by Beth Rifkin
A consensus of almost everyone in the world: summer vacation from school always ended way too soon. So with only a month of off-season a year, no one would blame the players on the ATP Tour for taking a little "me time" in December. But many of them do just the opposite and instead choose to use their power - and time - for good.
Dream Team
Flashback to high school gym class --- except for the chosen few, team picking time created an anxiety that lasted long into adulthood. Now imagine that the two captains are tennis ace Rafael Nadal and Real Madrid soccer star Iker Casillas choosing for a 7-on-7 pick-up soccer match. Talk about pressure!
At least it was for a good cause. Organized by world no. 2 Rafael Nadal and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, tennis champs David Ferrer, Carlos Moya (pictured above), Feliciano Lopez and Julian Alonso joined forces with Real Madrid players Raul, Sergio Ramos and Fabio Cannavaro, two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, Pedro de la Rosa, 2006 Tour de France winner Oscar Pereiro and golfer Sergio Garcia in the fight against malaria, on December 20 in Madrid.
Dubbed "Friends of Rafa" vs. "Friends of Iker", the two teams of Spain's elite players battled it out on the soccer field to raise money to buy malaria vaccines for children. Malaria affects 40% of the world's population and is transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Video highlights of the Spanish sports star extravaganza are available at atptennis.com (ATP).
My only question: who would get picked last?
Role Model
Participating in the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program (HJTEP) is exciting in itself, but when American TennisStar James Blake is feeding you tennis balls it is a downright honor! The HJTEP offers free tennis lessons and education support to anyone 7 to 18 years old from the greater New York City area. Alumni's of the program, Blake and his brother Thomas were the star attractions - and no doubt inspiration - at the organization's 3rd Annual Winter Fundraiser on December 22 at the newly-renovated Harlem Armory. Along with posing for photos and signing autographs, Blake gave the kids a few pro tennis tips---and probably many, many smiles.
A few weeks prior, as part of an ongoing commitment to support cancer research, on December 6 James Blake along with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia presented the fifth annual AnthemLIVE!, a benefit tennis event and concert. Joining Blake were TennisStars Mardy Fish, Serena Williams and Tatiana Golovin. Blake, whose father died of cancer in 2004, said of the event on ATPTennis.com, "It continues to amaze me that by partnering with Anthem and having my friends agree to join me, we can truly make difference by helping fund research to find a cure for cancer."
All this and helping to win the 2007 Davis Cup title for the USA? James Blake Rocks!
Lleyton Green Hewitt
Green Tennis? Tennis Greens? Grass courts are green. Tennis balls are green-ish. Defeated players are usually green(!). And Australia's top ranked tennis champ Lleyton Hewitt has gone green and is hoping his fellow countrymen and women will do the same. As Planet Ark Ambassador, Hewitt encouraged Australian's to recycle their holiday cards through the organization's program "Cards 4 Planet Ark" last month. The recycling program is in its 14th year and has turned more than 575 million greeting cards into new packaging and recycled paper products - saving energy, water and trees in the process.
"When it comes to recycling greeting cards all Australians can play," says Hewitt on ATPTennis.com. "Planet Ark and the ATP have rallied together to ensure that sports fans support the environment."
Unfortunately for the rest of the world, the program is only available to Australian residents. I am green with envy. (had to say it)
It's a Bird, It's a Plane --- no, it's Roger Federer
ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer is no stranger to lending his superman powers to those in need. Most recently, the Swiss UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador starred in a World AIDS Day public service announcement to raise awareness about the transmission of HIV from mothers to their children and the importance of speaking openly about the virus - a key to creating an AIDS-free generation.
"I've seen kids in South Africa who've been affected and it's a very big problem, especially in the poorer countries," said Federer, as reported by the ATP. "It's important to break down discrimination and stigma. Many people always think 'I can't talk to this person', but I think it's very important to speak openly about it."
The 30-second video message was released worldwide on World AIDS Day on December 1, 2007. As part of the “Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS” campaign, UNICEF works with international sports organizations to promote the positive values that sports can teach. The public service announcement contributes to the ACE ('Assisting Children Everywhere') partnership, a joint effort of the ATP, the governing body of men's professional tennis, and UNICEF to harness the power of tennis for children.
January 4, 2008
