Roddick Pulls out of Dubai: Disagrees w/ UAE's Peer ban

[gj011]

k so if Novak was not allowed to play Indian Wells/Miami because he's a Serb, then the USTA gets fined 300k, you'd be satisfied and everything would be good again?

Yes I would be pissed of course, but if situation was handled the same, I.E. USTA is warned by ATP or WTA and it was made clear to them that thing like that was never to happen again or tournament would be canceled in the future, Jankovic and Ivanovic were allowed to play after, and if he was awarded appropriate amount of points and money compensation like Peer was, I would be satisfied.

Anyway I am glad you mentioned this since there are several people here who were calling for exactly what you mentioned, banning Djokovic from playing USO because he is a Serb. I doubt it would be made such a big deal like this if that really happened. Also I doubt Roddick would boycott IW, Miami or USO in that case.

 

[Toxicmilk]

For those of you who think that this is just a publicity stunt by Roddick, that the situation has already been "resolved", what a bunch of BS.

Just because they decided to give Peer some money and some points DOES NOT mean this has been resolved. I'm sure she would much rather be over there playing.

See, there are these things called dignity and integrity, things that can't be bought which are much more important that a few points and some money.

I know this might be difficult for younger generations to grasp, but I grew up in a time period where everything couldn't be fixed by money and an apology, where people weren't afraid to stand up against such ugliness.

And leave it to the people of this board to try to turn something honorable into a selfish act. How ugly of many of you to do so. Roddick's taking a hit in points and missing a big tournament on principle. He should be commended, not berated.

As far as the tournament and the WTA go...
"Resolved"?

Not by a long shot.

I know saram already did this. but seriously

qft.

people are just looking for any reason to beat down on roddick. pfft.

 

[tacou]

I don't know what Roddick would do, you're probably right, and I'm no Novak fan but I would completely support any boycott of the tournaments. I just feel like this sort of thing has no place in sports-- Peer is probably happy with her points and money but I'm sure she would have liked to earn them.

 

[Leublu tennis]

No he won't, since Dubai's drop date is March 9, 2009. Also, his results from Memphis last year have no bearing on his rankings. Do the math, Andy is doing just fine; the Memphis tournament will be used in lieu of Dubai.

Yah, you are right, kinda. He will come out even but in the larger picture, he will gain no additional points that he might have earned in Dubai, while he is at home parading around with a protest sign.

 

[Fee]

Andy did the right thing.
But please nothing of this nonsense about leadership from Rafa and Roger.:evil: They both do that and well........They are both on the representative board for the players. And btw neither of them are going to Dubai either. We can all speculate about the real reasons why but none of us really know and we should keep that in perspective shouldn't we?

Federer is in Dubai getting rehab on his back. He lives there part of the year. He was never going to say anything about this situation.

 

[NamRanger]

Yes I would be pissed of course, but if situation was handled the same, I.E. USTA is warned by ATP or WTA and it was made clear to them that thing like that was never to happen again or tournament would be canceled in the future, Jankovic and Ivanovic were allowed to play after, and if he was awarded appropriate amount of points and money compensation like Peer was, I would be satisfied.

Anyway I am glad you mentioned this since there are several people here who were calling for exactly what you mentioned, banning Djokovic from playing USO because he is a Serb. I doubt it would be made such a big deal like this if that really happened. Also I doubt Roddick would boycott IW, Miami or USO in that case.

No one has said Djokovic should be banned from the USO for being a Serb. No one.


And yes, it would be a tremendously huge deal if Djokovic was banned from playing at the USO. For one, he is world #3. And two, the U.S. and Serbia are not exactly on good terms.


Three, Roddick did not do this for a publicity stunt. He gets plenty of publicity in the U.S. and around the world already. If anything, this move could hurt his public image. However, he is doing what he believes is right. Whether or not you agree is irrelevant. Roddick is taking a fairly big risk ranking and public image wise, to stick up for another player vocally. Roddick has very little to gain, and a whole lot to lose.


I think that's admirable. I'm sure if we replaced Peer with Jankovic and Roddick with Djokovic, you'd be singing a different tune.

