Since the advent of the professional sports world, athletes have been praised for their extraordinary abilities and outstanding character. Those who receive the rare opportunity to play sports professionally are admired and leave people inspired all across the world. Arthur Ashe is one whose work ethic, passion and trailblazing career in the tennis league has inspired many. Ashe’s career in the sports world not only influenced many to follow in his footsteps but his character has impacted millions of people to this day.
Arthur Ashe was born on July 10, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia. As a child, Ashe lived in a house in the middle of a tennis club where his father, Arthur Ashe Sr, was employed. The home was provided to the Ashe family by the
…show more content…
Johnson, Ashe began to play in competitions. In 1958, Arthur Ashe became the first African-American to participate in the Maryland boys’ championships. He would travel across the country to compete in various competitions throughout his summers. However, Ashe was restricted to playing other local black children around Richmond during the school year. This setback did not stop him from winning several junior tennis tournaments across the nation. As a result, Ashe earned a full scholarship to UCLA which had one the top college tennis programs at the time. In 1965, he won the individual NCAA championship and led UCLA to win the team NCAA tennis championship. Arthur Ashe also became the first African-American player on the U.S Davis Cup team. During his professional years, he travelled the world competing in various tennis competitions. In 1970, Ashe won the Australian open; he earned one of his three grand slam singles titles. After years of being denied a visa to South Africa, Ashe was finally granted one which enabled to participate in the South African open. Although Ashe lost the in the singles finals, he went on to win the doubles title with Tom Okker. Despite all his previous accomplishments, 1975 proved to be the highlight year of Arthur Ashe’s career. He defeated Jimmy Connors to earn the Wimbledon singles title and became the only African-American man to win the grasscourt tournament. Ashe’s success led to him being ranked #1 in the world in men’s
In David Foster Wallace’s essay, “How Tracy Austin Broke My Heart,” he argues that the true talent of star athletes is to completely engross themselves in playing the game. While worshipping the “abstractions like power and grace and control” of Tracy Austin, he notes the contradicting quality, her inability to articulate such abstracts (143). He continues by writing, as people’s expectation while reading the autobiography of a successful athlete is to take a peek at the secrets of their god given gifts, whereas the expectations are rarely met, making spectators, such as himself, disappointed. As a matter of fact, Wallace suspects that the exceptional talent of athletes may be brought out by their apathetic and ignorant nature when it
One of the major stands that were made during a black athlete’s tenure during his or her sport were their statements on racism. Racism in America was an ongoing situation in the 1900’s that seemed to have no resolve before black athletes took a stand. One prime example can be Jackie Robinson who became the first African-American athlete to play baseball in the modern era. Jackie grew up in one of the most racist towns in Pasadena, California and came from a poor family as his parents were sharecroppers and...
Jim Brown saw a life outside of football. He wasn’t interested in just being known as the greatest athlete of all time. He was interested in making the greatest contribution in the world. From breaking through acting barriers to taking on society’s ills his aim is to give a new generation the courage to succeed. His accomplishments off the field were more impressive than those on the football field. (Jim Brown Biography)
Arthur Robert Ashe Jr. is a man of trust, courage, grace and honor. Although many of these attriobutes I share with Arthur, his high level of moral values and self reliance I aspire to achieve. Arthur was of African American decent and being born on July 10, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia he had to face many racial struggles and hardships. On the contrary, I was born and raised in somerset, New Jersey, in the 1990’s so my racial struggles were close to non-existent. Being of Italian- American decent, if I had lived in the time of Arthur Ashe I still would not have faced racial struggles as greatly as African Americans did in that time.
