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Post by amarathe on Jan 8, 2008 14:52:45 GMT
Of active players, I'd say Roddick since he's the only player involved in "very high profile relationships". For retired players, Agassi would be the obvious choice. The male reality tv star could be anyone, though personally I think Flavor Flav would be the most interesting choice.
Jankovic is playing Sydney (naturally) and she won her first match. She's just incapable of not playing a tournament.
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Post by lizm on Jan 8, 2008 15:37:26 GMT
Haha, Flavor Flav? *brainbleach*
Really, I lean toward Roddick too, for purely superficial reasons - he resembles Seann William Scott and thinking about the two of them making out both intrigues and squicks me. (Hey, amaranth gave me a totally gross mental image, so turnabout is fair play.) Also, he's the only tennis player who's romantic exploits I've heard about.
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Post by falafaclese on Jan 8, 2008 17:13:23 GMT
It's Mark Philipoussis and Clay Aiken. I know because I was there, and let me tell you, it was not pretty. Ok, now that we've cleared that up,  It looks like ESPN2 is also having coverage. Here's the schedule for the broadcast. Thanks for the head's up about ESPN360, chesty. Unfortunately I don't have it in my area, but I filled out the form to let Comcast know that I want it. Anyway, at least it will give me something else to be pissed at Comcast about now that I have TTC. ETA: Since we're indulging in the gossip, let me add a little bit more. I just read that Venus has gotten engaged to Hank Keuhne. |
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Post by chestylarue on Jan 8, 2008 21:14:43 GMT
Happy news about Venus! They seem to be a sweet couple.
Now for the sad news- Ancic has had to pull out of the Aussie Open. The virus that took him out of Auckand has really taken a lot out of him- he has lost 6 kilos. Poor guy just has the worst luck- it breaks my heart. Haas has withdrawn from Oz. Another guy with awful luck. On the bright side- according to The Age the word is that Fed expects to be fully recovered and not knackered by the Aussie Open. *** crosses fingers**** He is going to request a Tuesday start as a precautionary measure however.
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Post by amarathe on Jan 8, 2008 21:39:40 GMT
I saw Mark shirtless on The Age Of Love (I know, I know), and it was definitely not pretty. He's never been the fittest player, but he really let himself go during his long injury break. And Clay Aiken vs. Flavor Flav is one of those Death Is Not An Option choices that would be really hard to make.
I don't want to come across as a Fed-hater, but if Fed did withdraw due to illness, it would make the Australian Open so much more interesting. The entire field would be salivating over the prospect of a Fed-less slam.
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Post by drmka9 on Jan 9, 2008 1:51:17 GMT
To take the level of discourse down a level back to gossip, here is a blind item from Crazy Days and Nights. This stud male tennis player who has been linked with several female celebrities in some very high profile relationships over the past few years was spotted opening his hotel room door in the nude to this male reality star who does his very best to make sure that everyone thinks he is Mr. Heterosexual.I would guess Roddick or Phillippoussis I guess. No idea on the male reality star. The only other player I could think of would be Haas, who's in with much of the Hollywood crowd through his girlfriend Sara Foster (aka Kate Hudson's best friend). I'm not sure how many relationships of his would be considered "high-profile", though. Ah, it's actually tennis season again...gossip and all. |
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Post by whyistherumgone on Jan 9, 2008 4:17:11 GMT
Well now Nalbandian is out of Kooyong. He has back spasms, and the doctors have told him to rest for 3 days. That sucks. I hope he's ok. I know from experience that muscle spasms can be isolated incidents, or they can be symptomatic of a much larger problem. I hope for his sake it's the former. Either way, they suck in a big way. ETA: There is now an article about it - sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=reu-opennalbandian&prov=reuters&type=lgns |
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Post by chestylarue on Jan 9, 2008 4:32:16 GMT
That does suck about Nalbandian.
Argh...I will be very disappointed if he can not play at the Aussie Open. Very, very disappointed.
