Golf vs. Tennis

Well that article was had some interesting bits but at the same had a lot of just plain filler. He talks about the image of tennis as a “wussy” sport and yet does absolutely nothing to show that it is in fact far from it with some players running around for hours on court.

And I know that he himself was not arguing that tennis doesn’t have much personality on the top level but was just stating it as a reason people give, but if I hear that argument any more I may barf.

Tennis has a lot of different and varied personalities at the top level. In the men’s game in particular- you have such varied characters as Safin, Federer, Agassi, Nadal, Coria, Hewitt and Roddick. All very different styles of personalities if the detractors ever took a moment to examine them. And then there can be a real hypocrisy in the media. Some in the media moan about the lack of personalities and long for the glory days with Johnny Mac, Borg, Connors and Nastase and then bitch that Hewitt says “come on” to much or act like Guillermo is an abomination when they are tame compared to the likes of Nastase or when Jimmy Connors called an umpire or line judge an “abortion.” It just bugs.

Yes, tennis does have a lot of personality. In the case of Marat Safin you could even argue that there's too much personality. Who else would moon an opponent in the middle of a match, at the French Open no less? (Because he "felt like it!") I highly doubt that even McEnroe did that. Even after the McEnroe/Borg days there was always Goran who famously defaulted a match after breaking all of his rackets in his racket bag. Then there's the whole Latin American contingent; I always amuse myself at their matches by trying to translate the obscenities they mutter at the umpire...

Tennis even has soap-opera worthy stuff, what with Kim Clijsters finally winning a Slam after Hewitt cheated on her with Bec Cartwright, James Blake with his illness and dramatic comeback, then all of the nandrolone/doping scandals... If anything I think tennis is even more exciting now than it was back then.

Tennis is still worth watching and has many personalities. But I think tennis was more compelling, exciting, and artistic in the 70's, 80's, and 90's. But I'm still addicted and still love the sport. I will always follow the sport.

Andre Agassi is supposed to play tournaments in Sweden, Madrid, and Paris. He is still on the cortisone and will get a shot in Dec. before the Australian Open. So I guess he is putting off his retirement which I think is good since he still adds alot to the men's game.

I think right now golf is the new "it". It really gain alot of attention due to Tiger Woods. I'm pretty sure after a couple of years, probably 10 or so years, the popularity will die down and the popularity of tennis will come back. Its always a cycle. It goes up and down and up and down. I think the only reason why tennis is not popular right now is because America doesn't have a really good tennis player. If Roger Federer were American, I pretty sure Tennis would have been popular again but since he's Swiss, he's still relatively unknown in the US which is ashame.

print_whore wrote:

Lleyton didn't cheat on Kim.

But yeah, I too think it's a little ridiculous that many of the same people who criticize the antics of Nadal, Hewitt, and Safin also say that tennis needs more personality.

Yeah he didnt cheat. They both ran into rebound relationship very quickly after they broke up.

I'm evil, but that could be an angle...the tension and the "what ifs?".

Thanks for the update, busybuzz. I guess I always assumed he did because of all the rumors about it. (And it's not as if I don't need another reason to dislike Hewitt) But lately I don't mind Hewitt as much, especially when he's losing. Say what you will about his behavior, the guy is a really determined player on the courts. I respect that, even though I hate him.

On another note, who do you think will win the Masters Cup this year? Originally I was backing Fed to do it but he's got such a hectic schedule (four tournaments until then, I think) that he could get burnt out. Plus, you've got a rested Safin coming back in the mix, as well as Nadal...

Most definitly. You need polarizing figures in individual sports like tennis. With teams you have this communal thing going on that provides the emotion and drama. But with tennis/golf/cycling, on court personality provides it. JMac was an asshole, but it made him incredibly compelling. I can't stand Agassi and hope to convert Blake to some form of negotiated bisexuality and part of the fun of tennis is having both: someone to hate on and root for. Give me personality over Henman-esque restraint.

There is space for both, isn't there? Borg was just as compelling as JMac, only for the opposite reason. If the courts were populated by outgoing personalities alone, I'd be begging for a few Edbergs and Willanders, too.

What tennis needs more of, aside from personalities, is variety in the game. I don't know about the rest of you, but I can do with fewer "booming serves" and "blistering forehands" and with a lot more volleying and finesse.

