RESULTS

The USTA National Campus was the perfect setting as top junior athletes gathered for the 2024 Bobby Curtis Bobby Curtis Junior State Championships in the Boys’ and Girls’ 12s & 14s. The Bobby Curtis tournament is one of the most prestigious events in the entire state, as only Florida players are eligible to compete. Many winners and participants have gone on to have successful careers in the pro tour. This time around, it was the 12 and Under as well as the 14 and Under divisions that were in play, as some of the rising stars of Florida tennis were putting on a great show throughout the week of competition. There were four first-time champions crowned, let’s see who they are, what their road to success looked like, and other top competitors from the tournament. Boys’ 12s Dmitriy Flyam (Left), Elias Harris (Right) The Boys’ 12s showed what Florida tennis is all about and that the future of tennis is definitely in good hands. Everyone played with grit and heart, leaving everything on the courts. Elias Harris had a strong run to the finals, winning his first two matches without dropping a game. In the quarterfinals, he ran into Patrick Paun (Hallandale Beach), who was playing strong tennis too. The two clashed, in a thrill three-set match. Elias jumped out early with a 6-4 opening set win, but Partick fought back taking the next one 7-5. This forced a 10-pint tiebreaker set, where the two started off trading points. In the end, Elias hit his stride and took the match. Elias rode that momentum for a dominant semifinal win over David Bender (Indian Harbour Beach) to secure a spot in the finals On the other end of the draw, Dmitriy Flyam started off his campaign in a great way. He won his first three matches with ease, only winning all but one set by more than four games. Dmitiry rode that momentum into the quarterfinals, where he put up a very strong performance against Tomas Gudia (Kissimmee) in a two-set win. This set him up with Selwyn Olufemi-Owoeye (Boca Raton) in the semifinals. Dmitiry, who hadn’t dropped a set all week long, kept that energy going and took the win in an extremely close match, winning 6-4, 6-4. This would set him up with Elias for the championship. In the finals, Elias and Dmitriy left everything they had left on the court. After playing nearly flawless tennis throughout the event, something had to give. The first set was back and forth, but eventually, Elias found a break and took it 6-4. Elias carried that into the next set and won it 6-1, becoming a Bobby Curits Champion. Championship: Elias Harris (Pembroke Pines) d. Dmitriy Flyam (Hallandale Beach) 6-4, 6-1 Third Place: David Bender (Indian Harbour Beach) Fourth Place: Selwyn Olufemi-Owoeye (Boca Raton) Fifth Place: Michael Rybak (Palm Coast) Sixth Place: Oliver Zinaja (Bradenton) Consolation Winner: Tajesh Reddy Bomma (Wesley Chapel) Girls’ 12s Much like the Boys’ the future of Florida Girls’ tennis is in the right hands as these junior athletes proved they are the best of the best. Christina Li got things going early, sweeping her first two matches and winning her third match, dropping just three games. The young prodigy was at the top of her game and carried that into the quarterfinals where she defeated Isla Amos (Melbourne) to reach the semifinals. Here, she matched up against Adelina Iftime (Orlando), who also has been extremely impressive up to this point, as she hadn’t dropped a set in the week. This clash was back-and-forth, as expected. Playing for a spot in the finals, Christina got going early, finding a break and taking the set 6-3. However, Adelina fired right back with a break and a 6-3 set win of her own. This forced a 10-point tiebreaker, where the girls were battling. Points were traded on each serve with a lead change throughout, but Christina was able to find a few in a row and take in by just two points. Over on the other side, Violeta Pisarczyk was putting on a great performance. In her first few matches, Violeta looked super strong as she swept three of her six sets that she won across that span. In the quarterfinals, she carried that over and swept the opening set and took the next one with ease. This set up a clash against Alsia Shifrin (Boca Raton), who had been clutch all tournament long. In two of her first four matches, Alsia won in a third-set tiebreaker. This match was intense as both girls were battling for their spot in the Bobby Curtis Championship. Violeta took the first set in a 6-4 fashion, but Alsia battled right back winning 6-3 and playing in her third 10-point tiebreaker of the week. It was back-and-forth, with neither girl giving an inch. As points were traded off, Violeta found a couple in a row and took it by just two points. The championship was set as Violeta and Christina were ready to leave everything on the court. Violeta got the scoring going early and jumped out with the first set, but that didn’t rattle Christina as she answered right back with a set win of her own. The match would come down to a 10-point