Daily Archives: March 5, 2021

Three scientists analysed the article and estimate its overall scientific credibility to be very low. more about the credibility ratingA majority of reviewers tagged the article as: Cherry picking, Misleading, Overstates scientific confidence.

REVIEW This Wall Street Journal opinion piece, published on 18 February 2021, claimed in its headline that the U.S. will have herd immunity by April. Written by Marty Makary, a professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the article received more than 220,000 interactions and 37,000 shares on Facebook, according to the social media analytics tool CrowdTangle. Its claim was also propagated through social media posts by other outlets, such as this video by former U.S. Representative Ron Paul and this article by Zero Hedge, labeled a conspiracy-pseudoscience source by Media Bias/Fact Check.

Herd immunity is a state in which a certain proportion of individuals in a population are immune to an infectious disease. As explained in this article by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health:

For example, if 80% of a population is immune to a virus, four out of every five people who encounter someone with the disease wont get sick (and wont spread the disease any further). In this way, the spread of infectious diseases is kept under control. Depending how contagious an infection is, usually 50% to 90% of a population needs immunity to achieve herd immunity.

The headlines claim is built in large part on the assumption that 55% of Americans have natural immunity to COVID-19 through prior infection. However, experts who reviewed the article told Health Feedback that this assumption wasnt supported by the data. [See our reviewers overall feedback.]

Marm Kilpatrick, a professor at the University of California Santa Cruz who studies disease ecology, found that the articles figures for the number of COVID-19 infections detected by testing, as well as the infection fatality ratewhich measures the proportion of infected people who die from the diseasewere unsubstantiated.

Kilpatrick explained that the proportion of COVID-19 infections detected by testing is unknown, since there are no representative serosurveys available for the U.S. Serosurveys, or seroprevalence studies, measure the proportion of people who have antibodies to a pathogen. These studies inform researchers about the extent of a pathogens spread in a population.

The author uses a value of 15.4 percent (1/6.5), which produces a very different answer than if the author had used his other proposed value of 25 percent (1/4), Kirkpatrick pointed out. Instead of the 55 percent seroprevalence claimed, seroprevalence would be 34 percent. The fraction of infections detected by testing may even be higher than 25 percent, which would produce an even lower estimate of seroprevalence.

The article also extrapolated the total number of COVID-19 infections by relying on the infection fatality rate and the total number of deaths. However, the article underestimated the infection fatality rate. Given a fixed number of deaths, the higher the infection fatality rate, the smaller the size of the infected population.

The best available data for the U.S. population indicates a value of 0.6, Kilpatrick said, citing a study by ODriscoll et al.[1]. Using the same number of deaths as the author, which is 0.15 percent of the U.S. population, this would translate to 25 percent of the U.S. population having been infected, rather than two-thirds as the author claimed.

In short, the articles statement that 55 66 percent of the U.S. population has already been infected and has immunity is not supported by available data, he concluded.

Apart from the miscalculations in the total number of infections, the article also made several inaccurate assertions about COVID-19 reinfections and immunity.

Tara Smith, an epidemiologist and professor at Kent State University, refuted the articles claim that when [reinfections] do occur, the cases are mild, citing a case report documenting COVID-19 cases around the world that were more serious upon reinfection[2].

Virologist Angela Rasmussen pointed out that the article misrepresented a study by Sekine et al. on T cells[3]: T cell immunity is presented [in the Wall Street Journal opinion piece] as being an indicator of protective immunity [] this is an incorrect interpretation of the data cited about T cells to support that assertion.

Eric Topol, a cardiologist and professor of molecular medicine at the Scripps Research Institute, highlighted several problems with the opinion piece in a Twitter thread:

William Hanage, an associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard University, pointed out that the articles use of the Brazilian city of Manaus as a real-life example of successful protection through natural infection is inaccurate and misleading.

The article fails to mention that since the research it cites was published, Manaus has suffered a surge of infections even worse than the one that it saw at the start of the pandemic[4], he said.

As reported in a study by Buss et al.[5], even though an estimated 76 percent of Manaus population was infected, the spread of COVID-19 wasnt halted. In fact, news reports indicated that a second wave of infections overwhelmed hospitals in early 2021. Buss et al. warned that Manaus represents a sentinel population, giving us a data-based indication of what may happen if SARS-CoV-2 is allowed to spread largely unmitigated.

Curiously, the Lancet commentary cited in the opinion piece to support the claim actually reported COVID-19 resurgence in Manaus despite the high level of infection in its population[4]. This contradicts the Wall Street Journal articles suggestion that Manaus had achieved protection through natural infection.

One reason for the resurgence may be the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants[4,6], although other factors, such as waning population immunity, may also be a contributing factor.

It is not known to what extent the circulating variant P.1 contributed to the surge, or how many cases were reinfections, but it should be more than enough to demonstrate the dangers of trusting to herd immunity from infection for protection, Hanage said.

Cases in the U.S. have indeed been falling in recent weeks. The reason for this is still unclear, but this Washington Post article explored several possible explanations. Apart from vaccinations, other potential contributing factors that scientists highlighted were changes in peoples behavior, such as greater adherence to physical distancing and the use of face masks, as well as fewer COVID-19 tests being performed due to a shift in focus from testing to vaccinating. However, an analysis of the number of cases and positivity rate in this Health Feedback review indicated that the decrease is genuine and not simply due to fewer tests being performed.

In summary, the Wall Street Journal opinion pieces claim that the U.S. will achieve herd immunity by April 2021 is unsupported by the available data. Its claim that natural infection confers sufficient herd immunity to end the COVID-19 epidemic in the U.S. also doesnt stand up to scrutiny, when we consider the example of Manaus. The city experienced a largely uncontrolled spread of COVID-19, which resulted in a high infection rate. Yet the city still saw a resurgence of COVID-19 that was worse than the first wave.

While the U.S. is indeed experiencing a fall in the number of new COVID-19 cases, scientists have urged Americans to avoid complacency given the threat posed by the new virus variants.

Former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tom Frieden told CNN:

Weve had three surges. Whether or not we have a fourth surge is up to us, and the stakes couldnt be higher.

You can read the original Wall Street Journal article here. REVIEWERS OVERALL FEEDBACK A. Marm Kilpatrick, Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz:The articles claim that the U.S. is near herd immunity rests on two numbers: 1) the detection of infections by testing (claimed to be 10 25 percent) and 2) the infection fatality rate (claimed to be 0.23 percent).

1) The fraction of infections detected by testing is unknown, as there are no representative serosurveys for the U.S. on which to quantify this number. The author uses a value of 15.4 percent (1/6.5), which produces a very different answer than if the author had used his other proposed value of 25 percent (1/4). Instead of the 55 percent seroprevalence claimed, seroprevalence would be 34 percent. The fraction of infections detected by testing may even be higher than 25 percent, which would produce an even lower estimate of seroprevalence.

2) The infection fatality rate is an age-specific value that also depends on gender and pre-existing morbidities. The best available data for the U.S. population indicates a value of 0.6 (95% CI: 0.51-0.7), which comes from Figure 2 of this study by ODriscoll et al.[1].

Using the same number of deaths as the author indicates that 0.15%/0.6% = 25% of the U.S. population has been infected, rather than two-thirds as the author claims.

Thus, the authors argument that 55 66 percent of the U.S. population has already been infected and has immunity is not supported by available data.

