That is not the point. She said that she too suffered from weight issues. Her testimony in court would have been devastating given what she achieved eventually.
#1 Junior Taylor Townsend "Benched" by the USTA
- Thread starter Tcbtennis
- Start date
That is not the point. She said that she too suffered from weight issues. Her testimony in court would have been devastating given what she achieved eventually.
Misterbill
Semi-Pro
You haven't told us yet what the crime or civil charge is that you are alleging
Good. But Townsend and her parents need not wait for approval from you and it is their money and future that is at stake. Why should they give a rat's posterior about your views? It is pretty clear this was not just about "iron deficiency" as it is being projected now.
It is the USTA which has changed its position and is refunding the money. Whether you believe it or what you think of it is not relevant. They could have stuck to their guns and not done anything, and let a lawsuit open up the way they spend their money and divulge what is going on.
That should be easy for you to figure out for yourself, and I have already explained it before, so I am not going to type it again.
How much legal merit it has is another issue. That is why such issues are important not for the obvious reason, but what they will eventually reveal. Remember that several top Mafia members were convicted not for the murders they committed, but for tax evasion.
Misterbill
Semi-Pro
No you haven't
If you had, it would have taken fewer words to repeat it than what you typed here.
Go ahead, call me on it and cite where you explained it
T
TCF
Guest
====================================================
Last edited by a moderator:
Serena Williams and Taylor Townsend: Race, Weight, USTA and U.S. Open
Interesting, will post full article later.
Serena Williams and Taylor Townsend: Race, Weight, USTA and U.S. Open
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-taylor-townsend-race-weight-usta-and-us-open
Interesting, will post full article later.
Serena Williams and Taylor Townsend: Race, Weight, USTA and U.S. Open
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-taylor-townsend-race-weight-usta-and-us-open
chalkflewup
Hall of Fame
The NEW American Dream: File a lawsuit.
Great......
Tennis: Serena Williams and Taylor Townsend - Race, Weight, USTA, and US Open
Another perspective:
Tennis: Serena Williams and Taylor Townsend -
Race, Weight, USTA, and US Open
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-taylor-townsend-race-weight-usta-and-us-open
Given the history of tennis, it is a very short line.
Mixed among so many white Australians and Americans, the minority winners of the US Open are very few and far between.
Richard "Pancho" Gonzalez, born poor but proud in an LA barrio. Winner of the 1948 and 1949 US Opens.
An Hispanic-American whose name was spelled Gonzales, the "American" way early in his life and whose nickname may have stemmed from a cut on his face when he was a child, which was incorrectly rumored to have occurred in a knife fight.
Althea Gibson, product of Harlem was also poor. And black. Winner of the US Open in 1957 and 1958.
Manuel Santana is next. Winner of the 1965 US Open. Former ball boy from Spain.
Arthur Ashe, winner of the US Open in 1968. Always present these days at the US Open in the stadium bearing his name.
When you watch Serena Williams go for her next US Open women's title today,
do not consider her achievements as something done within the normal tennis world.
Instead, when you see her weight, her power, and her color, think of her achievements as an African-American
in a world that is not yet through with racial and sexual insensitivity.
Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Novak Djokovic, Victoria Azarenka and all of the rest of the men and women in the quarterfinals were all white except Serena Williams.
And they all have sleek, model-like physiques.
Serena Williams has a body that is bodacious in all respects.
Totally dissimilar to most bodies on tour, men and women.
Williams' physique is shared with Taylor Townsend,
a 16 year old African-American and the number 1 seed in the girl's juniors in singles.
Taylor lost on Friday in the junior girl's US Open singles tournament, but won the US Open girls doubles title.
Like most of us, you would have thought nothing of Taylor Townsend's weight or race.
But you are not the USTA and Patrick McEnroe, at least as to weight.
We may feel that women are no longer classified differently than men,
or that racial sensitivity is now practiced by almost everyone involved.
This situation brings us back to reality.
According to the Wall Street Journal, "Before this year's Open, Taylor asked the USTA for a wild-card entry slot
in either the Open's main draw or its qualifying tournament, which Taylor had played in last year.
Her requests were denied.
After the USTA asked Taylor to skip the U.S. Open junior tournament,
her mother told them she'd pay her daughter's expenses herself."
As Taylor's mother said, "It all kind of came as a shock to us because Taylor has consistently done quite well," she said.
Her daughter, she reminded, "is No. 1, not just in the United States, but in the world."
In fact, she had been "asked to stop competing," consequently missing the USTA Girls’ National Championships in San Diego,
because she had to get in better shape.
