#1 Junior Taylor Townsend "Benched" by the USTA

JoelDali

Talk Tennis Guru
Not nearly as heinous as Kantarian's money.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2009/11/20091123/This-Weeks-News/USTA-Paid-Kantarian-$9M-In-08.aspx

USTA compensation
Executive Title Total compensation^
Arlen Kantarian* Chief executive, professional tennis $9.15 million
Pierce O’Neil Chief business officer $1.39 million
Michelle Wilson* Chief marketing officer $1.07 million
Gordon Smith Executive director $987,430
James Curley U.S. Open tournament director $856,907
Kurt Kamperman Chief executive, community tennis $825,862
Harry Beeth Chief financial officer $722,422
Danny Zausner Managing director, National Tennis Center $703,041
Andrea Hirsch General counsel $696,955
Patrick McEnroe Davis Cup captain, director of elite training $694,305

The USTA has hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank and an office building in White Plains with hundreds of lawyers working in it for nice salaries.

$800K to PMAC is meaningless.

The PMAC hating is hilarious to watch unfold here.

Hes not going anywhere.
 
Last edited:
The salaries listed herein are excessive to the point of ridiculous. The USTA HP program has no decent track record of developing players. An individual's worth is what he/she could earn on the open market. What do you think PM and JH would be worth is they lost their USTA jobs tomorrow?

For many reasons, I think that PM and JH would be fine.

Maybe this is or isn't excessive. I really don't know? What I can say with assurance is that no matter how great coaching is at the high performance program, the USTA would be giving themselves and the players they train a much better opportunity to succeed if they placed significant on Sports Science. Namely....Sports Psychology, Nutrition, and Strength and conditioning.

The paradigm has changed and tennis must change with it!
 
Not nearly as heinous as Kantarian's money.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2009/11/20091123/This-Weeks-News/USTA-Paid-Kantarian-$9M-In-08.aspx

USTA compensation
Executive Title Total compensation^
Arlen Kantarian* Chief executive, professional tennis $9.15 million
Pierce O’Neil Chief business officer $1.39 million
Michelle Wilson* Chief marketing officer $1.07 million
Gordon Smith Executive director $987,430
James Curley U.S. Open tournament director $856,907
Kurt Kamperman Chief executive, community tennis $825,862
Harry Beeth Chief financial officer $722,422
Danny Zausner Managing director, National Tennis Center $703,041
Andrea Hirsch General counsel $696,955
Patrick McEnroe Davis Cup captain, director of elite training $694,305

The USTA has hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank and an office building in White Plains with hundreds of lawyers working in it for nice salaries.

$800K to PMAC is meaningless.

The PMAC hating is hilarious to watch unfold here.

Hes not going anywhere.


I am not sure that anyone is hating. It is simply time for the USTA to get on the cutting edge of reality about Sports Science if they want some players to succeed.
 

t135

Professional
This entire conversation is ridiculous. Sports science has been at the forefront of USTA player development for decades. The USA is spending thousands on Taylor Townsend to help her succeed on the tour and win slams. She's getting a free ride and it's well within the boundaries to tell her she isn't working hard enough on conditioning and nutrition. She can quit the program anytime she ants if she doesn't want to do it.

Her winning in the juniors isn't an excuse. That doesn't mean she will automatically succeed on the tour at a high level and win slams. I also haven't seen where the USTA called her fat...needing to "slim down" is a long way from being fat. Unless you are a pessimist looking for any reason to criticize the USTA! The journal never should have published this non-story. And the article was published by the WSJ to sell papers...looking to make a buck. The fact that the USTA is holding her accountable and requiring her to meet a commitment to them is not "big story" or an "evil plot" to destroy a child's life.

If the USTA is paying her tab, they have the right to require her to make a commitment to long term success. She's an athlete shooting to be the best of the best and I would expect her to train like one. If she doesn't want to do it she can train and travel on someone else's dime. It's easy.
 
Last edited:

JW10S

Hall of Fame
TT just won the doubles. I guess that is not good enough for the USTA.
But in singles she was the #1 seed and lost in straight sets to the #12 seed--could her weight have been an issue there and contributed to that loss? Might she have gone further had she been fitter? There have been pros in the main draw during this tournament who have been referenced as former USO Jr champs--not 1 as a former USO Jr 'doubles' champ. The doubles means little so no, it's not good enough since she obviously did not accomplish it all by herself.

