Black Tennis Pros

Q: Mr. Eslami said that you are the best coach that he had ever worked with, who had he already worked with in making that comparison?
A: Mr. Eslami's daughters have worked some with Larry Stefanki (who coached John McEnroe, Marcelo Rios, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Tim Henman and is currently coaching Fernando Gonzalez), Robert Lansdorp (Maria Sharapova, Tracy Austin, Lindsay Davenport, etc.) and Nick Bollettieri, to name a few.

Q: Why aren't you training the Eslami sisters since Mr. Eslami seems to like your coaching so much?
A: Mr. Eslami is currently trying to find investors in order to be able to pay for coaching, and to provide for all of the other costs associated with playing the circuit. It is strictly a matter of money.

Q: Why is Ali Eslami attempting to politicize the USTA; why does he call the USTA a failure?
A: The USTA has politicized itself! To get this, you would have to be in and around the USTA for some time and/or need their assistance as a parent or player.

The USTA is a giant clique. As for why he has called it a failure is something that you would have to ask him directly. But consider this: where are the consistent and continuous American champions and No. 1's? Why is the coaching coming out of the USTA's player development department so sub-par? Did you know that the player development department has never, EVER produced a top 10 pro player? Top 25? Top 50? Lindsay Davenport and Chanda Rubin spent time in the USTA's player development program and quit the program. Once they quit and hired their own private coaches, their respective rankings took off and the rest is history. Get it?

Q: Have any Black tennis touring pros approached you about coaching them?
A: No!

Q: Do you prefer to coach men or women? Pros or juniors?
A: No preference regarding gender; but pros over juniors.

Q: Are you a part of Black Tennis Pro's?
A: All Black tennis pros are a part of Black Tennis Pro's. However, it is the baby and undertaking of its creator and owner Shelia. My baby is called MAGIAN World Class Tennis (www.magian10S.com).


Q: Do you honestly think that the lack of Black coaches in tennis is due to racism as opposed to Black athletes choosing not to coach tennis?
A: Yes. Most viewers of this blog site did not know that I existed until this interview. Explain that! Who controls the mainstream media that supposedly gets the word out to the public?

MAGIAN players at Melbourne, Florida

USTA Men's Open Designated Tournament (1997)

(L to R)

Then 16 yrs. old Edmond Dramou (Guinea, West Africa),

NCAA I player Rusty Oca (U.S.),

Coach Morris King, Jr.

(Dramou won the tournament)

Q: What is the country club environment in Jacksonville, Florida like now?
A: Legally they cannot exclude anymore. Other than that...

Q: Why do you persist in pursuing coaching tennis if you feel that the environment is so negative and racist?
A: "A winner never quits and a quitter never wins!" What kind of world class coach would I be if I quit, when I'm required to teach and train players how to go into (tennis) combat and to never, ever give up the fight?

Also, I come from a legacy of people who don't give up or in. Where would we be as a people if Martin had quit? Malcolm? Harriet Tubman? Medgar Evers? Stokely Carmichael? and countless others who gave their very lives?

Q: To your knowledge, how many Black tennis coaches are there available?
A: Not counting me, or Black parents who coach their kids, I know of at least five that are available to coach at the pro circuit level.

Q: No offense, but I've seen Ahsha Rolle play, and I don't think that she's that talented.
A: Okay, that's your opinion. Ahsha Rolle has a skill set that can be readily plugged into advanced level tactics and strategies. She just does not have anyone to coach her on how to plug-in her skill set. Also, Ahsha's physical conditioning is visibly lacking. Ahsha is currently being coached by one of the USTA player development (or high performance) coaches. Need I say more?

Q: Are you concerned with distancing yourself from the USTA because of your criticisms?
A: No. I've only reiterated truths that have been written about and discussed over and over by many, for many years.

Q: Why did you stop working with Venus and Serena?
A: Mission accomplished. Besides, it's the Richard Williams Show, not mine.

Q: What did you like the most and the least about working with Richard Williams and his daughters?
A: The opportunity itself is what I liked the most. What I liked the least I cannot say due to the agreement. But I will say that I don't like the fact that the sisters, since having reached their majority age (meaning that they make their own decisions due to adulthood) ONLY hire whites, unless the person is a family member.

