[Volcana]

The WTA probably has no real choice atthis point but to investigate Venus's injury. Which will lead to invetsigating every player injured to avoid a lawsuit from the Williamses. More royal waste of time.

BUt I wonder how good it is for the WTA to have the perception form the public be that the WTA has an adversarial relationship with Venus. Right now, she's the highest profile player in the WTA, and the one most casual tenniss observers consider the best women's player. It probably BRINGS Venus fans to be the 'poor Black girl inthe White sport who every body picks on'. Venus never says anything remotely like this if course, but tennis is STILL percieved as a white sports, and a racist white sport at that.

Is the WTA hurting itself by having such a high profile contretemps with it's best player?

 

[Infiniti2001]

Heck , I'm all for investigating Venus, but while at it, PLEASE investigate every player who pulls out of every tournament... Amelie has pulled out of 3 tournaments citing fatigue... Jelena Dokic and Kim Clijsters also dropped out of tournaments at last minute citing injury... Venus got knocked for pulling out of the Italian open while still playing in one tourney whereas lindsay and hingisova did the same thing this summer without a peep from anyone...<br />Then again, like a someone said on another about the WTA looking for Micheal Jordan type icons<br />

They WANT Venus to be that player, but she doesn't seem to want to do it. No one really cares if Mauresmo pulls out, because she doesn't sell the tickets. Venus isn't being "picked on" about the withdrawals because no one likes her; it's the opposite! She is one of the very few players who can disappoint people by withdrawing. She and Anna K are in a class by themselves.<br /> <hr></blockquote>

[ October 31, 2001: Message edited by: Infiniti2001 ]</p>

 

[Deira]

Volcana, I think the WTA is hurting themselves. It's obvious that they are giving in to the hysteria that seems to follow both Williams sisters. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

I'm with you about this "investigation" thingy, Infiniti. If they are going to start investigating pull-outs it should be for every player. By the way, that "quote" gives a new perspective on the situation. Thanks for posting it. <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

 

[Volcana]

I think maybe the thing to do was to handle it a lot more quietly. Annoucning that they are choosing two doctors an a lawyer to choose anthoer doctor? What if Venus simply says, 'it hurts'. What can they say? 'No it doesn't.'

At any event, the WTA is putting themselvs in a position where their actions seem to say, "We think our best player is a liar and a cheat."

That's really gonna draw fans.

Or in which a lot of the public will say, "The WTA is persecuting their best player because she's Black."

That does a lot for the image of the sport as well.

And of course, any incentive Venus ever had to do things to promote the WTA, as opposed to the sport, is pretty much gone now. I'm suse she'll still do clinics and stuff to promote the sport, but why should she care about the WTA if they treat her like this?

 

[cynicole]

The WTA got themselves in this mess and they deserve the full blame on this snafu. If they thought that a possibly injured Venus Williams was teasing them and the tournaments what good is it for them to be especially mean and harsh on one of the sport's hot properties? It just makes them look even more ridiculous and turns Venus into the object of pity. Granted, Venus probably should've pulled out of Munich earlier but that's no excuse for the WTA to come down on her in the fashion they have chosen.

Maybe the WTA wouldn't have this problem if it hyped their other players (who are equally deserving of attention) as much as Kournikova and the Williams sisters. That way the other stars of the game would satisfy those overly-powerful small tournaments.

Then again, maybe they're just trying to grab any headline they could in the stupid thought that "even bad publicity is good publicity."

Trash-talk promotion has got to end!

 

[saki]

I don't think the WTA is hurting themselves by investigating Venus' claim. They're showing that even their biggest star is not above the regulations of the tour as a whole. If Venus wants to play on the WTA tour, she needs to respect it by withdrawing in advance from tournaments. I'm not saying that she necessarily lied about this, and nor are the WTA, but just that her injury claim should be investigated. As indeed any other suspicious injury claim should also be.

