I missed the original incident; however, there was no shortage of sites available to fill me in today on the offensive comments made by the CEO of Indian Wells, Mr. Raymond Moore. I came home from work today to see a replay of his comments on the CBS News at 5pm.
“In my next life when I come back I want to be someone in the WTA because they ride the coattails of the men.”
He further went on to elaborate how lucky women tennis players are: “they are very lucky, very lucky. If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were born because they have carried the sport.”
We live in a country that advocates freedom of speech. I think too many have gone too far with that liberty. Every thought that enters your mind should not come out of your mouth. Most of us have the ability to filter our thoughts before we act on them, this is what differentiates us from animals. Failure to do so usually results in embarrassing comments and behavior. Mr. Moore’s comments can easily be negated by statistical facts. The 2015 US Open Women’s Final was sold out before the Men’s. I remember very clearly that the 2013 US Open Women’s Final had a higher television rating than the Men’s (I did my research and the women had a 4.9 rating compared to the 2.8 of the men). By the way, the Men’s Final featured Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic.
You cannot use an apology as a band-aid for bad behavior. Too many people feel that it is okay to do or say whatever they want and then apologize. Unfortunately, an apology does not erase the psychological damage of insensitive words. Contrary to the old adage, “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me”, words can have a more lingering negative impact than physical trauma. Why do so many people only follow tennis when Serena and Venus Williams are playing Mr. Moore if they were not able to carry the sport without the help of Federer and Nadal?
I can’t even begin to imagine what he was thinking. This incident apparently took place just prior to the women’s final yesterday at Indian Wells. I wonder what the outcome would have been had the ladies heard these absurd remarks before they took to the court. And I agree, apologizing will not repair the damage that he has done. How dare he say that the women owe their success and good fortune to the likes of Federer and Nadal. The only tennis final to take place on prime time tv, that I can recall, was the Women’s Final of the US Open back in 2001. It featured the Williams’ sisters.
He has resigned and hopefully his disparaging comments will not leave a bad stain on the Indian Wells Tournament for the women tennis players. Men and women’s tennis are equally important for the sport.
I think he is a jerk. First off, typically, when someone rides another person’s coattail, they do not work nor work hard – very little effort is exerted. Women players work extremely hard to get to where they are, and accomplish their goals. Apparently, he does not watch the matches, or he would clearly see the sweat and tears. Their success is due to their hard work and determination, absolutely nothing to do with the male players.
Well said!