Pancho Gonzalez: The Latino Legend of Tennis Trailer

[@josemezatorrez]

Sports Illustrated article about the magazine's 20 "favorite athletes" of the 20th century said about Gonzales (their number 15 pick): "If earth was on the line in a tennis match, the man you want serving to save humankind would be Ricardo Alonso Gonzalez." Very happy to se a fellow Mexican-American be a great success in tennis.God bless America.

[@AdrienneAXK]

I was living in Compton and dating my tennis coach at the time when he surprised me with tickets to watch Pancho play Rod Laver at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in L.A. I don't think I blinked during the match. He was amazing.

[@adamdelarosa85]

Pancho Gonzales was a player before his time! he changed the game of tennis and doesn't get the recognition he deserves as an all time great!

[@MRDESTRUCTION26]

Shame more people dont know this great mexican warrior ,good man and a amazing tennis player,1 of the best! such a great talent!

[@SHAWNMICHAELPERRY]

so happy to have my song Fight in this great show..!

[@jeromedemontpellier]

Thanks for posting this video. It's a shame that Pancho Gonzales has been almost totally forgotten by the tennis world. People only remember the "open circuit" players nowadays. Pancho Gonzales is a GIANT.

[@RobertKekuna]

Pancho was one of the best "old" players ever - he was still among the world's best players when he was 40 years old, right when the Open era began. Congratulations on the video - it is great to put Pancho in not only a sports context but in general historical terms.

[@toddsaedify]

the match against Pasarell at Wimbledon in 1969 went over five hours, he was forty one,

[@tennisschools106]

Tennis history junkie here also, and specifically Pancho and since I was a child. Connors and McEnroe alike played that 'villan,' and they learned it by watching Pancho who they both highly admired. I go so far to say they raised it to another level with their tirades and antics. Most importantly, and really groundbreaking in a way, cause Pancho was the trailblazer, and whom Jimmy and John watched and learned from him on how to successfully play angry and use as a tool per gamesmanship.

[@skywolf2012]

HISPANIC AMERICAN ATHLETE ,,,I SALUTE YOU 👏🇺🇸

[@nevo138]

pancho is my fiances great grandfather and he is a remarkable man that showed every latino out there know u can become what ever you want even if you didnt have much to start out with!

[@damielq2]

Do you know where I can get a copy of this video?

[@scheissdreckhass]

the hole life i am a big fan of the sport of tennis-now while following the us open i got to know about Pancho Gonzales for the first time-after learning about his life there is only pure admiration for him-there is no doubt he is the most outstanding sportsman i ever learned so far in my life ever and i am really interested in many categorries of sports- what you wrote about him is great thank you - it shows the real values of a proud lifetime from germany

[@TheJaguarKnight]

his ex wife also described how gonzales had once stopped by a restaurant while traveling through the southwest. the owner looked at the well dressed gonzales and said "we dont serve mexicans here, especially not the kind that wear yellow sweaters" as you can imagine, gonzales didnt take kindly to that remark. the two were about to exchange blows when a black man pulled gonzales aside and warned him that his life was at stake "I know who you are, but he doesnt".

[@Cervicconstruction]

I didn't see him play till 71 or 72 or so at the La Costa club where Pancho Segura was the head pro.He was giving a playing lesson to the then 18 and under champion.A real joy to watch even though he was giving 20 plus years away he hardly worked up a sweat.I was friendly with the pro at the courts on Draper in La Jolla Bob Perry who had won the french open doubles in 56.He was ranked as high as 5th in the US.He was a fine serve and volley player but had lost to him 2 n 0 in 70 at the LA indoor.

[@accel10s]

I met Gonzales late in his career (he was already sick) when he came to my club to do a clinic. Although he had every reason to be distant due to his health and the crowd he had to deal with, he was extremely gracious, patient, and generous with the people. Emo was there also - and all he cared about was flirting with the women!

[@smokey03100]

I took Tennis lessons from his son then dated him briefly. I hits some tennis balls with Poncho when he was all alone on a tennis court in vegas. I knew Rita, his 3rd wife (?) Andre's sister. She came to my writing class wanting to write about him. I don't think that become complete. I do know Andre furnished the funeral cost for Poncho...

[@martydav9475]

@@smokey03100 That's quite a story.

[@toddsaedify]

best ever, about more than tennis so aptly put here

[@johndillani5552]

I studied tennis history since I was a child.Pancho & J. Connors were my all time faves, in part because they often played the villain role that tennis, like every sport, needs so much.IMO,"Man with a Racket" was one of the best sports autobiographies ever written. Altho racism existed in his era, IMO too much is made of his "Latino" background being why he was how he was. Pancho Segura was Latino too but his character was nothing like Gonzalez's. Gonzalez was a rebel - and I salute him for it!