 

[Mick]

i hope peer would send roddick a thank you card for standing up for her

 

[zagor]

Props to Roddick,nice move on his part.

No one has said Djokovic should be banned from the USO for being a Serb. No one.


And yes, it would be a tremendously huge deal if Djokovic was banned from playing at the USO. For one, he is world #3. And two, the U.S. and Serbia are not exactly on good terms.


Three, Roddick did not do this for a publicity stunt. He gets plenty of publicity in the U.S. and around the world already. If anything, this move could hurt his public image. However, he is doing what he believes is right. Whether or not you agree is irrelevant. Roddick is taking a fairly big risk ranking and public image wise, to stick up for another player vocally. Roddick has very little to gain, and a whole lot to lose.


I think that's admirable. I'm sure if we replaced Peer with Jankovic and Roddick with Djokovic, you'd be singing a different tune.

It was said Namranger,I think by that guy "nikdom" although he changed his attitude towards Novak after a while and wasn't so hateful towards him anymore.The guy isn't a member here anymore so not that relevant.

 

[Fee]

It was said Namranger,I think by that guy "nikdom" although he changed his attitude towards Novak after a while and wasn't so hateful towards him anymore.The guy isn't a member here anymore so not that relevant.

Well that's just plain silly. Novak is a player, not an elected official. People forget that tennis players spend most of the year playing for themselves, NOT for their country. It's not like the national baseball or hockey team or even gymnasts, these are individual athletes like golfers.

 

[veroniquem]

Andy did the right thing.
But please nothing of this nonsense about leadership from Rafa and Roger.:evil: They both do that and well........They are both on the representative board for the players. And btw neither of them are going to Dubai either. We can all speculate about the real reasons why but none of us really know and we should keep that in perspective shouldn't we?

I certainly hope they wouldn't lie as to why they didn't attend the tournament. That would be very hypocritical and not commendable at all.

 

[leonidas1982]

an odd week, this. I lost respect for Venus and gained for Roddick -- even though I think his on-court antics are unnecessary as he comes off looking like a petulant child.

 

[ksbh]

Much respect to Andy Roddick for this brave and noble move.

 

[CyBorg]

Good for Roddick. We already know that he has brains.

What is important is that players remain vocal. While Venus Williams did go to Dubai (let's keep in mind that women had less time to think this over with the event a week earlier), she made a quite effective speech at the trophy ceremony. Now she has to follow through on her words.

Players have to be vocal. Either they don't go or they go and make their dissapproval very clear.

What are the reasons for going? Well, for some players there may be some good ones. Guys have contracts, incentives, sponsors - in general, a lot of people relying on them. It is not always easy to cancel at the last minute.

The worst thing is doing nothing. From what I've seen and heard so far - Federer and Nadal both have done nothing. Looks bad on them.

 

[CyBorg]

As I said on the other thread.

This was not necessary. The tournament is fined, Ram got his visa and Peer got her money and points.

Roddick is yet again pulling publicity stunt. He just didn't want to travel from Memphis to Dubai and then back to USA for DC.

Shame on you. The individual cannot expect the system to do everything for him.

This kind of passive attitude will change nothing. You think that Dubai getting fined will dissuade them?

Absolutely not. This is chump change for them.

We all know that they won't lose fans over this. This is all in the hands of the players. They have the power here.

 

[CyBorg]

WTA players cant afford to defend other player because they'll lose sponsors. They are already have an awful era after they lost henin. i dont think they need to lose any more value able belongings. Even if roddick stands up for Peer there is no down for him. Since his in the ATP tour not the WTA tour he doesnt need to worry about losing sponsors.

We're not talking about the #30 player in the world declining to go.

We're talking about the stars. At least the ones in the top-10 have to do something.

They can a) not go; b) go and make themselves heard!

 

[Enlightened Coelacanth]

Roddick's stock goes up considerably with me, for what that's worth. Frankly, he's never been a favorite of mine but this puts him in another light. Good for Andy.
If only there were more like him. Like in the WTA.