If you look through the list of boys and girls who have won the USO Jr singles you'll see names you've never heard of because they did nothing as pros. Winning the USO jrs guarantees nothing. Clearly the USTA is looking ahead, beyond just this one tournament. As other tennis federations in other countries do.
 
Last edited:
This entire conversation is ridiculous. Sports science has been at the forefront of USTA player development for decades. The USA is spending thousands on Taylor Townsend to help her succeed on the tour and win slams. She's getting a free ride and it's well within the boundaries to tell her she isn't working hard enough on conditioning and nutrition. She can quit the program anytime she ants if she doesn't want to do it.

Her winning in the juniors isn't an excuse. That doesn't mean she will automatically succeed on the tour at a high level and win slams. I also haven't seen where the USTA called her fat...needing to "slim down" is a long way from being fat. Unless you are a pessimist looking for any reason to criticize the USTA! The journal never should have published this non-story. And the article was published by the WSJ to sell papers...looking to make a buck. The fact that the USTA is holding her accountable and requiring her to meet a commitment to them is not "big story" or an "evil plot" to destroy a child's life.

If the USTA is paying her tab, they have the right to require her to make a commitment to long term success. She's an athlete shooting to be the best of the best and I would expect her to train like one. If she doesn't want to do it she can train and travel on someone else's dime. It's easy.

How is this conversation rediculous? Sure, It may be within the boundaries of the USTA to tell her that she is not working hard enough on fitness and nutrition. Since they are spending thousands on her, shouldn't they assist her with her individualized needs? I understand that you say she can quit at any time but her family may not have unlimited funds for the type of coaching she would now need. That leaving the USTA scenerio would obviously be disadvantageous to both the player and the USTA.

Perhaps to you Sports Science has appeared to be on the forefront for decades. There has been some talk about Sports Science, but appropriate action has not been taken. Again......No Sports Psychology, no registered dietition, and they do not provide the highest level players with the appropriate and individualized strength and conditioning that they need. Each player has different needs and capabilities.
 
There is no way that P-Mac or Jose H would make it in the open market with the record that they have of developing juniors into pro players. The top young pro players have all been products of private coaches. The USTA should only be there to supplement expenses when needed.

Taylor Townsend was already destroying her competition long before either of them even noticed her.

For those of you who are too naive to thing that P-Mac is not in the hot seat right now. Think again. Sponsors do not want controversy, especially when it involves women or race and this just happens to involve both.

Yes, I think TT is not in the best physical condition but if that was the case the USTA should have decided long ago to stop paying her way to tournaments until she met their requirements. All of this was under PM and JH watch and for that both of them should be fired along with most of their supporting staff; Lew Brewer, Jay Berger, Kent Kinnear ,etc.

Why do you think players like Agassi, Sampras, Courier, Chang, Roddick, and Martin don't get involved? It is because they don't believe in the current USTA system.
 

tenniscp

Semi-Pro
Not true at all madison. I believe USTA could have handled this situation differently before it happened, but I won't Monday morning quarterback this topic as it will work itself out.

Anyway, congrats to Taylor Townsend and Vicky Duval for their success at the Junior US Open this year. And, kudos to Samantha Crawford for making it to the Junior US Open finals (scheduled for tomorrow). Grace Min won it last year. It would be great if we had back to back American winners.

Chalk you always have more info on the pD as i think you either are close to a source on the inside or are on the inside (at least it feels that way as you always defend their decisions and actions).

Maybe you can shed some light on these rumors: I was told that it was not just Taylor Townsend who was told to shape up over the summer but also other PD players were put on some sort of probation and funds were not made available for them. Notably amongst those were Caroline Doyle Samantha crawford Tornado Black from the girls and Redlicki Kwiatkowski on the boys side. Is that true?

It seems like there is some pressure probably coming from above and the big bosses are passing it on to he kids! GREAT ENVIRONMENT to be in and try to perform to the best of your ability!

