First!

"This is a valid complaint, and it may yet be made even more forcefully by players included in the shoot who might be playing over the weekend in Berlin"

Henin is playing Berlin and I really don't see her doing the commercial, so Pova should go with 4).
The timing of the WTA is really stupid but that's nothing new. Why is the real (red) clay season starting so late, there were no tournaments in the last two weeks?

"This sort of Airing of Grievances (it's all part of Festivus, as any Seinfeld junkie will tell you) can be messy"

Yes, but the Feats of Strength should be interesting.

I think the most interesting thing is that apparently both women and men on tour feel that there is no communication whatsoever between themselves and the ATP/WTA. WTA is constantly "surprised": Hingis goes public without notifying them is a great example of that. Maria now writes this frustrated blog post. Last year Federer was talking about "a scream for help" and this year Nadal has a very valid complaint about the schedule he is forced to play. It's amazing that these issues come to the public eye seemingly before any of the "tennis officials" have any idea.

Can you imagine if someone in the NBA, NFL, MLB, etc., made a post like this on their own blog? Fines out the wazoo.

The WTA is such a weak entity, as is the ATP. I actually sympathize with Maria in this instance. But geez, no wonder the tours are a mess.

Where's my Aluminum Pole?

I have no doubt that Billie Jean King didn't get to always focus on her tennis as she was fightning to get the financial compenstation that she and her compatriots deserved. But, you know our parents all walked uphill both ways to school. This is all just business. I some middle manager refuses to play golf and schmooze with some customer on a weekend and stay home instead he may lose his job. If he's such a great worker that he makes his company tons of money, he might get to call the shots. If the WTA bans Sherapova from big tournaments, if they even could, they would be stupid. They won't and she knows that.
Still, it certainly seems a bit unseemly to demand equal pay in the Slams when your tour doesn't bring generate equal prize money the rest of the year and you're not willing to work you butt off to change that.

wow thats a great point... God knows how many hours and interviews and meetings BJK had to attend to get the whole tour off the ground and get the media to care a hoot about women's tennis... you think she didnt work practice sessions and matches into her schedule back in the day? (I can hear her laughing from here)

the women are so spoiled now, they cant possibly imagine what other women did to get her to the place where she can earn $10 million a year...

im not saying the WTA is right, but Maria, youve got it easy girl, remember how hard the women worked to get you here, and believe me it involved more than a four hour shoot on your day off ...

Ryan - does it have a good weight-to-strength ratio?

Grant--the best. When I found it, I couldn't believe it--could only exclaim, "IT'S A FESTIVUS MIRACLE!"

Sheez...this is downright dishonest on the part of the WTA. Call me naive, but this shocks me.

I got a flyer recently about a tennis tournament in Newport, RI in July...it featured Mardy Fish on the cover but also advertised that Fabrice Santoro would be there. As I happen to love the Magician and want to see him as many times in person as I can before he retires after this season, I decided I would go. Now, I'm not sure I trust that he will actually be there!

Totally sucks.

My thinking re. the Newport tourney is that if the WTA is doing it (false advertising), the ATP is also suspect.

Maple, never ever believe those flyers, players are always going to drop out or just enter and never plan to play in the first place, its been done for years, sad but true ... it seems to be better now than than back in the 80s or 90s, ironically i think the top players support the Tour better than the Graf, Becker, Lendl, etc. era when players did nothign to promote the tour... at least the men pretty much all show up for Masters events, strong fields are more the norm than the exception..

Thanks, Tim...You have saved me time and money with that advice.

...I find your belief system fascinating.

I really like that Maria is saying what she feel on this issue...what is the WTA going to do about it? Many people are saying that Maria has it easier than the women like Billie Jean King who started the tour, but I think this anger of Maria's is stemming from one place: she wants to win the French. Plus, it really is ridiculous that they would have her shoot all day the day before, and as mentioned, what about the players in Berlin? I'm curious as to which players are scheduled for the shoot because that would be a big tell on whether they would boycott...(for some reason I don't think Ivanovic would boycott)...I don't think Maria should take them to court because as a law student, I know that that would be far more draining than the shoot...it is interesting that she believes in the 2009 road map though, no?

Ok – just have to weigh in quickly here

The crux for me is the VERY questionable timing on this. From what I can see – Maria’s complaint is not that she’s being asked to do the promo, but the timing of it. And quite honestly, her reservations are valid for any serious athlete.

What disturbs me in this is that the WTA isn’t treating these women as athletes; they’re being marginalized as marketing tools, after all sex sells, blah blah blah. I can’t imagine the men being asked to take a full day on the eve of a big tourney, or as Pete said, actually mid tourney for some. (Face it – 4 hours easily becomes 6 - 8, you have to get there early, by the time you get back out…your day is shot. Where’s your rest, your practice, acclimation to the courts etc?)

Is it because the WTA actually doesn’t take its members seriously as athletes?