Patrick McEnroe, the general manager of the USTA's player development program, confirmed that her expenses to and at the US Open were not paid by the USTA. His excuse was not low iron at the time. "Our concern is her long-term health, number one, and her long-term development as a player," said Patrick McEnroe, the general manager of the USTA's player development program. "We have one goal in mind: For her to be playing in [Arthur Ashe Stadium] in the main draw and competing for major titles when it's time. That's how we make every decision, based on that." McEnroe also claimed there had just been a miscommunication.
Not so, said Taylor Townsend. "“There was no miscommunication,” Townsend said. “I don’t know what else to say. My mom was coming but they did not fund us for the tickets.”"
Could you have gotten to the quarterfinals of the US Open girls championship or the semifinals of the doubles if you had the weight of Patrick McEnroe and his USTA on top of you every game you played in addition to your own? Knowing that you were being penalized for your weight if not your race?
Probably not. But Taylor did.
Surely, both racial and sexual sensitivity would have dictated a different approach.
But as the Townsend situation shows us, Patrick McEnroe and the USTA do not share this sensitivity. In fact, their position remains both insensitive and appears indefensible.
So far the only disclosure of a health problem comes from Tennis.com, which claims that Townsend required a doctor's approval to play due to "low iron." And although Matt Cronin, a principal writer for USOpen.org, said that this was the reason, it apparently had nothing to do with the decision to ask Townsend not to participate in other tournaments.
We might fool ourselves by looking at the nearly all-white crowd in New York, telling ourselves that racial issues are over and that everyone involved, man or woman, white or black, is being treated fairly.
But the Townsend affair raises these questions once again.
And they are questions worth an investigation.
To satisfy people of color that the decision on Townsend was motivated neither by a prejudice
against people who are considered overweight or based on her race.
The issue of whether the USTA's player development group run by McEnroe is racist has been raised in the past.
The Williams former coach Morris King Jr. has made this claim, including by reference to his inability to get a response from them concerning coaching applications.
As for the USTA’s High Performance/Player Development department, I have been rejected for national coach positions at least a dozen times over the years. How did I learn that I was rejected? Because I am not there. That’s how I have always found out. They have never informed me through any type of communication.
Lest you believe that Morris King is just a nut, read his statements and verify them.
King pointed to the USTA's defense of several suits that have alleged race discrimination as a sign of discrimination at the USTA.
These have included the following: Zina Garrison's discrimination lawsuit for her dismissal as the Fed Cup coach which was settled by the USTA, the settled Cecil Hollins case brought by the one out of thirty or so top chair umpires claiming discrimination against black chair umpires because he had been the only one, and the resulting New York Attorney General investigation that was settled though an Assurance of Discontinuance with the USTA.
Another perspective:
Tennis: Serena Williams and Taylor Townsend -
Race, Weight, USTA, and US Open
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-taylor-townsend-race-weight-usta-and-us-open
Given the history of tennis, it is a very short line.
Mixed among so many white Australians and Americans, the minority winners of the US Open are very few and far between.
Richard "Pancho" Gonzalez, born poor but proud in an LA barrio. Winner of the 1948 and 1949 US Opens.
An Hispanic-American whose name was spelled Gonzales, the "American" way early in his life and whose nickname may have stemmed from a cut on his face when he was a child, which was incorrectly rumored to have occurred in a knife fight.
Althea Gibson, product of Harlem was also poor. And black. Winner of the US Open in 1957 and 1958.
Manuel Santana is next. Winner of the 1965 US Open. Former ball boy from Spain.
Arthur Ashe, winner of the US Open in 1968. Always present these days at the US Open in the stadium bearing his name.
When you watch Serena Williams go for her next US Open women's title today,
do not consider her achievements as something done within the normal tennis world.
Instead, when you see her weight, her power, and her color, think of her achievements as an African-American
in a world that is not yet through with racial and sexual insensitivity.
Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Novak Djokovic, Victoria Azarenka and all of the rest of the men and women in the quarterfinals were all white except Serena Williams.
And they all have sleek, model-like physiques.
Serena Williams has a body that is bodacious in all respects.
Totally dissimilar to most bodies on tour, men and women.
Williams' physique is shared with Taylor Townsend,
a 16 year old African-American and the number 1 seed in the girl's juniors in singles.
Taylor lost on Friday in the junior girl's US Open singles tournament, but won the US Open girls doubles title.
Like most of us, you would have thought nothing of Taylor Townsend's weight or race.
But you are not the USTA and Patrick McEnroe, at least as to weight.
