Showing posts with label Katrina Adams. Show all posts
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A Major Event For The Preservation And Rememberance Of The Life And Contributions Of American Tennis Great Althea Gibson At 2019 U.S. Open
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Althea Gibson Monument Unveiled On Day One of 2019 U.S. Open |
The historic occasion of the Althea Gibson Statue Unveiling on Monday, September 26, 2019, the first day of the U.S. Open, raised so many different levels of thoughts and feelings. The day was beautiful, the weather was good and the crowd was large, we were about to witness a tremendous turn around in the consistent lack of preservation and honor that Ms. Gibson has long deserved.
The greatness that Ms. Gibson brought to the Black community, the tennis world and America should have already afforded her legacy the dignity and respect that many who have done far less have already received.
This incredible Black woman was the first to break the color barrier of the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) in 1950, and played in the U. S. National Tennis Championships in Forest Hills. She became the first African-American player to play in Wimbledon in 1951. She won the French Open Championship in 1956. Ms. Gibson won the U.S. National Championships and Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958. These victories were especially historic because the winner’s trophy was presented to her by Queen Elizabeth.
Ms. Gibson also broke the color barrier in golf, launching her golf career in 1964 and joining the
Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
On the day of the Unveiling, Immediate Past United States Tennis Association (USTA) President Katrina Adams, and former tennis professionals Leslie Allen and Zina Garrison, all gave tribute to, and discussed the depth of what Ms. Gibson meant to them and the role that her mentorship played in their becoming successful players. Witnessing these Black women honor the fact that had there been no Althea Gibson, they would not be where they are today, paid well deserved, respectful and loving tribute to yet another history making and door opening Black American woman.
American tennis great Billie Jean King, Angela Buxton, Ms. Gibson's former doubles partner, and the creator of the monument, Eric Goulder, also discussed and paid wonderful tribute to Ms. Gibson. Of particular note was Mr. Goulder's detailing of his concept in creating the monument. During an interview he talked about, "The bust portion sitting atop a box, the box representing the box that the world tried to keep her in, and her now sitting atop that box she is depicted having broken out of it." And that, "Her shoulder is especially depicted in the way that it is, because so many now stand on it."
Talking to Mr. Goulder brought so much more conceptual meaning to his work. Upon returning to the statue, I now saw it in a totally different light, and was also spiritually enlightened by it.
Ms. Buxton shared shared memories of her long-time friend. “We won both the French and Wimbledon doubles together with my arm around her both times at the closing ceremonies … She slowly became the Jackie Robinson of tennis and I was soon referred to as the Pee Wee Reese, who without saying a word indicated ‘This is my friend.’”
The sculpture also will activate an augmented reality experience. Developed by MRM/McCann, visitors will be able to activate exclusive content about Althea Gibson’s life and legacy by focusing the Augmented Reality (AR) Viewfinder found within the 2019 US Open app onto the sculpture. Narrated by Billie Jean King, the additional AR experience traces Althea’s humble roots, her early interest and involvement in tennis, her career and her legacy through video footage, photos and graphics. Fans can also view the AR experience anywhere by using the APP to place a full-size 3D “hologram” of the sculpture into their surroundings and re-live the experience again or for the very first time.component that brings Gibson's life and career to life for fans on site during the Open via the US Open mobile app.
This honor that the USTA has bestowed upon Ms. Gibson shines such a brighter light on the historic and current day value of the life of Althea Gibson. Later in the day, I stood and watched people of many different cultures stop and observe the monument, take photos in front of it or standing beside it, and reading her quote that is engraved on one of the surrounding granite blocks, "I hope that I have accomplished just one thing: that I have been a credit to tennis and my country.