LOL DMS.

jb-If the WTA just marketed based on the competition and athletic abilities of the players they wouldn't have what they do now. In a perfect world everyone would read Playboy for the articles and watch women's tennis for the great athletes. I wish that I were wrong because their approach is cynical and insulting to the players, but I'm afraid that's the way it is.

Again, maybe it's me, but I see nothing wrong with Maria's complaint and nothing wrong with her airing it directly to her fans. The timing sucks, and only the WTA could manage to screw up something as simple as a photo shoot.

Worse for me is that the WTA wrongfully requires players to commit to tournaments that everyone involved (except the fan) knows the player will never appear at. So tournament directors, the WTA, and the reluctant player all collude to deceive the fan into thinking that their favorite player might appear?

Nice.

Has the WTA given any justification for the timing and length of this promo shoot? Just seems dumb to me. And as far as I'm concerned, using players to promote an event when the WTA or ATP in fact knows such players won't be there, is false advertising.

That is a very disturbing point you bring up, Todd
If I knew for sure that was happening at a tournament that I bought tickets for - I would be very angry indeed
and be very reluctant to purchase them again

I think that Sharapova is right why does she have to do that shoot. I think that it should be optional for her to it or not to. So I think that she can use both the third and forth action. Go Sharapova.

>the women are so spoiled now, they cant possibly imagine what other women did to get her to the place where she can earn $10 million a year...

Wow, Tim, you speak like you know a lot about this.

Sher, ever read BJK's book? its all there if you want to read it, how many 18 hour days she worked doing press and promo and playing matches year after year to build women's tennis... makes Maria's four hour video shoot look a tad on the wimpy side in retrospect ...

I think its called YOuve COme a Long Way Baby about the early 70s, great book, and wow it puts into perspective this whole episode today...again, not really saying Maria's wrong here, but back in the day, BJK would have loved to have these kinds of problems...

I think that Sharapova is right. She should not be forced to do it. So she can use both the third or fourth option. go Sharapova. We all love you and wish you luck and success.

Tim-I suppose that Bille Jean might say she did all that so that women today COULD just focus on their tennis. Still, I agree that a video shoot pales in comparison. Nonetheless, just like men, women have the right to say no and take their lumps.

And to think that I was just saying the ATP should take a cue form the WTA yesterday how wrong could I have been?

Maria has a point about the timing and length of the photo shoot thing. I have a question: is has this not been the case in the past? And if it has been why voice it out now (I'm sensing the "Rafa complaint" has finally trickling down and we may be seeing more of this ;-). I think someone in the other thread mentioned Lindsay Davenport complained about something of this sort much earlier but no one did anything about it.

What I am more worried about as Todd rightly pointed out is: "As many of you know, the WTA tour makes many players enter tournaments that they know the players will not be playing. " The truth is I am definitely not one of the many that know and if really this is the case, that is purely dishonest and unfair to paying fans. While some players may be able to pay heavy fines (and I am sure that will be a small percentage considering these fines are huge if you don't win and earn much), other players are forced to continue playing till they burn out or get injured etc etc etc. That will have a negative effect on the tour.

delurking for a bit...

With all due respect...I still can't get your aversion to the middle-east tournaments, be it Doha or Dubai. How is Doha shelling out money to WTA different from ATP scheduling it's Indian Wells ( or Miami?) tournaments to accommodate for college basketball? There must have been some monetary benefits to the ATP too!

And...I still cannot believe that ATP would re-schedule a world sport for a college sport in one nation (huge college baseketball fan here!). Surely, some bonehead executives in the ATP!!

Gerry - you missed my point. Market them by all means, use sex to sell. Goodness knows i'm a big proponent of cute boys in shorts - however. The WTA is adversly effecting their own product, which is actually an athletic competition, by the schedule of their marketing effort.

They're not taking their own product, the tournament seriously.

Todd - the WTA knowing that Maria can't play, and prefering to cover it up, then 'fine' her an exhorbitant amount for her 'surprising pull out' is just ridiculous. Pfft on that 2. Short sighted, just incredibly short sighted on many fronts.

I confess, I'm feeling a little better about jumping into the Masha pit months ago!

No idea at the heft of these fines. Wow.

If Sharapova notified WTA that she would not be playing Berlin and WTA is fining her and asking for medical reason, then she should definitely take the tour to litigation. I guess her lawyer will know if she has a good case.

As for the commercial shoot the night before an important tournament—it makes you wonder what is wrong with the people making the decisions at WTA. Definitely, she should try to get together with the others and boycott.

Of course everyone in the past had it harder. That's a strawman argument. There's nothing wrong with expressing a desire for better communication/efficiency now.

Tim,

>its all there if you want to read it, how many 18 hour days she worked doing press and promo and playing matches year after year to build women's tennis... makes Maria's four hour video shoot look a tad on the wimpy side in retrospect ...

And I'm sure as she worked those 18 hour days, there was some guy telling her, "Look how lucky you are, you can work 18 hour days! You COULD have been stuck in the kitchen like your great-grandmother, and not allowed to vote, so your situation pales in comparison. Don't complain, BJK, it makes you look wimpy."

