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Bananas and the USTA….. by Javier Palenque
This morning a high-level ESPN executive friend of mine who follows me and my articles, sent me a simple note that said: “ If tennis had the community feel, your plans would work” and he attached a video clip of a minor league baseball team. I have attached the link (which aired this morning) below for you to see and to ponder with an open mind. After watching the clip think about what you just saw and apply your own ideas to our sport.
Here are my three takeaways:
1.- It is all about community.
2.- It is all about having fun.
3.- It is all about the sport.
All the things that for years the leadership of the USTA fails to see, pursue, or accomplish. In my vision plan that I submitted to the CEO of the USTA earlier in the year and the very one that the USTA board refuses to see or acknowledge by refusing my request for a meeting ( this would be the seventh request), I set out the pillars of success for the sport on a local level. After you finish watching the clip, ask yourself this; why does our game have to be so mismanaged? we need a new vision, new people, and of course new objectives and goals to pursue. This is called engagement. See for yourself and decide if the status quo is acceptable for more time running our sport as if it was 1950? I say absolutely NOT! and
“I say NO to incompetence, and YES to growing the game”
I can be reached @ jpalenque@yahoo.com