tiebreaker. Fresh off the second set win, Christina was in top form and took the tiebreaker 10-3 to capture the Bobby Curtis Championship. Championship: Christina Li (Bradenton) d. Violeta Pisarczyk (Sunrise) 4-6, 6-2, 10-3 Third Place: Adelina Iftime (Orlando) Fourth Place: Alsia Shifrin (Boca Raton) Fifth Place: Isla Amos (Melbourne) Sixth Place: Aimee Peng (Bradenton) Consolation Winner: Arianne James (Sunrise) Boys’ 14s Paul Bower (Left), Mikaeel Alibaig (Right) The 14s division is one of the best to watch unfold as many of these players are entering extremely important years of their careers. They are about a year into high school and trying to turn the eyes of colleges onto them. All the athletes gave 110% effort on the courts as the matches unfolded. Mikaeel Alibaig, the top seed, was playing up to his rank. Across his first three matches, Mikaeel dominated the opposition, winning 36 of 44 games that he played in his six sets. He remained the top foe in the quarterfinals, as he took a rather convincing match 6-2, 6-1. In the semifinals, Mikaeel matched up with William Vainionpaa (Orlando), who was fresh off an intense three-set win. The two battled, but ultimately, it was Mikaeel at the top of his game, as he continued his hot streak, winning 6-3, 6-1. On the other side, Paul Bower looked to put a stop to Mikaeel. Paul was on his A-game. Through his first three matches, he didn’t lose a set and won 36 of his 48 games played. However, he was tested in the quarterfinals as Elliott Awomoyi (Pembroke Pines), was determined to continue his strong run in the tournament. Elliott got it started with a near-perfect opening set, winning 6-1. Unphased, Paul responded with a great second set, taking it 6-4 and forcing the 10-point tiebreaker. Paul rode his momentum from the previous set and got hot at the right time, winning 10-5. He kept his level of play up and took down Satvik Santosh (Orlando), in the semifinals 6-1, 6-4. With the championship set between Mikaeel and Paul, it was a great match with the two best giving their all. The first set was a fight, as the two wouldn’t give a break. But, Mikaeel found a late break and closed out the first set 7-5. He carried that into the second set and clinched the title, winning 6-3. On the weekend Mikaeel won 73 out of 96 games in 12 sets played. Championship: Mikaeel Alibaig (Boca Raton) d. Paul Bower (Coral Springs) 7-5, 6-3 Third Place: Satvik Santosh (Orlando) Fourth Place: William Vainionpaa (Orlando) Fifth Place: Juan Benito (Weston) Sixth Place: Elliott Awomoyi (Pembroke Pines) Consolation Winner: Dylan Remedios (Miami) Girls’ 14s Melanie Constandache (Left), Michelle Flyam (Right) Michelle Flyam went on an extremely dominant run throughout the week. In her first three matches, Michelle was playing perfect tennis. The top seed ran through her opponents, dropping just 4 games in six sets. She kept that hot streak going into the quarterfinals as she closed out a strong 6-1, 6-2 win. The semifinal was the first match where she was truly tested. Matching up against Audrey Dussault (Kissimmee), the two girls battled it out on the court. It was a contested opening set as the two were trading games, before Michelle got a break and won 6-4. She rode that momentum into the next set and took it 6-2, to advance to finals and try to complete one of the best runs in recent years for the 14s. Her opponent, however, wouldn’t be an easy foe. Melanie Constandache was destined to make a run in the tournament and turn the attention toward her. Things got going quickly for Melanie as she found herself in a close opening match. Julia Chesman (Port Saint Lucie) pushed Melaine to a tiebreaker in the first set but fell just short. Melanie closed out the second set, taking the match 7-6, 6-3. Melanie would dominate her next two matches and face off against Anastasiya Muravia (Boynton Beach) in the quarterfinals. This was an intense three-set match, where the two girls were playing great tennis. It was back-and-forth in the tiebreaker, but Melani took a few in a row and won by three points. She carried that win into the semifinal match against Braylen Michelsen (Fort Myers) and won 6-4, 6-2. The championship was set with Michelle and Melanie, the final two players. Michelle, who was riding a hot hand all week long, continued that level of play. She jumped out in the opening set with a break and took it 6-3. She closed out the match with a 6-2 win and was crowned Bobby Curits Champion. On the weekend Michelle won 72 of 90 games across twelve sets, one of the best runs in recent years. Championship: Michelle Flyam (Hallandale Beach) d. Melanie Constandache (Coconut Creek) 6-3, 6-2 Third Place: Braylen Michelsen (Fort Myers) Fourth Place: Audrey Dussault (Kissimmee) Fifth Place: Anastasiya Muravia (Boynton Beach) Sixth Place: Charlotte Ballarin (Boca Raton) Consolation Winner: Adriana Khomyakova (Port Saint Lucie) By ML Staff. Content/Image courtesy by Jaret Kappelman, Marketing & Communications Coordinator for USTA Florida.

