BBC - Arthur Ashe: More Than a Champion (2015)

BBC - Arthur Ashe: More Than a Champion (2015)
2015 marks the 40th anniversary of tennis legend Arthur Ashe lifting the Wimbledon men's singles title.
From boyhood in segregated America to becoming one of the world's opinion-formers, Ashe's story is told poignantly by his brother Johnnie, along with friends Stan Smith and Donald Dell, and rivals like Ilie Nastase.
This is far more than a just a story of how a man conquered the world of tennis. Ashe's life spans America's Civil Rights struggle, the ending of South Africa's system of apartheid and his creation of an awareness of the disease that would eventually kill him: AIDS.
Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova, John McEnroe and Andy Murray all explain Arthur's legacy and their own personal debt to the man.
It is not surprising that when Nelson Mandela was finally released from prison, one of the first people he asked to meet was Arthur Ashe.
bbc documentary, bbc hd,Arthur Ashe,More Than a Champion

[@craigjohnson5590]

I watched again Mr. Ashe (win) and Jimmy Connors 1975 Wimbledon match. And although Mr. Conners had prodigious physical talent, he lacked sportsmanship. During the match was a mocking, taunting, arrogant, petulant and all around PISSANT ASS!towards Mr. Ashe. Whilst Mr. Ashe exemplified only professionalism, grace and humility. He chose to play the match with his brain knowing he couldn't play to Connors strength which was a power attack style. It was so refreshing to watch an athlete of "any" race play for obvious love of the game without the I I I, me me me attitude of today's athletes. And his contributions to society go without saying were sincere, and heartfelt. A true and rare American Icon and Hero...he will be missed. RIP Mr. Ashe

[@jerrysmith8436]

That was simply beautiful Craig. I thank you & truly appreciate your comment. Have a great week my friend. Peace, bcool.

[@nickmoon4933]

in my feelings watching this-- proud, heart-broken, and moved. rest well Arthur Ashe

[@somalicancerawarenessprogr4991]

what a great personality. he was not outspoken, nor was he attention seeker. shy and humble. Absolute genius and true fighter.

[@Tracyminor1223]

I just discovered Arthur Ashe today and I’m here in the middle of the night watching I’m just blown away with what I’ve found out about him amazing man

[@keagankirugo854]

I discovered him today

[@lacamaradebarrild]

What an inspiring champion... Way beyond the beauty of tennis. Thanks for sharing this legend's story!

[@leslielees5438]

I remember Wimbledon 1975. I was 15 years old and i watched tennis with my dad. I was convinced Arthur would win. Everyone else at school laughed at me. I remember Arthur won the first point and I cheered. My dad said that it is not the first point but the last point that matters. I will always remember that day.

[@miroboy25]

This planet need more people like this guy. What a great spirit and human being! R.I.P.

[@chantaln6843]

Arthur is an amazing man.

[@boblasher1]

Arthur has always been one of my life long heroes!! Such a great human being!!

[@kjetin99]

What a documentary! Everybody should see this. Arthur Ashe could have been the first black president if he would have lived!

[@jerrysmith8436]

Yes. Ashe was a true intellectual and trusted by his white friends. Their the ones that wrote out the pain to whip Jimmy Connors. They didn't see Author Ashe as a black man, all they saw him was as just a man. Their friend, Author Ashe. They were just darn good friend. Complexion didn't matter. Imagine that type of America.

[@chaseofori-atta2225]

Arthur Ashe is a colorless LEGEND for all time--he is a citizen of the world that beats in all of our hearts!

[@reinfeddedewolff5565]

ARTHUR ASHE: AMAZING AN AFRO AMERICAN TENNIS-and CIVIL RIGHTS HERO SADDLES ARE BLAZING.

[@madhuekanath229]

I’ve watched this about 20 times it so amazing he is a absolute legend 👏👏

[@billylambino3486]

Miss u man

[@nicholasmccrary2106]

Favorite Tennis legend player

[@sjrayl]

Very well done! Thank you :) Arthur Ashe was truly a citizen of the World, one I still look up to today and teach my students about each semester.

[@VtRD]

Nice. The placement of the Arthur Ashe statue in Richmond has a powerful symbolism. Have seen it, as well as the other statues.

[@Tracyminor1223]

I thank u for that I’m just finding out about him I was born in 84

[@masonrahal6980]

What an amazing story by a truly remarkable person. Intelligent, well spoken, respectful athlete. It can be done.

