2006 US Open Series miscalculation

Did anyone else notice that in the lead-up to and advertising for the 2006 US Open Series — the "greatest road trip on earth" — some marketing genius working for the USTA decided that "200 players in 10 tournaments held over 6-8 weeks competing for more than a $2 million prize" was a bright idea?

By my calculations, the men and women were competing for a total of more than $31 million. Granted, if the US Open Series points winner were to win the US Open Grand Slam championship in New York, he/she would take home something like a $2.2 million purse. But that's hardly the point when you're trying to make your sport look spectacular to the average remote-wielding couch potato.

Kobe Bryant hauls down $2 mil every 10 games (or less). By my reckoning, $2 million spread out over 200 players is on average $10,000. I'll keep my day job, thank you very much. What was the USTA thinking?!!!! Let's get serious about promoting our fine game and put up some numbers that will make Joe Q. Public put down his salted nuts and beer, sit up and take notice.

For crying out loud... we've got to do better than that!