On the occasion of its tenth anniversary, Institution of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA) Miami presents “Toward the Celestial,” a selection of works from its permanent collection highlighting the museum’s programmatic development, as well as recent commissions and previously unshown works. The exhibition is organized thematically, and journeys from microscopic to macroscopic images in order to explore the dimension of time and orders of scale. The exhibition’s title alludes to Betye Saar’s Celestial Universe (1988) banner, which was featured in the artist’s 2021 survey and has been part of installations of the artist over multiple decades suggesting both imminent presence and the recording of time through alternative ideological structures. By ML Staff. Courtesy of Instittue of Comtemporary Art Miami

As the popularity of cigars boomed on both sides of the Atlantic in the late 19th century, manufacturers began marketing a new device to support this habit: cutters designed to snip off the end of a cigar before lighting. Not just utilitarian tools, many cigar cutters were elaborate decorative and figural objects intended for display, serving as personal emblems for the men who used them. Smoke Signals features cutters in many forms—hunting dogs, champagne bottles, pistols, and more—as well as complementary materials from The Wolfsonian's collection. Together, these items offer an unusual window into the broader masculine culture around cigar smoking, from social ambition to attitudes about women. Made possible by Richard Kronenberg and his recent donation of cigar cutters. By ML Staff. Courtesy of The Wolfsonian–FIU

The Florida State Golf Association is proud to announce the 32 junior golfers named to the 2024 Junior Florida Cup teams. Most are familiar with the customary format of the event. The 32 competitors are divided into teams based on the region they reside: North and South. Each team consists of 10 boys and 6 girls, in which the North and South teams will be pitted against each other in a Ryder Cup style format to ultimately clinch the victory and raise the trophy. Bent Pine Golf Club will play host to the 18th Junior Florida Cup matches, set to take place August 4-6. Bent Pine hosted as the second site for the 107th Amateur Championship in June, and provided a fantastic test of golf for the players. The FSGA is happy to return to the course for a fun and challenging competition with the best junior golfers in the state. The traditional Ryder Cup format will be played out as follows: Four-Ball matches take place on Monday Morning with Foursome matches to follow. Monday evening the players will attend a pairings dinner. Finally, Tuesday morning brings the Singles matches followed by the trophy and awards presentation. Each match is worth one point to the team total and the first team to 16 ½ points wins the cup for one year. A 16-16 tie results in the defending champions retaining the Cup for an additional year. Last year the South Team successfully defended their title with a final score of 21-11. However, the North Team still leads the overall results 11-5-1. Will the South Team continue their reign for yet another year, or will the North Team take back the cup? Check out the teams below! By ML Staff. Content/Image courtesy of FSGA. Top image courtesy of Unsplash/Andrew Lomas

Presented against a backdrop of monumental sculptures by South African ceramicist Hylton Nel, the new collection by Kim Jones for Dior Men spotlights the craft and skills of Dior’s Ateliers. Luxury meets utility and men’s workwear borrows new resonance from women’s haute couture in new silhouettes that celebrate a contemporary legacy.   The Artistic Director for Dior men’s collections borrowed from the language of ceramics for this season’s collection, creating silhouettes that are both refined and sculptural. Knitwear adopts playful motifs, prints and ceramic fastenings gleaned from Hylton Nel’s works. Studded motifs on garments, bags and shoes are also inspired by the ceramicist’s world. Rounded forms predominate in tailoring and outerwear, while ethereal cuts flatter the movement of the body. Clogs in elevated materials such as beech wood and calf leather morph into biker boots or elegant derbys.  Kim Jones focuses his vision to reinterpret the Dior archives. Taken from an Yves Saint-Laurent piece from fall-winter 1960, a scarf collar motif runs throughout the collection. The Saddle bag, an icon of Dior style for over 25 years, is softened with curvilinear contours. Cloche hats designed by Stephen Jones in conjunction with Earth Age in Cape Town add a playful touch to the silhouettes. Local South African craftspeople hand-crocheted the hats and ceramic beads were applied in Paris. This coming together of craft embodies the collective energy and artisanal handiwork that define Dior.     ML Staff. Content/image(s) courtesy of Dior

