Black Tennis Pros

With the second week of the 2008 U.S. Open underway and the semifinal weekend of Davis Cup play coming up on September 19, I thought it appropriate to reflect on someone who holds great significance to both, Arthur Ashe.

When I think of Arthur Ashe I always think of his humanity first and foremost, rarely do I even associate him with Davis Cup play, but that is a significant area of his tennis legacy. I have compiled related data from different sources to take a look at his coaching role as Davis Cup Captain.

Excerpt from "Arthur Ashe: A Biography" By Richard Steins

Arthur Ashe had played his last Davis Cup match in 1978. His heart operation and his retirement from active tennis play in 1980, however, did not diminish his love for the Davis Cup tradition. Just a few months after his surgery, Arthur was offered the opportunity of a lifetime. While attending the U.S. Open in New York, he was approached by Marvin P. Richmond, the incoming president of the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA; formerly the USLTA). Richmond told Arthur that Tony Trabert, a former tennis champion and current captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, wanted to resign. Richmond wanted Ashe to replace Trabert. Trabert, one of the great tennis champions a generation older than Arthur, had been captain of the team since 1976 and had presided over victories against Great Britain in 1978 (in which Arthur had played) and Italy in 1979.

Arthur was ecstatic. This was a dream come true. The captaincy of his beloved Davis Cup team was exactly what he had hoped he could have. Now that he had been sidelined from active play, the Davis Cup team would be an excellent way to keep his hand in the game and to manage a team that represented his country in international play. Little did Arthur know that the adventure he was about to embark on would be, in his own words, "a disorganized, sometimes exhilarating, sometimes frustrating and even humiliating epic of victories and defeats, excitement and tedium, camaraderie and isolation."

In the early 1980's just as Arthur took over as captain of the team, the Davis Cup leadership decided to award prize money. In 1981, a Japanese company put up $1 million to sponsor the competition. In 1983 the NEC Corporation announced that it would donate $2.5 million to the Davis Cup.

After the United States, the next most dominant country in Davis Cup play was Australia, with a total of 24 wins between 1900 and 1979. Arthur was keenly aware of this venerable tradition and of the prestige that was on the line every time his country played in an international arena. He was to discover, however, that among the younger generation of players, the tradition and its history meant absolutely nothing - and he would pay a steep price in trying to manage a team of tennis players who were distinct individuals, each with his own idea of right and wrong and not at all afraid to demand what he believed was right for him.

Managing The "Bad Boys"

Tony Trabert wanted out as Davis Cup captain in 1980 because he was sick and tired of dealing with the younger players, in particular because of their self-centeredness, their rudeness on the court, and their willingness to challenge the rules and traditions of tennis. Trabert was known as a tough "law-and-order" man when it came to enforcing discipline on the team. He was the captain, and the team was expected to follow his orders. The fact that many team members bucked his leadership was a source of great frustration.

Arthur also considered himself a law-and-order person, as long as the rules were fair, which in tennis he believed they were. But he thought his management of the team might be smoother because he could relate more easily to the younger generation of players since he was closer to them in age. He would soon discover, however, that this was not to be the case in all instances, that the job of managing the "bad boys" of tennis would be one of the most challenging times of his life.

Arthur was also taking over as captain at a time when Davis Cup play was losing its appeal around the world as a spectator sport. Many top players, not just some Americans, declined to play in Davis Cup matches, and attendance at Davis Cup games had dwindled over the years. Arthur felt that he had a responsibility to help restore Davis Cup play to its former esteem. In many countries, the Davis Cup squad is selected by a committee. But in the United States, the captain chooses the team, or, at least, extends the invitation to top players to join.

In 1980, Arthur already had some of the best young players on his team. On of the most talented-and one with a notorious reputation for bad behavior on court-was John McEnroe. Already on his way to becoming one of the greatest tennis players of all time, McEnroe was deeply committed to Davis Cup play. Jimmy Connors, however, was not, but despite his tiff with Arthur in the mid-1970s over his the question of his patriotism, he could be convinced to play Davis Cup tennis, although his commitment was never really strong or consistent. He played a couple of Davis Cup matches in 1976 but had not been part of the team since then.

Soon after he took over as captain, however, Arthur had more on his mind than Connors. He had to assemble a team for a match against Mexico. For singles he had McEnroe and another fine player, Roscoe Tanner. His original doubles team, Stan Smith and Bob Lutz, was replaced by Marty Riessen and Sherwood Stewart after Smith developed an arm injury. McEnroe performed brilliantly, while the others on the team had their ups and downs. The United States won the games against Mexico, but the training sessions before the games and the games themselves were a quick initiation for Arthur into the difficulties of being captain. In dealing with the egos and demands of individuals who were used to being stars in their own right, having to "keep them happy" was not a part of the job Arthur particularly liked. But he had to do it, and true to his well-developed sense of duty, he did.

