Datacipher
Banned
Tennis Week:
"Obviously, the chemistry of our team is very good and it's been successful to this point," McEnroe said. "To turn around and change at this point makes no sense in my mind. You're certainly entitled to disagree and he's certainly entitled to state his case."
Spadea counters that each Davis Cup tie is, in effect, a new tournament and the very fact that the Davis Cup format requires countries to select a squad before each tie compels captains to pick the best players for that tie.
"As for the argument that another legitimate factor in the selection process should be sticking with the team that got you to the final, that contention holds no merit whatsoever," Spadea told Tennis Week. "If that were the way the process was meant to work, then team selections would occur only once a year on January 1. We all know that is not the structure of the selection process, and that in fact, selections are made before each Davis Cup match. The only logical explanation for that structure is to allow countries to pick the best players at the time the selections are made."
Despite their Davis Cup differences, McEnroe and Spadea share a common history. Both are sons of attorneys, both spent their formative in large cities, both were highly successful junior players, both based their games on penetrating two-handed backhands and both are opinionated, intelligent individuals.
"My best years were late so I have a real understanding of what he's been able to do, particularly with not having all the natural game," McEnroe said of Spadea. "He's a workhorse and so I have a lot of respect for what he's done."
An arm-chair analyst might conclude McEnroe sees some of himself in Spadea. And as a man who grew up under the same roof as one of the game's most gifted players he recognizes the power of potential and simply feels more confident going with a player who has yet to fully tap his talent than a player who may well have maximized his own talent.
"I believe Mardy has the best chance to win the match, based on his ability, based on his experience playing Davis Cup, based on the fact he played well in the Olympics, he's played well in some big, big matches for us," McEnroe said."I still believe Mardy's got a tremendous upside as far as his career goes. And I think he's got a lot of game. I don't think he's lived up to his potential yet."
The 30-year-old Spadea feels he's trapped in a Catch-22: he has been bypassed for players with more Davis Cup experience, yet Spadea himself cannot gain Davis Cup experience if he is not selected to the team in the first place.
Spadea has invested an immense amount of time, effort and sweat into clawing his way back from the brink of oblivion when he suffered an ATP Tour record 21 straight losses and fell so far off the radar he was reduced to playing challengers to this year when he captured his first career tournament title and produced the best year of his career. Understandably, Spadea believes he has paid his dues, kept his end of the bargain and has rightfully earned his right to represent his country. To be rewarded for his efforts with another Davis Cup rejection is a bit like spending a year working on commission only to be presented with a promissory note and watch as a colleague gains the promotion he's worked for.
There's no question Fish has the ability to compete with just about anyone on the planet not named Federer (then again, Fish was the only man to take a set off Federer at Wimbledon 2003), the question is he fit, fast and focused enough to win against two former top-ranked French Open champions?
McEnroe believes he is and has compelling statistics to support his case. Fish is undefeated against probable Spanish singles starters Moya and Ferrero, while Spadea is winless against the pair. Additionally, Fish's victory over Karol Kucera in the 2003 World Group Players on red clay essentially saved the U.S. from falling out of the World Group. McEnroe believes without Fish's contributions, the United States wouldn't be in the final in the first place.
"I have to pick guys who I feel are best prepared to play on particular surfaces," McEnroe said. "The morale of the team is important. Match-ups, the fact that Mardy has matched up well with these guys, on different surfaces, but I watched him play Moya at the Australian and that was pretty slow conditions. I watched him play Ferrero at the Olympics. I mean, that's not a guarantee that he's going to win, but that helps."
The implication with Fish the best is yet to come and with Spadea this season may just be as good as it's ever going to get.
Spadea states sports isn't about speculation it's about results. And just as results are a direct representation of wins and losses, Spadea asserts that a selection process which is not based on rankings and results is inherently unfair and potentially discriminatory. At the core of Spadea's contention is how can a country field its best team if the captain does not select the best players according to the rankings?
"The USTA's goal in selecting a team for Davis Cup should be to assemble the best players available and field the strongest team possible," Spadea told Tennis Week. "That is never going to happen as long as the selection process involves the consideration of irrelevant and unjust factors like age or friendships. As for age, if it were a legitimate basis upon which to measure a player's ability then logically all of the players younger than me, including Fish and Dent, would be ranked ahead of me. They are not. In fact, at No. 19 in the world, there are few that are. You cannot argue with the rankings. You can ignore them, and offer other illegitimate reasons for selecting lower ranked players, but that does not change the fact that the rankings objectively, without regard to bias or personal preference, determine who the best players are."
