Organization Here Is Best - Malaga

By Bill Nichols

 
Whether politics or tennis, the grass roots form the foundation of any successful effort.

Nearly everyone is familiar with the tennis circuit. One week in Los Angeles, another in Orange, N.J. and the next in Milwaukee where the Graebners, Ashes, Richeys and Pasarells cavort across the country collecting trophies and headlines.

Well, there is to be no "circuit" if there wasn't tennis on the local level.

And Cleveland has one of the most successful tennis organizations in the U.S.

BOB MALAGA, resident Clevelander and executive director of the United States Lawn Tennis Association, has gone on record saying Cleveland is the bets. " For one thing we have more card carrying members (in USLTA) than any other city," Malaga explained.

The Northeastern Ohio Tennis Association, the backbone organization of area tennis, either conducts or sanctions 17 tournaments during the summer. And many of the suburbs conduct their own tourneys. An example is a tournament recently held in Parma Heights with more than 50 players entered. Another is the Cain Park Tournament that resumed operation this week after a 26 year layoff.

At Cain Park, Bud Slessinger was the overall men's champion in 1942 and again in 1968.

THE LARGEST of the competitions is the annual Plain Dealer Junior Tournament held last month.

More than 250 juniors battled for the crowns this year in the PD championships marking a record turnout for any tourney ever in the area.

The local circuit began on Memorial Day and runs through September. The season began with the Lake Erie championships, followed by Ohio Father and Son, Greater Cleveland Jaycee, Northeastern Ohio-Seaway Junior Cleveland Public Parks. The Last of the 'big ones" was the Lake Erie Juniors, held in Mentor last weekend when more than 170 competed.

The action isn't entirely in tournament play for leagues are getting bigger and better every year.

FOR THE JUNIORS there are the Junior Davis and Wightman Cup leagues for boys and girls 16 years of age and under.

The adults have the Inter-Club League for the country clubs and popular North Eastern Ohio Tennis League for the public players.

Herb Nold, from Euclid, directs the Little Davis Cup League which goes into its post-season playoffs today. There are six divisions in the LDCL.

John Willett of Shaker Heights chairs the NEOTL, which has eight teams and nearly 90 players competing weekly. The Shaker Team is favored to wrap up the crown this weekend.

ANOTHER SIGN showing the mercury rise in tennis is a statement out of Columbus yesterday. Secretary of State Ted. W. Brown authorized a non-profit charter to the Forest City Tennis Club in Cleveland to promote and foster amateur competitive tennis tournaments and matches.

And let us not forget the gals.

The Cleveland Heights - University Heights recreation program includes a league for the women, in general, and housewives in particular.

The Housewives League has two divisions and meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings at John Carroll University.

Three years ago six gals who suddenly got the tennis bug came up with the idea to form a league. Sixteen women met weekly for doubles competition. Last year there were 40 players and this season 94 girls play every week. The league includes newlyweds, mothers and grandmothers.

When the housewives get into the act tennis has boomed. Remember their marches on supermarkets.

 

This article originally appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on August 7, 1968.
Reprinted with permission.