The Tennis Thread

The Tennis Thread

Author
Discussion

GloverMart

11,773 posts

214 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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Horsey McHorseface said:
The ump may have seen them, but did the ump have proof SW saw them? Or is proof actually required within the rules, that SW saw them?

Removed because of copyright, more like. I think Amazon have exclusive rights within the UK.
I think it would be quite difficult proving that she definitely saw them. Apparently, he was telling her to stand in a different position on serves, so if she suddenly did switch positions, maybe that would suggest she'd seen his coaching.

Either way, it's illegal and in my mind, it doesn't really matter whether she's seen it or not, her "team" was in the wrong by breaking the rules. Now we have her waving the sexist card, no doubt the race card will be played at some point, and all the while, few people actually remember the name of the poor girl that won.

Loses, blames everyone but herself and starts squawking about injustices. Maybe if she spent more time practising and playing tennis and less time grooming herself up as some sort of anti-establishment figure, she might have beaten Osaka.

Leithen

10,800 posts

266 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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Justices said:
Roddick is piping up. Bizarre when the whole thing is on tape and isn’t complicated.

Amazed they are trying to compare this event to the behaviour of McEnroe and Nastase. It was a completely different era and they secretly knew the possibility of either going on a childish rant was a big draw. Their behaviour was equally if not more pathetic that the scenes last night because they deliberately did it to take their opponents out of their game. Show me how many times they behaved poorly when they were up in their matches.. None of that would be tolerated in today’s game and rightly so. Nastase in fact got thrown out of a FedCup match recently for calling Joanna Konta a bh.

Having them all scramble to cover up for someone else’s poor behaviour just because they are a star player makes it all the more pathetic.
McEnroe was sanctioned in the same way in his career for similar behaviour.

neilr

1,512 posts

262 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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All these sycophants will conveniently forget that McEnroe was penalised as per that Sydney Morning Herald article. But he was in fact thrown out of the 1990 Australian Open for arguing with the Umpire. They will behave as if WIlliams is the only player to ever have been treated like this of course.

No doubt Djokovic being given a code violation and no more by Ramos recently will be 'exhibit A' for the "but is all a sexist plot" brigade. However, Djokovic didn't then call Ramos a liar and a thief or continue with a tirade about parenthood and how he was owed an apology did he. The level of entitlement shown by Williams was disgusting. Any player behaving like that should receive a 2 tournament ban.

All sport needs to toughen up and stop treating big stars with kid gloves, it's utterly ridiculous. Either they play their sports within the rules or they face the consequences as per the rules. No ifs, no buts, no "oh but he / she is so good for the game/ Its pony of the highest order and I'm sick if seeing it continuing to happen, not just in tennis either but across the board. I know I'm not alone.


They don't because they think ticket sales will go away and the big stars play into that fear but I don't buy it. Tennis fans go to see tennis, they'd still go pretty much regardless of who is playing, not just for one big name. I know I don't. I've never gone to motorsport events because of the individual drivers competing. Great if you see a legend racing in their prime but its not the reason you bought a ticket.






bstb3

3,990 posts

157 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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So the moral of the story is... If you don't play by the rules & don't like being called up on it, if you want to be able to behave like a brat and disrupt your opponent whilst feeling free to try to intimidate and threaten the officials, simply call a discrimination card and the whole narrative will change to completely ignore you being in the wrong in the first place. Marvelous. I'm sure girls and boys all over the world will be reveling in this life lesson.

If Williams really wants to be seen as a role model for her kids (and others) then she needs to front up and admit her behavior was totally wrong and properly apologize to her opponent and the official. She may have a valid point about the sexism in the US Open (she probably does), but you should not get to hide such unprofessional behavior behind it. Two wrongs don't make a right, or is that not the case anymore?

Burwood

18,709 posts

245 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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bstb3 said:
So the moral of the story is... If you don't play by the rules & don't like being called up on it, if you want to be able to behave like a brat and disrupt your opponent whilst feeling free to try to intimidate and threaten the officials, simply call a discrimination card and the whole narrative will change to completely ignore you being in the wrong in the first place. Marvelous. I'm sure girls and boys all over the world will be reveling in this life lesson.

If Williams really wants to be seen as a role model for her kids (and others) then she needs to front up and admit her behavior was totally wrong and properly apologize to her opponent and the official. She may have a valid point about the sexism in the US Open (she probably does), but you should not get to hide such unprofessional behavior behind it. Two wrongs don't make a right, or is that not the case anymore?
This. First she was playing ‘for all the Moms’ out there. Now she is ‘standing up for woman’s rights’. It’s a joke. Serena Williams plays for herself. She just can’t handle losing and acted like an entitled brat.