I am one of those Blacks that was arrested in the 60's for protest marching so that there could be a Venus and Serena Williams as world champions. I was a mere 12 years old when I went to jail (juvenile shelter) so that our people could have the opportunity to achieve success. Does anyone actually believe that I and others placed our lives on the line so that Black folk could have opportunity, then, in turn, give away any resulting opportunities to others, when there are exceptionally competent, talented and professional Black folk available who need a break??? This is a very obvious manifestation of a hidden and deeper self-hatred.

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Author Prelude

The Wednesday Coaches Corner began on May 14, with very kind favor. It is the one who found it necessary to remind me that coaches are indeed Black tennis professionals too, whom I continue to explore today.

This weeks segment, which concludes my *EXCLUSIVE* interview with world class coach Morris King, Jr. primarily discusses the coaching life and experience of “Coach King.” It is definitely not for the faint-of-heart. This part of the interview is straight up, no chaser in your face high voltage revelation. So much so that I guarantee you will have to read some passages a second time (at the very least).

This interview is about the coaching aspect of the life of Morris King, Jr., and it is what it is, his own personal experience, and that’s exactly what I want you to walk away from this read knowing, his life experience as a Black world class tennis coach.

There is only so much time and space to accommodate an individual interview, so at the conclusion of this interview Coach King is open to further exploring any of the information that is included in either Part I or II of this interview. You are welcomed to comment, email or contact him directly through information that will be provided at the end of this interview.

Morris King, Jr.'s Opening Statement, Part II

“In beginning Part II of this interview, I am reminded of a controversial statement made by Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder at a Georgetown restaurant in front of reporters. The portion of his statement that got everyone’s ire up was that the slave owners of old used to “breed his big Black to his big Black woman so that he would have a big Black kid.” Actually, that statement is historically correct.

But the portion of his statement that remains far more damning and racist is where Jimmy “The Greek” warned “if Blacks take over coaching like everybody wants them to, there is not going to be anything left for the White people.” THAT is the very damning, racist statement that sends a subliminal instruction to Whites to block competent Black coaches. That form of fear mongering is the racism from which I (and other) Black coaches suffer, especially in the tennis community. It is very much purposed.”

“I come from a culture that won’t allow my daughters to play tennis because they are female. It is almost the same in this country when you are told ‘no, your daughters cannot play because you come from a low income family. The USTA (United States Tennis Association) is a political machine, and the total system is a failure.”

Ali Eslami

As I began to compose all of the notes that I have taken during my conversations with Coach King, and the brief one that I had with Ali Eslami, I was stymied for hours on the manner within which to present it. Coach King and I established a wonderful rapport during this interview and enjoyed some very light moments. It didn’t dawn on me just how literally depressing the totality of this information actually was until I was alone with the information and attempting to organize it in an appealing manner. There is nothing appealing or easy to read about about cultural bias, systematic racism, and veiled parity.

From the joys of coaching, to the high point of being selected to advise on the rise of Venus and Serena Williams, to the disappointment of rejections as a contract coach, Morris King, Jr. has and is experiencing a coaching career that is mired in the invisibility of the private Black tennis coach.

From the days that Coach King would work independently as a youth to learn tennis because of the inability of a Black youth to get into the local country clubs in Jacksonville, to defending his reputation against Tennis Week Magazine based upon the lies and lies of omission by Amer Delic, continuing his commitment to a sport that few even know that he is a part of is remarkable.

In the early 90's Coach King made moves to bring his life forward in a direction that did not include tennis. “I became a professional manager for entertainers, models and athletes along with other endeavors, tennis was unwittingly growing on the side. It was not purposeful or planned whatsoever.”

“At a certain point I realized that I am now a tennis coach, but it may not last. This was a response to life.”

Today Morris King, Jr. is a world class coach serving as the founder and director of MAGIAN World Class Tennis, which specializes in highly competitive, individualized training utilizing the patented and unstoppable “MAGIAN style”. Additionally,

• King is the first “world class” coach in the history of his home city and state of Jacksonville, Florida.
• Coached touring pros, nationally ranked “top 10" international/national juniors from four countries with two being #1s as well as many other accomplished juniors, collegians and PTR/USPTA teaching pros. (Accomplished this ALONE; that is, without having assistants do the work, then robbing them of the credit.)
• Creator/developer of the patented “MAGIAN Style.”
• Former certified USTA Official (6 years).
• Former USTA Clinician.
  