The 1981 quarterfinal matches wagainst the defending champion Czechoslovakia, were played in the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York, and the were an example of all the complex problems and frustrations Arthur faced as captain of the Davis Cup team. Arthur had assembled the strongest team possible in addition to McEnroe, he had gotten the releuctant Connors to play, and Stan Smith and Bob Lutz were scheduled for the doubles match. The first match was between McEnroe and therising Czech superstar Ivan Lendl. More than 17,000 fans bought tickets to see the two young stars play each other. The Davis Cup matches were suddenly a hot ticket for tennis fans who previously had not been interested.


Excerpt from International Tennis Hall of Fame

...An amateur would never do so well again. As the last remaining pro, Okker got the $14,000 first prize while Ashe was happy to settle for $28 daily expenses for his historic triumph, the first major for a black since Althea Gibson's Forest Hills triumph a decade before. Ashe's victory also boosted American morale by ending the U.S. male championship drought that dated back 13 years to Tony Trabert's 1955 win.

That year Ashe was also a Davis Cup drought-buster, spearheading the U.S. drive to the sterling tub, last won five years before. He won 11 straight singles (the most in one campaign for an American) in the drive to retrieve the Cup from Australia. In the finale he beat Ray Ruffels easily on opening day, and, after the Cup was clinched by Bob Lutz and Stan Smith in doubles, Ashe finally gave way, losing to Bill Bowrey in a meaningless third-day match. The season closed with Ashe winning 10 of 22 tournaments on a 72-10 match record.

He would win both his singles in 1969 and 1970 as the U.S. successfully defended the Cup against Romania and then West Germany. In the latter his third day defeat of Christian Kuhnke, 6-8, 10-12, 9-7, 13-11, 6-4, was the longest match (86 games) in a Cup-deciding round. Eight years later he reappeared for a vital cameo that led to another Cup for the U.S.; his 6-2, 6-0, 7-5 singles victory over Kjell Johansson was the clincher over Sweden, 3-2, in the semifinal at Goteborg.

Ashe put in 10 years of Davis Cup, topped for the U.S. only by John McEnroe's 12 and Bill Tilden and Stan Smith's 11 each, and won 27 singles, second only to McEnroe's 41.

He returned in 1981 as captain for five years, piloting the victors of 1981 and 1982.


Excerpt from Answers.com

As his first post-retirement venture Ashe served as Davis Cup captain from 1981 to 1985. He was only the second captain in over 30 years to lead the U.S. team to consecutive victories, 1981 and 1982.

His new life was a rebirth with many directions. Ashe's Davis Cup campaigns, his protests against apartheid in South Africa, and his controversial support of higher academic standards for all athletes received much media attention. But he actually spent most of his time quietly dealing with the challenges of the "real world" through public speaking, teaching, writing, business, and voluntary public service.

Excerpt from BNET

...He recalled that Ashe, one of Wimbledon's greatest singles champions, discovered him while touring with tennis pros in Cameroon.

Noah said he had heard of the tennis titan, but wasn't aware he was Black. "It surprised me that he was Black. I had no idea, so of course, him having the same color as me, he was my hero," Noah told USA Today. "After we hit (some tennis balls), I asked him for an autograph, and he gave me a racket instead. That was very special to me. In many ways, I cherished that racket. You must understand, at the time, I was living in a home with no electricity," Noah added.

It was Ashe, who urged French officials to include the youngster in their junior training program. He did and followed in the footsteps of Ashe, winning championships. And just as Ashe became the first Black to captain the U.S. Davis Cup tennis team, Noah became the first Black to captain the French Davis Cup tennis team.

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The Wednesday Coaches Corner will no longer appear weekly. Suffice it to say that I was a bit ambitious thinking that I could schedule and conduct the interviews necessary to produce these pieces weekly in addition to all else that is on my plate - NOT.

I really like the Coaches Corner and want the articles that I produce for it to maintain a high quality. To do this, the Coaches Corner will now appear only on the first Wednesday of each month.

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Today I have my first guest post for the Wednesday Coaches Corner. This article was written by T.A. Niles for Suite101.com. T.A.'s love of tennis definitely makes his work perfect for Black Tennis Pro's. I hope to have more of his work here in the future. You can read his full profile here.


Bryan Shelton Coaches NCAA Winner
First Black Head Coach to Win NCAA Div. I Championship in Tennis

The first African American, former USTA National Coach Bryan Shelton, guides Georgia Tech's Lady Yellow Jackets to NCAA Women's Div. I Tennis Title.

