Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe: A Legend in His Own Time

A young African-American boy walks onto some rundown tennis courts at a local park with his father in Richmond, VA. Armed with an old wooden racket and a can of white tennis balls, his father begins to feed him some different shots and tells his son everything he knows about tennis. Being an African-American, this young boy did not have many friends that were as interested in tennis as he was. Since tennis is a predominantly white sport, Arthur Ashe’s desire to play was not encouraged by either race, but instead of giving up on the sport he loved, he continued playing to the dismay of many. Little did Ashe know, however, that his persistence would change the game forever. His efforts opened doors for many of the popular African-American tennis players, such as Serena and Venus Williams, MaliVai Washington, and Bryan Shelton. The class that he brought to the game of tennis and the bravery he showed by changing a sport dominated by whites made Arthur Ashe a legend in his own time.

What is a legend anyway? The word "legend" is a very strong word to use when describing a person. Legends are people who are known for changing the ways that things are traditionally done. Legends never fall into the norm; they are seen as pioneers in their own field or, in this case, sport. When something seems impossible to everyone, they don’t just do it; they do it with flying colors, to the awe of all those around them. The more obstacles put in front of them, the more they strive to overcome them. Passion and desire constantly drive them to strive for perfection in anything that they do. Everybody involved with these types of people find their lives drastically changed over time. Legends give all those arou...

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...it better myself. The obstacles placed before him did not intimidate him; instead, those barriers gave him more desire to accomplish great things. The class and dignity that Ashe exemplified was virtually nonexistent at that time! In the heat of competition, he was always calm and collected; he never lost his temper, despite the situation. During his daily life, he was a very respectful man who never had anything bad to say about anyone. He exercised the golden rule in everything he did: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Arthur Ashe would make the perfect role model for anyone trying to make a name for himself or herself. The word "legend" is the only word that can describe Ashe and all the things he did for the game of tennis!

Works Cited

CMG. Official Web Site of Arthur Ashe. 14 Oct. 1999 http://www.cmgww.com/sports/ashe/index.html.