And we all know what she'd have done with that suggestion.

Maria is right.....reschedule the shoot.....we want the girls to compete at their best....the shoot is secondary

Contracts are tricky and sticky. However, if the players aren't playing well and disgruntled by the environment at a Tier 1 event then the upshot is not such great tennis. And, good tennis is the bottom line. Market all you want, but if Maria comes out and performs sub par, then the fans are dissatisfied and she'll get more grief on her web site.

Simple solution.... reschedule the shoot. Jojo I'm with you.

I love the fact that she subverted the WTA and went straight to the public!! Gottcha.

I'm just glad Justine doesn't have to go through a long shoot because I want her at her best in Berlin and Rome.

I think she should have every right to air her grievances on her blog, who's logging in but diehard fans of hers?

as for using them as marketing tools rather than athletes, they are doing it themselves so why cry foulplay? Certainly MS's fortune is marketing percentage-wise the bulk of it rather than tourney money. can't have it both ways.

Hi guys, I have read Maria's blog over and over again ever since I saw it posted over at wtaworld and I have read Pete's take on it. I am not sure I agree with Maria on this. There are a number of reasons for this: 1) I really think that it is poor taste that she felt that she had to basically air her employer and sponsor's dirty laundry in public. Is it that she felt that this was the only way to get her views across. 2) As the official spokesperson for the WTA Tour and the main sponsor Sony Ericsson I am sure that Maria must have been aware of her obligations to those two organisations. 3) Is he upset at doing the photo shoot or just the timing of the shoot. Her grouse is really not clear to me. At my office I am the firm's facilitator. I am the link between the partnership and support staff. If there are issues that the support staff they are required to come to me and thereafter I will bring it to the attenion of the partners and we try and find a solution where everyone is happy. This thing about blogging all your thoughts etc online, is something that I am trying my best to come to grips with. I think that Maria has done the rest of the women of the WTA a dis-service as this is an issue that not only affects her but in the long run affects the other women of the tour. Did she discuss this issue with the other women of the tour (from what I read it does not seem as if she did). If the other women on the tour do not agree with her stance about not doing photo shoots prior to a major tournament are they then perceived as money hungry or just for themselves. Are they declared as not as committed. It is a thin line we walk when we air our dirty laundry in public.

Pete,

Blaming Doha (and Dubai), as you have done often in your blogs, for what afflicts the WTA or the ATP makes it seem that you are developing some sort of agenda against those places. Whatever the complaints of the players, and those might well be justified, can we examine the issues more broadly, please?

I am no great fan of what goes on in Doha and Dubai but it's not as if the United States, and Europe, are full of saints who care nothing about how they earn their dollars and euros! And before we start chastising the Ds for their political and cultural missteps, once again let's examine ourselves here, can we? After all, this is a country where we let a man steal an election and then rewarded him for it by giving him another four years. Meanwhile he goes on scarring humanity, here and abroad. And yes, he has company in this shameful project from the other side.

Maria's problems belong in a smaller world. Please keep that in some perspective. Thanks.

Samantha Elin,
Maria's statement did say that she and other players would have to do the shoot. Since Justine is the number 1 player in the world, she would be involved also along with Ana and Jelena. I am interested to see if the Serbian ladies have something to say on this especially Jelena since she likes to be in the public eye.

TMF Rules:

Interesting that you are a facilitator and it's great that your firm is smart enough (lawyers of course, right?) to employ one. All companies, big or small, should be so smart.

So, while I support Maria's right to air her distress on her own blog, etc., who actually speaks on behalf of the players—WTA and ATP tour? I've been asking this question for a while and no one seems to notice, or doesn't give me an answer.

Once more I'll ask: Do the players have a mediator or facilitator at their disposal to represent their interests as a bloc?

Someone at tennis.com can explain, yes?

This isn't a new problem. And according to Lindsay Davenport, this is why there are so many WTA withdrawals. I saw her discuss this during a TV interview. I posted this on the other thread this morning, but it's a better fit here:

Davenport has made almost identical statements in the past about the WTA forcing her (and the other players, too) to commit to tournaments she told them she wouldn't be able to play. And yet she was featured in ads for these tourneys. Then the player has to officially "withdraw" and get fined. Lindsay said she felt that tourney directors and fans were the big losers as they were all lied to. And of course, it made Lindsay look bad, too. She sounded so frustrated about the whole situation. I'm surprised this matter never got more public attention.

Very smart of Maria to wage war on the WTA this way.

Thanks Patrick, I'm against it, if it hurts the Queen in anyway.

Yes Maria, smash those despots at WTA who are milking the players dry.

Yes, Maria, take legal action against WTA to set a precedent.

Teach those despots some lesson.

You know what I think should happen? I think a "fan", or group of fans needs to sue a tourney for knowingly promoting the appearance of a player that they have been told will not be attending. It's fraud, and I'm proud of both Lindsay and Maria for getting the truth out there. Lindsay paid a price. We'll see what the repercussions are for Maria....