Formula 1 and Apple Original Films today announced that the highly anticipated movie starring Brad Pitt, directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, will be distributed in theatres around the world and in IMAX® by Warner Bros. Pictures internationally on June 25th 2025, and in North America on June 27th 2025. Made in collaboration with Formula 1, the movie is a landmark for the sport and cinema, filmed in real-time during grands prix around the world and involving the F1® community, including all 10 teams, the drivers, the FIA and race promoters. The new feature film is set in the exhilarating and cinematic world of Formula 1 and will immerse audiences in the spectacle of the most popular annual sports series, celebrating the skill and heroism of the drivers while showcasing the incredible challenge of competition in Formula 1. The feature will see Brad Pitt star as a former driver who returns to Formula 1, alongside Damson Idris as his rookie team-mate at APXGP, a fictional team on the grid, battling against the sport’s drivers and teams. Production of the movie, which began in 2023, will continue at this year’s British Grand Prix and at several other races, and complete at the season-ending in Abu Dhabi in December. The star-studded cast includes Academy Award-nominee Kerry Condon, Academy Award-winner Javier Bardem, Emmy Award-winner and Golden Globe Award nominee Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles, Kim Bodnia and Samson Kayo. The global theatrical release will also include IMAX® theatres. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie. By ML Staff. Content/image courtesy of Formula 1

The Miami Dolphins announced their 2024 training camp schedule presented by Baptist Health with practices held at the Baptist Health Training Complex in Miami Gardens. The Dolphins will hold 12 practices open to the public and an additional practice exclusively for season ticket members. The first public practice will be on Sunday, July 28 in celebration of the NFL's "Back Together Weekend." The team will hold a practice inside Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, August 3, which will be open to the public. There will also be three opportunities for fans to view joint practices – first with the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday, August 6 and Wednesday, August 7, followed by a practice against the Washington Commanders on Thursday, August 15. All practices will begin at 10:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Fans can secure tickets for 2024 Miami Dolphins Training Camp beginning Monday, July 8. Attendance for all open practices is free, but fans must reserve tickets through the Miami Dolphins Account Manager by Ticketmaster. Practice times are subject to change and the most updated information can be found on http://miamidolphins.com/trainingcamp or the team's official Twitter account @MiamiDolphins. This year's training camp will feature theme days, food trucks from local restaurants, fan festivities, and the garage sale benefitting the Miami Dolphins Foundation. Fans in attendance at the Baptist Health Training Complex will enjoy practices under a shaded canopy in stadium-style seating. The Dolphins will host practices at the Baptist Health Training Complex for the fourth year since the state-of-the-art facility opened in 2021 in Miami Gardens. Baptist Health serves as the Official Medical Team and Official Wellness and Sports Medicine Provider of the Miami Dolphins and the Training Complex. Miami Dolphins 2024 Public Training Camp Schedule (All open practices will take place at the Baptist Health Training Complex in Miami Gardens except where otherwise noted) By ML Staff. Content/Image courtesy of Miami Dolphins

