James Blake The Whitest Black man In Pro Tennis. He is also a “Nice Loser” and a “Good House Negro” too!!!
I watched James Blake fourth round match against the German player Tommy Haas yesterday and I cringed. Mary Carillo the termagant tennis analyst, and her annoying sidekick John McEnroe tried to hype the match up. Unfortunately, in Canada, we get American feed so of course the American commentators have to hype Blake up. I guess it’s a part of their job?
Why can’t the tennis experts just be honest with the tennis fans? James Blake is such a loser and a flake he doesn’t have the big balls to become a champion. Carillo said it was Blake’s match to win. I disagree, I thought the match was even it could of went either way. Haas is a solid player, he has a good serve, and I knew he had the game to defeat Blake. I guess part of the mandate of CBS is not being honest with tennis fans.
I also was correct that Blake was going to lose the match in five sets. Blake has a 1-10 record in five set matches, he just can’t seem to play, well when it matters most, in the grand slams or the important matches. Blake has lost several matches this year when he had match points or was in a clear lead. Blake also has a horrible record in Davis Cup, he just cannot seem to win when the pressure is on.
Blake is the classic underachiever, he always capitulates under pressure, he never ever comes through with the big win. The truth is in the results. Blake has the worst five set record of any of the male tennis players in the top 10. Blake has only reached two grand slam quarterfinals in his career at the US OPEN.
The USA media will make a big deal to point out that Blake is “articulate”, “humble”, and “nice.” I find this kind of language insulting because it conceals the covert racist messages the media is really sending. The white press are saying James Blake is a “good Negro” he “knows his place”. James Blake doesn’t just avoid race he runs in the opposite direction of reality. So if you are a proud black man that has self confidence and is not an Uncle Tom you can’t be articulate or nice? Give me a break.
The white tennis commentators like Blake because he’s the classic “good negro loser’ he doesn’t win anything big and he never “rocks the boat”. Its the excuse the American tennis establishment can say if someone says that they are covert racists they can say well they like James Blake.
The only reason the white American tennis experts like James Blake is because Blake is a “safe black” he’s the “classic Oreo”. The joke is on James Blake because I don’t believe the white American tennis establishment really “accepts him” as an “equal”. If Blake was a winner they would find a way to turn on him too but the joke is on Blake because he obviously doesn’t get it. Since Blake is not a winner the white press go overboard in their “praise” for him there is no balance.
By contrast, the same USA white media hates the Williams Sisters and to a certain extent teen phenom Donald Young because they are black American champions that are proud to be black. The Williams Sisters and Donald Young are winners they may not win all the time but they believe in their talents and they don’t care what white people think of them they do their own thing. James Blake is the opposite he not only cares what white Americans think about him he craves their approval. Blake always wins the minor matches but can never win the big important matches at the grand slams in his career and Davis Cup.
Next, the cameras will gaze over at the most bizarre thing I have ever seen in tennis and that’s James Blake’s all white J Block crew. Where are James Blake’s black tennis supporters? Why is the J Block all white? Its a fair question. Now for the regular readers of my blog let me explain the J Block. The J Block are a bunch of rowdy white college guys and gals that wear T shirts and are Blake’s “supporters”. At the New Haven event prior to the US OPEN Blake’s opponents have complained about how rude the J Block have been to them.
In one match Blake almost lost to the Argentine Augustin Calleri even Calleri’s coach complained to the chair umpire about the J Block . Notice my dear readers the white American media have never written the truth about the J block? It appears Blake cannot fight his own battles on the courts he needs his “supporters” to upset his opponents? I think that’s really tacky and lame.
I wonder how James Blake would feel if the white tennis fans or white tennis players started to make taunts at him? I wonder how Blake would respond? Or would Blake cry to the media and say it was racism? Yet there is not one black person in the J block crew. I wonder why? The only black person I have ever seen support Blake is his older brother Thomas and he doesn’t even sit with the J block crew. Its just so weird to see a black man with just a group of all white supporters. I think this so called J Block speaks a lot about the kind of person James Blake is and where his heart is.
I have surfed various tennis internet sites and its the same topic that always pops up and its about Blake’s ambivalence about his black heritage. Has James Blake ever looked in the mirror? I am serious. Does Blake really think by “ignoring” the issue of race he will magically turn white? I understand that Blake has a white mother but in America if you look black you are black that’s how America works.
White North American people are the ones that created the one drop rule during the days of slavery. And the one drop rule exists today. On ESPN.COM tennis message board already over 2000 people have viewed the post about why doesn’t James Blake have any black supporters? Will the USA media have the courage to write an honest article about this issue? Or will they ignore it?
