Former Insider Garrison Gets Nasty with USTA

Without knowing all the circumstances surrounding Zina Garrison’s grievances against the USTA – first reported by Daniel Kaplan of Sports Business Journal – it would seem on the face of it that the former top-5 player has a tough road ahead. Few African-Americans have had so many top positions within the American tennis hierarchy. In addition to her Fed Cup captaincy, the Houston native has served as a USTA board member and an Olympic coach in 2004 and 2008. 

An insider at the USTA said the organization was taken aback and disappointed by the allegations of racial discrimination following Garrison’s Fed Cup dismissal. Garrison, who reached the Wimbledon final in 1990, shared Fed Cup duties with Mary Joe Fernandez in 2008. Fernandez, born in the Dominican Republic, took over this year.

Now, that's not to say she doesn't have a case. We'll be better able to judge that when the suit is filed. Kaplan reports that could be as early as this week. According to my source, Garrison was let go purely based on performance. Let the facts show that her Fed Cup teams reached five semifinals but never won a title, the worst record for any Fed Cup captain with more than a year of service.

Whether she has a legit case or is just seeking money will be interesting to monitor since it's not the first time the USTA has been sued for racial discrimination. The USTA is currently battling Marvin Dent in court, who alleges he was passed over for a white candidate for director of the National Tennis Center. Two black umpires also sued the USTA for racially charged comments that were directed at them and others.

Mauresmo Speaks to the Advocate

On another topic, I want to point out my article in the February issue of the Advocate on out lesbian Amelie Mauresmo. I spent nearly two years trying to convince Mauresmo to agree to speak to the now-monthly gay publication -- only the second time she has talked to the gay press since she came out in 1999. And even then, it took an initial misunderstanding for the two-time Grand Slam champion from France to speak to the non-mainstream magazine.