A primary part of the Davis Cup captain's job is to use his judgment to choose the players who will give his team the best chance to win. McEnroe believes taking that responsibility out of the captain's hands and placing it on the hard drive of the computer rankings would not only be restrictive, it would be senseless. Theoretically, such a system could limit a captain's ability to adjust his team based on variables such as surface, match-ups with opposing players and potential parings in doubles. It could also leave a nation vulnerable should one of its top players sustain an injury. For instance, if injuries sidelined the current corps of American starters next year and prevented them from defending ranking points, McEnroe might be forced to field a team of Kevin Kim, Alex Bogomolov, Jr., Glenn Weiner and Paul Goldstein — all currently ranked between 102-135 — rather than Roddick, Fish and the Bryan brothers.
Ask McEnroe what he thinks of adopting a ranking-based selection system and he looks at you like you've just asked permission to perform root canal surgery on him with a rusty pair of pliers.
"No, that's absolutely never going to happen," McEnroe said. "Absolutely not. It will certainly never happen as long as I'm the captain."
The possibility of Spadea playing Davis Cup during McEnroe's tenure is not nearly as definitive.
Asked if he was concerned his public stance could diminish his prospects of being picked to play Davis Cup for the future, Spadea said he's willing to take that personal risk to take a stand on principle.
"I am not concerned about how articulating my thoughts on Pat McEnroe's selection process will affect my future chances of being named to the team because this is an issue of principle for me," Spadea told Tennis Week. "It is unfortunate, on a personal level, that in this instance the bias in his process is adversely affecting me. But the bigger picture is that it will continue to hurt other players, the overall strength of the team, and the integrity of the sport in the United States if the Davis Cup captain continues to base his selections on all factors other than performance and ranking. It is patently wrong to discriminate based on age in any professional environment. Further, to allow off court factors and personal preferences, rather than players' rankings and records, to dictate the Davis Cup selections is wrong. I know it and anyone who understands sports knows it. I feel compelled to speak out against the blatant unfairness of the selection process and I would never regret calling it as I, and most others, see it."
"Obviously, the chemistry of our team is very good and it's been successful to this point," McEnroe said. "To turn around and change at this point makes no sense in my mind. You're certainly entitled to disagree and he's certainly entitled to state his case."
Spadea counters that each Davis Cup tie is, in effect, a new tournament and the very fact that the Davis Cup format requires countries to select a squad before each tie compels captains to pick the best players for that tie.
"As for the argument that another legitimate factor in the selection process should be sticking with the team that got you to the final, that contention holds no merit whatsoever," Spadea told Tennis Week. "If that were the way the process was meant to work, then team selections would occur only once a year on January 1. We all know that is not the structure of the selection process, and that in fact, selections are made before each Davis Cup match. The only logical explanation for that structure is to allow countries to pick the best players at the time the selections are made."
Despite their Davis Cup differences, McEnroe and Spadea share a common history. Both are sons of attorneys, both spent their formative in large cities, both were highly successful junior players, both based their games on penetrating two-handed backhands and both are opinionated, intelligent individuals.
"My best years were late so I have a real understanding of what he's been able to do, particularly with not having all the natural game," McEnroe said of Spadea. "He's a workhorse and so I have a lot of respect for what he's done."
An arm-chair analyst might conclude McEnroe sees some of himself in Spadea. And as a man who grew up under the same roof as one of the game's most gifted players he recognizes the power of potential and simply feels more confident going with a player who has yet to fully tap his talent than a player who may well have maximized his own talent.
"I believe Mardy has the best chance to win the match, based on his ability, based on his experience playing Davis Cup, based on the fact he played well in the Olympics, he's played well in some big, big matches for us," McEnroe said."I still believe Mardy's got a tremendous upside as far as his career goes. And I think he's got a lot of game. I don't think he's lived up to his potential yet."
The 30-year-old Spadea feels he's trapped in a Catch-22: he has been bypassed for players with more Davis Cup experience, yet Spadea himself cannot gain Davis Cup experience if he is not selected to the team in the first place.
