Around The Southeast

Tennis Shoes 4 Africa

Dominic Modise, the tennis coach at North Carolina Wesleyan, fondly remembers his childhood, returning volleys on the hot cracked courts in Mmabatho, South Africa, practicing and playing until the soles of shoes surrendered and broke free from their canvas uppers. He and his friends used pieces of bicycle tire to patch their footwear. It was a way of life, and the only way to keep playing.

During those beautifully long African days Modise dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player. He came to America to fulfill that dream, signing a tennis scholarship at the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing. He then went on to earn a Masters in Human Performance from the University of New Orleans.

He never made it to Centre Court Wimbledon, but his contribution to the game has exceeded even his most fanciful childhood dreams. Tennis Shoes 4 Africa, a program he started this year at North Carolina Wesleyan, provides shoes and equipment to kids in South Africa and exposes them to the game. Through the game he played a boy, Modise believes he can now positively impact the lives of other youths, giving them room to dream amid lives filled with war, disease and poverty.

If you wish to donate, send new or used tennis balls, tennis racquets and tennis shoes to: TENNIS SHOES 4 AFRICA, 3400 N Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount, N.C. 27804. Monetary donations also are accepted. For more information visit tennisshoes4africa.com or call 252-985-5101.

 

The Race is on at Road Atlanta

Drift Atlanta V
May 9-10

The Formula Drift competition at Road Atlanta will be conducted in the Turn 10 complex, a right-left-right-hand combination that will require the drifting competitors to quickly change direction while in full drift mode. The com-petition will include Friday qualifying to determine a 16-car field for the finals Saturday, with two cars paired together on consecutive runs (one leads, then they switch). A panel of professional drifting drivers will determine the bracket winners. 

For more information visit www.formulad.com.

Year One Experience
May 16-18

What is the Year One Experience? It’s nothing less than the most complete automotive event ever produced by Year One – possibly anyone. Think about this: Hundreds of immaculate show vehicles all vying for class honors; a Best of Show award that includes an amenities package worth thousands of dollars; high performance vehicles pounding around one of the premier road courses in the world; quarter-mile warriors blasting down the 1320; coverage of the entire event by the biggest names in the magazine and television business; Activities designed to please the entire family. For more information visit www.roadatlanta.com.

SCCA National
May 31-June 1

The Sports Car Club of America is the backbone of American road racing, and the Atlanta Region is extremely active. Besides providing corner workers and other volunteers for events at Road Atlanta and across North America, the Atlanta Region also will host five events at Road Atlanta in 2008. The biggest SCCA amateur sports car race of the season at Road Atlanta is the American Road Race of Champions, Nov. 7-9. More than 400 competitors from 30-plus states are expected to compete in the season-ending championship event. 

Spectators are welcome. For more information visit www.atl-scca.org.

 

AVP Tour Schedule

05/08 - 05/10 
AVP Charleston Open
Family Circle Tennis Center, 
Charleston, S.C.

05/24 - 05/26 
AVP Louisville Open
Waterfront Park, Louisville, Ky.

05/30 - 06/01 
AVP Atlanta Open
Atlantic Station, Atlanta, Ga.
Free tickets to the Friday night session in Atlanta are available to SportsUnlimited readers while supplies last. E-mail sales@sumag.com if you are interested.

 

Inspired Golf Tour Schedule

May 8
The Georgia Club, Statham, Ga.

June 3
Arrowhead Pointe, Elberton, Ga.

June 24
Cuscowilla Golf Club, Eatonton, Ga.

 

 

College Baseball Tournaments

SEC Baseball Tournament in Birmingham

The SEC Baseball Tournament returns for its 11th straight year to Regions Park in Birmingham, Ala., on May 21-25. The eight-team double elimination tournament modeled after the College World Series, includes the top teams from the SEC’s Eastern and Western Divisions plus six at-large bids based on conference winning percentage. Tickets for the tournament are $100 for reserved box seats, $17 for a single-game reserved seat, $60 for a Dr Pepper Six-Pack general admission book and $12 for a single-game general admission. To purchase tickets visit secsports.com.

ACC Baseball Tournament in Jacksonville

The ACC baseball tournament at The Baseball Grounds in Jacksonville, Fla. is scheduled for May 21-25. The Baseball Grounds sits on more than nine acres next to Alltel Stadium. During the year, it’s home to the L.A. Dodgers Double-A team, the Jacksonville Suns. Tickets for the tournament range from $175 for the dugout box championship pass to $12 per game for general admission. To purchase tickets visit theacc.com.

Florida Spring Training Baseball Sets New Record

For the third consecutive year, Florida Spring Training Baseball attendance surpassed the 1.6 million mark. Per game attendance at the 259 games established a new record with an average attendance of 6,478 fans per game. The old mark was 6,244 fans set in 2005. Florida Spring Training Baseball experienced only eight rained out games this season.

Seven teams established new total attendance records and new per-game records. Six surpassed the 100,000 mark, led by the New York Yankees with 139,497 fans showing up at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. The Yankees also led the Grapefruit League with an average of 10,731 fans attending 15 games, a new team record.

Fun and competent amateur events for golfers of all abilities. For details visit www.inspiredgolftour.com.