Tara Smith, Professor, College of Public Health, Kent State University:There are a lot of errors here, probably because the author has no background in infectious disease. The author of the T cell research cited says its misused (see that and more info in this Twitter thread). And not all reinfections are mild[2].

William Hanage, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health:This is not an exhaustive list.

The estimates of how many have been infected do not tally with those of others (for example, see this analysis of attack rate). But because these numbers inevitably lag, the best way to show this is probably the section where the national per capita mortality is used to estimate how many people have been infected. In reality, this statistic varied hugely by state, with more than 2500/million dead in New Jersey, less than 1000/million in Virginia, and about 300/million in Hawaii. This suggests great regional differences in the amount of infection that has occurred and the resulting immunity. Note that the role of the holidays in producing a peak is illustrated by the fact that Hawaii saw a small peak around the same time as the rest of the country in early January, despite having little evidence of immunity and a very different climate. While cases are down nationally, in some regionsincluding some with very high per capita mortality ratesthey are showing signs of plateauing.

There are numerous misstatements about the weight of evidence when it comes to reinfections. It should be noted that if your bar for reinfections is two PCR tests with a genome from each, that makes them very hard to detecteven more so when, as the article states, many initial infections are never detected! Probably the best single counterpoint is the example of Manaus, which is held up in the article as an example of herd immunity. The article fails to mention that since the research it cites was published, Manaus has suffered a surge of infections even worse than the one that it saw at the start of the pandemic[4,5]. It is not known to what extent the circulating variant P.1 contributed to the surge, or how many cases were reinfections, but it should be more than enough to demonstrate the dangers of trusting to herd immunity from infection for protection.

The articles statement that most infections are asymptomatic is not true[7].

Finally, the arrival of the B.1.1.7 variant which is approximately 50% more transmissible means that a larger proportion of the population needs to be immune to drop the reproductive number below one[8]. While April may well be considerably better than the worst of the winter, this should be placed in the context of seasonality[9]. Overemphasizing population immunity is misleading and could discourage people from vaccination.

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Misleading Wall Street Journal opinion piece makes the unsubstantiated claim that the US will have herd immunity by April 2021 - Health Feedback

The Ledger

Results from golf league play around Polk County through March 1 with format, date, event and winners by flight or class in alphabetical order.

Big Cypress 18-Hole Ladies, Scramble, Feb. 23: Cathy Kosmicki/Sandy Wallin/Allison Letourneau/Carol ONeil 71, Darlene Wohlers-Piper/Paulette Hall/Kay Hink/Mary Hawn 72, Jane Bryant/Sharon Batcheller/Kathi Wagner, Gail Hanus, Irene Letourneau/Jennifer Renaud/Sue Sumner/Sally Donadoni, and Jan Turner/Nancy Moen/Judy Bruce/Kathleen Moreland tied at 73. Closest to pin: Cathy Kosmicki 0-23 HDCP and Mary Hawn 24+ HDCP.

Big Cypress North Star Ladies, Net Shamble, Feb. 24: First Flight - Rose Mary Allen 50, Sharon Batcheller 52; Second - Kathleen Hilber 51, Madeline Fostveit 52; Third - Kathy Jones 45, Kathleen Moreland 49; Fourth - Barb D'amato and Sally Donadoni tied at 44.

Cleveland Heights Men's Wednesday, Feb. 24: Green Tee - Dave Anderson plus 3, Steve Blois plus 4, Paul Boeh and George Lees tied at plus 3; Yellow - Pat Jackson and Frank Shinn tied at plus 2, Woody Blades plus 1, George Johnson minus 2. Closest to pin: Green - Steve Blois; Yellow - Les Hettinger.

Cleveland Heights Tuesday Men's, Draw and Quota Points, Feb. 23: Joe Albright/Jim Robinson/Chuck Smith/Paul Pelchat plus 10, Herb Koffler/Kevin Mimbs/Mike Mimnaugh/Greg Spooner plus 7, Ron Berry/Gil Besse/Wayne Cross/Bennie Boutwell and Walt Wilson/Jim Williams/Keith Wightman/Lorne Matthews tied at plus 3. Closest to pin: No. B4 - Herb Koffler; No. B6 - Dave Waller; No. C8 - Bob Reichert. Best Over Quota: A - Herb Koffler plus 4; B - Dennis Compton, Walt Wilson, Jim Williams and Mike Mimnaugh all at plus 2, C - Joe Albright plus 7.

Cleveland Heights Tuesday Women's, T's and F's, Feb. 23: First Flight - Mettie Withers 36.5, Vicki England 40.5, Charlene Lewis and Penny Stephens tied at 4.5; Second - Vicki Fioravanti, Myrna Iosue and Shirley Kalck all at 42, Barbara Schucht 49; Third - Diane Oneil 40.5, Monica Hodge 41.

Cleveland Heights Weekend Women's, Memorial, Net, Feb. 28: Jennifer Keser 67, Charlene Lewis 71, Sue Cudaback 72.

Grasslands Women's, Pick Six - Silver, Six - Red, Six - Green, Scramble; Feb. 25: Gross - Danette Hensel/Beatriz Duque/Josie Womble/Barb Shiller 70, Niki Bryan/Linda Bosko/Irene Bullara/Rhonda Harris 72, Linda Inslee/Maureen Browne/Rita Selvage/Cathy Mayfield 73; Net - Net - Jen Wedlock/KK Pennewell/Phyllis LeFrois/Joyce Sheppard 53, Milena Ilic/Mary Ellen Krakowski/Peggy Semans/Nancy Southern and Ann Zavitz/Marci Kline/Jaquae Smith/Betty Corizzo tied at 54.

Hamptons Couples, Two-Man Best Ball, Feb. 27: Donna Richner/Gary Richner/Debbie Barner/Scott MacGregor 88, Diane Boland/Joe DeBonis/Angie Rotondo/Justin Krantz 89, Kathy Shedd/Mike Ready/Paul Schaake/Glenda Schaake, Connie Weller/Ron Weller/Deb Weingard/Rick Cook, Melinda Taylor/Tom Vennard/Lynda Collison/Jerry Collison and Shirley Schell/Bill Colclaser/Cindy Hall/Roy Hall all at 92. Closest to pin: No. 3 - Deb Weingard; No. 12 - Gary Richner. Best Score: Connie Weller 70, Mike Frain 63.

Hamptons Ladies 18-Hole, Stableford, Feb. 25: Louise Walker plus 9, Donna Richner and Jan Doolittle tied at plus 6, Deb Weingard, Glenda Schaake and Beth Borden all at plus 3. Closest to pin: No. 5 - Judy Wheeler; No. 16 - Deb Weingard.

Hamptons Men's, Net Stroke Play, Feb. 23: A Flight - Richard Regan 57, Ron Davis 58 on a match of cards over Bruce Emmett; B - Gary McVoy 53, Bob Miller 54, Bill Mann 55. Closest to pin: No. 3 - Dave Trombley; No. 6 - Chuck Swafford; No. 11 - Rich Regan.

Hamptons Sunday Duffers, Scramble, Scramble, Feb. 28: Terry Foster/Judy Orioli/Perry Borden minus 4, Sally Fiske/Beth Borden/Paul Egan plus 4.

