Ray Moore's comments....

[lobndropshot]

All true. But there have been points where the ATP and WTA were performing equally. The facts you state have more to do with the consistency of the top players and less to do with the men's being supposedly inherently more interesting. I say it is only interesting at the moment because its easier to summarize the men's game then it is the women's game. A fact you just proved.

[hockeyscout]

Personally I find it annoying that everyone is jumping on the band wagon to vilify Ray Moore. Especially when some of these very same people know darn well he is telling the truth. It's just a great way for others to elevate themselves onto the "correct" bandwagon and become all "goody two-shoes".

Now Navratilova is coming out with the threat that women may boycott Indian Wells next year, which Serena will, given her history at the event. Very crafty of Navratilova to sow that seed.

I would let them boycott it. I bet the revenue would be no less for it. Call their bluff....

Good for Martina.

We need to respect the fact the woman work there asses of to get to the top, and they give up a lot more (children, ect) on so many levels than any man.

Its 50 - 50, and in no way can you expect the woman to accept less at this point. No way. Those who oppose this deal better step very carefully as its a very slippery slope. Sure a few people may agree at this point, but, when the bullets really start to fly, boycotts occur and womans groups start organizing all of you will figure out very quickly its a no win situation, and likely your mama, sisters, cousins and daughters will support their own (as they should).

As for sponsors? Well, if tennis people are stupid enough to play with fire and complain about 50-50, they will shoot themselves in the foot badly.

Next year? If the woman get serious about a boycott, thats the end of that tournament. I bet you it'd be ZERO (sponsorship money). If I was a sponsor, I'd run. Hell, I would run right now. I would protect my brand, issue a statement tomorrow I was pulling out, state what was said was unacceptable and get so far ahead of this controversy it would not be funny. Of course you can come back later at a significantly smaller sponsorship rate, but, that is just good business. God, I'd sue that tournament so quickly for breach of contract, and come out ahead in all ways with a ball busting settlement (who would want to take that one to court against a sponsor from just a pure PR point of view)?

Who wants to get caught in the middle of this one?

If I was a male player I wouldn't play when it came right down to it (if woman boycotted). You think Federer would play? No. Yes, the womans game is not at the level of the men's, but tennis made that deal, and trust me, they will stick to it.

NEVER fight with the woman boys.

What a complete and utter bonehead comment by this individal - you want to build a brand, make a tournament better and not turn 50 percent of the world against you.

Tennis is a real attractive international brand, and its has a rich history of male and female superstars and success stories. Protect that brand. And, unfortunately I am seeing a real propensity for stupid, stupid and stupid people (this isn't the first time, very bad comments coming out of Russia last year as well).

Concerning.

[nickw]

Well, one story line is that Serena might be the best women's player of all time. Personally I was pulling for her to get the annual Slam.

Me too John, and would love to see her break the record for Slam singles titles. It was a massive story last year, and clearly the reason the U.S. Women's final sold out before the men's.

She did beat herself in the end, but there were plenty of opponents on the journey, including a number of comeback wins at the French, and of course plucky Brit Heather Watson up a double break in the final set at Wimbledon, and two points away from the win when serving for it.

But like your Ladies Stotty, I would take men's tennis over women's tennis just about every time. When the Williams sisters finally retire, the women's tour will do well not to suffer a setback.

[klacr]

If Ray Moore remains the tourney director, by all means the women should boycott. They can make a statement and let's see what happens.

Ray has every right to believe what he wants to believe, true, false, fair, unfair or indifferent. But as a tournament director, it was not smart to showcase these feelings. I'm not going to vilify a guy for having his beliefs that many other people share, but I will vilify a guy for not using some common sense and completely alienating 50% of your players. You can't fix stupid.
The WTA and player representatives can negotiate the prize money. Tournaments cave in to social pressures. Sometimes in life, we don't always get what we deserve, we get what we negotiate.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[curiosity]

Re the 2015 U.S.Open Women's Final: Of course the women's final sold out fast and first. It was being built up non-stop by the Tennis Channel and ESPN commentators. It got so bad her opponent felt she had to apologize for winning. I thought the whole thing obscene.

