The late tennis great and humanitarian Arthur Ashe will be enshrined in the "Wall of Champions" at this year's US Open Championships. The wall of Champions is located on the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, NY. He was just as noted for his off court humanitarian activities as his on court activities. He is also the first winner of the US Open tournament when it combined amateur's and pros together in 1968.
Ashe was an individual of immence dignity and class, who walked softly but was hugely successful in making changes and bringing racial diversity to the game of tennis. He co-founded the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) with the late Gene Scott and Charlie Pasarell. The event this year runs from August 31st to September 13th., featuring Men's defendig Champion Roger Federer and Women's defending Champion Serena Williams.
I sit back and watch all these awards Arthur Ashe continues to recieve even after dead. I would like to see what Arthur thought about the ATA,Williams Sisters, and etc lack of support for black up and coming tennis players. I see or no support for the black community when it come to help our juniors and young people compete in tennis. Where are the black coaches and black tennis patrons opening up thier homes and wallets to assist black tennis players? The lame excuse it is the so-call econmic is a joke. Black people spend a billion dollars a year in the USA on goods and service. The ATA is a disgrace!! Why do we continue to support them in there disfunctionality? The streets across the country are covered with the bodies of black youth who could be great tennis players and people though the game of tennis. OH! rthat is right we talk a good game but cannot back it up. The USTA has not produce one black player. But all the great black players came from black communities and supported and coached by black. I would think if Arthur could come back he would be greatly disappointed.
ReplyDeleteExcellent article. Now my question is what can we do as a collective unit to help our black male/female players?
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