For as long as Paul McNamee was challenging the Tennis Australia old guard, he had my support. It’s no coincidence that in the time Geoff Pollard was head honcho, and along with his amigos, was ruining the sport, our talent pool dried up and our once proud tennis culture all but dissipated.
When listening to McNamee, you felt a sense of confidence that he could change the culture of the sport and return us to our glory days.
Stephen Healy, who was elected yesterday, though, can do the job.
I had not heard a lot from the man and was concerned that due to his previous job (President of Tennis NSW), he would just be another face.
However, his rhetoric is positive and his commitment to revolution and change is unwavering.
Healy’s election could see a change in employees, with his views differing to Craig Tiley, the director of development.
Both men have mandates and it will be interesting to see if Tiley either changes his views or accepts redundancy. In other words, will he shape up or ship out is the question?
Healy, I also now understand, has the support of John Newcombe, former Davis Cup captain, and Pat Rafter, who appeared along with Cash and McNamara in the ABC investigation.
This can only mean that these three will hopefully appear in our tennis coaching system and give a boost to our flagging stocks. Healy needs to revitalise the current system, and getting these three legends to participate is a good start.
Critically, Healy needs to mend the fractures that have split the sport in this country.
This means he has to invite McNamee to be part of the revolution. There is hurt in the top levels with the bigwigs and former stars split between the two camps.
McNamee has great ideas and he must be heard by Healy, Wood, Tiley, even if it means working with the enemy.
Also, importantly, McNamee must bury the hatchet and accept defeat graciously. It is worthless if McNamee behaves like last time, as a spoilt sore loser.
Like a divided political party, tennis needs its factions to stop fighting to win the ultimate prize. It may be hard, but if Tennis Australia is mended, the light may be closer than we all think.
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