Summer EXCITEMENT is just around the corner!

Congratulations 5000-PlayerPoint bonus winners !!!!

These Spring Tournament of Champions winners received 5000 Playerpoint bonuses and the coveted 'Really Big Hardware'.

For a full list of all Spring trophy winners, visit the Tournament of Champions area at www.VisionaryTennis.com.

Thanks to all who came out to Bitsy Grant Tennis Center to play and watch this EXCITING event.

The following people were Tournament of Champions raffle winners:

	Shirine Anderson, Gamma Visor		CeeJai Jones, Gamma Visor
	Jubril Bramah, Gamma Ball Hopper		Matt Keeter, I'm A Player T-shirt
	Jubril Bramah, Gamma T-shirt		Matt Keeter, Gamma Ball Tube
	Mel Burges, I'm A Player T-shirt		Stacy Lacy, Gamma Ball Tube
	Kim Chastain, Gamma Visor		Gladys Leonard, I'm A Player T-shirt
	Ranette Clark, Gamma Visor		Michelle Mayadag, Gamma Visor
	Sherri Coffee, $20 Natural Body Spa Gift Certificate		Kelly Moler, Gamma Ball Tube
	Laurie Cummings, Visionary Tennis T-shirt		Joe Nicholson, Gamma Ball Hopper
	Kathleen Daskal, Visionary Tennis T-shirt		Allison O'Neil, Gamma T-shirt
	Jeff Daskal, $25 Dick's Sporting Goods Gift Certificate		Steve Podgurski, I'm A Player T-shirt
	Judi Edward, Visionary Tennis T-shirt		Kelly Robinson, Gamma T-shirt
	Andrea Feimster, Gamma Visor		Amy Rush, I'm A Player T-shirt
	Andrea Feimster, $20 'I Play Tennis' Gift Certificate		Amy Rush, Gamma T-shirt
	Amy Flint, I'm A Player T-shirt		Sandra Thorpe, I'm A Player T-shirt
	Katie Grgetic, I'm A Player T-shirt		Sandra Thorpe, Gamma Visor
	Deron Hardaway, Gamma Visor		Andrew Tonge, I'm A Player T-shirt
	Donna Harris, I'm A Player T-shirt		Jeff Wahrer, Gamma T-shirt
	Donna Harris, Gamma Visor		Sulinda Walker, Visionary Tennis T-shirt
	Vivian Howard, Gamma T-shirt		Sulinda Walker, Gamma Visor
	Machelle Hubbs, Gamma Visor		Randall Wilson, Gamma Ball Hopper
	Mary Hyatt, Gamma Visor		DeeDee Worley, Gamma Visor
	Cee Jai Jones, I'm A Player T-shirt		DeeDee Worley, Gamma Ball Hopper
	Ric Yarnall, Gamma Visor		Ric Yarnall, I'm A Player T-shirt

Thanks to the following Sponsors for making the Spring Tournament of Champions such an EXCITING success:

• Jet Golf & Tennis — www.jetgolf.com
• Dick's Sporting Goods — www.DicksSportingGoods.com
• Natural Body Spa & Shoppe — www.NaturalBody.com
• Netcord — www.Netcord.com
• I Play Tennis — www.IPlayAtlanta.com
• Sport & Sparkle — www.SportNSparkle.com
• Dream House for Medically Fragile Children — www.DreamHouseForKids.org

Plus a special thanks to those sponsors who, through rain, rain and more rain, were there for our players and our staff:

• Dr. Edward L. Frey, SAK Self Actualization Kinesiology: Chiropractor/Kinesiologist extraordinaire — 455 E.Paces Ferry Rd. NE Suite 325 Atlanta, GA (404) 261-7504
• Laurie Wexel & Family — www.HealthyTennis.com

Please support all our great sponsors.

Our Partners, Sponsors and Supporters

Nothing of real value can be accomplished all alone — it takes the hard work and support of many! Visionary Tennis would like to extend warm thanks to all those who have helped us turn the vision of America's most exciting tennis leagues into reality.

Advertise in VISIONS!

Reach a wider audience of tennis players and fans through this newsletter! Visionary Tennis welcomes all inquiries and will help style your promotion to best suit your needs. For more information, please contact Mimi Cain at 770-329-1219, or email mimi1951@comcast.net.

Message from the Editor

May has come and gone, but the memories of our second Tournament of Champions are still in our minds. Between the raindrops and nightlights, the men and women played their hearts out on Saturday, May 13th.  Come Championship Sunday, the sun was shining and those REALLY BIG trophies were handed out.  Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up -- and thanks to all the fans who cheered their players on to victory!  As we start the summer league, we wish everyone a fun time and a healthy seven weeks of play.