Spadea has invested an immense amount of time, effort and sweat into clawing his way back from the brink of oblivion when he suffered an ATP Tour record 21 straight losses and fell so far off the radar he was reduced to playing challengers to this year when he captured his first career tournament title and produced the best year of his career. Understandably, Spadea believes he has paid his dues, kept his end of the bargain and has rightfully earned his right to represent his country. To be rewarded for his efforts with another Davis Cup rejection is a bit like spending a year working on commission only to be presented with a promissory note and watch as a colleague gains the promotion he's worked for.
There's no question Fish has the ability to compete with just about anyone on the planet not named Federer (then again, Fish was the only man to take a set off Federer at Wimbledon 2003), the question is he fit, fast and focused enough to win against two former top-ranked French Open champions?
McEnroe believes he is and has compelling statistics to support his case. Fish is undefeated against probable Spanish singles starters Moya and Ferrero, while Spadea is winless against the pair. Additionally, Fish's victory over Karol Kucera in the 2003 World Group Players on red clay essentially saved the U.S. from falling out of the World Group. McEnroe believes without Fish's contributions, the United States wouldn't be in the final in the first place.
"I have to pick guys who I feel are best prepared to play on particular surfaces," McEnroe said. "The morale of the team is important. Match-ups, the fact that Mardy has matched up well with these guys, on different surfaces, but I watched him play Moya at the Australian and that was pretty slow conditions. I watched him play Ferrero at the Olympics. I mean, that's not a guarantee that he's going to win, but that helps."
The implication with Fish the best is yet to come and with Spadea this season may just be as good as it's ever going to get.
Spadea states sports isn't about speculation it's about results. And just as results are a direct representation of wins and losses, Spadea asserts that a selection process which is not based on rankings and results is inherently unfair and potentially discriminatory. At the core of Spadea's contention is how can a country field its best team if the captain does not select the best players according to the rankings?
"The USTA's goal in selecting a team for Davis Cup should be to assemble the best players available and field the strongest team possible," Spadea told Tennis Week. "That is never going to happen as long as the selection process involves the consideration of irrelevant and unjust factors like age or friendships. As for age, if it were a legitimate basis upon which to measure a player's ability then logically all of the players younger than me, including Fish and Dent, would be ranked ahead of me. They are not. In fact, at No. 19 in the world, there are few that are. You cannot argue with the rankings. You can ignore them, and offer other illegitimate reasons for selecting lower ranked players, but that does not change the fact that the rankings objectively, without regard to bias or personal preference, determine who the best players are."
A primary part of the Davis Cup captain's job is to use his judgment to choose the players who will give his team the best chance to win. McEnroe believes taking that responsibility out of the captain's hands and placing it on the hard drive of the computer rankings would not only be restrictive, it would be senseless. Theoretically, such a system could limit a captain's ability to adjust his team based on variables such as surface, match-ups with opposing players and potential parings in doubles. It could also leave a nation vulnerable should one of its top players sustain an injury. For instance, if injuries sidelined the current corps of American starters next year and prevented them from defending ranking points, McEnroe might be forced to field a team of Kevin Kim, Alex Bogomolov, Jr., Glenn Weiner and Paul Goldstein — all currently ranked between 102-135 — rather than Roddick, Fish and the Bryan brothers.
Ask McEnroe what he thinks of adopting a ranking-based selection system and he looks at you like you've just asked permission to perform root canal surgery on him with a rusty pair of pliers.
"No, that's absolutely never going to happen," McEnroe said. "Absolutely not. It will certainly never happen as long as I'm the captain."
The possibility of Spadea playing Davis Cup during McEnroe's tenure is not nearly as definitive.
Asked if he was concerned his public stance could diminish his prospects of being picked to play Davis Cup for the future, Spadea said he's willing to take that personal risk to take a stand on principle.
"I am not concerned about how articulating my thoughts on Pat McEnroe's selection process will affect my future chances of being named to the team because this is an issue of principle for me," Spadea told Tennis Week. "It is unfortunate, on a personal level, that in this instance the bias in his process is adversely affecting me. But the bigger picture is that it will continue to hurt other players, the overall strength of the team, and the integrity of the sport in the United States if the Davis Cup captain continues to base his selections on all factors other than performance and ranking. It is patently wrong to discriminate based on age in any professional environment. Further, to allow off court factors and personal preferences, rather than players' rankings and records, to dictate the Davis Cup selections is wrong. I know it and anyone who understands sports knows it. I feel compelled to speak out against the blatant unfairness of the selection process and I would never regret calling it as I, and most others, see it."