We may feel that women are no longer classified differently than men,
or that racial sensitivity is now practiced by almost everyone involved.
This situation brings us back to reality.
According to the Wall Street Journal, "Before this year's Open, Taylor asked the USTA for a wild-card entry slot
in either the Open's main draw or its qualifying tournament, which Taylor had played in last year.
Her requests were denied.
After the USTA asked Taylor to skip the U.S. Open junior tournament,
her mother told them she'd pay her daughter's expenses herself."
As Taylor's mother said, "It all kind of came as a shock to us because Taylor has consistently done quite well," she said.
Her daughter, she reminded, "is No. 1, not just in the United States, but in the world."
In fact, she had been "asked to stop competing," consequently missing the USTA Girls’ National Championships in San Diego,
because she had to get in better shape.
Patrick McEnroe, the general manager of the USTA's player development program, confirmed that her expenses to and at the US Open were not paid by the USTA. His excuse was not low iron at the time. "Our concern is her long-term health, number one, and her long-term development as a player," said Patrick McEnroe, the general manager of the USTA's player development program. "We have one goal in mind: For her to be playing in [Arthur Ashe Stadium] in the main draw and competing for major titles when it's time. That's how we make every decision, based on that." McEnroe also claimed there had just been a miscommunication.
Not so, said Taylor Townsend. "“There was no miscommunication,” Townsend said. “I don’t know what else to say. My mom was coming but they did not fund us for the tickets.”"
Could you have gotten to the quarterfinals of the US Open girls championship or the semifinals of the doubles if you had the weight of Patrick McEnroe and his USTA on top of you every game you played in addition to your own? Knowing that you were being penalized for your weight if not your race?
Probably not. But Taylor did.
Surely, both racial and sexual sensitivity would have dictated a different approach.
But as the Townsend situation shows us, Patrick McEnroe and the USTA do not share this sensitivity. In fact, their position remains both insensitive and appears indefensible.
So far the only disclosure of a health problem comes from Tennis.com, which claims that Townsend required a doctor's approval to play due to "low iron." And although Matt Cronin, a principal writer for USOpen.org, said that this was the reason, it apparently had nothing to do with the decision to ask Townsend not to participate in other tournaments.
We might fool ourselves by looking at the nearly all-white crowd in New York, telling ourselves that racial issues are over and that everyone involved, man or woman, white or black, is being treated fairly.
But the Townsend affair raises these questions once again.
And they are questions worth an investigation.
To satisfy people of color that the decision on Townsend was motivated neither by a prejudice
against people who are considered overweight or based on her race.
The issue of whether the USTA's player development group run by McEnroe is racist has been raised in the past.
The Williams former coach Morris King Jr. has made this claim, including by reference to his inability to get a response from them concerning coaching applications.
As for the USTA’s High Performance/Player Development department, I have been rejected for national coach positions at least a dozen times over the years. How did I learn that I was rejected? Because I am not there. That’s how I have always found out. They have never informed me through any type of communication.
Lest you believe that Morris King is just a nut, read his statements and verify them.
King pointed to the USTA's defense of several suits that have alleged race discrimination as a sign of discrimination at the USTA.
These have included the following: Zina Garrison's discrimination lawsuit for her dismissal as the Fed Cup coach which was settled by the USTA, the settled Cecil Hollins case brought by the one out of thirty or so top chair umpires claiming discrimination against black chair umpires because he had been the only one, and the resulting New York Attorney General investigation that was settled though an Assurance of Discontinuance with the USTA.
superfittennis
New User
Yes iron deficiency and medical clearence should be closely monitored. I would certainly agree that players should not be able to participate prior to having proper clearance and health.
Medical and Fitness are seperate entities, but medical/health issues must obviously be taken care of first. Maybe this is not so obvious?
Continued - Tennis: Serena Williams and Taylor Townsend - Race, Weight, USTA, and US
( A lot of people do believe there is discrimination here by the USTA, whether you believe it or not, good article to consider other people's view)
Claims and perhaps one or more cases have also been made that the wild card process of getting into tournaments is discriminatory.
So far, there is no evidence apart from this history that real discrimination existed in the decision to tell Townsend to stay away.
But given the way Serena has always looked, how can you successfully apply any weight exclusion on any player?
Especially because, despite millions in expenditures to develop any top ranked player over the past five or six years,
the USTA under Patrick McEnroe has failed in their task and one success they have had is told to stay home and not compete.
That McEnroe's claim that weight was the reason appears to be a false claim based on Townsend's experience at the Australian Open this year. Taylor Townsend was in both the Australian Open girls' singles and doubles,
toiling well into the night, where McEnroe was present as a TV commentator.
