NY1 anchor, Cheryl Wills, checks in with What's The 411 correspondent Andrew Rosario to reminiscence about tennis great Arthur Ashe. Cheryl Wills remembers Arthur Ashe as a New York and an international icon.

"It is so fitting that we are having this fabulous event to honor him and his legacy and all of the people who are carrying on his legacy, Wills stated."

"Arthur Ashe was about world peace. He was about advancing African-Americans and integrating us into a sports world that once wasn't so inviting to us,...everyone's heart broke when he left us, but this is a wonderful way to remember him," she continued.

The conversation took place at the Arthur Ashe Sports Ball 2012 held at Chelsea Piers to benefit the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, which provides a three-year science enrichment program for college-bound high school students.

Former professional tennis player and ESPN New York 98.7 radio host, Patrick McEnroe talked about his memories of the late tennis star and humanitarian Arthur Ashe.

The conversation took place at the Arthur Ashe Sports Ball 2012 held at Chelsea Piers to benefit the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, which provides a three-year science enrichment program for college-bound high school students.

Patrick McEnroe shared how he benefited from Arthur Ashe's generosity. McEnroe remembers Ashe inviting him to Ireland for the Davis Cup as a practice player. At the time, Ashe was captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team and Patrick McEnroe was a junior player. Ashe thought it would be a good opportunity for Patrick McEnroe to join his brother John (McEnroe) enabling them both to see their family in Ireland.

"...everything he (Arthur) did in tennis and what he did for tennis pales in comparison to what he did just in his life," McEnroe stated.

VIDEO: Dr. Mary Valmont; student Leslie Chang; Mike Lupica; Hon. David Dinkins; Patrick McEnroe; Gail Marquis; Bill Rhoden; and Cheryl Wills

What's The 411's correspondent, Andrew Rosario, covered the Arthur Ashe Sports Ball 2012, an event to benefit the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health (AAIUH).

The event held at Chelsea Piers brought out many New York City luminaries and dignitaries who wholeheartedly want to support the legacy of tennis great Arthur Ashe and the science enrichment program provided by the AAIUH.

Starting with Dr. Mary Valmont, Associate Director for Health Science Education, Health Science Academy, Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, we get more information about the science enrichment program.

In partnership with the State University of New York - Downstate, AAIUH's science enrichment program is designed for college-bound high school students. It is an intensive, high-achieving health sciences program serving 180 students who attend anatomy and physiology courses, including those focused on the reproductive and cardio- vascular systems. The students also attend gross anatomy labs and other science-oriented demonstrations. Students participate in the program for three years, attending once a week for 13 weeks over six semesters. The Health Science Academy boasts a 98 percent college admission rate with most of its students going on to medical school, graduate school, and doctoral programs.

Leslie Chang, a high school student and this year's scholarship winner at the Arthur Ashe Sports Ball 2012, received a check in the amount of $1,968, which is symbolic of the year Arthur Ashe won the U.S. Open for the first time. Chang started with the Health Science Academy as a sophomore and plans to attend college to study biomedical engineering.

Chang learned about the program from a teacher who spotted his great achievement in chemistry.

NY Daily News columnist and ESPN 98.7 FM Radio host, Mike Lupica, a supporter of the Arthur Ashe Sports Ball, reminisced about being at center court when Arthur Ashe won Wimbledon in 1975 and how he enjoyed their golf outings. Mike was floored by a comment Arthur Ashe made about race and the HIV/AIDS virus and he wished Arthur Ashe could have lived to see the election of President Barack Obama.

Former NYC Mayor David Dinkins reflected on the good friendship that he had with Arthur Ashe. He spoke at one of Ashe's memorial services and concluded his remarks with "he (Arthur Ashe) was a credit to his race, the human race."

"Arthur was a helluva guy," Dinkins continued.

Dinkins chuckled as he remembered Ashe laughing at him when they played tennis together.