"Obviously, the chemistry of our team is very good and it's been successful to this point," McEnroe said. "To turn around and change at this point makes no sense in my mind. You're certainly entitled to disagree and he's certainly entitled to state his case."
Spadea counters that each Davis Cup tie is, in effect, a new tournament and the very fact that the Davis Cup format requires countries to select a squad before each tie compels captains to pick the best players for that tie.
"As for the argument that another legitimate factor in the selection process should be sticking with the team that got you to the final, that contention holds no merit whatsoever," Spadea told Tennis Week. "If that were the way the process was meant to work, then team selections would occur only once a year on January 1. We all know that is not the structure of the selection process, and that in fact, selections are made before each Davis Cup match. The only logical explanation for that structure is to allow countries to pick the best players at the time the selections are made."
Despite their Davis Cup differences, McEnroe and Spadea share a common history. Both are sons of attorneys, both spent their formative in large cities, both were highly successful junior players, both based their games on penetrating two-handed backhands and both are opinionated, intelligent individuals.
"My best years were late so I have a real understanding of what he's been able to do, particularly with not having all the natural game," McEnroe said of Spadea. "He's a workhorse and so I have a lot of respect for what he's done."
An arm-chair analyst might conclude McEnroe sees some of himself in Spadea. And as a man who grew up under the same roof as one of the game's most gifted players he recognizes the power of potential and simply feels more confident going with a player who has yet to fully tap his talent than a player who may well have maximized his own talent.
"I believe Mardy has the best chance to win the match, based on his ability, based on his experience playing Davis Cup, based on the fact he played well in the Olympics, he's played well in some big, big matches for us," McEnroe said."I still believe Mardy's got a tremendous upside as far as his career goes. And I think he's got a lot of game. I don't think he's lived up to his potential yet."
The 30-year-old Spadea feels he's trapped in a Catch-22: he has been bypassed for players with more Davis Cup experience, yet Spadea himself cannot gain Davis Cup experience if he is not selected to the team in the first place.
Spadea has invested an immense amount of time, effort and sweat into clawing his way back from the brink of oblivion when he suffered an ATP Tour record 21 straight losses and fell so far off the radar he was reduced to playing challengers to this year when he captured his first career tournament title and produced the best year of his career. Understandably, Spadea believes he has paid his dues, kept his end of the bargain and has rightfully earned his right to represent his country. To be rewarded for his efforts with another Davis Cup rejection is a bit like spending a year working on commission only to be presented with a promissory note and watch as a colleague gains the promotion he's worked for.
There's no question Fish has the ability to compete with just about anyone on the planet not named Federer (then again, Fish was the only man to take a set off Federer at Wimbledon 2003), the question is he fit, fast and focused enough to win against two former top-ranked French Open champions?
McEnroe believes he is and has compelling statistics to support his case. Fish is undefeated against probable Spanish singles starters Moya and Ferrero, while Spadea is winless against the pair. Additionally, Fish's victory over Karol Kucera in the 2003 World Group Players on red clay essentially saved the U.S. from falling out of the World Group. McEnroe believes without Fish's contributions, the United States wouldn't be in the final in the first place.
"I have to pick guys who I feel are best prepared to play on particular surfaces," McEnroe said. "The morale of the team is important. Match-ups, the fact that Mardy has matched up well with these guys, on different surfaces, but I watched him play Moya at the Australian and that was pretty slow conditions. I watched him play Ferrero at the Olympics. I mean, that's not a guarantee that he's going to win, but that helps."
The implication with Fish the best is yet to come and with Spadea this season may just be as good as it's ever going to get.
Spadea states sports isn't about speculation it's about results. And just as results are a direct representation of wins and losses, Spadea asserts that a selection process which is not based on rankings and results is inherently unfair and potentially discriminatory. At the core of Spadea's contention is how can a country field its best team if the captain does not select the best players according to the rankings?
"The USTA's goal in selecting a team for Davis Cup should be to assemble the best players available and field the strongest team possible," Spadea told Tennis Week. "That is never going to happen as long as the selection process involves the consideration of irrelevant and unjust factors like age or friendships. As for age, if it were a legitimate basis upon which to measure a player's ability then logically all of the players younger than me, including Fish and Dent, would be ranked ahead of me. They are not. In fact, at No. 19 in the world, there are few that are. You cannot argue with the rankings. You can ignore them, and offer other illegitimate reasons for selecting lower ranked players, but that does not change the fact that the rankings objectively, without regard to bias or personal preference, determine who the best players are."