During this January's Australian Open, "[t]he left-handed Townsend had a busy day as she defeated fellow American Krista Hardebeck 7-6 (3), 6-4, in the girls' singles semifinals to earn herself a final round match up with Russia's Yulia Putinseva.
Then she and Andrew had to pull the late night shift and took a dramatic 5-7, 7-5, 10-6 [super tiebreaker] win in one hour, 44 minutes over Irina Khromacheva and Danka Kovinic."
Such a schedule does not seem to indicate a health or fitness concern over her weight.
Townsend has won or done very well in the tournaments in which she has participated.
You have to have significant athletic skills to be ranked number 1 in her age group, as she has been this year.
The most tragic indictment of McEnroe's acts come from Taylor Townsend herself.
"“It was definitely shocking,” she said. “I was actually very upset. I cried. I was actually devastated.
I mean, I worked really hard, you know, it’s not by a miracle that I got to number one.
I’m not saying that to be conceited or anything, but it’s not just a miracle or it didn’t just fall upon me just because my name’s Taylor.”
As Sports Illustrated said, "Taylor Townsend, a charming young girl who still wears her braces proudly and plays with ribbons in her hair, is still just that: a young girl. She is not the future of American tennis, she is not a policy and she is not an example. She’s just a kid playing a sport she loves and she’s pretty darn good at it. Her body is still developing, her self-esteem still ebbing and flowing, and the last thing she needs, not as a tennis prodigy but as an adolescent, is her own tennis federation telling her she’s physically deficient."
SI also points out that it is through wins and losses in big tournaments that players become better.
Both Lindsay Davenport and Martina Navratilova have denounced this decision.
“You cannot punish someone for their body type,” Davenport said.
“I’m livid about it. Livid,” Navratilova said. She added: “It speaks of horrible ignorance.”
Denying Townsend any money to travel to the US Open, and asking her to stay away from competitions,
tarnishes the efforts made by the US Open and the USTA over the past few decades to eradicate racism and treat women fairly.
The USTA must not bury this incident, as it seems to have done so far, but instead must publicly deal with all those involved.
At least some official position is appropriate even though there is less of a public furor than one might expect over McEnroe's decision.
Is it a coincidence that this situation was reported by the Wall Street Journal apparently on September 6, 2012, and then by The New York Times on Friday, but USOpen.org and the USTA apparently have not published a thing on this incident?
It is tempting to say that singling out weight is more a case of class prejudice rather than racial.
After all, it is a stereotype in today's culture that if you are overweight, then you are poor.
A few generations ago, tennis was largely the province of moneyed men and women.
Professional tennis was played at private clubs, organized by individuals, and treated as if it were an all-white sport.
Indeed, at one time, being white from an English speaking country was an almost required feature of tennis players.
And almost never being overweight.
But there is clearly a lack of racial sensitivity too.
Surely, the USTA or Patrick McEnroe did not consider that McEnroe's decision might be considered racist or it would have been handled very differently. Especially when Serena is the antithesis of the typical svelte tennis player and has a fairly unique body type for tennis,
the potential for others to interpret the move as racist is clearly present.
We have moved a long way on matters of race because of the many great athletes who were able to overcome barriers against them and their play.One of the greatest players of all time, Althea Gibson is the most prominent for the role she played in breaking the color barrier in tennis despite overcoming a very poor family life. As Venus Williams said when Gibson died in 2003:
"I am grateful to Althea Gibson for having the strength and courage to break through the racial barriers in tennis," it said. "Althea Gibson was the first African-American woman to rank No. 1 and win Wimbledon, and I am honored to have followed in such great footsteps. Her accomplishments set the stage for my success and through players like myself, Serena [Williams] and many others to come, her legacy will live on."
The Williams sisters and their father have reported about the racism they faced from the crowds. "In the semi-finals of the US Open last year [2002], the American crowd supported Amélie Mauresmo of France rather than Venus: for the overwhelmingly white, middle-class crowd, the bond of colour clearly counted for more than the bond of nation." As the Guardian noted in the same article on racism in tennis: "At the Indian Wells final in 2001, Serena was jeered the moment she appeared on court and was booed throughout. Her father, Richard, described how, as "Venus and I were walking down the stairs to our seats, people kept calling me ******. One guy said, 'I wish it was '75 [alluding to the Los Angeles race riots]; we'd skin you alive.'" They did not return to Indian Wells.
And it was only in Venus' last match at this year's US Open, potentially her last, when she said she finally felt like an American because the crowd was behind her.
