Boycott the US Open!

[adventure]

Boycott the US Open!!!

I've become more and more of a tennis fan over the last two years. I respect the game, it's sense of etiquette, and the physical training required. Plus, it's fun.

This year's USO shattered my faith in the USTA and governing bodies of tennis.

1. USO umpires aren't paid sh1t, and are forced to work overtime without compensation

2. fans get shafted: USO announces play, brings players out for two minutes, then charges fans full price for the day, then pulls the players back out.

3. Roddick cusses out the tournament official and there are no sanctions or consequences.

4. Serena threatens an ump, never apologizes, is only fined $2K

5. Disgusting USTA leeches make millions in salary off our annual dues.

6. Turning USO, which should be a fun, exciting event, into a morbid vehicle for re-inducing the trauma of 911.

I am really getting sick of the blood sucking money hungry vampires who populate tennis official-dom.

I am not renewing my USTA membership. All it got me was a tennis magazine which was 90% ads and a couple of superficial articles and random pieces of news which were absolutely littered with spelling and grammatical errors. They were unreadable anyway.

I like to play, but I can't support USTA or USO anymore.

Solutions:

1. don't attend 2012 USO.

2. boycott the sponsors of scumbags like Roddick and Serena.

3. write a letter to the USTA and explain why you aren't renewing.

4. write letters and emails to Serena's sponsors and explain why you will not buy their products.

5. continue to play tennis and have fun, without supporting corrupt leeches.

Post here to support a 2012 boycott!!!!

 

[r2473]

4. Serena threatens an ump, never apologizes, is only fined $2K

I never heard about this. What happened?

 

[fuzz nation]

Write letters... LOTS of letters. I'm already scratching out drafts that are headed for CBS/ESPN concerning their embarrassingly polarized, limited coverage along with some thoughts for the USTA concerning their "premier event". Find a balance between rational thought and screaming bloody murder at these people so that there's some hope that they'll listen to you.

If you hit 'em in the wallet AND tell 'em why, that's leaps and bounds better for the cause than just being apathetic and not re-upping with the organization. As far as I can tell, the USTA is behaving like a self-involved money hoarding organization that doesn't make real efforts on behalf of its members or the fans.

Gene Scott was the editor of Tennis Week magazine before we lost him a little while back, but when he was around, he was an authority of the sport who had no problem with leveling heavy criticism on the problems he recognized around the tennis world. I miss his spunk, integrity, and energizing writing, but I'm also hoping that more of "we the people" among the ranks can take up the cause and keep pushing for a better state of affairs for both the recreational players and the fans.

 

[Tyrus]

Solutions:

1. don't attend 2012 USO.

2. boycott the sponsors of scumbags like Roddick and Serena.

3. write a letter to the USTA and explain why you aren't renewing.

4. write letters and emails to Serena's sponsors and explain why you will not buy their products.

5. continue to play tennis and have fun, without supporting corrupt leeches.

Post here to support a 2012 boycott!!!!

So first of all, LOL. I mean really...

1. People want us to boycott the NFL too because of patdowns at games...

2. Damn, so i have to throw away my Babolats and Wilsons and start over with...Head?

3. They won't care or miss you.

4. You mean to email Nike, Wilson and Gatorade (to name a few) about how you will boycott thier products?

If you think the USTA cares about losing you...I wish i could find the Simpsons clip (from "Flaming Homer") where homer yells to Moe "You just lost a customer!" but Moe can't hear him over customers throwing cash at him and yelling.

5. Oh, so just go about normal life again. Okay that makes sense.

Hate to say this but

nobody cares.

Fans know damn well what they are buying when they get US open tickets.

Roddick (along with Nadal, and Murray) had a VALID point when they got angry with the US Open officials.

Good idea on principle, but...yeah, not happenin anytime soon.

 

[BallistecMissile]

Can I boycott the US Open and still go to the US Open and get my Nike US Open exclusives?