Hamptons Wednesday Stableford, Feb. 24: Front plus 7 - George Bradley/Denny Sittler/Robert Chapman/Joe DeBonis; Back plus 3 - Bill Burton/Jim Carter/Jim Kermis/Mike Ready; Overall plus 4 - George Bradley/Denny Sittler/Robert Chapman/Joe DeBonis. Closest to pin: Front No. 3 - Larry Baker; No. 5 - Rob Chapman; Back No. 11 - Pete Hibbard; No. 17 - Rob Chapman. Best Score: Jim Carter and Joe DeBonis both at 64.

Highland Fairways Women's, Low Gross/Net, Feb. 23: First Team Gross - Cee Lawrey 67, Net - Joyce Cruise 54, Phyllis Heckman and Irene Pelchat tied at 58; Second Gross - Lila Wilde 71, Net - Chari Prunoske 57, Dawn Kling and Judy Maur tied at 58; Third Gross - Caroline Low 80, Net - Peg Ostrander 53, Brenda Adams 57. Closest to pin: Harriet Warren.

Highland Fairways Thursday Scrambles, Feb. 25: Robin Slattmam/Jim Slattman/Ray Berard/Marty Schoonover minus 6,Karen Knight/John Knight/Bernie Bourdeau/Rod Howell minus 5 on a match of cards over Irene Pelchat/Paul Pelchat/Grace Williams/Don Hanson, Rose Kramer/Al Kramer/Doug Pritchard/Ron Bell minus 4. Closest to pin: Harriett Warren and Joe Ahern.

Lake Ashton Blue Man Group, One Best Team Net on Odd Numbered Holes, Two Best Team Nets on Even Numbered Holes, Feb. 24: Front 9 - Steve Haynes/Ken Engh/Dan Begy/Pete Riedy and Jim Blackwell/Bill Testa/Giles Snyder tied at 37, Larry Griffin/Bob Bogard/Fred Halde/Joe Volpe 39, Steve Burrell/John Ziebell/Jim Smith/Vince Adamo and Bob Garvin/Jim Lloyd/Leo McCafferty/Charles Lindberg tied at 40. Back 9 - Steve Haynes/Ken Engh/Dan Begy/Pete Riedy, Gary Fako/Mike Ferraro/Larry Seiter/Jim Gawrych and Steve Beck/John Davis/Bill Bothwell/Nolan Hake all tied at 44, Steve Burrell/John Ziebell/Jim Smith/Vince Adamo and Gator Patrick/Tom Anderson/Clarence Bristow/Ron Mckie tied at 45.

Lake Ashton Ladies 18-Holers, Two-Person Team - Best Ball Gross, Best Ball Net, Feb. 23: First Flight Gross - Lisa Kennedy/Donna Larsen 74, Pat Amstutz/Trish Kellar 75, Net - Karen Young/Jody Nesheim 61, Cathy Powers/Mafie Walker 64; Second Gross - Dotty Custenborder/Karen Markel 80, Deb Louder/Nancy Zografos 81, Net - Sharon Woods/Janice Fleming 59, Diane Holman/Pat Hodges 62; Third Gross - Bunny Radcliff/Deb Foulke 83, Janice Kipp/Dori Krogman 87, Net - Lynne Abbott/Maija Baynes 59, Mary Ann Mentjes/Mary Anne Stadfield and Paula Elmers/Kathy Reed tied at 63; Combo Gross - Margaret Volpe/Kathy Cargel 87, Punky McCafferty/Sue Kurtz 89, Net - Carole Ferrieri/Judy Mulhearn 62, Diane Dupuis/Marie Clauser 65.

Lake Ashton Ladies Niners, Two-Day Ringer Tournament, Feb. 22/23: Blue/Combo Flight Gross - Carolyn Alvaro 42, Fran Kramer 44, Lisa Snook 30, Marilyn Lancaster 31; Combo Gross - Cyndy Berry 44, Sue Plahuta 49, Net - Sharon Connell and Liz Meigel tied at 28; Green Gross - Green First Gross - Gina Martine 42, Fran Salb 43, Net - Linda Reardon 30, Evanna Scianna 31; Green Second Gross - Diane Struble 44, LaVerne Anderson 46, Net - Dot Bothwell 30, Betty McDonnell 31; Green Third Gross - Pat Chipak 50, Donna Butch 52, Net - Denise Lacaprucia 31, Peg Riedy and Loretta Hieronomous tied at 32. Most Improved: Blue/Combo - Sue Schlei minus 7; Combo - Joan Senecal minus 13; Green First - Carol Florek minus 10; Green Second - Diane Struble minus 15; Green Third - Sheri Merritt minus 13.

Lake Ashton Men's, Best Ball of Partners - Gross and Net, Feb. 24: First Flight Gross - Charlie Mutz/Wayne Arant 72, Net - Denis Lussier/Don Connors 62, Dan Baun/Steve Morgan 63; Second Gross - Larry Leising/John Candler 72, Net - Les Jacobson/Duff Hill and Donn Yasz/Chuck Tashjian tied at 63; Third Gross - Carl Pritchard/Ron Mann 75, Net - Don Feliks/Paul Guay 62, Doug Dudek/Bob Cribbs 63; Fourth Gross - Jim Capra/Jim Ford 77, Net - Denis Mulhearn/Lee VanHorn 59, Lloyd Kramer/Dale Marks and Norm Wilderson/Roger Nelson tied at 64.

Lake Bess Friday 3 p.m. Men's Scramble, Random Team Draw, Feb. 26: Hoppy Cassady/John Holmes/Ed Bauer/Henry Adams minus 6. Closest to pin: No. 3 - Ray Huggins; No. 7 - Ed Bauer.

Lake Bess Tuesday 3 p.m. Men's Scramble, Random Team Draw, Feb. 23: Jim Stokes/Dan Petry/Ron Gero/Dan Jagt minus 8. Closest to pin: No. 3 - Bobby Smith; No. 7 - Ron Gero.

Lakeland Elks Lodge 1291 Monday League, Huntington Hills, March 1: A Flight - Ed Carley plus 8, J.R. Richardson plus 7, Mike Stacy plus 5; B - Bob Fuschetti plus 5, Jim Howell plus 4, Pete Finstad plus 2. Closest to Pin: No. 4 - Mike Stacey; No. 14 - Jack Meister (50/50).

Lakeland Men's Senior, Bartow, March 1: A Flight - Mike Frost plus 4, Dean Fleming even on a match of cards over Mick Williams and Gary Terrell; B - Mike Parillo plus 1, Raleigh Worsham even, Pete Casella minus 2; C - Joe Stevens plus 4, Ed Scannell minus 1 on a match of cards over James De la Salle; D - Bill Landen even, Dave Kann minus 2 on a match of cards over John Weber. Closest to pin: No. 3 - Mel LaNore; No. 13 - Wayne Clark. Low Gross: Mike Frost 76.

Oakwood Men's, Shootout, Feb. 23: Bob Edwards and Charlie Pushard both at plus 5, Ray Hoddard plus 4, Kenny Clower plus 3. Closest to pin: No. 3 - John Propp; No. 5 and 7 - Kenny Clower; No. 11 - Larry Dreiling; No. 16 - Charlie Walden. Feb. 25: Howard Kay plus 10, Tony Stanonik plus 6, Larry Dreiling plus 5. Closest to pin: George Ivey, Ray Robertson, Howard Kay, Ron Kingry and Larry Bartoletti. Feb. 27: Tony Stanonik plus 7 on a match of cards over Don Swartz, Lou Grasso plus 6, Dave Henderson plus 4. Closest to pin: Lou Grasso, Scott Gintert, Don Swartz, Jim Hortert and Don Swartz.