Just as the Williams sisters demanded and obtained equality with boycott and regular reporting of the racism they faced from the crowds,
other prejudice must also be banished including any prejudice that might exist due to a player's weight.
Despite the many claims of Richard Williams of racism, there has never been any broad, public investigaton by the USTA about his and Morris King's complaints. Why?
Is the Townsend situation more of the same? Or is it a stereotype that comes with being poor, where more overweight people are found today.
It may be coincidence, but last year The New York Times did another article on Taylor Townsend.
The article lauded her progress in tennis, and interviewed and extensively interviewed Richard Williams, the Williams sister's father and former coach. And they spoke with Kathy Rinaldi, USTA's national coach. What did she say at the time?
“She has come a long way in a short time” . . . “When I first saw her a year and a half ago, she had a lot of potential. She has more discipline with her shot selection now and knows her game and style more. Her work is paying off.”
Tennis associations should never make sixteen year olds concerned about either race or their bodies,
especially when no empirical evidence of Townsend needing to tone up her body before she competes.
In fact, if you look at Townsend's record, you begin to believe that this is all made up.
By the USTA's Patrick McEnroe.
You might also consider whether she may be Serena Williams' successor.
If your physique looks like Serena Williams, perhaps the best women's player in history, what more needs be said?
( A lot of people do believe there is discrimination here by the USTA, whether you believe it or not, good article to consider other people's view)
Claims and perhaps one or more cases have also been made that the wild card process of getting into tournaments is discriminatory.
So far, there is no evidence apart from this history that real discrimination existed in the decision to tell Townsend to stay away.
But given the way Serena has always looked, how can you successfully apply any weight exclusion on any player?
Especially because, despite millions in expenditures to develop any top ranked player over the past five or six years,
the USTA under Patrick McEnroe has failed in their task and one success they have had is told to stay home and not compete.
That McEnroe's claim that weight was the reason appears to be a false claim based on Townsend's experience at the Australian Open this year. Taylor Townsend was in both the Australian Open girls' singles and doubles,
toiling well into the night, where McEnroe was present as a TV commentator.
During this January's Australian Open, "[t]he left-handed Townsend had a busy day as she defeated fellow American Krista Hardebeck 7-6 (3), 6-4, in the girls' singles semifinals to earn herself a final round match up with Russia's Yulia Putinseva.
Then she and Andrew had to pull the late night shift and took a dramatic 5-7, 7-5, 10-6 [super tiebreaker] win in one hour, 44 minutes over Irina Khromacheva and Danka Kovinic."
Such a schedule does not seem to indicate a health or fitness concern over her weight.
Townsend has won or done very well in the tournaments in which she has participated.
You have to have significant athletic skills to be ranked number 1 in her age group, as she has been this year.
The most tragic indictment of McEnroe's acts come from Taylor Townsend herself.
"“It was definitely shocking,” she said. “I was actually very upset. I cried. I was actually devastated.
I mean, I worked really hard, you know, it’s not by a miracle that I got to number one.
I’m not saying that to be conceited or anything, but it’s not just a miracle or it didn’t just fall upon me just because my name’s Taylor.”
As Sports Illustrated said, "Taylor Townsend, a charming young girl who still wears her braces proudly and plays with ribbons in her hair, is still just that: a young girl. She is not the future of American tennis, she is not a policy and she is not an example. She’s just a kid playing a sport she loves and she’s pretty darn good at it. Her body is still developing, her self-esteem still ebbing and flowing, and the last thing she needs, not as a tennis prodigy but as an adolescent, is her own tennis federation telling her she’s physically deficient."
SI also points out that it is through wins and losses in big tournaments that players become better.
Both Lindsay Davenport and Martina Navratilova have denounced this decision.
“You cannot punish someone for their body type,” Davenport said.
“I’m livid about it. Livid,” Navratilova said. She added: “It speaks of horrible ignorance.”
Denying Townsend any money to travel to the US Open, and asking her to stay away from competitions,
tarnishes the efforts made by the US Open and the USTA over the past few decades to eradicate racism and treat women fairly.
The USTA must not bury this incident, as it seems to have done so far, but instead must publicly deal with all those involved.
At least some official position is appropriate even though there is less of a public furor than one might expect over McEnroe's decision.
Is it a coincidence that this situation was reported by the Wall Street Journal apparently on September 6, 2012, and then by The New York Times on Friday, but USOpen.org and the USTA apparently have not published a thing on this incident?
It is tempting to say that singling out weight is more a case of class prejudice rather than racial.
After all, it is a stereotype in today's culture that if you are overweight, then you are poor.
