March 12, 2001 - She deserved it!
The woman who has won more prize money than any other tennis player in the history of the sport and that's excluding her
sponsorship, appearance fees and off-court earnings, which probably
triples her prize money totals, was and is probably still seeking ways to make even more money through unconventional
investments and tax shelters.
She through her dad got busted for tax evasion a few years back, now Steffi Graf has been
taken -, bilked by an unscrupulous investor through a back door investment offer.
According to an AP story, she lost over $600,000 in a six month period and is one of many defendants who lost money through this scheme.
I believe in the free enterprise system and that athletes should earn and get whatever their market value is, but when is
it enough when do one say "I have enough money, my children can live on the interest for eternity"?
Maybe there's is no such thing as having "enough" money, I'd love to find out!
March 13, 2001 - Tennis is a hard sport!
The powers that be should tell the world how difficult the sport is, how much work, skill and athleticism it requires for the pros to produce the caliber of shots that they do.
For years the sport has had a reputation of being one for soft, weak, fragile, and
pampered individuals. I don't know how many times I've heard non tennis players say, "its a sissy sport". By not clarifying and setting the record straight, we in the industry are
perpetuating this myth and even worse, the governing bodies who've made it their duty to get more people to play, are
going along with this notion and telling all how easy the game is.
The bottom line is the game is for everyone who's willing to put
in the hours and deal with the frustration of hitting the ball over the net one more time than his adversary. Tennis is not "easy", it puts all the physical demands on the body that any other challenging sport does, and then some.
A couple of years ago the USTA had an ad campaign designed to illustrate how difficult tennis is comparing to baseball, basketball etc., but the campaign was preached to the choir, instead of running those ads directly during baseball, basketball or football games, they instead ran them during tennis matches where the audience already knew how much
it takes to excel or even play at a good enough level to enjoy the sport.
Once Joe Public with the tennis is easy mentality decides to try it,
thinking that they can hit the ball like Agassi, steps on the court and reality hits them, do they stick it out and admit they were wrong or do they just say "wow, it's tougher than I thought" and never try
again? Unfortunately, most do the latter.
The USTA's (and others) approach that the game is easy as 1-2-3 is wrong, they should tell the public, it's a tough sport, challenge them, ask them if they have what it takes, show then the health benefits, many more will take the challenge and a higher percentage will stick with it.
March 14, 2001 - What a joke!
The annual WTA and ATP awards were held recently. The respective results are the second best kept secret in the sports world.
The number one award for secrecy was the date of the event, which apparently was intended as members only banquets. How else can one explain the lack of promotion and visibility?
Any organization who can't honor themselves properly does not deserve to celebrate.
The biggest "controversy" was the fact that Venus Williams won player of the year for the year 2000 and not Martina Hingis, who stayed on top of the ranking most of the year and ended as the number player in the world. By winning the award Venus confirms the notion that 2 grand slams are better than 20 regular tournaments.
She may have played a minimum number of tournaments last year, but Venus and her sister
created a racquet, they don't operate quietly.
March 15, 2001 - It's indefensible!
They brought it on to themselves, by proclaiming that they will someday rule the tennis world, by getting to the upper echelon of the game in a very
unorthodox manner, by making harsh and hard to prove statements, by making unpopular accusations, by dancing in the crowd and waving signs saying, "I told you so", by maintaining and staying very true to their ethnicity, by not socializing with the rest of the tour, by getting top billing in every event, by securing the biggest sponsorship contracts in woman's sports, by being sisters with almost
equal talent and the same desire to rule the tennis world, and by purposely avoiding each other in tournaments in the past,
make it virtually impossible for the Williams family to defend and fan away the
possibilities that when Venus and Serena play each other, the outcome is pre-determined.
Such is the case this week at Indian Wells, after losing to Venus in the quarterfinals, setting up a semifinal matchup of
Williams sisters, Elena Dementieva boldly suggested that the outcome will be decided by Richard Williams.
This accusation which may be true, can not be defended, no matter who wins, the doubt will be present.
The bottom line is whenever they play each other, they win, the family wins, whether it's Serena or Venus, A Williams family member will go home with the big check and trophy.
If family loyalty and love is as important as they proclaim, they probably don't care what the world thinks!
March 16, 2001 - Missing words!
Venus Williams pulls out of her semifinals meeting with her sister Serena. The most anticipated match of the 2001 tennis season and minutes before the big event with over 10,000 people in the stands and a large prime time TV audience, we get the word that Venus will be a no show
because of a sore knee.
Let's say for argument's sake that her knee was hurting and bad enough to the point where she would not put up a good fight or would have no chance at beating Serena, she then takes the court and hobbles around, do not chase balls down that are away from her reach, would that add more fire to the rumor that the
Williams sisters matchups are fixed, or is the pull out more suspicious?
Missing in the shuffle are strong defenses and supporting comments from the tour doctors and directors.
Michelle Gebrian (WTA health care provider) said that "it was solely Venus's decision to play or not and that she has seen other competitors play with a similar injury. But she added, "she was experiencing quite a bit of pain."
She plainly did not say, I recommended to Venus not to play, her injuries were too severe and could risk more damage, but instead suggested that her pain threshold comparing to other players she's seen with similar injuries is very low.
"I do believe she was legitimately injured but I wish she would have tried a little to play and it would have went smoother. But I'm not going to second guess her," tournament director Charlie Pasarell said.
The tournament director who's disappointed that the crowd was booing and some asking for their money back, believes that Venus handled the situation in a poor manner.
And missing from al of this is a statement and clear defense of Venus by the tour, the WTA's silence
speaks very loudly.
I'm expecting Serena to be booed during her match with Kim Clijsters and if she wins for the
crowd to walk out on her during her acceptance speech.
That would be perfect theater.
(c) 1stserve