Milan Kofol
“THE HISTORY OF COLLEGE TENNIS”
“I am coming around somewhat to your point of view. What was/is the benefit of bringing in foreign players? Why would state colleges pay for foreign players? I note that a lot of the foreign players now are of mediocre quality. When I came to PC, I was a professional as the state gave free tennis lessons, equipment, travel, etc. It all got perverted, I believe.”
Gerry Ritter
“WHERE TEARDROPS FALL”
“Wonderful story. Should remind all of us that kindness matters. Good radiates like ripples in a pond. Proud of you, Sis.”
Tony Barriteau
“LUCKY (44)”
“Great writings, Coach Parham. You will always have a place in my heart because of your teachings and incredible wisdom.”
Randy Bailey
“STAR WARS (72)”
“Michener is my all-time favorite. I have traveled the world and time in his books. We have learned a lot about time and space since 1982. I’m not sure anyone can tell us currently if the odds are crazy high or low. Anytime I think I have something figured out, I look up at the sky. I know nothing. Keep at it, Tom!”
David Linebarger
“SOME OLD, SOME NEW, SOME BORROWED…. (81)”
“I’ve been watching the comeback of the drop shot as well. It’s becoming such an important shot now, especially against those (and there are many) who struggle with the vertical game.”
Ethomasparham
“MY DANNY TALBOTT STORY”
“Danny wasn’t a person, he was a time. Our time.”
Ethomasparham
“FOREIGN TRADE OR FOREIGN AID”
“Happy New Year to my buddies. Christian—you represent internationals who stay here and see it from both sides. I have tried to do that too, and God knows I have benefitted from international players. But you now see it as a parent, affecting your kids. Never have I said no to internationals who are eligible, good people. I passionately believe scholarships should be awarded with our kids in mind. Love to you and yours. Coach.”
Vee Bundy
“SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS”
“It is impossible to eat a Klondike without getting a ‘flake or two’ on either your stomach (if eating bare-chested) or your shirt!”
Ethomasparham
“PICKLEBALL 2”
“Pickleball is exploding at our club; we are giving weekly clinics. Hope all is well, Coach. We are having family pickleball events where kids and adults are having a much easier time rallying. I do think it would be very popular in schools and see no negative impact on tennis. It may even increase interest in trying tennis after the fun and success in pickleball. Thanks.”
Alan White
“PICKLEBALL 2”
“Good article—good for posting even if it irritates some of your tennis buds!!”
Ethomasparham
“DAY DREAM BELIEVER”
“Tom, great thoughts. It is long overdue for American college tennis to develop American kids. Once upon a time, American tennis was dominant on the world scene, and I feel there was a direct relationship with the college experience.”
— Doug Verdieck
Lane Evans
“HELPING”
*”As a veteran tennis teaching professional for the better part of 40 years, it is refreshing to know that Coach Parham still has the enthusiasm and will to see this project of educating high school tennis coaches in an effort to make them better students and educators of the game.
I helped put The Little Green Book of Tennis in the hands of coaches in Henderson and Gaston Counties. I hope it helped. I think it did. But we cannot stop there. As Coach Parham has detailed, there is still work to do. These coaches need education on how to better teach and understand the inner workings of our game, both physically and mentally.
I, too, will help with this. Through the help of USTA NC, we have established a small budget of funds that will be used in 2017 for this purpose—to educate high school coaches. The goal is to have at least two workshops or at least one big one.
I plan to speak. I hope other tennis teaching professionals will engage as well. This is important. We won’t be able to solve the issues of the high school tennis world, but we can do this or do nothing. I chose the first one. I believe we can make a difference. We can educate these coaches and make them better.
The real winners are the kids. They get better. They will know that there are coaches and tennis professionals that care about them and their success. We can do this. Look for details in the early part of 2017 for our plan of attack.
Thank you for your support of this terrific project.”*
— Lane Evans, USPTA Elite Professional, Incoming 2017 USPTA Southern Division President
John Danise
“HELPING HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS COACHES”
“I would like to have you as our featured guest on one of our Thursday broadcasts.”