Competitors battled through 36 holes of stroke play and 5 matches for the chance to be crowned the Senior Amateur Match Play Champion. At the end of the week, Palm Beach Gardens native RJ Nakashian would capture the Championship. Stroke Play Qualifying In stroke play qualifying, it was a quest to make the top 32 in order to be a part of the match play proceedings. Reigning Senior Amateur Champion, RJ Nakashian, continued his great form in 2024 as he finished as the medalist and earned the top seed. 35 players would finish the two rounds at 12-over or better, necessitating a 5 for 2 playoff to determine the final spots in match play. On the second playoff hole, Bill Barnes would earn his spot as the 31st seed and a hole later Todd Mudge would clinch the final spot. Match Play RJ Nakashian continued his great play as he got through his first three matches with relative ease. An 8 & 6 victory in the first round was followed with 3 & 2 and 7 & 6 victories on Tuesday. In Nakashian’s side of the bracket, Michael Nealy would face slightly more resistance but never saw the 18th hole in any match on his way to the semifinals. On the bottom half of the bracket, the 3 seed Michael Kelley would hold serve in his region. Kelley advanced with a 3 & 1 victory in the Round of 32 and closed both his matches out on the 18th hole Tuesday to book a ticket to the Semifinals. Matching up against Kelley Wednesday morning, David Anthony continued his match play success in FSGA events. The three-time Super-Senior Player of the Year and reigning Super-Senior Amateur Champion secured a 1 up victory in the Round of 32 and never saw past the 16th hole on Tuesday with victories of 5 & 4 and 4 & 2. Semi-Finals In the first semifinal match, RJ Nakashian would take a quick lead with an eagle on the par-5 second hole. Unfazed, Michael Nealy’s birdie putt from 10 feet on the 4th hole would find the bottom of the cup to square the match. A par on the 5th for Nakashian would be enough to take back the lead and after reaching the par-5 6th in two shots, Nealy would concede the hole after being forced to chip out from where his drive left him and never get back into a scoring position. Nealy would also drop a hole after a bogey to close out the front nine which would leave him 3 down at the turn. A bogey on the par-3 13th by Nakashian dropped his lead to 2-up.  After a pair of halved holes, the duo would come to the par-3 16th with a tricky back right hole location. Both players would find the green but a 3-putt from Michael Neely would book RJ Nakashian’s trip to the finals. On the other side of the bracket, after par’s on 1 & 2 from both David Anthony and Michael Kelley, Kelley would jump start the action by winning holes #3 & #4. Anthony would respond with a victory on the 5th hole but would give it back on the par-3 7th with a bogey. 2-down through 8 holes, Anthony would kick start his round winning three of the next four holes to flip the match to 1-up for the Jacksonville native. The 14th hole would be pivotal as Kelley hit his approach to within five feet while Anthony would be outside of him at 15 feet. Anthony’s birdie putt would roll in the back of the cup to put the pressure on Kelley. As Kelley’s birdie putt rolled by the hole, he would be 2-down with four holes to play. After trading wins on the 15th and 16th holes, the semifinalists would come to the par-5 17th. Kelley would leave himself a long birdie putt from the front of the green while Anthony had 30 feet for birdie. Kelley gave it a great roll but just narrowly missed leaving Anthony with two putts to win the match. Anthony’s birdie putt would slide by the hole but would be enough to secure a birth to the finals. Championship Match The Championship Match would be a matchup of the reigning Senior Amateur and Super-Senior Amateur Champions. After opening pars, RJ Nakashian would get the proceedings started with a birdie on the second hole. A short range miss on the third hole by Anthony would see himself 2-down through three holes. After getting to 3-up through six holes, RJ would miss the green on the 8th hole and leave himself a pitch shot from 30 yards short of the green. With Anthony on the green in regulation, Nakashian had to take a chance by flying it up on the green with the pin tucked in the front. His pitch would land and release to 15 feet and as his par putt slid by Anthony’s two-putt par would be good enough for his first hole won in the final match. As they made the turn with Nakashian, things quieted down as the pair traded pars on 10-12. A quality iron shot from Nakashian on the par-3 13th was close enough to be conceded by Anthony. Anthony’s birdie putt would miss low, and Nakashian would go back to 3-up with just five holes to play. However, back-to-back bogeys on 14 and 15 would allow Anthony to cut the deficit to 1-down with two to play. Both players were able to get around the green in two shots on the par-5 17th. Nakashian had a straight forward chip shot from in front of the green while Anthony was in a spot of bother on the edge of the bunker. Nakashian’s chip would go to eight feet for birdie. A sandy lie made the downhill chip extremely difficult but that would not faze the Super-Senior Amateur Champion. Anthony would hit his chip to 10 feet which from was met