[jrj]

ITF weighs sanctions <br />U.S. may be fined for withdrawal from Fed Cup<br />Posted: Wednesday November 28, 2001 10:56 AM<br />  LONDON (Reuters) -- The United States faces being fined by the International Tennis Federation for pulling out of last month's Fed Cup women's team finals in Madrid after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. <br />The ITF voted last weekend to allow the U.S to compete in next year's competition, but a spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday that a decision on a fine would not be made until their next board meeting in February. <br />"Any other issues, which would include a possible fine, will be dealt with at our next board meeting in February," the ITF spokesman said. <br />"The reason for the delay is that we are still waiting for a report from the Spanish tennis federation who hosted the 2001 Fed Cup finals." <br />U.S Fed Cup member Monica Seles spoke out against a possible fine for the U.S Tennis Association. <br />"It's very unfortunate and very difficult situation to go over there when the FBI was advising us not too," she told American reporters. "We shouldn't be fined. It's unfortunate....We've supported Fed Cup for so many years." <br />Seles, who was a member of the U.S team that won the cup in 2000, said that she would have gone to the finals if asked by captain Billie Jean King, despite the potential threat. <br />"If Billie would have asked me, I would have played," she said. "I played right away after Sept. 11 in Brazil. Your life has to go on." <br />USTA Fed Cup Committee chairwoman Carol Graebner, a former Fed Cup player herself, was annoyed that a sanction is being considered. <br />"It's an outrage that the ITF is even considering it," she said. "Billie Jean King and I have been involved and supporting Fed Cup for the last 38 years. <br />"The ITF should know that if we couldn't go, it was for a very legitimate reason." <br />Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin gave Belgium their first Fed Cup title in this year's finals, beating Russia. <br />The U.S is the top seed for the 2002 event and will host Austria in the first round.

How idiotic is this? For those of you who called the Americans cowards for not playing, the FBI told them not to.

 

[Josh]

I wonder why the FBI didn't advice the American gymnasts team not to compete in Belgium for the world championships at the same time of Fed Cup. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Applause for Monica though, she would have been the only American top 10 player (maybe Serena too) who would have played for her country, she should be praised instead of fined.

 

[jrj]

Maybe the FBI did tell them not to go and they went anyways. Also in Spain there were several Al Qaedo members arrested and detained actually in Madrid.

 

[Josh]

Well in Belgium there were also Al Qaeda members arrested and detained.

It just seems to me that the USTA decided not to play because the finals were being played in Madrid on clay even though the USA won the cup last year. I can be wrong though but that's just the way it seems.

 

[VSFan1 aka Joshua L.]

We'll pay the fine....we are the richest tennis program with the ITF. Take us out of next years draw....we don't care.

The ITF needs the USA, so they shoud re-evaluate what they are doing. If the USA withdrew over something stupid, like a protest to surface or something, I could understand it. But come on!?!

 

[Tony]

I do not buy into that "bull" that the U.S. withdrew because they were afraid to play on clay.

I don't care if the Fed Cup was played on clay, hardcourt, bubble gum, or glass. The U.S. would be favored to win.

Some people should just get over their arrogance (ignorance) and just take the U.S. at its word.

Worried about losing to the Belgiums, etc... now that's a BIG laugh!

 

[Josh]

It's BelgIANS....and that after accusing others of ignorance...yes indeed what a laugh.

 

[tenn_ace]

"It's an outrage that the ITF is even considering it," she said. Billie Jean King and I have been involved and supporting Fed Cup for the last 38 years. <hr></blockquote>

Monica has started supporting the FedCup long before she was born?

this is just all politics... nobody will fine anybody... ITF has to say something, otherwise it will lose the rest of respect... As it was mentioned before, ITF need US more than US needs ITF. and that, although bitter, but THE TRUTH <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

 

[ttaM]

tenn_ace: The lady you are thinking of is Carol Graebner, not Monica Seles <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

<br />..." USTA Fed Cup Committee chairwoman Carol Graebner, a former Fed Cup player herself, was annoyed that a sanction is being considered. <br />"It's an outrage that the ITF is even considering it," she said. "Billie Jean King and I have been involved and supporting Fed Cup for the last 38 years..."

