There is a lot to be excited about ahead of Wednesday’s first Test between the West Indies and South Africa at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St.Lucia but one thing is certain – no players on either team will be refusing to speak to the media. Naomi Osaka’s decision to blank the obligatory press conferences during the French Open at Roland Garros has been vexing me all week. She was duly fined after her first round victory, as she knew she would be, and subsequently withdrew from the tournament.
Thanks Neil - yet another interesting one and I love the analogies. However - (there is aways a "but" or "however") as I recall, Osaka simply made a statement to the Press (there is some irony in that) that she was imposing a ban on all press conferences for reasons amongst others (fielding aweward and sometimes senselss questions) mental health and it was not apparent in that release that she in fact had some mental health issues and it goes without saying that under those circumstances, exceptions can be made.
I believe that she should rather have met with the tournament organisers privately, come to an agreement and then the organisers could have released a statement exempting her from press releases (as I am sure once explained there would be some showing on compassion and empathy).
My point is - nothing wrong with the reason - but in my opinion a lot wrong in the manner in which she chose to notify the world.
In general, why should the media always be vilified for doing their jobs....could it be done better - yes - but a presser is needed to avoid many other issues arising should there not be one and to stop the rumour mongering etc....it unfortunately does come with the Job - I am sure that when a tournament is won all the players them love the attention (and the money - lets not forget the money and where it comes from) and the opportunities for the players get from the tournaments to earn pots and pots of it...no complaints there....
So in my opinion - the mental health issues must be dealt with - but let the organizers know - so they to can deal with the fall out. If they don't know you are ill, then how the hell do you expect them to deal with it?
What is in dispute is contract law, all players, organizers, anyone involved signs a contract that lists what can and cannot be done, what is expected, and what sanctions there are if anyone breaks the contract...
What the issue is here, Naomi and others have had bad legal advice, the person/s they are paying ie agents are not worth bog rolls, they negotiated in bad faith, bad faith for the clients, what should happen is that before you sign, you negotiate, Naomi could have negotiated a new contract for 2021/2022 season for example, it is not likely she woke up on Monday and felt that her mental health was in disorder.. She has felt like this for a long time..
That is why we have courts, lawyers, to fight this, anyone has the right to re-negotiate a contract if the circumstance changes, sure it is expensive, no doubt Ms Osaka can afford to fight this, it is almost a class action case, that involves not only the WTA, but all athletes, players, anyone that provides entertainment dressed in sportswear...
What she did was right for the wrong reasons, she should have done the interview, then fought for her mental health off the court, the tennis court, and involved her legal team.. Not unlike what Caster is doing, sure it is her case, but the case sets precedence, which is right and totally cool!!!
The WTA, ATP, ICC, WR, IOC, etc have created a situation that is now a mindfield, players are coming to realize that actually they have powers, and are starting to use this power, sadly wity very bad advice from the legal beagles.. It is said that many F1 ace's have written into the contract a get out clause that says if the team do not do x or y, and the driver has less than x points, there is a termination clause..
What I don't get is there is no Players Contract Committee in tennis, soccer, as there is in F1, all F1 contracts have to be ratified by the F1 contract committee, this committee consists of ex drivers, lawyers, agents that represent all parties, FIA, team owners, etc..This seems to work very well, however it is structured..
Players should no longer just accept the way it was, just look at the Sri Lanka cricket team, they refused a contract based on an insane system.. They felt that was wrong.. Law courts are the right forum, not the media, it just makes the player look like they are having a toddler's tantrum...
I only realized this when I was involved in a case, I went to the media, the story was published and I was abused in the comments, it was after this I found a great law firm, and they took on my case, on 1 condition, no media.. Not even when we won.. Nothing.. That was great advice..
Players should be able to speak their minds, without fear or favour, if not then you know they are just saying garbage, as they fear reprisal, if they cannot speak open and from the heart, then why do we have press conferences if going in you know the answers are fake.. It is a total waste of time.. I no longer listen to post event interviews, as there is always some overpaid PR manager making sure Mr or Ms Athlete stays on script, often taping the interview.. Why bother as the answers are staged and fake!!!