A few generations ago, tennis was largely the province of moneyed men and women.
Professional tennis was played at private clubs, organized by individuals, and treated as if it were an all-white sport.
Indeed, at one time, being white from an English speaking country was an almost required feature of tennis players.
And almost never being overweight.
But there is clearly a lack of racial sensitivity too.
Surely, the USTA or Patrick McEnroe did not consider that McEnroe's decision might be considered racist or it would have been handled very differently. Especially when Serena is the antithesis of the typical svelte tennis player and has a fairly unique body type for tennis,
the potential for others to interpret the move as racist is clearly present.
We have moved a long way on matters of race because of the many great athletes who were able to overcome barriers against them and their play.One of the greatest players of all time, Althea Gibson is the most prominent for the role she played in breaking the color barrier in tennis despite overcoming a very poor family life. As Venus Williams said when Gibson died in 2003:
"I am grateful to Althea Gibson for having the strength and courage to break through the racial barriers in tennis," it said. "Althea Gibson was the first African-American woman to rank No. 1 and win Wimbledon, and I am honored to have followed in such great footsteps. Her accomplishments set the stage for my success and through players like myself, Serena [Williams] and many others to come, her legacy will live on."
The Williams sisters and their father have reported about the racism they faced from the crowds. "In the semi-finals of the US Open last year [2002], the American crowd supported Amélie Mauresmo of France rather than Venus: for the overwhelmingly white, middle-class crowd, the bond of colour clearly counted for more than the bond of nation." As the Guardian noted in the same article on racism in tennis: "At the Indian Wells final in 2001, Serena was jeered the moment she appeared on court and was booed throughout. Her father, Richard, described how, as "Venus and I were walking down the stairs to our seats, people kept calling me ******. One guy said, 'I wish it was '75 [alluding to the Los Angeles race riots]; we'd skin you alive.'" They did not return to Indian Wells.
And it was only in Venus' last match at this year's US Open, potentially her last, when she said she finally felt like an American because the crowd was behind her.
Just as the Williams sisters demanded and obtained equality with boycott and regular reporting of the racism they faced from the crowds,
other prejudice must also be banished including any prejudice that might exist due to a player's weight.
Despite the many claims of Richard Williams of racism, there has never been any broad, public investigaton by the USTA about his and Morris King's complaints. Why?
Is the Townsend situation more of the same? Or is it a stereotype that comes with being poor, where more overweight people are found today.
It may be coincidence, but last year The New York Times did another article on Taylor Townsend.
The article lauded her progress in tennis, and interviewed and extensively interviewed Richard Williams, the Williams sister's father and former coach. And they spoke with Kathy Rinaldi, USTA's national coach. What did she say at the time?
“She has come a long way in a short time” . . . “When I first saw her a year and a half ago, she had a lot of potential. She has more discipline with her shot selection now and knows her game and style more. Her work is paying off.”
Tennis associations should never make sixteen year olds concerned about either race or their bodies,
especially when no empirical evidence of Townsend needing to tone up her body before she competes.
In fact, if you look at Townsend's record, you begin to believe that this is all made up.
By the USTA's Patrick McEnroe.
You might also consider whether she may be Serena Williams' successor.
If your physique looks like Serena Williams, perhaps the best women's player in history, what more needs be said?
arche3
Banned
The problem is p mac daddy thought she needed to lose weight. And had her doing double fitness. This was not disputed. She was told she should shape up. So stay away from tourneys. Not disputed. See was cleared by us open to play. Obviously as she played in it. Isn't usta the owner of us open?
After the story gets out. P mac says he was concerned for her health. So the double fitness routine he advocated is ok. But not playing tennis?
I don't need to see the emails. Proof or a court of law to see the essence of what has happened. I don't think it's racism. I don't think it's sexism. I think p mac is an idiot and has no idea now to deliver proper training and motivation to young athletes.
Its obvious.
After the story gets out. P mac says he was concerned for her health. So the double fitness routine he advocated is ok. But not playing tennis?
I don't need to see the emails. Proof or a court of law to see the essence of what has happened. I don't think it's racism. I don't think it's sexism. I think p mac is an idiot and has no idea now to deliver proper training and motivation to young athletes.
Its obvious.
superfittennis
New User
I guess only TT and PM know if the chicken or the egg came first. One thing for sure is that this thing could have been monitored a bit better. I would guess that she did not have low iron prior to having clearance to do a "double fitness regimen." Keep in mind that depending on how it is performed the double fitness regimens can fairly easily lead to overtraining and sometimes that causes low iron (deficiency). I am simply going to guess that her iron levels were not low prior to doing the double fitness program. I certainly could be wrong???