In politically sensitive issues like "should female players be paid more, the same, or less than men?" I find people vote their pocketbook and dreams, just as they do in actual political elections. Friends with two daughters think women should get equal pay by final results. People with two sons seem to favor finding some measure of value like ratings or total points played or attendance. People who coach girls go one way, while those who coach only boys' teams seam to go another. No surprise there.

The pay determination in tennis will always require compromise, just as it does in golf. A good draw, attendance, TV ratings, and individual performances, all have to be, and will be, balanced.

[gzhpcu]

I realize I am not going to change anyone's opinion but I feel a lot better. thanks guys.

I am with you on this. By the way, Moore just resigned. This thread also demonstrates what I expected: very little, if any women in this forum.

[don_budge]

Hats off to Ray Moore…telling the truth is an act of courage these days

Should Ray Moore have apologised for he is remarks? Clumsy though they were, can a man not express his true thoughts?

"In times of universal deceit…telling the truth is a revolutionary act." George Orwell.

Without a doubt we are living in a time of universal deceit. Ray Moore is a hero for saying what he said. He deserves the utmost respect but all that he can realistically anticipate is ridicule. Nazi Feminism at its finest.

[stotty]

Social Media...honesty....the butler and Trump

I am with you on this. By the way, Moore just resigned. This thread also demonstrates what I expected: very little, if any women in this forum.

I have come to the conclusion that social media is absolutely deadly.

Sometimes it’s terribly important to come out and say things, even if that person executes themselves in the process. It’s equally if not more important than being correct. Would you rather speak to someone who calls it like it is or someone who wraps you in cotton wool?

I can be as tactful and diplomatic as they come. Thirty years as a tennis coach has made sure of that. I liken it to being a butler. You see and hear everything but must be darned careful to say anything detrimental yourself. It will cost you if you do. Upset one person and you’ve likely upset ten.

Donald Trump frightens me to death, but an awful lot of people seem to resonate with his straightforward, no nonsense, blunt delivery. People find spin confusing and are mistrustful of it. People like straightforwardness and, in the case of Trump, are voting for it with their feet.

Sure, Ray was clumsy and stupid. He was also on the money about Rafa and Roger. They’ve carried the men’s game, too, not just the women’s. Ray probably wishes he hadn’t said what he said. I’m glad he did.

[lobndropshot]

Sure, Ray was clumsy and stupid. He was also on the money about Rafa and Roger. They’ve carried the men’s game, too, not just the women’s. Ray probably wishes he hadn’t said what he said. I’m glad he did.

This statement is false. Roger, Rafa, Novak, Andy, Serena, and Maria are the ones carrying professional tennis. It just happens there are more men who are top the top earners for the sport, which when you add up the reported revenues for the ATP and WTA it comes out to. ATP earns about 65% and WTA earns 35%. These numbers / facts mirror household names in tennis.

[stotty]

This statement is false. Roger, Rafa, Novak, Andy, Serena, and Maria are the ones carrying professional tennis. It just happens there are more men who are top the top earners for the sport, which when you add up the reported revenues for the ATP and WTA it comes out to. ATP earns about 65% and WTA earns 35%. These numbers / facts mirror household names in tennis.

Good point!

[don_budge]

Down on your knees! A couple of thoughts…boys and girls

Here’s what he said...

“If I was a lady player...I would go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport. They really have.”

Here’s how the thankless “diva” spun it...

“There’s only one way to interpret that...which is offensive as enough...and thank a man which is not...we as women have come a long way...and ummm, we shouldn’t have to drop to our knees at any point.”

Ray Moore said that “go down every night on my knees and thank God” and Serena spins it that he said that women must go down on their knees to “thank a man”. He said to go down on the knees and thank God. He said to THANK GOD! For this alone he is probably being crucified. There is also a war on Christ. You can’t even say Merry Christmas anymore. Serena makes a major goof when she says that he said she had to get on her knees before a man...maybe even alluding to oral sex or other sexual innuendoes.

Ray might have added that the rest of the men’s tour might as well go down on their knees to thank God for Roger and Fafa. As far as I am concerned...he almost got it right. The part about Roger. In the short while Roger has been gone there has been a shudder of panic in the tennis board room...what kind of product do they have to sell?