Kenny Rand
“MAESTRO”
*”Charlie Owens was playing Danny Birchmore in the finals of the Southern Open on center court in Birmingham.
Charlie hits a drop shot, and Birchmore drops him back. Charlie runs it down and continues to net. Birchmore hits a deep lob, and Charlie hustles back.
The center court phone rings. Charlie answers and says, ‘One minute, please,’ as he hits a lob over Birchmore. Birchmore hits a lob back, and Owens puts it AWAY—then goes over and talks to the person who called in.”*
Alan White
“HOW DID I DO?”
“Some good stuff—keep writing. You will help a lot of people that you will never hear about! You are still the ‘teacher’!!!”
Bob Thelen
“ABOUT THE AUTHOR”
*”I didn’t know Tom Parham but did know Jim Verdieck, one of the tennis coaches Mr. Parham wrote about in his book. (I googled Coach Verdieck’s name and found this page.)
Coach Verdieck was the U. of Redlands tennis coach during the years I attended Redlands (1963-68). I played freshman, JV, and varsity tennis while there.
I learned an incredible wealth of tennis playing and coaching knowledge from Coach. He gave me the instructional tools I needed to teach tennis both in private and clinical settings. I also was fortunate to be able to know his sons, daughter, and wife while at Redlands.
I didn’t know until reading the excerpt from Mr. Parham’s book that Coach Verdieck was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame. But I am not surprised—he was truly one of the greats in the world of collegiate tennis!”*
Anonymous
“THE MAYOR”
*”During one of our ‘Friends of Tom Parham’ weekend getaways, we were standing in line checking out at the T&W when The Mayor heard me talking about how excited I was to be there.
So he gave me a Viagra.
A story I find amusing on several levels (grin).”*
— Cj (PS: I always regretted giving him that pill back.)
Allen Searson
“THE MAYOR”
*”I remember when, at your NC HOF induction, the Mayor and I were sitting together as the procession was about to begin. We had been there about 30 minutes, and Ralph had already polished off his fancy dessert.
He looked at me and said, ‘Are they about to accept their awards yet?’
His back was facing the podium, and he was unable to see what was going on. I said, ‘I’m afraid not, Mayor. They are going to introduce every living member of the HOF who is present, and it appears to be about a hundred or so. Looks like we are going to be here a while.’
‘Oh Lord,’ he sighed.
I gently slid my chocolate cake adorned with all the finery over to him. ‘See if this’ll help, Mayor.’
‘Bless you,’ he replied.
They don’t make ’em like that anymore.”*
Tony Barriteau
“Coach, thank you for being a father figure to me. Your wisdom, teaching, and statesmanship are superb.”
Roland (Thumper) Thornqvist
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”Coach, reading this book is like playing for you all over again.
More important than all your trophies and awards is what you taught all of us who played for you. This book shows the man behind the awards and why you were so influential in our lives.
It illustrates why I thrived at Elon and gave me the confidence to succeed in America!
We love you, Coach!”*
Grayson Whitt
“EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 1”
*”Enjoyable, funny, and a very entertaining book.
I had a hard time putting the book down. Coach Parham, you served an ‘ace’ with this one.
Good job, Roger Dodger.”*
L.G. Hall, PhD (Psychologist & Author)
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
“Tom Parham’s book Play Is Where Life Is provides us with a fascinating insight into the life and times of one of our country’s most successful collegiate coaches.”
Dan Magill
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”Thanks a million for your great book Play Is Where Life Is.
I got many, many laughs. The book is very interesting. I enjoyed references to many people and towns I knew.
Thanks again for your wonderful book—a treasure indeed.”*
— Dan Magill, former UGA Tennis Coach
Dr. Tom and Margaret Rand
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”Thank you again for the wonderful work you did with our children.