I don't see a contradiction here. You can want more personality yet dislike antics. My quibble would be lumping Safin into this group.

I admire Hewitt's style of play, but when he was on top, he was an ass. He's toned it down and I've found myself actually rooting for him, because I love that he grinds and never gives up. I don't even mind him cheering himself on when he executes a great pass or something. But going into full-throated celebration over an opponent's unforced error is bad form. I'm glad to see he's cut that out. I think it's helped him, because all of that fist pumping and yelling and stuff takes energy that you need to conserve in a long match.

Likewise, Nadal and his "vamos"es grate. He seems like a nice kid, but put a sock in it on the court, please.

On another note, I'm glad I have the tennis channel, but every time I channel surf over there, there's no tennis on. Why don't they just call it the Murphy Jensen channel? Gah.

The tennis channel goes in patches. If there is not a tournament that they have rights to going on you do suffer through a lot of repeats. But when they do have acess to stuff, it is a great opportunity to see things that you woul have no chance of on other channels. They are showing the China Open semis today and the finals tomorrow (and they will show the quarters on for the women's CO next week I believe). Federation Cup this week and next week the two Davis Cup semi ties. I'm pleased as puch at fact that I will be able to see all of Argentina/Slovakia. In large part because I really enjoyed the Argie/Aussie tie and also- well maybe I will get another chance to see the Hrbarty shirt! Hee!

I do wish that the Tennis Channel had access to more classic matches. I would love to see stuff from when Becker was a teenager, the old Aussie greats that I never got to see including Laver and Evonne Goolagong, the Goran/Rafter Wimbledon final, some old Chrisse/Martina and Borg/MacEnroe match-ups, etc. Those would be a treat to see.

I think Tim Henman has a lot of personality. I remember him in the semi-finals of the US open last year and he was a lot of fun and snarky.

What I don't like is equating brattiness with personality. JMac is the worst at this, since he was the biggest offender back in the day. He always wants people to show a little personality on court, which means acting like a dick. If someone tends to throw tantrums a lot on court, does that mean he has more of a personality than someone who's more low-key or respectful? I don't think that's necessarily the case. I find that in real life, the people with the most entertaining personalitites aren't the ones who are immature and/or trainwrecks who fly off the handle at the smallest thing.

That would be really cool. I'd love to see some of those guys/gals play. I'd also love to see Billie Jean King play.

The TC was playing a Masters Final from ... 1990, was it? It had Edberg and Agassi. I only saw a little of it. No one could hold serve for a while, but the tennis was wonderful. It didn't look much different from the tennis of today. Edberg moved so beautifully. A lot like Fed. The volleys were fantastic! But he had nowhere near as effective a serve or groundstrokes.

Sentence! Or the inverse. I read that Borg was famous for barely blinking on court, but that he was one of the biggest sports stars in the world, including the US, in the late 70s and 80s. Now, surely he is considered as having a personality. Or perhaps one would call it charisma. Or mystique. Whatever. But you know what I mean.

The big point to me is that today for the first time in a long while the men's game has many intriguing personalities and playing styles at the top that could appeal widely. Various promotional types (AmEx, the USTA, ESPN, whoever placed the articles about Safin in GQ and Roger in Men's Vogue) did a good job with the promotional angle pre-U.S. Open, and happily the tournament turned out great. More follow up and some more competition for my beloved Roger and we could really have us some soup.

Henman seems quite snarky. I remember at this year's Rolland Garos when he had to play on "kids day" with tons of young kids screaming and yelling from the first couple rows. He would kind of chuckle or shake his head, but once in a while he'd pass them a glare that only people who have kids seem to have mastered.

Word. One of the things I really love about Tim is that, even when he's being reserved, it's almost like you can see his emotions boiling just under the surface.

Russia beat France in the Fed Cup, and Elena Dementieva beat Mary Pierce. I know it means nothing in ranking terms but I'm happy she got a little revenge. I caught the highlights and the looks the two of them were shooting each other were priceless- so much venom. Great fun all round.

Federer inks deal with IMG

Yesterday Nadal and Coria played a great match on TTV--hard hitting, great shotmaking, intense. Nadal won in three sets. If it re-run again, try to catch it. The score (5-7 6-1 6-2) sounds less close than it was.