Earlier this year there was quite a bit of fanfare when Tony Dungy and Lovey Smith made it to the SuperBowl as the first Black, National Football League (NFL) coaches to get to the SuperBowl. Dungy received considerable accolades for being the first Black coach to win the Championship game. Given the notoriety of the SuperBowl and the prominent places that both “race” and the game of football play in US culture, it is no surprise that Dungy was lauded for his accomplishment.

An Accomplishment Worthy of Recognition

Tennis, particularly college tennis, is not the sporting and economic juggernaut that the NFL is, but being the first Black coach to win a Division I tennis title is a feat that ought applauded every bit as much as winning the SuperBowl. Bryan Shelton, the Head Coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, is the first African American to coach a Division I tennis team to the national title. Unlike Dungy who emerged victorious in a league with only 30 teams and half-dozen Black coaches, Shelton triumphed in a league with over 300 teams, 64 of which participated in the NCAA tournament. There were only 2 other Black coaches in the tournament.

Georgia Tech Upsets UCLA in Final

Shelton guided the lady Yellow Jackets to a 4-2 championship win over the UCLA Bruins, a perennial tennis power and one of three California teams in the team competition semi-finals. It was the first time that Georgia Tech had advanced to the finals of the NCAA tournament, and they captured the title in their first effort. For any who has followed Bryan Shelton’s progress since his retirement from the ATP men’s tennis tour, this accomplishment is no surprise. Prior to assuming the position of Head Coach at Georgia Tech, Shelton had established himself as a premier coach while serving as a National Coach for the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Yellow Jackets Rise with Shelton's Arrival

To support the wisdom of the hire, Georgia Tech made its first appearance in the NCAA tennis tournament during Shelton’s first season as Head Coach. The lady Yellow Jackets achieved a ranking of No. 29 that year, the highest year-end ranking the team had achieved at that point. Prior to his arrival, the team had never played in the season-ending NCAA championship tournament. Sweet-16 appearances in 2005 and 2006 heralded Georgia Tech’s potential as a challenger for the title that they claimed this year.

Repeating as champions will be difficult for both Bryan Shelton and Tony Dungy, but in a country still struggling to escape the chains of racialization and racism, it is still an accomplishment when a Black coach wins a National Championship in collegiate sports for the first time. Hopefully there will come a time in the United States when the color of the coach’s skin will matter less than the color of the team’s uniform.

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The Wednesday Coaches Corner will have an opportunity to be read by a new audience this weekend. Both the June 12 article profiling Harvard Head Coach Traci Green and a previous Followup Q&A are appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Check it out:

Traci Green
Followup Q&A

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What a pleasure it was to conduct this *exclusive* interview with Traci Green. She was very warm and impressive. In so few years of life, Traci is experiencing a wealth of blessings that she is clearly honored by. During our interview she stated something about her life and career that will always come to mind when I think of her:

I personally love and respect that awareness of life. I believe that when you recognize that you are on a path, you avail yourself to so many of the opportunities that are along the way. Sure, there may also be pitfalls that you encounter, but I think that most people on a path see them as incidental to the journey.


What do you say and don’t you say about Traci Green. Still in the ripe old years of her twenties, this young woman is amassing a resume to be reckoned with. It is truly a pleasure to see someone honor their talent by maximizing it to its full potential. Whether on or off the court, this woman has been giving it all that she has, and that effort had yielded some incredible opportunities that don’t come along everyday.

It is additionally rewarding to see that she isn’t an individual of a single dimension. In addition to her coaching, Traci also served as an adjunct faculty member in the Temple University College of Education, where she taught courses in the department of kinesiology. She continues to serve as a tennis coordinator and advisory board member of the Black Women in Sport Foundation and is active with the USTA High Performance Coaching Program. She is a 2000 graduate of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in communications. She went on to earn a master’s degree in sports administration from Temple in 2004 and has begun work toward a doctorate in education administration. (Harvard Athletic Communications)

Would you believe that there is more to this woman after all that you have just read? There is, and here is some of it:

Shelia: Traci, tell me about your original passion for tennis, when you first got into it and then later knew that tennis would be a part of your life.

Traci: I started when I was ten in Philadelphia in a summer program. I was really into a lot of different sports but pretty much grabbed hold of tennis. One of my first coaches, a woman by the name of Ann Koger who was at the time big in the American Tennis Association arena and a coach at Haverford College in Philadelphia, told my parents I had talent and they said they were ‘kind of surprised. Traci in tennis? I don’t know.’ They knew that I was pretty fast, so maybe track, something else. They asked me, ‘do you want to get involved with tennis?’

