Washington Post story on tennis writer being sued by tennis star

[Mr. X]

What happened when Alexander Zverev sued Ben Rothenberg over Sharypova claims - The Washington Post

 

[WriteThinking]

That was a really good, interesting article. I hope Rothenberg wins his German media appeal.

Zverev seems to have gotten away with some stuff.

 

[John]

If you follow tennis, you've probably read tons of Ben's stuff over the years. shipty situation for him.

 

[matt_garth]

Don't ask Mushnick about Rothenberg.

 

[Mr. X]

Don't ask Mushnick about Rothenberg.

Please share some details.

 

[matt_garth]

Five years ago:

https://nypost.com/2019/01/26/time-to-give-ex-espn-tennis-analyst-justice-after-absurd-slur-claims/

Four years ago:

https://nypost.com/2020/01/25/espn-...er-still-paying-for-absurd-racist-accusation/

Two years ago:

https://nypost.com/2022/07/28/espn-still-hasnt-fixed-disgraceful-doug-adler-firing/

 

[WriteThinking]

It's good to see Mushnick keep at it with regard to Doug Adler and how he was unjustly fired, even if only to let Adler know that someone got it and knew and understood the guerilla tennis reference.

This line in one of the articles? "All knew Adler said nothing racist, that he was unconditionally innocent. But they let him burn as if unwilling to risk secondhand smoke."

That is what happened. Because it was that touchy a matter. Because, even if you're talking about guerilla-tactics tennis, you simply can't use the word "guerilla" in connection with either of the Williams sisters, for exactly the obvious reason that Rothenberg brought up. You just can't, because, yeah, the thought/image of "gorilla" occurs even though it's not intended, in a way that doesn't happen with regard to Pete Sampras or Andre Agashi.

Rothenberg was dead wrong in terms of what actual term was used, and how, of course, and he probably knew it. That's where the problem really was, and he shouldn't have ever brought up the topic, even if he might not have been the only one to think about it. ESPN, for its part, certainly could've and should've realized the difference and been more discerning and forgiving of Adler's analysis. That's what Adler needed in that instance. He really did.

 

[goalmouth]

It's good to see Mushnick keep at it with regard to Doug Adler and how he was unjustly fired, even if only to let Adler know that someone got it and knew and understood the guerilla tennis reference.

This line in one of the articles? "All knew Adler said nothing racist, that he was unconditionally innocent. But they let him burn as if unwilling to risk secondhand smoke."

That is what happened. Because it was that touchy a matter. Because, even if you're talking about guerilla-tactics tennis, you simply can't use the word "guerilla" in connection with either of the Williams sisters, for exactly the obvious reason that Rothenberg brought up. You just can't, because, yeah, the thought/image of "gorilla" occurs even though it's not intended, in a way that doesn't happen with regard to Pete Sampras or Andre Agashi.

Rothenberg was dead wrong in terms of what actual term was used, and how, of course, and he probably knew it. That's where the problem really was, and he shouldn't have ever brought up the topic, even if he might not have been the only one to think about it. ESPN, for its part, certainly could've and should've realized the difference and been more discerning and forgiving of Adler's analysis. That's what Adler needed in that instance. He really did.

Agashi at the U.S. Open back when said Pete Sampras "looked like he swung out of a tree". And he didn't mean Tarzan. Then Pete went and kicked Agashi's ash in a memorable final. For the first question in the post-match presser, I asked Agashi if he regretted the remark. He threatened to leave but didn't.