With all of this, Coach King’s attempt at consideration to secure contract players such as Jelena Jankovic most recently, are met not with a resounding no, but with a silent lack of response.

Even at his own alma mater, the University of Florida, with two coaching positions open at the time, Coach King gave consideration to taking on a collegiate position in coaching tennis and discontinuing his professional efforts, once again King was rejected.

In an attempt to determine why coaching opportunities for a Black world class tennis coach exist as such, an investigative journalist took it upon their self to take a long hard detailed journey into the history of Coach King in relationship to accomplishments, player history and much more, because surely there must be a reason why a Black tennis coach cannot seem to secure the same coaching opportunities as an equivalent or lesser White coach.

One such attempt in the life of Coach King where the desire resides on both sides of the equation is with the Eslami sisters, Naseem, Maryam, and Shabnam, the daughters of Ali Eslami (www.triplethreattennis.com).

The quote at the top of this interview from Ali Eslami was acquired during a brief conversation with him. Mr. Eslami has had the opportunity to have his daughters work with Coach King, and has not been impressed with the coaching that his daughter’s have received since that experience.

“Coach King is the best coach I have ever come across. His expertise, humbleness and willingness to help us...” said Eslami, who has great respect and admiration for Coach King and equal if not more disappointment with the USTA.

Eslami was referred to Coach King by none other than Richard Williams, the father of superstars Venus and Serena, who had previously personally sought out Coach King to assist in taking his daughters to the next level. King likened his capacity in the coaching of Venus and Serena Williams to that of football coaches, saying “I was more like an offensive and defensive coordinator with Richard (Williams) being the head coach calling all of the plays.”

“Richard Williams’ accomplishment was made in brilliance and craftiness. With no tennis background or accomplishments, he mimicked the duties of an NFL head coach and brought in other coaching coordinators as necessary.”

Eslami basically agrees with King’s position saying, “Richard Williams is a visionary and a businessman. He knew what he wanted and where he wanted to go, he had a plan and was willing to take that next step to support his daughters.”

“What happened with Venus and Serena is far removed from the norm of parental coaching, unless that parent has experience coaching tennis, says King.

“Currently being coached by parents or USTA coaches that will never be able to deliver them to the championship status that they so desire, are youth with respectable potential. Unfortunately they are unable to climb out of the first and second round losing box that they are in because their coaching situation does not move them forward, but instead stagnates their growth.”

One such player is Ahsha Rolle. “I was approached by the parent of another youth about a very talented young lady whom this parent thought I might be able to help. He stated ‘this girl needs a real coach.’ I thought it would be great if I could get her on the map. I was willing to help her free of charge, with the parents picking up expenses. I never had the opportunity to speak to the parents, but I really would like to have helped her move her game forward.”

When asked about the viability of Black coaches in tennis, Coach King’s response was a very dry “there is no viability, they are non-existent.”

“Just take a sample. Every time you turn your television on for the next six months, ten years, whatever, count the Black coaches that appear as the players are being discussed. We are not there.”

“If you dare show that you are good at this, and that you can coach players to beat their players, your visibility went from 0 to negative 100. When they realized that I was good, they took the safety off."

I asked Coach King how he saw the current state of tennis, “the talent pool is down across the board. Blacks who have been around the USTA’s development program for years who now are showing up and tricking Black people into thinking that they are new, are NOT new - just politically feasible.”

“Having now completed this interview, I would like to say thanks for having given me this rare opportunity. You have been a most delightful interviewer. I hope that the readers become more enlightened because of your efforts and that you have the greatest of success and a positive effect on the problems that have plagued us throughout history.

Morris King, Jr.

Related links:

“About MORRIS KING, JR., Black, Pro Tennis Coach & World Class...” (the independent investigative expose that gives a vivid behind-the-scenes insight into how Blacks are kept down and/or out of professional tennis) - www.protennisexpose.net

PRESS RELEASE: “Practice Of Hiding Black Pro Tennis Coaches Attacked!” - www.mmdnewswire.com/content/view/1364

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Author Prelude

Today is the first segment of the Wednesday Coaches Corner. I am very excited about it. Loving what we see transpire on the courts is inevitably a direct correlation to the coaches that train, mentor and advise the players.

