May 11, 2001 - Who's in charge?
For years, players and critics alike have been calling for a shorter tennis calendar with less
tournaments, the ATP's answer has been irrelevant and has actually added more tourneys and more demands on the players.
This week the ITF chief stepped into the controversy and declared that something will be done about all the tournament schedule.
It sets up a battle for the ages, who has the power to change the direction of the game? Is the ITF more powerful, influential and productive then the ATP? If two years from now we have less tournaments on the schedule, the ITF's impact will have been clearly felt, but just like a politician out of office, I'm sure the ATP will make their own spin.
I hope they do cut the season and realigned the dates of the tournaments to make them more practical, the wild card in the deal are the tournament directors, the ones who's tournaments are snuffed out, will they put their collective heads together and start their own tour, consisting of outcast events (with tons of prize money) enticing the players to play every week like they normally do?
Would the ITF/ATP put out a decree, "If you play the nomadic tournaments you will be banned from playing ATP and grand slam events"?
Would that stand up in court?
May 10, 2001 - We need more crime
To achieve major sports status, you will need more than huge attendance at every game, large
TV ratings, fans betting on the outcome of your games, kids wearing your team uniform, hooligans rioting outside the
stadium, ticket scalpers, are ok but to really hit the big time, a sport needs its respective players to commit crimes, not just petty stuff, I mean, murders, rapes, assaults, robbery, drunk driving, women abuse, bribery schemes, substance abuse, gun charges, illegal gambling, assault with the intent to commit
bodily arm (on the field).
That's why the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and FIFA teams stay popular, the
athletes are willing and able to provide the major headlines to keep the fans interest.
Tennis is slowly catching on, within the last 12 months, we've had two incidences of causing public
mayhem due extensive alcohol consumption, Jim Courier a few months back prior to his retirement and now Marcelo Rios.
The Chilean went further, he threatened a taxi driver and a police officer
and is now facing assault charges.
Good show Marcelo, you are truly a pioneer for the sport. But little stuff like that is petty, I want beatings, shootings, knifing, let's get tennis on the map, NOW!
May 9, 2001 - The end of the world!
Many have predicted this upcoming doomsday, as of today it has not happened but we're not out of the woods yet. Plagues, famines, war are a dime a dozen, but if Venus
Williams makes it number one, you can bet your bottom dollar that it's all over for mankind as we know it.
According to the WTA, if Venus wins the French Open next month she will be the on top of the rankings.
I'm printing roubles and I've already booked my flight with the Russians, I'm going to Venus, no Mars, I mean Pluto, well take me as far away as possible, because I don't want to be around to see what Richard Williams does when this happens.
May 8, 2001 - The Championships without Champions
Andy Roddick may have won the US Clay court championships, but he is not yet a champion. The tournament is barely visible on the calendar, mainly because of timing.
It is deep in the middle of the clay court season where the stars are already in the red clay trenches of Europe preparing for the French, it's not practical to fly to the states for one week and fly back out again to continue the preparation.
If the organizers of the event want to see it get a bigger draw and more respect, they should move it up to the week right after the Ericsson.
The Red clay season officially begins after the so-called fifth grand slam, the players are
already here in the states, they would gladly hang around for one more week and play the US Clay court
championships?
But instead we have Hyung Taik Lee in the finals against "the world beater"
Roddick, perhaps the USTA wants it that way, a tournament where their young players could
showcase their talents against lesser competition, build their confidence, to prepare them for their upcoming annual humiliation on the red dirt of Paris.
May 7, 2001 - I'm a believer!
No, I'm not singing the famous 60's hit song, but instead, I'm referring to the player who 5-6 years from now ( if not sooner, depending on his physical growth) will be the next male tennis phenom.
He is Jean-Marc Bazanne, (pronounced - Jon) a kid
from the depth of poverty in the poorest country in the western
hemisphere, Haiti.
To see his full story go to the Ronald
Agenor website and click on Jean-Marc Bazanne.
Two weekends ago, Ronald's brother, Lionel along with Jean-Marc played the Gator Bowl national Junior tournament, the twosome spent a lot of time at our house before and after the matches, I had read about this kid in several publications, but thought he was like any other junior at his age, a moon balling demon with funky grips. Boy was I wrong, Jean-Marc totally outclassed the field, never once losing a set, and polishing off seeds in less than 40 minutes.
His poise, physical attributes, mental toughness, shot selection, are those found in top junior players 4-5 years older, simply put the Gator Bowl opponents had no chance.
It was somewhat an amazing enlightment to see kids with totally dedicated parents and with the ability to provide all the expensive coaching, equipment and time that their kids need, willing to travel the country, and even the world, in the hopes that their son will someday be the great new player.
Out of a third world country, coached by a third world coach, comes a talent that is much better than anyone that weekend at the Gator Bowl tennis tournament that the richest country in the world, with the biggest tennis legacy could produce.
How far will Jean-Marc go? Stay tuned to the Ronald Agenor website, his progress will be published and updated on a regular basis.
Oh by the way, we've added the Ronald Agenor website link, if you are not familiar with this player, or you are a tennis fan, check it out.
(c) 1stserve