May was also a busy month for the local charity guilds.  Visionary Tennis and Jet Tennis helped support The County Club of Roswell’s ‘Pro-Am Charity Invitational’ and the County Club of the South’s ‘Serve Atlanta’. These two events alone raised over $200,000 dollars for Bert’s Big Adventure (taking terminally ill children to Disney World), Atlanta Children’s Shelter, Fragile Kids Foundation, Cure Childhood Cancer, My House and the North Fulton Community Charities. It was a pleasure knowing that we contributed to making the lives of others more meaningful by participating in these great events, and we look forward to being part of them again in 2007.

Jump into June with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for a super summer league of Visionary Tennis Singles.  And don’t forget come fall, we start our first doubles league of men’s and women’s tennis.  Thanks to all who continue to support us and make Visionary Tennis the best new tennis league in Atlanta.

Remember: Work hard ... play hard ... and just have fun!

MiMi Cain
VISIONS Editor

Lifestyle & Leisure

Healthy Eating Out in Atlanta — Convenience store snacks aren’t necessarily bad

Story by Carolyn O'Neil, as told in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's “Better Health” section.

On the road again, with you and your car getting low on fuel? Maybe you've spotted a gas station-convenience store with petrol a penny cheaper. That's good for your budget, but what about your body?

Instead of sighing and resigning yourself to a bag of chips, a big soda and maybe a lottery ticket, with the thought that healthy choices aren't available, think again. If you look beyond the cheese curls and Big Gulps, you can find some pretty suitable choices.

Take the edge off by eating a handful of nuts and rehydrating with water and 6 ounces of juice. Then hit the road and make your next destination a healthy lunch or dinner. It will do wonders for your mileage and your chassis.

Here are some other suggestions:

• TOMATO JUICE, 6 ounces, 40 calories
• GRAPEFRUIT JUICE, 6 ounces, 70 calories
• ORANGE JUICE, 6 ounces, 85calories
• APPLE JUICE, 6 ounces, 85calories
• LOW-FAT YOGURT SMOOTHIE, 7 ounces, 70calories
• SKIM MILK, 8 ounces, 80 calories
• DRIED FRUIT, 1 ounce, 70 calories (8 apricots, 3 tablespoons of raisins or 3 prunes)
• NUTS, 1 ounce, 165 calories (24 almonds, 18 cashews, 15 pecan halves or 3 tablespoons of peanuts)

Carolyn O'Neil is a registered dietician and former CNN Food & Health correspondent, and co-author of The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous. Check out more tips and recipes on her website: www.dishdivas.com.

Chef of the Month — CN Li  — Azel Restaurant, Duluth

Our June Chef of the Month is such an inspiring story; Li never set out to become an executive chef, but as we all know, dreams sometimes do come true!

Chef CN Li was born and raised in China. As do so many there, he dreamt of someday coming to America for a better life. About 20 years ago, Chef Li and his wife left China and settled in Columbia, S.C. Speaking not a word of English, they somehow acclimated to life outside of their homeland. A kind owner of a Japanese restaurant hired Chef Li to be his dishwasher. He gradually worked his way up the 'food chain'. Meanwhile, his wife became a full-time student and eventually earned her degree in English.

In 1992 they relocated to the Atlanta area. Chef Li was ready to venture into the world of cooking. In order to excel at what was becoming a reality, he studied French cuisine in San Diego, then went on to Boston to learn East-West fusion cooking.

Two years later, along with business partner Emily Fu, he opened Natori, a sushi/seafood restaurant in Duluth. Fast forward to 2006, where they recently opened Azel, an upscale seafood/sushi/steak restaurant in the Duluth area.

What an accomplishment for someone who came to the United States with little money and no English! In Chef Li's spare time, he enjoys a fun day of golf and hopes to start taking tennis lessons. We congratulate Chef Li, and wish both him and Emily much success for many years to come.

