tyd Hall of Fame: Arthur Ashe

It’s almost the end of February and I’ve seen some pretty impressive BHM tributes so far (The Street Etiquette team just put up a killer feature in GQ mag, not to mention Sewn from the Soul).  But missing so far has been one of my biggest influences in life, the great athlete and activist, Arthur Ashe.  Lemme preach to you for a minute…

I went to an all-black tennis camp every summer as a young’n, founded by Ashe and the first book report I ever wrote in elementary school was about the Hall-of-Famer. Despite my parental units insisting on helping me correct the grammatical nightmare, I wanted to do it on my own because that’s how much of a boss he was to me. He was born into a world with glass ceilings, but despite his thick, oversized glasses, it was like he never saw any of it.  And if he did, he didn’t care.  He started playing tennis in the segregated south and quickly let people know what he was there to do.  He was an NCAA singles champion, won the inaugural U.S. Open and was the first black to make the Davis Cup Team (and bring them to victory…in the same year). Oh and this was before he went pro in 1969. Then he won the Aussie Open and Wimbledon and is still the only African-American to ever hold those titles.

“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.” – Arthur Ashe

Now, for a lot of people this would’ve been enough, but Ashe was also a gully activist.  “I was destined to do more than hit tennis balls,” he once said.  Ashe was once denied a visa to South Africa to play in a tournament and responded by denouncing them to the media over Apartheid, even calling from their removal from the circuit completely. He was arrested in 85 during a protest in front of the South African embassy in Washington, and then locked up again in 92 for protesting shitty treatment of Haitian refugees by the U.S. government (irony much?).  After being diagnosed with heart disease despite his impeccable physical shape, he started a foundation to spread awareness of the hereditary issues around health, especially in urban communities.  Tragically, during his 2nd emergency heart surgery, he contracted HIV through a blood transfusion and died of AIDS complications the age of 49.

Ashe has some of my favorite quotes of all time, but one notable is “Clothes and manners do not make the man; but when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance.” And yes, the man had style (but what classic tennis player didn’t?)

Ashe on the cover of LIFE in September 1968. The Wimbledon all white look is timeless and his spectacle game is always in order (courtesy of LIFE photo archives)

I don't know whether I'm more impressed with his flat top, his Davis Cup blazer which I would give a kidney to own or the championship face (the pin on the lapel of his blazer is a nice subtle touch as well). Reminds me of a young T. Woods.

Ashe during the US Open. And yes, that is a sweater vest over his polo I believe. During a match.

Arthur Ashe with his wife in 1990. Again, the man must have 100 pairs of specs. And his university tie is meannn. (courtesy of LIFE photo archives)

Taken in '92, Ashe's health was steadily declining, but his style was not (courtesy of LIFE photo archives)

I’m in the market for some new specs, and I’m thinking about getting some Shuron Sportivos.  The large, plastic, aviator-style frames are definitely Arther Ashe steez (besides, I stare at multiple monitors all day, bigger lenses are just practical).

Spring is just around the corner, and best believe I will be lacing up the court victory pumps, throwing on my old Baldwin Varsity Tennis threads and getting it in.  While I’ve resigned the dream I’ll ever hoist a grand slam title, the man might hold the key to the question this whole blog is about.

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”

I’ll keep that in mind, Mr. Ashe.  R.I.P.

-MillsyF