Ridge Men's, Sanlan, Feb. 25: Dennis Johnston plus 11, Ric Moots plus 8. Closest to pin: No. C4 - Dennis Johnston; No. B8 - Ric Moots.

Sandpiper Women's, Feb. 23: A Flight - K. Cline plus 6, G. Emigh plus 5, C. Papa plus 4; B - D. Marks plus 12, J. Curl plus 7; C - H. Gillespie plus 12, S. Nusbaum plus 6, L. Oppelt plus 4. Closest to pin: A - J. Curl; B - D. Marks.

Schalamar Creek Couples', Odd Holes Top Couple on Scorecard Plays Scramble and Bottom Couple Plays Best Ball, Even Holes Bottom Couple Scramble and Top Couple Plays Best Ball Add Scores Each Hole, Feb. 24: First Flight - Joel Wolfgang/Linda Wolfgang/Steve Scotia/Maryse Capobianco 135, Tim Lancaster/Sandra Lancaster/David Kelter/Kathy Kelter 138. Nine-Hole Flight - Dan Watters/Jeanne Watters/Glen Valentine/Ginger Valentine 68, Ernie Lacross/Patty Lacross/Jack Bates/Betty Bates 70.

Schalamar Creek Ladies', Low Gross/Low Net, Feb. 23: First Flight Gross - Linda Wolfgang 81, Julie Alameda 86, Net - Sandra Lancaster 71, Linda Richards 74; Second Gross - Jennifer Keser 91, Crystal Santopadre 97, Net - Carol Sutton 69, Barb Mahar 70. Nine-Hole Flight Gross - Jeanne Watters 45, Coby Holowacz 47, Net - Eleanor Shoenfelt 29, Dianne Lang 33.

Schalamar Creek Men's, Team Quota Points, Feb. 22: First Flight - Bob Fooy/David Gray/Michael Craig/Tom Mahar plus 1, Tim Lancaster/Marion Noble/Ed Herring/Terry Phalen minus 1, John Russell/Skip Foster/Richard Dayton/Tim Conrad minus 2; Second - Barry Levy/Gill Sickels/Don Eby/Larry Dodge plus 1, Howard Basso/Denver Harper/Arlan Atherton/Noel Bartlo minus 4, Don Swint (BD)/Jerry Throgmorton/Dick Rae/Al Horvath minus 7.

THE INDIAN LAKE ESTATES GOLF COURSE ANNUAL "ANCHORS AWEIGH" fundraising golf tournament will be held March 20 and is open to the public. The format is a four-person "scratch scramble with a men's division and a mixed division. Registration and putting contest begin at 7:45 a.m. with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. A luncheon will follow the tournament. Entry fee is $35 per player for prizes and lunch plus $25 per player for green fees. Register as a team or a single. Deadline for registration is March 15. Call 863-692-1514 for additional information. CDC COVID-19 guidelines must be followed to participate.

INAUGURAL CROSSED PAWS PET RESCUE BENEFIT SCRAMBLE TOURNAMENT will be held March 27 with a 9 a.m. shotgun start at Schalamar Creek Golf Course, 4500 U.S. 92 East, Lakeland. Proceeds benefit Crossed Paws Pet Rescue building fund. Prizes, 50/50 raffle, long drive and closest to pin contests. $35 members, $45 nonmembers, registration deadline March 20. Box lunch $10; must let pro shop know when you sign up. Sign up as foursome or single. For more information or to register, call Sherry Hand, 925-766-4103.

BARTOW INDIVIDUAL POINTS, Wednesdays, nine holes, make up your own foursome, $17 ($12 green fee and cart), pays all plus scores, night specials in the lounge. Call 863-533-9183.

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS MENS, tee times available 7:30-8:30 a.m. Wednesday through Monday and Friday, groups or individuals welcome, quota points with skins optional, eight to 10 groups now play. Call Paul Boeh at 863-738-4129.

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS TUESDAY WOMENS, every Tuesday, tee times start at 8:30 a.m. Call Shirley Kalck at 863-853-9566.

HAMPTONS TUESDAY MEN'S LEAGUE, accepting new players. Call 844-882-8157 for more information.

HUNTINGTON HILLS TWO-ASIDE, Saturdays, 18-Hole Points Quota. Check in by 8:15 a.m. Contact Terri White at 863-5594082 or eagle-2par@aol.com.

HUNTINGTON HILLS WHY WORRY WEDNESDAYS, Nine-Hole Quota Points, 5:15 p.m. shotgun start. Contact Terri White at 863-559-4082 or eagle-2par@aol.com.

LAKELAND MENS SENIOR GOLF, 7:30 a.m. shotgun starts, Mondays, play against golfers within your handicap. Call Dave Brown at 419-656-5747.

LPGA AMATEUR GOLF ASSOCIATION is looking for women and men to play in weekly Wednesday league and every other Saturday at various courses in the Winter Haven/Lakeland/Orlando and other areas. For more information, email Kathy Mannahan at pjacobs21@tampabay.rr.com.

OAKWOOD MEN'S, 6:30 a.m. sign in. Points, skins and five closest to pins. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Charlie Walden at ctw55@yahoo.com.

POLO PARK MENS TUESDAY SCRAMBLE, 7:30 a.m. sign in. Random team draw. 18-Hole. For more information, call Polo Park Pro Shop at 863-424-3341.

POLO PARK MENS SATURDAY SCRAMBLE, 7:30 a.m. sign in. Random team draw. 18-Hole. For more information, call Polo Park Pro Shop at 863-424-3341.

WEDGEWOOD THREE-MAN SCRAMBLE, nine holes; Tuesdays at 5 p.m.; call Marcus at 863-858-4451 by 2:30 p.m. to play.

WEDGEWOOD TWO-ASIDE GAME, 9 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays; 18-hole points game with skins and blind draw; call Marcus at 863-858-4451.

WEDGEWOOD MIXED CO-ED SCRAMBLE, 2 p.m. Thursdays. Call Marcus at 863-858-4451 by 1 p.m. to play.

E-mail results of local golf tournaments, aces and upcoming tournaments to mquinn@theledger.com; or mail to Golf News, Ledger Sports Department, P.O. Box 408, Lakeland, Fla., 33802. Include complete scores and league names. Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.

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Local golf league results, aces and upcoming events - The Ledger

Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his State of the State address Tuesday to formally start the 2021 legislative session. Here are his remarks, as prepared for delivery:

Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, members of the House and Senate and fellow citizens:

I see, in many parts of our country, a sad state of affairs: schools closed, businesses shuttered and lives destroyed.

This calamitous reality is just the beginning of what will likely be long-term damage to children, families and society.

Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

While so many other states kept locking people down, Florida lifted people up.

Floridas schools are open and we are one of only a handful of states in which every parent has a right to send a child to school in-person.

All Floridians have a right to earn a living and our citizens are employed at higher rates than those in the nation as a whole.

Every job is essential.

If you are working hard to earn a living, we got your back in the state of Florida.

Every business in Florida has a right to operate. We have stood up for small, family-owned businesses and have saved thousands of them from ruin.

Because of our actions, Florida is leading the nation in the number of people submitting business formation applications and we are one of the top destinations for business relocation.