It looks like the French Open is planning to expand the tournament to 15 days. This link has the story. The US Open is also considering this move. The French is also finally planning to give the women equal prize money. Meaning Wimbledon will be the only major not to offer equal prize money. I wonder how long their policy of saving the extra cash for petunias will last.

Ouch!

Sun scorches Serena in China Open shock

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=reu-...uters&type=lgns

Have I mentioned today, just how cool Roger Federer is. And according to the article about him signing with IMG he does endorse numerous products and has contracts with various companies.

To add to that, just because Feds isn't a household name here, doesn't mean he isn't revered like a god elsewhere. I'm sure everyone who's anyone in Europe knows Federer's stats, height, weight, shoe size, favorite color, etc.

I know I've heard Cliffie call Roger "an international superstar", or language like that, meaning to indicate that he's a superstar outside the U.S.

I suppose he's like Michael Schumacher (sp?), the driver, in this regard. I watch BBCAmerica and listen to the BBC on the radio a lot, and hear him mentioned so much, and clearly regarded as a household name. I only slowly began to understand who he was and what he does.

Of course, tennis is played here in the States, and I'm pretty sure Schumacher's kind of car racing doesn't take place here at all. So of course the comparison doesn't work on many levels. (As usual with these sorts of things!)

But I was so glad when I first heard about the kind of work Roger was doing in South Africa. When I first heard that his parents worked for Ciba-Geigy (big drug corporation), I thought perhaps he was coming from a more corporate-think, less socially aware point of view, and had helped fund a hospital for middle-class types in South Africa. I was so glad to learn the hospital was for South Africans who didn't have resources.

Did anyone read the article that appeared during the Open when he was talking about meeting the babies and little kids who had AIDS/HIV when he was in South Africa? I remember his comments were so adorable and moving. He was just really struck with how cute and vulnerable these children were (I think he confessed to crying about it), and how they were living in little boxes. (I'm not sure if he was struggling with the language in his description.) Either way, I'm just really glad he's focusing on a place that needs his $$ so unbelievably big time and that he has a strong emotional connection with the work.

I'm hopelessly in love with this man. Sigh.

You and me both, if only we could find a way to get rid of Mirka. Actually on a related note a friend of mine just swears that Roger and Mirka are probably going to break up soon, which is why he signed with IMG--she had previously been acting as his agent.

But I don't believe it, for all my talk, I think the two of them are adorable together. And she seems to make Roger very happy.

How old is Mirka? Since he signed with IMG, does that mean that her solitary duty is officially "Trophy Girlfriend"?

After Davenport's tournament win last week is she number one again? Or is my brain incapable of trying to mentally workout the WTA points system?

No. It was a tier III tournament. Not enough for her to take over #1 again.

Helter Skelter I believe Mirka is actually about 5 years older than Roger. But I'm not completely sure, I know that she is at least a couple of years older than him.

She's 3-5 years older. And right now, she's his "personal assistant".

I know I wouldn't mind that job.

In the Men's Vogue interview, Roger said that Mirka started working as his assistant more or less for something to do while she travelled with him, but "if tomorrow she's fed up with it, she doesn't need to do it anymore. I just want her to be my girlfriend."

During the Open I was suddenly struck by a feeling that things weren't good between Roger and Mirka. I can't think of any actual evidence, so hopefully it was just me unconsciously looking for some reason he wasn't playing well.

As lovely as Roger seems to be, I can't imagine what it must be like being your boyfriend's personal assistant. Having so much of your own life focused on his needs. It must be so difficult to do that boundary thing. When he wakes you up in the middle of the night to ask if you sent an email or something, is he your lover or your boss? I would think it's a difficult trick carving out time and focus for you, to say nothing of getting time and focus from him for you.

But that's me. Mirka may find taking care of someone else (not your child) more or less full time very fulfilling. Whenever I see her, she looks conspicuously happy, even if she's not smiling.

Does anyone know why Mirka quit playing on the WTA tour? Was she injured? Did she quit to be Roger's assistant/girlfriend? She alway reminded me of a younger Catherine Keener. BTW, Mirka's birthday is April 1st 1978. So she is 3 years older than Roger.

Same here, it may be because they showed his mom sitting in another section from her.

