HIGH FIVES ALL AROUND 'ROCKY' THEME GETS BCR TENNIS PLAYERS ALL REVVED UP.Byline: Rick Coca Valley News Writer They'll they'll Contraction of they will. they'll will hit the tennis courts as the theme from ``Rocky'' pulsates through the loudspeakers. And the crowd will go wild. The cheers that the tennis team at the Burbank Burbank, city (1990 pop. 93,643), Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1911. Tourism and the entertainment industry are central to its economy; several motion-picture studios and television headquarters are here. Burbank's aerospace industry collapsed with the end of the Cold War. Center for the Retarded re·tard·ed adj. 1. Often Offensive Affected with mental retardation. 2. Occurring or developing later than desired or expected; delayed. will receive Saturday at the Burbank Tennis Center will make them feel like pros. And that's the whole point. BCR BCR B Cell Receptor BCR Business Communications Review (magazine) BCR Banca Comerciala Romana (Romanian bank) BCR Breakpoint Cluster Region BCR Benefit/Cost Ratio BCR Bay City Rollers is a facility that serves about 95 developmentally disabled adults and children. The tennis expo acts as both a positive forum for the program participants and a corporate-sponsored fundraiser for BCR. Eric Maxwell is operations manager See datacenter manager. for the Burbank Tennis Center. He said if the most recent expo in December is any indication, the players' energy will more than equal that of the audience. ``They're so enthusiastic about everything,'' Maxwell said. ``It's something that warms your heart. Everybody had a wonderful time. People were crying. People were laughing.'' Maxwell said the BCR players were giving out plenty of high fives to the crowd and hugging complete strangers. ``It's just one of those things that make you appreciate life a little more,'' Maxwell said. Eddie Crespo, the tennis coach for BCR, said volunteering has given his life a deeper purpose. The 50-year-old Burbank resident and fitness trainer began to volunteer at BCR nine years ago, about the time he was changing careers and wondering what his legacy would be. ``It starts out being about you,'' Crespo said. ``The growth that I've gotten from doing the (volunteer) work has been such that I cannot do without them.'' Crespo said because the Burbank Tennis Center is across the street from BCR, it was a perfect fit for BCR's tennis program. Steve Starleaf, the tennis center's executive director, immediately said yes to Crespo's request for courts. Crespo said those initial years were lean, with players playing with broken rackets rackets Game for two or four players with ball and racket on a four-walled court. Rackets is played with a hard ball in a relatively large court (approximately 9 × 18 m), unlike the related games of squash and racquetball. . A few years ago as the program progressed, Starleaf suggested that the tennis center put on a fundraiser for BCR - and the high fives have been flying ever since. Organizers are lining up salsa dancers and exhibition players to entertain the crowd while the BCR tennis team members warm up. But the real show will start when the Italian Stallion's theme song comes on. The BCR tennis expo will run 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday March 25 at the Burbank Tennis Center in McCambridge Park at 1515 N. Glenoaks Blvd. For information, call (818) 843-4105. For information on the BCR and any of its services, call (818) 843-4907. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: From left: BCR participants, from left, George Nicholas and Miles Mallier pose with adult program instructor Tom Burke
Photo by Bonnie bon·ny also bon·nie adj. bon·ni·er, bon·ni·est Scots 1. Physically attractive or appealing; pretty. 2. Excellent. Burrow |
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