Mens Tennis Forums banner

Usta Discontinues Use Of Gimelstob In Us Open Series Ads

5K views 99 replies 47 participants last post by  bambelbitz 
#1 ·
By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net


WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 - The USTA will discontinue its use of Justin Gimelstob in its Olympus US Open Series TV ad campaign, Inside Tennis and TennisReporters.net has learned. “Gimelstob’s recent comments on a Washington DC radio program were derogatory and meaning to female players and to women in general,” the USTA said in a statement. “The USTA has long championed integrity, inclusiveness and equality, and cannot ignore such harmful remarks More than any other sport, tennis has benefited from the pioneering role and achievements of so many woman.”

The USTA went onto say that it has met with Gimelstob, who expressed deep remorse. Sports Illustrated has also stopped using Gimelstob as a blogger.
Gimelstob was also suspended for one match by World Team Tennis, but did play in a Tuesday contest for the Washington Kastles , where he teamed with Serena Williams in mixed doubles, the same woman had heavily criticized him for his comments. Gimelstob, who was recently elected to the ATP Board of Directors, was chastised for, among other comments, calling Anna Kournikova “a bitch", said that he found her unattractive but "wouldn't mind having my younger brother, who's a kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits," and then claimed female players "lack the social skills, they don't go to high school, they don't go to parties."


http://www.tennisreporters.net/
 
See less See more
#6 ·
As far as I know, he still got paid for them. Shame they had to do it, some of them looked like they might actually be funny.

Here's a better story:

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=ap-gimelstob-usta&prov=ap&type=lgns

USTA drops ads with Gimelstob after sexist remarks

By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Tennis Writer 2 hours, 54 minutes ago

Former touring tennis pro Justin Gimelstob’s sexist comments on a radio show have gotten him in trouble again.

Television commercials featuring Gimelstob promoting the U.S. Open Series are being scrapped by the U.S. Tennis Association because of what he said about Anna Kournikova and other women last month.

“Justin Gimelstob’s recent comments on a Washington, D.C., radio program were derogatory and demeaning to female tennis players and to women in general. The USTA has long championed integrity, inclusiveness, diversity, and equality, and cannot ignore such harmful remarks. More than any other sport, tennis has benefited from the pioneering role and achievements of so many women,” the USTA said in a statement released to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

“As a result of his remarks, the USTA is discontinuing its planned use of Justin Gimelstob in the 2008 Olympus U.S. Open Series television ad campaign. The USTA has met with Justin, who has expressed deep remorse and has issued his sincere apology. We anticipate that he will learn from this experience and that he will be able to contribute to the game of tennis in the future,” the statement said.

In the radio appearance, Gimelstob used a derogatory term to describe Kournikova, a former tennis player, and made suggestive comments about current top-25 player Nicole Vaidisova.

“I respect the USTA’s decision,” Gimelstob said in a telephone interview with the AP on Wednesday. “They’ve been great to me over the years, and I appreciated the opportunity. Unfortunately, I take full responsibility for what happened on the show and I deeply regret it. And I’m sorry I didn’t represent them or myself the way that I feel like I could have or should have. I’m apologetic and remorseful and wish I could take it back, but I can’t.”

Gimelstob retired from the men’s tennis tour last year and is on the board of the ATP.

After his radio remarks, he was suspended for one match without pay by World Team Tennis, but stayed on the air during Wimbledon for his job with the Tennis Channel. That channel issued a statement and apology on its Web site and requested that Gimelstob make a “substantial” donation to the Women’s Sports Foundation, which was created by Billie Jean King in 1974.

“I made a mistake and I’ve apologized. I just hope people accept my apology. I believe that I have positive things to offer the sport and I hope I get back to the point of contributing,” he said Wednesday. “I think what I did deserved repercussions, and that’s what I’m experiencing now. I have to take responsibility for it and learn from it and move forward.”

Gimelstob was to appear Wednesday night in a World Team Tennis match for the Washington Kastles at the New York Buzz in Albany, N.Y.

He will serve his suspension Friday, when the Kastles host the Buzz.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bibberz
#4 ·
This touchy feely society! :rolleyes:
 
#9 ·
If it were just the one thing, maybe people could get past it, but Gimelstob has made disparaging comments about women before.

If he had made similar derrogatory remarks about black people, he would have been canned immediately. I can't stand his grinning face on TTC. ick.
 
#28 ·
This is a surprise - somehow.
 
#32 ·
So Justin gets banned for calling one woman a bitch.

But Serena has called Emilie Loit, Justine Henin, and Maria Sharapova a "bitch" and she's still in the ads.
 
#38 ·
So Justin gets banned for calling one woman a bitch.

But Serena has called Emilie Loit, Justine Henin, and Maria Sharapova a "bitch" and she's still in the ads.
A girl/woman calling another woman bitch isn't that bad because both of them can be bitches whilst man can't be reffered to as bitches and that term isn't as insulting to them.

Same as Snoop Dogg and co using the N word: it doesn't matter because the n word can also apply to them but if a white guy or Michael Jackson were to use the n word then there would be trouble because that term can't be applied to them ;)
Rafa = Fed Killa said:
What a joke.

People are too PC these days.

Good for Gimelstob to speak his mind.
This PC culture is killing everything. People should be able to express themselves without worrying that somebody's feelings might be hurt. It's better than having to keep it all inside. Everybody should have the freedom to call a spade a spade.
 
#44 ·
He's learned his lesson, but Justin is not homophobic and he didn't make any homophobic remarks. He spoke bluntly and without tact about the lockerroom atmosphere, but I've seen that same behavior in the players' lounge and he is right.
 
#45 ·
The one time I ever spoke to him he was very nice, I have to say. But he's the Brad Gilbert of his generation and never knows when to STFU. I suspect that we'll see him back on the air eventually, because he's not a bad commentator and is actually intelligent and articulate for a retired jock.
 
#47 ·
For a commentator AND active player to threaten violence to another tennis player, (`if she's not crying when she comes off the court I haven't done my job'), especially a woman, is so far off course so far in left field, Gimmelstob should be BANNED FOREVER from the game and from tennis commentary.
 
#49 ·
How Rediculous

That makes me angry. Granted It was a STUPID move on his part, it seem kind of ridiculous that it is under this much scrutiny.

There are so many worse things to worry about. Im sure everyone has said things before, but i guess justin was just dumb enough to say them publicly.

A better post would be "Was Justin Right?"
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top