Wimbledon
- Thread starter Poacher
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Quiet Speed
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Henin played a heroic match against Capriati in the semifinals of the 2003 US Open. The match was an epic that went well past midnight. A three hour match I believe. Henin was cramping in the third set, I believe she also hit the deck once due to cramping. She played on (without the benefit of a rain delay) and pulled out the match in a tiebreaker. She could not leave the facility until three in the morning receiving treatment for dehydration. She went on to beat Clijsters in the finals the next night.
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Guest
Guest
Like most people I have noticed that Serena Williams will never, ever give her opponent any credit whatsoever, but now we might be seeing a new trend with her pretending to be injured if she thinks she cannot win easily.
Venus Williams does not seem to engage in this stuff.
Venus Williams does not seem to engage in this stuff.
Venus was saying after her match today that anyone who plays her or Serena has to play their very best match to win. That was certainly true at one time, but the Williams sisters only play well nowin spurts, especially Venus.
Venus is #31 in the world rankings, Serena #8. They are the only two American women in the top 31. There are only two American men ranked among the top 37 players on the ATP, Andy Roddick and James Blake. Where are the white American tennis players?
Venus is #31 in the world rankings, Serena #8. They are the only two American women in the top 31. There are only two American men ranked among the top 37 players on the ATP, Andy Roddick and James Blake. Where are the white American tennis players?
I was thinking about a post on that topic Don, as some reporter asked
Blake that after he ate it early on in the tournament. He mumbed
something about american tennis being strong and some other such
nonsense, but never has american tennis been so weak.
There are several reasons:
1) Inclusion of eastern bloc countries and athletes formerly not allowed to
play, increasing competition with new white talent in a white sport.
2) Continued recruitment and granting of athletic scholarships to foreign
athletes at american colleges and univesities.
3) The emphasis on recruiting minority "talent" in american tennis and
excluding better white prospects.
4) (My opinion) the lack of training available for all but the wealthiest
american white parents, as commerce trumps true investment in our
young athletes. In other words, all but the wealthiest cannot afford top
notch training, and that reduces the pool of people available who have
both the talent and the money.
Blake that after he ate it early on in the tournament. He mumbed
something about american tennis being strong and some other such
nonsense, but never has american tennis been so weak.
There are several reasons:
1) Inclusion of eastern bloc countries and athletes formerly not allowed to
play, increasing competition with new white talent in a white sport.
2) Continued recruitment and granting of athletic scholarships to foreign
athletes at american colleges and univesities.
3) The emphasis on recruiting minority "talent" in american tennis and
excluding better white prospects.
4) (My opinion) the lack of training available for all but the wealthiest
american white parents, as commerce trumps true investment in our
young athletes. In other words, all but the wealthiest cannot afford top
notch training, and that reduces the pool of people available who have
both the talent and the money.
I can't remember the last time I cheered for an American in an international sports competition. Because of racism, our teams or representatives are usually all-black or mostly-black (basketball, sprinting events) or have a black participation rate way beyond their numbers in the sport (soccer, baseball).
Still, in tennis we do have guys like Andy Roddick to cheer for and I used to cheer for Jennifer Capriati.
Still, in tennis we do have guys like Andy Roddick to cheer for and I used to cheer for Jennifer Capriati.
Quiet Speed
Mentor
Yeah, the grass courts can accentuate what she can do - hit with power and serve big. Because of that she may be a factor at Wimbledon for a while yet.
Ana Ivanovic steadied herself after dropping the first four games against Venus. She made things interesting in the second set . She dug in there and delivered a few sizzling winners of her own. I was impressed. She is getting accustomed to these matches on the big stage. Hopefully she can continue her ascent and make a big splash at the US Open.
mrjohnnynofear
Guru
Venus won against Bartoli in the finals. Have to give credit to Venus. She played a good game, and gave credit to Bartoli for a hell of a match (and even to Pete Sampras and B.J. King). However, it seemed to me that NBC didn't give enough credit on Bartoli. This lady, who Venus admitted almost had her going home during the first set, was treated by NBC like she was happy to be there. Even with that, she played to win and just came up a bit short. She made some new fans and who knows what this can do for her confidence in the future.
The AP story carried by my morning paper accused Andy Roddick of folding, collapsing, choking, you name it, against Richard Gasquet in the quarters. But Roddick didn't do any of that; Gasquet, down two sets to none and down in the third, simply reached deep down and played brilliant tennis to win three very close and superbly played sets. He hit one outstanding backhand winner after another. Roddick didn't lose, at least in the sense of collapsing; Gasquet simply ended up being the better player in a very close and hard-fought match and won.
The news media is all about Venus coming out of nowhere to win Wimbledon, this is the same Venus that they always tell us is the best but only slowed down by injury or bad luck or disinterest. Which is it?
Is she so good that she should win all the time or is she an underdog overachiever?
They love to have their caste system both ways.
Is she so good that she should win all the time or is she an underdog overachiever?
They love to have their caste system both ways.
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Guest
Guest
I would call it a choke if you were up 2-0 and lost. Even if both players play well the entire game, losing 3-2 after being up 2-0 seems like a choke to me. That's like blowing a 30 point lead in basketball.
White Shogun
Hall of Famer
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I'd like to see Venus and Serena meet Crocodile Dundee. He'd find out what's under that skirt.
