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New D.C. Athlete Has a Kournikova Feud


D.C.'s new sporting enemy. (Peter Kramer - Getty Images)

As you obviously know, Justin Gimelstob is one of the cornerstones of our new and oddly named World Team Tennis franchise--the Washington Kastles--and he's be on a whirlwind D.C. media tour this week. Each appearance would seem to be closely tied to the interests of the media member in question. For example, he played tennis against some bookish media types. He discussed blogs with me. (More on that later; yeah, two tennis posts in one day.) And when he went on the Junkies this morning, he talked about--what else?--the female figure.

Early on, it was Brooke Mueller, the new wife of Charlie Sheen, with whom Gimelstob said he was previously "friendly. Biblically friendly. I don't think I was the only one," he added.

There were vague references to other conquests, but his most interesting remarks were reserved for Anna Kournikova, whose St. Louis Aces will face the Kastles in a late July grudge match that will surely be uglier than any World Team Tennis grudge match this town has known. Seriously, if you thought DeShawn-LeBron was ugly, just wait for Gimelstob-Kournikova.

"She's a [bleep]," Gimelstob said of Anna, using a word that rhymes with "kitsch. "We're gonna kick her [bleep]," he added, using a word that almost rhymes with "kastle."

Well then. Will he talk junk to her on the court?


New Kastles fans. (Frederick M. Brown - Getty Images)

"One hundred percent," he said. "If she's not crying by the time she walks off that court, then I did not do my job."

So it's pure hate then?

"Hate's a very strong word," he said. "I just despise her to the maximum level, right below hate. I think she falls into the Marcelo Rios 'Scumbag' category....And this whole bluff about her retiring because of her back? She had the yips on her serve, she can't get her serve on the court. Wait until you see on July 23, she's gonna be serving 40 miles an hour and I'm gonna be just plugging it down her throat....We do exhibitions together and I'll mock her, and make fun of her. I'll just make her know that she's stupid....I'm sure she'll rue the day that she has to come here and actually share space with me."

The Junkies asked whether she knows that they'll be facing each other; "probably," Gimelstob said. "She might not even be smart enough to read the schedule."

They asked if he would serve at her head; "No, I'm gonna just serve it right into the body, about 128, right into the midriff," he said.

And they asked what would happen if Kournikova made a move on Gimelstob. You know, a Biblical move.

"Definitely not," he said. "I have no attraction to her, because she's such a douche....I really have no interest in her. I wouldn't mind having my younger brother, who's kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits of that."

Later, he was asked to assess the top 20 players in the WTA rankings; he called Tatiana Golovin "a sexpot," Nicole Vaidisova "a well-developed young lady," and Alize Cornet "a little sexpot."

And before signing off after an hour of Junkies talk, which, to be fair, wasn't all of this variety, Gimelstob offered some reflection.

"I guarantee you when I get off this I'll have three messages from my uncle who lives in Annapolis," he said. "He will not talk to me. Now he'll call my dad, HE won't talk to me. This will be World War III again. So I'll have a two-week hiatus from my family....Just so you know, to help you guys boost your already incredible ratings--which is great to hear--my family will not talk to me after this, nor probably my agent."

So, uh, anyhow, get your Kastles tickets now! Home opener July 8, world-ending Kournikova showdown July 23, all matches at 11th and H, Jay-Z diss tracks not included.

By Dan Steinberg |  June 18, 2008; 11:41 AM ET  | Category:  Tennis
Previous: Gil's Going to Manila | Next: D.C. Sports Media Approval Ratings: Andy Pollin


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Comments

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Anna Kournikova is not mollllllney.

Posted by: silentbob | June 18, 2008 12:08 PM

this guy sounds unpleasent

Posted by: Anonymous | June 18, 2008 12:09 PM

go magpies

Posted by: qualude conduct | June 18, 2008 12:40 PM

Did he just say "plugging it down her throat?"

Posted by: StetSports.com | June 18, 2008 12:40 PM

So...she turned him down?

Posted by: prophet | June 18, 2008 1:14 PM

Those tickets are shockingly expensive.

Posted by: john | June 18, 2008 1:34 PM

I'm pretty sure Kournikova won more tourney's than this zilch....

Posted by: Stalk Much? | June 18, 2008 1:52 PM

His uncle was GW basketball coach Gerry Gimelstob, who is best known for leading the Colonials to a 1-27 record and getting choked by John Chaney.

Posted by: Andrew from Colonial Hoops | June 18, 2008 2:26 PM

What a zero. Can't the Kastles trade him for a can of tennis balls or something?