Thanks Neil - yet another interesting one and I love the analogies. However - (there is aways a "but" or "however") as I recall, Osaka simply made a statement to the Press (there is some irony in that) that she was imposing a ban on all press conferences for reasons amongst others (fielding aweward and sometimes senselss questions) mental health and it was not apparent in that release that she in fact had some mental health issues and it goes without saying that under those circumstances, exceptions can be made.
I believe that she should rather have met with the tournament organisers privately, come to an agreement and then the organisers could have released a statement exempting her from press releases (as I am sure once explained there would be some showing on compassion and empathy).
My point is - nothing wrong with the reason - but in my opinion a lot wrong in the manner in which she chose to notify the world.
In general, why should the media always be vilified for doing their jobs....could it be done better - yes - but a presser is needed to avoid many other issues arising should there not be one and to stop the rumour mongering etc....it unfortunately does come with the Job - I am sure that when a tournament is won all the players them love the attention (and the money - lets not forget the money and where it comes from) and the opportunities for the players get from the tournaments to earn pots and pots of it...no complaints there....
So in my opinion - the mental health issues must be dealt with - but let the organizers know - so they to can deal with the fall out. If they don't know you are ill, then how the hell do you expect them to deal with it?
What is in dispute is contract law, all players, organizers, anyone involved signs a contract that lists what can and cannot be done, what is expected, and what sanctions there are if anyone breaks the contract...
What the issue is here, Naomi and others have had bad legal advice, the person/s they are paying ie agents are not worth bog rolls, they negotiated in bad faith, bad faith for the clients, what should happen is that before you sign, you negotiate, Naomi could have negotiated a new contract for 2021/2022 season for example, it is not likely she woke up on Monday and felt that her mental health was in disorder.. She has felt like this for a long time..
That is why we have courts, lawyers, to fight this, anyone has the right to re-negotiate a contract if the circumstance changes, sure it is expensive, no doubt Ms Osaka can afford to fight this, it is almost a class action case, that involves not only the WTA, but all athletes, players, anyone that provides entertainment dressed in sportswear...
What she did was right for the wrong reasons, she should have done the interview, then fought for her mental health off the court, the tennis court, and involved her legal team.. Not unlike what Caster is doing, sure it is her case, but the case sets precedence, which is right and totally cool!!!
The WTA, ATP, ICC, WR, IOC, etc have created a situation that is now a mindfield, players are coming to realize that actually they have powers, and are starting to use this power, sadly wity very bad advice from the legal beagles.. It is said that many F1 ace's have written into the contract a get out clause that says if the team do not do x or y, and the driver has less than x points, there is a termination clause..
What I don't get is there is no Players Contract Committee in tennis, soccer, as there is in F1, all F1 contracts have to be ratified by the F1 contract committee, this committee consists of ex drivers, lawyers, agents that represent all parties, FIA, team owners, etc..This seems to work very well, however it is structured..
Players should no longer just accept the way it was, just look at the Sri Lanka cricket team, they refused a contract based on an insane system.. They felt that was wrong.. Law courts are the right forum, not the media, it just makes the player look like they are having a toddler's tantrum...
I only realized this when I was involved in a case, I went to the media, the story was published and I was abused in the comments, it was after this I found a great law firm, and they took on my case, on 1 condition, no media.. Not even when we won.. Nothing.. That was great advice..
Players should be able to speak their minds, without fear or favour, if not then you know they are just saying garbage, as they fear reprisal, if they cannot speak open and from the heart, then why do we have press conferences if going in you know the answers are fake.. It is a total waste of time.. I no longer listen to post event interviews, as there is always some overpaid PR manager making sure Mr or Ms Athlete stays on script, often taping the interview.. Why bother as the answers are staged and fake!!!
An interesting well balanced and ultimately fair comment Manners👏