I've read the article and find it quite rambling and off-topic. The infusion of racism does nothing to add anything positive (if there could be anything positive) to the situation. In my opinion, this whole episode speaks to the insensitivity that that the USTA has shown to a still developing teenage girl who is the #1 ranked junior as opposed to insensitivity to an African American teenage girl. I have knowledge that the USTA cut from their PD program another young teenage girl over her weight and she is white.
All this article does is add controversy that isn't there and make people who may show interest in this story be turned off by the controversial, divisive and important issue that is racism.
superfittennis
New User
Again, without knowing the situation I would Pat Mac the benefit of the doubt. I am certain that everyone meant well and wanted to get her into shape quickly with those 2 a day workouts. If intensity levels are not monitored correctly and sufficient rest days are not provided then it is easy to overtrain a player. Overtraining can lead to the iron deficiency.
I do not at all agree with 2 a day workouts. I would be so interested in knowing what exactly what was done during those 2 a day workouts and how long those workouts lasted. Tough one... The main fitness coaches were told by the coaches to give her 2 a days and therefore they do!
Alohajrtennis
Semi-Pro
The USTA owns the Open, but the Junior event is an ITF event. As such, players qualify based on their ITF points/rankings. USTA controls some(all??) of the wild cards for the main draw and qualifier, but TT qualified for the junior main draw based on her ranking/points, not through the use of a wildcard. Nothing the USTA could do to stop her, but they didn't help her get in either, at least directly.
What she requested from the USTA was a wildcard into the main draw or qualifying draw of the main event, and she did not get it. That's the USTA's prerogative. But had she not passed on the girls nationals, at USTA's request, and won that event, she would have gotten an automatic wildcard to the main draw.
Totally agree. This could have been brewing for some time now. We aren't there to know if diets or fitness programs are being followed or broken by the player.
There's a big difference between soft and out of shape Serena winning the Aussie Open and the blocky solid in shape condition of Serena today. And then trying to tie this to Townsend and the rest of what the article suggests? Please.
Iron deficiency anemia in teenage girls is more common than you think. Causes are chronic blood loss and not enough iron intake.
It can lead to fatique, feeling weak and dizzy in grueling tennis matches.
I don't think you can blame the fitness training as a cause of anemia.
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t135
Professional
Interesting article. I live in the south and have had the good fortune of watching the USTA reach out to, support, inspire, promote, and empower African Americans in junior tennis for about two decades or so.
I've met a lot of racists in the south in my lifetime but I've never met one who worked at the USTA at any level of the organization. Claiming racism here is a cop out. And it distracts from the real issue at hand. The USTA expects a higher level of commitment from Taylor Townsend than she has been giving.
Carrying extra body weight isn't ideal but doesn't necessarily indicate poor conditioning for tennis. I would expect the USTA to base all this on the fact that TT conditioning level hinders her ability to succeed at the professional level right now. Juniors success is not relevant and indicative of professional success.
Serena is bodacious alright but taylor Townsend is a long way from Serena Williams level of tennis right now. Despite Serena carrying a little extra body fat (a female thing), she looks fit. And based in her performance on tour, she obviously is fit.
Disappointed about the sense of entitlement that obviously exists here. And that runs through this new new article claiming racism. Just another case of an athlete not willing to take responsibility for themselves. This one just happens to be black.
The USTA needs to set physical conditioning standards and stick to them for anyone getting a free ride from them. Pushups, sit-ups, running, etc.
The article is the claiming racism not Taylor. So do not attribute a "sense of entitlement" to Taylor that doesn't exist. That's why I said that this article just muddies up the story. Because now people like you and andfor and chalkflewup can use article to dismiss the real culprits in this whole affair. The USTA PD punishing the #1 junior in the world because of her weight. And after all the bad publicity, the USTA running around in circles to cover their butts.
Trying to pull the old bait and switch routine.
Tennishacker
Professional
As the reigning ITF #1 player, it was her "responsibility" to play.
I didn't post the article. Just commented on it.
So there was no medical condition or restriction? I thought medical clearence was not given until the Tuesday before the tournament. Which is it?
And under medical restriction the USTA could not support her until medical restriction was released. That was less then 2 weeks ago, well after the entry deadline. Her parents made the decision to play. Good call on their part. The USTA said they'd reimburse them after the medical was lifted.
Should the USTA overrule doctors now?
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chalkflewup
Hall of Fame
If it was crystal clear that there was malicious wrongdoing here, any parent with the #1 kid in the would not allow their kid to return to the program. No way. No how.
