The media noise over Shahar Peer’s exclusion from Dubai has been nearly deafening.
But the people who should be making the most noise have been doing the most whispering.
It has been a rocky three days for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in the wake of Dubai’s decision to refuse Shahar Peer’s visa. A little-known player has suddenly become one of the biggest celebrities of the week. People who could not tell you who won the last three Grand Slams are suddenly captivated by the plight of a player barely inside the Top 50. I was listening to my car radio today and was surprised to hear the story being discussed on the airwaves. And from a non-sports station nonetheless.
Media statements have been rapidly arriving in my inbox over the past three days. I have received emails from the ITF, Tennis Channel, the tournament and several from the WTA Tour, including a few from Larry Scott, not to mention many others responding to the story. Public relations experts are trying to handle this nightmare, but instead of seeing real change, we are seeing real spin and idle threats on paper.
I’m sad to say it, but the only entity that I have actually seen take an active stand on the issue is the Tennis Channel. Instead of continuing with its regularly scheduled programming from Dubai, the network has decided to protest the event by canceling its live coverage. I have not seen any figures showing what Tennis Channel will lose financially because of this last-minute change, but according to CEO Ken Solomon, the decision was a no-brainer. “This is an easy decision to come by, based on what is right and wrong,” said Solomon.
But in the midst of all the ruckus, one segment of the sports world has been oddly dormant—-Peer’s teammates on the WTA Tour.
While it was an easy decision for the television network, it was not so easy for many of the others involved. Tour CEO Larry Scott defended his position of not canceling the tournament after consulting with Peer and her family. Most of the players entered were likely already in Dubai and she did not want to see them suffer. I can understand Scott’s perspective, but I certainly expected to read something more substantial than “deeply disappointed” in the official response.
But the real judgment lies at the feet of the players.
Fifty-six women were entered into the singles draw of Dubai and not one of them had the courage to withdraw from the tournament. Immediately after the news broke about Peer’s situation, many of the top players offered soundbytes saying how disappointed they were with the decision. But those sounded oddly like the same statements players make when their opponents retire mid-match sending them into the next round. A perfunctory apologetic remark on the surface all the while thinking that it is one less person to worry about in the draw.
For an organization with such a storied history of women’s rights and equality, this is simply unacceptable. Women’s tennis is more than a bunch of females in skirts trying to play like the big boys. Has the WTA Tour come so far that it has forgotten its roots?
Billie Jean King, who oddly enough has said nothing about this publicly (someone correct me if I’m wrong), and a host of other women fought for the ability to play professional tennis. The WTA Tour would never have been founded were it not for a group of women who stood together against the world. Politics being mixed with tennis is historically linked with the women’s game.
The players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour have revealed their true colors. Are ranking points and prize money more important than standing up for what is right? And in the grand scheme of things, what is the loss of a few thousand dollars compared to the over $1 million that the average Top 10 player will make this season?
The opportunity to make a statement far greater than a few hundred words on paper is past. The next time someone reminds me of the fight for equal prize money, I might shrug my shoulders. After all, who needs equal prize money when you are not even allowed to play?
Ironically, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s current marketing campaign is about looking for heroes. I was looking for a hero in Dubai and sadly, no one had the courage to step away from the baseline.
I’m sorry Aeress I’m going to have to disagree with your viewpoint. Ranking points and prize money is definitely not important in the grand scheme of things, but for a player to forgo that as well as risk other repercussions – remember, THIS IS their day job – it has to make the effort worthwhile. If one or two players had stepped away from the tournament, then everyone can praise that one or two player and laud them for doing what’s right, but in the end it wouldn’t have changed a thing, and they would have suffered the consequences of their noble act. For something beneficial to actually come out of it, it would have required ALL 56 players to withdraw. Doing what’s right is a noble endeavor and what the people who aren’t in the same situation always expect and demand, but in reality it requires sacrifice that many cannot do. As far as I understand it, UAE was scared of the security issues, we can choose to disbelieve their reasons, of course, but otherwise the decision is up to the WTA officials. The question to ask is what WILL be done about it, rather than requiring players to live up to some grand sacrifice that the public expects. You run a website Aeress, and I’m sure you like to tell yourself you’d do the right thing if the situation comes along, but how many of your readers would go out on a limb for a fellow co-worker they barely know if said co-worker ever faced a discrimination, if it meant their job was on the line. Perhaps not the same thing as professional sports, but it’s always easy to blame others for not doing the right thing, when you’re standing on the other side.
Hi Chidi, thank you for your comment! I appreciate your feedback.
True, I am on the other side of the baseline, so I can’t exactly say what I would have done in the same circumstances. I definitely wasn’t trying to say that I would have done better if placed in their shoes.
Standing up for what we believe in is always a difficult decision. Sometimes we face the consequences, sometimes we receive praise.