I was even told that Crawford was not admitted back to BOca for the upcoming year and was put on probation. It will be interesting to see what happens now that she may win the OPEN.

USTA will probably replace Taylor with Samantha as the new and upcoming American hope!
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
Those stats are way inaccurate!!!!

Serena is NOT 155 lbs!!! And Bartoli isn't 139!!!!

There was a time where the weights of the players were unavailable, but I guess they've decided to just use more desirable body weights now, as opposed to their actual weights.

Weight is measured wearing a catsuit. Not sure anyone wants Marion's pics though.
 

jonkras

New User
For those of you that say the USTA is a private organization and it can do whatever it wants, I would counter by saying that the USTA is a rigged, corrupt private organization that is wholly unresponsive to its constituents, the tennis playing American public. The TT incident is just the latest in a string of moves the USTA has made that makes no sense. The big problem is the undemocratic nature (does that make it "republican"?) of the way the USTA is set-up. I am sure that there are many others on this forum that know the details of the USTA organizational structure, but I would bet that if you polled the general USTA membership, many of their decisions would be extremely unpopular. If the USTA had a more responsive organizational structure, you would also not see the ridiculous salaries that are being paid at the top, and better decisions being made. If there are any lawyers here, I would be curious to know if a class-action lawsuit could be instituted to change the by-laws.
 

andfor

Legend
Class action suite? What are the monetary damages to the suitors? If the announce is $0 then you have your answer.
 
T

TCF

Guest
====================================================
 
Last edited by a moderator:

andfor

Legend
Can not resist posting on this one, hopefully the board 'judges' are off today. Your link basically shows why people get angry at the USTA. The first paragraph says it was low blood iron, medical clearance...then in the last paragraph Pat Mac is very defensive but says it was overall fitness.

So which is it, medical or fitness....Pat Mac spread too thin and has no idea what the facts are? Or the USTA just BSing about the true reason?

The fact is the Pat Mac situation is a joke. Over $1 million in total compensation, yet he still announces, and writes books, and is seen all over with his family and friends at golf outings, etc. Totally ridiculous to pay a guy who has zero track record in player development over $1 mil for what is a part time job for him at best.

So overall fitness does not include blood iron deficiency and lack of medical clearence?

What is clear to me is it's completely unclear what the truth is on both sides. Believe what you want.

Agreed that pmac is highly overpaid.
 

arche3

Banned
If she is 1 in the world.... ! Number one. To bench her even if she is sporting a beer belly drinking Pepsi on change overs is laughable.

And since she showed up anyways casts doubt on the medical reasons. Seriously people need to understand this is a power play pure and simple on the part of usta
 
Last edited:

andfor

Legend
If truly she was not cleared medically and the USTA supports her play, if she collapses on court and gets ill they're liable.

The USTA if the truth is she was not cleared they are gonna look bad based on the Townsend side of the story.
 

Soianka

Hall of Fame
http://m.tennis.com/news/2012/09/medical-concerns-prompted-ustas-stance-townsend/39352/

Read this on the Townsend situation for more context and the other side of the story.


Sounds lika a USTA CYA press release.

If she was not approved due to low iron, explain P. McEnroe's FIRST comments to the wall street journal.

Also, explain why they made her sit out of the Nationals and supposedly put her on a "double" fitness regimen.

Would you really put someone who has a medical issue on a double fitness regimen?

After Townsend lost in the first-round of qualifying at a professional event in Vancouver this summer, her coaches asked her to withdraw from the USTA Girls' National Championships in San Diego and return to the USTA's training academy in Boca Raton, where she now lives. She was put on double fitness duty and allowed to play just enough tennis to maintain her timing.
 
Last edited:

Soianka

Hall of Fame
If she is 1 in the world.... ! Number one. To bench her even if she is sporting a beer belly drinking Pepsi on change overs is laughable.

And since she showed up anyways casts doubt on the medical reasons. Seriously people need to understand this is a power play pure and simple on the part of usta


Yep. That sounds right.
 

andfor

Legend
Sounds lika a USTA CYA press release.

If she was not approved due to low iron, explain P. McEnroe's FIRST comments to the wall street journal.

Also, explain why they made her sit out of the Nationals and supposedly put her on a "double" fitness regimen.

