They Speak With Forked Tongue...

All of can attest to an experience with someone who "speaks with a forked tongue." It begins with a mother inthe nursery and continues to the patients in a nursing home but it sure doesn't make it right or even less painful. The sad thing is that it is far too prevalent among tennis officials...

There is nothing more discouraging to have been with someone who tells you one thing to your face and then you find that they say something completely different when they are elsewhere. This seems to be the acceptable form of behavior among tennis officials--but hopefully one that we can deal with properly.

Here are some thoughts on the FTO (forked tongued official):

* Remember that the one who speaks with a forked tongue will eventually be discovered and avoided. Eventually people will get together and compare notes.

* An FTO will eventually lose their work assignments. No referee in their right mind would want them on their team.

* An FTO always howls the loudest when they are abused by another FTO.

GUIDELINES FOR DEALING WITH AN FTO

* Lovingly confront them when they are doing their thing. If that doesn't work, get more explicit.

* Don't listen to their talk. A fire will soon burn out if you don't put wood on it.

* Don't hire them. Eventually they will figure it out.

* If they are in leadership, vote to remove them.

* Don't get caught up in their lies, gossip, and inuendo. Eventually it will come back to bite you.

These are just some thoughts for your contemplation on this beautiful Thursday morning in Dallas...