Let’s take a look at the ladies tour for a moment. Specifically Serena Williams. Only hours earlier in her final against Azarenka she demolished and smashed two racquets in full view of everyone. Quite an act of sportsmanship. A real role model. Her conduct during the match was very suspicious as well. The negative body language...the rest of it. Serena had the announcers tripping over themselves to find excuses for her. Serena showed up her opponent every step of the way and showed little or no respect for Azarenka’s efforts. She isn’t a decent role model for anyone. But still...she’s come a long way baby!

This was the first women’s match that I had watched since the finals of the U. S. Open. Maybe I should watch Serena more often. She lost both. There is more to this Serena Williams person than meets the eye although to my eye there is nothing mysterious about “her”. There should be some kind of investigation into her.

Serena aside...who is the next biggest draw in terms of publicity or public appeal? That would be Maria Sharapova who is currently banned from the game in some kind of drug related controversy. Strike two for the women. They are riding on the coattails...of Roger Federer.

The entire tennis world has been riding on the Swiss Maestro’s coattails for all of these years. The tour has been on life support. It would already be dead if the audience was sophisticated enough to know the difference. It isn’t tennis that is being played anymore...it’s some sort of hybrid derivative. It isn’t interesting without Roger Federer...there isn’t a single watchable player from start to finish without him. Roger versus anybody is watchable from warmup until the interview.

Ray Moore is 69 years old. He’s old enough to know all of the in’s and out’s of not only the tour but the social engineering that has taken place in the area of sexuality. Tennis has this really strange history in terms of sexuality and the women who play the game. Billie Jean King was married at one time to Larry King who had a lot of influence on the politics of the modern game. Billie Jean it turns out is gay...not that that has anything to do with anything in sports...but she has an agenda. Her agenda is to neuter the masculine image. That is what lesbians do...they aren’t promoting any sort of equality themselves. Their agenda has been so successful the past twenty or thirty years that they have neutered male games and male establishment. The over emphasis of the “girl” from birth on has produced the modern effeminate man. Some of you guys sound a bit suspect yourselves...sort of embarrassed by your own masculinity in your rush to support the women’s war on men. The woman has been transformed into another kind of animal than from which she was intended...which traditionally from the beginning of the species was to bear children and raise them. The modern woman has rejected this role and we are witnessing the changes in our society. Women leaders? Beware the misplace estrogen effect. Do me a favor...make a list of things that women have invented.

Tennis history produced the spectacle of Billie Jean King in her prime playing a long ago washed up old fart champion named Bobby Riggs. Riggs ever the huckster drummed up a match that was billed as the “Battle of the Sexes” many years ago and Billie Jean mopped the court with his worn out act. Renee Richards was once a man named Richard Raskind and somehow she played herself into position to play on the Ladies tour back in the 70’s. Tennis has somewhat of a strange sexual history. By the way...I have the utmost respect for Billie Jean King as a tennis player and her views on tennis per se. She played a beautiful game of tennis way back when. Superlative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7vqSm4yIZc

Looking out in the forest one only has to casually observe that in nature the male and the female have traditional roles and this insures the survival of the species. Sex is not the most powerful force in nature contrary to what most men believe...it is the females protection of the young that makes sex pale in comparison. A female with a young offspring is the most ferocious force on the planet. Now that the traditional role of motherhood is taking a back seat to modern females we are left to face the consequences of this misplaced “most powerful force in nature”. If she isn’t using that energy to protect the young any longer...where is that energy manifesting itself. It’s a war on men. Wake up guys.

It’s sort of ironic that Serena will return to the place where so many years ago she was the victim of some controversial talk. Now she is playing the “sex” card. She wore out the “race” card apparently. What a mixed bag that one is.

What Ray Moore said was lost in translation. But the language was English...right? That is right...even so his words were twisted in order to take the most negative connotation that was possible. Do the women deserve equal pay? If they do why not let them play in the same draw. Make it a 256 person draw and match a male against a female in every match in the first round. I wonder how many of the “girls” would get to the second round.