 

[icedevil0289]

Boo, Roddick. Boo! Bad move to get involved in a political intrigue.

try once forgetting that you hate roddick because of his oncourt antics and then perhaps you can see what roddick did was admirable.

 

[DarthFed]

try once forgetting that you hate roddick because of his hardcourt antics and then perhaps you can see what what roddick did was admirable.

2nd'd
10 char

 

[Leublu tennis]

try once forgetting that you hate roddick because of his hardcourt antics and then perhaps you can see what what roddick did was admirable.

I never hated Roddick until now. He has no business getting involved in political issues. This is bad for tennis and I don't think its over yet. Already there are repercussions as the media joins in to cancel coverage of Dubai. What next? And who do you think will suffer? The fans, thats who.

 

[Okazaki Fragment]

try once forgetting that you hate roddick because of his oncourt antics and then perhaps you can see what roddick did was admirable.

In his defense, he's more pro-Dubai than anti-Roddick.

 

[icedevil0289]

I never hated Roddick until now. He has no business getting involved in political issues. This is bad for tennis and I don't think its over yet. Already there are repercussions as the media joins in to cancel coverage of Dubai. What next? And who do you think will suffer? The fans, thats who.

wow, so you hate a person for taking a stand. What do you mean by he has no business? So because he is just a tennis player, he has no say in anything. I mentioned earlier that I thought it was perhaps not necessary, but he has every right to do what he wants. Someone mentioned earlier that roddick is making a political statement, but just standing up for another fellow tennis player who was unjustly denied a visa.

 

[saram]

In his defense, he's more pro-Dubai than anti-Roddick.

Does that mean we need to send him some cookies? :twisted:

 

[icedevil0289]

In his defense, he's more pro-Dubai than anti-Roddick.

I don't think the tournament should be canceled and I'm certainly not anti dubai or anything, but I commend andy for what he did.

 

[Fee]

Boo, Roddick. Boo! Bad move to get involved in a political intrigue.

I don't see him getting involved in 'political intrigue'. This still isn't about politics, despite your week long attempts to paint it that way, this is about the WTA and ATP rulebook.

The WTA was a bit late, but it looks like they are taking steps to enforce their rulebook for next year and they deserve credit for that (for those who missed it, the Dubai event has to post a 2 million dollar bond to ensure that Peer gets in next year and grant her visa 8 weeks before the event).

The ATP flew the CEO, a board member and other reps there to make sure Ram got in, ACCORDING TO THE RULE BOOK. Neither the ATP nor the WTA has tried to influence the relationship between the UAE and Israel, nor do they care to do so. Their only concern was that the tournament follow the rules that it agreed to (and thumbed last year when Erlich/Ram tried to get in) and let ALL of the players play. Mission accomplished (mostly).

 

[saram]

The WTA was a bit late, but it looks like they are taking steps to enforce their rulebook for next year and they deserve credit for that (for those who missed it, the Dubai event has to post a 2 million dollar bond to ensure that Peer gets in next year and grant her visa 8 weeks before the event).

(mostly).

WOW! I sure missed that part!

 

[FD3S]

Good on Roddick. It's a damn shame that some people let the (admittedly boorish) crap he sometimes pulls on court taint the good he does off it.

Of course, these are the same people that would probably find some way to bash him if he saved a baby from being hit by a car, but whatever.

 

[king of swing]

im impressed with andy. Andy Roddick isnt the first person in tennis you think of to stand up for moral principles. Im very proud of him, deffinitly respect him more

 

[Fee]

Good on Roddick. It's a damn shame that some people let the (admittedly boorish) crap he sometimes pulls on court taint the good he does off it.

Of course, these are the same people that would probably find some way to bash him if he saved a baby from being hit by a car, but whatever.

If Andy ever walked on water he would be ridiculed for not knowing how to swim.

 

[Staiger]

Roddick -total legend ! It would be nice if I he can just flatten his forehand and turn that into his weapon on the court.. who told him to add that extra 20%topspin onto his shots

 

[saram]

Roddick -total legend ! It would be nice if I he can just flatten his forehand and turn that into his weapon on the court.. who told him to add that extra 20%topspin onto his shots

His forehand looked good today--and so did Hewitt. Great match.

