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In This Issue:
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Vol. II, Issue 20 - May 19, 2003
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Notes from the publisher
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Bocce product of the week
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Non bocce product of the week
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The FREE weekly Ezine for bocce aficionados everywhere
Volume 2, Issue #20 May 19, 2003
Publisher: Mario Pagnoni Copyright 2003 http://www.joyofbocce.com
Come visit us often at joyofbocce.com. We have bocce info, merchandise, links to other great bocce sites, and the best selling bocce instructional book in the USA.
Order Now @ just $13.95 by clicking on the book image to the right.
I hope you will like this electronic newsletter. To be deleted from my list, you can Unsubscribe at the end of this issue. We will quickly and permanently remove your email address from our list (we'll be sorry to see you go). But, be aware that one of our enthusiastic readers suggested that “…bocce and unsubscribe are mutually exclusive terms.”
If you know others who would enjoy and benefit from this Ezine, encourage them to sign up. You could forward this issue to them so they can decide for themselves if they want to "opt in". I promise that I will never be in the business of selling or trading your email address or other personal information. Our goal = 10,000 subscribers by 12/31/03.
A word about ads: Like any entrepreneurial type, I'd love to turn a profit from something I really enjoy. For now, I have decided not to accept paid advertisements. If I pitch a product here, it is something I have examined and tested and deem it beneficial to our readers.
PLEASE – we are always looking for bocce photos and feedback from all over the USA. We want to connect bocce fans everywhere. You can email (author@joyofbocce.com) or snail mail (Mario Pagnoni, P.O. Box 608, Methuen, MA 01844).
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Celebration dei libri a success...
Mary Ann Magazzi, VP of Marketing for L'aveggio in Endicott, NY, pulled off the excellent Celebration dei Libri event mentioned here a couple weeks ago.
Said Magazzi, “I am coordinating an Italian-American book event, based on the actual event which occurs in Italy, the third Sunday in May…a celebration of books, where most bookstores remain open on Sunday to promote the literary arts. Your book, The Joy of Bocce, is perfect for this event.”
I attended and was treated royally. Not only did I get to speak on bocce and autograph books, but I managed to sneak out to play some bocce, and get back in time to dine on the fine Italian cuisine of the nearby Consol’s Restaurant.
In my brief presentation on bocce, I read a few passages from The Joy of Bocce, talked a little about the history of the game, acknowledging that “its origin and evolution are lost in the mists of antiquity” (not sure what that means, but it sound really cool), and described boules and lawn bowls. I noted that, when taken together, the three ball-and-target games constitute one of the most popular participatory sports on the planet (along with golf and soccer).
I talked about the “state of the game” today, indicating that it still has an image problem, is in dire need of TV exposure, and needs to make its way out of the private sector and into the public.
Lamenting the lack of standardization to our game, I outlined my plan to remedy that situation. Weaving in a few humorous bocce anecdotes (heck, I gear up for this kind of thing), I wrapped up quickly and was pretty warmly received.
A highlight for me was meeting and listening to two of the other speakers.
Angelo Zuccolo’s readings from his “Remember! We Come From Good Stock” (subtitled “Italian-American Mostly Love Stories of the 1950’s”) had me laughing out loud. How could you keep from laughing when hearing of such characters as the independent Aunt Restituta Mangiamangia and her husband the grape stomper from outside of Naples, Aldo Capocollofresco?
Contact Zuccolo to learn more about his wonderful stories at zuccoloange@yahoo.com.
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Talk about exposure for our game!
Author and actress Dr. Emelise Aleandri spoke about her book, “The Italian-American Immigrant Theatre of New York City” (Arcadia Books, 1-888-313-BOOK). The versatile Aleandri has appeared in numerous plays and more than 50 feature films. She is a dancer, singer, and she co-hosts and produces “Italics: The Italian American Magazine”, a nationally aired cable TV show.
The most exciting news was that she has landed a role in a movie called “The Tournament.” As Aleandri explains it, the story is about a young boy’s “coming of age.” Set in Rhode Island, the action centers around the youngster and his bocce champion dad. With script in hand, Director Eugene Celico will begin filming in the fall or next spring. {I am trying to get a peek at the script so that I can help spread the word via my ezine).
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{chronological order}
Please - anyone running a tournament - do me a favor - put a notice near your tourney bracket board informing players that they can go to http://www.joyofbocce.com and "opt in" for my FREE Ezine on bocce. Click the link below or the logo to the right to opt in if you do not already receive this ezine every Monday.
May 24, 2003 - Memorial Team Handicap, Moses Lake, WA. Open Course bocce tourney. Limited spots available. Contact Jeff at boccethis@yahoo.com.
May 30, 2003, - 2nd Annual Bocce Fling, Phoenix Bocce Club, Phoenix Arizona, Open Rules. Arizona American Italian Club, Contact Denise Storace (602) 956-5104 or bocce@juno.com
May 31, 2003 – Fratellanza Italian Club (Open Rules ABA Sanctioned Tournament) – contact Gianfranco Sciacero at 510-525-5372.
May 31, 2003 - Special Olympics 3rd annual Bocce Bash - Blackbaud Soccer Stadium hosted by The Charleston Battery. Teams of four are $400.00 tax deductible dollars. Contact Paula Byers @ 843-795-5316 or pbyers1@comcast.net.
June 1, 2003, Italian Picnic Bocce Tournament, Italian Benevolent Society (Italian Picnic Grounds, Sutter Creek, California). Open rules. Four person teams $25 per player. Continental breakfast and lunch included. Cash prizes. Contact Rick Wagstaff (916) 791-9127 or semprebocce@starstream.net
June 8, 2003 – Lodi Bocce (Open Rules – wine & sausage) Contact Gary De Pauli @ 209-478-4299.