At the Slams the “Ladies” play two out of three and the men play three out of five. There is a reason for this. The male is bigger and stronger...just like the male in the forest nothing has changed this to this point. Except in the case of Serena Williams apparently. Can you imagine watching any of the ladies playing three out of five. The tennis is already dreadful enough...that would only drag it on to eternity.

Boys and girls are different. Right from birth. In the end Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus. They are from different planets for God’s sake. There has been a war on between the sexes from the beginning of time. Read the Bible about the story of female and male. It isn’t Ray Moore that is inventing this notion that traditionally the woman has always been the weaker sex.

A very wise man once told me...he said, “the battle of the sexes will never be won...there is too much fraternization with the enemy”. He may have been wrong. What if there ceases to meaningful fraternization with the opposite sex. Do you realize in Europe that none of the European nations has a sustainable reproduction rate due to the fact that females do not produce enough babies. Each female needs to have something like 2.1 babies to sustain a population...and they are producing very low numbers these modern days.

I love women as much or more than the next man. I have three sisters. That’s growing up with a lot of estrogen in the house. I am on my second marriage and have been divorced somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 times. If you know what I mean. In the art of dancing the tango...it is the ultimate collaboration of man and woman...short of having sex. The man must lead...there is no other way around it.

I’m encouraged by the response of the ladies at your club, Stotty. Moreso than some of the guys here on the forum. Ray got himself fired and I suspect he knew that he would. He was probably done with that job and was voicing something that was on his chest. I respect his opinion and what he said. He said that the women should get on their knees before God. That goes for the rest of us too.

[don_budge]

The War on Men…with Billie Jean King...Part I

Here is the war on men…the battle of the sexes for real. Billie Jean is the spokesperson for this movement…Hillary Clinton is another piece of the puzzle. It's a war on heterosexual, Christian men and women. It's a war on the traditional family. Check out the new "Modern Family".

Her words about her match with Bobby Riggs is a pure propaganda piece. He was a washed up hustler looking for a big score. The "feminist" movement had other ideas…showcasing this non spectacle for there own agenda.

Make no mistake…this is a war on men and boys. It's evil. Look at Billie Jean at 3.30 in this video…she transforms herself into a ghoul. Right before your very eyes. The whole script reads like a brain washing mantra…repeat after me boys and girls. Pure and utter nonsense.

https://www.ted.com/talks/billie_jean_king_this_tennis_icon_paved_the_way_for_women_in_sports?language=en

