Misogyny lives. And then doesn't.

I'm just gonna go out on a limb here and say Raymond Moore's days as a chick magnet are over.

I'm saying that partly because he's now unemployed -- the CEO and director for the Indian Wells tennis tournament rode a virtual pink slip out the door yesterday -- but also because of the reason why he's unemployed. You don't get on women's good side these days by suggesting they owe everything they have to men.

That's basically what he did the other day, lapsing into barefoot-and-pregnant-speak by saying this: "I think the WTA [Women's Tennis Association] ... you know, in my next life, when I come back, I want to be someone in the WTA because they ride on the coattails of the men. They don't make any decisions, and they are lucky. They are very, very lucky. If I was a lady player, I'd go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born because they have carried this sport. They really have."

He then expressed surprise when told that women can, you know, vote and stuff now.

(OK, so I'm making that up)

(Possibly)

Women athletes are used to this kind of condescension, of course, but not so blatantly expressed and certainly not so blatantly expressed by a tournament director who, oh, by the way, partly owes his livelihood to the women. They draw paying customers, too, you see, despite Moore's delusion that they don't. And, sorry, Raymond, but at least in the country where you work (worked), a whole lot more of the general public, if they can name a tennis player at all, are going to utter Serena Williams' name before they utter Rafa Nadal's.

So maybe it's Rafa who should get down on his knees and thank God for Serena.

The truth is it's the women who have as often carried the game as the men, a reality that began back in the Chrissie/Martina/Steffi days. For every Pete Sampras, there was a Monica Seles. And for every Borg/Connors/McEnroe/Lendl, there was, yes, a Chrissie or a Martina or a Steffi.

And if it's true Serena's dominance of the women's game has put in the shade any number of other talented women players, it's equally true that Federer and Nadal and Novak Djokovic have done the same to the men. Outside of perhaps Andy Murray, can any casual fan name a men's player besides the Big Three? And can the Big Three even approach Serena's Q rating?

Of course they can't.

And so Raymond, go back to your cave, buddy. Maybe if you're lucky, some worshipful woman will be there to tend to your every need.

I wouldn't count on it, though. She's probably out working on her backhand.