[@amdplus1]

Ture champion on the court and off the court one of GOAT.

[@ahmad.tillery.1987]

RIP Arthur Ashe he was from my hometown Richmond Va.

[@quaimaboylan5175]

Yeah I'm from va too

[@atifbrothers]

Arthur Ashe was America's number one tennis player. One of the reasons he was so popular among the public was that he was such a great player. When you become a specialist in the field of excellence in the field, you become an inspiration. By Rainey هههههههههههههههههههههههه... Arthur was bleeding an AIDS patient profusely after an accident, and Arthur also got AIDS when he was in bed. He received letters from fans around the world. A fan sent a letter in which It was written: "Why did God choose you for this horrible disease?”... Arthur just replied to a letter that was... More than five million children around the world start playing tennis, and five million of them learn to play tennis. Out of these five million, about five thousand enter the tennis circle, from domestic to international level. There are five thousand out of those fifty thousand who reach the Grand Salam. There are fifty out of those fifty thousand who reach Wimbledon and there are only four of those fifty who reach the Wimbledon semifinal. Only two of them go to the finals and only one of them picks up the trophy and the five lifting the trophy Arthur Ashe was America's number one tennis player. One of the reasons he was so popular among the public was that he was such a great player. When you become a specialist in the field of excellence in the field, you become an inspiration. Of the crores are chosen He picked up the trophy. I never asked God, "Why me?" So if I'm having pain today, I can start complaining to God about why I am. When we did not ask God in our good times, "Why me?" So why should we ask in the bad times (why me) [e-mail] What Sapp no 00923345065865

[@jakubwidlarz]

An American Hero.

[@jerrysmith8436]

The pride we received from Author Ashe is insurmountable. The pain I felt when he passed was like loosing a family member. Billy Jean King is still Loved. She won Wimbledon that year as well and wore an afro. She is so darn beautiful and cool. She'll always be number one in my book. She has a Grandslam personality. Author Ashe gave the power sign to all his white friends, but the media never mentioned that. It wasn't about black power, it was people power. To his white brothers that helped him strategize his victory that he preform to a tee.

[@TheSpookyDuke]

I love tennis, it's my fav sport and Borg is my God of tennis, but Arthur Ashe, you're the gentleman of tennis, much like Roger Federer in this era. I bow and respect.

[@shottax]

great man

[@tirunarayan2201]

A marvelous humanbeing, Arthur Ashe.

[@jerrysmith8436]

You're so correct. We black tennis players Loved Author Ashe so much, we had so much pride. Author was such a gentleman and spoke so well, we Loved him O so much.

[@richtexas4431]

Days of grace

[@robertofernandez921]

Great human, thanks Ashe for the memories...rip

[@dickdragon9423]

The word gentleman was made for him. The world is a better place because of him ❤

[@nuanalimandomique2777]

Legend

[@philipmonolagi269]

A real class act 🎾🎾🎾🎾

[@evelyndankwah5938]

😭😭😭😭I feel so sad watching this thank God for how far he has brought us 🙏🏻

[@entheogenicmidwife]

Wow so amazingly Awesome.

[@jaydubb2005]

18:19 Robin Montgomery Singles and Doubles Junior Champion at the 2021 US Open. First American to sweep both events.

[@noelelikemnicodemus8039]

I love him

[@blacksuperman6116]

Much RESPECT Mr Ash.RIP I KNOW U are responsible 4 me .!!Thanx

[@sertorrhenclegane]

Arthur Ashe was kind of like the Thurgood Marshall of tennis. Hear me out, Justice Marshall was a man who fought equality but he did it within the bounds of the law. He didn't try to be loud and bring the noise (as it were) and Mr. Ashe did the same thing. He was outspoken with the racket not his voice. Not to say that Dr. King or Minister Malcolm were wrong in their methods and using their voices but that was their strength and tennis was Mr. Ashe's. Also, Billie Jean King is a princess of a person.

[@sertorrhenclegane]

We all have our strengths, he just used his.

[@BelieveOnlyJesus]

Thurgood Marshall was against the death penalty. I bet Ashe WAY BEYOND that stupid fucking fool called Thurgood (practical CANTDOGOOD Marshal)!

[@uncletony6210]

@@BelieveOnlyJesus the death penalty is a good thing?