Bonefish Blues

26,448 posts

222 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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Woah, she was playing for "a lot of other stuff" too, that she obviously couldn't quite recall.

Dear Serena, repeat after me:

"Guys, I just lost it out there, I'm sorry"

Bonefish Blues

26,448 posts

222 months

Monday 10th September 2018
quotequote all
neilr said:
All sport needs to toughen up and stop treating big stars with kid gloves, it's utterly ridiculous. Either they play their sports within the rules or they face the consequences as per the rules. No ifs, no buts, no "oh but he / she is so good for the game/ Its pony of the highest order and I'm sick if seeing it continuing to happen, not just in tennis either but across the board. I know I'm not alone.


They don't because they think ticket sales will go away and the big stars play into that fear but I don't buy it. Tennis fans go to see tennis, they'd still go pretty much regardless of who is playing, not just for one big name. I know I don't. I've never gone to motorsport events because of the individual drivers competing. Great if you see a legend racing in their prime but its not the reason you bought a ticket.
Agree, and am equally pessimistic. Rugby does a decent job, I think, then I'm struggling for the next sport.

Robbo66

3,828 posts

232 months

Monday 10th September 2018
quotequote all
bstb3 said:
So the moral of the story is... If you don't play by the rules & don't like being called up on it, if you want to be able to behave like a brat and disrupt your opponent whilst feeling free to try to intimidate and threaten the officials, simply call a discrimination card and the whole narrative will change to completely ignore you being in the wrong in the first place. Marvelous. I'm sure girls and boys all over the world will be reveling in this life lesson.

If Williams really wants to be seen as a role model for her kids (and others) then she needs to front up and admit her behavior was totally wrong and properly apologize to her opponent and the official. She may have a valid point about the sexism in the US Open (she probably does), but you should not get to hide such unprofessional behavior behind it. Two wrongs don't make a right, or is that not the case anymore?
Exactly, can't play race card, so jumped on the 'sexist' horse. Fellow professionals too weak to stand up for umpire. They will see it as, nothing in it for them to do so.
Why have the wrath of the Williams entourage on your back, when you can offer PR mush to deflect to 'next question'. If they arque for the umpire then they would be considered 'sexist' too. Umpire's been hung out to dry whilst Williams hides behind a convenient cover.
That faux concern for Osaka at the ceremony, to curry favour with fans was utterly despicable.

Boydie88

3,283 posts

148 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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Robbo66 said:
Exactly, can't play race card, so jumped on the 'sexist' horse. Fellow professionals too weak to stand up for umpire. They will see it as, nothing in it for them to do so.
Why have the wrath of the Williams entourage on your back, when you can offer PR mush to deflect to 'next question'. If they arque for the umpire then they would be considered 'sexist' too. Umpire's been hung out to dry whilst Williams hides behind a convenient cover.
That faux concern for Osaka at the ceremony, to curry favour with fans was utterly despicable.
She's actually been backed by the Women's Tennis Association, frankly insane after hearing her outburst just now on the radio.

NRS

22,079 posts

200 months

Monday 10th September 2018
quotequote all
Boydie88 said:
She's actually been backed by the Women's Tennis Association, frankly insane after hearing her outburst just now on the radio.
Utter insanity. Look at the stats at the bottom of the BBC article. Far more men pulled up for punishments, yet it is sexism against women. And you have people like a black woman (Cara Black) saying she's seen it before from Williams and that Ramos was correct. I support quite a lot of feminism, but this is frankly disguising protectionism of their cash cow and I feel massively sorry for Ramos and Osaka. If I was a professional ref I'd be strongly considering my job now if this is how you get treated for applying the rules.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/45468290

Burwood

18,709 posts

245 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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The ITF back Ramos. And why is the CEO of Woman's Tennis a man wink

neilr

1,512 posts

262 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Not allowing players to dictate how the rules are applied to them as opposed to them playing by the rules with no ifs no buts doesn't affect a sports profitability at al does it. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy though, we need xyz player or our profits tumble. So they treat the big names with kid gloves just in case. Or in this case, the WTA meekly siding with Serena Williams when they should be addressing her appalling behaviour. Governing bodies of sport making sure the big names aren't delt with leniently (and in tennis that definitely happens in a lot of situations) will again, not comprise the sports profitability will it.

What are the big names going to do? stop playing? I rather think not.