Friends, legislators, Floridians, lend me your ears: We will not let anybody close your schools, we will not let anybody take your jobs and we will not let anybody close your businesses!

One year ago, COVID-19 had not yet been declared a global pandemic. We had scant knowledge of the virus, little ability to test for it, and no approved treatments.

Today, we have three safe and effective vaccines, great treatments like monoclonal antibodies, and the ability to conduct rapid diagnostic tests.

A lot has happened over the past year.

We are saddened by the thousands of Floridians and hundreds of thousands of Americans who have died with COVID. And we sympathize with the family members who in many instances were not even permitted to see their loved ones in person, at a nursing home or in the hospital.

To honor those who have died with COVID and to recognize the toll the virus has taken on family members, the state of Florida will be lowering the flags to half-staff on Wednesday.

We thank the health care professionals throughout Florida who cared for those who became ill due to COVID. This includes front-line doctors and nurses, who provided top-notch care to hospitalized patients, as well as staff at long-term care facilities who worked tirelessly to protect our most vulnerable seniors.

Their efforts helped to save thousands of lives and are a major reason why Florida, with perhaps the most vulnerable population to COVID, has per capita COVID mortality that is below the national average.

From the outset, Florida has been steadfast in focusing efforts on the protection of the elderly. We rejected the policy of sending contagious COVID patients back into nursing homes; indeed, we prohibited the practice. Florida also established COVID-only nursing facilities so that infections in long-term care facilities could be more effectively contained.

And perhaps most importantly, we are prioritizing our senior citizens for vaccinations. Florida is putting seniors first because it is the best strategy to save lives and is the best way to honor our elders from whom we draw inspiration. We have vaccinated millions of seniors throughout Florida parents, grandparents, veterans of the second world war, survivors of the Holocaust.

We have made vaccinations available all across the state: in retail pharmacies including Publix, Walmart and CVS, at hundreds of hospitals throughout Florida, at drive-thru sites in places like The Villages retirement community, at houses of worship from the First Baptist Church Piney Grove in Lauderdale Lakes to the St. Paul AME in Jacksonville, at senior communities such as Century Village and Kings Point in South Florida, and in underserved areas such as Pahokee.

We even have delivered thousands of shots to homebound seniors in the comfort of their own homes.

Our efforts saved lives. In fact, 40 states have suffered higher COVID mortality for seniors aged 65-plus on a per-capita basis than Florida.

And the cases and hospitalizations for seniors in Florida have plummeted as vaccinations have increased since Jan. 30, the number of seniors hospitalized for COVID has declined by 80% and cases among seniors have declined by 71%.

Florida was right to prioritize the elderly. Seniors first works.

As we worked to protect seniors, we also worked to give opportunities to our kids. Florida has led the way in providing all parents the right to send their kids to school for in-person instruction. Florida is one of only four states and the only large state to offer in-person instruction to 100% of its students.

Across the nation, millions of students have been locked out of the classroom for nearly a year and for many there is no end in sight. These students have fallen behind on academics, have been denied the opportunity to participate in activities such as athletics, and have seen their social development stunted.

The consequences of shutting kids out of school for a year, year-and-a-half and maybe even, in some places, two years, will be catastrophic and long-lasting.

The failure of so many places outside of Florida to open schools at the beginning of the school year will go down as one of the biggest policy blunders of our time.

Florida did not make that mistake. We followed the data and stood by our parents and students. We ignored the political posturing and fear-mongering and did what was right for Floridians.

Florida has succeeded where so many other states have failed in providing opportunities for its students in large measure because of the tireless efforts of school superintendents, administrators, teachers and coaches. They knew keeping kids out of school would be a disaster and were not going to let that happen on their watch.

On behalf of a grateful state and millions of grateful parents, thank you.

Given the unique circumstances we faced, you may never have an opportunity to play such a crucial role in ensuring opportunities for students as well as in preventing long-term damage to society.

Open schools have been a godsend to parents throughout Florida, especially for single moms responsible for putting food on the table.

Economic lockdowns are a luxury of the largely affluent Zoom class; many Floridians cannot do their jobs over a computer; they need to show up.

Over the past many months, Florida has led the way in protecting the jobs and livelihoods of its hard-working citizens from construction workers to bartenders, from servers to hair stylists, everyone has a right to earn a living.

Floridas efforts have made a lasting impact on the lives of millions of people. But do not take it from me. Let them tell you for themselves:

There are not a whole lot of Floridians who are itching to move from Florida to lockdown states, but there are thousands and thousands of people who are seeking to leave the lockdowns behind for the greener pastures in Florida.

We have long been known as the Sunshine State but, given the unprecedented lockdowns we have witnessed in other states, I think the Florida sun now serves as a beacon of light to those who yearn for freedom.

As we begin this legislative session, I look forward to working with Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls. You both have already demonstrated leadership on issues that matter to Floridians and I know you will be great partners for progress.

When the initial fallout from COVID began, there was a lot of concern about whether we could afford to continue with the progress we have already made on priorities like protecting our water resources and K-12 education.

Forecasts were dire. The 2021 legislative session was shaping up to be a fiscal nightmare.

I am pleased to report that our current fiscal outlook is much better than the bleak forecasts from last spring.

As many of you are probably aware, when the pandemic hit, I vetoed $1 billion from this years budget. I also instructed our executive agencies not to spend all of the appropriated funds because we did not know for sure how much revenue we would be taking in.

Because Floridas economy is open, revenue is coming in at levels far higher than even the most recent revised estimates. For the last three months December to February preliminary estimates peg the increase in revenue at more than $800 million over and above the December revenue estimation.

Florida is below the national average in unemployment and much lower than our peer states of Texas, New York and California. We also anticipate downward revisions of Decembers unemployment numbers to reflect even stronger jobs numbers.

As international travel is reinstated and tourism picks up (and I hope the federal government will allow our cruise ships to sail again), the employment outlook should improve even more.

Throughout the pandemic, Florida has not touched one red cent from our rainy day fund.

The bottom line is that we saved Floridas economy and as a result our budget outlook is positive.

The priorities weve championed from water resources to education to infrastructure can be honored.

Let us get it done.

I reject reductions in funding for K-12 education. Last session, the Legislature answered my call to increase the average minimum salary for teachers, taking Florida from the bottom half of states to the top 5. Let us keep this momentum going let us do more this year!

We should not forget that Florida continues to make great strides in K-12 education.

Just last week, the College Board released data showing that Florida ranks No. 2 in the nation in the percentage of graduating seniors who have passed Advanced Placement exams.

Florida leads the nation in school choice.

We are beginning to place a strong and long overdue emphasis on vocational education.

Florida has launched an ambitious civics initiative so that students can understand the principles that make our country unique.

Florida is leading on education and we must continue to do so.

We also must continue to protect our natural resources and invest in improvements in water quality. I ask that you continue to fund the key projects from the EAA reservoir in the south to the projects in the northern Everglades that will impact our state for generations to come, and reaffirms our commitment to Everglades restoration and access to safe, clean water for our communities.

I am also proposing the creation of the Resilient Florida program under the Department of Environmental Protection. Through this initiative, Florida will invest $1 billion into projects that help our communities adapt to the threats posed by flooding from intensified storms and sea level rise. I am encouraged by similar proposals from the Legislature to address this important issue for our communities, and I look forward to signing into law a program that will make a difference.