My perspective is the reason James Blake doesn’t succeed is because he has a conflict with his black heritage. When you are not true to yourself it shows. I also believe Blake has low self esteem if he had self confidence why the need for the J Block? I find it pathetic how hard Blake tries to attain white American acceptance. I also think Blake needed a black tennis coach years ago.
At the age of 27 I don’t think Blake knows what it means to be a young black man. I have to point out all the other black American tennis pros Williams Sisters, Lori McNeil, Zina Garrison, Chanda Rubin, Donald Young, and Malivai Washington all had black coaches. And the reason why is they realized they needed someone black in their corner that understands the psychological side of blackness in that small world of pro tennis.
No matter how nice or sympathetic a white coach is that white person will never know what it feels like to be black and a minority in a white dominated sport. I also believe pro tennis doesn’t really welcome black tennis players nor has the USTA done a good job to get young black kids to play tennis. The pro tennis world is still very white and the issue of racism is always something the white American and British media ignores because they love to ignore racism. A lot of the racism in pro tennis is covert.
I don’t think James Blake gets it even though the guy is 27 years old. Blake believes if he tries hard enough white people will like him. And I question why is Blake so desperate for white American acceptance? Why not just play tennis? Vincent Spadea a white American male tennis pro slammed Blake in his book last year. No one in the USA media questioned why Spadea specifically went after Blake and not the white American tennis player Andy Roddick? I think there is some jealousy in the ATP Tour lockeroom mixed with a vein of racism against Blake by his fellow pros because they believe he hasn’t really earned the media attention he has attained.
Blake’s father was black and he is now deceased but Blake has a couple of half brothers and a half sister that are also black. Blake has a black side to his family yet you never see them at tennis matches. Why is that? Its a fair question. When Blake lost to Andre Agassi at the 2005 US OPEN I realized he wasn’t a winner. And it wasn’t because Blake lost the match it was because of Blake’s attitude after he lost.
In the press conference Blake said he was “happy to lose” to Agassi. The Williams Sisters, Donald Young, the Black Frenchmen Jo Wilfred Tsonga, and Gael Monfils would never make such a stupid statement like that. The all white crowd at the Arthur Ashe stadium were happy for Blake in that match until they realized he was capable of beating the white champion Agassi and then they turned on him.
Now during the 2007 US OPEN in the second round against French journeyman Fabrice Santoro some of Blake’s white J Block even rooted against him.
In the New York Times this summer Blake’s memoir had a strong opening and it debut at number 22. However, the black critic Toure bashed Blake’s memoir for glossing over the issue of racism in pro tennis. Toure specifically was unimpressed with Blake for downplaying the racial incident with Australian pro Lleyton Hewitt at the 2001 US OPEN. Hewitt had the audacity to state that the black linesman was cheating for Blake because they are both black.
I also have to point out my dear readers Hewitt and Blake were supposed to play each other in Montreal just a few weeks ago but Blake did not play the match because he had an “abdominal injury.” Isn’t that interesting? Could it be that Blake is actually “afraid” to play Hewitt? Blake’s “sudden injury” in Montreal was magically cured when he played Cincinatti the next week.
I think Blake is cognizant of where the money is and I don’t think he even cares to be a tennis champion. Blake is all about making as much money from white America as possible. Blake is like the Uncle Ben of men’s tennis. James Blake seems to try to do everything in his power to deny he is black. And I think that’s the reason why some black tennis fans are suspicious of Blake. Some black tennis fans question if Blake is worthy of the black community’s support.
I mean why support someone that has a self hatred for black people? Black tennis fans and people of other races have been talking about Blake on the internet because we know in the mainstream newspapers this topic will never be discussed. Its a perfect example of the covert racism again they believe if you ignore something they can pretend and hope it goes away. Race always matters it always has and it always will to ignore race is to ignore reality.
My opinion is that part of the reason James Blake is not a champion is he’s just not that smart on the tennis court. Blake’s serve is garbage it is simply too weak. I can’t be more blunt then that. Blake’s serve gets broken too often. Blake doesn’t get a lot of aces in his matches so I don’t know why he tries so hard to hit hard serves? Blake needs a better service motion to get racket head speed on the ball. I believe Blake is a solid player with the current game he plays but I believe if he really does want to reach the top he’s going to have to use his brain a bit more. Blake’s backhand has improved but its always the side players pick on becuase they know Blake has a horrible slice backhand. Blake needs a better one handed slice backhand if he wants to become a grand slam champion.