Syd, yes they are a bunch of lawyers. I think the main reason for having a facilitator was because of the eclectic mix of nationalities that work at our firm. We have at least 15 different countries represented in our firm and it does get a bit sticky at times, especially when something that may be said in innocence by an Aussie is misinterpreted by a Jamaican and so forth. It makes things very interesting as you really have to be on your toes and try not to take sides (even when you really want to) but thems the breaks. On the Maria issue, I just cannot understand how someone can take their own organisation to court. If I am not mistaken Hewitt did it to the ATP and I believe lost. There must be a better way to deal with this situation. Like you I am surprised that there is no facilitator or someone who speaks on behalf of the players. Perhaps they do have a players' council but I do not think I have ever heard of this on the WTA tour. It is a bit disingenuous I think that Ms. Sharapova should be taking issue with something such as this, when another issue is threatening to raise its ugly (i.e. the 2009 Roadmap/IW/Williams Sisters issue) head, yet there is nothing being said by the players (at least not that I have heard) to address this issue, which to me is a tad more important than some 4-6 hour photo shoot. Clearly, the rules are there that says that players should take part in promoting the sport (yes that same one that makes you so much money). Is it that something else could not be done, say Maria arriving earlier than normal to ensure that the photo shoots do not interfere with her preparation for that particular tournament. I can see so many different scenarios other than those that Ms. Sharapova has listed.

TMF Rules: The photo shoot I think, was a secondary issue. The "blackmailing" of the players into claiming an injury pullout for a tourney they never intended to play is the real issue. And it is a very big deal.

Patrick, in regards to Jelena, I don't think Diva Jelena will care about anything that gets her public attention. The Queen is more down to earth and is only concerned about her tennis, so for her it might be a distraction. Go Justine, world's #1!

Kinda kewl nowadays, you can hear from ur fav players,very real this internet thing.
eh she should have the right to decline a photoshoot to do her 'Real' job of tennis during a tourney. They apparently didnt schedule this in advance enough; to me, unless its a very important psa from the atp/wta thing then she shouldnt be forced to do it. but Then again did she sign some contract or something?! or Another argument is, when is a good time?!?! the tour is year around pretty much. I say schedule her to do the shoot thing after winning or losing, get it over with. be a pro!
being forced to play too many tournaments?! thats another thing.

This is Maria and women's tennis we're talking about - "All for me, and only Me".

She's uptight because of flying in from L.A. It's her problem - the other players are coming in from Berlin. But this is no different than the promo stuff they shoot during the tour schedules all year long. There was those photos at Madrid prior to the start of the WTA championships last year, there was a Ana, Jelena and Justine video for the tour filmed in Dubai, there was Whirlpool shoot last etc...

It's all about Sharapova and her personal time lost because she's the only one flying in from the State. Unless Serena and Justine back Sharapova up here about this photoshoot. It's still on as far as I can see. There are no other players with any clout out of these two. But I can see why the WTA are so desperate for the shoot. When will Sharapova, Justine and Serena be at a WTA tournament again after Rome? They certainly won't do it on their non-WTA tour weeks.

But I do have a problem with those entry lists featuring players that aren't interested in the tournaments. Now this is the issue that's worth talking about !

P.S Pete. Stop the anti Arab/UAE stuff. It's really ugly to read.

To TMF rules, I would agree that the issue of IW and the Williamses is a much more serious issue. I don't believe they should be fined or receive any penalty if they refuse to play at IW. Both Venus and Serena had told Larry Scott how deeply that incident hurt them. I see that as blaming the victim. What happened to them at IW was wrong and they took a stand against it. Good for them.

Tari, I thought the issue that she was having was the photoshoot and that the injury issue was secondary. The question that should be asked is whether or not the advertising of players that tournament directors as well as the tour are aware will not be playing, if that does not consitute fraud. To my mind it does. If that is the case and it can be proven, then it is up to the players to take a stand against this. If this is something that has been going on for years and the players have done nothing about it then they are facilitators as well and are as much to be blamed as the tour and the tournament directors. Clearly, no one is innocent in all this. The tour for false advertising, the playes for facilitating this deceit upon the public and the tournament directors for encouraging this kind of deceit. At some point then someone has to take responsibility. Is it then the case that Ms. Sharapova believes she is taking a stand on the injury issue or is she now trying to garner public support because of the photo shoot issue? It is telling that the photo shoot is made to look like a secondary issue, which to my mind is not the case. I think the injury issue is the secondary issue (as it seems to be something that has been perpetrated by both the tour and the players) and the photo shoot is what is making Ms. Sharapova's teeth go on edge.

Maria is not opposed to doing promotions for the WTA. She's opposed to the timing of the shoot in question. She has a valid point. Her first move should be to contact the other players involved. If they agree, they can present their point of view as a group. Now, is the ATP going to fine them all $300,000 each?

