(Stanford, CA) – What naturally goes with peace, love and freedom? TENNIS! The 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love rolls onto Stanford University’s campus for a week-long celebration with fun themed activities, interactive events and music. It all takes place at the Bank of the West Classic, July 23 – 29, 2007.
Responsible for luring thousands to San Francisco, the Summer of Love gave us psychedelic music, the ability to think freely and racial and ethnic diversity. In 1967, as electric guitars became the threshold of modern music, tennis went mainstream. In this important last year before the Open Era, tennis became instrumental in creating social change and bringing diverse groups of people together. And on such a profound anniversary we again celebrate tennis being a leader in equal opportunity with the Championships at Wimbledon granting equal prize money to men and women for the first time. Whether on the court or in the stands, nothing brings people together the way that tennis does.
Grand Slam Tennis Jam
That spirit continues as the USTA NorCal's Diversity Committee, in collaboration with IMG and Bank of the West, hosts the fourth annual Grand Slam Tennis Jam for kids 18 and under. Taking place on Monday, July 23 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at Stanford University's Arrillaga Plaza, the Grand Slam Tennis Jam promises a ton of fun with interactive mini tennis games, prizes, activities for all ability levels, a chance to mingle with some of the Sony Ericsson WTA players and special guests – the Cheeseballs!
The Cheeseballs? Groovy, funky, danceable…FUN! That’s the Cheeseballs! They make you "Shake Your Booty" like it hasn't been shaken in years. The band members pride themselves on serving up a helping of non-stop 70's disco dance hits and 80's and 90' s pop classics with an uncanny knack of performing songs, such as "YMCA," "Stayin’ Alive," "Dancing Queen," "Le Freak," "Disco Inferno," and so many more. The result is always an audience dancing and singing along. The band is comprised of eight performers dressed in dazzling retro disco outfits and presents a parade of personalities who alternate lead vocals with plenty of exuberantly choreographed dance moves. Just say... "Cheese, Please!"
The Grand Slam Tennis Jam is open to programs and groups providing tennis and other outreach programs to youth who might not otherwise be exposed to such opportunities. Children 18 and under who are registered as part of a group or program will receive free tickets to the day session matches. Deadline for participants to register is Wednesday, July 18, 2007. Registered participants will receive a complimentary lunch courtesy of Bank of the West. The Grand Slam Tennis Jam is designed to provide an opportunity for children to experience the excitement of live, world-class tennis.
For additional information or to register for the Grand Slam Tennis Jam contact Silvia Dueñas-Bielser, USTA Northern California Diversity Projects Manager.
duenas-bielser@norcal.usta.com, 510.748.9210 x2927.
Randy Tuten
Famed rock poster artist of the 60’s, Randy Tuten, documents USTA NorCal’s celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love. Tuten is still alive and kickin’ in San Francisco, creating masterpieces that take you back 40 years, when bands such as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Big Brother and the Holding Company were breaking down music – and cultural – boundaries.
Tuten currently works for Another Planet Entertainment and has continued to grow as an artist and may be doing his best, most creative and exciting work at the present time – as is apparent in the groovy graphic he designed for the USTA NorCal. He says of the design, “My goal was to capture the traditional hippie, friendly feel that came out of the Summer of Love.” And that he did! Can you feel the love?
USTA Member Appreciation Day
Join the USTA and feel the love! Tuesday, July 24 is USTA Member Appreciation Day and members receive 20% off day session tickets. Groovy deal – stop by the USTA booth at the tournament and receive a free gift when you sign-up for a new membership or renew your existing membership.
Hall of Fame
Local heroes – this year’s inductees to the NorCal Tennis Hall of Fame are a perfect example of peace, love and harmony! The Class of 2007: Jan Brogan, women’s tennis coach at University of California, Berkeley; Lise Frank, longtime USTA volunteer; Greg Holmes, former nationally ranked NorCal junior; and Ken Robinson, nationally-ranked senior player.
The brunch honors the four inductees will take place on Thursday, July 26, at the Cardinal Plaza Club, Taube Family Tennis Stadium, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 10:30a.m. Tickets are $60 per person. Tables of 10 are available for $600. For more information call Karen Hirtzel, hirtzel@norcal.usta.com, 510.748.7373.
Bank of the West Classic
1967 wasn’t all about peace and flower power and neither is the Bank of the West Classic. The first order of business is high-stakes competition and a battle for the championship – no free love allowed! Serving as the opening women's event to the US Open Series, the Bank of the West Classic takes place from July 23-29, 2007 at the Taube Family Tennis Center on the campus of Stanford University. This year’s tournament boast its strongest field since 2002 with six of the top-18 ranked players in the world scheduled to attend; American Serena Williams and Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova, Anna Chakvetadze from Russia, Israeli Shahar Peer, Swiss star Patty Schnyder and China’s Li Na. www.bankofthewestclassic.com
USTA NorCal’s mission is to promote and develop the growth of tennis in the Northern California section. The aim of the USTA Northern California Diversity Committee is to raise awareness and bring financial resources for tennis participation to communities that have historically had little access to the sport. The group sponsors numerous grants, scholarships and outreach programs all with the purpose of ensuring that the demographics of tennis players, audiences, coaches and administrators reflect the increasingly diverse demographics of the larger society. www.norcal.usta.com