00:12
Billie Jean King: Hi, everyone!
00:15
(Applause)
00:17
Thanks, Pat. Thank you! Getting me all wound up, now!
00:24
(Laughter)
00:25
Pat Mitchell: Good! You know, when I was watching the video again of the match, you must have felt like the fate of the world's women was on every stroke you took. Were you feeling that?
00:41
BJK: First of all, Bobby Riggs -- he was the former number one player, he wasn't just some hacker, by the way. He was one of my heroes and I admired him. And that's the reason I beat him, actually, because I respected him.
00:54
(Laughter)
00:55
It's true -- my mom and especially my dad always said: "Respect your opponent, and never underestimate them, ever." And he was correct. He was absolutely correct. But I knew it was about social change. And I was really nervous whenever we announced it, and I felt like the whole world was on my shoulders. And I thought, "If I lose, it's going to put women back 50 years, at least." Title IX had just been passed the year before -- June 23, 1972. And women's professional tennis -- there were nine of us who signed a one-dollar contract in 1970 -- now remember, the match is in '73. So we were only in our third year of having a tour where we could actually play, have a place to compete and make a living. So there were nine of us that signed that one-dollar contract. And our dream was for any girl, born any place in the world -- if she was good enough -- there would be a place for her to compete and for us to make a living. Because before 1968, we made 14 dollars a day, and we were under the control of organizations. So we really wanted to break away from that. But we knew it wasn't really about our generation so much; we knew it was about the future generations.
02:07
We do stand on the shoulders of the people that came before us, there is no question. But every generation has the chance to make it better. That was really on my mind. I really wanted to start matching the hearts and minds to Title IX. Title IX, in case anybody doesn't know, which a lot of people probably don't, said that any federal funds given to a high school, college or university, either public or private, had to -- finally -- give equal monies to boys and girls. And that changed everything.
02:38
(Applause)
02:41
So you can have a law, but it's changing the hearts and minds to match up with it. That's when it really rocks, totally. So that was on my mind. I wanted to start that change in the hearts and minds.
02:53
But two things came out of that match. For women: self-confidence, empowerment. They actually had enough nerve to ask for a raise. Some women have waited 10, 15 years to ask. I said, "More importantly, did you get it?"
03:08
(Laughter)
03:09
And they did! And for the men? A lot of the men today don't realize it, but if you're in your 50s, 60s or whatever, late 40s, you're the first generation of men of the Women's Movement -- whether you like it or not!
03:26
(Laughter)
03:29
(Applause)
03:30
And for the men, what happened for the men, they'd come up to me -- and most times, the men are the ones who have tears in their eyes, it's very interesting. They go, "Billie, I was very young when I saw that match, and now I have a daughter. And I am so happy I saw that as a young man." And one of those young men, at 12 years old, was President Obama. And he actually told me that when I met him, he said: "You don't realize it, but I saw that match at 12. And now I have two daughters, and it has made a difference in how I raise them." So both men and women got a lot out of it, but different things.
04:09
PM: And now there are generations -- at least one or two -- who have experienced the equality that Title IX and other fights along the way made possible. And for women, there are generations who have also experienced teamwork. They got to play team sports in a way they hadn't before. So you had a legacy already built in terms of being an athlete, a legacy of the work you did to lobby for equal pay for women athletes and the Women's Sports Foundation. What now are you looking to accomplish with The Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative?
04:48
BJK: I think it goes back to an epiphany I had at 12. At 11, I wanted to be the number one tennis player in the world, and a friend had asked me to play and I said, "What's that?" Tennis was not in my family -- basketball was, other sports. Fast forward to 12 years old,
05:03
(Laughter)
05:05
and I'm finally starting to play in tournaments where you get a ranking at the end of the year. So I was daydreaming at the Los Angeles Tennis Club, and I started thinking about my sport and how tiny it was, but also that everybody who played wore white shoes, white clothes, played with white balls -- everybody who played was white. And I said to myself, at 12 years old, "Where is everyone else?" And that just kept sticking in my brain. And that moment, I promised myself I'd fight for equal rights and opportunities for boys and girls, men and women, the rest of my life. And that tennis, if I was fortunate enough to become number one -- and I knew, being a girl, it would be harder to have influence, already at that age -- that I had this platform. And tennis is global. And I thought, "You know what? I've been given an opportunity that very few people have had." I didn't know if I was going to make it -- this was only 12. I sure wanted it, but making it is a whole other discussion. I just remember I promised myself, and I really try to keep my word. That's who I truly am, just fighting for people.
06:21
And, unfortunately, women have had less. And we are considered less. And so my attentions, where did they have to go? It was just ... you have to. And learn to stick up for yourself, hear your own voice. You hear the same words keep coming out all the time, and I got really lucky because I had an education. And I think if you can see it you can be it, you know? If you can see it, you can be it. You look at Pat, you look at other leaders, you look at these speakers, look at yourself, because everyone -- everyone -- can do something extraordinary. Every single person.

[don_budge]

The War on Men…with Billie Jean King...Part II

This is scary stuff boys and girls. The traditional nuclear family has been destroyed in 50 years. That's how long it took and this was without the new technology for the first years. Since 1984 this agenda has taken on new momentum. Some think they are being progressive and enlightened by something new. But the reality is that they are being misled by something very old…and very evil. It's a war on heterosexual, Christian men and women. It's a war on the traditional value system that kept the whole thing glued together…just like the life in the forest stay intact. Well…if it weren't for man trying to destroy it.

https://www.ted.com/talks/billie_jean_king_this_tennis_icon_paved_the_way_for_women_in_sports?language=en