That's not how I read it, TMF Rules. It is a well known fraud, and when Lindsay called the Tour on it a couple of years ago, they penalized her by not allowing her to enter some tourneys when returning from injury. So, it is not the first time a player has gone outside of the system to the fans or the media. I think it is easy to assume Maria is being selfish, much harder to really understand the issue. Pete knows what he's talking about.
Moreover, the photo shoot is a legitimate gripe as well, I believe. If you read the details. But again, it's Maria making the charge...so selfishness is assumed?

typepad just ate my comment - phewt

Is Just-i-me-mine Henin concerned also about promoting WTA

and not just herself?

As much as the photo shoot is an issue, I guess they have them, players party etc before events every now and then so I think that could have a "workaround".

The more important issue here is" the WTA tour makes many players enter tournaments that they know the players will not be playing". I do not know the legal details but how can the tour actually "force" players into tournaments? More so, like Tangi had pointed out earlier, Lindsay had said something similar much earlier. This I think is a major issue of deception. Moreover, it means the tour would rather have players "lie". I just don't get it.

Lindsay and Maria are brave in telling the truth.

A huge racket inside WTA -- getting fines by putting players in a bind, blackmailing them, etc.

Lindsay is the last person to lie about anything.

Tari, by no stretch of the imagination am I saying that Maria or Lindsay for that matter do not have issues with the tour. My issue is the airing of dirty laundry in the public domain. These are not children and they are not people who are a part of a repressive regime where freedom of speech is not a given. These are professional women, who are lauded far and wide for being outspoken and who are allegedly in charge of their own affairs. They make money that you and I can only dream of. There are other ways to have the powers that be listen to you. Going out in the public domain by way of a blog entry is to me crass. As well, the issue that is being aired are things that can be dealt with by the appointment of a players council or player representatives who to my mind should be a powerful lobby group. How can matches be played if the players take a stand (baseball did it people). My point is that whether it was one of my faves or not, a blog entry is not the proper forum to air issues such as these. The players need to start behaving like professionals. If anyone of us had done something like this to our organisation we would be fired on the spot. Clearly, there are problems in the WTA, problems caused by both the WTA itself as well as the players, and tournament directors. Everyone needs to come together and work for the betterment of the sport, instead of airing all this stuff on the internet.
Samantha, there are always issues and then there are issues.

Thanks TMF and Tari;

Thanks. As far as the Roadmap and the IW/Williams sisters goes, I think I remember that Serena was booed in the final. I think everyone knows that there was no racial component except in Richard Williams's head. It will be interesting to see if the WTA caves into them.

Syd, there is perception and then there are facts. I am not trying to revisit that issue. I was not there and I do not know what happened, separate and apart from what I read in the papers and what I saw on youtube. End.
Samantha, I have seen where Justine's father has written a book about Justine. Have you had a chance to obtain a copy?

I cannot disagree more strongly, TMF Rules. We'll just have to agree to disagree. I applaud both Maria and Lindsay for shedding light on an ugly, greedy part of the Tour's practices. I have no doubt they both tried to work within the system - every reasonable person does that, and the system failed them. In fact, I think because they both are higher profile, I respect them all the more. They can afford the fines the lower ranked players cannot. Kudos to them for possibly helping to bring about much needed change. We shall see. :)

TMF: Also, not likely that Maria just decided to up and put this on her website without any input from her advisors. I'm sure that it's a calculated move. And I kinda admire her for it. She is using the weapons she has to her advantage. Besides, I always favor David over Goliath.

I'm not a fan of hers on court - can't stand the shrieking - but in this gambit I support her.

Ognost, Justine has given more to the tour on and off the court than most players. She has taken a strong anti drug stand as well as promoting the game all over the world. UNESCO named her as a spokesperson for the game. She's about to open a tennis clinic in Miami as well as the one she has in Belgium. So for Justine, it has never been all about her like other players. I'm sure if she feels the tour needs her than she will give 1OO%, promoting the game without complaining. Go Justine, world's #1!

the bad timing of the photoshoot issue aside- to me this says Maria really wants to play well in Rome and her pre tourney routine is of the utmost importance-- good for her. I'm happy she, and Serena both seem to be getting themselves ready to fight Justine for the Roland Garros title this year- should be fun to watch

$300,000 for non-appearance in a photo-shoot, that's oppressive.

imagine withdrawal from a tier I-II tournament which is more serious -- the fine must be higher than $300,000

are there 'kickbacks' here? some 'cuts' going to WTA people under the table.

this is very very serious legal matter.

The top players should pursue this to its rightful conclusion.

Samantha Elin,

I am sure if you met Justine and lived with her for a month you would probably not feel the same way you do now. She is just as arrogant and idiotic as all the other WTA players. She only does all those things for her public image. I thought you would have figure that out by now.

Ognost,

I hope you did not get me wrong. i was by no means saying Lindsay or Maria were lying.

What I meant is that if the WTA knows that a player is not going to play in and event and they "force" them to enter for that event and then ask them to withdraw, that is tantamount to the WTA preferring to base tournament entries on "lies" with regards to who will really be playing.

