|
| The Acorn Newspaper Article About of Miles of Heart: The Story of the Dan DeAngelo Invitational Hearts Tournament |
As boys, Wynn "Biff" Sherman and John Mueller played Monopoly
on their front lawns and baseball in the street, the same street that
all their friends lived on. The quiet Woodland Hills neighborhood
was typical of the Valley in the '50s and '60s, the site of years of
memories.
Now, more than 50 years later, seven of the kids who grew up as
neighbors and friends, along with five others, are still getting
together to play. Whether in Mazatlan, Lake Tahoe or Las Vegas,
the 12 men- most of whom still live within 15 miles of their childhood
street- have traded in board games and contact sports for the game
of hearts.
The Dan DeSantis Invitational Hearts Tournament is nearing its 39th
year, and the stories behind the journey of the 12 men has now
gone to print. "Miles of Heart," by Wynn "Biff" Sherman, tells the
story of a hearts tournament that has kept a group of childhood
friends close after nearly 40 years.
"When my family moved into that neighborhood there were still
empty lots," Mueller said. "It was an old orange grove. We all knew
each other and played together. It was as all-American as you can
get."
The boys grew up together, and most attended Taft High School.
After graduating, one of the friends, Dan DeSantis, put together a
hearts game with eight of his friends. From there, the tournament
grew into an annual tournament. They have traveled far and wide
for the boys-only weekend.
"Many of the tournaments have been held at gambling venues,"
Mueller said. "Sometimes the boys- that's what we call ourselves
even as middle-aged men- capture a craps table. Some don't know
what they are doing, and some are pretty good. But when we get
going, everyone gets pretty excited."
It was moments at the craps tables or on the trains traveling to
various locations that some of "the boys" would start talking to
strangers about what they'd been doing- getting together for 10, 20,
30, and now almost 40 years.
"People would always think our story was so interesting," Sherman
said. "Once we passed 20 and then 25 years, I started saying,
'Guys, we have a unique story that should be told.'"
DeSantis, referred to as "the chairman" of the tournament, had
always put together scrapbooks after the weekends. Now there are
five boxes of books, memorabilia and photographs from the last 38
years. Sherman sorted through the boxes and started writing down
his memories.
"Miles of Heart" is based on a true story, although some situations
are exaggerated and names have been changed. The title stems
from the song "Heart" from the Broadway musical "Damn Yankees,"
which the men often sing when they get together.
But Sherman emphasized that the book "isn't for kindergartners,"
and Mueller agreed.
"The story is about a group of men in their single days, through
marriages and divorces," Mueller said. "The book isn't trying to
make us all look like the perfect little group."
The men still remain geographically close, but the tournament is
often the only time they all get together. The friends live in
Calabasas, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and
elsewhere in the Los Angeles area. Three have moved to Northern
California or Arizona. But with only occasional absences, they unite
for their once-a-year weekend.
"We've heard a lot of stories about groups of men who go fishing or
get together to jam music, maybe for 10, 15, 20 years," Sherman
said. "But this is more than a high school or a college reunion."
Mueller agreed. "This is the granddaddy of them all," Mueller said.
Sherman weaves true-life world events throughout the book,
referencing everything from the Watergate scandal to "The Exorcist"
movie. Sherman said he considered trying to collaborate, but with
such a "strong-willed group of guys" he decided to write it alone.
The finished product has gotten good reviews from the subjects of
"Miles of Heart."
"The strength of it is the dialogue," Mueller said. "He really captured
the language of the tournament. When you grow up together, a
language develops, and he really captured that."
He so much utilized that language that "Miles of Heart" contains a
glossary in the back of the book. There's also a listing of all the
tournament locations and winners.
For the 39th tournament this year the group will be traveling to the
Torrey Pines resort in the San Diego area in July. There will be a
day at the Del Mar horse races, golf at Torrey Pines Golf Course
and, of course, the hearts tournament.
"Hearts is the alleged purpose for getting together," Mueller said.
"But as you can imagine the card-playing aspect is the least
important. It's more about the camaraderie."
Sherman agreed. "During the tournament there's a lot of
tongue-in-cheek complaining," Sherman said. "But I truly feel like it's
very important to these 12 guys to do this, to get together."
on their front lawns and baseball in the street, the same street that
all their friends lived on. The quiet Woodland Hills neighborhood
was typical of the Valley in the '50s and '60s, the site of years of
memories.
Now, more than 50 years later, seven of the kids who grew up as
neighbors and friends, along with five others, are still getting
together to play. Whether in Mazatlan, Lake Tahoe or Las Vegas,
the 12 men- most of whom still live within 15 miles of their childhood
street- have traded in board games and contact sports for the game
of hearts.