06:58
PM: And your story, Billie, has inspired so many women everywhere. Now with the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, you're taking on an even bigger cause. Because one thing we hear a lot about is women taking their voice, working to find their way into leadership positions. But what you're talking about is even bigger than that. It's inclusive leadership. And this is a generation that has grown up thinking more inclusively --
07:24
BJK: Isn't it great? Look at the technology! It's amazing how it connects us all! It's about connection. It's simply amazing what's possible because of it. But the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative is really about the workforce mostly, and trying to change it, so people can actually go to work and be their authentic selves.
07:44
Because most of us have two jobs: One, to fit in -- I'll give you a perfect example. An African American woman gets up an hour earlier to go to work, straightens her hair in the bathroom, goes to the bathroom probably four, five, six times a day to keep straightening her hair, to keep making sure she fits in. So she's working two jobs. She's got this other job, whatever that may be, but she's also trying to fit in. Or this poor man who kept his diploma -- he went to University of Michigan, but he never would talk about his poverty as a youngster, ever -- just would not mention it. So he made sure they saw he was well-educated. And then you see a gay guy who has an NFL -- which means American football for all of you out there, it's a big deal, it's very macho -- and he talked about football all the time, because he was gay and he didn't want anybody to know. It just goes on and on. So my wish for everyone is to be able to be their authentic self 24/7, that would be the ultimate. And we catch ourselves -- I mean, I catch myself to this day. Even being gay I catch myself, you know, like,
08:49
(Gasp)
08:51
a little uncomfortable, a little surge in my gut, feeling not totally comfortable in my own skin. So, I think you have to ask yourself -- I want people to be themselves, whatever that is, just let it be.
09:05
PM: And the first research the Leadership Initiative did showed that, that these examples you just used -- that many of us have the problem of being authentic. But what you've just looked at is this millennial generation, who have benefited from all these equal opportunities -- which may not be equal but exist everywhere --
09:26BJK: First of all, I'm really lucky. Partnership with Teneo, a strategic company that's amazing. That's really the reason I'm able to do this. I've had two times in my life where I've actually had men really behind me with power. And that was in the old days with Philip Morris with Virginia Slims, and this is the second time in my entire life. And then Deloitte. The one thing I wanted was data -- facts. So Deloitte sent out a survey, and over 4,000 people now have answered, and we're continuing in the workplace.
09:59
And what do the millennials feel? Well, they feel a lot, but what they're so fantastic about is -- you know, our generation was like, "Oh, we're going to get representation." So if you walk into a room, you see everybody represented. That's not good enough anymore, which is so good! So the millennials are fantastic; they want connection, engagement. They just want you to tell us what you're feeling, what you're thinking, and get into the solution. They're problem-solvers, and of course, you've got the information at your fingertips, compared to when I was growing up.
10:31
PM: What did the research show you about millennials? Are they going to make a difference? Are they going to create a world where there is really an inclusive work force?
10:39
BJK: Well, in 2025, 75 percent of the global workforce is going to be millennials. I think they are going to help solve problems. I think they have the wherewithal to do it. I know they care a lot. They have big ideas and they can make big things happen. I want to stay in the now with the young people, I don't want to get behind.
11:03
(Laughter)
11:05
PM: I don't think there's any chance! But what you found out in the research about millennials is not really the experience that a lot of people have with millennials.
11:16
BJK: No, well, if we want to talk -- OK, I've been doing my little mini-survey. I've been talking to the Boomers, who are their bosses, and I go, "What do you think about the millennials?" And I'm pretty excited, like it's good, and they get this face --
11:30
(Laughter)
11:32
"Oh, you mean the 'Me' generation?"
11:34
(Laughter)
11:36
I say, "Do you really think so? Because I do think they care about the environment and all these things." And they go, "Oh, Billie, they cannot focus."
11:46
(Laughter)
11:49
They actually have proven
11:51
that the average focus for an 18-year-old is 37 seconds.
11:54
(Laughter)
11:56
They can't focus. And they don't really care. I just heard a story the other night: a woman owns a gallery and she has these workers. She gets a text from one of the workers, like an intern, she's just starting -- she goes, "Oh, by the way, I'm going to be late because I'm at the hairdresser's."
12:13
(Laughter)
12:18
So she arrives, and this boss says, "What's going on?" And she says, "Oh, I was late, sorry, how's it going?" She says, "Well, guess what? I'd like you leave, you're finished." She goes, "OK."
12:31
(Laughter)
12:35
No problem! PM: Now Billie, that story -- I know, but that's what scares the boomers -- I'm just telling you -- so I think it's good for us to share.
12:43
(Laughter)
12:44
No, it is good for us to share, because we're our authentic selves and what we're really feeling, so we've got to take it both ways, you know? But I have great faith because -- if you've been in sports like I have -- every generation gets better. It's a fact. With the Women's Sports Foundation being the advocates for Title IX still, because we're trying to keep protecting the law, because it's in a tenuous position always, so we really are concerned, and we do a lot of research. That's very important to us. And I want to hear from people. But we really have to protect what Title IX stands for worldwide. And you heard President Carter talk about how Title IX is protected. And do you know that every single lawsuit that girls, at least in sports, have gone up against -- whatever institutions -- has won? Title IX is there to protect us. And it is amazing. But we still have to get the hearts and minds -- the hearts and minds to match the legislation is huge.
13:49
PM: So what gets you up every morning? What keeps you sustaining your work, sustaining the fight for equality, extending it, always exploring new areas, trying to find new ways ... ?
14:00
BJK: Well, I always drove my parents crazy because I was always the curious one. I'm highly motivated. My younger brother was a Major League Baseball player. My poor parents did not care if we were any good.
14:14
(Laughter)
14:15
And we drove them crazy because we pushed, we pushed because we wanted to be the best. And I think it's because of what I'm hearing today in TED talks. I think to listen to these different women, to listen to different people, to listen to President Carter -- 90 years old, by the way, and he we was throwing these figures out that I would never -- I'd have to go, "Excuse me, wait a minute, I need to get a list out of these figures." He was rattling off -- I mean, that's amazing, I'm sorry.
14:48
PM: He's an amazing man.
14:50
(Applause)
14:53
BJK: And then you're going to have President Mary Robinson, who's a former president -- Thank you, Irish! 62 percent! LGBTQ! Yes!
15:03
(Applause)
15:04
Congress is voting in June on same-sex marriage, so these are things that for some people are very hard to hear. But always remember, every one of us is an individual, a human being with a beating heart, who cares and wants to live their authentic life. OK? You don't have to agree with somebody, but everyone has the opportunity.
15:26
I think we all have an obligation to continue to keep moving the needle forward, always. And these people have been so inspiring. Everyone matters. And every one of you is an influencer. You out there listening, out there in the world, plus the people here -- every single person's an influencer. Never, ever forget that. OK? So don't ever give up on yourself.
15:51
PM: Billie, you have been an inspiration for us.
15:53
BJK: Thanks, Pat!
15:55
(Applause)
15:58
Thanks, TED!
16:00
(Applause)
16:02
Thanks a lot!

