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USTA: Bogomolov Must Repay Us, Exploring Options

6K views 64 replies 32 participants last post by  Henry Chinaski 
#1 ·
http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news?slug=ycn-10742013

One of the feel good stories in tennis this year has been the rise of American player Alex Bogomolov Jr. to a ranking of No. 34 in the world. While everyone who knows Bogomolov couldn't be happier for the 28-year old, a strange thing happened as Bogomolov rose in the rankings. The Russians were actively recruiting him.

In the Cold War era this might mean he was being recruited as a spy or for his knowledge of clandestine military secrets. In 2011, it means he was being recuited to play Davis Cup tennis.

Born in Moscow, Bogomolov was uprooted to Mexico and then the United States by his father Alex Sr., who is a former Soviet national tennis coach. A talented junior player, Bogomolov never could make that "breakthrough" on the ATP Tour. He toiled in the 100s and 200s for years, getting financial and coaching help from the United States Tennis Association along the way.

After it was announced earlier this month that Bogomolov Jr. would play Davis Cup in 2011, the powers to be at the USTA got upset.

I spoke with Patrick McEnroe who is in charge of player development for the USTA at the Australian Open Wildcard Playoff held last week in Atlanta, and a couple weeks after Bogomolov made his decision, McEnroe had much to say.

"He has received quite a bit of support, it's an ITF decision and at the USTA we are exploring our options," he stated. I'll leave it at that."

After saying that, he kept going.

"I certainly believe… I have no issue with Alex personally. From the USTA standpoint, he was born in Russia, he has family there, he should repay the USTA. He's actually signed something saying that and we'll see what happens."

I followed up asking if the USTA is continuing to explore options and McEnroe said, "that is correct."

Bogomolov is not the first to make a decision like this and won't be the last. Most of the time it's done for financial reasons, other times it's because it's the only option to play. Numerous tennis players from Soviet block countries became "free agents" and went to the country that offered the best deal.

In women's basketball, there's Becky Hammon. Hammon is about as "All-American" s you can get. Blonde and born in South Dakota, after Hammon was overlooked for a spot at the U.S. Olympic trials in 2008, she became a naturalized Russian citizen and played in the Olympics representing Russia. "I'm absolutely 100 percent still an American. I love our country. I love what we stand for. This is an opportunity to fulfill my dream of playing in the Olympics," said Hammon.

This is an opportunity for Bogomolov to play Davis Cup, as at the age of 28, he isn't on The radar of U.S. Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier or the USTA. "All of us are friends with Bogomolov, and I can understand why he is doing it," added Courier.

Another player, Jesse Levine was born in Canada, but now plays as an American. He won the USTA's Australian Open Wildcard Playoff and says he has no plans to play Davis Cup for Canada if they were to come calling. He also says that he hasn't signed anything saying he wouldn't.

The fact is, Bogomolov will be taking the court for Russia when they play Austria in February. Whether the USTA is actually going after Bogomolov to repay thousands and thousands of dollars, or if they are looking to send a message to other Americans looking to do the same remains to be seen.

We'll all have to wait and see.
 
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#12 ·
Of course he does, the provided him training facilities and coaches for years. He cannoy just leave when he becomes an okay player when he has always had monetary support from the USA.

T]If this is true, then it is legally binding, but if not, then fuck the USTA. Bogo should be able to play for whatever team would be happy to have him.
You really love to complain, did you even read the article? It does not say that he cannot play for Russia, it says he must repay the USA for their help throughout the recent years.

Agreed. He wasn't gonna get a sniff with the US Davis Cup team anyways. I would've done the same as Alex.
You can easily liken this story to a story in many corporate places where you cannot jump straight to a competitor.

Bogomolov is a mug, why does USTA have their panties in a bunch about this? You'd think they were losing Olderer or something...
He is top 35, its a big deal, precedent setting really.

Why do the USTA even care? For most of his career he has represented the usa, would have they cared if he was still ranked 150 in the world? If he was $40k in debt, then it could be argued that the support the USTA gave him wasnt enough and isnt what is causing his success. What would they do if James Blake suddenly decided to represent Great Britain, would they care more or less?
How much would he have been in debt if he were given nothing? If a player is given $100k but spends $140k, does he owe nothing to the USA in that situation?
 
#4 ·
The USTA is full of fuckwits, this is well known. Bogo must have felt disrespected by PMac or someone else, seeing as they never picked him to play DC, and probably wouldn't next year, in favor of younger players like Young or Querrey, even though Bogo is ranked higher.

In response to this:

"I certainly believe… I have no issue with Alex personally. From the USTA standpoint, he was born in Russia, he has family there, he should repay the USTA. He's actually signed something saying that and we'll see what happens."

If this is true, then it is legally binding, but if not, then fuck the USTA. Bogo should be able to play for whatever team would be happy to have him.
 
