We hope you enjoy the July edition of the Sportsline, the newsletter of The Norfolk Sports Club!

Volume 33 #7 July, 2018

July brings Ron Johnson and Dennis Thomas

Join us Monday, July 2nd as we welcome Ron Johnson. Johnson, 61, is entering his seventh year as Norfolk's , over which he has posted a 422-440 record. His 422 managerial victories with Norfolk are the most in franchise history, and he's accumulated 1,683 wins over a 24-season minor league managing career. Johnson led the Tides to a divi- sion title in 2015 while being named the 's Manager of the Year - just the fifth Tides skipper to win the award in franchise history. He also received the Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award from the Orioles in 2015, an award presented to a minor league staff member who exemplifies the qualities of the late Oriole who is regarded as the architect of "The Oriole Way." Through his first six years with Norfolk, Johnson has posted three winning campaigns (2012, 2013 and 2015) while upping his career managerial record over 23 seasons to 1,683-1,699. He was named by America as the Best Manager Prospect in the International League in 2014, and he's managed 68 Major League All-Stars over his minor league career. He enters 2018 as the longest-tenured manager in the International League, and he was chosen by fans as the manager on Norfolk's All-Harbor Park Team in 2017. A product of Fresno State University, Johnson was drafted by the in 1978 and played in 22 Major League games over parts of three seasons with the Royals (1982-83) and Expos (1984).

Join us on Monday, July 16th as we welcome Dr. Dennis E. Thomas. Thomas entered his 16th year as Commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) on Sept. 1, 2017 Under his leadership,the MEAC has ensured its financial stability, strengthened insti- tutional compliance and bolstered the attendance of the annual MEAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament. In addition, his diligence to increasing Corporate America's invest- ment in the MEAC led to the conference's unprecedented partnership with international marketing agency IMG Collegiate, which has led to multi-year partnerships with Russell Athletic Corporation, Coca-Cola, State Farm Insurance, Nike, Wells Fargo, ESPN, Jostens, United States Marines, and Colgate Palmolive. He has also been a proponent of MEAC student-athletes being strong on the field as well as in the classroom, and started the Highest Graduation Award for member institutions with the best graduation rate for the academic year. Prior to becoming Commissioner, Thomas served as Director of Athletics at Hampton University. Letter from NSC President, Joe Monaco

“Baseball Ray. Baseball has marked the time.” Terrance Mann, Field of Dreams.

Who can forget James Earl Jones’ rendition of Terrance Mann in the movie Field of Dreams, as he gave his speech about the importance of baseball to the culture of our United States of America? And as June comes to a close and we are in the middle of baseball season who is our first speaker in July? None other than our own Manager, Ron Johnson. Makes me want to pull out my Terry Cashman CD and sing “Talkin’ Baseball.”

We will follow that up with a really special guest, MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas. Maybe he can tell us exactly what happened with Hampton University. Can’t wait for the inside scoop on that story.

Being part of the Norfolk Sports Club is a treasure we should all cherish. In June we held our annual scholarship dinner. For those of you who didn’t make it out, you missed the best event the Sports Club conducts all year, every year. To see the quality of the kids who were awarded was so encourag- ing about the future of our country. You know, college is just so much more expensive than when we were young, and to see the appreciation from the awardees and their families made all of us who were there so proud to be part of our club. So much so, that I must encourage every one of you to come to next year’s scholarship dinner. Scholarship’s are the main purpose of the Norfolk Sports Club and investing one night per year for this event will pay dividends back to you for years.

Thank you for bestowing upon me the honor of serving as your president. I’m available at every luncheon so let me know how I and the Norfolk Sports Club can serve you better.

Respectfully yours, Joe Monaco

2018 Officers and Board Directors

Joe Monaco Maurice "Buddy" Early One Year Term Two Year Term President Secretary Board Members Board Members Jack Ankerson Roger Travaglio Jenny Bonsiewich Lou Gull James Doty Joe Rainey President Elect Treasurer Marty Miller John Round Bill Emerson CH Lambert Bob Smith Buck Stanton First Vice President Sergeant-At-Arms

Akeem Prosser Erin Round Next Officers Meeting: Second Vice President Administrative Assistant Tuesday, August 14th at 5 pm [email protected] in the conference room of Oceana Place, Vicki Trexler 448 Viking Drive in VA Beach. Ex-Officio

FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NEWSLETTER, OR QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE NORFOLK SPORTS CLUB , PLEASE CONTACT THE NSC OFFICE AT 757-497-9583.

August Luncheons

Monday, August 6th Wes Hall Exec. Director, HR Sports Commission

Monday, July 16th Darryl Cummings NSC Tennis Co-Creator of the Universal Tennis Rating System

All luncheons begin at 11:45 am, and take place at Hits at the Park, inside Harbor Park, unless otherwise noted. Lunch cost is $20 for members and $25 for guests, and is payable at the door by cash, check, or credit card. You must have a reservation to attend. Reserve by calling the NSC Office at 757-497-9583.

This month, we have decided to head out to Virginia Beach to give our members out there a chance to join us! Meet us on Thursday, July 19th at Commonwealth Brewing, beginning at 5:30 pm. Hope to see you there!

Commonwealth Brewing is located at 2444 Pleasure House Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Please Note: In observance of Independence Day, the NSC office will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th!

Wishing you and your family a terrific 4th of July holiday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USA! Enjoy these photos from June!