Rohan Adams – A tennis Prodigy Part 1: By Chief Strong-Blood

Rhan Part 2     Part 3

By the time Rohan was about sixteen years old, He was known, in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Lawn tennis world as: rude, disrespectful and ungrateful. But was he? Or was there a blatant effort to black list this child?

Rohan Adams was also popularly known as Ku-man. The name Ku-man was a name that was given to Rohan, as a child to shame him. But Rohan like the champion he was, never made the name became a problem, instead he wore the name with pride.

Rohan was the Son of Ishmael and Millicent Adams of Cemetery Hill, in Kingstown St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He was one of five children. Unfortunately; for Rohan and the Adams Family, Ishmael Adams, the patriarch of the Adam's family became separated from his wife, when Rohan was still just a little tot.

Rohan Mother Mrs. Millicent Adams, was a: “stay at home mom” who subsidized her husband's salary as a dress maker or a Seamstress, to ensure their little family stayed afloat, especially during the rough times.

With the absence of Mr. Ishmael Adams, Mrs. Millicent Adams was left to carry the burden, of running the household and taking care of her children; all by herself. Ms. Adams always made sure her children had the basics. Shoes on their feet, clothes on their back; a roof over their head and food on the table. One good thing was, the House the Adams family called home was owned by them.

Like the other children who live in the Cemetery Hill and New Montrose area, The Old Montrose Tennis Center was where the boys hanged out and on the other side of the wall; was home to the Nutricia: Netball facility; here was where the girls hanged out.

Being around Tennis for all his life, Rohan developed a passion for the game of tennis at quite an early age. But Tennis was outside of Rohan's financial scope. Everything that was needed to play tennis was extremely expensive.

Back in the seventies, the eighties and the nineties (!970s, 1908s and 1990s) Tennis was known as the sport of the big shot. It was the Children of and the Mr. this and the Mr. That that played the sport; because they could afford, the equipment needed to play tennis.

However, because there was a tennis court within the area and their children spent a lot of quality time at the tennis court. Some parents often sacrifice and purchase for their children, as a Christmas gift, a tennis racquet and balls.

The child was responsible for taking care of the gift. It was critical they did also; because grips for the racquet were expensive, strings were expensive, to replace the strings were expensive, even to adjust the tension on your racquet string was expensive. A warp racquet could still be used, but it was worthless.

The tennis attire was never a problem; especially, for poor children, we all had short pants, we had T-shirts and we all had what was called a gym-booths and or soft-mash. The Gym-boots and or the Soft-mashes, were not tennis shoes; however, they were considered appropriate, for every form of physical activities.

A common occurrence at the Old Montrose Tennis Center was: someone often shouts-out, where is my racquet? Then the person will angrily ask Rohan: "Rohan whose racquet do you have there?" These declarations, brought little Ronah's game to an abrupt end. Rohan was a brave and fearless child, he always boldly walked up to the owners of the racquets, he was using without their permission and handed over the racquet to the owner.

Rohan was not a thief and he did not lie, not even to please those he was around. Ronah, had blunt honesty and truthfulness about him that often offend a lot of people.

The truth be told, no one wanted Rohan around the tennis courts, and no matter how much insults that were hauled at him, he never went away and he never stayed away. Rohan loved the game of tennis, and he wanted to play the game. Rohan was willing to do anything to play the game.

Rohan often became the ball boy, for people who were playing at the court. He often ran outside of the court, climb through a little hole in the Cemetery wall, a hole I am convinced, was made in the cemetery wall by Rohan, so he can easily get into the cemetery; to recover mishit balls for their owners.

All this was done by Rohan, in hopes, at the end of their tennis session, when he makes the request, one of the players, would have recognized, his effort on their behalf and allow him to use their racquets for a little while. Such was Rohan's commitment to learning and playing the game of tennis.

As it relates to the hole in the cemetery wall. I will be lying on Rohan, if I said, I saw, little Rohan, with a hammer and wall chisel, chipping away as he made a hole in the cemetery wall. However, a little hole mysteriously appeared in the cemetery wall; just above the foundation in the cemetery wall. The hole was just big enough for Rohan little body, to easily get into the cemetery to recover the mishit tennis balls.

And as Rohan's body grew bigger, the hole got bigger; however just big enough to allow Rohan's body to get in and out of the cemetery with very little ease.

