longjack wrote:
there is a lot going on here.
at the core is a power struggle.
the tennis federation and media want to control their product and control the athlete.
the media insists on stupid interviews to justify their existence, which is not required, the audience would rather watch the sport, and listen to the athlete on their own podcast.
so most of the media are an endangered species, you only need s few good analysts and announcers, it is the sport itself that is the main thing, and the media and tour organizers conflict with the athlete is that THEY view themselves as being of paramount importance.
so when the athlete says they will not do an interview, this is a huge threat, and loss of control.
so the action of fining the athlete and leaving it at that was not taken.
all the major slams brass got together, to nip it in the bud, and set an example to those who do not submit to their authority completely.
so osaka was threatened to be kicked out of all the slams for missing an interview (she said she would do some at certain points).
now, athletes can have their own podcasts, and market themselves, which upsets the corporate sports media model (prior).
at the end of the day, the old media, people are disinterestedness in the crap interviews, the stupid questions. its rutarted.
with the athlete in question, they are young, osaka is strong, there should be no doubt the media stresses her out, and the woke culture stresses her out,
athletes that are #1 in the world, and such, they are in a bubble literally since birth. and they have little clue about much else besides here sport, the wokeness, and "the plaform" "to make a difference"., the athletes are easily manipulated with their completely cartoonish and childish world view, which is part and parcel. comes with ultimate specialization.
musicians are exactly in the same boat.
this is why, almost all these specialists end up broke, or join foolish causes,
they are lambs going to slaughter.
the ones that survive intact, have longevity, where they get fooled, ripped off, and learn,
and have some ability to market themselves and regain some cash.
at the end of the day, the major tennis slams brass, are now publicly doing a 180, saying how much they support the athletes, how much they care, now much effort they put into mental health, etc. etc.
meanwhile the truth is the tennis powers brutally threatened the career of a beautiful, developing, incredible athlete.
needless to say, these pathetic sports federations, these "leaders" need to go the way of the dinosaur. they offer little value, they are outdated and need to go.
parasites.
garbage.