Like you said, it would have been far better for all fifty-six players to take a stand, but even if it had just been one, I have a feeling that it would not have been for nothing.
Aaress, that is the strongest opinion article from you I have ever read in the 18 months I have been visiting OTB. Likewise I share many of the feelings you have on the matter and admire your moral clarity.
You are right, we live in an emollient age, the idealism of previous generations has been lost. Anyone who speaks out these days is marginalised and treated like a pariah or an idiot. I have experienced this repeatedly in my own life.. and yeh, it hurts.
It just isn’t the done thing to stand out from the crowd or have a committed position when you are in a position of authority. Yet that difference is partly why I am so into the Bartoli’s.
I have made as strong a statement on Marion Bartoli Fan Blog as I feel I am able to make on the Shahar Peer issue and have also written to her expressing my support.
Even though Marion Bartoli Fan Blog is unofficial, I am mindful of the delicate nature of things, these sites are after all the only sites dedicated to this player since the closure of her own. Marion and Shaher Peer are close friends. But Marion has not commented on the issue, so far. If I was to make some unilateral call for a boycott or something would I not be compromising Marion Bartoli?
I am mindful that the blog has regular visitors from predominantly Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, and have to be careful not to alienate them. For example you used the strong and emotive word “bigotry” the other day, but at this time i’m reluctant to go down that route, especially in the light of the conciliatory statement made by Shahar herself. Maybe this makes me a gutless wonder (?) but I also value this modest responsibility as an internet presence for Marion Bartoli and take that responsibility very seriously.
For what it’s worth, I applaud On The Baseline taking a clear position. It is refreshing.
Thank you, Alice. This is definitely a tough issue, but I do understand your position.
On the Baseline is not affiliated with the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour or any players. In that sense, we are different from your site, plus the opinions expressed in each editorial are the opinion of the writer.
I am sensitive to the overall Arab-Israel conflict and my readers from those countries, but as far as I’m concerned, the issue is wrong regardless of the nations involved. It would have been just as big an issue for me if two other nations were involved.
Given the global situation and the amount of countries on the Tour that have had conflicts with one another in the past, this situation could very well happen again, just with different names and different countries.
That’s why the Tour must take a clear position on this matter and set a precedent of a strong and effective response.
Aaress, Wall Street Journal Europe has also taken a stand, withdrawing its sponsorship of the event.
Don’t expect much of BJK; she is now trying to persuade people that she wasn’t an activist for women, for ***’s sake.
As for Tennis Channel, I commend them for being the leader here. As I say on my blog, though, I wish they had found their moral compass back when Justin Gimelstob was spewing bigotry right and left.
Well said.
Thanks Aaress for speaking your mind about a sport you love.
I applaud the Tennis Channel for taking a stand, and letting their ideals for tennis push their tv schedule.
Sad to see that alot of Venus and Serena fans are upset about the Tennis Channel. I guess they think the sports world revolves around them. If it’s good for them to play, and not for others well, it only proves how great the Sisters really are?
Thank you Aaress for your article, it’s spot on.
These women are not poor or disenfranchised. They have more opportunity to speak out than most women.
They don’t mind speaking about financial equality, invasive doping tests (WADA), the tour roadmap or being placed out on court 18.
Only when it hurts a player as an individual we hear from them.
All I see is 56 selfish, rich, privileged and pampered cowards.
As for Larry Scott he says, he is trying to keep up with events as they go along. The WTA should be leading and not lagging behind counting the money.
What is sad to see Ron, is that we are discussing 56 players and the WTA tour, and yet you are bringing up how sad Venus’ and serena’s fans are and how great the sisters are not. This is not an opportunity for you to malign the sisters. If fans of hers were looking forward to the matches, they are entitled to be disappointed, just as I am sure if Dementieva or Jankovic, or Ivanovic had made it to the finals, their fans would have been sad it wasn’t being shown. As we speak about the unfairness of what happened to Shahar peer, and the moral compass of all 56 players, here you are picking at the sisters in particular and denigrating them. Surely, the irony is not lost on you. You see Aeress? easy, always, to point fingers.
I’m sorry I misspelled ypur Name, Aaress :-)
Thanks, everyone, for your feedback and comments. They are much appreciated.
Diane, thank you for passing along the news about the WSJ Europe. Good to see them taking a stand on the issue.