The second reason why I believe Blake is not a champion is because he internalizes his self hatred. Blake is very careful on the tennis court to not be proud of his talent and in the press. Blake tries too hard to be the “House Negro” of the ATP Tour. Blake also attempts to exclude and distance himself from blackness. Blake’s fans will say that because Blake went to Harvard and was raised in the suburbs of Connecticut that he’s a product of his environment. So because Blake was raised in the suburbs and went to Harvard he doesn’t know any blacks? Give me a break. Black people go to Harvard and black people live in the suburbs. I don’t believe that for a second. I personally believe that James Blake has a disgust and a self hatred for black people. Why the need for the all white J block? I find it weird when I turn on the TV and I see a black male tennis player in a white sport such as tennis and the only black supporter he has is his older brother. I think James Blake seeks out whiteness and it is destroying his career. I feel that Blake is hiding from his true soul he has racial confusion.
James Blake doesn’t play tennis he doesn’t play the ball he worries too much about being the “good” black man stereotype. And I was not surprised at all that Blake lost the match in five sets. Blake has no heart and no guts. In fact, I expected that result. The USA media hypes Blake to the max but the truth is he’s not a winner like Malivai Washington and the late great Arthur Ashe. Malivai Washington reached the Wimbledon finals eleven years ago and he was never as popular as James Blake. However, I think Washington was a better player even though he was smaller then Blake he had more heart. Malivai would never capitulate a match the way James Blake does.
The third reason Blake will not become a tennis champion is because he let the hype get to his head. Hype is just hype without the results. James Blake believes the hype but he hasn’t produced and I don’t believe he’s worked hard enough off the court. I believe too much is going on with the book promotion for his best selling memoir. What about the tennis? And why does Blake have a memoir in the first place? What has Blake accomplished to even deserve one? Does anyone care that Blake wins minor events like Stockholm, or Bangkok or New Haven? At the end of the tennis career all fans care about is whether the player was a champion or not. Blake played five hardcourt events prior to the US OPEN and I believe he over extended himself.
I just think Blake was too tired at Flushing Meadows he won’t admit that but I definitely believe he was. Players have to peak at the right time and Blake peaked too early there was no need for Blake to play New Haven. Tennis fans need to know tennis stars like James Blake are paid an appearance fee to appear at smaller events. Right now it appears to me that money is the most important thing to James Blake now and being a media darling and not playing the ball and being a tennis champion. Is it too late for Blake to win a grand slam? Actually the real question is this the best Blake will ever be? Maybe Blake is just too lazy and just not good enough? Only time will tell but things don’t look very good for him with all these younger players coming up.
40 responses to “James Blake The Whitest Black man In Pro Tennis. He is also a “Nice Loser” and a “Good House Negro” too!!!”
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- - Wednesday , September 5 , 2007
Gayblackcanada 
You nailed it…..there’s nothing else to say.
I see here we have a jealous brotha because Blake can score with some beautiful women, albeit they’re white. Guy, you sound like a Black Hitler. I agree with you that Blake would be the last person I would bet on to win anything big, but he has earned over $6 million playing tennis over his career. Couple that with endorsements and I’d say he’s probably worth at least $25 million. Not bad for a choker. The other black men haven’t achieve this, only the William sisters. Give me a break, attacking his heritage. Why does he have to accept being black when he is really not black. He’s both white and black. That’s his call. He has two parents (one black/one white). What’s wrong with having a white girlfriend? What’s wrong with having an all white jblock? You say he should have a black coach. Well, you didn’t mention that his financial manager is black. You didn’t mention that he is an ardent Obama supporter because of like background. Besides the Williams sisters, what tennis do you know have achieved number one status with a black coach. I’m not saying blacks can’t coach players to number one status. The problem is folks like you. Who gave you the authority to shame all black people in accepting their blackness. Go fly a kite, brotha. First and foremost, James Blake is an individual. If you love being black and want to shout it out from the mountaintop then take your racist attitude back to black Africa. One more thing, have a nice day. Yes, I’m half black and half white.
I agreed with you on every part of your comment except telling the writer to go back to Africa for being proud of being black and being verbal about it. There is nothing racist about being proud of your heritage as long as you don’t think your heritage/ethnicity is superior to anyone else’s. That’s why the KKK are racist because they have to hate on other ethnicities and down them in order to lift their own up. It shouldn’t be that way. You should be proud of your people without having to insult or downgrade any others (if your people are so great their accomplishments will stand on their own AND you will still be able to respect and appreciate the accomplishments and beauty of OTHER cultures and people as well). Being proud of your blackness is not saying that whites or anyone else are inferior, but blacks often get labeled as racist for expressing ANY pride in their heritage even if they never attack, insult, or downgrade other races because we are taught to be ashamed of being black and to continue on promoting the racist notion that white is best. I don’t think ANY race is best, but I can still take pride in the strength and accomplishments of African Americans WITHOUT being racist and thinking I’m better than anyone else or denying the accomplishments/beauty of other ethnic groups.