Many fans are usually upset and rightfully so when they hear players withdraw for other reasons than injuries and now we don't even know if some withdraw really due to injuries or again if it is "what the WTA forces them to do"

TMF, no I haven't read it, but I'm sure I will. Syd, your interpretation of what occurred is different from what Venus has said occurred. Venus was there, I've read her account and I believe what she said. I also believe Maria is right on this issue.

Samantha Elin: I would love to see Justine erase the

Just-i-me-mine reputation.

As world #1, she should lead a meaningful crusade with substantial impact,

not some trite TV campaign with high-soaring rhetoric against drugs

but concrete projects that create real opportunities for the youth to forget drugs.

Agassi projects, Steffi Graf projects, Roddick projects, Andrea Jaeger communities.

AFWU 1216, I guess Justine just opened a cancer clinic because she's "arrogant,"? Or could it be because her mother died from that disease and she wants to sincerely help others.

When did she open this cancer clinic? She is a FAKE!

When did she open this cancer clinic? She is a FAKE! Ok sorry I'll tone it down now.

Sorry those were mine and I will tone it down.

Ognost, as someone who lost her dad from cancer, I think the fight against cancer is as important as the work Roddick, Graf and Agassi have done on drugs. So yes, she's doing her part in a very important area.

Avid Sports Fan, you are right.

I have a creeping suspicion that WTA people

deliberately put players in a bind or push them into a situation wherein they can be fined.

Bottomline: someone's making un-earned income from all those fines.

Samathana, it's not my interpretation, it's well documented that the fans were angry that Venus withdrew shortly before she was to play and that Serena, Venus and Richard were booed by fans. I don't believe R. Williams when he says there were racial slurs. He's already trashed Stephi Graf and Chris Evert this year—you're right, better not go there.

AfWU 1216, I don't plan on answering you because you just called her a "Fake". So someone who loses a parent and watches them slowly die from cancer is a "fake." OK!

Ok Samantha. Whatever you mean by that. I guess I will drop it.

Ok Samantha. Whatever you mean by that. I guess I will drop it.

Samantha Elin

"with great power comes great responsbility." (from Martin Luther King, not Spiderman)

As the biggest name in tennis in the last two years, Henin should do MORE.

... more than win Slams when opponents are not at their best.

People expect Henin to do more.

37% the people on Maria's website said she go with options 3 and 4.

Samantha:

I'm a huge Henin fan too; really, she is a tigress of enormous talent and strengths wrapped up in a diminutive body. I admire the way she behaves and handles herself. The only thing she's ever done wrong in my eyes was to retire at the AO. But that was a while ago now—her accomplishments are breath taking.

well, there was this 'hand-wave' during the RG semifinal that Serena should have won.

do you want to refute facts?

go see it again on YouTube.

Thank Syd. I'm going to drop it AfWU 1216, but I've no doubt she is sincere because when you go through that experience, a desire to help other in a similar experience comes from that for many people. So I just think you really cross the line with calling her a "fake". No hard feeling and you have a pleasant night.

Syd: I liked your thoughts about Henin in your 8:58 post. I feel the same way.

I may not be Henin's biggest fan
but I do think that losing her mother at such a young age affected her deeply
I have no doubts about that
I think it is great that however she is doing it - she is trying to give back to others who are having that same experience

I saw Henin in Steffi Graf's fund-raiser for indigent children.

Steffi was very warm towards Henin and very grateful for her appearance, but Henin was a little cold that day.

Must be the weather.

I'm not sure why this has turned into Justine-bashing...

Whatever Henin did in the RG semifinal, it's a big stretch to say that Serena lost the match because of this hand-thing.

It's almost funny to see the unlimited supply of hate that some posters have toward certain players.

Tari, I agree that we can agree to disagree, but I have one additional point to make if I may. If it is that we take at face value what the players are saying that even when they are injured the Tour still insists that they should make themselves available, are we then to believe the claims of players that they are injured and therefore legitimately withdrawing from tournaments, or do we believe what has always been the case that players dream up these injuries on the spot in order to avoid playing tournaments. My question is that there are issues here that are legitmate and some not so legitimate and how do we as fans know when a player has withdrawn from a tournament citing injury and when it is announced that Player A has withdrawn due to injury when the Tour was already well aware that Player A was injured and would not be participating in that particular tournament. There is too much room here for all sorts of things to go on and as I said before an internet forum was perhaps not the best place to voice it. I take your point that perhaps Ms. Sharapova had gone the legitmate route and found that there was no arriving at a decision that was fair to all and decided to go this route.

just a word re justine... can u imagine women's tennis without her right now? i cant, and wont... she is far from perfect like the rest of us, but i cant wait to see her back in full form, snapping those backhands and fighting for every point... she's the last artist left in the women's game

I'm sorry but who cares about Billie Jean King? Billie Jean was a champion for womens rights, it was something that she was strongly passionate about, and I'm sure happy to put long hours into...Sharapova has stuff to deal with that BJK never had to deal with, the countless endorsements, sponsors, and photo shoots she goes on for them...she has every right to say that she doesn't feel that they scheduled this shoot with her in mind, or the other players for that matter...The lack of coordination is staggering...it seems like an everyday occurence that the players have problems with the WTA or ATP, something must be done and if this is the way to do it, then go for it.

