#1. We need a National Ranking system so that the 15 year-old boy who dreams of being a professional could have a better chance of achieving his dream if he could leave this country with a Men's National Ranking before going overseas to play in the ITF Satellites and Futures events. Most countries have a National Ranking system for men and women. If young, aspiring, US male professionals (14 - 18 year-olds who opt to not play the expensive National Junior Tournament Circuit) cannot obtain a National Men's Ranking then they are going to have to hope for the best while trying to gain entry into foreign country ITF Satellite Qualifyings who request a National Ranking to serve as the lowest common denominator in determining who gets in if the participants trying to get into the closed Qualifying (32, 64 or 128 draws) do not have ATP tour point(s). The gardener from the host country will get in before the non-nationally ranked US player if there are no spots open in the limited Qualifying draw. The Men's ITF Satellite and Futures events overseas do not acknowledge Junior rankings of any kind or Adult Sectional rankings or Collegiate rankings! We all know that the USTA has chosen another method for our future stars via the Wild Card system as well as giving top ranked Juniors a shot at the US Futures Qualifyings. Also many of those chosen for the National Team will be the ones to receive the wild cards along with the very top college player(s). That is fine (not really), but do not close the door on those of us who cannot afford this system or maybe want to be part of a system being based exclusively on the National Junior Ranking or Collegiate NCAA Division I results. It is disgraceful and embarrassing that the USTA does not provide for all of us, but only keeps their agenda going, and going, and going, all on a budget of $200,000,000 + a year! A National Ranking system would free up the male players to allow them to at least try and make it on their own by starting at the bottom in the Satellite Qualifyings throughout the world gaining hopeful entry by having received a National Ranking from this country. The women's ITF Satellite Tour has Open Qualifyings, mostly in Eastern Europe, so they can get in no matter what and at any skill level without the need of the National Ranking or a wild card. This system demonstrates what starting at the bottom is all about and certainly should produce the best players in the world, if, if, if they were not being shut down by the WTA's Girl's Age Eligibility rule(Girls on Tour).

#2. Germany and France and countless other countries have integrated a National Prize Money Circuit where the players can compete for money and National Ranking points. Yes, they have major sponsors! Of course! Germany has Warsteiner. I am not going to say anymore about this topic, only that, United States! Break away from the USTA and get this circuit started immediately! It is long overdue. If we would like to legitimately create more interest in tennis then make the National Ranking events with an Open Qualifying! We could organize it so that only citizens of the US can receive these National Ranking points, but foreigners can participate, and are encouraged to do so, to help raise the level of American tennis! And, ITF, we beseech you to please, please, sanction our National Ranking System regardless of what the USTA will or will not do! Who is interested in starting this? Contact Tennistrainer Magazine. Let's get our major search engines, software companies, distance learning representatives (you get the picture) involved. And we might just invite Wilson, Prince and Nike to join us if they are not too busy with the USTA. If that does not work, perhaps we can attract some foreign sponsors to help us. American tennis has endured enough shame and embarrassment in this area. It is time now to act.

#3. Europe is ready to take over tennis. America should continue to dominate if our system was not so goofed up. Instead of fixing our system, we have limited the motivated female Europeans by stopping the amount of tournaments they can play. Slip in the wild cards to the US girls, free tickets to the major tour, who's gonna notice? Poor, non-wild-carded girls in Eastern Europe depend on the number of tournaments to make enough money and get the meager points just to get to the next tournament. In this process, a star is born and Europe dominates tennis. Solution: Limit the tournaments and shut them down and disguise it all by saying you are "looking out for their well being." Stop their only chance for coming through without money or wild cards. US girls are lazy, need wild cards. They get them. Congratulations. Mission accomplished, and no one will notice. I did. And I'm mad. I fight for those girls with no money, but have desire. The boys don't have this Age Eligibility rule. If that isn't the ultimate irony.

#4. This is key. We have European professionals playing college tennis. Investigate closely the definition of a tennis "professional" according to NCAA rules. It is really not so evil to be a "professional" and quite actually it builds self respect and self reliance in our young people. Can we now open the doors, so the US can play like the Europeans and the rest of the world? Enough of the charade. Let the US players play and let the players earn money now at any age, any time, any place and in any form (prize money circuits, National Ranking tournaments for men, German Team Tennis, American Team Tennis with a German Team Tennis format), so we can stop playing like hamsters who just received a new training wheel.

In conclusion, it is time for Americans to realize that the USTA does not have the answers. America's "problems in tennis" are actually caused by the USTA, and to some extent the NCAA and now the WTA with the Girl's Age Eligibility rule. Girls on Tour

It is time now, to break away and run this country with a little brains and realize what is really going down in the United States of America. Our tennis is suffering and the USTA will never have a cure as long as they are the problem. Wake up and say something now! Let us work together to save tennis in America and start the tennis revolution that our young people deserve. It is time for our kids to finally be able to wake up and can't wait to get out on the court to work on their forehand to prepare for their future as a pro player and not to simply play tennis so they can save Mom and Dad money by pretending to be motivated by playing for a college scholarship. Play your guts out between 12 and 20, earn all of the money you can in every way, shape and form. If you do not reach your goal as a pro player, then get a scholarship or at least you'll have earned enough money to pay for your tuition.