537-7819.

“World Tennis TV” with Harry Cicma returns for fifth season on National TV

“World Tennis” with Harry Cicma will return for a fifth season nationally on New England Sports Network (NESN & NESN National) with 18 high definition shows this Spring and Summer beginning May 31. Each episode will air twice a week on NESN-TV for 18 consecutive weeks. Comcast SportsNet Chicago, the flagship sports Midwest Network, and the TV home for the Chicago Bulls, White Sox, Cubs and Blackhawks, has also picked up the show and will air 12 episodes starting on May 4. Grand Slam Tennis Tours (www.GrandSlamTennisTours.com) and Albrecht Automotive (www.AlbrechtAuto.com) are the title sponsors for the 18 shows – AlbrechtAuto for 12 shows and Grand Slam Tennis Tours for the remaining six. Other sponsors include Babolat, Ashaway Tennis Strings, Boomer Tennisrobot.com, CruiseControlGear.com and “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” book published by New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com). This season’s series of shows includes interviews and features on tennis stars such as John Isner, Venus Williams, 2013 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Martina Hingis, Andre Agassi, Anna Kournikova among others. The series also includes interviews with leading figures in the tennis industry and coaching tips from some of the country’s highly-regarded teaching instructors. Excerpts from the show will also be available at www.WorldTennisMagazine.com and on the World Tennis Magazine YouTube channel following its airing on NESN.

Hilton Head Island to research the impact of Tennis

According to an article posted on 10sballs.com, the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce plans to spend $25,000 to research the value of Hilton Head’s tennis industry. The South Carolina island has 300-plus tennis courts and clearly draws a lot of visitors, but the Chamber of Commerce wants more specifics and how it might be better marketed, “We’re putting together the data, so we can make the best choices … for the good of the whole business community,” chamber vice president Susan Thomas told the Island Packet, a local newspaper. Two of the island tennis resorts Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort and Palmetto Dunes consistently draw rave reviews, the PTR is also based there, as are some tennis academies. “I think they’re probably about 10 years overdue,” Jim Stubbs, director of sales and events for Van Der Meer Tennis, told the newspaper. “Hilton Head is well-known in the tennis circle, not just in the United States, but worldwide,” Stubbs said. “Tennis has done a great thing for Hilton Head, and it always takes, obviously, a back seat to golf, but it brings a lot of business to this island.” A 2009 study said that those who came to the island to play tennis spent an average of $2,800 per visit. Golfers spent about $500 more. The Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center says it experienced three percent revenue growth from 2011 to 2012. It has added four youth-sized courts. The USTA pitched in to cover the costs to repaint the lines.