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Larry Ellison Is Spending a Fortune to Save American Tennis

bloomberg.com

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Re: Larry Ellison Is Spending a Fortune to Save American Tennis

#12

Post by klinskyc »

Kluny wrote: post #8
capkutay wrote: post #3

I thought it was Mark Hurd (the current oracle co-CEO) who was trying to save tennis http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-04/oracle-s-m...

Unrelated, Hurd sounds like an ass. > Unlike Ellison, Hurd played tennis throughout his youth. He was good enough to earn a full ride to Baylor and to play No. 1 for the team. Without any prodding at all, Hurd will pull out trophies earned at National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I championships. “You would never have seen one of these,” he says, knowing that I managed to play only Division III tennis. Wh…

It could be playful ribbing, but if not that's incredibly assholeish.

Re: Larry Ellison Is Spending a Fortune to Save American Tennis

#14

Post by Avshalom »

>>instead of spending a minimum of $60,000 a year of their own money traveling the world and working their way up tennis’s ladder.

Right the article spent a lot of time being Life Styles of The Rich and Famous but that's the punchline if you want to talk about "saving american tennis" there's not just no money at the bottom, there's negative money. The article mentioned Hurd donating to one college club but if either of them want to save tennis they need to be buying or starting smaller regional tournaments with enough money to keep food on the table for the lower rungs. Or donating to dozens of colleges. Something that gets more players in the bottom. Increasing the payout for one tournament and turning one complex into tennis heaven is useless.

Re: Larry Ellison Is Spending a Fortune to Save American Tennis

#15

Post by [deleted] »

Avshalom wrote: post #14

>>instead of spending a minimum of $60,000 a year of their own money traveling the world and working their way up tennis’s ladder. Right the article spent a lot of time being Life Styles of The Rich and Famous but that's the punchline if you want to talk about "saving american tennis" there's not just no money at the bottom, there's negative money. The article mentioned Hurd donating to one college club but if either…

[deleted]

Re: Larry Ellison Is Spending a Fortune to Save American Tennis

#17

Post by Expeditus419 »

Avshalom wrote: post #14

>>instead of spending a minimum of $60,000 a year of their own money traveling the world and working their way up tennis’s ladder. Right the article spent a lot of time being Life Styles of The Rich and Famous but that's the punchline if you want to talk about "saving american tennis" there's not just no money at the bottom, there's negative money. The article mentioned Hurd donating to one college club but if either…

The article makes no mention of the USTA Junior Development program and how it could be enhanced. Nor does it mentioned their effort to court more African American players. Donating to a few colleges (which will likely be the schools with the top 1-50 rankings; take a look, they are the same as in every other NCAA sport) will do very little to scale up young American talent. My two cents: more red clay courts. Young players need to learn how to think and construct a point as opposed to over powering an opponent. Also lower the cost of participation. Maybe Ellison can donate to the USTA which would in turn subsidize the cost of lessons for those who are talented but from an economically disadvantaged background.

Re: Larry Ellison Is Spending a Fortune to Save American Tennis

#18

Post by peterbsmith »

dylanjermiah wrote: post #16
weirdmantis wrote: post #13

What tech titan is worse than Larry Ellison? I have a hard time thinking of any. He makes the Uber guy and the Snapchat dudes seem like mother teresa.

Specifically, what's wrong with Ellison? Kalanick? and Spiegel?

Ellison lands his private jet during no-fly times and happily pays the fines while local neighborhoods have to take it.

Spiegel has a Steve Jobs painting/poster in his office and is REALLY touchy about it.

Kalanick has a whole "I'm going to squeeze every penny from this industry and call it a disruption" vibe.

Re: Larry Ellison Is Spending a Fortune to Save American Tennis

#19

Post by dylanjermiah »

peterbsmith wrote: post #18
dylanjermiah wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Specifically, what's wrong with Ellison? Kalanick? and Spiegel?

Ellison lands his private jet during no-fly times and happily pays the fines while local neighborhoods have to take it. Spiegel has a Steve Jobs painting/poster in his office and is REALLY touchy about it. Kalanick has a whole "I'm going to squeeze every penny from this industry and call it a disruption" vibe.

>Kalanick has a whole "I'm going to squeeze every penny from this industry and call it a disruption" vibe.

Interesting, do you think the same impression migrated to Uber? Do you think they're 'squeez(ing) every penny from the industry'?

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