Florida is and must remain a state dedicated to law and order. When riots broke out across the nation last year, we saw cities ruined by violent mobs. Law enforcement was targeted and lawlessness prevailed. This was not and must never be tolerated in the state of Florida.

As we saw rioting in other states last year, I called up the National Guard, mobilized mobile field force teams from the FHP, and worked with local officials like Carlos Gimenez and Lenny Curry to ensure that places like Miami and Jacksonville did not suffer the same fate as Minneapolis and Kenosha. Florida handled it well. But we need to do more.

Working with President Simpson, Speaker Sprowls and law enforcement groups across the state, we have proposed the strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement reforms in the nation.

We will not permit localities to jeopardize the safety of their citizens by indulging in the insane fantasy of defunding law enforcement.

We will not allow our cities to burn and violence to rule the streets.

And we will not leave any doubt in the minds of those who wear the uniform that the state of Florida stands with you.

To paraphrase an old Merle Haggard song, when you mess with the men and women of law enforcement you are walking on the fightin side of me.

Speaker Sprowls and Senator Simpson have also been leaders in supporting legislative reforms to protect Floridians from the power of Big Tech.

This is real-life 2021, not fictitious 1984, yet Big Tech wields monopolistic power over the public in ways that would have made the monopolists of the early 20th Century blush.

Floridians have a right to control their personal data and Big Tech should not be able to make billions of dollars off us without our informed consent.

Florida has always been a state that strongly supports free speech, and we cannot allow the contours of acceptable speech to be adjudicated by the whims of oligarchs in Silicon Valley.

Nor we can allow Floridians to be de-platformed or silenced with no means of recourse, and this is especially true of those who rely on these technology platforms for their livelihoods.

Finally, because Florida is dedicated to free and fair elections, we cannot allow Big Tech to interfere in our elections by putting a thumb on the scale for political candidates favored by Silicon Valley.

Speaking of elections, we should take a moment to enjoy the fact that Florida ran perhaps the most transparent and efficient election in the nation in 2020. People actually asked, why cannot these other states be like Florida? Such a sentiment would have been unthinkable 20 years ago.

We need to make sure our elections are transparent and run efficiently. There should be no ballot harvesting in the state of Florida. One person, one vote.

We also cannot allow private groups to pour millions of dollars into the administration of our elections. That is a public function and should be done free from this type of private interference.

Let us stay ahead of the curve on election administration we never want to see the chaos of 20 years ago rear its head in Florida again.

I know these issues are merely scratching the surface of what the House and Senate will tackle this session. Of course, I would be remiss if I did not lend my support to the COVID liability bills for business and health care; for the Speakers bills cracking down on the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign influence; general reforms to improve the states legal climate; reform of the emergency powers of local government; and continued support for infrastructure.

I have no doubt that you will send me a lot more than that.

At the close of the constitutional convention the famed elder statesman, Benjamin Franklin, was asked to be the first to sign the new Constitution. Franklin pointed to General Washingtons chair, the back of which had the design of a sun low on the horizon. There were days, Franklin remarked, when I thought this picture of a sun low on the horizon was a setting sun, but I now know its a rising sun a new day for America, a new dawn for freedom.

Our nation and our state have endured a tumultuous year. Floridians have responded in ways that would make our founders proud.

Because of those efforts, the sun is rising here in Florida and the Sunshine State will soon reach new horizons.

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As a Pittsburgh sports fan growing up in Connecticut, I wasnt sure how to feel about the Penguins trade with the Hartford Whalers in March of 1991.

I knew the players that the Penguins were getting were good and filled a need in Pittsburgh.

But, man, John Cullen was fifth in the league in scoring! And what if Zarley Zalapski honed all those offensive tools and became more physical and defensively stout?

My doubts were erased, though, when I got on the school bus while wearing a Penguins cap.

You guys stole Ron Francis and Ulf, grumbled the Whalers fan. You (expletive).

I stammered back. Yeah, but you guys got John Cullen and Zarl,

Go (expletive), he snarled.

Well, Im pretty sure if I did that on the bus, Id get suspended. But I let it go because the kid was older and bigger than me (which isnt saying much).

Regardless, the Whalers fan version of Scott Farkas was onto something.

Thats where we begin our second installment of looking back at The Trade of 1991 as Francis recalls the chain of events that eventually led to the Penguins big steal at the trade deadline. And the teams first Stanley Cup.

The explanation surrounding why the Penguins made the trade that they did on the night of March 4, 1991 is pretty clear. They had offense to spare. And they needed to get more defensive responsibility and toughness.

So you get a two-way specialist in Selke Trophy candidate Ron Francis to replace the offensively oriented John Cullen as a second-line center complement to Mario Lemieux.

You give up a young puck-moving defensemanwhich Hartford neededin Zarley Zalapski and get the nasty, net-front defensive presence of Ulf Samuelsson.

You give up the size, grit and enforcement up front in minor league prospect Jeff Parker. And you get an NHL-ready version on the blue line instead with mass and reach in Grant Jennings.

Got it.

The dynamics at play in Hartford were more complex, though. Why would they ever be willing to get rid of a 28-year-old Francis, who left the team as the franchises career leader with 264 goals, 557 assists and 821 points in 714 games?

He was team captain. He appeared to be well-liked by the other players. Almost every Whalers fan seemed to love him.

But what Francis didnt have was a contract beyond the end of the year. Nor did he have a good relationship with coach Rick Ley, who had taken the C off his chest and had given it to Pat Verbeek. Something that Jennings would describe as a gut punch for Francis.

Rocky relationships with Ley werent restricted to Francis.

Rick Ley had some different kinds of relationships with different players. Thats a nice way of putting it, Jennings said. He was going off on a lot of players. Having personal meetings with guys like myself and Ronny. Lots of people. I could sense I was on the block for sure.

But I had no idea they were making the deal they did.

As the Hartford Courant described things the day after the trade, Francis contentious contract negotiations as he was playing out his $370,000 option year were very much an undercurrent to the process.

The paper quoted the centerman as saying that Whalers general manager (and former Penguins GM) Eddie Johnston contacted him a few weeks before the deadline in an attempt to reopen negotiations.

Francis thought that meant the Whalers genuinely wanted to keep him, as they insisted that signing him after the trade deadline would be no problem.

In retrospect, they were trying to do a lot of things to get me to say, I want out. Which I didnt, Francis told me during Wednesdays Breakfast With Benz podcast. Then they called a couple of weeks before the deadline and said they were happy with me and wanted to sign me. So I said great, well talk after the deadline.

And then they traded me. Interesting times.

Francis admitted during our conversation that things were not great between him and Johnston during that last year in Hartford. Which, for most people who have met either person, is almost impossible to fathom. If you show me one person who has had a bad interaction with Francis, thatd be exactly one more person who has ever told me theyve had a bad experience with Johnston.

And vice versa.

Before ever meeting either Johnston or Francis, I heard lots of words to describe them. For Johnston, they are usually affable, ingratiating, friendly, outgoing and jovial.

I often only hear only two words to describe Francis, consummate gentleman.

After interacting with both on multiple occasions since then, I cant argue. So, for a lot of Penguins fans who are aware of Johnstons and Francis individual reputations, the notion of static between the two men may be hard to picture.

