Tennis equal pay row: Raymond Moore quits as Indian Wells chief

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: BBC

Indian Wells tennis tournament chief Raymond Moore has resigned after his controversial comments about equal pay.

Moore, 69, said the women's game "rides on the coat-tails" of the men, and that male stars had "carried the sport".

Men's world number one Novak Djokovic then claimed his tour should fight for more money.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova said Moore's comments were "extremely prejudiced", adding female players may boycott Indian Wells if Moore stayed.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/35868662

[elleng]

1. Good

[nitpicker]

2. +1

Let's see if female attendance at Djokovic matches goes down (I wish).

[greymouse]

3. Djokovic

thinks the women struggle with body issues, cause of their hormones, don't ya know. Haven't heard that one since the 1950s, when women weren't supposed to play some sports because they could damage their delicate reproductive organs.

[Ken Burch]

4. Why did Moore even attack women's tennis at all?

What did any of them ever do to him?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. It was his way of saying "tombstone me right fucking now". nt

[dhill926]

6. good...

was there this last weekend. Wonderful tournament. He's an ass and had to go...

[Blue Dalek]

7. I could not believe this

I have watched professional tennis for more than 30 years, men's and women's. He sounded like someone in the mid 20th century instead of the 21st century. I told my partner, his guy is toast, now! Was he *trying* to get fired or is he just an asshat? Good riddance.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

8. What he said was utterly stupid, but somewhat true.

Women's tennis benefits greatly from sharing tournaments with men's tennis. If women had their own tournaments - like women's golf - it would be a lot more obvious how much women actually benefit. I don't think women's tennis would be that much different from women's golf, women's soccer, women's basketball, etc., in that regard.

It sucks, but the public just doesn't support our female athletes.

[GummyBearz]

9. It still sucks

But if they don't bring in the crowds, how do they deserve the pay? Hockey players are paid far far less than baseball or NFL players, because Hockey isn't as popular. NFL quarter backs are paid far more than NFL punters. The list goes on. I would be upset if a woman in my profession (office job) is paid less than a male with equal skills. But when you talk about the entertainment industry you are worth what you can bring in. There is a reason females in the pornography industry get paid more than their male counterparts, its economics 101, they bring in the "fans"

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

10. I agree. It's a politically incorrect to speak it,

but it's true. Women's tennis rides on the coattails of men's tennis. Sure, some of the women's matches might even sell out before the men's, but if women played stand alone tournaments, they just wouldn't have the amount of exposure that they get now.

They are damn lucky compared to other female athletes.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Women players may make way more per hour than men

In many tournaments, a women's match is over when one player wins two sets, so they play two or three sets. A men's match is over when one player wins three sets, so they play three, four, or five sets.

Good work if you can get it.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

12. You haven't factored in the practice time

Frankly, I think this is much ado about nothing.

Women tennis players are much luckier than other female athletes precisely because they share tournaments with the men and can attract a lot more attention. That's not an insult or sexist; it's just the truth.

[SharonClark]

14. Is this 1960 or snark?

This conversation is a throw back to the days before Title 9. Have you been paying attention to tennis? Women's tennis has been more popular than men's tennis for the last 20 years.

[GummyBearz]

15. I used to be into Tennis but must admit I don't watch much now.

It sounds like the professional women tennis players should break off and get separate TV contracts, stadium venues, etc. That is how it works for the WNBA, WPGA, PWBA. Women's pro soccer tried it in the US but folded after a couple years. When you don't bring in crowds and their money, the entertainer doesn't get paid. Simple concept, right? If you are the star, you get paid. They should break away from the men and get paid a proportional amount to the revenue they bring in

[DebbieCDC]

13. He should have been instantly fired

not given a chance to "resign"

I'd like to take a tennis racket to this guy's balls if he has any. Good serve and volley practice.