BluBarry
Semi-Pro
I fear this Post will be met with much disapproval in regards to certain references that some might consider sexes. In defense of what I intend to convey, my comments are coming from a place of sheer frustration.
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There is such a grave imbalance between the ATP & WTA Tours. Back in the Day when the topic of equal pay was first discussed amongst those that could make a decission and those that merely commented on decissions made, I eagerly took the affirmative position in that it appeared only right that women and men be treated equal in all things that mattered and equal pay I considered among those things that mattered.
Who were the women at the Top of the Game during that period? Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Navratilova, Jennifer Capriati, Gabriel Sabatini and other
notables that provided more entertainment than what the men were doing at times. Granted there were some extremely compelling ATP Players such as Agassi, Courier, Sampras, Becker, Edberg, Lendl, Chang, Muster, Noah, LeConte, Wilander, Cash, etc. You absolutely had to watch their matches at all cost. But the difference was, you didn't feel let down when watching the women battle for Top Spot because even though Steffi Graf & Monica Seles were seemingly taking all the marbles, memorable matches were taken place within the rest of the group and they were selling tickets.
I took notice then however that after you got out of the Top 10, the talent level dropped significantly. So if any of the affore mentioned women took the Stage against a lower ranked Player, the thought of an upset didn't usually enter your mind. What people bet on was how long it was going to take these ladies to dust off their opponents. Steffi would blast through her challengers in under an hour. Heck if you got up to get a drink or smoke a cigarette, by time you got back, they were already into the 2nd Set.
Then along came Lindsay Davenport and the William's Sisters and the Bar was raised considerably. We thought Steffi brought the Power Game to bare but these latter Women flexed serious muscle on the Court and gave notice that if you even think that you are going to beat me, you better get your rear in the Gym and learn how to pound the Ball. Barbara Shultz was probably the first woman to hit a scary 1st Serve equal to what many of the men were throwing at you but had absolutely no ground game. So of course when someone started the conversation of equal pay, it was easy to agree.
Well, what do we have today ? We have a #1 Player in the World who in my opinion is only a One Slam Wonder thus far. Yes I know she has two Slams under her belt but seriously do you really believe if Justine was healthy that infamous day, she would have been beaten by Mauresmo ? I consider her win at Wimbledon, legitimate. But there are hoards of One Slam Wonders on both sides of the Tour. Mauresmo also had a pretty good run in the Tier 1 Events just long enough to gain some quality points and the Slam Titles put her over the top. problem for Mauresmo, is that when the other Top Ten Players are on their game and healthy, she can't beat them. So I'm thinking Amelie Mauresmo basically became #1 by default. Worst situation one can hope for because even though she is or was #1, she never got to enjoy the Fear Factor associated with the Ranking like Steffi, Monica, Serena, Venus, Lindsay. Justine, etc did. When those women walked onto a court, their opponents prayed that they would at least get on the Board before the Match was over.
So now I'm wondering, how in the World can you justify paying someone $280,000 USD for the type of performance that Jelena Jankovic displayed after winning the 1st Set? These are Professionals are they not? I mean most of the Players today not only have their Technical Trainer but they also cart around an entourage of Physical Conditioning Coaches, Nutritionist, Psychologist and all other necessary components of people geared towards getting you up and keeping you up. When you are serving at 4-2 with a Set in Hand and because you disagreed with the Rules of the Game, I'll give you a point or two to get over your tantrum but to completely implode and lose the next 10 Games in a row, doesn't qualify you as a Professional in my book and certainly not deserving of a $280,000 Walk-Away Purse.
I've seen this behavior before and other than James Blake at Wimbledon this year, mostly occurring on the women's side i.e. Jana Novatna losing to Chanda Rubin at the French while she was serving for the match at 40-15/5-0 and again with Gabriel Sabatini losing to Mary Jo Fernandez also serving with a 5-1 lead in the 3rd Set. And now the #1 Player in the World getting double bageled by a woman she never lost to before with so much at stake.
There lies the difference between being a Good Caliber Player, Great Caliber Player and Champion Caliber Player. And I wish that I could even place Mauresmo in the Good Caliber column but today, our #1 in the World didn't even rise to that level. Mauresmo & Jankovic were both poised to log wins and their mental state did them in. Neither got beat today, they became Public Park Players who typically beat themselves. The only retribution I gained from those debacles is the Women's Finals will be played by the most deserving of the Field. Should Justine & Maria warrant $1,200,000 & $800,000 respectively ? I suppose so but they will not pull into the Seats nearly as many people who will cheerish the opportunity of a Federer/Roddick Final.
Maria Sharapova ,whom I personally don't care for, has great legs. Actually, Million Dollar Legs based upon how she is so forced fed into our minds reminiscent of another Blond Russian Glamour Queen who got paid far more than her results dictated appropriate.
I'm so sorry to say but I have changed my opinion on equal prize money. I am aware that marketing & sponsorship is the name of Sports these days. But for us diehard advocates of the Game, the Players should get a percentage of the Door. The more people that come to watch you, the larger your kickback. If 98% if Ashe Stadium is filled when Federer or Roddick play and only 65% is filled when Sharapova or Henin-Hardenne plays, then that should tell the tale.