Naturally, like many other colored children, Ashe was treated differently, but he was determined not to let this bias restraint his potentials. Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was born in July 10, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia, to Mattie Ashe and Arthur Ashe Sr., his father, who was a public parks supervisor (Johnson 208). Growing up during this time period, Ashe could easily get into trouble even if he wanted it or not. Consequently, he always had to pay extra attention to his actions and behaviors. After Mattie’s death when he was six, his father imposed strict rules on him and his sibling, fearing they would get into troubles (Huso). They were expected to be at home or at the parks, and they were to go home immediately after school (Johnson 208). Arthur Senior even measure the time it took for his sons to walk home, “’1 had exactly 12 minutes to get home from school,’” Ashe recalled (Huso). It is because under his dad’s disciplinary that he was able to confront later hardships in his life, as in the incident during the 1960 Middle Atlantic Junior Championship in Wheeling, West Virginia. Ashe was branded as the culprit of destroying a cabin on the premises by some other white players, a crime he did not conduct, and even worse, the fabricated story was published by local newspapers (Lazo 39-...
A Lincoln Preface written by Carl Sandburg and Arthur Ashe Remembered written by John McPhee, both talked about significant and famous people in their respective careers. Each person wrote about a person who they looked up to and thought were spectacular people. Carl Sandburg wrote about Abraham Lincoln, who was the 16th president of the United States and president during the Civil War. John McPhee wrote about Arthur Ashe the first African American man to achieve greatness in tennis. They both talked about the life of these men and the achievements they accomplished through their life.
Chester Alan Arthur was born on October 5, 1830 in Fairfield, Vermont. The son of Malvina Arthur and the Reverend William Arthur, a passionate abolitionist, young Chester and his family migrated from one Baptist parish to another in Vermont and New York. The fifth of eight children, Chester had six sisters and one older brother. Before beginning school in Union Village (now Greenwich), New York, he studied the fundamentals of reading and writing at home.
Williams, Peter. The sports immortals: deifying the American athlete. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1994.. 30-31
Athletes waiver an uncanny amount of courage, by pushing their bodies to the test and showcasing themselves and abilities to the judgement of the public. Sports may come natural for many people, but having utmost character and bravery does not come easy to anyone. Undoubtedly, having both is a rare occasion. Being a prime example, Jackie Robinson used his natural born gifts of a strong character and personality, along with an unprecedented athletic ability. He fought for equality by dignity and hard work. Respectfully, he was one of the best in Major League baseball for his time, and sparked a Civil RIghts Movement while doing it.
The history of sports goes back since ancient times. It has been a useful way for people to explore nature and their environment. Sports include different activities and games such as football, soccer, basketball, and etc. to express their skills and talents. Also, sports are a way to relax and have fun; but are sports all our African Americans rely on? The dream to become future sports stars. The reason why Gates begins his essay with an anecdote is to show and compare how many african-american athletes were at work today and how little the chances of African-Americans becoming athletes are compared to being a lawyer, dentist, or even a doctor. African-Americans assume that they are born athletes and it’s because the school system doesn’t teach them reality and educate them to undertake more realistic goals for careers.
Arthur Wharton wasn't treated right once he joined a professional soccer team in 1886.People didn't believe that Arthur will make it so far with football because of skin colour. Arthur Wharton accomplished a lot from playing his best and ignoring the hate and comments.He was born with lots of respect from his family but once he joined football he had to face challenges with his family.
Augustus Caesar was born on September 23, 63 B.C. in Velletri, Rome. His birth name was Gaius Octavius Thurinus. He was born to Atia Balba Caesonia and Gaius Octavius. His father came from a respectable family and was the governor of
The first African American to play Major League baseball once said, “a life is not important, except in the impact it has on other lives”; this was, of course, Jackie Robinson. Similar to Muhammad Ali, he faced problems head on a...
Arthur Ashe is quoted in Thomas Hauser’s book titled, Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times, as saying, “He was largely responsible for it becoming an expected part of the black athlete’s responsibility to get involved. He had more at stake than any of us. And if Ali did that, who were the rest of us lesser athlete mortals not to do it (Hauser 205)?” Muhammad Ali has had the single greatest impact on the inclusion of African Americans into every day society than any other historic black
Whitaker, Matthew C.. African American icons of sport: triumph, courage, and excellence. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2008.