Back in the early '80's tennis was dominated by Chris Everet and Martina Navratalova.Tennis attire and it's players were mostly white.
The game was viewed by most as a somewhat elite sport played by whites with means.
But this was all pre-Cosby.
As a result of the imagery ignored or rejected by many Blacks - other Blacks saw themselves as more than the limited stereotypes shown in the popular media.In 1984: The BYU Cougars won their only national championship in college football, the Boston Celtics won the NBA title, and Fuzzy Zoeler won the US open in golf.
In 2010: Alabama won the BCS title, The (Black) Celtics will win the NBA title, and Fuzzy's hated usurper is the biggest news in golf.
Today's elite athletes enjoy all of perks of a capitalist society.
Venus Williams makes money on the tennis court as well as from her sponsors (Wilson, EA Sports, American Express, Oreo, Powerade Zero and Sega) and endorsement deals.
All of this from a girl from South Central in sport seen by previous generations as "Acting (Being) White".
All of this from a girl from South Central in sport seen by previous generations as "Acting (Being) White".
ReplyDeleteCompetitive tennis is now the functional equivalent of an elite martial art. In fact, the physical capability, training, and competitive demands are virtually indistinguishable. Check out "high performance tennis training" and "high performance profiling".
Martina Navratilova started the trend with the physical capability and training levels which the Williams sisters simply took to previously unknown levels on the womens' side of the game.
Now all across the sport, the talent, training, and mental requirements of the game have been rendered explicit and undeniable.
Watch a few grand slams this year and I guarantee you'll be hooked. There really is nothing else like it. Except for professional boxing or some well fought and refereed MMA matches....,
I teach football DB's tennis to work on their stamina, footwork, agility, and ability to focus on a small area while moving backward, foreward and side-to-side.
ReplyDeleteAt first, they don't want to play a "sissy sport".
But after a while they see that the skills they learn are the same as those required on the football field.
Some have even learned well enough to make their high school tennis teams and have traveled to areas and environments which they would not normally see.
I only lived half of my childhood in the hood - the other half was in a more country club environment.
Swimming, tennis and (poorly played) golf are as common to me as football in the street, basketball on a run down court or slam (suicide, butts up,...) with a handball against a high wall.
My how things have changed John. It's interesting for me to walk behind the golfcourse behind my house and see so many people of color playing the game. Although I don't hang out on tennis courts, I'm sure the same can be said for them as well.
ReplyDeleteNow when the NHL is predominantly black.......you know we'll have arrived then.