Damn dude, you must have really been fucked up in the past to have such issues with the USA media’s take on Blake and other half-black and black athletes. WTF? Blake and the Williams sisters may be greatly hyped all the time, and realistically it is because blacks in tennis is much rarer than other sports, but come on — hated or viewed as losers? Where do you get that crap! It’s people like you that seem to want to keep racism alive as something to be proud of against. LOL!
This is a blatant attack on James Blake. He does have black fans. I’m one of them! James is talented, handsome, intelligent and well spoken. I cannot tell you how many times I cringe when a black athlete steps to a microphone and cannot form a complete sentence without the use of um or uh. It all comes down to how he was socialized. I like James grew up in a predominately white enviroment and attended a predominately white university. So what if people like James and I do not have many black friends. People gravitate to people they can relate to. I am tired to be called an Oreo and criticized by people like you. I’m sure James does not care what you think about him either.
Luv it!!
Dude you’re killing me!:
“The all white crowd at the Arthur Ashe staduim were happy for Blake in that match until they realized he was capable of beating the white champion Agassi and then they turned on him.” !
“I personally believe that James Blake has a disgust and a self hatred for black people.”
“Race always matters it always has and it always will to ignore race is to ignore reality.”
It’s amazing how so many (white) people would deny that statement which to me just proves that they are so fundamentally racist they don’t even realize it.
“Toure specifically was unimpressed with Blake for downplaying the racial incident with Australian pro Lletyon Hewitt at the 2001 US OPEN.”
What racial incident? You can’t just drop bombs like that and not elaborate! Same thing with saying Tracy Austin is a virulent racist or however you characterized her. One or two specific examples of what she’s said would be nice.
“Why the need for the all white J block?”
McEnroe or the geeky commentator even intimated that Blake PAYS them but then they just dropped it so I couldn’t tell if they were serious or not. Do you know anything about that?
On a slightly related topic pro tennis (and eventually hockey) better enjoy their white stars while they still have them because in 50 to 100 years tennis will be as black as the NBA – and you can take that one to the bank. Eventually, a segment of the black American male athletes who naturally gravitate towards football and basketball are gonna do the math and realize “Hey, each Grand Slam pays about 1.5 million to the winner and a tennis career lasts a lot longer than a football career.” Can you imagine when young athletes the caliber of a Michael Vick or Terrel Owens or Kobe Bryant decide (& can afford) to go into tennis instead of the traditional stick & ball sports?
Well written. I was equally surprised to see the very self-concious ‘J-Block’ and had to laugh. A bunch of white guys rooting for a mulatto. And then Blake and his all-too-obvious blonde girlfriend. He is a disgrace to black people. Even MaliVai whom you mentioned, ended up marrying a white woman. What is with black people and the need to be white? I am East Indian, and we have more racial pride than blacks. We will not mingle with blacks or hispanics or whites with the purpose to make a almost white kid. That’s just dumb and pathetic. No wonder the whiteys laugh at blacks; even after so many years they are still ruling you mentally. Tiger Woods had to cop out and get himself a fancy blonde.Are you guys so desperate and pathetic? Have some black pride,you guys. Save yourselves.
“No wonder the whiteys laugh at blacks; even after so many years they are still ruling you mentally.”
Blacks really don’t realize that whites do laugh at their desperation to produce “near” white offspring. It wouldn’t be so bad if it was actually about love, but it’s more about possession and seeking white acceptance even though they don’t accept themselves.
listen guys, we think you’re being a little bit personal here. you made A LOT of good points, but you dont actually know him, so you cant come to all these conclusions about him.
blake does seem like he’s not really addressing his “blackness”, but really, what does that mean? is he meant to shout it from the roof tops? maybe us black folk need to stop segregating ourselves off from the rest of the world. thats why some people have such a problem with Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena. he shouts rascism at every turn, and lets face it, you cant function in a society drawing such attention to youself, whatever your race is. Yeah, blake’s girlfriend is a little bit typical but thats not even an argument, because venus and serena have dated plenty of white men. maybe blake is just a mild mannered person, maybe it has nothing to do with race.
but then again, he doesnt socialise with black people (as far as we know), he doesnt bring up the fact that he is a black player in a white dominated sport, and he doesnt seem to address the state of “black tennis”. he tries to deflect attention away from the fact that he is black. it never seems to be on his mind. i mean, you shouldnt let it rule you, but it doesnt even occur to him that he is a black man, and that people see him in that way. if he behaves white (whatever that means) no one will notice, and everyone will think he’s just a dark skinned white man.
BUT what does behaving white mean? just because he doesnt have tantrums and doesnt talk trash does that mean he’s not a black man? after Serena’s match against Henin at this years US open, she behaved so badly, i was actually embarrassed that she was a black tennis player. shouldnt we as black folk be more critical of behaviour like that, rather than blake who’s just getting on with things, and not drawing unecessary attention to himself.
you can argue that blake should be more black, but clearly he doesnt know how to be, and frankly, neither do we if we had to describe it. When raised in a black family, it comes more naturally, but i guess to him, its uncharted teritory.