Would you really put someone who has a medical issue on a double fitness regimen?

Just trying to be a little objective. I guess for everyone here the first one to tell their story gets all the credibility.

So if the USTA comes out with a press release first I guess they would have been right. So we condone the USTA disclosing children's medical conditions?
 
Last edited:

klu375

Semi-Pro
Chalk you always have more info on the pD as i think you either are close to a source on the inside or are on the inside (at least it feels that way as you always defend their decisions and actions).

Maybe you can shed some light on these rumors: I was told that it was not just Taylor Townsend who was told to shape up over the summer but also other PD players were put on some sort of probation and funds were not made available for them. Notably amongst those were Caroline Doyle Samantha crawford Tornado Black from the girls and Redlicki Kwiatkowski on the boys side. Is that true?

It seems like there is some pressure probably coming from above and the big bosses are passing it on to he kids! GREAT ENVIRONMENT to be in and try to perform to the best of your ability!

I was even told that Crawford was not admitted back to BOca for the upcoming year and was put on probation. It will be interesting to see what happens now that she may win the OPEN.

USTA will probably replace Taylor with Samantha as the new and upcoming American hope!

It seems our USTA PR man is not in a rush to answer your questions. Now everyone learned how USTA PD treats their best junior who is #1 in the world. We can only imagine what they do to other juniors who are not that successful. How many of them are on probation at any given time and playing under great deal of stress?
 
T

TCF

Guest
====================================================
 
Last edited by a moderator:

dirkpitt38

New User
If she is 1 in the world.... ! Number one. To bench her even if she is sporting a beer belly drinking Pepsi on change overs is laughable.

And since she showed up anyways casts doubt on the medical reasons. Seriously people need to understand this is a power play pure and simple on the part of usta

Couldn't have said it any better.:) Its just so unbeleivable they would bench a number 1.
 

chalkflewup

Hall of Fame
It seems our USTA PR man is not in a rush to answer your questions. Now everyone learned how USTA PD treats their best junior who is #1 in the world. We can only imagine what they do to other juniors who are not that successful. How many of them are on probation at any given time and playing under great deal of stress?

"Imagine" was your word and imaginations certainly do run wild here. After The Open has concluded, Townsend, Crawford and Duval will be back to work in Boca and it will be business as usual. The forum will continue to endlessly exhaust negative topics and I will have moved on.
 

tennis5

Professional
Can not resist posting on this one, hopefully the board 'judges' are off today. Your link basically shows why people get angry at the USTA. The first paragraph says it was low blood iron, medical clearance...then in the last paragraph Pat Mac is very defensive but says it was overall fitness.

So which is it, medical or fitness....Pat Mac spread too thin and has no idea what the facts are? Or the USTA just BSing about the true reason?

The fact is the Pat Mac situation is a joke. Over $1 million in total compensation, yet he still announces, and writes books, and is seen all over with his family and friends at golf outings, etc. Totally ridiculous to pay a guy who has zero track record in player development over $1 mil for what is a part time job for him at best.

TCF,

Glad you are back! Board is boring without you.
I disagree with you about 50% of the time, so it appears you don't sit on one side of everything which makes you the perfect poster.
 

tennis5

Professional
Sounds lika a USTA CYA press release.

If she was not approved due to low iron, explain P. McEnroe's FIRST comments to the wall street journal.

Also, explain why they made her sit out of the Nationals and supposedly put her on a "double" fitness regimen.

Would you really put someone who has a medical issue on a double fitness regimen?

Since Patrick is so out of the loop, he has to rely heavily on his PR people who appear to be clueless too.

So, now it was a medical issue, but they can DOUBLE HER FITNESS?

Ok, run her into the ground with fitness in Boca, but no tennis match in her home country.

Or liability issue?
Mom is the LEGAL GUARDIAN of this child, not the USTA.

I am so glad the press picked up this story and ran with it.

Bullying a child does not go over well with the American public.
 

tennis5

Professional
"Imagine" was your word and imaginations certainly do run wild here. After The Open has concluded, Townsend, Crawford and Duval will be back to work in Boca and it will be business as usual. The forum will continue to endlessly exhaust negative topics and I will have moved on.

