Justin Gimelstob has been suspended by World Team Tennis for one match without pay because of comments he made about Anna Kournikova and other female players on radio last Wednesday.
Gimelstob used several expletives and made derogatory sexual remarks about the Russian on the 'The Junkies,' a radio show based in Washington, D.C. In one of his tamer comments, Gimelstob said, "I just despise her to the maximum level, right below hate. I think she falls into the Marcelo Rios scumbag category."
Of a potential meeting with Kournikova in a WTT match, Gimelstob said, "If she's not crying by the time she walks off that court, then I did not do my job."
Gimelstob also Tatiana Golovin and Alize Cornet as 'sexpots,' and Nicole Vaidisova as a "well-developed young lady."
In a statement released by WTT announcing the suspension, Gimelstob apologized for his remarks. "My hurtful remarks do not reflect the genuine and deep respect I have for women. I recognize that my access to communicate to the public should be used in a positive way, and this was clearly not the case last week. In addition, I have a responsibility to the numerous outlets that trust me to inform, entertain, and educate their viewers and listeners. I failed them. I am truly sorry.
"Anna Kournikova, World TeamTennis, and many others deserve my deepest apologies."
The ATP also issued a statement, saying "The ATP cannot condone any form of intolerance and Justin Gimelstob's comments last week were unacceptable. However, Justin has done the right thing in taking full responsibility for his comments by apologising publicly to Anna for what he has rightly described as his disappointing and disrespectful comments."
In a conference call on Thursday, Kournikova declined to respond to the controversy, saying she preferred to "take the high road."
On Friday, Vaidisova said, "I know Justin. He's a very nice guy. I heard he apologized for it... I know his sense of humor a little bit, I know he kind of talks like that a little bit, so I can cut him some slack."
Gimelstob is a newly-elected player representative on the ATP board. He also commentates for the Tennis Channel and writes a column for SI.com
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Serena & Venus Williams
LAURA ROBSON JIE ZHENG DINARA SAFINA NA LI MADISON KEYS
ANNA CHAKVETADZE
Justin Gimelstob has been suspended by World Team Tennis for one match without pay because of comments he made about Anna Kournikova and other female players on radio last Wednesday.
Gimelstob used several expletives and made derogatory sexual remarks about the Russian on the 'The Junkies,' a radio show based in Washington, D.C. In one of his tamer comments, Gimelstob said, "I just despise her to the maximum level, right below hate. I think she falls into the Marcelo Rios scumbag category."
Of a potential meeting with Kournikova in a WTT match, Gimelstob said, "If she's not crying by the time she walks off that court, then I did not do my job."
Gimelstob also Tatiana Golovin and Alize Cornet as 'sexpots,' and Nicole Vaidisova as a "well-developed young lady."
In a statement released by WTT announcing the suspension, Gimelstob apologized for his remarks. "My hurtful remarks do not reflect the genuine and deep respect I have for women. I recognize that my access to communicate to the public should be used in a positive way, and this was clearly not the case last week. In addition, I have a responsibility to the numerous outlets that trust me to inform, entertain, and educate their viewers and listeners. I failed them. I am truly sorry.
"Anna Kournikova, World TeamTennis, and many others deserve my deepest apologies."
The ATP also issued a statement, saying "The ATP cannot condone any form of intolerance and Justin Gimelstob's comments last week were unacceptable. However, Justin has done the right thing in taking full responsibility for his comments by apologising publicly to Anna for what he has rightly described as his disappointing and disrespectful comments."
In a conference call on Thursday, Kournikova declined to respond to the controversy, saying she preferred to "take the high road."
On Friday, Vaidisova said, "I know Justin. He's a very nice guy. I heard he apologized for it... I know his sense of humor a little bit, I know he kind of talks like that a little bit, so I can cut him some slack."
Gimelstob is a newly-elected player representative on the ATP board. He also commentates for the Tennis Channel and writes a column for SI.com
Billie Jean didn't ban him for life? She's gotten soft in her senior years.
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IF YOU CAN'T LAUGH AT YOURSELF, YOU FORFEIT YOUR RIGHT TO LAUGH AT OTHERS.
Pussy, why cant he stick with the statements he said, he wasnt that wrong
Caveman
Anywho why does anyone care what this loser had to say to begin with, his tennis career sucked.
He is an attention seeker and thats just what he is getting.
Saying a comment like he did I already feel bad enough for him.
ofcorse Nicole would find it as funny and probably charming for what he said, after all she is dating (or was) Stepanek.
I think that's dumb. It's also interesting to see people on here gloating over it when more derogatory comments about players are regularly made on this board.
**************** Q. You've been such a clear spokesperson for equal pay and also for gender equality. The commentator Justin Gimelstob has made some very controversial comments about Kournikova, Vaidisova, women in general. What are your thoughts about those?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I heard about it. You know, I don't know that much about it. I played mixed doubles with him and won some slams. Came close to winning here.
I don't know in great detail what the whole issue is, but I've heard that he issued an apology and is donating some money to I think, the women's sports foundation, what have you.
So I think that we should accept his apology and allow him to move on and continue to contribute to tennis.
I think that's dumb. It's also interesting to see people on here gloating over it when more derogatory comments about players are regularly made on this board.
**************** Q. You've been such a clear spokesperson for equal pay and also for gender equality. The commentator Justin Gimelstob has made some very controversial comments about Kournikova, Vaidisova, women in general. What are your thoughts about those?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I heard about it. You know, I don't know that much about it. I played mixed doubles with him and won some slams. Came close to winning here.
I don't know in great detail what the whole issue is, but I've heard that he issued an apology and is donating some money to I think, the women's sports foundation, what have you.
So I think that we should accept his apology and allow him to move on and continue to contribute to tennis.
Exactly
__________________ Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience
Well, I dont know how he gets off bashing women's players social skills when he is one of the lamest tennis personalities Ive ever seen. He is a classic oddball. BUT....
He may be right about Anna. I know someone who took classes with her years ago, and he said she is the snobiest sob hes ever met. She basically acted as if nobody else exhisted but her.
Justin Gimelstob Got SUSPENDED HAHA!
Serena & Venus Williams
LAURA ROBSON JIE ZHENG DINARA SAFINA NA LI MADISON KEYS
GGG for Maria
Sorana Cirstea - Stefanie Voegele - Michelle Larcher de Brito - Alexandra Dulgheru
step in the right direction.
he should have been suspended for the whole WTT season...