Vicky and Dre I think Blake has a negative attitude towards black people. I also believe he has self hatred and issues with his blackness but that’s his problem something a trained therapist can help him deal with.
Vicky and Dre your quote here is exactly why some black tennis fans think Blake is a flake and a loser.
“but then again, he doesnt socialise with black people (as far as we know), he doesnt bring up the fact that he is a black player in a white dominated sport, and he doesnt seem to address the state of “black tennis”. he tries to deflect attention away from the fact that he is black. it never seems to be on his mind. i mean, you shouldnt let it rule you, but it doesnt even occur to him that he is a black man, and that people see him in that way. if he behaves white (whatever that means) no one will notice, and everyone will think he’s just a dark skinned white man.”
As a person of mixed heritage who also plays tennis at a high level, I find this hard to believe. From a racial standpoint, there’s nothing wrong with Blake having white friends or supporters; afterall, he IS half white. He was raised within an environment where he was around a lot of white people, his mother being one, and probably feels just as comfortable around them as he does blacks. Personally, when people only label me as being black, I take a little offense to it; not because I’m ashamed of my heritage, but simply because in saying that I’m only black, it denies my mother who is not. I’m sure Blake can identify with that. More and more mixed race people are taking pride in all of their ethnicities rather than just one, and there is nothing wrong with that. It saddens me that society hasn’t progressed enough yet to accept the fact that a mixed person doesn’t have to be one or the other. For a lot of mixed people, it’s a challege to get to this understanding because it’s easy to feel as though you’re not black enough for blacks or not white enough for whites or what ever the case may be.
As far as tennis, the ups and downs are just a part of the sport. It’s easy to look at his results and say that he is an underachiever, but really only one person can win every week. Considering what Blake has been through, it’s great that he’s even still playing. His style of play has also been criticized but it’s what has gotten him to an elite level of tennis. It’s hard to judge him for his style of play when changing it too much at this stage in his career could be a detriment rather than an improvement.
So, I think that people should try to remember that it’s hard to be a professional tennis player and perhaps just as difficult to be a person of mixed heritage.
I am not mixed race I am a black person so I certainly don’t know the struggles biracial people go through. James Blake needs to look in the mirror in North America he will be viewed as a black male tennis player whether he likes it or not. Why do you think ESPN television and NBC and the USA media always compare Blake to Arthur Ashe? I think it is a disgrace to compare a great black male tennis champion like Arthur to a consistent loser like James Blake. I think the next black male tennis champion will be Donald Young he’s got more guts and determination then Blake could ever dream of having.
You do have a point that it can be hard for some mixed race people to deal with society and its views about race. However, you also say that mixed race people can love both sides of their heritage. So why does James Blake choose the white side over the black? Its clearly obvious that James Blake thinks by “avoiding” race and being the good House Negro he can obtain the white American acceptance he so desperately craves. Its simply bizarre the all white J Block and Blake’s anti black attitude is disgusting.
Thanks for someone to be courageous enough to say something about these well hidden problems in tennis. In fact, has anyone read the article about black, world class tennis coach Morris King, Jr. and all of the racism that he has had to endure? You can read it here: http://www.protennisexpose.net.
Incidentally, he is the coach that Richard Williams hired to help end Venus’ streak of first round losses when she initially turned pro. Check it out. Check Coach King out!
I work in a Neonatal Intensive Care in the US. According to census, infants are classified as the mother’s race. Therefore James Blake by the census is white. Just something to think about. I personally believe he is bi-racial, but most countries do not recognize such a category. Unfortunately everyone has to be classified. Such a shame. The world is full of mixed race individuals. stop making an issue. We should be glad that people support someone inspite of the obvious outside attributes. James Blake is a good tennis player period. Race should not be a factor.
Another thing to think about, if Mr Blake embraces his “Black heritage” what does that say of his mother? Does she not count? The man showed class and maturity when he stood by his father’s side and supported him during his battle with cancer. He then supported his mother as she dealt with the death of her husband. How dare anyone say he must choose sides. Unless you are living in that person’s shoes you have no issue to judge. He is bi-racial that is a fact of life. He can no more deny his white heritage than he can his black.
The writer is not asking him to deny his white side (Blake has clearly acknowledged his white side) but he is wondering why he seems to downplay his black side. If he is biracial, he should have no problem with being proud of BOTH his BLACK and white side, not just one.
Oh please! Who cares? I bet if the J Block were all black and he seemingly ignored his White heritage we wouldn’t hear a peep from you.
