Controversy is swirling in Melbourne around John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova’s on-court protest of Margaret Court Arena. Or its name, to be more precise, since I’m sure they like the arena itself just fine. “Evonne Goolagong Arena” their hand-made banner read, a reference to the Australian Aboriginal former world No. 1 who is not a hate-speech-spewing shrew.
The story goes like this. Margaret Court is the winningest Grand Slam champion of all time. She has 24 majors. She has a calendar-year Grand Slam (1970). She is Australian. She should be a player of whom all of Australia can be proud. Unfortunately, she is also guilty of publicly saying some of the most viciously hateful things I have ever heard from the mouth of an athlete.
She’s a Christian minister who doesn’t just opine that homosexuality is a sin, she actively campaigns against basic homosexual rights. She has stated derisively that tennis is “full of lesbians” and deemed that transgender children are the “work of the devil”. She is, in short, a person quite worthy of protest.
Enter Martina and Johnny Mac. Three years ago, Navratilova began asking for a change to the name of Margaret Court Arena. Tennis Australia ignored her. They, in fact, honored the Rev. Margaret Court this year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her Calendar Slam.
Thus Martina found a more…public way to get their attention. With the help of John McEnroe. She climbed up on the umpire’s chair after her Legends match on Tuesday and began addressing the crowd regarding her cause. The tournament people cut the television feed. Not to be silenced, she hopped down, and she and Mac unrolled the banner with their new name suggestion.
Controversy is nothing new to J-Mac and Martina. Navratilova wore a hat on court during a Legends doubles match at Wimbledon last year that said IMPEACH, a statement of support for the impeachment of President Trump…and decidedly not allowed at the All-England Club. She also wrote an op ed early last year claiming that transgender girls competing in sports against biological girls was “cheating” (a position she later walked back on).
And for his part, McEnroe is one of the most controversial tennis players of all time. The hot-tempered, foul-mouthed American was ejected from his 1990 Australian Open match against Mikael Pernfors for verbal obscenities and intimidating a lineswoman. He once had his membership at the Queen’s Club revoked because he unleashed a verbal assault on the wife of the chairman of the club that was so nasty, she wouldn’t repeat what he said to her. That he has courted (no pun intended) controversy for a noble cause this week is worth noting.
Tennis Australia doesn’t even bother trying to argue that Court isn’t awful. They know she is. Everyone knows she is. They contend that the honor of her name on a show court is not a reflection of her personal views, but of her impressive accomplishments. And they’re quite put out that as guests of the tournament (journalists with credentials), John and Martina used that hospitality as a forum to embarrass their host.
They’re not wrong and yet they’re completely wrong. McEnroe and Navratilova did abuse the hospitality of the tournament…but you know what? They shouldn’t have had to. Imagine if the Good Reverend Court had said that black, Indian, or Asian children are from the devil? The entire world would be incensed and that name would come off the stadium before she finished the sentence. RIGHTFULLY SO. This is no different. None.
Oh. And if I might be so bold? I’m pretty sure the most important protocols were not broken by John and Martina.
Alison I just saw your post and I watched/listened to the song you posted I watched it twice so I don’t misunderstand anything but I have to say in my opinion it doesn’t make any sense dear, I’m sorry I know you mean well and I thank you for your sincerity but you have fallen into deception and false teaching, I will listen to it again just to make sure but….😖
Like I said in my previous comments we have known each other for sometime not personal but from a distance and all I can do now is pray for you, honestly I will pray for you today and whenever I remember.
Sometimes I say the right things but with the wrong emotion 😂🤣😂 I know 😋.
I have said this to you before I will say it again because it’s true-
Jesus loves you, He died for your sins and all you have to do is accept God’s free gift his mercy and grace for you because it’s available to you and to all who will believe and trust Him, God wants the best for you and like I always say we all have a choice no one is forcing you.
I wish well dear think about all I have said to you carefully.
Joe Smith 😘😂 it’s been awhile how have you been?
I wish I can say I am surprised but I am not it’s a little sad to see you like this 😔 I didn’t read all you wrote I am allergic to trash but I will read it after writing this 😂 because if I read all your comments in it’s entirety 😂😂😂 I might not write this.
what can I do or say that I haven’t said or done so there is no need to continue anymore.
