August 4, 1999

Celebs stick it to each other at tourney

By Garret Leiva
Herald editor
       Whether or not you could stand the near 90 degree heat, everyone desperately sought to stay out of the 'kitchen' at the sixth annual Art Baur Memorial Celebrity Shuffleboard Tournament.
      Media personalities, city and county government officials, civic group leaders, university representatives and local business owners were some of the 'celebrities' with shuffleboard cues in hand Friday at the Traverse City Senior Center courts. Playing for a year's worth of bragging rights, the 16 participants shed a fair amount of local limelight on the oldest shuffleboard courts in Michigan.
      The tournament itself is named in memory of Art Baur, a member of the National Shuffleboard Hall of Fame and state Hall of Fame in Florida and Arizona. Baur was also instrumental in keeping the game of shuffleboard alive in Traverse City through his instructional tips and involvement in league play, noted tournament director, Bernie Oaks.
      "(Art) taught many of us the finer points of the game," Oaks said. "Even in the twilight years of his play, he could still beat the socks off anyone that played him."
      For those unfamiliar with the sport, shuffleboard is played with black and red discs which players slide down a 60 foot court with the aid of a cue, or stick. Scoring, which is divided in increments of 10, 8, 7 and -10 points, is accomplished by landing a disc completely inside one of 7 geometric figures that comprise large triangles at each end of the court.
      "When good players get together, many times the games will end up with a score of zero to minus five," Oaks said.
      After opening ceremonies Friday morning, these would-be "good players" squared off in singles competition, with the winners advancing on to quarter-final action. Those that came out on the short-end of the shuffleboard stick, played in a "consolation bracket," noted Oaks, who was careful not to use the word 'loser'.
      With last year's champion, city manager Richard Lewis out of town on business and unable to defend his crown, Oaks noted that perennial shuffleboard powerhouses Traverse City Police Chief Ralph Sofferdine and NewsChannel 7&4's Dave Walker seemed due. However, it remained politics as usual as City Commissioner Dick Crowe took the championship title in a center court bout with Mayor Jim Tompkins. Claiming third place was the day's guest of honor - Joanne Baur, wife of tournament namesake, Art Baur.
      In the day's other shuffleboard action, Raye Crouch received a crystal bowl and a first-place check in the City Championship Tournament. Alice Fall and Leo Olsen took second- and third-place respectfully from a field of 23 regular shuffleboard players who competed on the senior center courts.
      Despite the soaring heat index, celebrity competitors kept their cool as they battled frame after frame using conventional blocking maneuvers and a few unorthodox delivery styles. Some players, like city commissioner Linda Smyka, subscribed to the wing and a prayer method. While others blamed their negative trips to the 'kitchen' area on one thing: faulty equipment. "What I really need is a left handed cue," said Rita Melotti, general manager of Northern Michigan University's WNMC radio station.
      There was one competitor, however, who truly exhibited a most unorthodox style of play in the normally serene sport of shuffleboard. When it comes to delivery Dan Jonkhoff is not a "croucher" or a stiff back flinger - he's a shouter.
      "When I'm aiming the disc it seems to have a mind of its own so I try to give it a little vocal encouragement, but it seems to be hard of hearing," said the owner of Reynolds-Jonkhoff funeral home and sponsor of the annual shuffleboard tournament.
      While some might perceive his body English, pogo stick-style follow-through as a form of shuffleboard psyche-out, Jonkhoff downplays the notion. Instead, he chalks up luck as his one and only asset. "Actually my shuffleboard success completely depends on luck, when that runs out my day is done," he said.
      Success or failure, winner or loser brackets; these mattered little in this game of friendly competition. Instead, the day was all about shuffleboard shenanigans and good natured accusations of not playing above board.
      "(Pastor) Homer Nye made some miraculous shots, sending his opponent's disc into the kitchen while knocking his own disc back out of the minus area and into positive points," Oaks said. "So I kiddingly cautioned him that we might have to disqualify him because obviously he was receiving some help from above."