[@TheJaguarKnight]

if i had to live under those circumstances, i'd be pretty ticked off too. yes, gonzales may have been a temperamental and tenacious guy both on and off the court but we wouldnt have ever heard of him if he wasnt. he was a completely self taught player who wasnt even allowed to compete in tournaments as a teen because he "came from the wrong side of the tracks" as the clip mentions. that aspect of his personality may not have endeared him to the public but it did make him great

[@johndillani5552]

I don't know if Mac was much influenced but I know Connors was. Connors has stated if there was one man he'd want to play for him if his life was on the line it'd be Gonzalez. At 19 yrs old Jimmy was also defeated by Pancho in 1971 when Pancho was 43 yrs old at the Pacific Southwest Open 6-1 6-1..that had to leave an impression upon him! Also Pancho Segura was Connor's first real coach so I am certain Sergura told Jimmy some pretty 'colorful' stories of back in the day!

[@nickathas]

Yes, I saw the Cavett interview. We were considering using it in the film.

[@toddsaedify]

the 1972 Spalding Gonzalez racket was a perfect combination of the DUnlop Maxply feel and control, and the Wilson Kramer power with control, best racket ever with best cosmetics, using gut the ball would stick to the racket for maximum combination of controlled power, comfort and accuracy

[@ntg128]

Jeannasellshomes you are spot on, good to see someone raise their level self-consciousness, the programming is stuff to believe, but its happening today and its true. He was a great player and a self- made man.

[@kjetin99]

He would probably have won Wimbledon 5-6-7 times if he had been allowed to play!

[@SuperAntonio1979]

Self taught talent....legend

[@Yazidmanou]

Thanks for posting ! I discovered the great Pancho Gonzales in the amazing Dick Cavett DVD "Rock Icons" as he was Dick's guests on july 13, 1970 with Debbie Reynolds and...Sly Stone(d)!

[@jessloya850]

Greatest ever

[@nickathas]

My friend this is only the trailer. The full 57min. documentary has a lot of never seen before footage of Pancho. Remember Pancho played before the modern media saturated era and we spent 4 years looking for footage of Pancho. Check out the complete film you can buy it for 25 dollars. Let me know if your interested. Nick Athas

[@enri42]

Excellent video!! I live in Mexico City, where or how can I get the full documentary? Thank you very much in advance.

[@BloodyBrain4]

That has gotta be Olmos narrating. Where can I find this documentary on DVD?

[@deirdrewilson8957]

BloodyBrain4 It sounds like Olmos not Benjamin Bratt

[@bobbydazzler1780]

Rod Laver 43 Pancho Gonzalez 22 - that’s some rivalry over the years.

[@Jeannasellshomes]

So quick to judge. He was who was because the way he was! Does that make sense to you? He had self respect & didn't kiss anyone's ass to get what he wanted. He was an amazing person & athlete. Made his way to the top despite ALL the obstaces he over came. He may have died, "broke & pennyless". Who cares you can't take it with you. He told me before he died, "I have lived a full life,gone everywhere I've wanted to go & do everything I've ever wanted." How's that for broke & pennyless?

[@is2150]

can you please post the rest of this video? i cant find it anywhere, and it looks awesome.

[@drobny2008]

Pancho Tennis Genius !!!!!!!!!!!

[@sassoscrib]

How come I never heard of this guy? Where's the movie based on his life?

[@TheJaguarKnight]

when people talk about how gonzales had a short temper, they seldom take into account the circumstances in which he played. discrimination and stereotypes targeted at mexican americans were rampant back then. "pancho" isnt even his birth name, it was given to him by people in the tennis establishment simply because he was of mexican descent and the mainstream media made up rumors about him being involved in gang knife fights as a youth because he had a scar on his face.

[@MrPernell27]

Yea. His mother hated that. None of his family called him Pancho.

[@nickathas]

He was a troubled man, difficult to get close to but consider the world he lived in. He was the most talented player in a sport that like golf was closed to all but the country club crowd. He was one of first persons of color to challenge the racist attitudes that were openly promoted in tennis. He was not Jackie Robinson. He was angry and paranoid but ask yourself how you would have handled fame poisoned by ignorance and irrational fear.

[@damielq2]

Do you know where I can get a copy of the documentary?

[@hawaiidispenser]

He was Top Ten for 21 years?? Holy s**t !!

[@MrPernell27]

Federer is going on 18yrs in the top 10

[@cjb761]

Still today I use an old Spalding Pancho Gonzalez Signature model.

[@omess1980]

Is the documentary available for sale somewhere? I would like to buy it

[@Tinochaverry]

Where can i find the pancho vs charlie match? I tried to get footage from IMG and they said they did not have it. Its pretty wierd because IMG has footage from the 1800's yet the dont have any vid on one of the best games ever.

[@kjetin99]

I would like to buy the film if possible! What about the Cavett interview ? Do you have that too? Thanks for the clip on KZbin?

