Friday, March 03, 2000
Tournament name change raises furor
Mayor defends decision some call vindictive
BY SARA J. BENNETT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SPRINGDALE — The name of the 25-year-old Ray Manis Memorial Softball Tournament has been changed, and some residents are furious.
The name change strips honor from a citizen who dedicated himself to youth sports before his death at age 42, some say. They fear changing the name could damage a city tradition that draws softball players from across the region.
But that's not the only reason the change has sparked anger. Some folks are upset because Mayor Doyle Webster made the decision, and Ray Manis was the father of one of his political adversaries.
Former Councilwoman Peggy Manis and Mr. Webster have had a heated opposition for several years. She challenged him for the mayor's seat in November and lost.
“I hope you look through the smoke screen to see this for what it really is,” Ms. Manis told city council Wednesday night. “Politics is politics, but this is a vindictive attack on me and my family.”
Mr. Webster denied the charge. He said several people active with youth sports have died recently. To honor all of them, he decided the tournament should be called the Springdale Memorial Invitational Men's Tournament.
“This was not done in retaliation to Ms. Manis,” he told council. Then, he addressed Ms. Manis.
“My motive was not to trash the name of your father, but I thought the tournament should be changed to reflect that it is in honor of all the people who have contributed to youth sports in Springdale.”
That explanation didn't satisfy many of the nearly 25 people who filled council chambers Wednesday.
“I feel like if you take away a memorial that has been given to someone, it's very disrespectful to their family,” said Dana Zinnecker, vice president of the Springdale Youth Booster club.
The club sponsors and coordinates the volunteer staff of the annual tournament, which usually takes place the second or third week of July. Ms. Zinnecker said the boosters did not learn of the name change until this week, although the decision was made Dec. 7 at a recreation commission meeting.
The 34-team tournament draws players from as far away as Michigan, Ms. Zinnecker said. It was named after Mr. Manis to honor the work he did as a coach and as a founder of some youth sports teams in Springdale.
Several of Mr. Manis' family were at the council meeting, including his wife, Norene, who sat in tears through much of the discussion.
Mr. Webster said he changed the tournament's name to coincide with plans to put plaques honoring eight deceased residents in Springdale's new community center when it opens this fall.
“I guess I can sympathize with Ms. Manis, but contrary to her belief and her family's belief, (the tournament) is not a household name in this community,” he said. “I think it's grossly unfair for a tournament to be named after one and everybody else gets a 12-inch plaque.”
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