Standards are good, double standards even better. 🙂
A lot of the people who wrote in are racists. Blacks complain that whites sterotype them – well this is exactly what they did in their writings here. I am white. I happen to be a James Black fan. Not because he is black, white or any of that. I admire him because he faced a childhood illness and then a broken neck to come back and be a contender on the tennis circuit. You who wrote your racial nonsense here should be ashamed of yourself for perpetrating what you complain about.
umm. i am black. the fact that jblock is all white does not bother me at all. the only problem is that they are a little rowdy, but how can you not expect them to be. you must be just another black supremacist. get over yourself and stop complaining. how do you expect to get anywhere like that?
Why are so many African Americans so obsessed with their “blackness”.
James blake is a good role model for anyone irregardless of whether he is “black”, “black/white” or “white”!
He shows that it is not the color of his skin that affects how he gets along in “white” societey, but the content of his character. He is a well spoken and decent guy, with character and poise. Despite his tennis performance.
And why is James Blake so obsessed with “whiteness” he seems to try very hard to obtain white America’s approval? Maybe James Blake should look in the mirror?
Why is Blake so famous for mediocore results? Blake just has not produced the results to warrant the attention he gets from the USA media. Face the facts the reason Blake gets a lot of press is because of his “race”. If Blake was a white guy with his unsatisfactory results at almost the age of 29 I doubt very much he would be so famous. Yes Blake is not even top 10 he is now ranked number 11. Blake has NEVER advanced beyond the quarterfinals in a grand slam he is a chronic underachiever.
I do think it is odd this guy has an all white J block crew. I also read recently Patrick McEnroe basically kicked Blake off the Davis Cup team due to his unsatisfactory results on the ATP TOUR. McEnroe will go overboard about Andy Roddick despite the fact he is no longer a factor at the top of men’s tennis. Yet I don’t see McEnroe treating Roddick unfairly. Yet McEnroe bashes James Blake on television every chance he gets. In fact, Blake complained in the media he was upset with Patrick McEnroe. And if you paid attention Blake is black but Andy Roddick is white. Roddick is on the Davis Cup team and Blake is not.
Blake’s character is that he is not a champion he is a tennis player that “crumbles” under the pressure that’s why he has zero grand slam singles titles. Blake has the talent to be a champion but not the nerve or the mental toughness.
I just happened to find this article recently and I was curious to see what it was about. Now, I will admit straight off the bat that I am an African-American woman who has followed Blake’s career for some time and I am an ardent fan. I tried to keep an open mind about what I was reading, but I could not believe the vicious hatchet-job that the writer and some of the commentors have done on this young man’s character.
I could not help but wonder if any of the haters have ever taken the time to do a little homework on the guy, or check out his website, or have read his book, “Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My LIfe”. If you have done any of this maybe you would know that 1) Blake has often says he welcomes being a role model for young black kids and that he hoped players like himself and the Williams sisters could draw a new demographic of kids to the sport of tennis. 2) He is considering after his tennis career is through pursuing a degree in African-American studies. 3) On November 25 he will hold his fourth annual charity event for the Harlem Junior Tennis and Educational Center where he and his brother, Thomas, Jr. played as youngsters and his father served as a mentor. And that’s just a few things. This doesn’t add up to someone who is ashamed of his African-American roots to me.
Of course, I would not expect his detractors to know such things. James has carried himself with class and dignity, as his father did and another of his role models, Arthur Ashe. If you call that “acting white”, then I’ll take that any day over the countless black athletes who embarrass themselves, their families and their race on a daily basis.
If you know anything about the Blake family at all you will know that the prime objective of their parents was not necessarily to raise the best tennis players, but to raise good men. And I think they succeeded.
The AMERICAN media makes a big deal about James Blake because he is the number 2 AMERICAN male tennis player. Australians make a big deal about Lleyton Hewit who peaked for a short time because he is their number one player. Where i’m from we made a big deal about Byron Black because he was our number one even though he never cracked the top ten in singles. People who speak of acting black allow themselves to be defined by the race that they hate. I played tennis and was accused of the same, i did well and attended private schools and was accused of that. Does that mean acting black is ont participating in sports we could not before beacuase of barriers to entry including expense? The stereotypical black sports were once white dominated sports. Given access and encouragement the last few white dominated sport wouldnt be that way. I refuse to be defined by the race that did commit HUGE atrocities against my race. Playing a white dominated sport is not acting white its playing a sport. If so then you should accuse Jackie Robinson of acting white, Bill Russell of acting white. By trying to be the voice speaking for for black people you are perpetuating stupid stereotypes. My dad taught me how to play tennis not so i could act white but because it was an enjoyable sport and because if you are human, bleed red blood (white, asian, whatever) there is nothing you can do that another human cannot do or hasn’t done on an evn playing field.
