The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THIS week, we got to see the long and short volleys in tennis as we reflected on the illustrious career of Mark Knowles on the ATP tennis tour that came to a close and perhaps the quickest termination of any local executive as Dentry Mortimer was dismissed from office in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association.

You may ask what the two have in common or why are they being considered in the same conversation?

There’s no correlation between the two, but when one considers the impact both individuals have made, you can understand why.

After 21 years on the pro circuit, Knowles announced that he’s retired and will now focus his attention on his family - his wife Dawn and three children, Graham, Brody and Presley. You name it and Knowles has done it. He has provided a lot of thrills and spills from Davis Cup to the Olympic Games.

Knowles, 41, has left a legacy behind that will be hard to match on or off the court as a player, both locally and internationally.

Mortimer, on the other hand, had a promising career as a player that was cut short in his transition from the junior to the senior ranks. What he wasn’t able to accomplish, he came back and was starting to make some inroads as one of the brightest young coaches.

While serving as a junior development coach, he got an opportunity to return to Davis Cup for the first time since he played in his second tie in 2002 in Ecuador in the post-Knowles era. This time, he travelled as the new captain of the men’s team in Trinidad & Tobago.

Mortimer, 30, was terminated on September 5 as the first vice president of the executive board of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association, a position he was elected to earlier this year, for behaviour detrimental to the organisation’s health. In their release, the BLTA also stated that he is no longer authorised to conduct any business on their behalf.

In severing his ties with the BLTA, Mortimer has moved on to take up the position as the new tennis pro at the Gym Tennis Club in Winton Meadows.

But he has maintained that he did nothing wrong to warrant the recent release by the BLTA.

In his statement, Mortimer noted: “I think this was an attempt to defame my character. They found it necessary to make a public statement, but we live in a democratic society and I have the right to defend myself and make a statement.

“The statement that the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association released can be interpreted in many negative ways. If they are unable or unwilling to list these infractions, then the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association owes me a public apology in an effort to clear my name. Their actions with regard to my termination is unconstitutional and is illegal, if they intend to be transparent and abide by the laws and rules in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association constitution.

“I maintain that all I did was stand up for junior players that deserved and needed an opportunity to receive subvention to assist in their development of play. If this behaviour is considered detrimental to the organisation’s health, then I will continue to fight for this cause,” he wrote.

When contacted, BLTA president Derron Donaldson said they are not prepared, at this time, to make any further statement on the Mortimer saga. Their only concern is moving the BLTA forward in a new direction.

It’s just so disappointing that at a time when the sport should be paying tribute to a legend in Knowles as he walks away in the sunset, the raft is coming down on Mortimer, who was trying to make amends to the wrong that prevented him from progressing as a player.

There are those who would argue that Knowles could have done a little more for the development of local tennis, but on the other hand, there are those who would point out that he has done his share and even more, especially with the creation of his annual Celebrity Invitational that is heading into its 12th year in December.

Mortimer has not been around as long and, as such, his contribution can not be compatible. He has clearly tried to make a contribution, both as a player and now as a coach and executive. It’s just a pity that his efforts in the latter capacity have been so short lived.

Like Knowles, I believe that Mortimer has a key role to play in the future growth and development of the sport of tennis. I just wish there could be more dialogue behind the scenes, maybe with some intervention from Knowles, to see how a more amicable agreement can be reached for his future development.

In the meantime, I wish to express my personal gratitude to Knowles for the interesting story lines he generated as I’ve had the fortune of covering his exploits over the years. He certainly brought to the table - actually the tennis court as a player for more than 20 years.