[@kutti5950]

amazing

[@villebryant4346]

R.I.P Mr. Ashe

[@MrPBODY1966]

Corrections for video at 22 minute in. Connors was not a member of the ATP He played on a smaller circuit run by Bil Riordan. WTT started in 1974

[@ahmedadrady4153]

شكرا ❤

[@shaunalex2345]

R.i.p 👏🏾

[@nataliedelagrandiere4022]

He was an elegant tennis player.

[@YogsenForfoth]

5:14 As of 2021, the state of Robert E. Lee has been removed in Richmond. The statue of Arthur Ashe is still standing tall. Just as it should be.

[@trust5311]

extraodinary individual

[@MizDynasty]

Akrobatik - Remind my soul, brought me here...he mentions arthur in his powerful black self love song...pls bless ur ears

[@GRR-j5j]

Arthur actually is in my family i know it is hard to believe

[@carlitos3160]

Is it a consequence that every man that fight for the human rights and for peace died or assassinated in young age?

[@uncletony6210]

you mean coincidence? probably not.

[@lenwelch2195]

One lesson learned is that the HIV virus is a medical condition and doesn't care if it resides in a heterosexual or homosexual human being and we need to find solutions in fighting this disease period. Arthur Ashe was a great human being and fought for civil rights that honored his true authentic self as Billie Jean King said. It's a wonderful and rich thing that we as individuals are different because the message needs to be heard by all of us because we are all different ourselves. It's not about the way the message is delivered , it's about the message itself. Some people prefer to be ignited by a extrovert and others by a calm yet persistent messenger! Both types of messengers are needed to reach the masses.

[@AEMoreira81]

Same for heart disease. When he was diagnosed as having a heart attack in 1979, in spite of his high physical fitness state, that brought attention to hereditary heart disease.

[@jerrysmith8436]

@@BelieveOnlyJesus gosh human, that was nasty & unnecessary. You should be ashamed of yourself. How dare you speak of Jesus. Walk like Jesus instead of speaking like a devil. Shame on you. You can't be human. Be better.

[@oliviafusco9147]

Although I'm still disappointed they took down the other monuments, I hope they never take down his statue.

[@davidberger2069]

With the presence of Ashe, international tennis fans would point to Arthur: "See the black USA American? HE'S the one who knows how to behave"

[@galesayers]

If they said that, they missed the subtle, lethal genius of his MOVES.

[@davidberger2069]

Many people talk about black athletes athleticism. Ashe beat better athletic tennis players-ask Jimmy Connors about 73 Wimbeldon when Ashe outsmarted him.

[@AEMoreira81]

That is also why the main US Open of Tennis venue, in a complex named after Billie Jean King, is named Arthur Ashe, the greatest American men's tennis player.

[@jerrysmith8436]

@@uncletony6210 correct Uncle Tony.

[@jerrysmith8436]

@@davidberger2069 it was 1975 David, great comment my brother. My brothers are humans not complexions. Peace.

[@leslielees5438]

Love Billie Jean and Arthur

[@chestinerenaebullardcooper1083]

🎧

[@ubisoftisawful6311]

great documentary but youre really gonna monetize BBC's video

[@MizDynasty]

bitter-fuckimg-sweet. talk about #MelaninMagic !!

[@thtboyjosh_]

No lie my grandma new his aunt

[@robprzybysz]

🇮🇴🇮🇴🇮🇴🇮🇴

[@Steve-jg5dp]

Could you imagine if downtrodden black communities had the same philosophy as Arthur?

[@zerounknown6988]

I went to the school he sponsored

[@dstorm7752]

The sad truth is that South Africa still has a racial problem, but it isn't much covered in the media because it redounds to the detriment of white farmers

[@BelieveOnlyJesus]

Arthur Ashe was more that a tennis champion. He was beyond a champion. In today's world, there are tons of shit-ass athletes who are wrapped around themselves and around money (Collin Kapershit is one of them). Arthur Ashe was BOTH a CHAMPION and an GENTLEMAN. I remember when I was 13? (1973) years old when I was stood just a few feet from Ashe at court level at Alamo, CA. He walked just past me as a short 13 year old. I looked up to him (literally). Tennis was my sport (and still is). I didn't believe that a tennis god just walked past me. He had just lost to I don't remember whom, but there were a horde of people who pleaded for his photograph. The Fireman's fund final was concluded with Emerson beating Borg (probably 17 at the time). Ashe was NOT a citizen of the world. He was an AMERICAN. No illegal immigrant is an AMERICAN.

[@JR-he6fn]

He looks like nick cannon

[@ataurus62]

No, he looks like Djavan.