I went to a free program, graduated to another program, and within about eleven months I was pretty much playing at a very, very competitive level within the section. I was top eight in the section, which is about four states. Within one year I made a pretty quick transition and then became more heavily involved in tennis. I started winning national tournaments and I was able to make the national teams.

Soon I had to make a choice between college and tennis. One of my mentors was Arthur Ashe, he was always big on education, my mother was a college professor, so I decided to go to college. I went to the University of Florida and won a national championship there as a team, it was a great experience. I then got into coaching.

In her three seasons as head coach at Temple University, she guided the Owls' women's tennis program to a 34-27 record.. With Green’s guidance, Temple rose to a ranking of No. 85 in the NCAA/Intercollegiate Tennis Association ratings in 2007, marking Temple’s first-ever national ranking. Her team defeated three nationally ranked opponents, and five of her players achieved all-conference status. Green took a record of 34-27 to Cambridge. (USTA Tennis Month)

I went to graduate school at Temple University and began coaching there. The program was on the rise, I was looked at by a lot of different programs, Harvard came knocking and I never looked back.

Shelia: I also read that you’re looking to complete a doctorate program?

Traci: I started at Temple when I was coaching there. And now that I’ve moved to Boston in the last year, I’ve kind of tabled that for the moment and I’m just focusing on the main job. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to finish. I’ve got my hands and time pretty full right now.

Shelia: Oh, most definitely. How is it going? You’ve been there for what now, almost a year?

Traci: It’s not even a year yet. It’s going great so far. We’ve been doing a lot of recruiting, we have the number eight recruiting class in the country. We’ve got one of the top ten players in the country, she’s signed and will be coming to Harvard.

I came in the middle of summer last year in July, so I hit the ground running. We’re bringing back the program. They had a couple of down years, but we’re aiming to win an Ivy League title. If not next year, definitely the year after. Definitely a contender.

Shelia: How is life in Boston?

Traci: Life in Boston? I’m getting used to it, it’s cold. It’s colder than Philadelphia believe it or not. But I’m liking it, I’m getting used to the City, finding my way around. I’m enjoying the young feel and the people. I’m definitely getting used to it, and Harvard as well.

Shelia: Did you ever see yourself in such a dynamic role as a woman, and in particular, a Black woman? Or have you been marching forward and now find yourself in this position as a role model, a mentor?

Traci: Ahhh you know, I’ve always felt like I’m on a path. I really didn’t know where my path was headed, still don’t know exactly where it’s going. I just knew that I was moving in a particular direction.

Last year at this time I was in graduate school at Temple working on a doctorate in higher education and I was coaching a team who just, this year they made NCAA for the first time in five years, that’s my old team so I was happy to see that. And this year, now I’m trying to turn the Harvard program around and I never would’ve imagined that I would be at Harvard last year.

I’ve been able to do a lot of mentoring. I’ve spent a lot of time with the Black Women in Sports Foundation. It’s a non-profit foundation focused on helping Black females in all aspects of sports, not just on the playing field but also off. I’ve always talked to young girls about careers in sports, staying in school and things like that. I’ve always been involved with those kinds of programs, organizing them, running them.

So now, to be living this is really cool. Especially last summer at the U.S. Open when they honored Althea Gibson. Just being around so many amazing pioneers, I didn’t even feel like I should even be there. Everyday I feel like I’m just blessed. I feel like I have to go out there and give 110% at what I do, that’s coaching, try to be a role model, try to put my best foot forward at all times and try to bring people up as I steam roll ahead. I try to bring people with me. And, hopefully, things will keep working out this way.

Shelia: You beat me to one of my other questions. I watched the U.S. Open tribute to Althea Gibson and the recognition of each of you women. It brought me to tears. I thought that it was just so wonderful. In the aftermath of being part of such a prestigious group, how do you settle into that? Does it push you further forward? What does that do for you?

Traci: For awhile, once a day I would get an email or a phone call about that, so it was definitely still in my mind. I had no idea that I’d be able to rub elbows with Phylicia Rashad and talk politics with Nikki Giovanni and Roberta Flack. You never think of these things and all of a sudden you’re right there saying ‘is Obama gonna make it? What do you think Nikki, is he going to make it?’

Shelia: Wow.

Traci: Oh my God, it’s just a matter of being blessed. I still can’t really fathom that, Aretha Franklin...it was a wonderful production put on by the USTA, they did a great job.

Then Venus and Serena, they both won their matches that night, that capped it off in honor of Althea. It was great. Hopefully people can take that memory and really honor Althea from that whole extravaganza of an evening. I was just blessed for that experience, it taught me to put myself in that category of the people who were there.