Former professional tennis player, Patrick McEnroe, shared how he benefited from Arthur Ashe's generosity. McEnroe remembers Ashe inviting him to Ireland for the Davis Cup as a practice player. At the time, Ashe was captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team and Patrick McEnroe was a junior player. Ashe thought it would be a good opportunity for Patrick McEnroe to join his brother John enabling them both to see their family in Ireland.

"...everything he (Arthur) did in tennis and what he did for tennis pales in comparison to what he did just in his life," McEnroe stated.

Next up was Gail Marquis, an Olympic silver medalist. Marquis was the recipient of an AAIUH Trailblazer Award. With the help of Patrick McEnroe, Ms. Marquis, admits to Andrew Rosario that she has come to realize that after 40 years in sports, she is no longer an All-American. She is now a trailblazer and she is willing to embrace her trailblazer status. Gail Marquis won a silver medal for women's basketball at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Ms. Marquis is also in the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.

When NY Times Sports Columnist Bill Rhoden, one of the co-hosts for the evening, spoke with Andrew Rosario, he too, went below the surface, as he remembered Arthur Ashe.

"Coming into a sport in a context, where, like, Jackie Robinson, those kinds of people, where you know that it's not just about tennis or baseball and it's not just about you, that you do represent a lot of people," stated Bill Rhoden.

"And I think that Arthur carried that well and he expected other people, other tennis players, other Black athletes to carry themselves that same way too. So, I think clearly, he (Arthur Ashe) was a product of his time, of the South, of the sport, of the politics and sociology of the sport, and he embraced it."

NY 1 News Anchor Cheryl Wills, stopped by to talk with Andrew Rosario as she got ready for her co-hosting duties for the night's festivities. She remembered Arthur Ashe as a New York and an international icon.

"It is so fitting that we are having this fabulous event to honor him and his legacy and all of the people who are carrying on his legacy," Wills stated.

"Arthur Ashe was about world peace. He was about advancing African-Americans and integrating us into a sports world that once wasn't so inviting to us,...everyone's heart broke when he left us, but this is a wonderful way to remember him," she continued.

When The New York Times Sports Columnist Bill Rhoden, one of the co-hosts for the evening, spoke with What's The 411 correspondent, Andrew Rosario, at the Arthur Ashe Sports Ball 2012, an event to benefit the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, he too, went below the surface.

Rhoden dug deep, as he remembered tennis great and humanitarian, Arthur Ashe.

Rhoden views Arthur Ashe as a pioneer in the world of tennis much like Jackie Robinson was a trailblazer in baseball and how their greatness impacted society beyond sports.

"Coming into a sport in a context, where, like, Jackie Robinson, those kinds of people, where you know that it's not just about tennis or baseball and it's not just about you, that you do represent a lot of people," stated Bill Rhoden. "And I think that Arthur carried that well and he expected other people, other tennis players, other Black athletes to carry themselves that same way too. So, I think clearly, he (Arthur Ashe) was a product of his time, of the South, of the sport, of the politics and sociology of the sport, and he embraced it."

Mike Lupica, a NY Daily News Columnist and ESPN 98.7 Radio host, reflected on his relationship with the late great tennis star and humanitarian, Arthur Ashe, with What's The 411's correspondent Andrew Rosario.

The conversation took place at the Arthur Ashe Sports Ball 2012 held at Chelsea Piers to benefit the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health. The AAIUH provides a three-year science enrichment program for college-bound high school students.

Mike Lupica remembers being at center court when Arthur Ashe won Wimbledon in 1975, and how he enjoyed their golf outings.

Lupica was floored by a comment Arthur Ashe made about race and the HIV/AIDS virus and he wished Arthur Ashe could have lived to see the election of President Barack Obama.

VIDEO: Retired American tennis player Leslie Allen

Leslie Allen is a retired American tennis player and keeper of the legacy of tennis champion, Arthur Ashe, through the Arthur Ashe Foundation.