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Post by oopssorry on Jan 9, 2008 4:46:49 GMT
With all the news of the illnesses and such, I'm left wondering to what extent players really are susceptible to terrible streaks of bad luck and to what extent they play a part in their own situations. (BTW, I am really careful here not to be one of those crazy people who believes you only get cancer due to your own choices--) Just wanted to ask you good people what range of thoughts you have on the subject. Ancic and Haas are good cases in point for me - because they're so different. Ancic's reputation seems to be that of a kind of sour homebody (where did I get that impression??) and Haas's is that of a socialite/party guy (how true is that?)....
Anyway, I'm way out of my league when it comes to tennis gossip, and even more when it comes to medical diagnoses. Was just thinking.
I think Fed and Sampras are good cases, too - seemingly living fairly simple lives outside of tennis and the rigors of the tour.
Anyway, hope this comes across as innocuous as I mean it!
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Post by chestylarue on Jan 9, 2008 5:01:44 GMT
Really- that is his impression?? I always thought he was known as a quiet, smart sweetheart. I remember for a while he was trying to go to law school while on tour- don't know how that turned out. I haven't heard of any bad interactions with him with fans (although I do know a girl who kissed him about five years ago when he was a baby- hee!) I am just shocked that he has that rep, because that is very different from the fan interactions that I have heard about him. You never know though I guess. I think the only thing that has contributed to his bad luck is when he had the ski boating accident.
As for Haas- I have always thought of him as slightly nutty but not really a bad egg and as someone who has attractive girlfriends. I don't think he has played a part at all in his situation- his parent's accident, the shoulder issues, the freaking ball thing at Wimbledon.
As to your question at hand- I think that Mark P threw away his career. When he was at his peak- he was more concerned about partying.
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Post by oopssorry on Jan 9, 2008 5:20:55 GMT
Good points there about Haas's wacky misfortunes - the Wimby stray ball most notably!
I take full responsibility for my own misperceptions of Ancic - I don't know anyone who's kissed him!!!
Yeah, Mark P. Sheesh. And Safin to an extent, I think, too.
What I love is that Lindsey has taken her post-natal potential hurdles and blown past them -
(I could just be obsessed with getting past my own physical shortcomings since today was my due date, and I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong that I keep going late!)
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Post by chestylarue on Jan 9, 2008 5:31:48 GMT
Wow oops!  Good luck and I hope you have your suitcase packed. You could very well be right about Ancic's rep. Some players seem to have multiple reps. I think that having a baby maybe freed Lindsay from her mopiness. I am getting more concerned about Nalby's injury- this quote from an article does not bode well  |
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Post by amarathe on Jan 9, 2008 18:12:10 GMT
Nalbandian is the only player I could see beating Federer at the Australian Open. I can't see anyone else winning three sets from Federer. I really like these two interviews with Djokovic and Ivanovic. British interviewers just seem to ask better questions: |
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Post by falafaclese on Jan 9, 2008 22:50:00 GMT
I saw that article too, amarathe. I chuckled, because American reporters would never dream of asking questions like that, and most American players would balk at answering them. It was fun and interesting to me though.
Wow, there has been a lot of collateral damage in Sydney. Only one seed left on the men's side, and only half of the seeds made it past the second round on the women's side.
Just over a day until they release the draws. I can't wait to see which top 16 player has to deal with Lindsay Davenport first.
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Post by tikigirl on Jan 10, 2008 3:14:48 GMT
I can't wait for the AO draws either! Hurry up, Friday!
As for Djokovic's comments, that was damned funny. I don't like the guy much on court, and I don't love the impersonations (funny but over the line, IMO), but he does seem pretty intelligent and humorous. My problem with Nadal is more the face than the body, but YMMV!
Since I'm (always) in the shallow end, I'll start with the season with a shallow quiz: name the best body and, separately, the best face, on both the men's and women's sides. Bonus points for rhapsodic explanations. I'll play if you will...
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It looks like ESPN2 is also having coverage. 
Good luck and I hope you have your suitcase packed. 
