SPORTS WRAP
BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
PHOTO BY FELICIA LAGUERRE OWENS
This past weekend in the city of East Orange the Department of Recreation and the Department of Cultural Affairs hosted National Tennis Day at Elmwood Park. This was their 2nd annual event in the city, which has a yearlong tennis program.
Cities across America honor the day with tennis activities, and East Orange showcased two dedicated tennis champions in residents Jean Gibson Szpara and her twin Joyce Gibson. They were invited by the city of East Orange to coach the adult / senior teams. On hand for the occasion were public officials from the city officials from the United States Tennis Association.
One hundred participants took part in National Tennis Day in East Orange – 60 youth and 40 adult residents. Among those attending the event were school students from the Edward T. Bowser School, ages 6-12. Also on hand were the EO Fire Department and East Orange Police Chief Phyllis L. Bindi, and representing the Althea Gibson Foundation was Donald Folders, the tennis coordinator.
The New York Police Department tennis team took part in a friendly tennis match with the East Orange Police Department. Attendee Howell Johnson said the event was an amazing event for the youth of the city of East Orange.
Finally, the Conference Finals in the NBA are set. The Dallas Mavericks, who eliminated the #1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, who finished off the defending champion Denver Nuggets in seven games, in the Western Conference Finals. On the other side, the Eastern Conference Finals will see the #1 seed Boston Celtics, who took care of the Cleveland Cavaliers, take on the Indiana Pacers, who shot a record 67% in Game 7 against the New York Knicks to win the series in an upset.
