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The long journey of '50,000 Balls'
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Before college tennis comes junior tennis. There have been a few movies about junior tennis, but I can guarantee none has the heart and soul that 50,000 Balls does. And I can say that without having yet seen the final draft.
Thomas Pura poured three years of his life into this film as he balanced the role of producer and father. It would turn out to be the final three years of his life as he died suddenly of a heart attack in July, 2008. His wife, Sara Weinheimer, has spent the last year trying to make his dream a reality by putting the finishing touches on the film and getting it out to the general public. That dream has become a reality with 50,000 Balls premiering on June 21 -- Father's Day -- at 11 p.m. Eastern on ESPN Classic (and on July 3 on ESPNU).
I am proud to have had an ever-so-small part in the making of 50,000 Balls. I first met the Puras five years ago when nine year old TJ came to play a tournament I was involved in at the Port Washington Tennis Academy. As he ran through the 10 and under draw, he drew crowds that marveled over his one-handed backhand and resemblance to Andre Agassi at that age. I was in awe of his talent, but no one beamed more at each match than his father. Tom Pura enjoyed the junior tennis journey that TJ was taking and he spent many hours talking about it. After listening to everyone's stories, he decided to make a movie about it.
50,000 Balls is the story about what it takes to be a champion junior tennis player. It was a three year collaboration of many people, but Tom Pura -- a retired partner from Goldman Sachs -- spent many hours himself pouring over the video, sending out version after version, and listening to every comment and suggestion. When the junior tennis film Unstrung premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, Tom brought me along with TJ, Sara and all those involved with the film to see it, discuss it, and talk about what he could do differently in his film. I was privileged to be among those who got copies of the rough cuts of 50,000 Balls all through the process.
Last winter, a proud Tom Pura rented a huge billboard on Sunset Boulevard, one of the most heavily traveled roadways in Southern California, to advertise 50,000 Balls. He began entering it in film festivals. At the 2008 Northern California Film Festival, it won both the "Jury Award" and the "Audience Award." It achieved "Official Selection" honors last year at the Newport International Film Festival, the Rome International Film Festival, and the Santa Fe Film Festival. And it was in talks for distribution just before Pura's untimely death.
At this point I'm sure many are wondering exactly what 50,000 Balls means. I could keep the mystery and say, "watch the movie," but I think many are more likely to watch the movie after the explanation. The title actually comes from a quote by Coach Billy McQuaid, who comments during the film, "By the time you've hit your 50,000th tennis ball you've probably got an idea how to do it...some kids hit their 50,000th ball by the time they're 18; some -- like these kids -- have already hit it." It is a testament to the talent it takes to make it.
"These kids" are four boys who are 12 years old during the course of the film. They, their parents and their coaches, show us all just what junior tennis is all about -- the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly. It is the journey of TJ Pura, Mitchell Krueger, Joseph DiGiulio and Mitchell Polnet, and every junior player out there who wants to be a champion.
For Tom Pura and all those parents and kids out there who put their heart and soul into this sport, make sure you watch 50,000 Balls on ESPN.
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