I dont want to get into any of the racial stuff thats already been brought up. All i want to say from a tennis perspective is James Blake is very average and will never reach a grand slam final, let alone win one. I watched his performance against Tommy Haas at the US. Open and knew as soon a the 5th set began, his time was up.. C;mon 1-10 in 5 set matches, what a flake. His performances are akin to that of a WTA player. He may be a great guy on and off the court but as for his tennis abilities, they don’t rate. He has tonnes of potential but is so inconsistent. Has a very poor tennis brain, choice of shots, lack of patience and the ability to lose games from a winning position regularly.
As a punter on tennis matches and a follower of the mens and womens game for 20 years. I can safely say… this mug is blacklisted and has been for some time now!
The last time I checked, the color of your skin/your ethnicity has nothing to do with the type of sport you choose to play. Raising hell about how a successful BIracial (emphasis on the act that he is directly associated with two backgrounds) man is, and what he chooses to do and not to do is completely uncalled for! There is no reason to deal the race card out there; have you tried reading James Blake’s book? Have you seen the interviews conducted during the election season where Blake was an ardent supporter of President Obama? Blake’s inspiration was ARTHUR ASHE! The last thing Blake needs is some critic attacking his upstanding character and grace! Seriously dude, get a life; you are comparable to Jesse Jackson with your spewing hot air just to rouse public attention over ABSOULTUELY NOTHING! Quick to throw the race card, AND quick to throw someone under the bus… Really? Before you dare to berate someone’s success so throughly, get your facts straight! By the way, I am, by society’s standards, completely African-American, but, like most Black people in America, am not of purely African descent.
Bravo Vanessa! You made the point.
I suppose you are this gorgeous mixed colour film actress with beautiful green eyes. Are you the one? We here know about James’ education and stamina. It is so obvious that he is an intelectual just looking at his face. He is also very good tennis player and he should not give a damn about negative comments coming from jealous persons who haven’t achieved nothing.
You’re all pathetic, racist bastards. You disgust me. No person of ANY race should be criticized with having friends of ANY race. All this crap is disgusting. I’m neither black nor white and I just stumbled onto this site because I was frustrated and Googling James’ choking ways in big matches, but what I found man I can’t even describe how disgusted and ashamed I am with what I see. Friendship and love have nothing to do with color…if you meet the right people, you take them for what they are.
Lastly, don’t think this is some sappy bullshit from a weak-minded person. I can guarantee you out of all of you posting here, I could lift more than 95%+ of you in the gym and probably kick the shit out of you in a fight too. So stop acting like you’re hardasses just because you harbor racist hearts.
I’m a black male and i think U have lost ur ever hating mind. What ever road that man decides to go down is soley on him. He’s bi-racial no matter what he look like, he’s free to date whomever and befriend with whomever. You are the racist from what i just read,too many are trying to be a color and not a descent human being. If you focus on that you maybe able to write a good article about something with substance.
well, well. i think you are a trouble person, that will always live with anger,jealousy and low self esteem. i think your are speaking only because thats how infirior you feel. who cares if he is black or white? who cares if he wants to make money or not? he is doing something for him, thats his choice. i have friends that have mixed parents and dont make race an issue. its people like you that chooses color as an issue. look at tiger, most people like him, there are some that dont, but dont we all have people that likes us and dont. and that happens with people of your own race, family and even friend that pretend to be. you can live in the past and keep blaming whites and yellow and cream and everyone you want, but the change starts within yourself.
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I like James Blake am half black/half white. I was extremely distrubed by what you wrote. What would you like all bi-racial people to do? Should I choose my father’s race (black) and deny the existence of my mother (white)?
You are ridiculous. This is the second article I have read from you where you inarticulately and clumsily toss around the race card to try and prove your hackneyed and tired points. You do all of us a disservice when you water down the very real problems affecting black americans when you view every g/d situation through the lense of racism. James Blake sucks. He has limited ability to construct points, insists on power when finesse is called for, and lacks the killer instinct that is needed in later rounds and tougher matches. All of this is due to his mediocre skill as a player (relative to the Federers, Nadals, Murrays of the tennis world). None of these is due to his race or how he feels about himself as a person. And as a “gay black canadian man” you know you should know better than to go around talking about who hates themselves and is afraid to look in the mirror. You know good and damn well how your own people feel about you and your lifestyle. You should be loving and accepting JB and his “outsider” status the same way you would want folks to love and accept yours.