Recipe of the Month: Baby Spinach Salad w/Heart of Palm Vinaigrette

	5 cups spinach
	1 1/2 cups diced green pepper
	1 1/2 cups diced red pepper
	1 1/2 cups chopped green onion
	2 cups champagne vinegar
	3 cups pomace olive oil
	2 cups chopped hard-boiled eggs (whites only)
	5 cups pitted and chopped kalamata olives
	16 oz. diced heart of palm
	Toss all ingredients and serve.
Restaurant of the Month — Azel Welcome to the Wonderful World of East Meets West! You are about to experience the finest cuisine prepared by Executive Chef/Owner CN Li.  Chef Li uses only the best ingredients, perfectly prepared, to produce true East-West dishes that excite diners through their balance of flavors, contrasting ingredient, textures, and temperatures, and that reflect a happy mingling of Chinese, Southeast Asian, Japanese, French and American culinary traditions. Once inside Azel, one feels the elegance of an upscale Buckhead restaurant — designed in dark red and green hues that wind around a fish tank and highlighted with recessed lighting.  Just sit back and enjoy a relaxing and pleasurable meal, whether you’re at a private table or the sushi bar.  The open sushi kitchen allows you to observe the chefs as they skillfully prepare your dishes.  A showstopper is their Sushi Boat, but don’t miss their long list of sakes (or the rest of their full bar). Azel offers something for all tastes.  For beginnings you can choose Prince Edward Island mussels in white wine cream sauce, calamari with sweet Thai chili sauce, crab cakes, and many other offerings including sushi appetizers, soups and salads.  The entrées range from Ginger Marinated Sesame Seed Salmon, Blackened Seared Sashimi Grade Tuna, and Grilled Sake Miso Marinated Sea Bass to Tempura Soft Shell Crab and Shrimp, Sautéed Sea Scallops & White Shrimp over linguine pasta. For those who favor ‘American’ cuisine, feast on Roasted Breast of Free-Range Hen, Roasted Half Young, Duckling Grilled Rosemary Crusted Rack of Lamb, or Azel’s famous  Braised Five-C Spice Beef Short Ribs and sumptuous 8-oz. Filet Mignon. Azel is open 6 days a week, Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, and Saturday dinners start at 5pm, with a live jazz quartet beginning at 7pm. Each month Azel will surprise their patrons with half-off special cocktails during the week. Whether you have a special occasion, business meetings, or holiday party, Azel offers you a Seafood, Steak, Sushi experience you’ll remember forever. 9810 – C Medlock Bridge Road, Duluth, 770-622-9829 azelrestaurant@hotmail.com www.azelrestaurant.com
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Your Health  with Dr. Jim Heinz Don't let the heat ruin your day ...   It was a great day in Atlanta. The sun was shining. The sky was blue. The tennis was especially competitive. Teams were tied 2-2 going into the 5th match of the playoffs. Suddenly, everyone’s attention was drawn to an adjacent court where a gentleman was on the ground. He didn’t get up. Paramedics came and the word was that he had heat stroke. Because the temperature was only in the low 80’s, I was doubtful but soon agreed with the paramedics. I realized that Atlanta tennis provides a near-perfect environment for this serious health hazard. Many of our matches are scheduled during the heat of the day. However, most of us go to our jobs daily and work indoors where the temperature is regulated. Most of us practice at night during the week when the sun is less intense, if present at all. As a result, by the late spring and early summer, our bodies have not had the opportunity to acclimate to the heat.   It may take days or weeks of exposure to higher temperatures and humidity in order to be able to keep our bodies cool during vigorous activity such as tennis. So -- even when the temperature is lower than what might be considered dangerous, we may be subject to dehydration, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. The common medical term 'heat illness' includes the progression from heat exhaustion through heat stroke. Watch out for: fatigue, weakness or fainting nausea or vomiting headache or muscle pains dizziness muscle cramps irritability disorientation rapid heart rate hot dry skin (although 50% of those affected may never have this sign) As the humidity rises, your ability to cool decreases and heat becomes even more challenging. Be aware and watch out for warning signs. In 80% of cases a person can experience sudden onset of heat stroke without warning. If the person becomes irrational or shows signs of bizarre behavior, confusion or disorientation, get them out of the sun, wet them down, fan them and call 911. To avoid heat illness, make sure you get some time in middle of the day to practice. Let your body gradually become accustomed to the heat. Wear looser clothing that allows for better ventilation. Drink before, during and after your match or practice. Sports drinks can help replace lost electrolytes. Avoid caffeine and alcohol until you have cooled down sufficiently. With some caution and common sense, the summer heat can be a great time for the healthy exercise and rewarding social aspects that tennis offers. Until next time, Dr. Jim Heinz Family Chiropractic Group 1376 Church Street Decatur, GA 404-377-3377 heinzjim@bellsouth.net A massage makes a great gift.  Call Jordana Alder at 478-284-1518 to schedule a special treat for a loved one.
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Charity Update Dream House for Kids Attention all Golfers, Volunteers, Supporter, Funders, and Friends and Family of Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc: Mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 25th. The 3rd Annual Bard Golf Classic will be held at Chateau Elan, Woodlands Course in Braselton, GA, benefiting Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc. For more information, please visit www.dreamhouse.golfreg.com or call 770-717-7410. Dream House is dedicated to increase opportunities for medically fragile children to live in a stable, permanent home environment through the development of support resources and programs, which increase the number of families and communities prepared to care for them. Also coming up: June 18-19 — Jet Golf & Tennis golf tournament, “Stay & Play Barnsley Gardens”, benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.jetgolf.com)
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The Last Word...
Somewhere along the path of ‘growing up’, the essence of play becomes more and more elusive, like a dream’s receding memory. Many of us give in and allow the sheer fun of life to be discredited, forced to cower behind a wall of ‘reasonable expectations’. But once in awhile, something rekindles that spark, awakens that child to come out and play. It is that moment that gives us all hope. Visionary Tennis is all about that moment, and about bringing it back to you again and again and again. We want you to play. We want to remind you that ‘playing tennis’ really is just that. It’s not a job, it’s not a discipline — it’s a game.
Know anybody else who’s into sports as much as you? Why not forward VISIONS to them and spread the word!
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