The Reaction // Old friend Riessen finds the truth hurts

Marty Riessen had heard the rumors, but they never prepared himfor the truth.

Late Wednesday afternoon, when Riessen turned on the televisionand saw tennis legend Arthur Ashe, the truth was as tough to handleas his friend's overhead smash.

"I'm not HIV positive," Ashe told reporters. "I have AIDS."

Riessen, a former tennis great, then listened to his friendexplain how he tested positive for the human immuno-deficiency virus3 1/2 years ago. He watched his friend break down in the middle ofthe televised press conference.

Then Riessen turned off the television.

"You just feel empty," said Riessen, a Hinsdale native nowliving in Santa Barbara, Calif. "It's just a sad, sad thing. Itkind of confirmed the rumors of years ago, but he looks fine to me.Hopefully that won't change."

Riessen, who teamed with Ashe to win the 1971 French Opendoubles title, not only felt bad that his friend acquired the deadlydisease, but that he had to tell the world about it as well.

Ashe, 48, said he was "100 percent sure" he had contracted theAIDS virus from a blood transfusion, probably after his second heartoperation - a double bypass in 1983.

"The sad thing is he's had health problems for so long, and nowto have this on top of everything," Riessen said. "And the real sadthing is that he was forced to announce it. Now it's going tochange his life.

"Like Arthur said, he's not really involved with the public andhe's not responsible to any stockholders. He wanted to keep itprivate, and I think it's too bad he was forced to come out with theannouncement."

Ashe is the first black man to win a Grand Slam title. He madehistory in 1968 when he won the U.S. Open as an amateur. He won theAustralian Open in 1970, then stunned Jimmy Connors for the Wimbledontitle in 1975.

Ashe became the first black man to represent the U.S. in theDavis Cup, became captain of the team, then helped get South Africabanned from the competition because of the nation's apartheidpolicies.

He was ranked No. 1 in the world in 1968 and 1975.

"He is such a great role model and he has done so much withyoung black players," said Jay Kramer, nationally renowned tenniscoach at Hinsdale Central. "Like Michael Jordan, he gives peoplehope that they can reach the pinnacle. He's done so much fortennis."

Like Magic Johnson, who told the nation he had contracted theAIDS virus at a November press conference, Ashe's announcement cameas a shock and a surprise to friends, fans and contemporaries.

"Arthur is one of the great human beings to ever play the gameof tennis," former pro Chris Evert said. "It just seems so unfair.I've known Arthur for 20 years and he's always been a gentleman and agreat ambassador for tennis. I'm praying for him."

Billie Jean King, who knew Ashe had the AIDS virus two yearsago, "cried a lot" following the press conference. President Bushcalled Ashe and asked if there was anything he could do.

Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, who has known Ashe for over 30years, said the news "hits home very, very hard."

Wilder remembered chasing Ashe off a tennis court a long timeago so he and a friend could play.

"The racket was almost as tall as he was," Wilder said. "Wetold him to get out of the way and literally ran him off the court sowe could stumble around and be nothing. He went on to be championof the world."

According to Riessen, that's what he'll always be.

"He's a wonderful person and I'm sure he'll handle thissituation well," Riessen said. "I think he's a terrific role model,no matter what."

Contributing: Associated Press.