Hall of Fame Honors

Congratulations to Michael Chang, Eugene L. Scott and Mark McCormack for being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.  All three honorees have done great things for our sport, and as someone who grew up watching Michael Chang battle with such heart, class and determination, I also wanted to say “thank you.”  Chang may have only won one Grand Slam event (French Open), but his ability to represent American tennis at the top of the world rankings was priceless.  My best memory of Michael was at the 2003 Forest Hills Challenger ATP tennis tournament.  I had applied for a doubles wildcard, and it was between my partner and me, and Michael and his partner.  Chang of course was the better choice, although he ended up not needing the wild card, as he signed up with Cecil Mamitt….so Chang walked up to me and said "congratulations on getting the WC into the doubles event, I wish you the best of luck, and play well!"  Considering I was just a local college player at the time, that meant so much to me, and proved what class Michael brings to the tennis community

Michael Chang was presented for Induction by his brother Carl.  Below is the presentation speech.  Michael Chang's acceptance speech follows (courtesy tennisfame.com)

Carl Chang:  
"It is with great honor and pleasure that I have been asked to introduce to you the next honoree.  We all know him from his “never-say-die” attitude, his tenacity and mental prowess on the court and his David-like fighting characteristics against what always seemed to be insurmountable odds.  As most athletes on such a special occasion, we recognize him for his on court accomplishments, his 34 career single titles, his extraordinary French Open championship in 1989, a feat not previously achieved by an American for some 34 years. Overcoming physical hurdles and pain that were remembered by the greatest in our sports history, if not all sports, as recently recognized by ESPN."

"The many epic encounters with some of the greatest and most respected player to ever set foot on a tennis court, his 5 set marathon with Jimmy Connors in Paris, his life-changing battle with John McEnroe in New York, the heroic match with Ivan Lendl at the 1989 French, which in so many ways defined his career and the numerous hard fought clashes against his childhood rivals and friends, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.  It is these accomplishments that define this individual as one of the greatest tennis players of this era." 

"But I would like to share with you what his career and life have really meant to him.  It was an opportunity to live a dream, to share with others that the impossible is possible no matter what the obstacle.  That size, race and gender doesn’t make a difference when you believe, that there is a better life for all and that faith can be a life changing event that can provide meaning, purpose and a sense of fulfillment.  To spend countless hours signing autographs all those years just to have a moment or just a glimpse of an opportunity to share an encouraging word, thought or prayer.  This is the dream that this individual lived on the tour and the life he lived and continues to live to this day.  I would like to introduce you to a man that I have admired and respected all my life.  He is my brother and best friend.  Please allow me to introduce to you this day the 2008 Hall of Fame inductee, Michael Chang."

Michael Chang: 
"I want to thank International Tennis Hall of Fame for this incredible honor.  I realize the list of inductees is very small and to be included with such champions both on and off the court of the sport of tennis is truly special.  This is a day I will remember for the rest of my life with much pride and honor.  Thank you so very much." 

"It makes it even more special to share it with many of my closest friends and family today as well.  People like Tom Ross and Kelly Wolf of Octagon, and Dianne Hayes of Reebok have played such a key role in my career and I am honored that they would come today just to be here today for the induction.  My friends and family from Seattle and California, thank you for being such an important and encouraging part of my life and it means so much that you are here today too.  As I reflect upon my career, the words dedication, perseverance, hard work, sacrifice, faith, unity and love come to mind and you would think that I was referring to myself through all these years but in actuality, I am not.  You see, for any champion to succeed, he must have a team. A very incredible, special team.  People that he can depend on, count on and rely upon through everything. The highs and lows, the wins and losses, the victories and failures and even the joys and heartaches both on and off the court.  And, no one knows that better than my Mom, Dad, Carl and Dianna.  For us, tennis was never about the winning or losing.  The Lord Jesus taught us that very early on in my career.  Sure, it is always  nice to win but from the beginning, the way, way beginning, when Pete Sampras and I were 8 years old and we were competing it was always about unit, love, closeness and about spending time together doing things that we loved to do.  Sometimes it was fishing.  Sometimes it was soccer.  A lot of times it was sharing a meal and talking but most often it was tennis.  And the same rings true today even now as I am retired."

"The goal, unity, sacrifice, care for one another, faith and reliance upon the Lord and a love that constantly encourages and lifts one another up.  That has stayed with me throughout my entire life and career and to my family I say thank you for loving me that way and for giving me every opportunity to excel in a talent that God has given to me."

"In my mind, with a team like you and the Lord’s blessings, who wouldn’t succeed?  My job on the court was easy as compared to yours.  I can say that now because I have since gotten a taste of what it is like to coach last year.  Now, of course Carl, who has coached me for twelve years would say “yeah, right, you think you know what it means to coach but you really don’t know what a pain in the butt you can be at times”, which I must say is true.  Now you can imagine with that kind of love, there was no pressure to come off the court after losing a touch match or having a bad day.  And if there was, it wasn’t coming from my family.  When you get to playing at the top, pressures are coming from everywhere and the last thing you ever want to worry about is whether or not you will still be loved or accepted by those dearest to you.  I never had that kind of burden and I hope for future generations of tennis players around the world never have to carry that kind of burden either.  But with that kind of comfort, love and support from my family it was easy to reach for the stars and to dream big dreams as the fear of failure rarely enters your mind.  In fact, your only thoughts are giving your very best and striving to accomplish what no one thinks you can accomplish.  But if you do come up short some time as we all do, I was one point away from becoming number one in the world; hear these wise words from my mom when I was just 17 years old.  She said “as long as you have tried your best, as long as you have given your 100% that is all that people can ask of you, that is all the Lord desires of you and that is all that you can ever ask of yourself.  If you do that, you should walk off the court, win or lose, with your head held high, knowing that you gave it your very best.  So, to Mommy, [Bobba], Carl, and Dee Dee, thank you for always giving me your very best and of course, to this family.  You are, and will always be in my hall of fame right here in my heart.  I am so incredibly blessed to have you as my loving family."

"Lastly, as I have shared many times before, I would like to give thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ.  I know that without him, I am nothing, so I give him all the glory and praise of all my accomplishments and for teaching me how to love and to live life to the very fullest.  Thank you dear Lord."

"In closing, I want to thank the International Tennis Hall of Fame again for this tremendous honor and also a special thanks to you, to many of my fans and supporters throughout the world for always encouraging me throughout my career through your cheers, your words and your letters."

"Thank you for allowing me to celebrate this tennis career in such an extraordinary and special way.  This is truly an incredible honor. Thank you very much."