It's been ten years today since the crazy Steffi Graf fan stabbed Monica Seles on court effectively ending her remarkable dominance of women's tennis. In addition to the questions that have been asked repeatedly:

How many more slams would she have won? How many fewer would Steffi have won? How is it that the German legal system is so completely inept? Why was Sabatini the only player who supported Seles' right to keep the #1 ranking until she returned?

It must be asked why Steffi Graf never stepped up and petitioned the German courts to imprison the crazy fan? Why has Steffi in the last ten years rarely mentioned the career benefits she received because of Seles' absence? Who doesn't believe that Seles had at least another two to four years of #1 in her with another 8-10 grand slam titles?

Ten years ago was a sad day for tennis and for all of sports. Much has changed because of that day concerning security around sporting events and players. Never has another #1 player in any sport suffered such an assault..thank god.

One has to marvel at what incredible courage and strength Monica Seles has displayed since the stabbing. And while it's been pointed out many times that Monica never regained her dominance, it must be said again that as a human being, an ambassador for the sport, and an example of class - she has few rivals.

What happened to Monica Seles was the most horrible thing I've ever seen in sports. There's no doubt that Monica would have continued to reign at number one for a while and won more grand slam titles. The aftermath of the stabbing illustrated that women's tennis is first and foremost a business and, as such, most of the players involved were more concerned with their own self-interests. It's a side of human nature that is pretty common, but no one wants to admit it or see it on such a grand stage as the WTA tour.

Gabriela Sabatini accomplished a lot of great things in tennis, but the finest moment of her twelve years on tour may have come the day that she stood up for Monica when no other player would. The fact that Gaby was ranked No. 3 in the world and seemed to have the most to gain from Monica's abscence made the gesture all the more impressive. Gaby had owned Steffi Graf from the end of '90 through the middle of '93, winning 7 of 8 matches, and her biggest stumbling block in the majors was Monica. "Gaby's a human being," Monica has said of the moment. I think that sums it up best.

All that said, I don't think you can fault Steffi. No, she most likely would not have as many grand slam titles had Monica not been stabbed, which is the horrific part of the tragedy -- Parche got exactly what he wanted. But I think it's unfair to expect Steffi to carry the burden of responsibility for this act. To think that she would talk about herself in terms of having benefitted from the attack on Monica or to expect her to petition the German courts is asking alot. In a way, the experience was very traumatic for Graf as well. Steffi dealt with it the way she dealt with all the problems that cropped up during her career -- she focused on the tennis. People expect more from Graf because the act was committed in her name. That's unfair. You don't hear people calling for Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario to publicly admit that she wouldn't have won as many slams and certainly wouldn't have been No. 1 in the world had Seles been around. I think people are looking to hold someone accountable because Gunther Parche never really was properly punished, so they look to Steffi for things she can't and shouldn't be expected to give.

Monica Seles was and is a great champion. While I don't think her history should be ignored, I also don't think her career needs to be qualified because of it either. She's accomplished so much and I personally prefer to take her at face value rather than wonder about the "what if's."

[ April 29, 2003, 05:45 AM: Message edited by: Gaga4Gaby ]

It's hard to believe it's been ten years since that day; I'll always remember what a shock that news was. I think it's a given Monica would have won a few more Slams and Steffi would have won a few less. At the end of their careers they would probably have been at equivalent points in terms of titles. I think the stabbing changed Monica as a person - the young, teenage Monica was very different from the classy, articulate Monica of today. Some of that would have happened anyway as part of the natural maturation process, but I think the stabbing gave Monica a perspective that very few of us will ever experience. In my eyes, the stabbing has always diminished Steffi Graf in an equal amount. I do think that as a German citizen, and as the person in whose name the crime was committed, she should have spoken out about the miscarraige of justice. Her words might have carried some weight in the eyes of the court that heard Monica's appeal of the non-sentence; perhaps they would not have upheld the earlier court so blindly. Steffi was completely blameless in the initial attack against Monica, but I do think her silence when Monica was assaulted again by the inaction of the German courts was - and still is - shameful. For me, her legacy will always be somewhat tarnished and several of her Slam titles of questionable legitimacy. But, like Monica, I prefer to let it go and instead focus on the current joy that Seles clearly feels playing tennis, and relish the fact that Monica, in the end, wound up as a greater champion in the human race.

I think the biggest story around this is that Monica left the game for over two years and came back to be a consistent challenger and top 10 player. She did not pick up a racket for over two years. Did not hit a tennis ball. Did not want to contemplate being back on tour. It took the more veteran players like Navratilova to work with her to convince her that a return to the game was good for her and the game. And after all that, she won a slam, made it to the final of three more and (until the injuries started coming) was a threat pretty much everywhere. Remarkable overall.

In terms of Steffi -- I have always felt that she could not be held responsible for what happened. After all, unless she paid the guy off, she hardly knew it was going to happen. However, I do think there is something to be said about her lack of compassion in the situation. I know that she is a quiet person who processes a lot internally. But, she really should have spoke out about the guy not getting any jail time, and she should have had enough compassion to support Monica coming back with a protected ranking and such. If somebody got stabbed in your name so you could be the #1 player in the world, I think you would feel some responsibility for making them feel welcome back in your home country and on the tour. That is just human kindness and decency.

ESPN.com has an article today regarding this issue and Monica still has security concerns.

Seles Still Concerned

I often wonder not only what would have happened if Seles had not been stabbed, but what if she had won that US Open in 1995 against Graf? There was a really bad call during the first set tiebreak - and it should have gone to Seles - I think that is why she smoked Graf 6-0 in the second. It seemed like such a magical moment for her, and if she had won that match, I think she would have returned to a more dominant form. Who knows?

As for Graf, I figured it's a lot like Jodie Foster and the Hinkley shooting - she wasn't responsible for the stabbing, and yet in a way she was. Although she was never my favorite player, I have to feel for her. She must have been pretty traumatized herself, in a different sort of way. I don't know if her speaking up during the appeal would have mattered, as I recall, the German Court was pretty sexist in its ruling.

For Graf to have commented on the Seles' stabbing might have been interpreted by some as complicity in the act. Yes, she benefited from it but I'm sure she suffered great anguish from it as well. What was she supposed to do? Not play during the time Seles was away? I believe both the WTA and the ATP should have boycotted all tournaments in Germany after the slap on the wrist the wacko got. It was a great, great tragedy. Does anyone know if Graf and Seles ever had a conversation about it?

I believe Graf spoke to Monica after the stabbing, and she as well as Conchita Martinez were in favor of her co-#1 ranking! The German judicial system SUCKS!!! But it is not Graf's fault! Her title run is amazing, but I don't think w/ Monica in the mix she would have won as many! However I don't believe Monica could ever win Wimbeldon! Then again who would think Conchita could?

Certainly Seles would have taken a number of the titles Graf won in her absence but there'll be no asterisk in the record books for Graf. I admire both women and only have sadness that Seles never won another Grand Slam. Graf just went out there and did her job. I have always admired Graf's attitude -- she had a "Williams"-type attitude way before S & V, rarely giving her opponents any credit.

So, I guess not demonstrating respect for your opponents or acknowledging that there are other talented people in your profession is a positive thing? Hmmm?

Sabatini was the only top player who pushed for Monica to have a protected ranking upon her return.

Actually that should be referred to as a Serena attitude, not a Williams attitude.

Venus had quite the attitude when she first broke on the scene. Remeber the US Open incident with Irina SPirlina(??) -- okay I don't have that name right. I do think there is a double standard for the women. Male athletes with such bravado as the Williams encounter no such negative reaction, or much less anyway. I'm all for women having that attitude.