AUSTIN – A Taylor-based nonprofit is serving up iconic fashion and an in-depth look at a sports legend this week to raise funds for area tennis.
The Austin premiere of Danny Lee’s documentary film “Who is Stan Smith?” is 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, at the Austin Film Society, 6406 N. Interstate 35 Frontage Road, Suite 3100, to benefit the Taylor Area Tennis Association.
The association has provided youths with scholarships, lessons, tournaments and more since the organization’s founding in 2011.
“This is really important for TATA,” said President Marcus Reese. “This will be our biggest fundraiser to date.”
The film, which is produced by basketball legend LeBron James and sports marketer Maverick Carter, will highlight the life of Stan Smith, who more recently was celebrated for his classic green-and-white Adidas sneakers but is also known to sports aficionados for his many accomplishments on the court, including U.S. Open and Wimbledon championships, as well as his philanthropic efforts.
Attendees are encouraged to come sporting their favorite Adidas gear for a contest. In addition, there will be opportunities for photos, drinks and mingling, Reese said.
“We are going all out this year,” Reese said. “Normally, you would have a red carpet for a premiere, but because it’s tennis, we are going to do a green carpet, as well as step-and-repeat banners.”
Reese said the idea to host the premiere originated with his longtime friend, Anthony Tatu, who has participated in several of his adult-league teams and was familiar with Reese’s love of the global sports-apparel brand Adidas.
“When I saw the trailer for this film, I thought, ‘I have got to see that,’” Tatu said. “So then I went on the website to see if I could find it, or if it was streaming, and the only place it was playing was in Dallas. So I thought, ‘We should host a screening here, and even better if we can support a community tennis association.’ I thought of TATA, and I thought of Marcus because he is a huge Adidas guy.”
Reese said despite his background in tennis and his love of the brand, he, like so many others, was not very familiar with Smith the man—just his shoes.
“Everyone I have spoken with and invited are like, “Yeah, I Love Stan Smith shoes,’” Reese said. “No one has talked to me about knowing who he is. You know his shoes. It’s crazy. I’m guilty (too). I’m a tennis professional. I’m an Adidas lover, and I am guilty.’” Nonetheless, Tatu, who grew up in the 1960s and ‘70s playing tennis recreationally, said Smith is a giant of the sport.
“He was the best American tennis player at one point,” Tatu said. “Off the court, he became known as someone who was really a humanitarian. He was good friends with (tennis great) Arthur Ashe and was a voice against apartheid.”
Reese said he is grateful for all Tatu did to bring the movie to Austin and benefit TATA.
“He has a real big heart for promoting tennis to the next generation, especially to kids who are in the position to probably not be able to afford to play tennis, and with this event, we are going to be able to cast a very wide net,” Reese said. “This will probably give us program opportunities for the next few years. That is how big of a bump this will be for our income.”
Tickets for the screening, which is made possible through sponsorships from Workhorse, Dekruyff & Hutchens Law Office and Capital Area Tennis Association, are available for $35 for general admission or $100 for a VIP Golden Ticket.
For more, go to https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/ special-screening-of-whois- stan-smith-benefitingtata- at-afs-cinema-tickets-938465895757?aff =oddtdtcreator.
