CIRCLES OF COMPETENCE: SIR RICHARD BRANSON'S THEORY VS. THE USTA'S CIRCLES OF INCOMPETENCE. By Javier Palenque

Sir Richard Branson’s ( an eccentric British Billionaire and avid tennis fan) theory of circles is a brilliant, simple roadmap for leadership and growth—starting from the self and expanding outward to positively impact the world. The idea is that before you can influence others, you must first ensure that your own house is in order. Once you’ve mastered your domain, you extend your influence to loved ones, then your community, and ultimately, to the world. It’s a theory that’s rooted in responsibility, vision, and the understanding that true leadership begins with self-awareness and integrity.

Now, imagine if this theory were applied to running a non-profit organization like the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The first circle would involve ensuring that the organization’s funds are properly allocated, that programs are genuinely helping people, and that the leadership is committed to serving the sport with honor and transparency. As this circle expands, the organization would focus on serving more groups—young players, veterans, and diverse communities—ensuring that tennis is accessible and thriving across the country. Eventually, the ultimate goal would be to elevate the sport on a national and even global level, truly embodying the spirit of a non-profit dedicated to its mission.

But now, let’s contrast this with what happens under the USTA’s current leadership—a "Klan of Incapables," as they might be more accurately described. Instead of drawing the first circle around the organization’s core responsibilities, these leaders draw a circle around themselves and their close-knit group of insiders. Their priorities are clear: protect their positions, not the sport, market the sport to the wealthy elite who never actually engage with it, and keep up appearances with flashy events and empty promises (they blatantly lie to everyone, sponsors, parents, the government). The wider circles that should include the tennis community, underserved players, and the nation as a whole are left unattended, neglected, and forgotten. In essence, this is not very smart, and the board pays the executives $10M per year to do this and the overall payroll waste is $70M per year.

Rather than using resources to genuinely grow the sport, the Klan markets tennis to bankers and celebrities who will never pick up a racket but love to see celebrities and spend lots of cash on food and drinks. They lie about their efforts, boasting of participation numbers that don't exist and claiming success where there is none.

There's no shame, no honor, and certainly no adherence to the vision Sir Richard Branson advocates. It's a well-designed scam by the Ol’ Boys' Club, a far cry from the non-profit mission they’re supposed to uphold. Why do they deserve a nonprofit status if they deceive all involved? They do not, and that is the problem.

And where is the Attorney General in all this? Non-profit laws exist to prevent this very abuse, yet the USTA continues its charade unchecked.

The organization’s leaders are not following Branson’s theory of expanding circles of positive influence—they are inverting it. They focus inward, tightening the circle around themselves, while the rest of the sport suffers from their neglect and dishonesty.

The contrast is stark: Sir Richard Branson’s theory represents competent, ethical leadership, where success is measured by the positive impact one has on others. The USTA’s current leadership represents the opposite—an inward-looking, self-serving group that manipulates and misuses its resources while ignoring the very people it claims to serve. It’s a perfect illustration of how the wrong leadership can take a theory of competence and turn it into a practice of incompetence, all while hiding behind the fa?ade of a non-profit.

Mrs. James, what has to happen, so you do the job that you were elected to and revoke the USTA’s no-profit status? The case is similar to the NRA, but the victims are our kids. Don’t worry about the economic impact in NYC, that won't change, what will change is the waste of funds, and it going to the right places, not the status quo Klan of incapables.

Do we hope or do we accept that nothing will ever happen? What the Chairman and CEO do is simply beyond incompetence it is actual malice against the sport. The sad part is that the board remains complicit in the silence and waste, and no one is accountable for anything. They do not care which is why they need to be removed from the sport.

This is of course a sure way to destroy a sport. Now let us look forward to a few years, we will have even fewer players playing the sport and more expensive tickets for the show.

This formula that the board promotes is self-serving and has no future. But since the Ol’ boys control the sport, there is nothing we can do.

I say NO to ineptitude and yes to growing the game.

I can be reached at [email protected]

How can such a great sport be managed by such incapable people who have to lie to claim that tennis is growing? It is not! Mrs. James the only solution is to revoke the non-profit status and move on.

Now that the show is done, no more social media on the sport, no more fake inclusivity mentions, nothing. This is the proof of just how wrong everything is at the USTA.