James Blake: Weathered for success
From: Boston Globe
“Suffering from a fractured vertebra, Blake went home to Fairfield, Connecticut, to recover. But life was about to hit him another hard serve. In July, his father, Thomas - who had taught him as a youngster to play at the Harlem Tennis Center when the family lived in Yonkers, New York - died of cancer. Then, while working to return to the tennis circuit where he’d once been ranked No. 22 in the world, Blake came down with shingles, a viral infection of the nerves that blurred his vision and delayed his comeback once again. Only in January did he finally get back to competition. Earlier this month, he joined the Boston Lobsters for their first season on the World Tennis Tour at Harvard’s Bright Arena, where in 1998 he’d played as the country’s top-ranked college man. Now 25, James Blake is at a pivotal moment. He’s just made it through a very rough year and as a tennis player has yet to reach the potential so many others saw in him.” (more…)
Blake was most graciuos as a loser to Agassi buy two points. Agassi was humbly aerogorgant.
Comment by edster | September 7, 2005
I’m of mixed parentage myself, my dad being Burmese-Dutch-Ceylonese and my mum, Chinese - and as if that ain’t complicated enough, I’m a proud HOMOSEXUAL man too!
From what I’ve read about Mr James Blake, he has the warmest heart, an amazing personality, tremendous sportsmanship (both in skill and etiquette) and - need I say more - a face and body that’s launched a thousand forehands, backhands, serves and volleys!
In all due respect, Mr Blake’s persona outshines everything else there is, so racism shouldn’t even be an issue to start with.
Unfazed by all the attention, glitz and glamour of the sport (not to mention despicable taunts by a recalcitrant Lleyton Hewitt), we have here an amazing sportsman who’s showing the world that there ARE indeed a handful of role models we can still look up to in these dire times of corruption and narcissism.
I have the highest regard for this intelligent, young and handsome man and I’m unashamed to say that I have fallen head over heels in love with him. Who can seriously resist those chestnut eyes, perfect eyebrows, caramelized bronze skin and billion-dollar smile? >Sigh
Comment by Daryl Prissayanasinghe | December 19, 2005