Novak Unpronounceable Last Name

 

Yeah, I know how to pronounce his last name, I just don't know how to spell it.  He isn't worth my energy to look up and I can't ask my husband.  He is the type of sports fan who knows everything about every sport.  If I asked him how to spell his last name, he would end up talking for 20 minutes and giving me more information about this tennis great than Wikipedia would.  

He, my husband, not Novak, has a list of sports figures that he describes as his list of Petulant Man Childs.  They are all not white but they are privileged and interestingly enough, he doesn't have a list of Petulant Woman Childs.  Come to think of it, if I was compiling that list, it would only contain one name.  Women, and this is a stereotype have more humility in success and tend to have a deeper appreciation for their journey to success.  Perhaps, women athletes, in general, have more barriers to greatness.  

Regardless, even though I know nothing about Novak, the world just seems a little more just today.  He won't be playing in the Australian Open.  Again, I don't know anything about tennis but I think the Australian Open is a big event and he is the number one seed.  Smply, a huge draw for fans.  And, let's face it, sports is business.  Not allowing Novak to play, is a huge drop in revenue for the organisers.  At a time when every business in every sector is hurting for revenue, foregoing such significant gate revenue seems very significant.  (And I do understand that is was the Australian government which essentially made the decision, I am sure the Open organisation had a lot of clout with the government.)  

It is simple.  Novak didn't follow the rules with Covid19 protocols.  He even lied about some details.  He is not going to be allowed to play.  There are going to be consequences for him for his choices.  

That is a huge win for all of us.  Actions have consequences.  More importantly, even the rich and talented and connected face consequences.  

I am taking that as a huge win because so many times we see the opposite.  Too often we see people just skating through life without the burden of a conscience that comes from experiencing the consequences of one's actions.  It often seems that those who don't face consequences tend to be male, white, and privileged.  

Some people refuse to think of Novak as a poster boy for white male privilege as he is from Serbia.  Despite being from a war-torn country, he still had the belief that he would be able to play in the Open.  He thought that he had a "do around" from the rules or that the rules ultimately didn't apply to him.  He didn't think journalists or sports officials or Australian immigration would question him.  

So, he either faked a positive covi19 test or he really did have covid19 and chose to recklessly endanger others.  Both possibilities say a lot about his lack of character.  

It just feels good that character matters even though someone extremely skilled at hitting a fuzzy yellow ball across a net.  

Of course, you have the freedom of choice.  But, you are able free to accept the consequence of that choice.  That's how it should be.