 

[tenn_ace]

ooopsss, I guess I was still sleeping when I read the article....

[email protected] <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

 

[Rollo]

WHATEVER the cause of the US not entering, this is just as stupid as the WTA "investigating" Venus. Go ahead and fine the US. Give the top American women another excuse to boycott the 2002 Fed Cup. Real smart <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

 

[jrj]

it's amazing how some people on this board think they know more about the safety of American players than the FBI does.

 

[Sam L]

I feel so sorry for Monica, she shouldn't be involved in this mess! She would have played regardless... <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

 

[Ted of Teds Tennis]

it's amazing how some people on this board think they know more about the safety of American players than the FBI does. <hr></blockquote>

Actually, I find it amazing that the FBI thinks they know about the security of American tennis players. <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

Governments can't deliver mail properly (and I'm not even discussing anthrax here), and give us crap for a DMV. Why should we expect them to know anything about our security?

Having said that, if the ITF wants to punish Americans, couldn't they bar Americans from competing in the Australian Open, French, and Wimbledon? Barring Americans from playing in Slams if they pull out of Fed Cup would stop the Americans from pulling out of Fed Cup again.

 

[Martian KC]

It's amazing how some people on this board think they know more about US' reason to withdraw better than the ITF. Unless, you are billijeanking or carole whatever, don't go around saying it was for CERTAIN for security reasons. You don't know that!!!

 

[Brian Stewart]

I've got no problem with the fine. I guess the ITF feels they have to do something. There was some smoke blown about sanctions including barring the US from participating, but we knew that wasn't going to happen. So the ITF has to show it's still in charge. It will probably be a token fine that even the fiscally-mismanaged USTA can afford. For all of the public posturing, the real decision will be made behind closed doors. And it will be made with the goal of getting it over with, without appearing to let the US off the hook. It's all cosmetic.

 

[Fedcup]

The Americans didn't participate on this year Fedcup for 3 reasons but the story about the attack on the 11th of september ISN'T one of those 3 reasons. It was a good excuse for the American Team.

Reasons<br />---------<br />1) There was a big fight between the top players. There were rumours (not only rumours) that The Williams sisters Lindsay and Jennifer won't play with each other in the same team.

2) The Americans were upset that the final of the Fedcup wasn't played in America. In fact it was played in Spain and on CLAY.

3) The last option was to have a team without the top players (Because they refused to play of the 2 reasons above). But this option the fedcup coach immediatly considered as rubbish. Because it would state to the world that there were troubles within the American team. It's was a better choice to withdraw with the reason we know (11th september).

So all people who are saying the Americans withdrew because of the attacks are either fools (sorry for the expression) or day-dreamers.

And if it would be true (safety concerns) why should the American players participate in next year Grand Slams. The safety in the world won't be solved next year. It will be the same as on past Fedcup weekend and on past 10 years and comming 10 years.

Maybe you (American people) should question why those crazy (Bin Laden people) crashed into the Towers. Not for their joy. And you won't solve this problem of crazy people placing attacks in the US with a war in Afghanistan. <br />The problem lies in the fact that most American people are way to arrogant. They think they are the best and they don't care about the world. It's proven here in this forum also. How some people are saying about "who should we afraid of... Belgium don't make us laugh". Maybe a little bit respect should help a lot. <br />But this is a tennis forum so I shall stop...;-)

 

[griffin]

Originally posted by Fedcup:<br /><strong>Maybe a little bit respect should help a lot. <br /></strong><hr></blockquote>

Indeed, but it goes both ways, doesn't it?

What Brian said.

 

[Rollo]

Where are you from Fed Cup? I hope WHEN (and I do mean when, not if) terrorists blow up buildings in your nation, others show a bit more sympathy towards it than you have the United States.

 

[griffin]

Don't bother, rollo, we (as in, collective board "we" not just Americans) are being baited.