[Evonne Goolagong]

First of all, let me introduce myself once again for those who may have missed it. I used to post on the Sanex WTA board as Big Lindsay, I did register under that name here, but never recieved my password. The opinion that you will be reading below will be that of mine only, it is in no way the opinion of Evonne, I just chose her name after not recieving my password for Big Lindsay, not to mention Evonne is my all-time fav. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

We all know that Monica Seles was stabbed nine years ago, it was terrible, and she definately recieved no justice at all for it. Last week we had a tier I event , the Kremlin Cup, which Dokic won. This was not in Germany so where was Monica? winning a little tournament over Tanasugarn, thats where. This week most of the big names are at the Porsche Grand Prix in Germany, wheres Monica? playing the Kiwi Open, another little event.

Not to be cruel but Monica has enough money to hire bodyguards for herself. Now I know I posted in Jakeev's thread that personal safety is more important than playing in a tournament during these times, but Monica is playing, just not in Germany. Truth be told the stabbing incident could have happened anywhere, not just Germany. Is Monica not playing in Germany because of the stabbing? or since she played last week, but not the Kremlin, does it mean that she is dodging the top players and trying to up her ranking by winning a string of smaller events. Keep in mind that Monica is not in contention for the #1 ranking now, which was the reason Gunther Parsche attacked her in the first place. If Monica is truly not playing in Germany for fear of being stabbed, she should not be playing at all because as I said it can happen anwhere.
I just think its time for Monica and the rest of us to move on, as tennis fans and tennis professionals.

I thank you for your time,

Big Lindsay

[ October 09, 2001: Message edited by: Evonne Goolagong-Cawley ]

 

[ttaM]

I think Monica not playing in Germany has more to do with her attacker being set free than getting stabbed. If justice was served (Parche went to jail) perhaps Seles would have played in Germany again. I believe Seles also sued the Germany Tennis Federation during her time off because of 'loss of income' because she couldn't play, plus the security at the event was sloppy.

Monica's decision to play in Asia has more to do with her ranking I believe. Since the former Chase Champ. have moved to Germany she will lose all the points she earned last year. Which are finalist points. Seles wanted to accumulate enough points post US Open to try to make up for the points from the Chase plus from tournaments she didn't play last year. Of course Seles would of had in easier in Asia then possibly facing a Venus or Davenport in the Qrt's of a tournament in Europe, but Monica committed to the Asian events before 9/11 or before Venus, Lindsay, etc withdrew from the higher European events. It isn't like Monica to back out of a commitment, plus I think she likes playing in Asia overall, events are probably ran better there. Whether Seles will get to #8, which I think she would like for the Aussie Open I'm not sure of.

Saying Monica shouldn't play because she refuses to play in Germany because of the stabbing is dumb. You can't live with the thought that no matter where I go I could get stabbed, you'll be paranoid. I guess Capriati should worry about taking over the #1 ranking from Martina because you never know if her stalker might have someone stab Jennifer! <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

GO MONICA! <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Hingie]

Big Lindsay, i think you are reading too much into this. I'm with GoMonica, she isn't playing in Germany period because of the lousy laws there, she is maintaining her principles and i say good on her! Why should the public have the joy of watching her play when the government there let a madman back onto the streets!

 

[Evonne Goolagong]

Originally posted by GoMonica:
<STRONG>
Saying Monica shouldn't play because she refuses to play in Germany because of the stabbing is dumb. You can't live with the thought that no matter where I go I could get stabbed, you'll be paranoid.

GO MONICA! <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Hey Go Monica <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

Saying Monica shouldn't play because she refuses to play in Germany because of the stabbing would be dumb Go Monica, but I did not say that. I think you misunderstood, I asked was Monica not playing in Germany for fear of being stabbed, I did not say that was the reason.

You are right about not living in fear/being paranoid, which further proves my point. If a woman was physically assaulted by a man in a parking lot, while trying to get in her car, she would not just be afraid of going to parking lots in the future, she would be afraid of leaving the house for a while, period.

Monica is playing non-German tournaments, what I want to know is why? it is definately not fear in my opinion. I know Monica decided to play in Asia before Sept 11, but when she did she knew that her chief rivals would be at the Kremlin and Porsche Grand Prix events, why not at least play the Kremlin? which in my opinion, she could have won.

 

[Evonne Goolagong]

Originally posted by Andy:
<STRONG> Why should the public have the joy of watching her play when the government there let a madman back onto the streets!</STRONG>

Because many of the public in Germany are her fans, people who did not stab her, people who are not involved with the govewrment ... thats why!

 

[Hingie]

Originally posted by Evonne Goolagong-Cawley:
<STRONG>

Because many of the public in Germany are her fans, people who did not stab her, people who are not involved with the govewrment ... thats why!</STRONG>

Might i also remind you that this is also a public that supports a government legislating weak laws to hold criminals behind bars! <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

 

[Hingie]

Ok, even i know it's not as simple as that, but i just think that Monica feels like she was unjustly treated in Germany and that's why she doesn't play.