 

[ys]

The problem is, suppose they find it is a fake, what would punishment be? Fine? Williams wouldn't care.<br />Take some ranking points from them? They wouldn't care either, they don't care about their rankings., otherwise they'd play. More of that bad public relation noise? They already have enough of it. I just don't see how WTA can hurt them.

 

[maccardel]

The WTa is stupid for even suggesting an investigation into Venus' injury....

I just can't comprehend why they would single out a player and not cite other players throughout the year. If she doesn't want to play so what?...Why are they bitching? It only goes to show that they don't have faith in their other stars selling tickets and they are pissed....Venus' appearance could mean another certain amount of tickets sold and more money for venus.....what is the problem?....they don't have to worry now about giving her any more money because she didn't show up for it....

If I was another player I would be pissed that the Wta is lending so much time to another player who didn't even show up.....when there are so many other players who did in fact show up.

I say if the WTA continue this silly behavior then it will be their own undoing....they will suffer because of this. When Anna Kournikova was supposed to play after her long injury and kept cancelling at the last minute, no one said poop about it...at least Venus played most of the year and it's not her fault that the world has changed since sept.11....if the wta could only think about selling tickets and not think about Venus staying healthy for 2002 then she don't need to be associated with them.

This is definitely showing the WTA for what it is. I am appalled that they would come down harsh on her and single her out like that. She should refuse to be examined by those freaks and instead call their bluff by having a press conference with her mother, attorney and doctor. She could be the one to screw them and hopefully she does. The remarks by the wta were some of the strongest that cast a bad light on Venus and her character and made her look like a liar to her sponsors and fans....it in fact affected her audience and that is cause for a law suit from her...

She has grounds for a law suit and she should proceed with it...I'm still shocked by the WTA remarks.....I've never seen a professional organization react like the way they did.....it's time someone do something about it and I hope she sues for over $100 million....she do have cause.

<br />I wish this would cause the courts to stick it to the wta and their creeps of attorneys. If they want to prove their point they would have to open every player's files and withdrawals whether fatigue or injury and then they would have to compensate all those tourneys for the wta players who withdrawed with an "injury".....this is gonna be fun and I hope That Burt Mcguire, who just woke up off his ass when he realized he had to train the new ceo, really gets the size ten boot up his ass on the way out the door. Where was he at Indian Wells? He's an ass...fuck him and his lame duck goons!!!!

 

[maccardel]

It's not too harsh but rather blunt. I received an email on my comments...and feel that they are just being truthful...where was Mcguire when the Indian Wells fiasco came about or when Martina pulled out of Rogers'...He's suddenly want to leave a mark on a otherwise fucked up stint at the helms of a great organization..it's too late!!....the only mark being left is the footprint in his mouth.....He has no right trying to leave a mess on the bathroom floor and expect the new ceo to clean it up!!!!!....I still say Mcguire is a fuck up!111...listen to his comments after Anna pulled out of several tournaments at the last minute...not the same as his comments about Venus...<br />He is only saying this because all along he felt content for the Williamses and now he's out the door he decides that now he is gonna do something about it...well it's too late!!!!

 

[moon]

maccardel, you are 100% right!<br />the wta is lucky Venus doesn't sue them for defamation of character.

 

[All4Williams]

It sucks and Lindsay agrees --- read this

Extract from 31/10 interview.

Q. Your remarks about Venus attracted quite a lot of attention.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Which were?

Q. The remarks that perhaps she was teasing people by not coming and not making her intentions either clearer earlier in advance or living up to what she actually said she was going to do.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: So what is the question?

