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Vegas
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Two years after being on the receiving end of an appalling incident that remains startling to this day, former world No. 4 James Blake is moving forward with actions designed to initiate change.
In June, Blake’s second book, Ways of Grace: Stories of Activism, Adversity, and How Sports Can Bring Us Together was published. Blake, currently a commentator on Tennis Channel, was inspired to write it after a case of mistaken identity. While standing outside a Manhattan hotel during the 2015 US Open, he was forcefully and unexpectedly tackled to the ground by a police officer who believed Blake was part of a fraud ring. Blake was handcuffed and detained.
“I thought about how I could use that negative incident and turn it into a positive,” he says. “I thought about my idol, Arthur Ashe, and how he used every situation in his life to help others that were less fortunate.
“I realized that I actually have a voice that most victims of police brutality don’t have. That made me think of a way to use that voice to help others.”
The name of Blake’s book pays homage to Ashe’s revered memoir, Days of Grace. In the pantheon of athletes that have used their elevated status to make a difference on societal issues, Ashe is clearly among the most influential. The 1975 Wimbledon champion fought for justice in the United States and abroad, and his legacy has clearly had an impact on Blake, both on and off the court.
Wrongfully accosted, James Blake responds with thoughtful words
In June, Blake’s second book, Ways of Grace: Stories of Activism, Adversity, and How Sports Can Bring Us Together was published. Blake, currently a commentator on Tennis Channel, was inspired to write it after a case of mistaken identity. While standing outside a Manhattan hotel during the 2015 US Open, he was forcefully and unexpectedly tackled to the ground by a police officer who believed Blake was part of a fraud ring. Blake was handcuffed and detained.
“I thought about how I could use that negative incident and turn it into a positive,” he says. “I thought about my idol, Arthur Ashe, and how he used every situation in his life to help others that were less fortunate.
“I realized that I actually have a voice that most victims of police brutality don’t have. That made me think of a way to use that voice to help others.”
The name of Blake’s book pays homage to Ashe’s revered memoir, Days of Grace. In the pantheon of athletes that have used their elevated status to make a difference on societal issues, Ashe is clearly among the most influential. The 1975 Wimbledon champion fought for justice in the United States and abroad, and his legacy has clearly had an impact on Blake, both on and off the court.
Wrongfully accosted, James Blake responds with thoughtful words