 

[CyBorg]

I never hated Roddick until now. He has no business getting involved in political issues. This is bad for tennis and I don't think its over yet. Already there are repercussions as the media joins in to cancel coverage of Dubai. What next? And who do you think will suffer? The fans, thats who.

This is like saying that citizens have no right to vote. Dumb. Worse than dumb.

 

[Leublu tennis]

wow, so you hate a person for taking a stand. What do you mean by he has no business? So because he is just a tennis player, he has no say in anything. I mentioned earlier that I thought it was perhaps not necessary, but he has every right to do what he wants. Someone mentioned earlier that roddick is making a political statement, but just standing up for another fellow tennis player who was unjustly denied a visa.

I think walking out of a tournament with a public statement critical of the politics of a country is a lot more than what any athlete should be doing. IMO

 

[VivalaVida]

Ah good for roddick that he pulled out. Now Murray doesnt have to go Doha on his ass again

 

[Leublu tennis]

In his defense, he's more pro-Dubai than anti-Roddick.

Thanks. I am not pro anything other than preservation of the game of tennis. This is probably the worst event in over 100 years of tennis and I am ashamed that an American is taking part in it.

 

[leonidas1982]

I'm not naive about what happens in the big ugly world, but this is tennis, not International Relations. This is about the rulebook, not UN diplomacy. Yes many people like you got distracted by the bigger picture, but that was their choice (and possibly bias). Again, the WTA and ATP never ever made this about world politics, they made it about a tournament not adhereing to its contract and the rulebook. It really is that simple.

So far, this has turned out to be great for tennis and great for the ATP. It was great for the WTA to finally get its board together and show some leadership as well. My fingers are crossed that Andy lands safely in Dubai on Sunday, that tennis takes center stage as it should, and that the event goes off smoothly. Since so many of the people who attend this tournament are expats and tourists, it should be just fine. Andy Ram will be kept off the center stage so as not to offend the box ticket holders, I'm sure.

I don't know who has truly threatened you for having opinion, and I'm sorry if that has really happened. It's silly and completely unnecessary.

some people just don't want to accept it for what it is: "a violation of the rules". If rules are violated in a sport like tennis, where players, tournaments, and sponsors, are dependent on each other, there will be chaos. This was a prime example; so was the cancellation of one of the premier clay court tournaments for the WTA -- it almost wrecked their clay season.

 

[Topaz]

He's in the Memphis final...and now that he is, it would be impossible for him to be in Dubai for his first round match....if he hadn't withdrawn.

 

[Fee]

He's in the Memphis final...and now that he is, it would be impossible for him to be in Dubai for his first round match....if he hadn't withdrawn.

He could have played it Wednesday if necessary. He used to do that in San Jose, it just means playing five days in a row if you keep winning.

 

[Fee]

Sure; he sent them a copy of his press release. So what?

Objection! Assuming facts not in evidence.

Where is this press release? All I've seen is a simple sentence that was spoken during his post match press conference after he defeated Querrey in Memphis on Friday. That's it.

 

[Okazaki Fragment]

I don't consider this sort of thing "minor" at all, and it's too bad Dubai knocked over the first domino in this chain reaction but like it or not, it's important to oppose such
a move so it doesn't happen again.

Yes, Roddick isn't making a political statement like Dubai, he is responding to a polticial statement.

 

[Leublu tennis]

Objection! Assuming facts not in evidence.

Where is this press release? All I've seen is a simple sentence that was spoken during his post match press conference after he defeated Querrey in Memphis on Friday. That's it.

Ooops. Sorry about that. I didn't read the article in the first post. And assumed it was based on a press release. But ........ now that I have read it, here is what I noted:

"The mixing of politics and sports was a big part of Roddick's decision to pull out of Dubai where he won his second of three titles in 2008."

Wow. Your hero said that not I. Now is Roddick's position closer to my side or yours, fee?

 

[veroniquem]

Do you actually think they are going to start letting israeli's in there because of this fine? LOL

Nothing is going to change, they will drop the tournament before they drop their beliefs.