We will always be grateful.”*
Jim Toney (Economics Professor, Ret., Elon University)
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”I enjoyed the book very much.
I am happy to say Tom Parham is my great friend.
Sincerely, Jim.”*
Bill Ozaki (Director of Programs and Player Development, STA)
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”I am using the book towards improving our college tennis situation.
Congratulations.”*
— Bill
Leo Lambert (President, Elon University)
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”I have it proudly displayed in my office with my Elon faculty book display.
You are the most scholarly coach Elon ever had.”*
Frank and Pamela Haith
“ABOUT THE AUTHOR”
*”Coach Parham, we are so excited about your book and can’t wait to get a copy so that we can continue to grow from the wisdom in which we benefited while attending Elon College.
The many nuggets that you sowed into our lives as a professor, mentor, and supervisor had a tremendous impact on our lives both personally and professionally.
Best wishes to you and Mrs. Parham. Thanks for everything that you did for Pam and me, and God bless.”*
Bill Steed
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”This book is a must-read for anyone who grew up in the 40s and 50s, as it will bring back all sorts of memories about the way boys were ‘raised up’ in the days before car safety seats, bicycle helmets, and fears about guns, talking to strangers, and pedophiles.
But even if you didn’t grow up in that era, you will still come to know all sorts of characters, as Tom brings them to life—and there ARE some characters.
The book is not so much about tennis and coaching as it is about life.
Highly recommended.”*
Kate Hickey
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
“A fascinating slice of Elon University history—we are so pleased to have Tom’s book in our archives collection!”
Joan Adams Jones
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”Having grown up practically on the Barton College campus, I observed bits and pieces of this as it happened.
It was great to read and reminisce about Dr. Hamlin, Mr. Cloyd, Sam Modlin, and other characters in this book.
There were a few tears shed and a lot of laughs. A LOT!!
Tom and Margaret Parham have been such a positive influence in the lives of many people, and I am so grateful to be one of them.
Congratulations on a hugely entertaining book, Tom!
I’m going back for seconds now.
Roll on, Big River!”*
Johnnie Dennis
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”Do yourself a favor—you deserve it.
Put this book on your ‘Must Read’ list.
I’ve been enjoying Tom’s storytelling since the late 60s and have encouraged him to ‘write this stuff down’ since hearing the first one.
Well—he finally got around to it.
I just finished my first reading and enjoyed each and every story (some several times).
There’s no beating around the bush here.
Tom develops vivid characters in one paragraph or less, then puts them in a scene even more vivid in the next sentence.”*
John Eatman
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”I really enjoyed the stories.
I found myself laughing out loud in several places.
It brings back lots of memories and memorable characters.
Unfortunately, I am too old for the tennis advice, but it is an excellent source for tennis parents and budding players.”*
Wachara & Chin (Thailand)
“ABOUT THE AUTHOR”
*”Congratulations, Coach, for your another masterpiece!!
Love & miss from Bangkok, Thailand.”*
Jim French
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”I had not seen Tom in 35 years and just read the book.
I read 100+ books a year, and this is the best humor I have read in the last three years.
Someone that is a marketer should get the word out.”*
Russell Rawlings
“3RD EDITION BOOKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE”
*”Coach always could tell a story!
Reading this reminds me of the year our tennis team drove to nationals in Kansas City instead of taking the plane.
We wanted to show the players, especially those from overseas, a portrait of America.
However, they slept most of the way and listened to their headsets when awake.
I drove, and Coach Parham told story after story from his youth and his AC experiences.
It was then and there that I really grew to appreciate his talents as a storyteller—an appreciation that grows exponentially with the publication of this book.
I cannot imagine that the first run will last very long!
The book is a fabulous recollection of an equally incredible life—a life through which the lives of others have been enriched and enhanced.
Many will read to see if they’re in there; others will read to make sure they’re not!
A fascinating tale of Americana, marinated in the Southern experience and basted in the barbecue sauces of Eastern North Carolina!”*
The Little Green Book of Tennis 