Even so, it was never my intention to delve into the lives and activities of the coaches, primarily because that is not an experience that I am familiar with. However, my first profile, Morris King, Jr., contacted me a short while ago and questioned my not covering the Black coaches who are indeed Black tennis professionals themselves. It took me a minute to come around, but he eventually made his point.

Since Morris is the impetus for this new feature, it is only proper that he would be the first coach profiled. His interview will take place over two installments. I don't know that this will be the standard framework for these interviews, but Morris brings a lot to the table and I want to share as much of him as is reasonably possible.

On Thursday, May 8, 2008, I began interviewing a world class private tennis coach. Within five minutes we were laughing as if we had known one another for years. By Friday, May 9, I was interviewing a friend, the point at which this interview took on a life of its own.

This man with with the deep voice, personality to spare, depth of thought to share and an honest streak that could cause fear, was very open, and allowed me the freedom to probe his life as much as I chose. He responded elaborately in some areas and minutely in others.

Whatever the result of my inquiry, I could not have spent better days engulfed in some of the most intriguing, entertaining one-on-one conversation that I have enjoyed in a long time.

I was speaking with someone who's life's pursuits have taken him from substitute teaching, to banking, to even running for a seat on the city council. By no means is Morris King, Jr. going to be bored with the story that his life tells when it is all said and done.

For those of you who do not know this Jacksonville, Florida native, it is my intention to simply introduce you to him and peak your interest in him as a coach. The second half of this interview will take you deep inside the coaching world of Morris King, Jr.

Morris King Jr.’s Opening Statement

“White players hire White coaches, Hispanic players hire Hispanic coaches, Japanese players hire Japanese coaches, Chinese players, hire Chinese coaches; Black players hire White coaches (except where the coach is the parent, of course).

But also, Black players that don’t have money allow the USTA (the United States Tennis Association, the national governing body of tennis) to come in, finance them and ruin their chance of becoming a champion as a result of the USTA’s pitiful coaching.

However, the bright side of the story is that, at least, the Black player is now able to travel all over the world at the USTA’s expense, and NEVER be properly coached to win a championship or to become one of the top players in the world.“

I was completely floored when Morris concluded his statement. It was very frank, and it immediately allowed me to look behind the curtain of Morris’ perspective on a number of issues.

I honestly did not know where to direct my interview due to the severity of this statement. I wanted to further consider and make inquiry of his very strong words. I wondererd to myself "what is the validity of this statement? what is it's purpose? do I want to print it?"

Eyebrows raised in contemplation, I was literally locked in thought, but we moved on.

Morris is a smart man, an educated man committed to excellence, community and tomorrow. It is readily evident in his conversation and the body of actions over his lifetime. His dedication to the growth and prosperity of the youth that he comes into contact with is heartwarming.

He has that ability to consistently massage and apply his knowledge into a conversation in a comparative and analytical sense. I admire people who can do that. It's a strong factor of foundation and belief in one's self.

After learning of these aspects of Morris King, Jr. the world class tennis coach, I became even more enthralled with the man that aspired to this point. What was, and is this man seeking, and in that quest, how did becoming a private tennis coach present itself?

Here are a few critical points of growth in Morris’ life:

• achieved a bachelor’s degree in Public/Business Administration from the University of Florida, after having completed the first two years of college at the Ivy League Columbia University in New York City on academic scholarship;
• formerly a city official in Jacksonville, Florida;
• formerly a financial analyst at a former leading Florida bank;
• formerly a personal/professional manager of entertainers, models and athletes as a private businessman;
• formerly involved in international affairs consulting with third world countries;
• has been a board member of a renowned civil/human rights advocacy organization; and
• is a paralegal, among other accomplishments and affiliations.
  

I found each of these events interesting as I listened for what exactly caused his evolution into a tennis coach. Whenever I would ask for a direct statement to that effect, Morris would always say “I didn’t pick tennis, tennis picked me.” I definitely understand such a path. Sometimes each of our paths in life evolves differently from how we originally envision it.

Morris eventually shared with me that he began playing tennis at 14 years of age, and that his game was self-taught from reading books and watching television. "Learning to play like this enabled me to later sharpen my analytical ability to fix problems inside of the game of others. I became a stickler for 'technical purity.'