A primary part of the Davis Cup captain's job is to use his judgment to choose the players who will give his team the best chance to win. McEnroe believes taking that responsibility out of the captain's hands and placing it on the hard drive of the computer rankings would not only be restrictive, it would be senseless. Theoretically, such a system could limit a captain's ability to adjust his team based on variables such as surface, match-ups with opposing players and potential parings in doubles. It could also leave a nation vulnerable should one of its top players sustain an injury. For instance, if injuries sidelined the current corps of American starters next year and prevented them from defending ranking points, McEnroe might be forced to field a team of Kevin Kim, Alex Bogomolov, Jr., Glenn Weiner and Paul Goldstein — all currently ranked between 102-135 — rather than Roddick, Fish and the Bryan brothers.
Ask McEnroe what he thinks of adopting a ranking-based selection system and he looks at you like you've just asked permission to perform root canal surgery on him with a rusty pair of pliers.
"No, that's absolutely never going to happen," McEnroe said. "Absolutely not. It will certainly never happen as long as I'm the captain."
The possibility of Spadea playing Davis Cup during McEnroe's tenure is not nearly as definitive.
Asked if he was concerned his public stance could diminish his prospects of being picked to play Davis Cup for the future, Spadea said he's willing to take that personal risk to take a stand on principle.
"I am not concerned about how articulating my thoughts on Pat McEnroe's selection process will affect my future chances of being named to the team because this is an issue of principle for me," Spadea told Tennis Week. "It is unfortunate, on a personal level, that in this instance the bias in his process is adversely affecting me. But the bigger picture is that it will continue to hurt other players, the overall strength of the team, and the integrity of the sport in the United States if the Davis Cup captain continues to base his selections on all factors other than performance and ranking. It is patently wrong to discriminate based on age in any professional environment. Further, to allow off court factors and personal preferences, rather than players' rankings and records, to dictate the Davis Cup selections is wrong. I know it and anyone who understands sports knows it. I feel compelled to speak out against the blatant unfairness of the selection process and I would never regret calling it as I, and most others, see it."
"Obviously, the chemistry of our team is very good and it's been successful to this point," McEnroe said. "To turn around and change at this point makes no sense in my mind. You're certainly entitled to disagree and he's certainly entitled to state his case."
Spadea counters that each Davis Cup tie is, in effect, a new tournament and the very fact that the Davis Cup format requires countries to select a squad before each tie compels captains to pick the best players for that tie.
"As for the argument that another legitimate factor in the selection process should be sticking with the team that got you to the final, that contention holds no merit whatsoever," Spadea told Tennis Week. "If that were the way the process was meant to work, then team selections would occur only once a year on January 1. We all know that is not the structure of the selection process, and that in fact, selections are made before each Davis Cup match. The only logical explanation for that structure is to allow countries to pick the best players at the time the selections are made."
Despite their Davis Cup differences, McEnroe and Spadea share a common history. Both are sons of attorneys, both spent their formative in large cities, both were highly successful junior players, both based their games on penetrating two-handed backhands and both are opinionated, intelligent individuals.
"My best years were late so I have a real understanding of what he's been able to do, particularly with not having all the natural game," McEnroe said of Spadea. "He's a workhorse and so I have a lot of respect for what he's done."
An arm-chair analyst might conclude McEnroe sees some of himself in Spadea. And as a man who grew up under the same roof as one of the game's most gifted players he recognizes the power of potential and simply feels more confident going with a player who has yet to fully tap his talent than a player who may well have maximized his own talent.
"I believe Mardy has the best chance to win the match, based on his ability, based on his experience playing Davis Cup, based on the fact he played well in the Olympics, he's played well in some big, big matches for us," McEnroe said."I still believe Mardy's got a tremendous upside as far as his career goes. And I think he's got a lot of game. I don't think he's lived up to his potential yet."
The 30-year-old Spadea feels he's trapped in a Catch-22: he has been bypassed for players with more Davis Cup experience, yet Spadea himself cannot gain Davis Cup experience if he is not selected to the team in the first place.