But Francis is now on his second go-round as a general manager himself. After holding that title with the Carolina Hurricanes (ironically, the team that used to be the Whalers), Francis is now the GM for the expansion Seattle Kraken. And he seems to have a better grasp now on why things were so tense then.

Looking back, I cant point the finger directly back at E.J. You work directly for the owner sometimes. Thats where a lot of this stuff came from, Francis said.

Bingo!

Its a great deal for the Hartford Whalers, owner Richard Gordon declared after the trade was announced.

History would look back and disagree. In time, so would Gordon himself.

Johnston would eventually return to Pittsburgh and coach Francis. Hes still with the organization as a community relations liaison at the age of 85. During a team documentary about the 1991 Stanley Cup season, Johnston told AT&T Sportsnet, We had no choice. He said if (Francis) is here on Monday, you guys (Johnston and his staff) wont be here. Get Ronny out of there.

According to Penguins GM Craig Patrick in that same documentary, Johnston then started calling every general manager in the league. And he put together the best package to pry Francis out of Connecticut.

By 2006, Gordon was telling the Hartford Courant, I consider the trade we made the worst trade in the history of hockey.

Now, on that front, history may look back and agree.

A quick return

Three games into their Penguins careers, the three ex-Whalers returned to Hartford with their new team for a road game.

I remember being floored by the support of the fans, Francis recalls. Pictures along the glass wishing me well. I had been there 10 years. A lot of good friends. Good to see those folks after the deal.

Cullen scored. Francis didnt. But he had an assist, and the Penguins won 5-2.

Theyd go 8-2-1 over the first 11 games after the trade, climbing from third place in the Patrick Division to first. During that stretch, the Pens allowed just 2.36 goals per game. They had allowed 5.60 goals per game in their five-game winless streak before the deal.

The plan at the time of the trade was falling into place.

Sometime after Game 3, Ulfy and I went out for a bite to eat, and I said this team can win the Cup. We felt that it had that much talent, Francis recalls.

And they did. Twice. As Francis contributed 28 points in 38 total regular-season and playoff games in 91. Jennings and Samuelsson contributed everything they were supposed to on the blue line.

For the ex-Penguins on the Whalers, it didnt go as well. They failed to win any of their final seven games. Then they lost to the Boston Bruins in six games during the first round of the Adams Division playoffs.

Zalapski made the All-Star team in 93 and topped out with 65 points that season after a career-high 20 goals in 92. But he never quite lived up to his fourth overall draft-choice status or Olympic pedigree that he had coming into the league.

For his part, Parker only played four games with the Whalers before suffering career-ending head and knee injuries.

Cullen was pretty good with 16 points in the final 13 regular-season contests and nine points in six playoff games. Plus 77 more the next season contributing 102 total points in 109 regular-season games during his time in Hartford.

But it was never the same for him there as it was in Pittsburgh.

Ronny was such an icon, such a legend. Hartford loved Ronny, Cullen said. You cant replace anybody else in their shoes. You have to stand on your own two feet. But it was tough. If I had bad games, people would boo. It was not a great situation for me in Hartford.

Jennings did have some sympathy for the fans the trio left behind in Hartford.

Every time we won a series and would go to the next level, it would make it look that much better for Pittsburgh and worse for Hartford, Jennings said. The fans took that on the chin. I felt sorry for them. But that was the decision management made. And they had to live with it.

The Final 20

Francis recalls the atmosphere in the locker room between the second and third periods of that Stanley Cup-clinching Game 6 against the Minnesota North Stars. It was 6-0 at the time.

It started with one guy throwing out a typical hockey cliche. Keep the shifts short! Then the next cliche. Get it over center ice and get it in deep. And then it was Third man high!

And it kept getting louder and louder and louder until Tom Barrasso said, Take a deep breath. Were up 6-0. Were going to be fine.

It was Paul Coffey, however, who said something even more sage as the clock got down to two minutes left at 8-0.

I remember standing on the bench watching the clock wind down the final seconds, Francis continued. And Paul Coffey said, As great as this moment is, its just going to get better every day of your life.

A very true statement from a guy who had won a few cups before that one.

Samuelsson and Jennings were around through most of 1995, at least long enough to see Cullen return to Pittsburgh for a year.

Francis would stay in Pittsburgh for 1992. He was an indispensable force on the team while Lemieux missed time due to injury during the teams second Stanley Cup run. And then for six more years beyond that, as he patched up his relationship with Johnston and played under him as a coach for four years.

A relationship Francis says is still good to this day.

In all, the Hall of Famer had 713 total points in 630 combined games played for the Penguins between the regular season and the playoffs.

So, in the end, I guess Hartfords Scott Farkas was right.

But I bet hes still ticked off about it. And that makes me smile.

You can hear Tim Benzs entire conversation with Ron Francis here.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.

Categories:Penguins/NHL | Sports | Breakfast With Benz | Tim Benz Columns

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30th anniversary of Penguins-Whalers trade: Why would Hartford ever give away Ron Francis? - TribLIVE

While growing up as the son of a steel worker in a blue-collar, football-loving town in western Pennsylvania, Ron Manilla didnt know much about tennis.

So when a monsignor at the Catholic school he had just started attending as a ninth-grader tried to recruit him to a tennis team that was short on players, Manilla who had played only football and basketball to that point scoffed.

I said, No way Im playing that sport. Thats a sissy sport, Manilla recalled. He said, Why dont you show up at the tennis courts tomorrow and Ill show you who the sissy is.

So I went out there and he just pulverized me up and down I thought I was going to die, Manilla said, laughing. And that was it. I just realized it was a really fun sport, a really tough sport, and ever since that day Ive been hitting tennis balls.

More than a half-century after first picking up a racket, Manilla is retiring. The longtime tennis director at the University of Virginia Foundation-owned Boars Head Sports Club a fixture in the Charlottesville tennis community, on the UVA tennis scene and in the Special Olympics world has announced that March 12 will be his last official day as a full-time teaching professional.

The man with the jovial disposition, the Santa Claus-like beard and the million-watt smile will be missed.

He not only touched the lives of many because of the racket in your hand, but also with the delivery of life lessons along the way, Boars Head General Manager Russ Cronberg said. Without a doubt, Ron has directly shaped the importance of tennis in our community.

When I think of the Boars Head Sports Club and of the people who make that place so special, I think of Ron Manilla, UVA mens tennis head coach Andres Pedroso said. Hes someone who treats everyone with consideration, is so kind to everybody, a friend to everybody in the organization and all the members. He says hello to everybody, is very flexible with everybody and is just a very friendly person who has been a joy to be around.

Hes been a major asset for not only the Boars Head, but also for UVA tennis and the Special Olympics.

Manilla, who has taught tennis to three generations of Charlottesville families, smiles when thinking back to his earliest days in the sport. He grew up in the small steel-mining town of Farrell before attending high school in Erie and then going on to play tennis at Gannon University (also in Erie), where he served as team captain.

The more Manilla played, the more his love for the game grew. His favorite players were Bjrn Borg and Evonne Goolagong.

After graduating with a degree in psychology in 1973, Manilla worked as a guidance counselor for troubled youth in Erie and served as Gannons head coach.

I knew how to play, but I didnt know much about coaching, Manilla said. There werent many books about it back then. I just had to start analyzing stroke technique and that kind of thing and just go from there.