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

So first of all, LOL. I mean really...

3. They won't care or miss you.

Not one bit. The alleged "outrage" seen on message boards is not at all a mirror of the feelings of the masses.

If you think the USTA cares about losing you...I wish i could find the Simpsons clip (from "Flaming Homer") where homer yells to Moe "You just lost a customer!" but Moe can't hear him over customers throwing cash at him and yelling.

Funny--and timely! The USTA appeals to the average tennis fan, not that little gang of bitter types with ideas about the sport which do not exist at all, and like any business, they are going to protect their own interests--in other words, what works best for their organization, and draws the most customers to the entertainment service offered.

 

[Kaz00]

Don't forget made it a clay tournament.

 

[kimbahpnam]

If I didn't play in a 4.5 men's league, 4.5 one-doubles league, 8.0 mixed doubles and monthly USTA tournaments I'd quit too.

 

[adventure]

USO men's final drew a rating of 2. It used to be close to 10. The NBA finals draws a rating of 25. Superbowl 40-50.

The USTA is doing an abysmal job of attracting fans, whether measured by non-existent viewers of it's premier event, or by the empty courts throughout the united states.

like any business, they are going to protect their own interests--in other words, what works best for their organization, and draws the most customers to the entertainment service offered.

 

[OneMoreShot]

USO men's final drew a rating of 2. It used to be close to 10. The NBA finals draws a rating of 25. Superbowl 40-50.

The USTA is doing an abysmal job of attracting fans, whether measured by non-existent viewers of it's premier event, or by the empty courts throughout the united states.

Mens final was played on a Monday starting while the country was at work. Put the NBA finals on starting at 4 PM eastern time and see what it draws. Tennis won't draw in this country the way the NFL does nor will anything else. The NBA is higher also but the NBA finals were no where near 25. They were in the low teens.

 

[eliza]

OK. I have to say I have lots of things to discuss about how USTA governs Adult Leagues.....and I agree 100% with you.

However, at the end of the day, the USTA is giving adult players some tools to play and experience some kind of competition. The USTA is giving some tools to kids who want to play and progress.

Therefore: instead of demoing everything, I would start making waves, demand accountability (yes, fees/wages are outrageous for some, ridiculous for others), cause people to participate actively.

Because what WE all want is MORE tennis, right?

 

[Tanya]

Good riddance, tennis doesn't need any more fair-weather fans.

 

[eliza]

Don't forget made it a clay tournament.

that would be awesome!

 

[BMC9670]

Attending a professional sporting event is buying a product. If you don't like the product, don't buy it. If enough people felt like you, they wouldn't buy it and changes would occur. Supply and demand drives change and innovation. Pretty simple.

 

[jackson vile]

I support that!

 

[tangerine]

I've become more and more of a tennis fan over the last two years. I respect the game, it's sense of etiquette, and the physical training required. Plus, it's fun.

This year's USO shattered my faith in the USTA and governing bodies of tennis.

1. USO umpires aren't paid sh1t, and are forced to work overtime without compensation

2. fans get shafted: USO announces play, brings players out for two minutes, then charges fans full price for the day, then pulls the players back out.

3. Roddick cusses out the tournament official and there are no sanctions or consequences.

4. Serena threatens an ump, never apologizes, is only fined $2K

5. Disgusting USTA leeches make millions in salary off our annual dues.

6. Turning USO, which should be a fun, exciting event, into a morbid vehicle for re-inducing the trauma of 911.

I am really getting sick of the blood sucking money hungry vampires who populate tennis official-dom.

I am not renewing my USTA membership. All it got me was a tennis magazine which was 90% ads and a couple of superficial articles and random pieces of news which were absolutely littered with spelling and grammatical errors. They were unreadable anyway.

I like to play, but I can't support USTA or USO anymore.

Solutions:

1. don't attend 2012 USO.

2. boycott the sponsors of scumbags like Roddick and Serena.

