BNP Paribas Open Tournament Dir & CEO Raymond Moore yesterday "stepped down" from his role just one day after making "inflammatory comments" about the WTA, according to a front-page piece by Shad Powers of the Palm Springs DESERT SUN. The uproar over Moore's comments "was swift," as many current and former players "weighed in on Moore's comments before his resignation was announced." Many people suggested he be "removed, believing there's no way he should continue in the CEO and tournament director role in which he'd have to work with and go to bat for the WTA and its members." Those who "know Moore the best are stunned by his words, but said they weren't the true essence of the 69-year-old South African." Those people "believe he shouldn't have said what he said, of course, but that those kind of words and thoughts don't fit with the person they believe him to be." However, the "court of public opinion ... was in no way forgiving" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 3/22). The AP's Beth Harris writes Moore "clearly had no intention to leave his post based on comments he made to reporters Sunday." Prior to the "backlash over his controversial comments began, he was asked how long he planned to remain in charge." Moore said, "Who knows who the face of the tournament will be down the road. But I don't think that, oh, I'm going to stop next year or three years" (AP, 3/22). Moore "had only taken over" the role late last year when Steve Simon resigned to become WTA CEO (REUTERS, 3/22).
WATCH YOUR WORDS: In California, Denise Goolsby notes former tennis player Rosie Casals on Sunday "was approached by Moore as she was leaving the tournament." Casals said, "He looked like he was going to cry. At first I thought he was going to tell me somebody died. He said, 'Rosie, Rosie, I want to apologize to you and Billie Jean for these comments. It's all over social media.' ... He was totally devastated about what he said" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 3/22). But in Boston, Renee Graham writes, "He isn't sorry. If not for the uproar, Moore probably wouldn’t have offered an apology at all, because he believes every word he uttered" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/22). ESPN's Dan Le Batard said Moore is not “apologizing for his actions, he’s apologizing for the reaction” ("Highly Questionable," ESPN, 3/21). In N.Y., Harvey Araton writes Moore's comments "went way beyond awkward and well into misogynist." Araton: "Does Moore remember that equal pay for women at the Grand Slam events ... grew in large part out of that pre-Federer era when the women were carrying the sport in terms of diverse playing styles, personality and, yes, a healthy dose of competitive hostility?" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/22).
SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE: In California, Jim Alexander writes Moore had "become a liability" to the tournament with his comments, and he "had to go." He asked, "You think that didn’t potentially jeopardize the tournament’s status, as an event just below the Grand Slams in prestige?" While it is tough to "see a life’s work go up in flames," if tournament owner Larry Ellison had "somehow let this go, it’s hard to imagine that title sponsor BNP Paribas would, or any of the other companies that help support an event" paying nearly $14M in prize money (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/22). The GUARDIAN's James Riach noted Martina Navratilova prior to Moore's resignation had "suggested that female players could boycott" the event if action was not taken (GUARDIAN, 3/21). WTA CEO Steve Simon said, “These types of comments almost take you back in time to things that I thought tennis and all of us were way past. It’s very, very disappointing” ("Nightly News," NBC, 3/21).
NO DJOKE: In Miami, Linda Robertson noted Novak Djokovic on Sunday "ripped open the old, contentious issue of equal prize money for men and women, saying men deserve more because they attract more fans to their matches -- neglecting to mention that it depends on the player and goes in cycles." It took until '07 for Wimbledon to "join the other Grand Slams in offering equal prize money." Combined Masters events such as the BNP Paribas Open and the Miami Open "pay the same to men and women." However, the "wage gap between women-only and men-only events is significant." Like Moore, Djokovic "tried to compliment women but wound up demeaning them" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 3/21). ESPN’s Jemele Hill said, “A lot of male tennis players don’t support women’s tennis receiving equal prize money, which is why somebody like Raymond Moore feels even more empowered to say the idiotic things he says” (“His & Hers,” ESPN2, 3/21). USA TODAY's Nancy Armour writes Djokovic's comments were "equally if not more disheartening" than those of Moore. These were "arguments that were supposed to have been settled long ago, beliefs about women's inferiority and subservience a relic from the era of wooden rackets and cat gut." In a sport in which the women's game is "as big a draw as the men's and the women train just as hard and just for as long, equity is the only answer." But the "larger, more troubling issue is that of the value and respect afforded to female athletes" (USA TODAY, 3/22).