Sure she will be back, but it was a small window into how the USTA treats their juniors...
This is a junior board, so we are intrigued.
 

chalkflewup

Hall of Fame
Sure she will be back, but it was a small window into how the USTA treats their juniors...
This is a junior board, so we are intrigued.

First and foremost, USTA could have managed the situation differently. I also believe the mother could have handled the situation differently. Either way, I hope things work out best for the kid and I believe that will happen.
 

tenniscp

Semi-Pro
It seems our USTA PR man is not in a rush to answer your questions. Now everyone learned how USTA PD treats their best junior who is #1 in the world. We can only imagine what they do to other juniors who are not that successful. How many of them are on probation at any given time and playing under great deal of stress?

I think you are correct about chalk! He jumps quick when he has even a remote chance of making usta's case for thm. I guess in this instance he will take a long time to come up with an answer.

USTA thinks that Taylor s results were poor lately and that is why they wanted her to sit out some tournaments. I wonder why then they did not make other PD players sit out tournaments? If Taylor s results lately were under question. Then they should have done the same with McDonald Papa Corinteli and others.

Bottom line is that USTA tried their power trip approach with Townsend and it backfired. They always get away with the power /ego trip approach with all the other PD players and we never hear anything about many other instances. However this time they went too far and crossed the line.
 

andfor

Legend
Sounds lika a USTA CYA press release.

If she was not approved due to low iron, explain P. McEnroe's FIRST comments to the wall street journal.

Also, explain why they made her sit out of the Nationals and supposedly put her on a "double" fitness regimen.

Would you really put someone who has a medical issue on a double fitness regimen?

Sure she will be back, but it was a small window into how the USTA treats their juniors...
This is a junior board, so we are intrigued.

If she plays on the USTA dime and the USTA ignores the doctors not clearing her medically and she gets seriously ill or injured they are liable. Like it or not, all it takes is one lawyer to say they have a case.

I don't believe either the Townsends or the USTA at this point.
 

andfor

Legend
I wonder why then they did not make other PD players sit out tournaments? If Taylor s results lately were under question. Then they should have done the same with McDonald Papa Corinteli and others.

Because she was not cleared medically.

Choose a side, then choose what parts of news stories you want to believe. That's objective.
 

Tennishacker

Professional
TCF,

Glad you are back! Board is boring without you.
I disagree with you about 50% of the time, so it appears you don't sit on one side of everything which makes you the perfect poster.

Agree, but I'm waiting for TCF's views on the 2014 nat'l tournament changes.
 

chalkflewup

Hall of Fame
If she plays on the USTA dime and the USTA ignores the doctors not clearing her medically and she gets seriously ill or injured they are liable. Like it or not, all it takes is one lawyer to say they have a case.

I don't believe either the Townsends or the USTA at this point.

Great post andfor.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
The USTA has surrendered and is now reimbursing her expenses, making it look like an iron-deficiency issue and not an appearance issue. The real reason is not that they suddenly saw reason, but they must have been cra**ing in their pants at the thought of the discovery process if a lawsuit was filed. Whether they would have won or lost is entirely a different matter - what would have happened is that all kinds of emails and conversation details would have been exposed which would have triggered new individual prosecutions. The world would have come to know how the top brass make decisions, any nepotism and favoritism, and all kinds of racial issues and comments would have surfaced. It is similar to how the ATP doubles lawsuit was settled as soon as a hint was sent that appearance fees details would be subpoenaed.
 

andfor

Legend
The USTA has surrendered and is now reimbursing her expenses, making it look like an iron-deficiency issue and not an appearance issue. The real reason is not that they suddenly saw reason, but they must have been cra**ing in their pants at the thought of the discovery process if a lawsuit was filed. Whether they would have won or lost is entirely a different matter - what would have happened is that all kinds of emails and conversation details would have been exposed which would have triggered new individual prosecutions. The world would have come to know how the top brass make decisions, any nepotism and favoritism, and all kinds of racial issues and comments would have surfaced. It is similar to how the ATP doubles lawsuit was settled as soon as a hint was sent that appearance fees details would be subpoenaed.