Q. The question is, are you happy with the way this has been followed up? Are you happy with the way in which withdrawals through injuries are followed up? It's taken, what, several days to decide who the second doctor should be, and it may be almost a week before they're able to verify whether the injury is valid or not. Is that a satisfactory procedure?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: My feelings are just that I think it would have been better if, you know, a month ago or three weeks ago she just pulled out of everything or when she pulled out of Linz said, "There's a good chance I won't be able to play Munich." Her release that I saw, she said, "I'll for sure be in Munich." I think it would have been better if she said, "You know what, I don't think I'm going to play." On the other hand, I think she has every right not to play. We're an individual sport. We're not a team sport. We're self-employed. I don't feel like you can make the players play. All this looking into her injury with doctors and lawyers, I just think she has every right not to play, whether she's injured or not. All I said is I think she should have been more up front about it in the beginning. Like I said, we're an individual sport. If she doesn't want to play, you can't make her play. We're under no contract to the WTA Tour or anybody else that we have to play. I think she has every right. If she doesn't want to come over, she doesn't have to.

Q. Is it difficult or unwise for you to comment on the procedure that follows this?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think it's stupid. If she doesn't want to play, she doesn't have to play. That's my opinion. I mean, I don't agree with it. You know, like I said, we're not guaranteed money in the beginning of the year that we have to play all these events. We have to come out and earn it. If anyone doesn't want to play, that's their prerogative.

Q. There shouldn't be a verification panel?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I didn't know there was. I don't think. I mean, I think she has every right to do what she wants. <br /> <img src="graemlins/bounce.gif" border="0" alt="[Bounce]" /> <img src="graemlins/drool.gif" border="0" alt="[Drool]" /> <img src="graemlins/bounce.gif" border="0" alt="[Bounce]" /> <img src="graemlins/drool.gif" border="0" alt="[Drool]" />

 

[Jovon]

maccardel, you seem very passionate in your thoughts about this, and I also agree with you 100%! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

 

[jd4eva]

The difference between Venus and Jelena is that Jelena actually gave certified medical certificates by the Tour Doctor and an Objective Doctor to verify her injury.

Also, withdrawing from 2 events all year is a lot different to the number that Venus has withdrawn from.

 

[Volcana]

I think the [layers will find this new system rather unpleasnt. And the WTA will be unable to withdraw without facing accusations of bias against Venus. What do yousay to someone who has planr faschitis. "Oh, your foot doesn't hurt" Who's going to know but the player? And if you choose to disbelieve the player, you have to dis-believe EVERY player inthat circumstance.

Having said all that, Venus is not blameless here. From a business perspective, she needs to be more accomodating. She has a RIGHT to pull out late, but its not a sound business practice.

 

[maccardel]

When it comes to injury it's personal and never business.......when Venus plays because the fans want her to play and the wta wants her presence then it's rather selfish of us all to attack her.

Venus is Venus and not the wta.......she is part of the tour but she is not the tour...I'd rather see Venus play good in OZ than to see Venus play for the final time in 2001 injured and missing the first 6 months of 2002...This is just one tournament and I rather her miss one than 10......oh I guess Mcguire didn't think about that huh?

He wanted Venus there so she can see Jen celebrate being number one....I don't think so!!!

Venus has plaenty of time to congratulate Lindz and Jen-sin when she gets to OZ in 2002...don't rush things and things will take their time.....eventually they will get their congratulations..eventually.

 

[HAIL-VENUS]

Bart Mcguire is an idiot, and I've said this before. He's done several things that I have disagreed with while he was running the tour. He has NEVER fully supported the players. He has always been about the money. Why else would he move the year ending Championships to Munich, where a major player was attacked by a crazy person, and got off?

He can have Venus investigated all he wants. I'm confident that he's wasting everyone's time. Oh, yeah Burt, good ridence.

 

[moon]

well, now a doctor has seen Venus and knows that she wasn't lying about her wrists. But still no press release from old Bart. I'm not surprised.

 

[Tony]

The very next time that a player withdraws from a tournament, citing injury, and the WTA doesn't assemble a panel of doctors and lawyers to investigate the validity of that injury, I hope that Venus will take the opportunity to sue the h*ll out of the WTA.

I think that Johnny Cochran and others will be licking their chops to get a piece of that action! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">