WHEN INCOMPETENCE TURNS EVIL, USTA!

The USTA's actions in a recent sexual harassment case were deemed morally wrong and evil by a Florida jury. Despite this, the CEO and legal team plan to appeal the verdict. The USTA board fails to address the culture that enables such behavior and instead prioritizes protecting their own positions. The organization engages in theft, deception, betrayal, cover-ups, abuse, discrimination, exploitation, corruption, and injustice. The USTA's actions demonstrate a lack of accountability and a disregard for the well-being of players and the sport. The organization intimidates and silences victims and their families. The USTA's financial power allows them to avoid consequences for their actions. Sponsors of the US Open must decide whether to continue supporting the organization or stand for integrity. The chairperson of the board, the entire board, and the CEO should resign. New leadership is needed to bring integrity, accountability, and a commitment to the sport. When Incompetence Turns Evil, USTA By Javier Palenque In light of recent events involving the actions taken by the chairman, board members, and CEO of the USTA to defend indefensible positions in the sexual harassment case recently lost in Florida, it's important to address the concept of moral evil. Simply put, moral evil is what is caused both by human activity and certain inactivity. This is called sin. Active examples of moral evil are theft, sexual abuse, murder, rape, child abuse, hatred, jealousy, and genocide. Inactive sin includes not helping someone in need when it's in your power to do so or protecting the institution over the victim of abuse. I imagine the concept is clear now. A Florida jury decided that what the USTA leadership did in the sexual harassment case brought to its court was negligent and awarded the victim a $9 million verdict with $6 million of those as punitive damages. This was society's way of telling the USTA leadership that what they did was morally wrong and evil of sorts. Yet the CEO and his legal team plan to appeal against the decision as they try to save face to sponsors and the country. This idea of appealing is of course absurd as was defending case number 31 of sexual harassment in the last five years. The logical decision should be to look at the culture that enables this behavior or lack of action from the executives and address the issue. Unfortunately for tennis, this will never happen as the culture is embodied in the neglect of the executives who rather than protect the sport and kids, protect their jobs and the institution that employs them. Consider for a moment the impact on the victims of sexual harassment, their families, their financial situations, and the shattered dreams and futures they face. Imagine if your parents do not have the resources to fight such an immoral executive group and you are subject to sexual abuse at the USTA. That would be 99% of kids. One would think that the board would stand up against such injustices as these victims could easily be our own loved ones. Nonetheless, the board of the USTA empowers the legal team and CEO to function as they see fit and unfortunately for the victims, these people look after their positions and not the truth or the victims. A clear demonstration of how useless the board is and how nefarious are the executives that protect their jobs over a teenager. To clarify and make sure that we all understand what moral evil is, let me explain with some examples. Theft. Taking someone's property without consent. In the context of the USTA, prioritizing executive salaries over investing in the growth of the sport amounts to theft from the game itself. More bureaucracy and fewer kids. Who would want that for the sport? The board is okay with this way of allocating funds. It approves it. I do not. Deception. Intentionally misleading or lying to others. Despite claiming to uphold the mission of the USTA, evidence suggests a pattern of deception regarding financial resources allocated for the game versus the US Open. Clear lies about participation numbers overall. All meant to appear good. When the opposite is true, all false information. The board again looks the other way at this as well. I demand accountability from a not-for-profit. It is very simple to understand. Betrayal. Violating trust or loyalty. Imagine entrusting your child to the USTA for training only to have that trust betrayed by negligence and misconduct at the highest levels. This is what the latest sexual harassment case was about and the USTA fought to defend their employees' actions no matter the fault or cost to the victim. The jury found that the USTA was at fault and the incapable CEO plans to appeal the verdict. Nothing can be less intelligent than that decision alternative. Cover-up. Attempting to conceal wrongdoing. Hiring external lawyers to audit sexual harassment procedures while cases remain unresolved is a clear attempt to cover up systemic issues. The issue is not the procedures that would be audited, but the permissive and unaccountable culture that the leadership approves and engages in. But a new reporting procedure that they would make public by some firm would confuse people into thinking that they are addressing the issue when in fact they are seeking to cover its tracks. What happens to the victims who have no funds to fight a system against them? Who stands up for them? Abuse. Inflicting harm on others, whether physical, emotional, or psychological. The actions of USTA lawyers who prioritize protecting their positions over the well-being of players and families constitute an abuse of power. Unfair to any parent or child. Yet the board looks the other way at this as well. I applied to be a board member and the chairman of the board censored and blocked my application. That is abuse. Yet the board again looks the other way. Discrimination. Treating individuals