Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, the world’s No. 1 player, has once again been denied entry into the United State because once again the Serbian is unvaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. It means he is persona non grata at the Indian Wells tournament underway in California and, barring a last-minute reversal, also will be barred from playing in the Miami Open that starts March 19.
The situation is entirely of his own doing. Start there and make it clear. When Djokovic laments how the matter is “out of my hands,” he could not be more wrong. For three years now it has been his very personal decision — his choice — to not get the vaccine. With freedom sometimes come consequences, of course.
I have been anti- anti-vaxxers all along. Have written how prominent sports stars such as Aaron Rodgers, Kyrie Irving and Djokovic could have been out front leading the fight against the a global pandemic, a public health crisis like none we have seen in our lifetime, but instead retreated into their own me-first selfishness.
