Monday, July 22, 2013

Tony Osborne Reports- Johns and Patterson fiddle while Tennis in NZ continues to burn


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

10 comments:

  1. Tony,
    I 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.

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  2. What a big waste of Tennis NZ money

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  3. corrupt! is the word I was looking for!

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  4. The 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.

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  5. C'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.

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    1. How 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.

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  6. Really looking forward to the benefits of this business trip advancing Tennis in NZ!

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  7. Reference 'Steve Johns has lots of supporters', I wouldn't call his Mother lots of supporters!

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  8. Well 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.

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  9. Just 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?

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