Shelia: What do you think of the WTA Tour right now?

Traci: I think that the WTA tour in general is very exciting.

I think it’s great that we have quite a few up and coming Black players. I believe we’ll see more hopefully in the future. I’m seeing a lot of younger players on the junior level coming up, because I do a lot of recruiting for college. Hopefully we’ll see a lot more coming up through the ranks. There’s about two or three of them that have very nice games, who are very young. Hopefully we’ll see a lot more who can push through that top hundred category into the top fifty category much like Chanda Rubin did, not to mention Venus and Serena. We can hopefully keep pushing through that top fifty mark.

I think that we need more in the top fifty, that’s a number that we can push for. I think those out there now, the Jamea Jackson’s, I think they can keep going as long as they keep practicing hard, but I think that we’re going to see a lot more in the next ten years. I’d say at least, five in the top hundred, that’s my prediction. Five in the top hundred in the next ten years.

Shelia: Women’s tennis seems to be experiencing a bit of a lull, it seems to be at that place right before Venus and Serena originally showed up, not particularly thrilling.

Traci: I think right now, on the WTA side, you have a lot of Russians, a lot of people from certain countries, and for America in general, it’s not looking too good.

Shelia: It’s such methodical tennis though, no real fire. At the conclusion of the French Open this year, I’ve had the same discussion with different people on what was that? What just happened?

Traci: I 100% agree that Venus and Serena are the most exciting players in the game right now. Hopefully they can hang in there a little bit longer and keep it exciting. I feel like in the next ten years you’ll probably see some more folks coming in and hopefully they’re exciting.

You know who I think is exciting as well? Angela Haynes. But I don’t see anybody right now who can take over Venus and Serena’s spot, hopefully in the future we’ll see some coming up. Right now in the junior ranks, Russia is on fire and they’re still pumping them out.

Shelia: Do you have a favorite on the WTA/ATP tour?

Traci: Not really. Actually, I really don’t have a favorite player. However, I do like to watch Wimbledon on television. Grass is one of those surfaces, I mean clay is one thing, hard is one thing, but when you see players change their whole game up and start serving and volleying, covering the net, it’s a true testament to people’s athletic ability and to have variety and kind of change things up. I look for Venus or Serena to do pretty well at that tournament

Shelia: Do you have any college players that you have your eye on that you think may transition onto the Tour?

Traci: There’s this young woman by the name of Megan Moulton-Levy at William and Mary, a remarkable player. She can definitely do a lot of damage on the doubles side, she could play right now on the tour and I think she could do pretty well in singles. She’s kind of small, but very strong. Any day she could beat any of the top players. She has a one-handed backhand, she’s consistent and she can cover the whole court.

And there’s another young lady at Duke by the name of Ellah Nze, she’s a very good player as well. She has played some pro tennis challengers. She could play on the tour. She’s an excellent player to watch.

Both of them were All American.

Shelia: What are your thoughts with regard to Black coaches in professional tennis right now?

Traci: That’s interesting, Rodney Harmon of the USTA was talking to me about needing more Black coaches, especially Black female coaches. I believe that there are fewer than ten.

Wherever I am, I try to follow the example of Zina Garrison, Lori McNeil, Katrina Adams. Any advice people need, I am willing to give it.

Shelia: Is there anything about you that we don’t know, that you would want us to know.

Traci: Right now that I am just very greatful to Bob Scalise for giving me this opportunity to be here at Harvard.

Shelia: One of my favorite areas of the interview, Fun Facts. Okay Traci, tell us a few things about yourself. What do you enjoy doing during your down time?

Traci: I like movies, cafes, reading, surfing the internet. I also enjoy watching “Lost,” that’s my favorite television show.

Shelia: Favorite foods?

Traci: My mother’s macaroni and cheese.

Shelia: Your favorite book, and what are you reading now?

Traci: I really enjoyed Arthur Ashe’s "Days of Grace." I currently have T.D. Jakes in my iPod.

Shelia: Favorite movie?

Traci: “Wag The Dog”

Shelia: Favorite type of music?

Traci: R&B

Shelia: Favorite vacation spot?

Traci: Martha’s Vineyard

Shelia: Favorite grand-slam tournament?

Traci: Wimbledon and the U.S. Open

Shelia: Favorite place to be?

Traci: Philly (home)

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After a very brief hiatus, the Coaches Corner will return tomorrow with an exclusive interview of the first Black female head coach at Harvard, Traci Green.

What a pleasure it was to speak with her and get a personal perspective directly from her.

Also, the Coaches Corner has received a little press recently, check it out:

SouthtownStar

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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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