Good ol’ Jake. Jack Kramer left this world on Saturday 12th September 2009. Jack undoubtedly could be termed as the King of Tennis. He was the role model of billions of tennis enthusiasts.
Players always tried to imitate him and amateurs followed his tips. Jack Kramer did not die as a retired tennis player, he died as a risk taker, as an innovator, as a businessman, as a person who dared to move his own way.
Jack Kramer had a style of his own. Jack Kramer had so much of power and attitude in his personality that the most famous tennis rackets were sold under his name. Those who had witnessed the era after 1947 would know exactly what I mean.
These tennis rackets had the signatures of Jack Kramer printed on them and they sold like crazy. Statistics have proven that over 30 billion tennis rackets were sold. Not even 1 single racket that was left. Now this is something I call fan following!
Jack Kramer or Jake Kramer, as his friends used to call him, was born as the son of the railroad man. His family was nothing of the rich kind.
Jack was a boy who started his tennis practice from public courts and carved his path towards the international tennis courts. Jack Kramer gave American tennis a whole new dimension. He changed the trend of American tennis completely and forever.
This hero had even used a few precious years of his tennis career in World War II were he participated in the Pacific coast guard. But once the war was over, Kramer did come back. And this time he surely came up with a bang!
After the World War II, no great tennis player was to be seen in the history. The dirty game of bribe and taking money under the table was on as players preferred to fill their pockets instead of winning the matches with pride.
Jack Kramer turned out to be a rising star when he banished this trait and dominated players like Bobby Rigs and Pancho Gonzales in the process.
Kramer had conquered the battle of tennis completely till he reached this mid 30s and then decided to detour a bit. This detour did nothing else but only added to his fame.
He was selected as the first Executive Director of the Association of Tennis Professionals in 1972. But as we all know, love and popularity has its negative sides as well.
After almost a year, Jack Kramer was not so much loved within the Association. The reason being, that the association had a dispute with Wimbledon and Kramer favored the latter. As a result, the association boycotted him.
Another very famous row of Jack Kramer is with Billie Jean King at a tournament Kramer ran. This row led King into the creation of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Fame and success does have some side effects.
Even if a couple of people do not speak well of Jack Kramer, the fact that he was a legend cannot be denied. We have lost a diamond in the ruff. He carved the path of international tennis and brought out the best of the sport in front of the whole world.
The life of Jack Kramer needs a complete book if one thinks of writing it down. With numerous stories and events and an experience of more than 50 years, Kramer; before dying, at the age of 88 years was a living educational institution. He was a fabulous man; A person to be loved and respected till centuries.
Thanks Jake,
Brian Hall, Your Tennis Mind Coach