June 8-15, 2003 - United States National Bocce Tournament - Highwood Bocce Courts, Highwood, IL - winners will compete in the WORLD COMPETITION in SWITZERLAND. Contact Mike Conti @ 847-692-6223.
June 13 – 15, 2003 – ABA Open Championships. Contact Manny Romo @ 925-754-4890.
June 14, 2003 - Seattle Grand Bocce Tournament - Host: Seattle Bocce Club -Facility: Woodland Park Lawn Bowling Club, 6018 Whitman Ave. N., Seattle, WA -Open Rules - 4 player teams - $80 per team - Contact Greg Singleton @ 206-998-3268 or gregsingleton@hotmail.com.
July 11-13, 2003 Bocce Classic IX Tournament, John Pirelli Lodge, 2625 County Line Road, Dayton Ohio, contact rbloomky@aol.com.
July 13, 2003 - Tempo Italiano Heritage Day Bocce Tournament - Villa Tempo Italiano, 440 Northampton St., Easton, PA, 18042 - Contact Tempo Italiano at 610-559-5570. $500.00 to First Place Team, $300.00 for Second Place and $200.00 for Third Place.
July 18 – 20, 2003 - World Series of Bocce held in Rome, NY. Big event played on 15 courts - 6 Indoor and 9 Outdoor. Close to $15,000 in prize money. First place around $5,000. Contact Dave Hilts @ 1davidh@msn.com.
July 26, 2003 - 1st annual Backyard Bocce/ Italian Community Center Bocce Tournament - McKinley Park, Milwaukee. The entrance fee = $80 per team (or $20 per team member). 64 teams. All proceeds go to Special Olympics Wisconsin. Contact Chris Pfeiffer at fife13@aol -262-797-0320.
August 9 2003 - Mich. State Bocce Championship, Sylvan Lake, Michigan 3 players per team 2 bocce balls each. Round robin format. $200.00 per team. 1 alternate recommended. Open rules. $2000.00 in prize money, trophies and medals. Contact Mike Grasser at 248-505-4744 or boccemg@sbcglobal.net.
August 22-24, 2003 – 19th annual Wickliffe Italian American Club (Wickliffe, OH (east of Cleveland) Tournament. Contact Tony Continenza at 440-585-4600 or email lincolnsunoco@aol.com.
August 23, 2003 - USBF Western Sector Raffa Championships, Los Gatos, CA, Campo di Bocce - Raffa Rules. Contact John Ross (408) 354-0625 or heresjohnny@earthlink.net
August 24, 2003 - 6th Annual Tempo Italiano Celebration Bocce Tournament – Villa Tempo Italiano, 440 Northampton St., Easton, PA, 18042 - Contact Tempo Italiano at 610-559-5570. $500.00 to First Place Team, $300.00 for Second Place and $200.00 for Third Place.
September 15-21, 2003 - World Bocce Championship, Chiasso, Switzerland, CBI International Bocce Tournament, Raffa. You must win the United States Bocce Federation, National Tournament to be held in Highwood IL in June, 2003. For more information see www.bocce.com or contact Mike Conti (847) 692-6223 / usbocce@aol.com.
September 20, 2003 - Le Phare Des Alps bocce tournament – Valdese, North Carolina - $40 per four-person team. Contact T.R. Robinson at trrobin111@yahoo.com.
September 21, 2003 – Sunshine Village Universal Bocce Bowl, Szot Park, Chicopee, Mass. Four player teams - $200 entry fee – includes t-shirt, lunch & dinner. Limited # of teams – 1st place = $600, 2nd place = $300, 3rd place = $200. Contact Rico Daniele @ 1-800-BOCCE54.
September 21, 2003 - Bruno Freschet Memorial Tournament, Peninsula Social Club, San Mateo, California, Open, 4 Players, contact Adriano Undorte at (650) 591-3318.
October 4, 2003 - USBF Western Sector Open Championships, Los Gatos, CA Campo di Bocce, Open (Four Person). Contact John Ross (408) 354-0625 or heresjohnny@earthlink.net.
October 7-12, 2003 - Volo World Championship, Nice, France, Federation International De Boules, International Volo Tournament. You must qualify at the United States Bocce Federation National Championship, held in Highwood, IL in June in order to qualify. Contact Mike Conti 847-692-6223 or usbocce@aol.com.
October 11, 2003 - Fall Open Tournament, Marin Bocce Federation, San Rafael, California, Open, 4 Players, contact Diana Pellegrini at (415) 454-4483.
October 25, 2003 - Raffa Tournament, Campo di Bocce, Los Gatos Bocce Club, Raffa, 3 Players, contact Bill Schlaefer at (408) 379-9409.
October 26, 2003 - 3rd Annual Tempo Italiano Fall Classic Bocce Tournament - Villa Tempo Italiano, 440 Northampton St., Easton, PA, 18042 - Contact Tempo Italiano at 610-559-5570. $500.00 to First Place Team, $300.00 for Second Place and $200.00 for Third Place.
November 1st, 2003 - Third Annual Big Ben Invitational - 2 person Punto, Raffa, Volo - International rules, two person teams - three balls each. Price not yet determined, big money potential. Contact Ben Musolf - Campo di Bocce 408.395.7650.
NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL, NO MATTER WHAT PART OF THE COUNTRY, SEND US YOUR TOURNAMENT INFO SO WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT IN THIS COLUMN. PEOPLE MAY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR EVENT OR JUST VISIT TO CHECK IT OUT TO "BROADEN THEIR HORIZONS."
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