And you think you have problems? Try being a pro-tennis super star! (Click on the highlighted text for the full stories.)
You’ll be hit up for goods and services in your local grocery store. From the LATimes:
Richard Montgomery immediately recognized the tall blond in the tennis dress in the deli section of his local Ralphs, so he walked up and introduced himself to tennis star Maria Sharapova.Montgomery, who had heard she lived in Manhattan Beach, told Sharapova he was a City Council member and wondered if she would donate something to a school district fundraiser. A few months later, the chance to watch Sharapova in a photo shoot was auctioned off for about $4,000.
Bloggers will find unflattering photos of you to accompany wedding-rumors. From Industry Finest:
We been Hearing whispers that rapper Common and tennis super star Serena Williams may be engaged. We haven’t been able to get the seal on this yet, but the Rumors and gossip may be true!! The newest rumored couple in town rapper Common and Serena Williams were photographed few days ago in London.What happened to Serena’s tights? How did she tear them up ? Why is Common wearing Serena’s lipstick?
You’re criticized for shirking your taxes and then scolded for not shirking them enough. This from Forbes:“Many Swiss sports stars and other stars that make a lot of money, if they are looking to save taxes, move abroad to Monaco,” said a Swiss lawyer, based in Berne, who did not wish to be named. “Federer is usually most of the time living abroad, playing abroad, and I personally as a lawyer do not understand why he does not move. I think he really intends to keep a high, popular reputation.”
Is $77 million rich enough for you? Sometimes you gotta fight dirty (witness intimidation, anyone?) if you wanna hold onto your cash (or your Masters status). This from the NYTimes, reporting on the ATP/Hamburg Masters debacle:
The executive chairman of the ATP, Étienne de Villiers, and his general counsel warned executives at the sports marketing giant IMG that their business would suffer if they testified against the ATP in an antitrust lawsuit, according to a letter written by IMG’s senior counsel.IMG, a pioneer in sports management, took the threat seriously and will not make its employees available to testify in the $77 million lawsuit that begins Monday in United States District Court in Wilmington, Del.
You complain about the lack of an off season and the toll this takes on your mind and body, yet promoters still insist on throwing bushels of cash at you to play in exhibition tournaments. Really, what choice do you have but to take them up on it? This from the Sydney Morning Herald:
Tennis fans will flock to Malaysia in November, where Roger Federer will face off against Rafael Nadal and Bjorn Borg will clash with John McEnroe in exhibition matches, organisers said.
You’re playing in Beijing, but the Olympic Village lacks five star amenities that you require. This from Russia Today:
The majority of players will be living in the Olympic village, but Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva opted out.
“The conditions in the Olympic Village are certainly not up to the standard of the five star hotels that tennis players are used to. Elena Dementieva told me that at the last games in Athens, she was unable to sleep properly the day before a match because there was so much noise, so that’s influenced her decision,” said (Russian Olympic coach Shamil) Tarpishchev.
Boy, am I glad I don’t have to deal with three-star amenities, goonish ATP employees and puzzled tax lawyers on a daily basis. Ah, the simple life!
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