Of course the most significant point of Morris’ evolution as a tennis coach occurred when he was approached by Richard Williams to inject his brand and philosophy of tennis into the development of the now superstar sisters, Venus and Serena.

Today Morris operates Magian World Class Tennis, among other business endeavors. Magian World Class Tennis specializes in highly competitive individualized training utilizing the patented and unstoppable “Magian Style.”

Before this segment is over and you begin waiting for next week's installment of my interview with Morris , I concluded this portion of the interview with him as I do with anyone else that I interview - Fun Facts! I like to know what makes people tick personally, what cracks them up, what music they groove to, etc.

When Morris and I began to talk about those things that relax or bring him pleasure, it was uncanny how much we had in common. At the pinnacle of that commonality is his love of my favorite style of music, jazz. I truly enjoyed hearing him share the artists that he listens to, that his father enjoyed, the problem with a lot of current day jazz artists, etc. Yet another elongated conversation.

Next in line, the brotha is a trekkie. How satisfying was that for me? Very. He could do no wrong in my eyes after I found that out. I was now in deep interest. I don’t meet many trekkies, so when I do, I take note. Of course we had to discuss which Star Trek we considered the best, what it was that Benjamin Sisqo (Avery Brooks) brought to the franchise as the first and only Black captain, and of course how James Tiberious Kirk will always be THE captain of the franchise.

While we didn’t seem to enjoy any of the same authors to date, he too is a voracious reader. Morris is currently reading Confessions of an Economic Hitman, The Wizards of Langley: Inside the CIA’s Directorate of Science and Technology, and Dope, Inc.: The Book That Drove Henry Kissinger Crazy.

His all-time favorite books? The Autobiography of Malcolm-X, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, and Behold a Pale Horse.

I then asked Morris if he had any favorite vacation spots, his response, “What is a vacation? Explain that to me.” Okay, guess not.

"Well, foods, tell me what type of foods are your favorite, and don’t say chicken." Morris took a few moments to set up his disdain and outrage at my disparagement of what he so lovingly calls, “the negro national bird.” He then began to very humorously, basically preach and praise the hallowed and mighty fowl. I laughed with my mouth wide open. Morris has consistently caused me to give up my cool all throughout this interview. I did not like it initially, those of you who know me know that I’m a control FREAK! However, I have had such a good time getting to know him that after time passed, I just did not care anymore.

He finally admitted that he loves seafood.

Morris has a funky list of beverages that he loves, with Pepsi (the “elixir of life") heading the list. Closely followed by Mountain Dew and Earl Grey Tea (and why not, it is Picard’s favorite brew).

Lastly, I asked him about marriage and relationships, the short and long answer is the same, "I am a single heterosexual male - looking."

In part II of this interview, while I will primarily explore Morris' life as a tennis coach, I will continue to share aspects of him that I find interesting, uncommon, endearing and even perplexing.

There is much more to Morris King, Jr. Meet me back here on May 21 to find out what that is.

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As I traveled across the country on Wednesday, a calamity of errors gathered together and prevented the Wednesday Coaches Corner from appearing in a timely fashion.

I appreciate the fact that many of you are looking forward to this new aspect of Black Tennis Pro's and wrote me today wondering what had occurred.

Without going into extreme detail, suffice it to say that after a day like no other I've had in the recent past, the first part of my interview with Morris King, Jr. will be up shortly.

Thank you for your continued interest and support of Black Tennis Pro's. I'm working as hard and as quickly as possible to resolve these issues.

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On Wednesday, May 14, Black Tennis Pro's will premiere a new weekly segment, the "Wednesday Coaches Corner."

The primary goal of this segment will be to introduce professional Black tennis coaches and explore their roles in and out of tennis, obtain their perspectives on the state of the game as it relates to professional Black tennis players and discuss what needs to be done to bring more Black players into the game.

The first coach to stand in the corner will be Morris King Jr. King is the professional tennis coach that Richard Williams hand-picked in 1997 to assist him with the rise of his now champion daughters, Venus and Serena, to the top 10 in the pro rankings.

In a two part interview, King will share who he is personally and professionally, and give us a glimpse inside the world of a professional Black tennis coach.

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