Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 7, 1993 TAG: 9302070205
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press and Washington Post reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
REACTION ON DEATH OF ASHE
Reaction on the death of former tennis star Arthur Ashe on Saturday night:\ MAGIC JOHNSON, retired NBA star: "Arthur Ashe's passing away makes this a very sad day, not only for the world of sports, but the entire world in general. Not only was Arthur a leading figure and pioneer for minorities in sports and business, but also in the fight against HIV and AIDS. He was one of the best men of his generation, and his loss is a loss for all of us. If one can look for hope, however, on this very sad occasion, it is that this is yet another compelling reminder of just how important it is to find a cure for this horrible disease. My prayers and those of my wife, Cookie, are with Arthur's family."
\ TIM MAYOTTE, tennis player: "I used to play pingpong with my friends in my cellar as kids. Inevitably, one of us would be Arthur Ashe and the other would be Rod Laver. I saw him not too long ago, and he was talking about how well he was feeling. I certainly wasn't prepared for this to happen."
\ CHARLIE PASARELL, Ashe's roommate at UCLA: "I had known for a long, long time, since he had it. He had some bad moments, some bad days. He talked openly to me about it. I got used to seeing him in good and bad moments. I can't tell you how many times I've had that bad dream about this. I knew this day would come but it's so hard . . ."
\ DAVID DINKENS, New York mayor: "Tonight, I have lost a very dear and very loving friend, Arthur Ashe. Simply put, words cannot suffice to capture a career as glorious, a life so fully lived, or a commitment to justice as firm and as fair as was his. Nor can words suffice to capture the sense of loss I feel in knowing he is no longer among us.
"From his very early youth, Arthur Ashe always kept his eye on the ball, not just on the tennis court but in every single aspect of his life. He celebrated the many championships he won, the many records he set. But day in and day out, always he wondered about and worried for those less fortunate than he."
\ L. DOUGLAS WILDER, Virginia governor: "Not only have I lost a dear personal friend, America has lost a model giant. His leadership may not be confined to athletics and sports alone, for he was totally committed to improving the lives of those yet to enjoy the full fruition of rights and opportunities in this country."
\ BARRY MACKAY, tennis promoter: "I have always admired his courage, respected his integrity and have been impressed by all he has done for so many. Arthur's passing represents a tremendous loss for tennis and the world beyond."
\ GILBERT CARTER, a childhood friend: "We were all kind of hoping he had a little bit more time. I know there were quite a few things he still felt he had to do. We were trying to develop with him a black hall of fame to include all athletes from soccer, tennis, swimming - all sports. We talked and joked. And I can tell you for a fact, we were anticipating many, many more meetings."
\ REV. JESSE JACKSON: "He went to jail to free South Africa. He went to jail to free Haiti," Jackson said. Ashe suffered a heart attack soon after he was jailed in Washington last year for organizing protests on behalf of Haitian refugees.
"I went to visit him in the hospital that Sunday," Jackson said. "He was lying in bed, with monitors hooked up to him. He said, `Jesse, I'm glad to see you. We've got to free Haiti.'
"He was reassuring his wife at the same time and he wanted me to tell his friends that he would be all right."