******************************************************
There is such a grave imbalance between the ATP & WTA Tours. Back in the Day when the topic of equal pay was first discussed amongst those that could make a decission and those that merely commented on decissions made, I eagerly took the affirmative position in that it appeared only right that women and men be treated equal in all things that mattered and equal pay I considered among those things that mattered.
Who were the women at the Top of the Game during that period? Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Navratilova, Jennifer Capriati, Gabriel Sabatini and other
notables that provided more entertainment than what the men were doing at times. Granted there were some extremely compelling ATP Players such as Agassi, Courier, Sampras, Becker, Edberg, Lendl, Chang, Muster, Noah, LeConte, Wilander, Cash, etc. You absolutely had to watch their matches at all cost. But the difference was, you didn't feel let down when watching the women battle for Top Spot because even though Steffi Graf & Monica Seles were seemingly taking all the marbles, memorable matches were taken place within the rest of the group and they were selling tickets.
I took notice then however that after you got out of the Top 10, the talent level dropped significantly. So if any of the affore mentioned women took the Stage against a lower ranked Player, the thought of an upset didn't usually enter your mind. What people bet on was how long it was going to take these ladies to dust off their opponents. Steffi would blast through her challengers in under an hour. Heck if you got up to get a drink or smoke a cigarette, by time you got back, they were already into the 2nd Set.
Then along came Lindsay Davenport and the William's Sisters and the Bar was raised considerably. We thought Steffi brought the Power Game to bare but these latter Women flexed serious muscle on the Court and gave notice that if you even think that you are going to beat me, you better get your rear in the Gym and learn how to pound the Ball. Barbara Shultz was probably the first woman to hit a scary 1st Serve equal to what many of the men were throwing at you but had absolutely no ground game. So of course when someone started the conversation of equal pay, it was easy to agree.
Well, what do we have today ? We have a #1 Player in the World who in my opinion is only a One Slam Wonder thus far. Yes I know she has two Slams under her belt but seriously do you really believe if Justine was healthy that infamous day, she would have been beaten by Mauresmo ? I consider her win at Wimbledon, legitimate. But there are hoards of One Slam Wonders on both sides of the Tour. Mauresmo also had a pretty good run in the Tier 1 Events just long enough to gain some quality points and the Slam Titles put her over the top. problem for Mauresmo, is that when the other Top Ten Players are on their game and healthy, she can't beat them. So I'm thinking Amelie Mauresmo basically became #1 by default. Worst situation one can hope for because even though she is or was #1, she never got to enjoy the Fear Factor associated with the Ranking like Steffi, Monica, Serena, Venus, Lindsay. Justine, etc did. When those women walked onto a court, their opponents prayed that they would at least get on the Board before the Match was over.
So now I'm wondering, how in the World can you justify paying someone $280,000 USD for the type of performance that Jelena Jankovic displayed after winning the 1st Set? These are Professionals are they not? I mean most of the Players today not only have their Technical Trainer but they also cart around an entourage of Physical Conditioning Coaches, Nutritionist, Psychologist and all other necessary components of people geared towards getting you up and keeping you up. When you are serving at 4-2 with a Set in Hand and because you disagreed with the Rules of the Game, I'll give you a point or two to get over your tantrum but to completely implode and lose the next 10 Games in a row, doesn't qualify you as a Professional in my book and certainly not deserving of a $280,000 Walk-Away Purse.
I've seen this behavior before and other than James Blake at Wimbledon this year, mostly occurring on the women's side i.e. Jana Novatna losing to Chanda Rubin at the French while she was serving for the match at 40-15/5-0 and again with Gabriel Sabatini losing to Mary Jo Fernandez also serving with a 5-1 lead in the 3rd Set. And now the #1 Player in the World getting double bageled by a woman she never lost to before with so much at stake.
There lies the difference between being a Good Caliber Player, Great Caliber Player and Champion Caliber Player. And I wish that I could even place Mauresmo in the Good Caliber column but today, our #1 in the World didn't even rise to that level. Mauresmo & Jankovic were both poised to log wins and their mental state did them in. Neither got beat today, they became Public Park Players who typically beat themselves. The only retribution I gained from those debacles is the Women's Finals will be played by the most deserving of the Field. Should Justine & Maria warrant $1,200,000 & $800,000 respectively ? I suppose so but they will not pull into the Seats nearly as many people who will cheerish the opportunity of a Federer/Roddick Final.
Maria Sharapova ,whom I personally don't care for, has great legs. Actually, Million Dollar Legs based upon how she is so forced fed into our minds reminiscent of another Blond Russian Glamour Queen who got paid far more than her results dictated appropriate.
I'm so sorry to say but I have changed my opinion on equal prize money. I am aware that marketing & sponsorship is the name of Sports these days. But for us diehard advocates of the Game, the Players should get a percentage of the Door. The more people that come to watch you, the larger your kickback. If 98% if Ashe Stadium is filled when Federer or Roddick play and only 65% is filled when Sharapova or Henin-Hardenne plays, then that should tell the tale.