The mission of the foundation is HIV/AIDS education. The foundation carries out its primary mission by training medical professionals from around the world in the latest protocol at Cornell Medical Center.

Money for the Arthur Ashe Foundation has been raised at the U.S. Open for the past 21 years by selling tennis artifacts and many are signed by tennis players. The donated tennis products can also be purchased by bidding on the foundation website, www.ArthurAsheAIDSendowment.org.

Also at the U.S. Open, the Arthur Ashe Kids Day is exposing a lot of kids to tennis, Arthur Ashe's legacy, and to fun.

Ms. Allen represents the top 20 tennis players as a member of the World Tennis Association's board.

Through her organization, Win 4 Life (www.LeslieAllen.net), Ms. Allen introduces young people to the behind-the-scenes careers in tennis. Every year, she also has young people working the Arthur Ashe Foundation booth at the US Open.

VIDEO: Sights and sounds at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day 2012 held at the US National Tennis Center

Arthur Ashe Kids Day offers something for everyone. There were opportunities to watch tennis pros practice; attend concerts with pop and R&B stars such as Carly Rae Jepsen and Mindless Behavior; and tennis clinics for the little ones. The video also shows that kids and adults alike stood ready to get autographs from their favorite players.

Arthur Ashe Kids Day also celebrates the writing and artistic skills of young people connected to the National Junior Tennis and Learning network founded by Arthur Ashe. Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins was on hand to help celebrate the winners of the Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest. Mayor Dinkins also spoke about the genesis of the Arthur Ashe Kids Day and What's The 411 TV's Andrew Rosario captured it all.

Arthur Ashe was born on July 10, 1943, in Richmond, Virginia and is remembered for his excellence as a tennis player as well as his efforts to further social causes. He remains the only African-American player ever to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon, the Australian Open or the US Open. His legacy continues to have a positive effect on our society.

VIDEO: Winners of the Arthur Ashe Kids Day 2012 Essay and Art Contest

The Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest celebrates the writing and artistic skills of young people connected to the National Junior Tennis Learning (NJTL) network founded by Arthur Ashe.

The Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest celebrates the writing and artistic skills of young people connected to the National Junior Tennis Learning (NJTL) network founded by Arthur Ashe.

New York City Mayor David Dinkins was on hand to help celebrate the winners of the Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest. The winners learned a great deal about Arthur Ashe and were genuinely honored to receive their awards.

Overall, Arthur Ashe Kids Day 2012 offered something for everyone. There were opportunities to watch tennis pros practice; attend concerts with pop and R&B stars such as Carly Rae Jepsen and Mindless Behavior; and tennis clinics for the little ones.

Arthur Ashe was born on July 10, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia and is remembered for his excellence as a tennis player as well as his efforts to further social causes. He remains the only African American player ever to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon, the Australian Open or the US Open. His legacy continues to have a positive effect on our society.

VIDEO Conversation: DL Hughley Objects to Caitlyn Jenner Receiving ESPY Arthur Ashe Courage Award and Media Calling Serena Williams Masculine

Comedian DL Hughley put the ESPY’s on blast regarding Caitlyn Jenner receiving the ESPY Arthur Ashe Courage Award and for the way the media is treating Serena Williams. Hughley Told TMZ:

“I think that it’s named after Arthur Ashe.

Arthur Ashe from Richmond, Virginia, a symbol of courage. He fought [a] segregated south, a very segregated profession, he fought AIDS with dignity and honor, and Caitlyn Jenner put on a dress. I don’t think it’s the same thing.”

“In the last month, we had the media telling us that Caitlyn Jenner was beautiful and that Serena Williams looks like a man,” Hughley said. “That was a little weird to me. The man looks like a woman, but the woman looks like a man. That’s ridiculous. Serena Williams is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen on a tennis court, and Bruce Jenner looks like every P.E. teacher I ever had.”

