Advantage, Baton Rouge

Although we’re in the midst of football season and basketball is now getting under way, I want to take a moment and talk about—and show some love for—tennis.

Recently, the United States Tennis Association selected Baton Rouge as one of the top 10 tennis towns in the country. It is a great honor that highlights the passion and growth of sport in the Capital Region.

The Greater Baton Rouge Tennis Community Association is an indispensable resource for any beginner or veteran to get connected and research tennis information in our city. Their Web site, batonrougetennis.com, is a tremendous resource.

Personally, what I like about tennis is its demand for a unique combination of mental and physical strength. Golf is the only other sport where mental strength and concentration is on par (pardon the pun), or even greater than tennis. I enjoy the physical aspects of the game as well—balance, speed, quickness, etc. Plus, it’s a sport you can play at virtually any age.

If you have a passion for tennis, then you won’t want to miss the Advanta World Team Tennis Smash Hits event coming to Baton Rouge Dec. 8. The Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, Baton Rouge Area Foundation and The Elton John Aids Foundation have teamed up for a fabulous tennis event featuring some current and former top players on the world tennis circuit. As of the writing of this column, Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas, Anna Kournikova, Lindsay Davenport, Louisiana’s own Chanda Rubin and Liezel Huber are all scheduled to play.

Recording and tennis legends Elton John and Billie Jean King will kick off the event with a special celebrity match before the pros take center stage. The event takes place at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit wtt.com/smashits.

Encore performance

If you didn’t catch last year’s performance by Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, then you missed one of the best performances ever in the Capital City. Fortunately, Botti is coming back for a one-night-only benefit concert performance for the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. The concert is part of the Symphony’s on-going Pennington Great Performers in Concert series. If you want to enjoy a special evening listening to a gifted instrumentalist, talented composer and a charismatic performer, mark your calendar now for Friday, Jan. 30. Tickets are sure to go quickly so order yours now by calling 383-0500, or visit brso.org and plan a night to remember!

Baton Rouge’s JFK connection

If you’ve been fortunate enough to hear Baton Rouge businessman Richard Lipsey give a talk about his time working as a military aide in the White House under President John F. Kennedy, then you’ve been privy to a fascinating and heart-breaking piece of history. As a 24-year-old, Lipsey found himself front and center for one of this country’s darkest hours—the aftermath of JFK’s assassination. His job put him in the room when pathologists performed their meticulous autopsy, a grueling, hours-long procedure that went into the wee hours. Lipsey was there, too, as a grieving Jacqueline Kennedy escorted her husband’s body from the White House, and ultimately at the funeral. Lipsey sat down with veteran journalist and LSU professor James E. Shelledy and recalled those awful days as well as his lifetime since then coping with the aftermath—and endless speculation about—a national tragedy. Read the story here.

Coming full cycle

In case you haven’t noticed, cycling is red-hot in Baton Rouge. More people are taking to the streets on bicycles for recreation, competition and in some cases, to commute. The city-parish has marked key streets as bicycle routes, encouraging cyclists to take to the road and warning motorists to be aware and to follow the rules. There’s no denying there’s tension as a result: Cyclists feel unsafe, while gridlock-weary drivers fume as they have to navigate around bikes. The thing is, the law requires motorists to respect cyclists. In fact the rules have been stiffened to better protect cyclists. In this month’s cover story, Jeff Roedel explores this dynamic issue and what you need to know about it. His report can be read here.

New Year’s Eve Celebration

It all started with a dream Dr. Curtis Chastain, lead singer of the V-Tones had for his band to play with the Baton Rouge Symphony. Add to that a well placed comment to the right person at the right time….mix in a community-minded, get things done CEO and you have the perfect recipe for the party of the year! John Graham, CEO of St. James place, and his board of directors have stepped up in a big way in donating $25,000 to the Symphony. One of their desires was to sponsor a unique event for the community and several meetings later….a New Year’s Eve Celebration was born. You can dine and dance the night away and then stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel as you listen to music from “New Year’s Eve through the ages.” There will be music to please everyone-Strauss waltzes and polkas, big band sounds a la Guy Lombardo, rock and roll with the V-Tones and the Baton Rouge Symphony behind it all. Check in out at brso.org.