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.
Gabe
Guest
Healy has to look right into whats been going on and if he doesnt speak to the parents and athletes who actually have been t the grass roots for years, and only talks to those in the system who will benefit with pay packets then nothing will change.
johnhunt92
Roar Guru
I have to agree with fatboi on the free tennis courts. I know so many people who love tennis but dont play. It costs too much for kids to have a go and the courts are in bad states. Tennis is appratently Australia's most popular sport based on TV Ratings and participation (Roy Morgan). But what ruins it is the outdated facilities. Lets get that in place beofre we worry about champions cause its going to take a while
DNB 2010
Guest
Tennis Australia needs a rethink of its participation structure, at the moment reports of empty Tennis Courts, dying clubs etc are too real to be true. Looking back to the 70's Tennis had good club structures in which members played in competitions similar to Davis Cup and other team like leagues that still played by Winter Sports. Our champions of the time, when they were young played with their clubs and districts, built a team menality and this attracted people to play the games - clubs got stronger and became community social clubs.........today, the Aussie Junior is playing for themselves - look at Bernard Tomic and the "I don't want to hit up with Hewitt" affair, an example of the attitudes of junior players and more importantly parents who not only want the best for their child but to get family box seats at a Grand Slam.... Stephen Healy legacy will not be measured by how many Grand Slam Champions or Davis Cups that are produced, it will depends on if he can increase the community/grass roots participation that can support the next generation's champions if not we can forget about the game of Tennis beyond 2020......
Whiteline
Guest
fatboi has a point. You can go to any oval and still kick a footy. Play cricket at the nets and nobody cares. The last few years has seen any 'free' courts dry up. That means incidental tennis doesn't happen anymore for adults or kids. I don't think you need to take the game up at 5 years of age either. I think that perception is there because the only kids who do play are those who did start in nappies at a structured club or with an accredited coach.
Hansie
Guest
I strongly agree both that McNamee should be included by Healy, but equally that McNamee has to accept the verdict and not engage in any destabilising behaviour. The Four Corners program was basically his job application, and did the sport no favours at all. Yes, there are issues that must be addressed, but a hatchet job in the media doesn't help anyone.
AA
Guest
Tennis Australia seems more corrupt than the old Soccer Australia was, and that's saying something.
fatboi
Guest
on any given afternoon, i would drive home and the road home takes me past 4 tennis clubs, the largest one with around 12 courts and the others 6 or so courts. On a good day i would see a couple of those courts used by kids having a hit after school or having tennis coaching. Otherwise, most of the time those courts would be bare empty, its gates locking out anyone who is not a member of the tennis club. Here i think lies the sad tale of tennis' demise in this country. the kids just don't play the game anymore. maybe the answer lies in tennis clubs throwing the gates open for free?
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Decent article and I think Jason has added an additional few hammer blows on the nail you've hit on the head there John. For mine, Australia cares deeply about tennis when it's in our own backyard - and Wimbledon. Beyond those few weeks in a year, the game barely gets a look in. There's too much of it to really care about the outcome of another matchup, unless Federer or Nadal go out in an early round. There was a very good article on here some months or even up to a year ago examining the causes of the downturn in Australia's tennis stocks. A lot of it was put on the ridiculously prohibitive costs of becoming a tennis player good enough to take advantage of athletic ability. Whilst football of all codes basically involves team sport and the cost of a ball, tennis relies far more on coaching, and this requires a stack more money than most other sports. You have to have parents who are committed to putting you through personal coaching from age 3. This is just simply is not an option for most families.
Jason Cave
Guest
If TA has any idea about the enormity of the task at hand-that is, bringing Australian Tennis back to its glory days, consider these facts: -No Australian player-male or female-has won the Australian Open since 1978. -Australia has not won the Davis Cup since 2003 and now finds themselves 'on the outer', playing against nations such as Thailand and India in Asian Davis Cup qualifying. -Most kids prefer to play cricket or soccer (football) rather than take up tennis -TA must sort out the TV impasse between the Seven Network & Fox Sports over coverage of the Australian Open. So, Stephen Healy, good luck. You have a massive task on your hands.