Chidi, no worries about misspelling my name. :)
Thanks for your article. Don’t you think the Williams sisters at least should be criticized for not supporting Peer? They have boycotted Indian Wells for many years because of an incident they thought was racist yet they don’t put themselves in the shoes of another woman who is facing prejudice. Also, shouldn’t more people bring up the question that Americans are fighting a war in Afghanistan and Iraq, Muslim countries, yet they aren’t excluded? Also shouldn’t the ATP cancel because of Peer, not what happens with Ram? I know the ATP and WTA don’t seem to respect each other but they are in the same sport and this is something that could happen to the ATP in the future. But in the end, the ATP shouldn’t do it because of selfishness but just out of respect for a fellow tennis professional albeit a woman. I know these are a lot of questions but they are based on what I feel about the situation. It is not just the Williams but the situation could fall on any player. Especially if a precedent is set. The bottom line is from what I have read these tournaments are contracted in such a manner that they are supposed to allow all players to play. For that reason alone the tournament should have been cancelled and not be held in Dubai again. Also, it could not have been for security reasons. If that was the question, then the Dubai officials should have a very quick response to Andy Ram’s visa
Hi Sunny, thanks for your comment. I’ll try to answer your questions, which by the way are very good.
I’m hesitant to call any one player—or in this case two players—on the carpet specifically by name because this isn’t an issue just affecting the Williams sisters, rather the whole Tour. I do think this puts Venus and Serena in the spotlight because they are the older stateswomen on the Tour, particularly Venus who has taken an active role regarding equality on the Tour. Would I have liked to see them actively take a part in this more fully? Certainly, but I don’t expect them to do anything more than any other player entered into the draw.
Good point, and that’s one reason why all the players should have a vested interest in this situation. After all, given the current state of our world, who is to say what nations will be embattled next? This issue could have happened between other rival nations.
Boycotts in sport over politics are nothing new. The 1980 Olympics are a classic example.
For the record, I really don’t comment much about what the ATP Tour should do in matters like these because to be honest, I’m not very knowledgeable as to the rules and workings of the male Tour. If the ATP is set up similar to the WTA Tour, it is possible that all players who qualify are supposed to be allowed to compete. If that’s the way it is, Andy Ram should certainly be issued a visa.
Thanks Aaress for your reply.
to add to Aaress’ wonderful responses, Venus and Williams boycotted the indian wells event to their own risk. There was no public outcry against what they endured and the WTA did not do a thing, would that their fellow Americans had rallied around them as they are doing now for Peer. Even now, people keep saying the sisters should let bygones be bygones. The point remains that ALL players are responsible as well as the WTA tour. Before throwing stones at the sisters as people soooo love to do, what are they as a whole – WTA and the players – going to do moving forward?
You have a strong case Aaress. Dinara Safina was quick to talk about boycotts last year regarding the roadmap. Yet on the Peer issue she was mild and non committal, as her fellow professionals.
I dont know much about the politics and/or idi0cy of Dubai/Isreal etc but what I do know is that their decision to politically exempt a sportswoman is childish, its immture, its obscene most definitely idi0tic in 2009.
And I agree with the slant of your article. One would expect that some of the game’s big guns would be prepared to stand for what’s right as it was when the great Ali refused enlisting for Vietnam…
Whatever the rationale the Dubai folks have, they will never recover from this, in global perception.
Very important not to call any one player on this issue, Aaress, I’m with you on that point.
As much as one may feel that Venus and Serena should/could do more, it is noteworthy to consider how many other players choose to stand with the Williams when they deal with issues of racism or sexism in some cases on tour. It goes both ways to be honest.
Tennis in itself is an individual, competitive sport. I think that fact also probably plays a small part when it comes such issues and how each player feels. It may work out differently had it been a team sport. (I have considered doubles, but I’m thinking more like say soccer or volleyball, or baseball etc.)
Anyway, I think the crux of the matter, is more to do with Shahar’s military service and the nature of her service. I don’t know if Andy Ram did any service and the nature of his service but I get the feeling her situation would have been easier to resolve with no military service. …This is just my thinking and maybe wrong… However it will be for the best if such issues are nonstarters when the rules governing the way the WTA tour operates are being discussed in light of current events.
The sport should be as fair and as level as much as possible for all.
I hope they can come to an acceptable agreement with UAE which is fair to everyone. As much as I dislike the influence of money etc in the sport , in the current economic climate, the WTA tour could use the support of nations like the UAE. I presume the WTA tour is run like a regular business so money and sponsorship will always be important.
Suzi, all Israeli citizens are required to participate in mandatory military service.
As for this issue, I am hoping that the public outcry will be enough for the WTA tour to take appropriate action. I completely agree with their general stance; that no player should be denied entry to a tournament that she has qualified for by rank – especially regarding race/religion. Sport is seen as something that brings people from all backgrounds together, regardless of the politic climate – and that is what it should be.
Chidi,
I wasn’t throwing stones at the Williams sisters. I first was asking a question to be discussed. In my humble opinion, it would have counted more for the sisters to boycott Dubai if they themselves were not supported as you said. This would have been taking the high road. But a blog should open up discussion which is what I was trying to do. You and Aaress may want to read the article by Jemele Hill on the ESPN.com tennis page. Again just for another opinion. I actually am torn about the situation myself so thanks for your feedback.
