For 6 days and 7 nights it was said Nero played the fiddle as Ancient Rome
burned, technically this was not true as the violin wasn’t invented. Historians
may have got it a little wrong!. Getting it wrong seems to be the habit of Steve
Johns CEO of Tennis NZ and his side kick David Patterson who is the departing
Chairman . Can anyone tell me why these two people were seen sipping champagne
while attending the ITF Annual Dinner in Paris? The formal function was held at
The Palace of Versailles, Dinner suited dignities and their wives in evening
dress were entertained with Chamber music and caviar, the big question who paid
for these two failures to attend?. I’m not suggesting they are not entitled to a
night out but lets consider the cost of Air Fares ,Accommodation, meals, dinner
suit hire, cab fares... the list goes on. What sort of picture does this
represent to the average Club member, the hard working committee member and the
Club Coach who mows lawns and cleans the dunnies at the club to subsidise his
paltry income from coaching. The same coach has never seen Johns, never talked
to him and who has never received a reply to his endless emails with suggestion
how Tennis in this country could be improved. Recently my wife and I holidayed
at a Coastal Town in the North Island we fancied a hit so we visited the local
Tennis Club where we met the Local Club Pro, we paid our 10 bucks, and after a
hit we chatted with the Pro about the state of Tennis in NZ, we asked if he was
a Registered Coach with NZ Tennis, the reply was’ no way mate ‘I keep away from
that organisation’. I got on the phone when we returned from our holiday and
asked the same question of several Coaches throughout NZ, and sadly received
similar comments. Coaches in this Country, want nothing to do with the National
Body!, not all Coaches that is, but I’m guessing 90%. How many Coaches are
actually registered?. NZ Tennis would have a better idea of the exact numbers,
just go to Find a Coach, and see how many coaches there are for your area, very
few if any!. Coaches see no benefit in being registered,’what’s in it for me’,
scenario. So Mr Johns and Mr Patterson, wouldn't it be better to put some time
and effort into finding solutions to the sorry state of Tennis in this
Country,rather then sipping Champagne in Paris?.
Tony Osborne
Posts
Tony,
ReplyDeleteI don't know where you got your info from, but I doubt it is true. There is no way Steve Johns would go on a all expenses trip overseas given the sorry state of Tennis in NZ. Johns inherited the 'mess' from his predecessors, it's a bit like blaming the coach for the poor performance of the team. There have been poor staff selections, especially in the Provinces, you can't keep on blaming the C.E.O.,Cheers Trevour Auckland.
What a big waste of Tennis NZ money
ReplyDeletecorrupt! is the word I was looking for!
ReplyDeleteThe only ones making money in tennis are the staff of TNZ take a pay cut based on performance like the hard workers on tour such as Rubin Statham ...if you don't perform you don't get paid...what made it more of a farce TNZ ...has this party on its link on web site ....hardly something to brag about in the scheme of things.
ReplyDeleteC'mon ... when you are in Central Otago you drink Pinot Noir not Champagne ... so it stands to reason that when you are in Paris you drink Champagne not Pinot Noir. Lets get our etiquette right ... otherwise we appear so uncultured on the world stage. Furthermore, the CEO at TNZ is overworked and underpaid ... so we should not begrudge Steve and his party this very important business trip designed to advance tennis in this country. Go Steve you have lots of supporters.
ReplyDeleteHow come Mr Johns can travel to France, but doesn't have the time to visit Tennis Clubs on the North Shore?, How can we support a CEO that we have never met or are ever likely to meet? It's important to get out and meet people , no wonder the topic of conversation at my Club and others is always the poor performance of NZ Tennis.
DeleteReally looking forward to the benefits of this business trip advancing Tennis in NZ!
ReplyDeleteReference 'Steve Johns has lots of supporters', I wouldn't call his Mother lots of supporters!
ReplyDeleteWell now all juniors now its important to drink Champagne when in France and not Pinot Noir ... with that knowledge on board our next champion is sure to be able to hold his own on the world circuit ... especially the French Open. Notch up the first business benefit. Onya Stevo.
ReplyDeleteJust how long will we have to put up with these idiots running Tennis , I hate to say this but wouldn't it be more beneficial if we just got Tennis Australia to take over?, could they be any worse?
ReplyDelete