Posted by: Anonymous | June 18, 2008 4:47 PM

If my memory serves me correctly (and it usually does) -- his brother is Jake Gimelstob who while a student at Tulane drove drunk down MacAlister Blvd through the heart of campus and ran over and killed a Tulane security guard. He then hid his SUV for 3 days before coming forward which was just enough time for no trace of alcohol to be detected in his system. Obviously being a horrible person runs in this family!

Posted by: dat | June 18, 2008 7:25 PM

The brother in the Tulane incident is named Josh. See http://www.jlsmithlaw.com/News017.htm. This is the brother he evidently would like to see nail Anna K.

I think I can find something else to do with my bucks than patronize the likes of this guy.

Posted by: gbooksdc | June 18, 2008 7:43 PM

Oops, its actually Josh Gimelstob -- still a scumbag though!

Posted by: dat | June 18, 2008 7:43 PM

yeah, first thing I always think about when I hear his name is I wonder if being a repugnant human being runs in the family after the Tulane incident. how nice he doesn't have to live under his brother's shadow anymore and can show the world he'sas much of a quality human being as Josh.

Posted by: sb | June 18, 2008 9:53 PM

He went to Newark Academy...douchebaggery is a requirement for admission there.

What a toolbag. As a tennis player and tennis fan, I am ashamed he is on the Kastles...whatever the crap that is.

Posted by: Guest | June 19, 2008 9:50 AM

Am I the only one who thought he was funny?

Posted by: Truthsayer | June 19, 2008 12:20 PM

I NEED to party with this guy

Posted by: TennisFan | June 19, 2008 4:27 PM

1) He was hilarious
2) If you ran over someone and figured out a way to not go to jail for 20 years... COME ON, don't be a hippocrit!
3) I'm nailing Justins cousin, and being a psycho runs in the family.

Posted by: Beatrice Springfield | June 19, 2008 5:01 PM

Dan didn't point out that Justin can talk . . . because he and Anna were at Nick Bottalari's tennis academy together. So he's known her since she was 12. Kind of refreshing to hear a sports personality bad mouth someone.

Posted by: Listen next time | June 19, 2008 6:19 PM

The podcast of this interview can be found here: http://www.wjfk.com/pages/1460207.php

Posted by: Neil | June 19, 2008 6:56 PM

Apparently, the dude is bi-polar so, have some sympathy.

Posted by: Anonymous | June 19, 2008 9:36 PM

Justin is not bi-polar, his OLDER brother is. The hot one is the YOUNGER brother (and he is very good looking). Justin is the middle child (so have fun with that couch psychiatrists).

Justin is funny, don't take his comments too seriously. His public personality is that he wants everyone to laugh and have a good time, but he's quieter and more contemplative when he's away from the public eye, tucked away at home.

And he's not responsible for his uncle, his brother or anyone else, so get over it.

Posted by: Truth | June 19, 2008 11:32 PM

Hopefully this moron will be spending a whole lot more time tucked away at home being "quieter and more contemplative" from now on, because we tennis fans are sick of listening to him.

Posted by: trace | June 20, 2008 10:17 AM

Justin Gimelstob is pathetic. His schtick is not amusing. Show some self-respect, dude. Be a mensch for once. I cannot stand to hear him comment on tennis, especially women's tennis.

Posted by: lala | June 21, 2008 2:42 AM

what an absolute bitter b!@#$ he is. I am no kournikova fan but I still hope he gets run over by a truck.

Posted by: jo | June 21, 2008 8:29 AM

What a douche. Hope Anna kicks his classless azz.

Posted by: gimelstobSUX | June 21, 2008 8:47 AM

I guess Gimelstob is just a bitter loser. Kournikova never won a singles title, but she accomplished a lot more than Gimelstob did. Why would anyone pay to see a washed up loser?

Ah yes, he's angry because the few people who show up will be paying to see HER, not him. I guess if he hadn't gone on this disgusting tirade, he'd still be a very dim memory to tennis fans...IF anybody remembered him at all!

Posted by: tennisboy349 | June 21, 2008 2:15 PM

I hope Kournikova kicks his ass. Charlie Sheen's too. What's she doing with that douche?

Posted by: qwerty123 | June 21, 2008 4:32 PM

Right on, Jason. Anna is all about herself, not tennis. I'm glad someone had the guts to say so in a major newspaper. (But if it was a promo for WTT, I still won't pay to see it, sorry bro).

Posted by: The Truth | June 21, 2008 6:50 PM

This Gimelstob sounds like a real pig. He sounds bitter that Kournikova had taste enough to spurn his advances. oink oink, Justin.

