Newport Beach Tennis Club to host pro-am

Richard Dunn

Former NFL stars are among the celebrities playing Thursday in a

pro-am tennis tournament to benefit Aliah Sweet Fragile Hearts

Foundation at Newport Beach Tennis Club.

Vince Ferragamo, Marlin McKeever, Sam Cunningham, John Cappelliti

and Benny Ricardo are some of the former pro football players

expected to play men’s and mixed doubles Thursday. The doubles

session starts at 9 a.m., with the pro-am beginning at 1 p.m. Former

Laker Norm Nixon is also slated to play.

Four tennis pros -- Jim Grabb, Lef Shirus, David Pate and Newport

Beach Tennis Club Director of Tennis Scott Davis -- will play in the

pro-am.

A raffle will take place throughout the day and include two Super

Bowl tickets, donated by the NFL Alumni Association.

Lunch will be served outside for $12.95, followed by an evening

dinner party with entertainment and a silent auction for $25. Amateur

playing spots are open for $50 per player. The public is welcome to

view the action. Details: Call Sue Jackson at (714) 546-3100 or Aliah

Sweet Fragile Hearts Foundation at (909) 629-3492. Newport Beach

Tennis Club is (949) 644-0050.