 

[Grice]

Hey BigLindsay, what an insult to use Lindsay's name to criticise Monica... she's Monica's good friend, mind you.
anyway, I feel that there's no need to fret over Monica not playing the big tournaments... I would love to see her playing in Kremlin and Linz and Zurich... but I respect her choice not to play there... and I believe she has her own reasons, one of them being that she loves the Asian tournaments...
those lower ranked players like Tammy and Sugiyama, should count it their privilege to have BigMonica playing in the tournaments with them.
MOST importantly, by not playing in the big tournaments, it shows Monica is NOT playing simply for the money, prestige... she plays simply she enjoys tennis... which is why she's so loved by fans all over the world... and even in these smaller tournaments, she still gives her very best... delighting the fans...
give her a break... let Monica play where she enjoys... <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/cool.gif" border="0">

 

[Evonne Goolagong]

Originally posted by Andy:
<STRONG>


Might i also remind you that this is also a public that supports a government legislating weak laws to hold criminals behind bars! <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Of course you can, but if you took a poll on tennis fans in Germany about what should have happened to Gunther Parsche for stabbing Monica, do you truly believe that they would have voted for him to go unpunished.

As I said before, tennis fans in Germany do not make up the rules that their Goverment follows.

[ October 09, 2001: Message edited by: Evonne Goolagong-Cawley ]

 

[Evonne Goolagong]

Originally posted by Grice:
<STRONG>Hey BigLindsay, what an insult to use Lindsay's name to criticise Monica.</STRONG>

If you read my post at all, you should have seen that I said what you were about to read below was the opinion of me, and me only. I am not using Lindsay's name for anything. I am female, I play tennis, I am 5' 11", and my real first name is Lindsay. Big Lindsay has been a nickname for me for a very longtime.

 

[ttaM]

Evonne Goolagong-Cawley

...If Monica is truly not playing in Germany for fear of being stabbed, she should not be playing at all because as I said it can happen anwhere...

---This is what you said! Look in your first post. You are saying that Monica just shouldn't play anymore because she could get stabbed anywhere! Like I said before, you can't go around thinking you will get stabbed everytime you enter a court.

 

[ttaM]

Anyway...whether Monica was playing in Asia just to avoid Lindsay, etc. I don't know. Monica has always played the Princess Cup so she probably just thought she should stay in the Asia area instead of flying around, getting tired, etc. Plus with all the hijackings she could possibly be a little worried about boarding cross continent flights every week!

Monica could have played Moscow, but I think she likes to play in Asia more then Europe. She's always had success in Japan, Australia so perhaps she feels more comfortable there? Knowing Monica she could committ to Zurich at the last minute! We don't know. I respect her decisions of not playing where she doesn't want to. I would rather her take the rest of the year off, which she has stated she will (but I hope she plays Fed Cup). I am sure she will work on her fitness and game to prepare more for '02.

I am sure Monica has a lot of supporters in Germany. They should be protesting the courts decision to free Parche! Monica has stated that playing in Germany and visiting Germany are to different things. Monica has stated in the last years that she has friends that live in Germany (Monica lived there for a while). I wouldn't be surprised if Monica has or will go back to Germany. But to play an event I am not to certain about. But even Monica stated as recently as a few weeks ago never say never. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Evonne Goolagong]

Originally posted by GoMonica:
<STRONG>Evonne Goolagong-Cawley


---This is what you said! Look in your first post. You are saying that Monica just shouldn't play anymore because she could get stabbed anywhere! Like I said before, you can't go around thinking you will get stabbed everytime you enter a court.</STRONG>

I know what I said Go Monica, but what is the first word in that sentence? The first word is "IF". If fear is the reason, then she should not be playing any tournaments at all, for fear of being stabbed at one, not just in Germany.

This is why I do not think fear is the reason. As I said before, you are correct about not going around being afraid of being stabbed at a tournament. So again, I ask, why is Monica not playing in Germany?

[ October 09, 2001: Message edited by: Evonne Goolagong-Cawley ]

 

[tennischick]

Very thoughtful post Goolangong and I admire your courage in making it. However I have two thoughts. Whether or not Monica is still feeling fear none of us are privileged to know. But I disagree with you that fear is always a generalised response. Fear can be quite specific. Meaning (to use the example you gave), if a woman gets raped in a parking-lot, she may indeed go thru a phase of being generally afraid, but eventually she may recover except for her refusal to visit that PARTICULAR parking-lot. In fcat she may spend the rest of her literally refusing to go anywhere near that parking-lot, no matter what, because for her it is associated with trauma.