[don_budge]

Are you Losing the Debate…?

Shout Racist or Sexist and you silence the opposition…which ends the argument allowing you to claim victory!*

*A public service announcement from America's Progressives.

[stotty]

Great posts, don budge. Each and every one.

What's got me is not the tennis side of things. It's this "correctness" that troubles me terribly.

Just look what can happen in 24 hours.

A bloke says the wrong thing...or right thing depending how you look at it. He then gets spun around the world on social media, vilified by the world's press, put through a mangle, and then tortured.

Amazing isn't it, all Ray said was a couple of sentences.

Djokovic then comes out and says something not a million miles away from what Ray Moore said.

Twenty four hours later, and just minutes after Navratilova threatens that female players might boycott Indian Wells in 2017, Ray Moore resigns...followed by Djokovic briskly walking into a presser to alter his initial comments on Ray's comments.

Now if the whole affair hasn't got "thought police" and "thinkspeak" written all over it, I don't know what has.

Anyway the whole tennis world is marching back in step now. Have no doubt about that.

I just find it so annoying that someone has to get completely fried for having a moment of truth. I don't care how old a person gets, we can all say things that are clumsy. I just don't see why a person must be made to publicly apologise like he's begging for his life, and then summarily sacked.

I’m encouraged by the response of the ladies at your club, Stotty. Moreso than some of the guys here on the forum.

I think you will find most women feel the same way.