Mike Bryan — one of America’s best doubles tennis players in the history of the sport — found himself on the business end of political correctness when he engaged in “unsportsmanlike conduct” by miming a gun motion with his racket.
Yes, really.
Bryan, who plays with his twin brother Bob, was levied a fine of a whopping $10,000 after the code of conduct violation.
During a match with Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena and Argentina’s Federico Delbonis, Bryan challenged a call after a lob was ruled “in.” Upon reviewing the tape, the referee decided to reverse the call. This was when Bryan pointed toward the chair umpire and lifted the racket to his shoulder, “aiming” it like a rifle.
Mike Bryan (?@Eurosport_RU ) pic.twitter.com/vPwOiZfVqf
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) September 1, 2019
Backlash was swift, with many people calling for his banishment from professional tennis.
This guy should not be allowed on a tennis court at least professionally ever again because of this
— Michael A. Potter ?️? (@DarthSpiderMike) September 2, 2019
America is already known for its domestic shooting…We don’t need this kind of behavior on the courts!
— Fenix (@Fenix60977338) September 2, 2019
Shame on Mike Bryan. This is horrifying!
— Ilanna Sharon Mandel (@ismandel) September 2, 2019
I would have fined him 100,000., and suspended him for 6 months.
Just after to massive shooting.
Take charge regulators!!!!— bobby o (@bobolso46824892) September 2, 2019
Disgusting American
— bobby o (@bobolso46824892) September 2, 2019
Others didn’t think that Bryan did anything wrong and shouldn’t be forced to pay a fine for a benign gesture that hurt absolutely nobody.
Didn’t see it in context.
a) Was the lines person’s call correct?
b) Was the same official wrong with other calls?
c) THAT gesture landed a fine? That wasn’t anything. Those of you who are so *shocked* by that should just stay home curled up with a blanket and a Teddy Bear.— Coach McCall (@Coach4Tennis) September 1, 2019
He was using an AR-Wilson. That is an assault racket and needs to be banned.
— Kakarrot (@SonKakarrott) September 2, 2019
Hahahaha, I would pay gladly if I was him. Too funny. Too much idiocy from everyone these days. Too much PC-crap.
— ???? ???? ????????? ?. (@jjmiphoto) September 2, 2019
@Bryanbrothers funniest thing I’ve ever seen in tennis. #USOpen
— noah lenz (@noha13) September 2, 2019
Adults should not infer such wild negativity from an obviously harmless gesture, and inflict real world harm ($10k) based on ridiculous associations with something they saw on the news. Squirt guns are ok too. Adults know the difference.
— Curtis Elmore (@counselorcurtis) September 2, 2019
But regardless of the support he may have received, Mike Bryan issued a swift apology:
“I apologize for any offense I may have caused. We won the point and the gesture was meant to be playful. But given the recent news and political climate I understand how my gesture could be viewed as insensitive. I promise that I will never do anything like this again.”
For the record, the Bryan doubles team went on to win that match 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. It would appear that a harmless gesture with a racket had nothing to do with his ability to play the game like an adult.
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to BizPac Review.
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