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Posted by Shelia at 5:49 AM Labels: 2019 U.S. Open, Althea Gibson, Angela Buxton, Arthur Ashe Stadium, Billie Jean King, Billie Jean King Tennis Center, BTHOF, Eric Goulder, Katrina Adams, Leslie Allen, Statue Unveiling, USTA, Zina Garrison Email this post
SAVE THE DATE!! 2019 US Open Althea Gibson Statue Unveiling Hosted By Katrina Adams
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Posted by Shelia at 7:32 PM Labels: 2019 US Open, Althea Gibson, Katrina Adams, Statue Unveiling, USTA, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Email this post
2011 U.S. OPEN: (PHOTOS) First Lady Of The United States Michelle Obama Visits And Hits The Court For The Let's Move! Tennis Clinic
Saturday, September 10, 2011
(L-R) USTA Chairman of the Board and President Jon Vegosen, MaliVai Washington, Billie Jean King, James Blake, First Lady of the U.S. Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, and USTA Board Vice President Katrina Adams
First Lady Michelle Obama started playing tennis after she finished Harvard Law School but had always wanted to attend the US Open.
She was finally able to make it for the very first time Friday.
She started the morning in SmashZone, the premier fan interactive attraction at the US Open. She played some 10 and Under Tennis with a group of kids from the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program, along with tennis stars Serena Williams, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, James Blake, Katrina Adams, Mal Washington and USTA Chairman of the Board and President Jon Vegosen, promoting tennis as a great way for children to stay active and healthy, which is a central part of her Let’s Move! Initiative, which works to combat childhood obesity.
The USTA and the First Lady teamed up earlier this year to encourage young people across the country to get active, try tennis and lead healthy lifestyles. Components of the collaboration included a public service announcement, which has aired nationwide featuring the First Lady along with tennis legends Stefanie Graf and Andre Agassi, as well as the construction and renovation of thousands of tennis courts across the country and the commitment to encourage 200,000 children to participate in the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award.
“I have been trying to get to the US Open my entire life. This is the first time I have been here. I couldn’t get here last year, so, yes, I am excited to be here,” the First Lady said. “I am so incredibly excited to finally be at my first US Open, but I am equally excited and proud to be standing in partnership with the USTA and all they have done for hundreds of thousands of kids across this country. You are an example of what we can do when we put our minds to it.”
Source: usopen.org
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Posted by Shelia at 1:56 AM Labels: Angela Haynes Serena Williams, Australian Open Series James Blake, Billie Jean King, FLOTUS Michelle Obama, Jon Vegosen, Katrina Adams, MaliVai Washington, Smash Zone Email this post
(PHOTOS) Black Tennis Hall Of Fame 1st Annual Induction Gala, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia
Saturday, August 6, 2011
What an incredible evening! The excitement of newness, forward movement, and future endeavors was in the air.
At the end of the 94th ATA National Week, the organization closed out with the Black Tennis Hall of Fame 1st Annual Induction Gala. It was so wonderful to be in the midst of those who love tennis, it's history and celebrate the accomplishments of more than worthy participants in the sport. Here are some candids from the event.
(L-R) Albert A. Tucker, Executive Director, American Tennis Association, and Robert Davis, Executive Director, Black Tennis Hall of Fame.
ALL PHOTOS PROPERTY OF BLACK TENNIS PRO'S - DO NOT DUPLICATE
(L-R) Dale G. Caldwell, Founder, Black Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum and Bob Davis.
(L-R) Myself and former WTA player Katrina Adams, USTA Board of Directors Vice President.
(L-R) Event Master of Ceremony Sam Crenshaw, Sports Anchor/Reporter, WXIA-TV Atlanta and Bob Davis.
Myself and Sam Crenshaw
(L-R) Bob Davis, Former WTA player Jewel Peterson, accepting the Chairman's Award on behalf of her father, the late Coach Ernie Peterson, and Dale Caldwell.
(L-R) Dr. Robert Screen, the widow of Coach Ernie Peterson, and Katrina Adams.
Black Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee Legendary Hampton University tennis coach Dr. Robert Screen. It was a pleasure to be seated at the same table with him.
You know how you go to events and end up talking to a person or a couple that you've never seen in life, but you have the best time together? That's who these two are!
A very talented, energetic and entertaining musician, violinist Ken Ford. He provided a musical interlude for the Gala and was really good. I purchased his CD after the event.
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Posted by Shelia at 1:02 AM Labels: Albert A. Tucker, ATA National Week, Black Tennis Hall of Fame, Bob Davis, Coach Ernie Peterson, Dale G. Caldwell, Dr. Robert Screen, Jewell Peterson, Katrina Adams, Ken Ford, Sam Crenshaw Email this post
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