The Dan DeSantis Invitational Hearts Tournament is nearing its 39th
year, and the stories behind the journey of the 12 men has now
gone to print. "Miles of Heart," by Wynn "Biff" Sherman, tells the
story of a hearts tournament that has kept a group of childhood
friends close after nearly 40 years.
"When my family moved into that neighborhood there were still
empty lots," Mueller said. "It was an old orange grove. We all knew
each other and played together. It was as all-American as you can
get."
The boys grew up together, and most attended Taft High School.
After graduating, one of the friends, Dan DeSantis, put together a
hearts game with eight of his friends. From there, the tournament
grew into an annual tournament. They have traveled far and wide
for the boys-only weekend.
"Many of the tournaments have been held at gambling venues,"
Mueller said. "Sometimes the boys- that's what we call ourselves
even as middle-aged men- capture a craps table. Some don't know
what they are doing, and some are pretty good. But when we get
going, everyone gets pretty excited."
It was moments at the craps tables or on the trains traveling to
various locations that some of "the boys" would start talking to
strangers about what they'd been doing- getting together for 10, 20,
30, and now almost 40 years.
"People would always think our story was so interesting," Sherman
said. "Once we passed 20 and then 25 years, I started saying,
'Guys, we have a unique story that should be told.'"
DeSantis, referred to as "the chairman" of the tournament, had
always put together scrapbooks after the weekends. Now there are
five boxes of books, memorabilia and photographs from the last 38
years. Sherman sorted through the boxes and started writing down
his memories.
"Miles of Heart" is based on a true story, although some situations
are exaggerated and names have been changed. The title stems
from the song "Heart" from the Broadway musical "Damn Yankees,"
which the men often sing when they get together.
But Sherman emphasized that the book "isn't for kindergartners,"
and Mueller agreed.
"The story is about a group of men in their single days, through
marriages and divorces," Mueller said. "The book isn't trying to
make us all look like the perfect little group."
The men still remain geographically close, but the tournament is
often the only time they all get together. The friends live in
Calabasas, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and
elsewhere in the Los Angeles area. Three have moved to Northern
California or Arizona. But with only occasional absences, they unite
for their once-a-year weekend.
"We've heard a lot of stories about groups of men who go fishing or
get together to jam music, maybe for 10, 15, 20 years," Sherman
said. "But this is more than a high school or a college reunion."
Mueller agreed. "This is the granddaddy of them all," Mueller said.
Sherman weaves true-life world events throughout the book,
referencing everything from the Watergate scandal to "The Exorcist"
movie. Sherman said he considered trying to collaborate, but with
such a "strong-willed group of guys" he decided to write it alone.
The finished product has gotten good reviews from the subjects of
"Miles of Heart."
"The strength of it is the dialogue," Mueller said. "He really captured
the language of the tournament. When you grow up together, a
language develops, and he really captured that."
He so much utilized that language that "Miles of Heart" contains a
glossary in the back of the book. There's also a listing of all the
tournament locations and winners.
For the 39th tournament this year the group will be traveling to the
Torrey Pines resort in the San Diego area in July. There will be a
day at the Del Mar horse races, golf at Torrey Pines Golf Course
and, of course, the hearts tournament.
"Hearts is the alleged purpose for getting together," Mueller said.
"But as you can imagine the card-playing aspect is the least
important. It's more about the camaraderie."
Sherman agreed. "During the tournament there's a lot of
tongue-in-cheek complaining," Sherman said. "But I truly feel like it's
very important to these 12 guys to do this, to get together."
|
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Reader Comments |
| “You certainly have interesting characters to follow. Many of the anecdotes were quite funny and you have a knack for storytelling” |
|
|
“This story provides a candid
and humorous look at the
American male set against the
backdrop of growing up in
1960s suburbia. New author
Sherman does an excellent job
at painting a detailed and
interesting picture, as he
follows a group of young men
on their annual weekend
vacation that is organized
around the card game hearts.
While many stories are
whimsical and outright
hilarious, the author doesn't
shy away from talking about
the real issues these men have
to deal… This book is a very
easy read that anyone would
thoroughly enjoy.”
and humorous look at the
American male set against the
backdrop of growing up in
1960s suburbia. New author
Sherman does an excellent job
at painting a detailed and
interesting picture, as he
follows a group of young men
on their annual weekend
vacation that is organized
around the card game hearts.
While many stories are
whimsical and outright
hilarious, the author doesn't
shy away from talking about
the real issues these men have
to deal… This book is a very
easy read that anyone would
thoroughly enjoy.”
| Reader Review |
| “It's incredible that such longevity can still exist today with such continued excitement and devotion to a cause… proves that friendship can withstand the test of time and the effects of aging” |
|
|
|
| Click Here to Email Wynn Sherman |
|
| By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com |
|