3. write a letter to the USTA and explain why you aren't renewing.

4. write letters and emails to Serena's sponsors and explain why you will not buy their products.

5. continue to play tennis and have fun, without supporting corrupt leeches.

Post here to support a 2012 boycott!!!!

Lolz, manufactured outrage is so cute.

 

[Manus Domini]

6. Turning USO, which should be a fun, exciting event, into a morbid vehicle for re-inducing the trauma of 911.

WTH is wrong with you?

This USO final was supposed to be on the tenth anniversary of 9-11. They weren't reinducing the trauma of the event, they were honoring those lost.

But I guess you'd be the same person to believe we shouldn't have the Unknown Soldier, Pearl Harbor Day (December 7), Civil War memorials, or even Civil Rights Movement memorials. God forbid people remember the past!

2. boycott the sponsors of scumbags like Roddick and Serena.

Something tells me you work for Head or some other tennis-racquet company.

 

[sureshs]

After reading this thread, and being very moved buy it, I have decided to boycott the US Open for 1 year (till next September) and will not watch it in the middle.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Lolz, manufactured outrage is so cute.

...or misguided outrage with no chance of changing anything.

 

[TMF]

Not one bit. The alleged "outrage" seen on message boards is not at all a mirror of the feelings of the masses.

Serena's outrage causes fans to be outrage. Why? B/c we care for players/umpire/fans' safety.

And speaking of the masses, Serena's tantrum has been criticized widely across the internet by fans, not just this board. Wake up !!

 

[Manus Domini]

Question for the OP: why would we boycott it in 2012? Not gonna change anything for the following year--after-all, we'll all be dead anyway

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Serena's outrage causes fans to be outrage. Why? B/c we care for players/umpire/fans' safety.

And speaking of the masses, Serena's tantrum has been criticized widely across the internet by fans, not just this board. Wake up !!

Where are the numbers? Nowhere. No one cares. The business moved on--as always, just as it moved on when other players had their outbursts over the years.

...and I see you targeted the object of your hate (Serena) when the OP dealt with many issues.

Grow up.

 

[adventure]

USO men's finals have been in the high1 low2 range for a decade now.

NBA finals are as high as 15-19 range for end of series games.

Mens final was played on a Monday starting while the country was at work. Put the NBA finals on starting at 4 PM eastern time and see what it draws. Tennis won't draw in this country the way the NFL does nor will anything else. The NBA is higher also but the NBA finals were no where near 25. They were in the low teens.

 

[TMF]

Where are the numbers? Nowhere. No one cares. The business moved on--as always, just as it moved on when other players had their outbursts over the years.

...and I see you targeted the object of your hate (Serena) when the OP dealt with many issues.

Grow up.

Open your eyes thundervolley.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Open your eyes thundervolley.

To reiterate: Where are the numbers? Nowhere. No one cares. The business moved on--as always, just as it moved on when other players had their outbursts over the years.

...and I see you targeted the object of your hate (Serena) when the OP dealt with many issues.

Grow up.

 

[chatt_town]

So basically you are saying to just keep bending over and grabbing our ankles.

So first of all, LOL. I mean really...

1. People want us to boycott the NFL too because of patdowns at games...

2. Damn, so i have to throw away my Babolats and Wilsons and start over with...Head?

3. They won't care or miss you.

4. You mean to email Nike, Wilson and Gatorade (to name a few) about how you will boycott thier products?

If you think the USTA cares about losing you...I wish i could find the Simpsons clip (from "Flaming Homer") where homer yells to Moe "You just lost a customer!" but Moe can't hear him over customers throwing cash at him and yelling.

5. Oh, so just go about normal life again. Okay that makes sense.

Hate to say this but

nobody cares.

Fans know damn well what they are buying when they get US open tickets.

Roddick (along with Nadal, and Murray) had a VALID point when they got angry with the US Open officials.

Good idea on principle, but...yeah, not happenin anytime soon.