Sunny, that was an interesting article. Thanks for recommending it to me. In case anyone else is interested, you can find it here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/090220
I think I said something like this earlier in the comments either on this post or another, but yes, I would certainly have liked to have seen Venus and Serena take a stand, but no more so than any other player. Sometimes it might take a lower-ranked player, someone who actually needs the prize money to pay that month’s credit card bill, to shame the rest of the Tour into doing what is right.
The argument that Venus and Serena should stand up because they were discriminated doesn’t ring true to me. The Williams sisters don’t hold the market cornered on racial profiling. We’re dealing with a global sport here—ask the Russians, the South Africans, the Jews, the Croatians, the Serbians and countless other nations about this and I’m sure they can relate.
I did find it somewhat amusing that Venus said that the women are “team players” on the Tour. I beg to differ. Singles tennis players are not team tennis players. . . especially the women on the WTA Tour. It is an isolated, inclusive sport and most of the women will attest that they have very few close relationships on the Tour. This showed more than anything just how individualistic the sport is, especially as the players were more concerned about sponsors (AKA as money) when it came to the plight of one player being absent.
Not to compare the issues, but remember nobody publicly stood up with Maria when she threatened a boycott over the Rome photo shoot last year.
A league of team players, the Tour is not.
Aaress,
Thanks. That really helped my thinking. I didn’t think about the isolationist attitude of the tour and other precedents. I actually did think somebody should have stood with Maria re the photo shoot thing but at the time realized they probably wouldn’t. I am happy to have found On the Baseline in order to engage in conversations. I really like the game of tennis. What to expect of the personalities involved is something I am still thinking about-in general.
My pleasure, Sunny. Thanks for visiting On the Baseline! Feel free to comment whenever you like. We love feedback!
While Arabs in pluralistic democratic Israel not only enjoy equal rights but are often favored OVER Jews, especially in Hebron, the most moderate Arabs are still real APARTHEID (no, not as in the anti Israel drama-hype-type, but in the real sense of it) and RACIST, the actual core of the Arabs vs Israel is nothing but Arab racism & Islamic bigotry, see also: http://geocities.com/panarabism, Arabism = Racism!
Sunny,
I welcome debate as well, and I hope I do not come across as doing otherwise. I read the article as well – thanks, Aaress for the link – and I disagree with the viewpoint of the author on so many reasons too numerous to write down here. According to her premise, Serena and Venus might as well be the champion for every other sort of discrimination. What the sisters did in Indian Wells was for themselves, their decision. What Dubai did was polictical, and what EVERYONE, not just the Williams sisters should come together to work out.
What do you think of the following quote which I took form “The Ticker” on Tennis.com.
“I felt like I had to talk about her,” said Venus afterwards. ” thought it was brave of her to come here and try and play despite knowing that it is not going to be easy for her. My dad grew up in an area where if you spoke too much, it was your life. So I felt I had a small opportunity to say something where everyone will listen.”
I brought it up because I am not sure what it means. Does she mean that her father did not always get a chance to speak but she is able to say something about Peer or is she identifying racism with what happened. Also I am changing my thoughts on the Indian Wells boycott by the Williams in the past. It was not a clear cut issue as this was. Some people at Indian Wells believed the racist remarks occurred, others didn’t. BTW, I am a long term fan of the Williams sisters, especially Venus. Thanks Chidi for your thoughts.
I am sick of everyone always dumping on the
Williams sisters; Venus and Serena did more
than any other WTA player on this issue. I remember Venus saying there is more than one
way to resolve this issue besides boycotting the
tournament. Venus talked about communicating
and on going negotiations inregards to securing
Peer’s right to play at the tournament. One
has to ask the question when you look at the
big picture what are you trying to accomplish
in the long term; remember when the players learned of the issue it was to late for Peer to play. They did obtain what they were trying
to obtain which was Peer and Ram playing in Dubia.
I also find it weird that the Sisters, as usual, were the only ones being target by the fans and media; since they were the only ones doing anything behind the scene.
The moral of the story is don’t do anything you come out better like all the Russians did!
I also find the statement made by the Israli Government inregards to Venus and Serena very inappropiate since they were one of the
only countries that chose not to boycott South
Africa during apartheid!
Another thing why is it that Venus who said that she heard the same thing her father heard
in regards to being called the [N] word at Indian Wells not believed? They were the victums and should not have to defend themselves; but again because they are persons of color in the world of tennis that is the way it is!!!
I totally agree with you Mary. Venus and Serena should not be blamed. I would like to ask the question: Did anyone stand up for Venus and Serena when they were discriminated against and boycotted Indian Wells? What did Larry Scott do?