Posted by: Sue Ellen | June 22, 2008 12:19 AM

Gimelstob = FAIL

Posted by: DisgustedUK | June 22, 2008 3:36 PM

What is the point of this article other than to demean these poor women this misogynist pig is targeting? Why give this guy ink? This is the definition of irresponsible and pointless media.

Posted by: Michelle | June 23, 2008 1:31 AM

justin is a phenomenal radio guest. if he is insulting to anna, chances are she brought that on herself. i cant believe how thin-skinned people are to bash him. the guy's playing team tennis, not running for President. to michelle, who called him a "misogynist pig". yea, right, and Anna is a class act.

Posted by: jason | June 23, 2008 8:57 AM

Wow lets take this all way too seriously...
why don't we slow down and listen to the actual podcast and realize that JUSTIN does not hate ALL WOMEN... just ANNA...

btw Junkies = silly

Posted by: Donkey | June 23, 2008 8:57 AM

That is just hilarious right there. Justin you are hilarious. Awesome.. Oh and Bret and his big meaty thighs are gay

Posted by: Jim_Tressel | June 23, 2008 9:04 AM

For all the people hammering his brother, I live in DC and 90% of you have no right to talk about crazy and dangerous driving.

To those hammering Justin, it's his prerogative not to care for Kournikova and I'm sure there will be refs there to officiate the match so don't lose sleep over Kournikova's well being. The junkies show is light hearted, comical, and not meant to be taken so seriously.

During a Chris Rock standup he said if there was ever a black vice president he would shoot the President. Are you offended? Are you outraged?

There are plenty of good causes out there perhaps some of you need to go find one, because Justin's interview was pure comedy. Justin seems like a nice down to earth guy.

Posted by: geber22 | June 23, 2008 9:05 AM

It could be all for attention hard to tell on this...

Shocking - yes

Amusing - np

I heard some of interviews and hes every bit the obnxious loud mouthed american Im sure most of the rest of the world would love to hate .

Posted by: hmm | June 25, 2008 5:24 PM

Stalk much, Kournikova won 0 titles too, and they both won 13 doubles tournaments

Posted by: FI | June 27, 2008 1:54 PM

While I feel G's comments on Anna are tasteless and really, really low- I can see what it could mean for ticket sales. People would like to see this 'fight' take centre stage, 'will he really make her cry?' 'will she whoop his sorry arse?' et al.

However, I feel his comments about the WTA players are absolutely out of order. How dare you speak of women in such a degrading and vile manner? They are not objects or dolls. His behaviour is definitely offensive and he should apologise to the lovely ladies.

Posted by: Risha | June 28, 2008 9:41 AM

Justin has to pick on women, because he never beat a man on tour.

Posted by: Eddie Dibbs | June 29, 2008 9:06 AM

Alize Cornet turned 18 in January. She's not that hot and looks more like a pre-teen school girl. Yet Gimelstob thinks she's a "little sexpot?" Gimelstob wasn't that great of a player, and he's certainly not that great of a commentator. I guess he'll do anything to put himself under the spotlight.

Posted by: Anonymous | June 29, 2008 2:14 PM


Can somebody please spell I R O N Y or

J U S T I N IS BEING I R O N I C!

Posted by: Tristan | June 29, 2008 4:10 PM

Justin shouldn't talk, he didn't win jack on tour, and even though he had a good serve the rest of his game was awful. Ana had no serve-true-but she had a great all around game.

Posted by: bill | June 29, 2008 5:28 PM

Gimelstob has no room to say that he'll kill Anna Kournikova in their match, was he ever really within the top 100 ranking spots?
The guy needs to grow up and learn that when you're in your 30s, you don't make those kind of jokes on a public radio station....

Posted by: bobby | June 29, 2008 6:59 PM

It's a mystery to me how a never-was like Gimelstob is even given airtime. There are probably dozens of former players who, unlike him, actually achieved something of consequence in the sport and are more qualified to talk about it.

Posted by: E-Z | June 30, 2008 4:19 AM

Anna Kournikova, What has Kournikova done to deserve such derision from people everywhere. She's a pretty girl, who had talent that went down the tubes in part due to mixed priorities and pressure.
Of all people, Justin Gimelstob should be the last person to criticize her. Gimelstob has accomplished naught, best finish at a Grand Slam is 3rd round, Kournikova has reached the semis at Wimbledon, not a bad accompishment and also ranked as high as eigth.

Posted by: Dian | July 1, 2008 6:38 PM

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