#6 · (Edited)
The USTA is acting like they're directly responsible for his success. He hasn't received any help from the USTA either with coaching, finances or wild cards since the beginning of 2006. As recently as July 2010, the guy was $40,000 IN DEBT. Now they're going after him? Guess the USTA has to pay for that roof on Arthur Ashe somehow, even though it's the worst kept secret in tennis that they just sit on millions upon millions of dollars :rolleyes:

Also, we're talking about a six-figure lawsuit here considering that he did get free USTA coaching for several years and a couple of main draw wild cards into the US Open. It's disgusting that they're trying to clean this guy out over taking an opportunity (Davis Cup/Olympics) that they were never going to give him in the first place.
 
#11 ·
Why do the USTA even care? For most of his career he has represented the usa, would have they cared if he was still ranked 150 in the world? If he was $40k in debt, then it could be argued that the support the USTA gave him wasnt enough and isnt what is causing his success. What would they do if James Blake suddenly decided to represent Great Britain, would they care more or less?
 
#14 ·
Did they repay Czechoslovakia bringing up Lendl or Navratilova? Did they repay Yugoslavia for bringing up Seles?

No? Then stfu USTA mugs, go bellyache elsewhere, not on my computer screen please.

And yes, Bogomolov has played under USA flag for several years, represented them long enough paying debts by that. I didn't see whining when Cecil Mamiit switched to Philippines.
 
#17 ·
the USTA has more millions than the FFT and Spanish federations combined probably and they are going after some journeyman for some peanut?
no fucking wonder they aren't winning shit.They never cared for this guy but the "help" he got and never asked him to play DC and now that he is playing well and deservedly so wants to play for a country that needs his help considering Kolya is worthless;Andreev is worthless and there is nofuckingbody else around? :rolleyes:
I hope Karma follows Roddick;Isner;Querrey;Fish and that Harrison boy and that they have a horrible year in the slams and MS no matter the surface and I hope Alex whoops their asses
 
#20 ·
Gomez said his federation made a "huge economic effort'' with Collarini. He then sent me a copy of another letter the Argentine federation wrote to the USTA asking for compensation. Gomez said the federation knew it wouldn't get any money, that this was sent only in protest.

"This is why we are calling upon your good judgment for the USTA to consider, on the basis of these facts, a goodwill economic compensation that allows us, within our budget limitations, to continue the development of young players in a country with a situation that is on the opposite side regarding the facilities on which relies your federation.''

McEnroe said the USTA had no intention of sending money to Argentina.
so now the yanks should better make quiet with regards to bogo
 
#26 ·
Who gives a crap about the USTA. The USTA has enough good players already as it is and they got the gall to harp on Alex, those bastards! What? Fish, Roddick, Young, Isner and all those clowns are not enough for them, huh? Alex wasn't gonna get a chance to play for the American Davis Cup team anyways. Besides even if Alex had to pay it back, he can get the Russian Federation to pay it all back for him since they're taking him. I wonder if Alex is good clubbing mates with Kolya and the gang? or if he drinks vodka like every real russian should.
 
#27 ·
Who gives a crap about the USTA. The USTA has enough good players already as it is and they got the gall to harp on Alex, those bastards! What? Fish, Roddick, Young, Isner and all those clowns are not enough for them, huh? Alex wasn't gonna get a chance to play for the American Davis Cup team anyways. Besides even if Alex had to pay it back, he can get the Russian Federation to pay it all back for him since they're taking him. I wonder if Alex is good clubbing mates with Kolya and the gang? or if he drinks vodka like every real russian should.
You're overestimating Russian Tennis Federation :lol:
 
#30 ·
If they want financial compensation then it should be the Russians who pay it, as with transfer fees between teams in football. It would make a lot more sense.

But you can see from the examples in this thread why that is a precedent the USTA does not want to set.

Of course if it's true that Bogey signed some sort of contract then all this is moot. Highly unfair, but moot.
 
#31 · (Edited)
If the USTA has no problem welcoming defecting players they should not complain if the traffic flows in the other direction!

I can understand why they'd be pissed if they funded and played him @ DC ties THEN HE DEFECTED but at 28, he's never played at senior level in the Davis Cup....Courier has gone on the record to say: "He hasn't factored into my thoughts for what our team is and will be ...I don't really see a scenario where he would be playing for the United States."

They're affectively saying we don't want to use you but we paid for the right that no one can either!
 
#33 ·
With this story though, how likely would it be that say I dunno, Ryan Harrison were to change countries now? (assuming he could).

The US has recently lost Carsten Ball, Amer Delic and now Alex Bogolomov. Something has to be done to keep players in the US that are currently representing the US.

Imagine if players were leaving Moldova and Serbia to become US players, the outrage would be huge.
 
#36 ·
What needs to be done is the USTA needs to remove their heads from their asses. They've been the laughingstock of the tennis world for years now.
 
#39 ·
When a national governing body decides to fund a player, is it written somewhere (in a contract, maybe) that they are to repay the governing body when they start earning enough money on their own? If not, then the money given to Bogomolov was NOT a loan, but rather a privilege that was extended to him for being a potentially elite player. If it was seen as an investment, then maybe they can call for a repayment, but without a legally binding written contract, Bogomolov is free to do as he pleases.
 
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