Comprehensive Site for African Americans in Sports, Launches on Jackie Robinson Day

CHARLOTTE, NC (April 15, 2009) ARHENetwork.com, a comprehensive database of current and historical information about African Americans in sports, launches today. The first-of-its-kind site, ARHE (pronounced A-I-R) Network provides unbiased and up-to-date information covering more than 35 sports, dating as far back as the late 1700s.

ARHE was conceived by Jason Woullard, whose independent research and marketing company had been working on the site for almost eight years. ARHE was created as a tribute to tennis legend Arthur Ashe’s three-volume series of books, “A Hard Road to Glory: A History of the African American Athlete.”
The word “ARHE” is derived from the first two letters of Ashe’s first name (AR) and the last two letters of his last (HE). Woullard combined those letters and created ARHE.

“With each athlete in this database being the heir apparent to another, we envision this site as the heir to Arthur Ashe and his contributions to sports,” said Woullard, a Charlotte native. “While we are not directly affiliated with Arthur Ashe, he is, without question, the inspiration for it.”

Visitors to the site will be able to track athletes, coaches, sports executives-even cheerleaders. ARHE will take visitors into the lives of athletes by chronicling their contracts, endorsements and business ventures as well as allowing them to browse through historical leagues such as the ABA, AFL and the Negro Leagues.

“This site is very necessary; it allows the legacy of these great men and women to live forever. This is something the world made. I just happened to be the guy who wanted to pull it together,” Woullard explained.

In addition, the ARHE database contains extensive and rare information in the form of biographical data, statistics, photographs and video rarely accessible to the public.

Although the tremendous impact of African Americans on sports is no mystery, the ARHE Network provides a platform to present archived data in an educational and entertaining manner.

For more information, log on to www.arhenetwork.com.