[@ais6863]

is this available? can't find it anywhere

[@toddsaedify]

actually a one hundred thirty mile an hour serve, but seventy percent first serves in, with a wood racket and no jump, one hundred and ten mile an hour forehand, nowadays sixty percent first serves in is common,, he beat Laver when he was forty, Wimbledon at forty one to the quarters, appreciation of history makes watching more fun, he was the best

[@peterbedford2610]

How do you get "Poncho" from "Richard" ?

[@ChicanoPhD]

It’s a racist term, actually.

[@kjetin99]

Sorry you are wrong! He had a fantastic serve! Ive seen it live many times!

[@JackNeworth]

@nickathas Is the interview on the net anywhere?

[@tennisschools106]

We all know Mac's long admiration of Laver, wherein he certainly didn't learn how to play with that simmering anger by watching and copying that element of Rod's game, and surely played the exact opposite. I have seen this answer to the question posed to Mac on TV, that his on-court demeanor was similar to Pancho G and he admired him too. To be fair, and seeing how he got from point A to B with a strong foundation, I'd say Gloria was his first real coach and Segura his first pro coach.

[@MrJeepsters]

Il ressemble à Robert Redford. Qui jouait sur le circuit professionnel avant l'arrivée des Australiens ?

[@leighewinson9473]

I used to take tennis lessons from him at Rudy Valle's estate

[@SobersRajakumar]

He is American, LA born

[@paulg444]

He was without a doubt the greatest tennis "player" of all time !!.. just look at this marriage statistics and its obvious!

[@ermir7996]

Pancho for the 1950's, Laver the 60's, Borg 70's, McEnroe 80's, Sampras 90's, Roger 2000's, Rafa and Novak 2010's. Who's gonna be for the 2020's? Alcaraz? Sinner? Rune?

[@JackNeworth]

@JackNeworth by "interview" I meant Pancho on the Dick Cavett show

[@preciousjey]

doesn't boris becker use to land on his righty after sserve, just notice it with gorgo

[@Boudosaved]

A buck may be right. I mean who has seen this film? It came out in 2006. Considering the foregoing, I think that while Pancho may never have promoted himself for his ethnic background and geographic boundaries are man-made, it still may be inspiring to someone who considers their ethnicity important but needs a self-confidence booster. There can be good from this video. Pancho was probably the best tennis player ever.

[@rolisgonz8152]

Is Gonzales not Gonzalez..

[@JackNeworth]

@nickathas very well put. I'm email buds w/ Allen Fox, former 3-time Davis Cupper for the U.S. who idolized Pancho and, at age 16, often played 3 out f 5 sets with Pancho for new tennis balls.

[@Boudosaved]

He was allowed to play but he chose to play on the professional circuit rather than the amateur and at that time only amateurs could play Wimbledon.

[@nathanaelfarrell8482]

My dad would get him three packs of smokes before his games, he would sit and watch t.v and smoke the rest at night

[@jmljml9140]

The trilogy...Pancho..Vilas...and Guga

[@Nigelxman]

I hate when actors act like they know fuck all about professional tennis.

[@jamesdunn9714]

Redford is a tennis player. Not a pro, but still has insight.

[@ericfreeman5795]

I guess when you're a knowledgeable fan, and understand the sport, it's OK. But if you're an actor, you're not allowed to be a knowledgeable fan.

[@airistoneo]

IT'S RICHARD GONZALEZ NOT PANCHO. TELL THAT TO FRITZ KRAMER.

[@rondunn4336]

Great pressure player but also a psych' job artist. The Aussies of that era described him as "Unpleasant!' in their understated manner.

[@MrPernell27]

@TheLeilisa ivo karlovic 6'10

[@stonerolling6813]

;)

[@tonyhayes4980]

You’ve gotta be kidding

[@mitchyoung93]

Latinx guys, Latinx!

[@fabrorivas8028]

He is ecuadorian

[@adolfoleon4110]

Panch

[@beaselinda9340]

It's a shame he suffered discrimination because of being Mexican.

[@nickathas]

I'm sorry Tony. Kidding about what?

[@CamiloFreund]

shhhhhh

[@CamiloFreund]

u know what tech are modern racquets made of? GRAPHITE. Thats it.

[@s2sung2s2]

conners mcenroe agassi are legends but aren't considered the greatest. Federer, Sampras, Rod Laver - yes

[@robinho1979]

Rod Laver and Federer I rate higher then Pancho.

[@davidhunter548]

Unfortunately Gonzales was a taciturn and generally very unpleasant character - almost all of the other players on the professional circuit disliked him, some to the point of hatred, while at the same time acknowledging his extraordinary ability. But as a human being you reap what you sow - Gonzales died alone and broke.

[@martydav9475]

Andre Agassi paid for his funeral I believe.