with applause from the Legacy Golf & Tennis Club Superintendent, showing the difficulty of what he was facing. However, his birdie putt would miss giving Nakashian a putt for the title. Nakashian, like Anthony, could not convert his birdie and the duo would head to the 18th tee. Both drives would find the fairway, Nakashian about 20 yards ahead of Anthony. Approaches that missed the green right by both players put them in a tough spot as the 18th green sits well above the bunker that Nakashian was in and the run-off Anthony found. Anthony would hit another stellar chip to five feet to put the pressure back on Nakashian. RJ hit a great bunker shot to within three feet of the hole setting up a putt to win the Championship. When Nakashian’s final putt hit the bottom of the cup he would become the 2024 Senior Amateur Match Play Champion. With this win, Nakashian takes home his second FSGA victory of 2024 after winning the 63rd Senior Amateur Championship at Innisbrook earlier this year. By ML Staff. Content/Image courtesy of FSGA

ICA Miami is proud to present “Huguette Caland: Outside the Line,” the first solo exhibition of the works of Lebanese artist Huguette Caland in an American museum. A provocative figure in abstract art, Caland (1931–2019) has only recently been recognized for her figurative and abstract paintings that render the body in subtle lines and bursts of color that are simultaneously intimate, erotic, and bold. This exhibition brings together paintings from the artist’s series “Bribes de corps” (Body Parts, 1973–76) and associated works, reflecting her preoccupation with the body and formal experimentation in drawing and abstract painting. Caland often used her own body as a point of departure; these works focus on the body as craft and caricature, expressing its subtle forms through humor, sexual expression, and formal invention. Born in Beirut to the first president of an independent Lebanon, Caland grew up in a cosmopolitan and political environment. Until the Lebanese Civil War in 1975, Beirut’s art scene was one of great freedom and experimentation. An active participant in this milieu, Caland created drawings, paintings, and kaftans that built the foundation for her investigation of the female form. In 1970, Caland moved to Paris to pursue her art practice; it was there that she deepened the expressive and erotic power of line and color in her work, creating the “Bribes de corps” series, which center the body and its erotic expressions. Emphasizing the body through close-ups that, at times, render it unrecognizable, Caland’s works are simultaneously minimalistic and daringly referential. While her earlier works explored the relationship between figuration and abstraction, “Bribes de corps” established Caland as a key figure in the broader discourse of Abstract Expressionism and Color Field painting. The works also take on an autobiographical undercurrent. Transforming the body’s curves and orifices into abstractions that double as landscapes or nonhuman shapes, Caland subverted idealized portrayals of the female form and challenged viewers’ interpretive methods. This series reflects Caland’s deep investment in the visibility and celebration of the female form, while also expressing keen awareness of the ways in which the body is subjected to political and violent forces. Caland’s works can be found in collections around to world, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA); Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; British Museum, London; Tate, United Kingdom; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; San Diego Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris; Fonds national d’art contemporain, Paris; Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Sharjah Art Foundation; and the Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation, Beirut. By ML Staff. Courtesy of Institue of Contemporary Art Miami

Join Frost Science for nine week-long camps where children ages 5-11 can explore astronomy, technology, marine biology, chemistry, and more! Visit frostscience.org/summercamp for more details. Week 3: June 24 – June 28 Colorful Chemistry Get ready to make a mess this week as you explore the science behind things that fizz, pop, and bubble. Spend the week analyzing the amazing chemical reactions found everywhere from distant galaxies to your own kitchen. Learning about chemistry has never been this fun! By ML Staff. Courtesy of Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