Then all of a sudden; the hole in the cemetery wall stopped getting bigger. The hole in the cemetery wall; only stopped getting bigger, when Rohan grew big enough and was able to climb over the cemetery wall like everyone else. I am not saying Rohan made the hole in the cemetery wall, but it is hard for me not to believe he did not.

Then someone gave Rohan a used tennis Racquet, this became Rohan's prized possession. Now Rohan no longer come to the tennis court to bum a knock, he came with his own racquet and balls.

You may be asking how, did Rohan suddenly, able to afford balls? Well, if you are wondering Rohan's economic situation did not changed. But because Rohan now had a racquet, he no longer had to go into the cemetery to recover mishit balls for their owners.

Those mishit balls that were not recovered and those mishit balls the owners did not feel the need to go in search of and for. At the end of the day, Rohan went into the cemetery, located those balls and they became; the property of Rohan by default.

Rohan was often heckled by the other tennis players, they often jokingly said: "Rohan slept on the Lawn Tennis Court. This was so for the simple fact, the first person to get to and on the Tennis court in the morning was Rohan and the last person to leave the court in the evening or in the night was Rohan.

Mr. Ali Lynch who was responsible, for all things tennis at the New Montrose Tennis Center; lived about forty feet from the tennis court. The lynch's residence over looked the tennis court.

Rohan on the other hand, lived about what appeared to be, about two city blocks, from the court. Yet Ali could not get to the court before Rohan, no matter how hard he tried.

When Rohan was about twelve years old, the "Ugly Duckling" of the tennis world, emerged into the swan on the tennis court. all of the early morning and late evening at the court eventually paid off.

Rohan was always able to sneak his way into other people's tennis sessions. Because Rohan was always first at the tennis court. When people who made arrangement to meet at the court for an early morning knock, Rohan was always able to entice, the first of the pair, who arrange to meet, to knock up with him, so they will be warm up when their partner arrive.

If the partner no showed, then Rohan becomes their partner by default, for the morning session. When the later partner arrives, the early partner is all warmed up and slamming balls. but the late partner has to get warmed up.

As a result, the person joins Rohan on his side of the court as in a double and they all work together until the late partner is all warmed up. By the time they are ready to play; Rohan would have already gotten in, a morning session of tennis.

It came to a point where, many tennis players, who felt like an early morning or a late evening knock up and did not make any arrangement for the same. Just showed up to the court, knowing the kid will be there: ready, willing and able to give them a good run.

Rohan Adams – A tennis Prodigy Part 2: By Chief Strong-Blood

Rohan Adams Part 1   

Part 3

Words of Rohan Tennis abilities, began to spread far and wide, throughout the tennis community in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Now people began to show up, just to see Rohan play.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in Lawn Tennis as in everything else. We have a lot of big fishes, in small ponds; who rule the small ponds like the sharks rule the ocean. However, whenever they leave the small pond and go into the little bigger pond and participate in regional activities; they are badly beaten and send packing.

Rohan on the other hand, even at that tender age, had the skill set, the mentality and the viciousness, on the Tennis court, not only to dominate in the small pond that was St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but he had what it took, to leave the small pond, fight with the sharks of the tennis world and prevail.

The people who saw Rohan played tennis, recognized something they have never seen before, in any of the local players. They saw a child with an awkward tennis court mannerism, who was still able to get the ball to follow his command. Rohan was skinny and not very strong; but he developed a technique, where he was able to leverage, the power his opponent, hit the ball with; to generate even more power and ball speed on the return, than he would naturally.

Ronah also had extremely good vision, Although Rohan Court Mannerism was awkward, his game had very little flaw. Recognizing the talent Rohan possessed, he became surrounded by Vultures, Hyenas and Wolves in sheep clothing. People who claimed they can and wanted to help him get to the next level: The International Tennis Circuit.

There was no way of knowing what their intentions were. However, there were some small red flags that no one took notice of. These people were all people of power and prestige, who were a part of the S.V.G tennis paternity. They stayed in the affluent part of their little world; who never lend a helping hand to anyone from the Ghetto.

We all knew Rohan had the skill set, the determination and the other attributes to make it on the International Tennis Circuit, but he needed a real coach, one who had the ability to look at Rohan's game, evaluate his game, his techniques, his court management etc. and help him perfect his craft.

Rohan also needed, a good tennis trainer, one who understood the game of tennis, who was able to help him develop and strengthen his active tennis muscles, his core strength and his Cardio Vascular conditioning.

