I just believe, on a fundamental level, that Maria Sharapova has handled her doping scandal the wrong way. Maybe that’s not entirely on her though: while Maria often comes across as almost delusional and arrogant, it’s not like her largest corporate sponsors are abandoning her, remember? Like, in the elite-sporting world, Sharapova’s moves post-ban have been received positively. She still has endorsement contracts with three large corporations, and hell, she thinks she might even get the ban lifted in time to play at the Rio Olympics. But maybe Maria knows that she’s going to lose her appeal (with good reason) and maybe she knows that she’s going to spend the next two years sitting out professional tennis. Because Maria is going to Harvard now.
Maria Sharapova is headed to Harvard Business School for a two-week program this summer. The 29-year-old Russian tennis star posted on Facebook and Twitter on Saturday a picture of her seated next to a sign for the school and the message: “‘Not sure how this happened but Hey Harvard! Can’t wait to start the program!”
Her agent Max Eisenbud said Monday that the program involves two classes on campus. Eisenbud wasn’t clear what certification, if any, she’d earn from the coursework.
A Harvard spokesman didn’t comment Monday.
Sharapova was handed a two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation after she tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January. The substance had been banned at the start of 2016. The five-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1-ranked player has appealed the ban.
While I’m sure this will be received as a smart move on Maria’s part – she is, after all, a more successful model/businesswoman than a tennis player – I have to wonder if Harvard wants this association? Would Harvard want to be connected to an athlete convicted of doping? Does Harvard want to be the Plan B for athletes who get two-year bans for doping?
Update: Sharapova isn’t going to Harvard Business School for-real, like she’s not going to get her MBA. She’s just taking a few classes this summer!
Not sure how this happened but Hey Harvard! Can't wait to start the program! 🎓📓 pic.twitter.com/EOoKYhaQli
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) June 25, 2016
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
You go, sharadopa!
“Sharadopa” 😅😅😅
@Kaiser, your front page photo choice for this story is so lovely. It stopped me in my tracks. 👏
If the check is large enough, yes.
+1
Yeah that’s the thing, these Ivy league schools care most about money. How often do they turn down someone wealthy? I’d love to know the stats.
They don’t really turn anyone down for these programs unless there is no space. It’s not conferring any real degree.
This isn’t a program so they don’t need to turn her down.
I went to an Ivy and found out graduation week that over half of my class was on financial aid. It’s not something openly discussed, unfortunately, which makes for a wholly unnecessary inferiority complex. But many of the wealthier students’ fees & family donations paid for my education, so that’s the other side of it.
What does she mean “I’m not sure how this happened”? She must have applied well in advance right? Or did she just call them up and ask if she could go there lol? Anyways, education is always a good thing.
“Nother sure how this happened?!” I assume someone applied for you? Or u applied? What a dumb thing to say. I know I hate it when I accidentally get to go to harvard…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BgyqAD5Z6_A
A video from John Oliver’s show that is a pretty good overview for the non-reaction and doping in general.
Loved this show. Surprised he didn’t mention Sharapova.
WTH, “I’m not sure how this happened”? And I’m not sure what she’s going to learn in two weeks. She’s already got the sleazy lying thing down cold.
I don’t think this is even the bogus certification that Tyra Banks got. You just need to enroll–not even apply. So, yeah. That’s how it happened.
–TheRealPinky
Isn’t this the same program Tyra Banks did? There is no actual degree involved.
I love that she’s doing the same thing as Tyra, because Tyra’s, “when I went to HARVARD (for two weeks), and experienced the COLLEGE LIFE (when I stayed at a hotel for two weeks and went to one class that was ungraded and impossible to fail), I really understood the college experience and am now a HARVARD GRAD. When’s the alumni mixer?”, was my favorite thing ever in the world. It made me cry with happiness.
I for one am glad to see that Sharapova is as delusional as Tyra Banks.
This makes it sound like she’ll be spending two years at Harvard, rather than two whole weeks.
Maybe she means she can’t believe she got accepted to such a prestigious school like Harvard. Doubt she means she doesn’t know how it happened in the literal sense. I know I’ve used that expression, “I don’t know how that happened…” whenever something extraordinary happens to me. Just a thought.
This is the thing I’m most jelaous about when it comes to celebrities,their ability to get whatever education they want.Can you imagine having the brains of the world,the libraries of the world at the tip of your fingers?
Just being able to learn whatever you want about anything you want.
Emma Watson and Angelina Jolie have made use of that priviledge beautifully and I’m very envious of both,it’s unfair to the rest of us but so is the world in general.
She’s doing an executive program. It’s a non-degree program and there isn’t any admission requirement you just need to pay for it. Most people who do it are sent there by their companies. They can range anywhere from 2 – 6 weeks beyond that some longer ones have you come back a few times. It’s similar to the program Tyra Banks did. The school of Government offers them too. The participants aren’t in classes with degree seeking Harvard students although at the Business school they can live on campus.
“Not sure how this happened.”
It’s called you applied and could financially justify it, Sharapova. Don’t be a patronizing douchebag.