Some Things Never Change

The reactions of organized professional tennis to the United Arab Emirates’ refusal to enter an Israeli athlete in its Dubai tennis tournament says wonders about modern anti-Semitism.

Imagine if they didn’t accept James Blake or Serena Williams because they don’t like blacks: Would organized tennis accept that and continue participation, deploring the discrimination on its way to playing for money? Not likely.

Hitler did this in the Olympics half a century ago, and the U.S. accepted his disqualification of Jewish athletes, telling Marty Glickman he couldn’t attend. I thought those days were gone. Apparently, not with Jewish stars. To its credit, The Wall Street Journal withdrew its sponsorship, and the Tennis Channel will not broadcast the event.

The only way to end this kind of ugly discrimination of innocent parties is for the other players on the circuit to walk off in a show of solidarity. Don’t hold your breath.

Visit www.RonaldGoldfarb.com.