Rohan also needed one person, to motivate him; one who was able to keep him hungry, one who can impressed upon him, the seriousness of the business and ignite a fire within him, that would have sparked a desire to win. One who would never let him become satisfied but always wanting more. More from his game, more victories, more accolades.

However, never more money. Although money was important, money was the worst motivator for someone like Rohan who had a natural love for the game. We all know, money always follows, hard work and success.

Unfortunately; none of the Vultures, Hyenas and or wolves in Sheep's clothing, had any of the prerequisites, to render to Rohan the help he needed. However, some of them had the means to get Rohan the help he needed if they wanted to.

Why would they help Rohan? Most of them were jealous of Rohan. They played tennis all of their lives, they had all the correct attire, gear and equipment needed for the game. They had coaches and trainers, ready access to tennis courts and access to gyms; and in some cases they provided the same for their children.

They nor their children, were able to attain, the level, the skill set and the techniques, Rohan: the kid; with an old racquet and a gym-boots was able to develop on his own. They all had some selfish reason for helping Rohan; some of the reasons were more sinister then others, however all of their reasons were selfish.

Most of these people were mediocre tennis players at best, who made a name for themselves, they played in the mediocre local tournament, against other mediocre and even more mediocre tennis players then themselves. They were not skilled enough, to help their children, their brothers and sisters and their little friends, who played tennis. How would they be able to help Rohan.

Some wanted to take credit for coaching Rohan. However, the only person, who can honestly take credit, for Rohan tennis abilities is a young girl, a teenager herself, a second form student of the Girls High School; by the name of Bronte Liverpool. Today she is known as Dr. Bronte Liverpool-Williams PhD.

No! Bronte did not take Rohan aside and taught him how to hold a tennis racquet, nor did she taught him how to correctly swing the tennis racquet, nor did she taught him, how to cover the court in a game, nor any of the skills Rohan became extremely good at.

However, when everyone was busy hauling insults at Rohan; reprimanding him not to touch their “expletive” racquets, calling him out of his name. Bronte always willingly, allow Rohan to use her racquet. Rohan was assured; as long as Bronte who also played Netball was at the Old Montrose Tennis Center; he did not have to bum a knock from anyone. Bronte always let Rohan know; if he needs to play, he can have the use of her racquet.

She was probably the only person, who never used Rohan alias, to call, or refer to Ronah. She also went on a one girl campaign; she tried to get others, to stop calling Rohan: by his now popular alias: Ku-man.

Bronte was my good friend, although she was just a teenager and I was several years her senior. She always said to me. "Allan I know it, if I was in Rohan's position, they would have treated me, in the same way they are treating Rohan.” That was one of the statements Bronte made, I was never able to argue with her about.

Now the Vultures, the Hyenas and the Wolves in sheep Clothing began to go to the Adams home, to request permission, for Rohan to go with them, to the Prospect Racquet Club and at the private island resort: the Young's Island resort, where they have reserved, a private court, so they can help Rohan, get to the next level, in his tennis pursuit.

Rohan Adams – A tennis Prodigy Part 3: By Chief Strong-Blood

Rohan Adams Part 3     Part 1

Absolutely no one could or can, ever take credit for teaching Rohan how to play the game of Tennis. Let us not forget, Rohan was the "Ugly Duckling" of the Montrose Tennis Center, lest we all forget, Rohan learnt to play the game of Tennis, at the Montrose Tennis Center and with the exception of Dr. Bronte Liverpool-Williams no one wanted Rohan around.

The evidence, that Rohan was self-taught was exhibited in the way Rohan carried his racquet, when he was on the Tennis court. Even as a tall teenager, Ronah still carried his racquet on the court; like a child with a racquet that was too big for him. This characteristic about Ronah court mannerism; never changed and no matter how big, how strong and how good he got that remained the same.

Rohan slightly awkward or slightly unorthodox style of playing the game was also validating testimony, of one who was self-taught. The only way I can describe Rohan's tennis style is to say; for a lack of a better description; Rohan played what I called a "Bear Back Style" of Tennis.

What do I mean by a "bear back style?" picture a tennis player playing Tennis before the sophisticated tennis crown at Wimbledon (The British Open). That player took the court dressed in a nice pair of Tennis shoes, a beautiful pair white socks (stockings), and a well-tailored Tennis pants, but no shirt.