Go Tim, good night all, off to the movie.

now that is something you don't see every day around here
Samantha and Tim agreeing

Tim:

Right, she's the last artist left in the women's gam—except for Mauresmo, also an artist but very frustrating because she seems to have a combination of bad luck and deer in the headlights problems (I'm sure she's been gnawed over here many times) will be on her way back and not retire as she has threatened.

tellmejo, what on earth? without BJK's persistence, tenacity, WIlanders and endless energy, there would Be no Maria Sharapova, dont u get that simple fact? the world wasnt created with the WTA offering millions of dollars in prize money, the women in the 70s played for $1,200 first place checks, not $1 million ...

if u dont believe me, there are endless interviews with Evert, Navratilova, etc. who will explain the obvious to you

Syd! dont even say Momo, the tragedy of her downfall just kills me... she's faboo but along with Baby Fed, impossible to really be a fan, the baffling shifts in attitude and form are too much for anyone's nervous system...

ive always agreed with Samantha re Justine's beautiful game, but the QUeen stuff? I just have to shut it down! lol

happy Friday :)

Syd! dont even say Momo, the tragedy of her downfall just kills me... she's faboo but along with Baby Fed, impossible to really be a fan, the baffling shifts in attitude and form are too much for anyone's nervous system...

ive always agreed with Samantha re Justine's beautiful game, but the QUeen stuff? I just have to shut it down! lol

happy Friday :)

happy friday , Tim
I know - you and Samantha have had some good battles
but you both love Justine's game

I like Mauresmo as well - on the women's side
I wish she could get her head together

as for Richard - well - I have just adopted him to my headcase stable
and figure that I am hopelessly attracted to those types
(see Safin , Marat )

beth, im still waiting for the day you wake up and start cheering for TMF! dont worry, i have faith u will one day see the error of your ways :)

beth, oddly im totally attracted to head cases, at least the short list of em ... momo, baby fed, marat, even gonzo and blake ...

but why are our favorite players two of the mentally toughest in the game?

again, i have faith youll some to your senses and eventually jump on the Fed Express

Tim - I am actually coming around to a certain extent
I do cheer for Fed when he is not playing one of my other favorites
years ago I was in the " I don't want him to win everything camp - because that is boring"
but , after seeing him in person , I agree his game is so fluid and beautiful to watch
and he does seem like a really nice guy - and not too bad looking - now that he has gotten rid of that abominable pony tail
Just - well - I am not so emotionally invested in him as in other players

and I think we have to pick at least one stable player - so we don't completely lose our minds - that is as good an explanation as any

as for Richard - he picked us - and if I did not cheer for him - Missie would kill me :)

You guys should read the WTA notes before talking about "who's not promoting the WTA".

There's something called the ACES ranking and gives points to players who promote the WTA and tennis.

Obviously - Sharapova isn't making the cut, and she's played the same of events at 5 like Henin. So...
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/rankings/race/singles.asp

Below are the ACES Race 2008 standings as of April 21, after Charleston:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2208
1. JANKOVIC, Jelena (253)
2. IVANOVIC, Ana (220)
3. DEMENTIEVA, Elena (165)
3. HANTUCHOVA, Daniela (160)
5. CHAKVETADZE, Anna (140)
5. HENIN, Justine (125)
7. KUZNETSOVA, Svetlana (115)
8. SCHNYDER, Patty (115)
9. DAVENPORT, Lindsay (100)
10. SHARAPOVA, Maria (95)

I don't see Serena or Venus on this list!

i just hope the carbuncle is history by Rome, i cant look at that anymore! lol

poor Fed had to go through mono, a slump, a beatdown in the media (and from Mrs. Djoker) and a carbuncle from hail, tell me the guy doesnt deserve a friggin French Open title! haha

This discussion is about the fighting spirit of Maria Sharapova.

Do not hijack this thread

[]

oops Beth, we're OT!

back to your programming ognost, though i fear youll be talking to yourself on this one

Tim - well - we can always toast to ourselves over at Your call
see you there

Tim, there's a silent majority in this forum

who agrees that Sharapova

is more beautiful, smarter, more purposeful

than anyone within 100-meter radius from where you are.

They don't have to say anything. it's a given.

