HOW DOES TENNIS GET RID OF THE TYRANNY OF THE INEPT? By Javier Palenque

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the Russian novelist, historian, and dissident who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970, offered profound insights on resisting socialist tyranny in his book "The Gulag Archipelago". One of his most compelling quotes is:

"The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie."

Solzhenitsyn is renowned for his works that expose the brutal realities of life in the Soviet Union, especially the inhumane conditions of the labor camps known as the Gulag. His steadfast commitment to truth and moral integrity, despite immense personal risk, made him a symbol of resistance against oppression. This quote underscores the power of individual courage and integrity in the face of widespread deception and oppression.

How does this relate to tennis in America? The answer is straightforward. When the governing body of tennis acts like a tyranny —where nothing is transparent, the same inept leaders remain in control, and the level of deceit only increases—we must take a stand.

The fear instilled by this tyranny silences section leaders and intelligent employees alike. Those who dare to speak out risk losing their positions, so they remain silent.

Compounding this issue is the poor leadership of the USPTA and PTR. Despite being aware of the aging problem among coaches, they continue to support the USTA's failed initiatives. The USTA’s CEO, who has never played the game, makes grand claims about growing tennis, yet the reality is starkly different: less court space, high participation costs, expensive events, high attrition among young players, and defections to pickleball among older players. The CEO's detachment from the sport is evident—just visit Lake Nona and ask if anyone has seen him there walking the grounds and participating in events. The real fear among the inept is the truth. They run a scam, hiding their incompetence.

Solzhenitsyn's refusal to participate in the lie had a profound impact, inspiring others to question authority and strive for truth and justice. Here are three lessons from Solzhenitsyn to deal with tyranny. We all could use these lessons to save our sport.

• Individual Responsibility: Each person plays a crucial role in maintaining truth and integrity. By refusing to participate in lies, individuals can disrupt the perpetuation of deception. It would be a start if the section heads and the executives of PTR and USPTA spoke out.
• Moral Courage: Standing against falsehoods requires courage, especially when facing potential repercussions. This defiance is not just a personal stance but a contribution to a broader ethical climate. If good people do not stand up to evil, who will?
• Inspiration for Change: Solzhenitsyn's commitment to truth inspired significant social and political change. My purpose in writing is to expose the USTA's scam and advocate for using vast sums of money to grow the game, benefiting more people as the game did for me in my youth.

?USTA board members know what they do is wrong yet lack the courage to do what is right. They mishandled sexual abuse cases and continue to allow injustices with the massive sums of funds at their disposal. They raise prices for the US Open show while the sport declines in all of our zip codes. The USTA board is taking tennis on an expressway to oblivion, indifferent to the consequences, they make sure the status quo prevails, and their welfare never ends.

?Conclusions

“The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie" calls for personal integrity and bravery in confronting falsehoods. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's life and work exemplify this principle, showing the profound impact one individual can have by refusing to accept or propagate lies. His legacy is a reminder of the power of truth and the importance of moral courage in creating a just society. If we fail to value truth and remain ignorant of history and the dangers of tyranny, we will waste time and money, failing our youth, our country, and ourselves.

Where are the good people standing up? The sport's handful of reporters? The heads of clubs, the section leaders, the parents, the decent employees left at the USTA, the good Americans. Where are you? You can choose to remain silent and hope things change, they will not. The right thing to do is the right thing to do and that is to tell the truth and side with what is proper. And that is getting the Ol' Boys out of the sport.

?I say NO to ineptitude and YES to growing the game.

?I can be reached at [email protected] .

?PS: Every one of the Ol’ Boys needs to go. There is no other solution for the sport. The problem is that they will not, so the death of the sport is certain. For those interested in being enlightened, read Solzhenitsyn's work. Here is a link to a YouTube summary of the book I am referring to. You will thank me later, I promise.