Former Olympic vaulter now changes lives through tennis

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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/ne ... 203685.htm

CARING, GIVING SPIRIT
THEO 'SAKI' BALAFAS, 83, HAS COACHED SOME OF THE BEST JUNIOR TENNIS PLAYERS IN THE STATE. BALAFAS ALSO MENTORS HIS STUDENTS WHILE CHARGING THEM ONLY $17.50 FOR A FULL-DAY LESSON
BY STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ
sbrodriguez@MiamiHerald.com
who also starred at and coached

at the University of Miami

Tennis is the game, but preaching is Saki's sport.

Eighty-three-year-old Theo ''Saki'' Balafas of Kendall has coached tennis to hundreds of people while mentoring most of them about hard work and dedication.

Balafas, a former Olympian in tennis and the pole vault, has dedicated his life to helping students become champion junior players and only charges $17.50 for all-day private lessons.

''There are people who do things for the money and he's more concerned with the development of the kid,'' said USTA Regional Director Rick Pardon. ``He's kind of like the Socrates of tennis.''

Former student Kim Sands agrees with Pardon and said Balafas trained her for four years and didn't charge her a penny.

Balafas, who competed for his native Greece in the Olympics of 1948 and 1952, told Sands she could play professional tennis if she put her mind to it.

''I was playing basketball with my brother one day and he came up to me and said that I can be a great tennis player,'' Sands said. ``If Saki hadn't taken an interest in me, I don't know where I would be today.''

Sands was the first black woman to receive a tennis scholarship from the University of Miami.

After graduating from UM in 1978, she spent 10 years as a professional, playing in the U.S. Open 11 times. She trained with Saki throughout her career. She later coached the Hurricanes for eight years in the 1990s.

''He's a living legend and an unsung hero,'' Sands said. ``He cared for me and it wasn't like he just cared for me; he cared for so many others, too.''

Some say Balafas is like the character Mr. Miyagi from the Karate Kid, but for tennis.

Balafas' approach, for example, is different from most coaches.

''He teaches the classic strokes,'' Pardon said. ``If I go to a tournament, I can tell if someone is Saki's student.''

Pardon said Balafas makes his students practice one stroke for two hours or more.

``He just knows you don't have it and he'll make you practice until you get it.''

Although, Balafas is a strict coach and makes his students practice hard, he also teaches them about European culture.

''He used to call me and ask me to put on PBS to watch the opera,'' Sands said. ``Through him, not only did I become a money-making tennis professional, but I also acquired a love for culture and food.''

He inspires the parents, as well.

''Because of him I became so involved in tennis,'' Pardon said.

Saki taught Pardon's son, Jason, who competed in tournaments and trained with Saki at age 13. Jason Pardon, now 23, won hundreds of tournaments and remained one of the top 10 tennis players in the state until age 18.

Jason Pardon now coaches tennis, and the father and son stay in close touch with Saki.

''He really taught the kids about life,'' Pardon said.

Most of the kids Saki coached were underprivileged, Pardon said, and that is one of the reasons why Saki did not charge them or gave them a discount.

''Many of the kids went to play tennis in college or made something out of their life because of Saki,'' Pardon said.

Pardon recalled a time when Saki owned a red van and would transport the kids.

''He would take them to Burger King,'' Pardon said. ''He also paid for some of their meals. No kid went hungry,'' Pardon said.

Saki's goal was to teach students to be well-rounded individuals. He wanted to train them physically and mentally. ''I'm a giving person. I like to give,'' Saki said. ``If I teach you, I make you champion of the world.''

Tennis also was woven into Saki's personal life.

''I married my tennis coach,'' said Saki's wife, Lois.

Throughout their 25 years of marriage, they have helped each other remain active, she said.

''His secret is that I kick him out of the house and tell him to go play tennis,'' she joked.