No idea what your talking about with 3strikes and the american judicial system. Nice little rant though

Ha ha I thought everyone knew about it! The "3 strikes" is a Californian law according to which a person gets a longer time in jail after 2 offenses.

 

[CyBorg]

Yes, Roddick isn't making a political statement like Dubai, he is responding to a polticial statement.

So simple and so true.

Dubai is politicizing tennis. Roddick rejects this and yet some accuse him of politicizing things.

Dumb.

 

[JankovicFan]

Wow! The Roddick spin doctors are busy little people here. Agreeing with Andy's action is one thing, but lame excuses are something different.

I am left with one question. If someone wants to grasp the excuse that Roddick could not make it to his first match in Dubai, following his final in Memphis, why did he instead give the political reason for withdrawing?

Dubai is 8 hours ahead of Memphis, so yeah, that does make it a rushed trip. But Roddick owns what was Sampras's private jet and can get to Atlanta or Charlotte in a 20 minute cannon shot. From there he's on an international flight headed for Dubai by some hopefully efficient route. These guys don't all play early in the day and perhaps not all on the first day. Dubai could cooperate on scheduling for players coming in from other finals.

Roddick could have gotten back to Memphis for Davis Cup using a similar strategy. It had to be possible, or he would never have scheduled it and made the commitment in the first place. The difference with Davis Cup though is that it starts later in the week, no sweat.

 

[Fee]

Ooops. Sorry about that. I didn't read the article in the first post. And assumed it was based on a press release. But ........ now that I have read it, here is what I noted:

"The mixing of politics and sports was a big part of Roddick's decision to pull out of Dubai where he won his second of three titles in 2008."

Wow. Your hero said that not I. Now is Roddick's position closer to my side or yours, fee?

Andy Roddick is not my hero, he's just a tennis player. It's just not even worth the energy to respond to you anymore.

 

[CyBorg]

Andy Roddick is not my hero, he's just a tennis player.

The article is obviously referring to Dubai's mixing of politics and sports, not Roddick's.

Leublu fails basic logic and reading skills to boot.

 

[gj011]

Shame on you. The individual cannot expect the system to do everything for him.

This kind of passive attitude will change nothing. You think that Dubai getting fined will dissuade them?

Absolutely not. This is chump change for them.

We all know that they won't lose fans over this. This is all in the hands of the players. They have the power here.

Obviously it dissuaded them since they are letting Ram playing in the tournament now.

 

[CyBorg]

Obviously it dissuaded them since they are letting Ram playing in the tournament now.

They haven't changed their tune on Peer.

 

[gj011]

They haven't changed their tune on Peer.

Well it is too late now since the WTA tournament is finished. I am disgusted by Dubai oranizers for doing this as well, I just think what Roddick did wasn't really necessary since the issue is kind of resolved now.

Also it would be difficult for him to be in Dubai on time after Memphis final anyway, and right after he needs to go back to US for DC, so it is actually very convenient for him to skip Dubai and he already got points from Memphis. I am sure he will play 3 more 500 series tournament during this year. So he really does not lose much doing this.

 

[federerdomination]

Wow! The Roddick spin doctors are busy little people here. Agreeing with Andy's action is one thing, but lame excuses are something different.

I am left with one question. If someone wants to grasp the excuse that Roddick could not make it to his first match in Dubai, following his final in Memphis, why did he instead give the political reason for withdrawing?

Dubai is 8 hours ahead of Memphis, so yeah, that does make it a rushed trip. But Roddick owns what was Sampras's private jet and can get to Atlanta or Charlotte in a 20 minute cannon shot. From there he's on an international flight headed for Dubai by some hopefully efficient route. These guys don't all play early in the day and perhaps not all on the first day. Dubai could cooperate on scheduling for players coming in from other finals.

Roddick could have gotten back to Memphis for Davis Cup using a similar strategy. It had to be possible, or he would never have scheduled it and made the commitment in the first place. The difference with Davis Cup though is that it starts later in the week, no sweat.

Really? wow

 

[10sfreak]

I agree with the posters here who are praising Andy Roddick for the stance he's taken re Peer. Kudos to Andy!