Spadea has invested an immense amount of time, effort and sweat into clawing his way back from the brink of oblivion when he suffered an ATP Tour record 21 straight losses and fell so far off the radar he was reduced to playing challengers to this year when he captured his first career tournament title and produced the best year of his career. Understandably, Spadea believes he has paid his dues, kept his end of the bargain and has rightfully earned his right to represent his country. To be rewarded for his efforts with another Davis Cup rejection is a bit like spending a year working on commission only to be presented with a promissory note and watch as a colleague gains the promotion he's worked for.
There's no question Fish has the ability to compete with just about anyone on the planet not named Federer (then again, Fish was the only man to take a set off Federer at Wimbledon 2003), the question is he fit, fast and focused enough to win against two former top-ranked French Open champions?
McEnroe believes he is and has compelling statistics to support his case. Fish is undefeated against probable Spanish singles starters Moya and Ferrero, while Spadea is winless against the pair. Additionally, Fish's victory over Karol Kucera in the 2003 World Group Players on red clay essentially saved the U.S. from falling out of the World Group. McEnroe believes without Fish's contributions, the United States wouldn't be in the final in the first place.
"I have to pick guys who I feel are best prepared to play on particular surfaces," McEnroe said. "The morale of the team is important. Match-ups, the fact that Mardy has matched up well with these guys, on different surfaces, but I watched him play Moya at the Australian and that was pretty slow conditions. I watched him play Ferrero at the Olympics. I mean, that's not a guarantee that he's going to win, but that helps."
The implication with Fish the best is yet to come and with Spadea this season may just be as good as it's ever going to get.
Spadea states sports isn't about speculation it's about results. And just as results are a direct representation of wins and losses, Spadea asserts that a selection process which is not based on rankings and results is inherently unfair and potentially discriminatory. At the core of Spadea's contention is how can a country field its best team if the captain does not select the best players according to the rankings?
"The USTA's goal in selecting a team for Davis Cup should be to assemble the best players available and field the strongest team possible," Spadea told Tennis Week. "That is never going to happen as long as the selection process involves the consideration of irrelevant and unjust factors like age or friendships. As for age, if it were a legitimate basis upon which to measure a player's ability then logically all of the players younger than me, including Fish and Dent, would be ranked ahead of me. They are not. In fact, at No. 19 in the world, there are few that are. You cannot argue with the rankings. You can ignore them, and offer other illegitimate reasons for selecting lower ranked players, but that does not change the fact that the rankings objectively, without regard to bias or personal preference, determine who the best players are."
A primary part of the Davis Cup captain's job is to use his judgment to choose the players who will give his team the best chance to win. McEnroe believes taking that responsibility out of the captain's hands and placing it on the hard drive of the computer rankings would not only be restrictive, it would be senseless. Theoretically, such a system could limit a captain's ability to adjust his team based on variables such as surface, match-ups with opposing players and potential parings in doubles. It could also leave a nation vulnerable should one of its top players sustain an injury. For instance, if injuries sidelined the current corps of American starters next year and prevented them from defending ranking points, McEnroe might be forced to field a team of Kevin Kim, Alex Bogomolov, Jr., Glenn Weiner and Paul Goldstein — all currently ranked between 102-135 — rather than Roddick, Fish and the Bryan brothers.
Ask McEnroe what he thinks of adopting a ranking-based selection system and he looks at you like you've just asked permission to perform root canal surgery on him with a rusty pair of pliers.
"No, that's absolutely never going to happen," McEnroe said. "Absolutely not. It will certainly never happen as long as I'm the captain."
The possibility of Spadea playing Davis Cup during McEnroe's tenure is not nearly as definitive.
Asked if he was concerned his public stance could diminish his prospects of being picked to play Davis Cup for the future, Spadea said he's willing to take that personal risk to take a stand on principle.
"I am not concerned about how articulating my thoughts on Pat McEnroe's selection process will affect my future chances of being named to the team because this is an issue of principle for me," Spadea told Tennis Week. "It is unfortunate, on a personal level, that in this instance the bias in his process is adversely affecting me. But the bigger picture is that it will continue to hurt other players, the overall strength of the team, and the integrity of the sport in the United States if the Davis Cup captain continues to base his selections on all factors other than performance and ranking. It is patently wrong to discriminate based on age in any professional environment. Further, to allow off court factors and personal preferences, rather than players' rankings and records, to dictate the Davis Cup selections is wrong. I know it and anyone who understands sports knows it. I feel compelled to speak out against the blatant unfairness of the selection process and I would never regret calling it as I, and most others, see it."