I think everyone should just sit back and see what happens.
I think everyone should just sit back and see what happens.
Tennishacker
Professional
The US Junior Open is not run by the USTA, it's an ITF tournament.
I'm assuming that the ITF had no issues with her health, the fact that she was able to play singles (to quarters) and win the doubles, is a strong indication that the health issue was bogus.
Tennishacker
Professional
Agree, but the problem is financial support, and the most important, wild cards.
Great point and advice. However, I fully expect the epic lack of objectivity, rampant speculation of wrongdoing, coverup, conspiracy and USTA piling on to continue in full force.
She was granted medical release a couple of Tuesdays ago. Well after the entry deadline. Is she supposed to have low iron forever?
You don't have to pass a physical to play an ITF or USTA tournament. What you're not understanding is if the USTA pays for your training, travel and coaching you are under their care.
The parents, on their own dime can do what they want. And they did.
So, do you still want the USTA overruling doctors advice?
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chalkflewup
Hall of Fame
And that's why I'm done with this thread. I just want the kid to be happy.
Tennishacker
Professional
It's simple, if she wasn't cleared by the USTA doctor before the deadline, they should of just entered her, in the hopes that she gets the medical release before play began.
So why do you think PMAC did not tell WSJ journalist that doctors did not allow her to play National and US Open for health reasons? Then there probably would be no article at all. But instead we are learning this 3 days later from some news outfit associated with USTA?
Tennishacker
Professional
Ironic, you want her to be happy, yet you question her truthfulness.
superfittennis
New User
I understand what you are saying about anemia. I seriously doubt that she had it prior to allowing her to do the 2 a day workouts. Hopefully!
You most certainly can blame the fitness training as a cause of anemia! Absolutely! I am not saying that is the case in this instance, but anemia can be a symptom and marker of overtraining.
Tennishacker
Professional
Or she could be suffering from sickle-cell anaemia.
So you want the USTA to play favorites and enter a player deemed medically not fit to play? Is that the responsible thing to do?
Look, the parents entered her, she was subsequently cleared and then the USTA offered to reimburse the family.
Tennishacker
Professional
Let's be objective here, you culling your facts from the Tennis.com article, which is owned by the USTA.
And how are they playing favorites with the number 1 ITF junior player in the world?
The shooter in the knoll.
I'm not questioning the kid or mothers truthfulness. I'll speak for Chalk and bet he feels the same. I do question the totality of a newspaper article. It's an article, not a transcript or interview.
Something is missing here. Likely the full story from both parties.
By overruling a doctors advice to play for a player under their program.
Dang you have a hard head.
Are you a truther? If so that would explain a lot. Ha ha. Just having fun with you.
It s ok. You will be back once there will be another thread where your pro bono defense of USTA will be required.
It s a little sad that even on this issue where USTA certainly went overboard and crossed the line you still fail to be objective. I m not the one who bashes USTA just for the sake of doing it (like others on these boards) but as far as this case goes, they screwed up. And most of all I don t understand why PMAC even decided to speak on this matter. The more he spoke and wiggled and went back and forth with different versions, the worse it got.
But knowing Partrick he probably wanted to respond and be the big fish, much like he did when he responded to Wayne s letter. No tweets from him on this subject either. He is usually very "twitter happy".
please explain pathophysiology of excessive fitness training causing iron def anemia. Just never heard of it before.
Below is Pubmed reference on iron def anemia. Publication from the National Library of Medicine, pretty reliable source.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001610/
sorry for getting off thread here....just curious.
Sorry Hacker.....we should stop speculating here. Sickel cell is very different from low iron.
I can most emphatically say that she is not suffering from sickle cell anemia. That is a chronic disease in which those children afflicted are in and out of the hospital quite frequently because of the sporadic and very painful crises that they go through. It is exacerbated by dehydration which as an athlete training in the hot conditions of Florida woud be a very common occurrence.
Anemia in a menstruating female coupled with a diet not sufficient in iron is not uncommon. It can be serious if the blood loss is occurs over a short period of time but more often in young girls it is a chronic anema that the body compensates for. Oral iron is the treatment.
Funny. They certainly have mishandled the entire situation. Sadly a sweet kid who is a great junior tennis player with great promise is in the middle.
Maybe you missed it, I don't believe either side. It's not their truthfulness I doubt, it's only because what we know is from a couple of articles and a little from Lindsay Davenport. And please don't mistake Lindsay's comments for an exposé on the matter either.
Hope the kid is happy, healthy (appears that way now) and reaches all her dreams.
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