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Post by yse on Aug 27, 2006 16:01:19 GMT 3
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Post by yse on Aug 27, 2006 16:03:08 GMT 3
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Post by yse on Aug 27, 2006 16:06:55 GMT 3
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Post by yse on Aug 27, 2006 18:46:44 GMT 3
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Post by yse on Aug 27, 2006 18:47:30 GMT 3
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Post by yse on Aug 27, 2006 23:47:19 GMT 3
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Post by yse on Aug 27, 2006 23:48:09 GMT 3
Why we love tennis pro James Blake
By VICTORIA COREN
Daily Mail
26th June 2006
He's a Harvard graduate, an ex-model and Wimbledon's one to watch. VICTORIA COREN thinks the new tennis player on the block is ace.
No doubt you'll be sighing with relief today, as the football is finally diluted with some lovely tennis action. (One friend texted me: "I am actually giggling with delight.")
Perhaps you are already cranking up your Henmania, but beware! It's not cool to support Tim too vigorously this year.
Heart-throbs, like handbags, must be updated. Like all accessories, your favourite singers, sportsmen or film stars should keep up with the seasons.
A loud burst of Henmania is like a gipsy skirt or a Fendi baguette: something brought out from previous summers, which is starting to look a little tired.
Tim is comfortable, but he isn't daring. We will always be pleased to see him do well, but you need to freshen up the tennis season with a whole new interest. This summer, stylish women should be cheering for James Blake.
Why Blake? First, he's gorgeous. Second, he has an amazing life story. Third, he is practically British.
He grew up in America, but his mother comes from Banbury near Oxford. One British parent is surely enough to make him one of us?
No disrespect to Henman, but this country doesn't turn out the biggest crop of heroes. We'll take what we can get. If we can claim Greg Rusedski as our own, I say we can claim James Blake as well.
If you didn't see him in the final of this year's Stella Artois, his name may be entirely new.
I conducted a poll among my friends, texting them to ask "Who is James Blake?" and not one knew. Guesses included "A singer?", "A poet?" and "A Formula One driver?"
Stylish
One friend, who is congratulating herself on timing her maternity leave for the tennis, replied: "I don't know, I'll have to Google him. Hang on - ooh, hel-lo!'
Hel-lo, indeed. It is a normal first reaction. And this is what makes James Blake such a stylish person to support: if you start now, you will be among the first.
Being fashionable is all about setting the trend. But this is not just about looks. James Blake's life story is inspirational, and very modern. It is all about overcoming tragedy, putting faith in the power of positive thinking and willing yourself to succeed.
Blake, 26, began life with brains and beauty. But a back problem required him to wear a special brace throughout his teenage years.
This did not prevent him from winning a place at Harvard University and later landing a modelling contract - nor from discovering his great skill as a tennis player.
21st-century hero
He decided to commit himself to tennis after hearing the late Arthur Ashe (the legendary black Wimbledon champion who is his hero) speak. Blake soared up the rankings, capturing attention and winning the title Rookie Of The Year.
But disaster struck in May 2004, when he was practising for a tournament in Rome. Racing to return a drop-shot, he slammed into the steel net post and broke his neck. Six weeks into his recuperation, his father died of cancer.
With typical spirit, Blake described the accident as "the luckiest thing that ever happened to me".
He says: "Otherwise I would have been in Europe at that time. It ended up being the last six weeks of my father's life, and I got to spend a lot of time with him."
After recovering from his injury, James went straight back on to the court and made the quarterfinals of the US Open. He dedicated that success to his father.
In March, he became the first black male player since Ashe to reach the Top Ten in the world rankings.
Does this man not have everything required for a 21st-century hero?
He has the toughness and machismo to fight back from disaster to glory. He has the softness and humanity to express love for his parents, to win awards for sportsmanship and to donate a proportion of every prize to a children's hospital.
As if all that weren't enough, he has model looks, a Harvard brain and British blood.
And that's why the fashionable woman, casting around for a new Wimbledon icon, should settle on James Blake.
Be sure to get in first and practise shouting his name. No offence to Tim, but I, for one, hope this will be the year Henman Hill becomes Blake Mountain
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Post by Annie on Aug 28, 2006 8:03:17 GMT 3
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Post by sonya on Aug 28, 2006 22:56:27 GMT 3
yse,i agree with you!i like him too!  btw,do you think his taking over the first place at the list of the hottest tennis players made marat have his hair cut?poor marat's ego  !! now,love this pic!  And this quote is hilarious  "I don't know, I'll have to Google him. Hang on - ooh, hel-lo!' it seems to me that he’s very positive,nice and funny person.ROFL at the last part about henman hill ;D ! Being fashionable is all about setting the trend. But this is not just about looks. James Blake's life story is inspirational, and very modern. It is all about overcoming tragedy, putting faith in the power of positive thinking and willing yourself to succeed. He has the toughness and machismo to fight back from disaster to glory. He has the softness and humanity to express love for his parents, to win awards for sportsmanship and to donate a proportion of every prize to a children's hospital. As if all that weren't enough, he has model looks, a Harvard brain and British blood. Be sure to get in first and practise shouting his name. No offence to Tim, but I, for one, hope this will be the year Henman Hill becomes Blake Mountain |
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Post by sonya on Aug 29, 2006 0:04:37 GMT 3
he was such a cutie as a kid.i captured them from the article yse posted!   and this pic is so cool-the hair and that graduation outfit,or whatever you call it .  |
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Post by sonya on Aug 29, 2006 0:32:32 GMT 3
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Post by sonya on Aug 29, 2006 0:40:59 GMT 3
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Post by sonya on Aug 29, 2006 1:15:06 GMT 3
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Post by sonya on Aug 29, 2006 1:26:46 GMT 3
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Post by sonya on Aug 29, 2006 3:03:38 GMT 3
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Sixpack guard 