It would be interesting to know what, if any, contracts exsist between the two of them concerning finances. A breakup may make interesting tabloid fodder. It's not like has some career waiting for her.

Yep. Injuries did her in.

From Forbes Mag:
The Business of Tennis

That article said Sharapova was the first Russian "man or woman" to reach #1. Kafelnikov and Safin both did it before she did.

Yet another reason to hate Sharapova. Just kidding...sort of...but I hate it when people make stupid mistakes like that. It's obvious that the writer/editor didn't do his research. Idiot.

In the semis in China Sharapova was getting her ass whoopassed by a fellow Russian Maria and she was not happy. Anyway then she retired with an "injury". My ass.

I believe her. That pec has been bothering her for a while. In other news, Belgium got hosed. Fuckin sorry chair umpire dropped the ball.

Oli Rochus and Belgium certainly did get screwed. That was one of the worst calls I've ever seen and it was on clay. Check the damn mark! Even B. Gilbert said the Belgiums got screwed. What the hell was that linesperson looking at? So much for homecourt advantage.

That Rochus-Roddick match was amazing and yet so hard to watch! What was up with Andy and the BEL coach? It just seemed like he was angry with himself and perhaps the fact that he thought he should have had an easier match, and he took it out on the coach.

That's the kind of behavior that makes it hard for me to be a fan. I really like him, but he just seems so immature at times. Though to his credit, he did look kind of remorseful at the unfortunate call. I wonder if was remembering the time he conceded a point on a wrong call that benefited him, and then promptly lost the match. I don't know if he saw this call, but he certainly seemed shocked with the way the call went....

I read this story and it says the BEL coach made fun of Andy and his mojo at team dinner. So it seems Roddick was a little pissed at him for that. I was actually impressed that Roddick really didn't celebrate after the victory. I think he realized what a horrific call that was and didn't want to incite any more anger in the fans.

Please make sure you're discussing tennis coverage and not just tennis the sport. Thanks.

For anyone who missed it when it orignaly aired- it looks like tonight's Letterman will be a repeat of the Dr. Phil/ Roger Federer one from 9/12.

Some interesting articles and tidbits in the current tennis press:


I didn't hear anywhere else that he got hurt in practice with Moya.

An editor at one of the tennis magazines has a funny take on Nadal's fist pumps:

Todd Woodbridge has just come out with a book. Here's an article with some details: Article on Woodbridge book Some of the more interesting tidbits:
On your favorite and mine Pat Rafter: Wow, wouldn't a Rafter-Federer final have been cool?

On Hewitt:

ESPN.com poll on Federer's finals streak:


It turns out a player at the French tested positive for banned substance:

Nadal Upset about Davis Cup changes


A Los Angeles Times article about the woes of 70s great Roscoe Tanner Roscoe Tanner Article features this unfortunate (but kinda funny) fact:

And some final comments about the U.S. Open from Peter Bodo's blog: Bodo Wrap Up

He also published this (nearly) full text of Agassi's press conference, in which Agassi demonstrates his skill as an analyst:
Full Text of Agassi Press Conference

Agassi has pulled out of the Stockholm Open. I now wonder if he will also skip The Paris & Madrid Open? Maybe he is saving himself to play Melbourne & The Aussie Open because of his back/nerve problems.

So I'm watching the Luxembourg tournament and I wonder why is the lady commentator so loud?

The final of the Thailand Open will be on TTC tomorrow. They're repeating it several times throughout the day. Andrew Murray v. Roger Federer.

Murray didn't get to play Fed in the Davis Cup, so it's nice he gets his chance again so soon. Fed seems to have more trouble against finesse players so Murray might do well against him. Beating him? Not so much.

Yeah not so much for Andy but he is one to watch for sure. He's now ranked 72 in the world but will be out for a week or so with a wrist injury. Would have been nice if the BBC had managed to score it live though not 10 hours after completion. Oh well.

Lindsey was looking remarkably happy and un mopey-ish today against Hantuchova. I reckon she will win the title tommorow. Mauresmo doesn't seem to know how to beat Davenport.

Dementieva versus Clijsters was a thriller yesterday but she packed it in today against Amelie. The commentators were idiots though - trying to give her advice on serving. "Basically...she'll need to hit it harder." really