A whirlwind of wacky events has held fans' attention

Typically a poised verteran on the court, the news of Tommy Haas possibly being poisoned before Davis Cup was alarming. AP

After such an exciting start to the 2007 season, it is truly disappointing to see the debacle that the sport has become by the end of the season. Allegations of match fixing, Tommy Haas possibly being poisoned before Davis Cup and, of course, Martina Hingis' terrible situation have all rocked the sport within weeks of each other. Not to mention the pathetically large number of players who've had to hobble to the "end" of the season. Tennis needs to do something drastic and needs to do it now. Any suggestions?

-- Anonymous Tennis Player

But on the plus side, here's a new marketing campaign: "Tennis. Come for the sport! Stay for the Springer." Even by tennis' vertiginously high standards, these past weeks have set a new precedent for bizarre. Who would have thought that tennis' normally humdrum fall season would generate so much international news? And, alas, that few of the headlines would have anything to do with match results -- say, Roger Federer losing early and often.

We could write a book about the unique cultural and various forces that have conspired to create this mess. But it seems to me that one theme threading its way through all these surreal plot twists is the absence of a meaningful players association. Where is the outrage over Davydenko-gate and the apparent lack of due process accorded Alessio DiMauro. How could the WTA have been so clueless about a star testing positive for blow? Even in the case of Tommy Haas, there is an unholy tangle of organizations offering contradictory statements, none expressing much concern for the player's health.

Several of you -- including Martina Navratilova! -- have suggested that tennis' entire structure needs to be "blown up" and refashioned. There are periodic calls for a commissioner. Any management consultant would immediately suggest streamlining the various alphabet soup organizations. This may never happen. Tennis, alas, doesn't really do "drastic," even when the sport loses dignity (and market share) by the week and the one point of internal agreement is that "the current model is broken."

But here is a start: the players need to come together and organize. The tours are conflicted. The management agencies are conflicted. The Slams are still paying a comically low percentage of their revenues as prize money. Tennis is desperate for a "Curt Flood moment" or for a Marvin Miller to swoop in and organize the labor force. It might not prevent allegations of match-fixing, cocaine use and poisoning. But at least, in the aftermath, the players' interests will have representation.

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