unfairly based on personal characteristics. The USTA's track record on racism and sexual harassment lawsuits is deplorable and indicative of systemic discrimination. But they all approve of Black Day, Asian Day, Gay Day, any day, all to appear to care when the opposite is true. Notice never a family day or a tennis day. All posturing to look good so they can look good in society. The jury verdict states that they do the exact opposite. Simply look at what percentage of the revenues they give the USTA Foundation. That number will tell you how much they care, in monetary terms, less than one penny. Now how much do they save in taxes? This is for sure much more than pennies. How disgusting is the status quo and the board again looks the other way? Simply deplorable. Exploitation. Taking advantage of others for personal gain. USTA leadership exploits their positions to maintain their welfare at the expense of the sport and its participants. Just like this was demonstrated in this sexual harassment case last week. Remember in the last five years there have been 31 complaints, two settled. This means that 94% have not found closure. Now ask yourself how much money was spent in the two cases settled. This will prove to you that their priorities are their welfare, not the sports or the kids. All moral failings. Corruption. Misusing power for unethical purposes. The exorbitant salaries of certain USTA executives, coupled with a lack of tangible contributions to the sport, suggest corruption within the organization. This is why I want everything audited and why I will never become a board member as I would find out things more interesting than the NYT found out a few years back. Injustice. Failing to uphold principles of fairness and equality. When the USTA uses its financial power to intimidate and silence victims and their families, it perpetuates injustice. This is not acceptable in a not-for-profit sports entity that benefits from a non-profit status and where no one has one single share of stock. The executives have the sport hijacked or, as they call it amongst themselves, the OLD Boys Clan. We have this thing closed shut. Nobody can touch us. Let's take a comprehensive look at the recent sexual harassment case that has been making headlines over the past few months. Take a moment to consider how decisions are made within the USTA organization that lead to national embarrassment for the sport and the stiff punitive damages awarded to the victim of the USTA's lack of leadership last week. The USTA becomes aware of the sexual harassment incident and chooses to conceal it until public attention naturally escalates. They assess whether the victim's parents have the financial means to pursue legal action. If the parents possess financial resources, they deploy legal tactics, using the organization's funds to create a daunting financial barrier for the victim's family. They attempt to reach a settlement using insurance funds, displaying a disturbing willingness to prioritize financial convenience over moral responsibility. If these tactics fail and media scrutiny threatens to expose the culture of negligence and protection within the organization, they escalate their efforts to intimidate the victims and their supporters, including influential figures like Pam Shriver, who later testified against the USTA even though the lawyers intimidated her. Legal proceedings ensued, resulting in a swift and decisive loss for the organization. Despite this, the CEO and legal team insist on appealing the verdict, demonstrating a shocking lack of accountability and morality. The worst part is they face no consequences for their bad decisions. The board nods its approval of the incapable executive decisions and does nothing to stop the lack of intelligence. Their negligence prompts sexual abuse advocacy groups to file a congressional complaint demanding a thorough investigation into the organization's practices. The link to the 261-page report is here for you to review. They persist in diverting funds meant for youth development to defend their incompetence, showing a blatant disregard for public opinion and the well-being of young athletes or the sport itself. A quick look at the financials proves every word I state. Sponsors of the US Open are faced with a critical decision. Continue supporting an organization plagued by moral and legal controversies, or take a stand for integrity and withdraw sponsorship until new leadership is instated. Considering the evidence and circumstances, I unequivocally call for the immediate resignation of the chairperson of the board, the entire board, and the CEO, whose lack of experience in tennis is emblematic of their disconnect from the sports values and principles. To be clear, you do not call a match point ball out when it is obviously in. You learn that at age 6, you STA. It's time for a new era of leadership in tennis, one characterized by integrity, accountability, and a genuine commitment to nurturing the sport. Upon assuming office, I will ensure that all the building is fumigated and the remnants of the previous administration's belongings and thinking are swiftly removed, signaling a clean break from the past. There is only one viable course of action for the current board members, to resign immediately and distance themselves from the sport and its young participants as much as possible. The harm they have caused is too large and they are the accused guilty party found in a Florida court of law. No need to appeal, just walk out the door and do American tennis a favor, leave for good. Where is Letitia James in all of this? The urgency of the situation demands swift and decisive action and time to revoke the USTA's not-for-profit status if the clan remains. I say a no to ineptitude and yes to growing the game. For those who wish to join the call for change, please reach out to me at palenquityahoo.com.