(Very dated reference, yes I know, but it was a pretty funny scene.)
(Very dated reference, yes I know, but it was a pretty funny scene.)
nevada said:
A choke is when the pressure gets to you. That's not what happened. Roddick's level of play did not decline; Gasquet elevated his game to its highest possible level and deservedly won the match because he was the better player over the course of five sets.
Would really like to watch Federer vs. Nadal, but am going golfing in the morning to avoid the heat wave that's supposed to hit full force by mid afternoon. A Federer win will keep him atop the perch of the world's most dominant athletes, along with Michael Phelps, Jeremy Wariner, Klitschko, Steve Nash, Peyton Manning, Sidney Crosby, the Asian golfer Tiger Woods and others.
Edited by: Don Wassall
Edited by: Don Wassall
Weltner
Guru
Bart said:
A three-way tie for last. A total abomination to the sport. Imagine a black "male" player like them, and their bay-beh dad-daaaay, and the sport would be ruined forever, like a lake full of garbage.
Weltner
Guru
Kaptain Poop said:
black athlete strategy 101:cowardice, playing possum,excuse making,faking injuries,faking pain, winning through sneakiness,and other childish forms of tricking your opponents - anything but honest,sincere,all out effort,and when all else fails, wail like a angry gorilla,throuw the biggest,most childish tantrum,claim racism, blame Whitey or everyone and everything but yourself,or just plain try to beat your opponent up( Do NOT be surprised, if,one day, one of them gets so pissed off during a match, for whatever reason, and physically assaults one of the umpires,or their opponents ).No matter what childish savagery you do,there will always be Friends In High Places,on your side,to protect you,rather than rightfully give you the Big White Boot up your ugly asses,and kick you out of a sport that your "people" NEVER could have invented.
Yup. It's so haaaaaaard to be black in a White Man's world.
Hey Blackie:
WHAT "Racism"?
WHAT "Oppression"?
Awesome post Weltner!
Federer wins! 5 Wimbledon titles for Roger! 11 Slams overall!
I did not start watching the match until it was 2-1 (Fed) in the fifth set. As soon as I got to a TV to watch it Fed dropped three points and I thought "Oh God, I got here just in time to see the wheels come off..."
And then...
Federer hit the effing switch. Ace after ace, winner after winner, painted line after painted line...it was an incredible display of skill and athletic prowess. He went on to win the final set (in a classic match) 6-2.
As for Nadal, there is still something about him I don't quite like but I respect him as a player. Damned if he doesn't make you work for it.
Query: What are the odds of Federer making the cover of S.I. in the near future?
Nice little weekend for us eh? Wlad, Sherk and Roger, champions all. Well done.Edited by: Poacher
Federer wins! 5 Wimbledon titles for Roger! 11 Slams overall!
I did not start watching the match until it was 2-1 (Fed) in the fifth set. As soon as I got to a TV to watch it Fed dropped three points and I thought "Oh God, I got here just in time to see the wheels come off..."
And then...
Federer hit the effing switch. Ace after ace, winner after winner, painted line after painted line...it was an incredible display of skill and athletic prowess. He went on to win the final set (in a classic match) 6-2.
As for Nadal, there is still something about him I don't quite like but I respect him as a player. Damned if he doesn't make you work for it.
Query: What are the odds of Federer making the cover of S.I. in the near future?
Nice little weekend for us eh? Wlad, Sherk and Roger, champions all. Well done.Edited by: Poacher
Quiet Speed
Mentor
ESPN Classic to Replay Federer's Five-Set Wimbledon Win Over Nadal as an Instant Classic Monday
... at 8 p.m. ET.
http://www.tennisnews.com/exclusive.php?pID=21075
... at 8 p.m. ET.
http://www.tennisnews.com/exclusive.php?pID=21075
Thanks for the info, Quiet Speed. I'm going to do my best to watch it tonight.
The Venus win stings but she dominated and Bartoli who I have seen play in person was game but was overwhelmed.
As for Federer the SI watch starts---lets see what "important" story might be on the cover this week--an inside report on Kevin Garnett trade rumours or a Jose Reyes worship piece or some NFL camp report--or a number of other inconsequential tales of the tape.
Don on your list only Woods fits the profile. Maybe Sidney Crosby someday and Phelps in swimming. The rest? Not close. Great players but I think you understand--Federer might be the greatest athlete of all time if he keeps this up which is unlikely but still he has put his name in the ring.
I watched a ton of Wimbledon and the rain drenched event was saved by this epic battle. I respect Nadal too but like Poacher something about him not to like. I am really happy the King retains the crown.
As for Federer the SI watch starts---lets see what "important" story might be on the cover this week--an inside report on Kevin Garnett trade rumours or a Jose Reyes worship piece or some NFL camp report--or a number of other inconsequential tales of the tape.
Don on your list only Woods fits the profile. Maybe Sidney Crosby someday and Phelps in swimming. The rest? Not close. Great players but I think you understand--Federer might be the greatest athlete of all time if he keeps this up which is unlikely but still he has put his name in the ring.
I watched a ton of Wimbledon and the rain drenched event was saved by this epic battle. I respect Nadal too but like Poacher something about him not to like. I am really happy the King retains the crown.
sunshine said:
My post was a bit tongue-in-cheek,having some funwith the "blacks as superior athletes" propaganda nonsense.