Hey, Raymond Moore, 1955 called and they want their views on women back.

Just take a look at that video up top and tell me this man isn’t a complete and utter moron. Raymond just happens to be a former professional tennis player born and raised in Jozi, competing in 12 Davis Cup ties for SA.

He now resides in California where he was (until a few hours ago) the tournament director for the popular Indian Wells event. Here’s CNN:

The WTA [Women’s Tennis Association] announced Monday that Moore’s comments are under review.

“The WTA has no tolerance for these kind of statements, this is a breach of our Code of Conduct and the board will review accordingly,” the statement from WTA CEO Steve Simon said. “The WTA stands on its own and was founded on the principles of equality and empowerment. I am proud of all the strong athletes on the WTA who put in hard work and sacrifice every single day. Tennis as a whole is enriched by the contributions and accomplishments of every player, both female and male.”

So everyone has come out and condemned this foolish man right – oh dear Novak Djokovic, what have you gone and said now? From the BBC:

Djokovic, 28, said women “fought for what they deserve and they got it”, but claimed prize money should be “fairly distributed” based on “who attracts more attention, spectators and who sells more tickets”.

There has been equal prize money in all four majors – the Australian Open, US Open, French Open and Wimbledon – since 2007, and combined Masters events such as Indian Wells and Miami pay the same to men and women.

But female players are paid significantly less at women-only events when compared with similar sized men’s events…

The Serb admitted it was a “very delicate situation” and was “completely for women power”. He said:

• Equal prize money has been the main subject of the tennis world in the past seven or eight years
• Both men and women’s games should “fight for what they think they deserve”
• Women have to go through “hormones” and other challenges men do not
• Women have to make “sacrifices for certain periods of time, the family time or decisions that they make on their own bodies in order to play tennis”

Looks like he managed to pass grade nine biology then.

Serena Williams, world number one, wasn’t about to heed Moore’s advice and drop to her knees to thank men for what they’ve done for female tennis. Watch her response below and hang around until the end, that’s where things get real juicy:

It really is sad that in this day and age we still have to watch female athletes engage in press conferences like this. We can thank Raymond Moore for reigniting this debate – way to shine a light on those of us still calling SA home you moron.

At least he has been forced to bow out with this from the Guardian:

Raymond Moore, the CEO of the Indian Wells tennis tournament, has resigned from his role, one day after saying that the women’s tour “rides on the coat-tails” of the men’s game…

A statement from Larry Ellison, owner of the Californian tournament, on Tuesday said Moore had “decided to step down”.

“I fully understand his decision,” he said.

The statement went on to laud the progress of women’s tennis “thanks to the leadership of Bille Jean, Martina Navratilova, Venus Williams, Serena Williams and so many other great women athletes”.

“I would like to personally thank all the great women athletes who fought so hard for so many years in the pursuit of equal prize money in professional tennis. And I’d like to congratulate them on their success,” it went on.

Good riddance.

[sources:cnn&bbc&guardian]