Pat Riley has released the following statement on the passing of Jerry West: “I loved Jerry West! We loved being Lakers together; it was sacred ground. We grew in life with each other and shared the best and worst of times together. We can only hope there is someone we meet during a crucial time in our lives that will change you in ways you could dream about. Jerry was that person for me. “Today’s sad, sad news about his passing brought back many of those special moments with Jerry. Those beautiful memories came in a waterfall of tears; all coming so fast, so vivid, so etched in my mind. It was like yesterday after a shootaround at The Forum that we’d hustle to Hollis Johnson’s drugstore in Westwood to eat the best burgers, drink milkshakes and savor a great custard pudding with fresh whipped cream before we headed home to nap. Then it was game time and Jerry would kick ass in a way that was so skilled and relentless. I was so proud to be there in his presence. I watched, I learned. He made me believe. Being in that aura of greatness was mesmerizing. I was told, ‘Pat, Just watch him and model yourself after Jerry.’ He was smart, committed, opinionated, fearless, generous, ultra-competitive, stubborn, but with great grace. These were just some of the characteristics he embedded in my psyche. They emerged at the right time, honed by many years of self-talking Jerry reminders. Jerry kicked down that coaching door for me and said, you can do this, but it has to be now. He knew, then he let me coach. I thank him forever and always for giving me that opportunity." “Chris and I pray the Good Lord will look after Karen and his family during this most difficult time. May peace be with them. And Jerry, one day, my good friend, we will meet again. Just save me a burger, milkshake and custard with whipped cream. The best lunch I ever had. Until then, Rest in Peace.” By ML Staff. Courtesy of NBA. For Miami HEAT

The USTA Florida initiative, AMPLIFY, was launched with a vision to address racial barriers and inequities in tennis within Black communities. Since its creation in 2020, AMPLIFY has evolved into a program that seeks to empower black individuals, communities, and institutions through the sport of tennis. Tennis needs more diverse coaches and industry leaders and AMPLIFY has prioritized the development of Black coaches and leaders throughout all levels of tennis. Through mentorship programs, coaching clinics, and professional development opportunities, AMPLIFY has been empowering aspiring Black coaches, leaders, and volunteers, pro viding them with the resources and support they need to succeed. By investing in the next generation of tennis leaders, AMPLIFY aims to foster a more diverse and inclusive workforce across all aspects of tennis. AMPLIFY has also expanded its scope to encompass a wide range of initiatives aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the tennis community. One of the key components of the program is its support for HBCUs, which play a vital role in nurturing talent and promoting diversity in collegiate tennis. Through partnerships with HBCU tennis programs, such as Edward Waters University, AMPLIFY has provided crucial financial support, equipment, and resources to help these HBCUs thrive. USTA Florida also plans to educate more people on the history of HBCUs, why they’re important to not only Florida’s history, but also tennis history. In addition to its support for HBCUs, AMPLIFY has also focused on partnerships with other black organizations in the community. Since AMPLIFY was created back in 2020, USTA Florida has worked with organizations like the American Tennis Association (ATA). The goal for this aspect of the initiative is to determine what services we can offer in a meaningful consistent way and to evolve existing relationships into working partnerships. Through grassroots programs, clinics, and outreach efforts, AMPLIFY seeks to break down barriers to participation and create opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to engage with the sport. By bringing tennis to parks, schools, and community centers, AMPLIFY is destined to make the sport more accessible and inclusive for everyone. Over the years, AMPLIFY has evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of the tennis community. While its core mission remains the same; to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in tennis for black participants, the program continues to innovate and expand its reach. Through ongoing collaboration with partners and communities in Florida, AMPLIFY remains committed to driving positive change within the sport and creating a more inclusive tennis community for all. By ML Staff. Content/Image courtesy by Jaret Kappelman, Marketing & Communications Coordinator for USTA Florida