The big controversy in tennis right now centers on the Women's Tennis Association threatening to fine Maria Sharapova over her refusal to participate in a photo shoot.

The WTA's threatened fines could run in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and such a fine would be a travesty because Sharapova is right and the WTA is wrong. Sharapova explains on her web site:

I want all my fans to know that the WTA Tour is forcing me and several of the other top players to do a 4 hour commercial shoot for WTA Tour marketing materials. They want me to do this shoot on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday of the Rome tournament after flying 12 hours from LA. I have set my own personal rules when is comes to doing shoots and I never do shoots before tournaments because they are mentally draining and I want to just focus on my tennis.

It's not unreasonable for the WTA to require the players to take part in some promotional activities, but it is unreasonable for the WTA to schedule photo shoots right before the players are going to play a tournament and expect all of them to comply.

Here's a wacky idea: If the WTA can't find a time for a photo shoot that works for Sharapova, why not just send a photographer to her matches and use promotional pictures that show her, you know, playing tennis?

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Tennis star Maria Sharapova is one of the world's best players.

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Maria Sharapova, of Russia, waves to the crowd after losing 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 to Serena Williams during the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament, in Charleston, S.C., on Friday, April 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)

Tennis player Maria Sharapova complains about the tennis ability of her opponents, "Late Show With David Letterman" host David Letterman and actor Billy Crystal as the trio taped a segment outside the show's studios in New York, Monday, April 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Tennis player Maria Sharapova serves a ball to Late Show host David Letterman while taping a segment for his show outside the show's studios in New York, Monday, April 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Comedian Billy Crystal, foreground, back to camera, and Late Show host David Letterman, rear left, greet Maria Sharpova at the net after she served a few tennis balls to them while taping a segment for the show outside Late Show studios in New York, Monday, April 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Comedian Billy Crystal, left, kisses tennis player Maria Sharapova after the pair played tennis on the street while taping a segment for Late Show with David Letterman outside the show's studios in New York, Monday, April 21, 2008. Crystal switched to a baseball glove after failing with the racquet. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Comedian Billy Crystal climbs over a tennis net set up in the street outside Late Show with David Letterman studios in New York, Monday, April 21, 2008. Crystal played tennis with Maria Sharapova and Late Show host David Letterman, but switched to a baseball glove after failing with a racquet. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Tennis player Maria Sharapova, right, greets Late Show with David Letterman host David Letterman after playing tennis with him and comedian Billy Crystal while taping a segment for the show on the street outside the show's studios in New York, Monday, April 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Tennis player Maria Sharapova takes a couple of balls to serve to Late Show host David Letterman and comedian Billy Crystal while taping a segment for the show on the street outside the show's studios in New York, Monday, April 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Tennis player Maria Sharapova serves to Late Show host David Letterman who played with comedian Billy Crystal on the street outside the show's studios in New York, Monday, April 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Tennis star Maria Sharapova waves to admiring crowds who came to watch her serve a few tennis balls to Late Show with David Letterman host David Letterman in New York, Monday, April 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)