I have done what I can to help you the rest is up to you, spent a lot of time trying to help you in the Non tennis forum tenngrand.com/non-tennis-forum/
months ago maybe even more than a year ago not sure how long but it doesn’t matter.
Hope you are doing great 👍
Alison if you would like to chat on a different platform(social media) let me know and we will work something out we don’t have to talk about sports or anything else we can get to know each other better if you want.
We don’t have too but if you want then…
Watch out Alison! Stanley is always trying to chat women up on here! He has tried with several people before…I strongly advise you to stay away from him…!
All I want to say here is that Jesus was not about hate and petty judgement. Anyone who attacks or hates on people in his name is committing an abomination. I remember in the movie Inherit the Wind, Spencer Tracy playing Clarence Darrow said at the end – the Bible is a book, but it’s not the only book. Words worth remembering. That movie was about the Scopes trial in which a school teacher was charged with a crime for teaching evolution. Ignorance is truly the bane of human beings.
It is truly appalling and offensive to read hatespeak supposedly made in God’s name. Jesus was a man of peace and goodwill to mankind. Tolerance for our differences and respect for all people should be the order of the day.
Hmm I am sorry Nativenewyorker but you don’t know who Jesus Christ is and you don’t know His words, yeah you said some correct things about Him but you have a misunderstanding of who he is.
Obviously Jesus loves everyone he loves the sinner and that means each and everyone one of us because we are sinners, he was about peace, love, kindness, mercy etc He also was about truth and he called all to repent from their wicked ways, He warned people of the dangers of sin because the wages of sin is spiritual death.
Simply put it God doesn’t tolerate sin or condone it, he forgives it and encourages all to live a Godly life.
One thing I have learnt from people like you is that you equate those who tell you the truth as hate speech 😂 if someone tells you that sin is sin and that what you are doing if ungodly is wrong you consider it hate but the truth is that it’s love.
When I warn you and others about something which is obviously disgusting or wrong that’s not hate but love, believe me if I hated you I will keep silent and not say a word but because I love you I warn you.
Also Jesus is not just a man, He is God, and the Bible is not just a book among millions of books, the Bible is the word of Almighty God.
The truth is that in most schools in the USA or colleges teachers or speakers are not allowed to teach creation and if they do they will be persecuted, fired, uninvited or discriminated that’s the reality not a movie.
In fact you might not be hired if you expose the false teachings of evolution which is easily debunked.
Go online and see some testimonies about this, I am not against the teaching of evolution I actually enjoy hearing it 😂 it’s very funny 🤣 for real it is, a few months ago a friend shared a clip from South Park about evolution I couldn’t stop laughing it was amazing.
Colleges and schools are for learning but the sad truth is that most of this institutions indoctrinate instead of teaching.
Anyways take care and enjoy the rest of your day 👋.
https://youtu.be/BL9S-TUikfg
https://youtu.be/kDxwD3PTugY
😂😂😂 watching it
Opps two links.
Watch it.
Nativenewyorker this is for you 😂😂😂
https://youtu.be/TlqKFlU7YAs
hope you enjoy 😂 if you haven’t watched it before.
Well if i got to hell, then at least ill be warm, never could stand the cold anyway lol ….
Thanks NNY I Wont be swayed into a twisted way of beliefs and thinking, nd never will be ….
Lol thanks Amy just seen your post, duly noted my friend 🙂
You’re welcome hon! When it comes to Stanley just say no!😀
Amy darling 😂🤣😂 you make me laugh, I don’t hate you if that’s your thought I honestly wish you well so take care 👋.
Very funny, I am trying to help you Alison as you are confused by a lot you told me you are pagan, a witch etc etc and you joke about hell because it’s warm 😂😂😂 sorry hell is not warm it’s an eternal damnation don’t joke about things like this.
Don’t misunderstand my request very soon you will realize who your friends are either those who correct you when you are obviously going in the wrong direction or those who keep quiet.
I have nothing to gain or lose from the decisions you make concerning your life was only looking out for you.
Take care I sincerely don’t have time for this.
Stanley i dont need help, or people to look out for me , im perfectly fine and happy about the way i lead my life thanks, i have a philosophy in life, dont get angry, kill em with kindness lol ….