And this is all coming from a black man who loves himself and who has a hell of a sampras jumpsmash. I close by saying, in the spirit of that hilarious website that deals with ridiculous black folk such as yourself: Gayblackcanadianman, you have got to do better.
this was quite possibly the worst thing i have ever read. have you ever read his autobiography, “Breaking Back”? he had severe scoliosis as a child, doomed to wear a backbrace 24 hours a day, and be destined to a wooden bed, lucky to walk. then in his career as a pro, fractures his neck, his father dies of stomach cancer, and then he contracts zosters, a disease that hinders your equilibrium and balance. dude, for blake to have stayed a pro tennis player at all means he is a true champion. a few years after his dreaded list of unfortunes, he makes it to number 4 in the world, to a masters cup final…i mean, if he doesnt have the heart of a champion, he must be one incredibly lucky/talented/incredible tennis player…take your pick…
If that man couldnt play tennis, do you think for one minute that he would have been invited to a US open…That would be like inviting the Pope to a porno taping. Whats he going to do there..,Just because a person is articulate does not mean he is an uncle tom. Should he be shouting [who is you] and competing [who can get tha most baby momas without even paying support once] in da hood. Just because he is not bragging, wearing a 24k tennis necklace, or mumbling about all the garden tools on his cashew sack does not mean that he is too nice. I moved from one section of town to the other where it is common misconception that the dumber you sound the more real you are. I think it is all good that he can speak in clear sentences but I aint gone lie, hes so sexy he’d neva have to say a word if he came to my hood I would entertain him all day but its always a blessing to at least be able to convey yourself in writing in case theres no ebonics translators present. Leave that man alone. At least hes got a jobby job. And no I am not just defending him because I would like to put somin on him that he couldnt ger off, which would be my scent.
I agree with his lacking the heart of a champion and the killer instict of Nadal, Federer Etc… I do think the Tennis community as well as the Golf community are still racist. They both started from exclusionary clubs where black people were not allowed except as servants. I remember the Williams sisters playing in the US Open and the crowd rooting for whites from other countries. I saw them win in other countries and get booed and the crown yelling racial slurs at them. Racism is alive an well in America and shouldn’t be ignored. I think the attack on Blake is not the way to start the conversation. There is also a lot of self hate in the black community. I don’t know Blake personally and can’t speak for him but it does exist. Being black is not bad grammer, sagging and gold teeth. Just like not all southern white people have sex with their relatives. These are stereotypes based upon a minority of people of that race. Blake is however a weak player who lacks drive and it shows in his results against top players.
You are such a racist loser. James’ only crime is that he is everything you would like to be but never will. He’s intelligent, articulate and well-mannered man who is well-respected by the world of tennis and popular in his country. You claim he is not proud of his blackness. Well, if blackness symbolises people like you (racists with low self-confidence)no wonder he is not too keen on that.
James represents a new type of a black man – a man with class. But that is probable too hard to identify for little people like you who enjoy wallowing in their bitterness.
By the way, if he is such a loser, I would like to see how much do you earn a year in comparison to him…
Marine, you say James has class but the real person lacking class here is you!
Okay, you don’t agree with my opinion but do you think calling me names is going to help your argument?
The only reason James Blake is popular is due to his race, his looks, and that’s it.
James Blake is the male Anna Kournikova a player known for his sex appeal than his tennis results.
Blake certainly doesn’t deserve the media attention he gets for his poor results.
I recall a white American male tennis player Robby Ginepri he reached the US Open semifinals five years ago. Ginepri has better slam results than Blake yet he is not popular.
Blake has never reached a grand slam semifinal or final yet he gets treated like he is a champion when he is just an underachiever.
He is so inconsistent on the tennis court. Blake is just not very smart he tries to hit winners all the time he doesn’t play the percentage tennis. Blake also has poor defensive skills. Blake also lacks mental toughness. I knew last night he was going to lose to Novak Djokovic and sure enough he did in three easy sets.
The only reason Blake got the endorsements is due to his racial background not due to his tennis results. I doubt a white male tennis player would get Blake’s endorsements with his pathetic results. Face it Marine, the only reason James Blake is popular because of his racial background and physical appearance.
It is rare in tennis for a black male to reach the top 10. However, Blake is not a champion, and it is simply not right for the media to hype a player that hasn’t won a grand slam singles title or won masters titles.
As a black European i am ashamed to read this. This is the reason why most African American are underachieving compared to other Blacks in other continent. Slavery happened a long time ago, get over it, we are suppose to try and mend the broken bridge between everyone and not keep destroying bridge, if you want to be equal you have to be able look beyond skin color and just see people as equal. Who ever has the blog has a low self esteem because you seem to be walking around with a mentality of ohh they are white so i need to impress them and show i am black. Just be you mate!
Whats wrong with this ARticle? its just another perspective and all of you here need to get off your high horses and open your minds to other’s opinions. Although I don’t support everything the writter says, he still HAS A RIGHT TO SAY IT!! this is AMERica last i checked. I just stumble upon this article googling james as well but I see a different perspective on him and I always wondered about this guy. He is no longer in competitive competition as i understand it.