I can't blame Maria for taking it to the streets, so to speak. a 300,00 fine for not playing Berlin? that's awfully salty, do they fine all players the same amount for missing that tournament? For some players a 300,000 fine is more than they make all year! And to schedule a 4-8 hour photo shoot while some people are trying to play a tournament, that's really ignoring your star athletes needs for time management and rest for their bodies, unbelievable. And knowing well in advance a player is not going to be there, and to ask that they lie and give an injury excuse is quite manipulative. This doesn't surprise me at all that a player has finally come out with their frustration, alot of players have been subtly grumbling about the WTA policies on fines and withdrawals for a long time.. I think there is alot of frustration on the part of the players. The WTA treats their players like commodities to exploit rather than human beings way too often. I wonder how many people have played events with injuries and tanked an early round just to avoid the fine but stop playing while injured. As far as BJK, I'm sure she would have no problem with what Maria is doing. BJK lobbied for player's rights and women's pay equity just for this reason, to stop exploitation of women players. If the WTA doesn't change these policies of demanding promotional duties during tournaments (and from what I know, photo shoots aren't the ONLY things players are expected to do during tourneys to promote tours) then seems to me the gals should start wearing the WTA patch somewhere on their clothing.

1. The players are complaining of the arduous schedule that the 'governing bodies' have set, fining players for non-attendance. Too many tournaments that each player has to participate in, or be fined. And fined now for not participating in 'promoting sessions' dictated by the 'governing bodies'. Slams, hard-court season, in-door season, clay season and exhibitions and no rest. Talk about burn-out and injuries. Sure the ATP/WTA have brought riches and fame with all the tournaments scheduled for the players, but when top players who practically play most tournaments start to complain, maybe it's now alittle too much. If the ATP/WTA don't listen to the players whom the ATP/WTA are suppose to represent/promote, then why not address the issues in other forums. Sorry, too much 'big business', too much money now in tennis, including the astronimical winner's purse. Decadent, and the masses are revolting.

If you are making 14 million a year, a fine of 300,000 is equivalent to a 100,000 salary being fined 2142. Don't sweat the
small stuff, Maria, pay the fine and do what you want.

new sharapova quotes

http://uk.reuters.com/article/tennisNews/idUKL0240926720080503

It is not 300,000, it is 700,000, because Maria doesn't wear a WTA patch. And I just love how other people can decide what is affordable or just for someone else. Beautiful. :)

well- go Masha and stand up girl! yikes, they need to just reschedule the shoot already- what's everyone doing the week after Wimby?

Tari, I'd just like to throw my support behind your arguments, couldn't agree more with everything you've said in this post.

Tim (2008 Year of Red Rogie)

No, you didn't understand my point...I understand that BJK was an integral part of creating the world of womens tennis that we see today or womens sport in general...I have great respect for all that she has accomplished...MY POINT was why are we talking about her in this forum?? People kept bringing her into the picture for no real enhancing part of their argument...Sharapova's problem and BJK dedication to female empowerment really were not that related in my opinion...that was what I was saying, sorry for this misunderstanding...

WTA Corporation is as all other corporations, synthetic, anti-human creature whose ONLY goal cto make profit on blood and sweat of young, talented tennis players. They treat by old testament rules, those players like cattle for producing profit for corporate masters. Only fault is with tennis players that they are stupid enough and do not create their own association by breaking the chains of WTA, corporate, anti-human monster.

WTA Corporation is as all other corporations, synthetic, anti-human creature whose ONLY goal cto make profit on blood and sweat of young, talented tennis players. They treat by old testament rules, those players like cattle for producing profit for corporate masters. Only fault is with tennis players that they are stupid enough and do not create their own association by breaking the chains of WTA, corporate, anti-human monster.

i think i just read some of the most ludicrously dillatante arguments around tw so far. mega-thick KAD-glasses around?

- she set up a cancer clinic thus she isn't arrogant. (because arrogance is inversely proportional to your charitability.)

- her parent suffered from cancer thus she cannot be a fake. (because fakensss is inversely proportional to your loved ones suffering disease.)

- her sincerity cannot be doubted because she went through that experience and hence everyone who goes through that kind of experience cannot be doubted for their sincerity for 'wanting to help others'

- she's not 'fake' because she has a cancer clinic. (because fakness and setting up charitable organisations are, like, totally related.)

this is nothing about justine but more about the ridiculous associations arguments involved.

however, there are plenty of athletes who personally get down and dirty. e.g agassi yearly without fail organising and getting involved in his charity concert for kids in vegas, federer forsaking christmas to go to india to build houses.

my honest opinion? if you want to talk about stars being charitable, bring up these accounts of personal involvement. 'merely' setting up a cancer clinic (for a multimillionaire athlete, it won't be hard to simply dump in a million or two and never do anything about it other than lend your name) just doesn't prove much.

Although I agree with Maria Sharapova, what irks me the most is that this has been going on forever on the WTA tour. Lindsy Davenport is the first one to strongly bring the issue out last year. The Williams Sister have been slammed for years on this same issue even though the WTA, tournaments and the News media were aware that they were not playing in certain tournaments. The media slammed them as if they were surprised when they did not show up to play and they were curcified by you fans! I wonder why Peter Bodo did not come out in defense of all the other
players when they have suffered the same treatment as sharapove?
Be honest Peter Bodo; for years you knew the real story, behind the story!!!

Peter Bodo, you are so up Maria's arse its pathetic!