Because I kind of love this idea. Yet, because I'm normally such a hater, I find myself in a state of confuzzlement.
On one hand, who wouldn't want a combined event that features the men and the women in a modified Davis/Fed Cup format that is played in alternating years? If it's going to be a competition among nations then let's a make it a COMPETITION AMONG NATIONS. Let's give our men and women a break from having to play so many matches and flying all over the world to represent their countries during the most inopportune times of the season (Immediately after AO? Immediately after USO? Come on.) Oh, and did I mention mixed doubles? DID I MENTION MIXED FUCKING DOUBLES?!?!?!?!?
This sounds too good to be true!
But then there's the traditionalist in me. I like that the men and women are kept on different slates. I mean, could Spain really win this new competition given the weakness of its women's field? Could Italy's women show off its awesomeness if it had to deal with Fabio Fucktard Fognini? What about Argentina? If you thought Nalby got pissy with Delpo, wait until he has to deal with Gisela. And would any umpire crew actually agree to work a tie that involved BOTH A-Rod and Serena? Doubtful. And, if there were 7 rubbers for each tie (so dirty) we wouldn't have thos awesome ties where one dude/dudette totally carried the team to victory and became a national hero. I love those moments.
All reservations aside, I *think* I really love this idea. How it will work alongside the ITF's competitions, who knows. If this just means that the talent pool for the ITF competitions will get diluted (with some players choosing Davis/Fed Cup and others choosing Butchapalooza), then that's complete and utter bullshit. It seems to me that in order to exhibit the best of what nation-based competition has to offer, only one of these two ideas can survive.
But the tennis community ain't the swiftest in embracing change. While the ATP and WTA seem on board with this new idea, will the players and federations just immediately bail on Davis Cup and Fed Cup to love up on this new competition? Or will we have to deal with an idiotic schism, where Moose, Rafa, and Sam play the ITF, and Fed, Moose, and Flavia play the Buchholz version.
Pfft. That was a horrible example. Moose ain't playing either because we know Britain ain't winning shit either way.
But it's an intersting thing to think about. Thoughts?