I don't think I suggested sport should be run as purely a sporting endeavour, . There's no reason at all, it cant be a profitable business as well as entertainment (which is of course it already is) CBS may well have seen 73% more viewers, maybe its TIger,Woods maybe not, I'm highly sceptical that a 73% increase in viewing is down to him.alone.


Tennis grand slams are bigger than the players, even those like Williams and Federer etc. They just simply are. As you probably know at Wimbledon you buy a ticket to the final regardless of who appears, you cant just turn up and buy one on finals day. You get what youre given, you can't decide to watch xyz player when they get to the final.





NRS

22,079 posts

200 months

Monday 10th September 2018
quotequote all
Have to agree. Tennis will certainly survive Williams leaving, but it will suffer a decline in profits when she leaves. Just look at the reaction of the crowd, and apply to them a boycott of events because their favourite star got punished as an example. Easily could be the case.

Simon (cheif exec of WTA head) is just doing what he did with Sharapova though - stuck up for her for the drugs test, and then publicly complained about the French Open not giving her a wildcard after her suspension. Just shows it is all about the money and nothing to do with doing the right thing.

Mothersruin

8,573 posts

98 months

Monday 10th September 2018
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
She seems to have applied logic and pragmatism to the events, then looked at the emotional responses at each critical element - how the umpire couldn't backtrack or use discretion and how Williams became more hysterical, then commented on her own view point.

Impressed.

JagLover

42,265 posts

234 months

Tuesday 11th September 2018
quotequote all
neilr said:
Tennis grand slams are bigger than the players, even those like Williams and Federer etc. They just simply are. As you probably know at Wimbledon you buy a ticket to the final regardless of who appears, you cant just turn up and buy one on finals day. You get what youre given, you can't decide to watch xyz player when they get to the final.
Outside of America Federer and Williams are not remotely comparable in terms of their commercial appeal.

Federer transcends the sport and a considerable amount of current interest in the game is going to die once he finally retires. McEnroe is right that he is the golden goose of Tennis.

Maybe new players will come along just as exciting but sometimes people switch off for good when their heroes are gone. My dad hasn't watched tennis since the McEnroe generation retired.

Burwood

18,709 posts

245 months

Tuesday 11th September 2018
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McEnroe was a legend and is the best commentator at Wimbledon. Always enjoyed watching Roddick. Federer in my book is the greatest player in living memory. A true gent.

neilr

1,512 posts

262 months

Tuesday 11th September 2018
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yes that's a good sensibly thought out piece from Navratilova, and she's right on the money. You're quite right about King and Evert having ridiculous reactions to it. (Although I wasn't surprised by King tbh)

uk66fastback

16,457 posts

270 months

Tuesday 11th September 2018
quotequote all
Apparently, this cartoon is 'sexist and racist' now ... done by an Aussie cartoonist for a Murdoch rag ...

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/11/world/australia...


AWG

854 posts

155 months

Tuesday 11th September 2018
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Robbo66 said:
bstb3 said:
So the moral of the story is... If you don't play by the rules & don't like being called up on it, if you want to be able to behave like a brat and disrupt your opponent whilst feeling free to try to intimidate and threaten the officials, simply call a discrimination card and the whole narrative will change to completely ignore you being in the wrong in the first place. Marvelous. I'm sure girls and boys all over the world will be reveling in this life lesson.

If Williams really wants to be seen as a role model for her kids (and others) then she needs to front up and admit her behavior was totally wrong and properly apologize to her opponent and the official. She may have a valid point about the sexism in the US Open (she probably does), but you should not get to hide such unprofessional behavior behind it. Two wrongs don't make a right, or is that not the case anymore?
Exactly, can't play race card, so jumped on the 'sexist' horse. Fellow professionals too weak to stand up for umpire. They will see it as, nothing in it for them to do so.
Why have the wrath of the Williams entourage on your back, when you can offer PR mush to deflect to 'next question'. If they arque for the umpire then they would be considered 'sexist' too. Umpire's been hung out to dry whilst Williams hides behind a convenient cover.
That faux concern for Osaka at the ceremony, to curry favour with fans was utterly despicable.
Yet the crowd still applauded her during the rant... I'm amazed that she still gets recognition.

Mothersruin

8,573 posts

98 months

Tuesday 11th September 2018
quotequote all
uk66fastback said:
Apparently, this cartoon is 'sexist and racist' now ... done by an Aussie cartoonist for a Murdoch rag ...

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/11/world/australia...

Love the dummy.