Former Hurricane is driven to succeed

Joel Berman approaches tennis with a passion.

He did as a University of Miami player despite injuries, and he does now as a teacher of the sport.

"When I recruited Joel four years ago, I saw his passion," said Hurricanes coach Jay Berger, an ex-pro. "I would have loved to see how he would have progressed if he had stayed healthy all four years."

Berman, a former Seminole standout, also was successful off the Miami court. He was a four-time Big East Conference Academic All-American.

Berger, who grew up in the Plantation area, played professionally from 1986-92 and was ranked as high as seventh in the world in 1990. Injuries shortened his career.

Since taking the helm of the 'Canes five years ago, Berger has been named Big East Coach of the Year twice.

He and the intense Berman have helped put Miami among the nation's best programs.

"When I was looking at schools, the fact that Jay had signed on as the coach at Miami helped influence my decision," said Berman, 22. "I was looking at the curriculum, the weather and the coach," he said. "I also wanted to be fairly close to home so my parents could watch me play, and the fact both my parents are Miami alums figured in my decision."

Another factor was that Berger and Berman had been taught by the late George Paris, brother of Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club director Maria Cercone.

"I actually started with Maria when I was 9 years old," Berman said. "As I got older, she had me train with George in the Fort Lauderdale area. He was the best coach I ever had, and I could see his style in Jay's. Now, I'm seeing it in my style." The two-time Pinellas County Player of the Year posted a 13-10 singles record as a freshman for the Hurricanes. He followed that with a 14-7 mark and went 24-12 in doubles. After a Big East championship his sophomore season, Berman suffered a severe elbow injury and missed his junior campaign.

"I had to have Tommy John surgery," said Berman, who returned to the team but was unable to play at full speed.

He broke his foot as a senior, but passion took over.

Berman battled and won 11 of 15 doubles matches.

"I just refused to quit," said Berman, who's working as a Bardmoor instructor. "I think that intensity to go on will help me even more now."

Through next week, he is in Kalamazoo, Mich., for the U.S. Tennis Association's Super National Hard Court Championships. Berman is coaching Belleair's George Navas in the 15-year-old's first appearance in the national tournament.

BASEBALL: Mets pitcher Jeff D'Amico (Northeast) won his first game in nearly two months with an eight-inning shutout against the Expos last month. ... Former Dunedin High players Darren Bush (Hillsborough CC) and Pete Nystrom (Florida) are with the Yubba-Sutter Gold Sox in the Independent Western League. Bush, a catcher, is hitting .417. Nystrom is batting .302 and playing the outfield. Second baseman Grant Abrams (Dunedin/SPJC) was unconditionally released from the Gold Sox last month. ... Corey Slavik (Boca Ciega/Wake Forest) has a .228 average for the Cubs' A affiliate in Lansing. ... Left-hander Ryan Snare (East Lake/North Carolina) is 8-2 and has a 3.07 ERA with the Reds' AA Chattanooga team. ... Casey Kotchman (Seminole) is hitting .297 for the Angels' Cedar Rapids (Iowa) A club. Kotchman's father, Tom, earned his 1,000th win as a manager when the Anaheim organization's Rookie League Provo squad beat the Rockies' Casper team 16-8. ... Third baseman Brady Williams (Dunedin) was promoted to the Twins' AA club in New Britain.

TRACK & FIELD: South Florida junior All-American high jumper Jimmy Baxter (Boca Ciega) was invited to compete in the USA meet in San Antonio, Calif.

BASKETBALL: Kansas State senior Pervis Pasco (Clearwater) was selected for the Big 12 Conference All-Star Team, which will tour Scandinavia this month.

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