You know something is not right, something does not look right, but it does not matter; because their game is so Gad Darm entertaining. In your mind, you quickly began to qualify that which you are watching, to be normal. That was Rohan's slightly awkward style of playing Lawn Tennis.

The truth is, Mrs. Adams’ son played tennis, Mrs. Adams was too busy, trying to keep food on their table, shoes on their feet and clothes on her children's back, to be concerned with tennis. She was oblivious of the players in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines tennis world; the good the bad and the ugly.

The Vultures, the Hyenas and the Wolves in sheep clothing, came in three categories. There were those who wanted to test Rohan's skill, on the court, but they did not want it to be a public affair. Just in case Rohan was able to dismantle them, on the court; there will be no witnesses to the event. It will be their words against Rohan's words. From all reports, Rohan always dismantled or man handled them.

There were those who wanted Rohan, to feel some sense of loyalty to them and to credit them for their help, just in case, he made it to the big leagues. That was an insurance policy of recognition.

And there were those, who saw an innocent lad (boy), with no significant male figure in his life, with a trusting and naive mother, they can take advantage of. Then Rohan began to relate the story of him, going to the private resort island: Young's Island resort, his access to private tennis courts, stories of him and his big shot friends hanging out, not in the dining room at the resort, where he can get a free meal but at the bar.

Asked yourself this question, what does a teenager have doing in the company of so-call responsible adults, at a bar, at a private resort, where adults hangout and where adult beverages are served?

Bronte Became very concerned, when she heard these stories and I could remember Bronte saying to me. "Allan all of these people who claimed, they are helping Rohan; they are going to destroy that boy's life.
Rohan was too young and too naive to know, there is always a price tag, that comes with such generosity. A price that will be paid one way or the other. Then I heard whispers, of sexually inappropriate acts imposed upon Rohan by people, who were too important, to become involves in such a scandal and who were too prestigious to be publicly shamed.

Unfortunately, the people who Rohan trusted, with the information about the sexual inappropriate acts, which was imposed upon him, did not want to be associated with Rohan and the allegations he made.

As a matter of fact, these same people should have alerted Mrs. Adams, about some of the people, who showed up to her home, and showed interest in Rohan's tennis development. Some of them were noted homosexuals, with a history of luring young boys, into the dirty homosexual web they were always weaving.

These people, should have supported Rohan and his family at the least, they shouls have advised them, as to the appropriate course of actions, which should be taken; in order to properly address the issue at hand.

But instead, they acted safely, with an eye to take Rohan's place, and owned the favors and affections of the Vultures, Hyenas and the Wolves in Sheep's clothing, these people who were accused. The same people, they thought, could and would help them with their tennis careers.

It is only after Rohan spoke of his abuse, that the rumors began to be circulated within the tennis world. Rumors that accused Rohan of being rude, disrespectful and ungrateful. It is common and understood, that open rudeness and disrespect showed to an adult by a child, is one of the signs, a child or that child is dealing with, some form of emotional trauma; they don’t understand, trauma they don’t know how to deal with.

The child’s anger is normally aimed at the people who hurt them, the people who should have protected them but failed to protect them and those people the child knew, should have supported and help them through their problems but did not.

Rohan became ungrateful because, he outed his abusers. In these people sick minds, Rohan should have taken his sexual abuse, remained silence, and gone about his life, and pretended nothing happened and all is well.

That class of people (sexual abusers - homosexual) especially those with power, have very long memories. And they wield their powers with a vengeance, hence the reason: Rohan was never given the opportunity to work in his own country; and hence the reason, the disturbing news story that was carried, in the local regional and international media and social media.

Stories which were done by people who don’t know or should not care about Rohan and his little life; to an audience who don’t know or care about Rohan’s little life, they were all doing short insignificant segment about Ronah. Asked yourself why? They wanted to Shame this child even in his death as they did him in his short life.

In conclusion, Rohan's life and tennis career was not destroyed by drug use. But Rohan life was destroyed by unscrupulous men, with deranged, unhealthy and unnatural sexual appetite; who prayed on him.

In my opinion, Ronah used drugs; to remain sane. After all that child went through, as so early an age was enough to send anyone crazy. lest we forget most mental illness drugs are either opioid or narcotics. Psychologists get their patient extremely high on similar drugs as a treatment for their mental illness.