Tired of Pennsylvanias cold weather, and with his older brother, Larry, living in Culpeper, Manilla moved to Charlottesville in 1976. He again worked with troubled youths through Charlottesvilles Community Attention program and taught tennis part-time at the YMCA, as well as in the city and county parks and recreation departments. Manilla combined his passions for teaching tennis and helping kids via a program he helped institute for latch-key children.

I considered myself like a grass-roots pro. I think that was the type of style that I used for the rest of my career, Manilla said. It was about being community-oriented and teaching tennis to as many people as I possibly could.

Manilla started as the full-time YMCA tennis director in the late 1970s. Soon after, he started the Get Acquainted Tennis Club, an adult program that he ran for 33 years worth of Saturday mornings at Charlottesville High School.

We went after players who had played, but who had quit playing due to jobs and raising kids, Manilla said. At times, we had over 200 people coming. It was so cool to help get so many players back to the game.

He was a darn good coach. You could see the quality of his tennis expertise in the way he worked with [players]. He was able to impart to them the tennis guidance they really needed.

- Lloyd Rauppfather of Special Olympics tennis player Chris Raupp

Manilla took over as director of the Atlantic Coast Athletic Club on Four Seasons Drive in the mid-1980s before coming to the Boars Head in 1995. It gave me an opportunity to really expand my career both as a tennis teacher and a tournament director, Manilla said. I had a staff, a beautiful facility and was able to get into a whole new style of teaching.

Manilla has been instrumental in bringing a pair of professional tournaments to the Boars Head that, starting in 2002, Charlottesville community members have flocked to.

Many fans still talk about the womens event held in 2003 that featured Russian superstar Anna Kournikova. Spectators started showing up at 7:30 a.m. for the 5 p.m. match. The place became so packed that some onlookers climbed trees to get a glimpse of the action. The match wound up being the last of Kournikovas career; she retired immediately after.

Over the years, several other high-profile players have come to play in the events including former No. 1 players Jelena Jankovi and Samantha Stosur, recent Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady, former UVA star Danielle Collins, teen sensation Coco Gauff, career grand slam doubles winner Leander Paes, all-time aces leader Ivo Karlovic and former top-10 player Jack Sock.

All the players always say he is one of the best tournament directors, said former UVA star Treat Huey, who has enjoyed a successful doubles career on the pro tour since graduating in 2008. Hes always talking to everybody and asking them if he can do anything to help anybody.

He does such a professional job with those tournaments, UVA womens tennis head coach Sara OLeary said. I think whats amazing is all the great players who come to play in them because he runs them so professionally and does such a great job. Players know these are great tournaments and are so well-run.

In 2008, Manilla started the Xperience Special Olympics tennis tournament at the Boars Head.

We could have no better champion for Special Olympics than Ron Manilla, David Thomason, vice president of advancement for Special Olympics Virginia, said. Ron has opened so many doors for us in the Charlottesville community and far beyond. He opened the doors of Boars Head Sports Club for sure, but, as importantly, he opened the doors for connection with a community that, at his prompting and through his example, has enthusiastically and generously embraced Special Olympics Virginias core values of respect, inclusion and unity, and allowed people of all abilities to succeed on the court, in school, at work, and in the community.

Rons approach has exemplified what we want to achieve at SOVA using sport as a catalyst for attitudinal and societal change.

In 2018, Manilla served as the Special Olympics coach for Virginia at the USA Games in Seattle. The next year, he was a national coach at the World Games in Abu Dhabi, Dubai.

Local resident Chris Raupp, a Special Olympian who has worked in food preparation for Aramark at UVAs Newcomb Hall dining room since 1992, played under Manilla on those teams, winning a gold medal in doubles at the World Games.

He was a darn good coach, said Lloyd Raupp, Chris father. You could see the quality of his tennis expertise in the way he worked with [players]. He was able to impart to them the tennis guidance they really needed. He was able to work with them psychologically as well calming them down mentally and physically. And he would yell, too. He wasnt wishy-washy about it. He was there to get [players] to play the best that they could.

At the singles event in Abu Dhabi, Chris Raupp finished fourth and didnt medal after coming down with an illness.

We saw Ron consoling him afterward and telling him, Hey, you did good. You are the fourth-best player in the world. Dont you forget that, Sue Raupp, Chris mother, said.

He and Chris are best friends, she added. He talks about how he loves Chris, and Chris loves him.

Manilla has four children of his own with his former wife, Diana Marchibroda. At one point, all four worked in tennis, and in 2008 the Mid-Atlantic United States Tennis Association named the Manillas the Virginia Family of the Year.

At the time, Manillas oldest son, Dominic, had just graduated from Old Dominion University and was starting his career as a coach; Danny, who also played at ODU, was teaching tennis in Leesburg; Anna, who played for Western Albemarle High School, was working as a USTA league coordinator; and Joey, after also starring at WAHS, was playing at Christopher Newport University.

That was the coolest thing that could ever happen to a dad whose life is tennis, said Manilla, breaking into a wide smile. That was really cool. All four of my kids stayed in tennis. It was very humbling to me that theyd want to do it.

Treat Huey still gets a chuckle when he thinks back to the time UVA played a match against ODU. A normally staunch supporter of the Cavalier teams, Ron Manilla was cheering loudly for Dominic, a player on the Monarchs team.

He was a really big UVA fan, but he wasnt that day for sure, said Huey, laughing. And I thought that was really cool.

Manillas talent as an instructor was recognized in 2013 when the Professional Tennis Registry named him an International Master Pro, a distinction tantamount to a lifetime achievement award.

Tim Rose, the chief executive officer of the UVA Foundation, which operates the Boars Head Resort, said Manilla helped elevate the clubs tennis reputation on the East Coast.

Manilla also gave Rose his first-ever lesson. I was jumping up to swat my serve, emulating what I had seen on TV, Rose recalled. Ron suggested we start with just trying to get it over the net!

Rose said Manilla has been a teacher, a colleague and a friend.

Members of the Boars Head staff likely share a similar sentiment. Around the club, its commonplace to see them immersed in deep conversation with Manilla.

Pedroso said Manilla always seems to be in a good mood.

Every time you see him, he says hello genuinely, Pedroso said. And he stays relaxed. Ron just kind of takes everything in stride. He just has a special presence about him where you want to be around him. He lightens the mood and makes being around him very pleasant. I think thats why hes been around for so long. People want to be around people like that.

During a recent workday, Manilla gave a lesson to a 3- and a 4-year-old, then followed it up with a session with a woman in her 90s.

Manilla still plans to give lessons when he can and will stay involved in hosting the clubs professional tournaments, as well as the Xperience, but at age 70, he will no longer be on the court feeding balls to players for 27 to 30 hours a week.

When you turn my age, you start to think about things that you should be doing, Manilla said. Ive done this for so long. Is it that Im tired and just ready to quit? No, because I still have a passion for it. Do I really want to give that up? Well no, I really dont want to, but thats all Ive ever done feeding balls to people. And its been wonderful. Ive created great friendships.

But you just get to this point where you [realize] you havent done much of anything else. It was a hard decision to make, but I feel it was the right thing to do. I want to see my grandkids and get involved in their lives and be able to drive down to Norfolk and watch ODU [where Dominic is now head coach] play every single match.

I consider myself very lucky to have had all the experiences that Ive had. I just feel very grateful for everything.

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A Lifelong Love Affair Is Coming to an End for This Revered Tennis Teacher - UVA Today