Tell us. Was she not just cleared medically on the Tuesday before the US Open Juniors started? Because she was not cleared medically her family paid for and entered her on their own dime. What parts are untrue and what are your sources? Could she have lacked medical clearence and the USTA have had an issue with her fitness ? Yes? If so why can the two issues not be mutually exclusive and have no bearing one another?
 

JoelDali

Talk Tennis Guru
Its Patrick McEnroe's fault my kid sucks at tennis.

:)

order-of-the-illuminati-flow-chart.jpg
 
Tell us. Was she not just cleared medically on the Tuesday before the US Open Juniors started? Because she was not cleared medically her family paid for and entered her on their own dime. What parts are untrue and what are your sources? Could she have lacked medical clearence and the USTA have had an issue with her fitness ? Yes? If so why can the two issues not be mutually exclusive and have no bearing one another?

What doesn't seem to hold water in the medical clearance story is that she was still cleared to practice with double fitness. So, she was medically cleared to practice with double fitness, but not to play in a tournament ? Second, not medically cleared becuase of an easily treatable iron deficiency ? An iron deficiency mot likely caused by USTA changes to her diet ? Sorry, not uncommon for 16 year old girls to develop iron deficiencies when they are starving themselves becuase of pressure to appear a certain way.
 
T

TCF

Guest
====================================================
 
Last edited by a moderator:
T

TCF

Guest
====================================================
 
Last edited by a moderator:

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Tell us. Was she not just cleared medically on the Tuesday before the US Open Juniors started? Because she was not cleared medically her family paid for and entered her on their own dime. What parts are untrue and what are your sources? Could she have lacked medical clearence and the USTA have had an issue with her fitness ? Yes? If so why can the two issues not be mutually exclusive and have no bearing one another?

They can be. It could have been resolved in court. Instead, it seemed to have been "resolved" as soon as former chubby girl Lindsay came out with her comments and public outrage kicked in. A small exposure and the implied threat of a lawsuit caused a change in attitude. What does it show? Do you think the USTA cannot spend 100 times what Townsend can spend on a lawsuit? What were they really afraid of?
 

andfor

Legend
What doesn't seem to hold water in the medical clearance story is that she was still cleared to practice with double fitness. So, she was medically cleared to practice with double fitness, but not to play in a tournament ? Second, not medically cleared becuase of an easily treatable iron deficiency ? An iron deficiency mot likely caused by USTA changes to her diet ? Sorry, not uncommon for 16 year old girls to develop iron deficiencies when they are starving themselves becuase of pressure to appear a certain way.

Good point. Could double fitness be construed as such if the court time is significantly reduced? Could the program and diet have been prescribed by a doctor? Does not being cleared for competition mean you are not cleared for any physical activity? I'll answer the last question, no.

Too many unanswered questions and to try this I'm the court of public opinion is not objective. But this is pmac and the USTA against a teenager. So based on two articles the teenager must be telling the truth. Teenagers always tell the truth, pmac and the USTA always lie.
 

andfor

Legend
They can be. It could have been resolved in court. Instead, it seemed to have been "resolved" as soon as former chubby girl Lindsay came out with her comments and public outrage kicked in. A small exposure and the implied threat of a lawsuit caused a change in attitude. What does it show? Do you think the USTA cannot spend 100 times what Townsend can spend on a lawsuit? What were they really afraid of?

Lindsey based her comments on what she heard from the patents and kid, USTA and doctor? Does she have insight to the kids medical records and doctor recommended medical restriction?How long has Lindsey been established as an objective investigative reporter?
 
Last edited:
T

TCF

Guest
====================================================
 
Last edited by a moderator:

andfor

Legend
In this specific case we do not know this teenager to have a history of lying. We do know that the USTA comes up with a new high performance cure all every 10 years of which none work, changed many rules with a survey pretending to be a vote by membership, and Pat Mac said without a doubt fitness....which Aloha explained does not fit into the later story of iron issues combined with even more prescribed exercise.

So yeah, in this case we tend to believe the party without the history of shadiness. Pretty much the way of the world, credibility issues decide who we tend to believe.

So anything an unknown party who has no history of lying or shadiness says any thing against the USTA they are telling the whole truth? Anything the USTA says in defense of such story is lying?

That sums up what we have here.

I still believe neither party.
 
Top