It may very well be that Monica experiences such intense anxiety over the very thought of going to Germany that she cannot make herself go. It's easy to say that she should be over it by now and that may even be true, but I don't think her reaction is all that peculiar for reasons already stated.

Also! I get your meta-point that Monica may actually be milking this situation for all it's worth by using this as an excuse to play in itty-bitty tournaments to keep her ranking up. I don't see these as either-or options however. It could very well be all of the above.

Personally I am sick and tired of the whole stabbing story. But to be fair to Monica, it's not like she is the one who is always bringing it up! Altho' you may argue that her refusal to go to Germany is a subtle way of keeping the issue alive in everyone's consciousness. And on that too you may very well be right.
TC

 

[ttaM]

I saw the "IF"

I am sure there is some fear in Monica about playing in Germany again because she was stabbed, you never know where that looney Parche might turn out. I did hear that he sent her an apology letter! Whether that's fact or fiction I don't know. But, I believe Seles' refusal to play in Germany is mainly due to the fact that Parche was set free! The evidence was there. Stabbing caught on tape, 3,000 witness to the crime. Even at the trial Parche stated his original plan was to meet Seles at the hotel, hand her a bouquet of flowers and cut off her hands to end her career no doubt. Parche found that plan to be "too risky" so he didn't do it, THANK GOD! Plus, the Judge was actually sympathetic towards him! Even if he didn't go to jail he should have went to a mental institute, don't you agree? His obession with Steffi was over board. To this day I heard he still sends Steffi gifts and letters, but Steffi refuses to accept them like any normal person would.

 

[ttaM]

Seles rarely to never brings up the stabbing herself. Reporters ask her questions after matches relating to the stabbing, but never questions about how she feels about Germany, etc. You would never hear Seles saying "Well, I am not playing the Sanex Championships because I got stabbed there, the law betrayed me, and therefore I won't play..." Just a few weeks ago in Japan a reporter asked Monica if she would play in Germany and Monica stated never say never.

Seles wouldn't use the stabbing as a way of playing smaller events. The fact is after the US Open you have 3 events in Germany. If Monica wanted to play events in Europe post-US Open she would basically have to wait a week in between events because you have: Event-Germany event-Event-German event, etc. I am sure no one who travels the worlds 20 times over a year for the last 13 years wants to stay in Europe anymore then they have to. It's more convienent for Seles to play in Asia because the tournaments start week after week. Seles seems to be more comfortable on that side of the earth, and plays better there.

I am sure tennis folks will remember the stabbing always. How many of your all time greats have gotten stabbed on centre court? The fact is the WTA did nothing to help Monica, the only people who reached out to Monica in anyway was Mary Joe Fernandez and Martina Navratilova, and I guess Graf to some extent but poorly at that.

Plus, A LOT of tennis authorities, players agree that moving this tournament to Germany was the dumbest thing. The only reason they moved it was for money. The event had been at MSG for 30 years, and everyone loved playing there. Now, you move it to Germany (yet another tournament in Germany in how many weeks?). Plus the fact is you don't have ANY german players who will qualify for the event. Huber might on a wing and a prayer but it's not like she'll win it. The US has what, 5 players in the Top 10 so you would think the event would stay there, but the WTA again makes another bone headed decision.

 

[Gallofa]

I think Monica doesn't play in Germany as a protest, a way to express her reproach to a German system who would set her attacker free.

About your screen name Big Lindsay, you only need to access "my profile" on top of the page, click on "view/edit my profile" and then change your "Publicly Displayed Name" to whichever you want: Big Lindsay or any other. You can change this "Publicly Displayed Name" as many times as you wish.

 

[Mr. Kenny G]

I don't blame Monica one bit for not stepping foot in a country where a person who attempted to murder her received NO jailtime. Yes, it was clearly attempted murder, the coward stabbed her in the back, and would have again if he was not restrained. This was on TV no less, for the country to see. Who is to say he could not have hit a major artery which could have resulted in major blood loss, which could have led to death. Nice judicial system.

As for Monica dodging top players, that is the most assinine thing I have ever heard. Yeah Monica dodged Hingis and Dokic at the Kremlin Cup. Monica has beaten Hingis the last 2 times they've played. Monica has beaten Dokic every time, including Toronto and Brazil this year.

 

[Nina_rus]

And maybe Monica plays all these tourneys in Japan cos of her Yonex deal.

 

[saki]

I don't agree with the criticisms of Germany's judicial system. The man in question was not a cold-blooded murderer, he was diagnosed as the court heard as being incapable of rational thought. As such we should all feel sorry for him and hope that he has received proper medical help, rather than baying for his blood. Of course this was a terrible thing for Monica, but it would have been unfair to have jailed someone who couldn't help what he did.

As for Monica, I just feel that it's unfair to judge her on this issue. After what she's been through, I think she's entitled to make her own decisions on what she does and doesn't feel comfortable with.