When asked by TMZ if Caitlyn Jenner looked beautiful, Hughley quipped, “In a, like, ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ way.”

Ouch!

…And her name is Serena Williams

This week has been a long time coming and it almost seems as if the Hollywood stars aligned and decided to drop this mega-hit movie, Straight Outta Compton at the same time that a little girl from South Central, LA born just a few years before NWA would change the music game, would be the unexpected, uninvited mega-Watts (see what I did there) superstar that would change the game of tennis and women’s place in sports. Regardless, or better yet, in spite of what advertisers or marketing “know-it-alls” might say, or where they invest their dollars, it’s Serena Williams’ world and we’re all just visiting!

It cannot be overstated how historic this particular moment is for the world of tennis, sports, America and African Americans. Unfortunately, it’s all too common these days for pop culture and the media to bloviate over the significance of an artist, athlete or celebrity…just look at the hours, days, weeks and months wasted on trying to substantiate Donald Trump’s circus of a presidential campaign. However, this is real and Serena’s Grand Slam campaign highlights in the best way possible what can be achieved if you have a strong family foundation that emphasizes faith, family, education, loyalty and hard work.

It would be compelling just to be the three-time defending US Open Champion going for her fourth in a row and it would be impractical to list here all the milestones Serena Williams is amassing through this seemingly never-ending display of excellence at the highest level, but here’s a few:

• World No.1 Serena Williams is on a 28-match winning streak at Grand Slam level having won the 2014 US Open, 2015 Australian Open, 2015 Roland Garros and 2015 Wimbledon – her second non-calendar year Grand Slam.

• Serena is trying to win her seventh US Open title (wouldn't just be the first Grand Slam she'll have seven of, but also the most US Open titles for a woman in Open Era – currently tied with Chris Evert at six)

• Serena has made over $73 million in prize money and by comparison, Sharapova earned $35 million.

• The legacy Serena Williams and her sister Venus have built with the likes of Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Taylor Townsend, Victoria Duval, Sacha Vickery, Heather Watson, Tornado & Hurricane Black, etc. is transformational and extends well beyond players of African ancestry.

• The 2015 US Open Women’s Final has sold out already and is the first time it has done so ahead of the Men’s Final and it’s trending as the excitement and anticipation of Serena’s unparalleled mark on history draws closer.

Leading up to the US Open Draw Ceremony and her first Press Conference everyone was primed with their obligatory questions about the elephant in the room, PRESSURE!!…and how do you deal with it? And while she gave very thoughtful and honest answers about feeling more pressure to win at Wimbledon to complete the second “Serena Slam”, I wanted to inject some historical context, if given the chance and we were. Given her recent interview where she was asked about Maria Sharapova making more endorsement money than her, Serena explained that it may not be meant for her to be that top earner and she was grateful for the doors opened by Althea Gibson, Zina Garrison, Arthur Ashe and her own sister Venus Williams and that she is trying to open doors for the next generation, so the next might be that top earner.

So I asked, “Have you seen the new documentary about Althea Gibson that was being screened throughout the opening week?”

Serena Williams responded: “I have not seen it yet. I knew it was coming out around the OPEN (US OPEN). I’ll definitely have to check that out.”

And, I had the opportunity to ask a follow-up question, “Everybody talks about the pressure, is that something by seeing those previous players allows you to bear it easier?”

Serena proceeded with a thoughtful response, “Well, I just look at someone like Althea and Zina. Let’s face it, I have it a lot easier than them. There are so many barriers that have been broken. When I look at it in that point of view, that aspect, a whole weight is like lifted off my shoulders. I’m doing well and I’m really happy to be here.”

Her new campaign is #BESERENA but she’s humble and gracious enough to acknowledge #AltheaCameFirst.

We’re even happier for you Serena and can’t wait until you raise our national trophy again, “Straight Into the Record Books” is the title of her movie. #411SportsTV and #Whatsthe411Sports