WTA Tour players should "stand up straight and let all
observers know how good their game" is if they want prize
money equal to that of the ATP Tour, according to Mike Lurie
of CBS SportsLine. Lurie: "Women's tennis simply might have
to rely on more self-promotion from its players to curry the
favor of advertisers." Lurie wrote that the "presence" of
players such as Anna Kournikova and Serena and Venus
Williams gives women's tennis a "tremendous marketing
foundation." Noting that this year's ATP Tour prize money
total of $58.105M is nearly double the WTA Tour's total
purse, Lurie added that there "has been a murmur among some
women players that a boycott" of WTA events "would be the
best way to protest." But Lurie wrote, "A good way to start
is becoming even more aggressive about marketing the best
personalities," and if the WTA Tour "can successfully boost
its sponsorship funds, the women have a better chance at
wiping out the pay discrepancies at three of the four Grand
Slams." USTA President Judy Levering, on equal pay: "I
think these are things that will be overcome. But they
won't happen overnight." Levering, on a possible boycott:
"I feel there are other ways to get things done. If they
get to the point of such frustration, that's for them to
decide. ... I would hate to see the women damage themselves
by a tactic that isn't right" (CBS SportsLine, 1/11).
LPGA DRIVING AHEAD $$: In FL, Garry Smits reports that
LPGA Tour Commissioner Ty Votaw was "brimming with optimism"
after giving his "State of the LPGA Tour" address yesterday.
Votaw: "The LPGA is in the best position, financially,
competitively and in terms of morale, as it's ever been."
Votaw noted that more than 250 hours of LPGA Tour events are
scheduled to be aired on TV, more than any other women's
sport, and official car and hotel sponsorships with the Tour
"will be announced in the near future." LPGA Tour player
Chris Johnson, on Votaw: "I think the current leadership is
doing things the right way" (FL TIMES-UNION, 1/13).
OTHER NEWS: Meanwhile, LPGA Tour HOFer Louise Suggs has
"bequeathed almost her entire" estate -- worth about $1M --
to the LPGA Tour upon her death. As a result, Votaw
announced that the LPGA Rookie of the Year award will be
renamed the Louise Suggs Award (PALM BEACH POST, 1/13).
