Haterade is Bitter, But Tastes So Good.

[ashley]

Jul 4, 2009 19:58:18 GMT skyz said:

I don't hate Serena anymore. I'm calm now.

My Serena hate is back in full force after PTI showed clips from her post-match press conference on Saturday, and the talk about number one.

Complain about the system if you want, but outright mocking the titles Dinara's won this year is completely uncalled for, particularly considering that the tournaments she named were two in which Serena lost in the first round. It's not Dinara's fault that Serena only shows up for four tournaments a year.

I think this might actually be the most I've ever hated her, even moreso than after the infamous "lucky shots" comment following her US Open loss to Henin.

[pokey]

I was surprised to see that on PTI today as well. Her comments seemed rude when rudeness wasn't really called for in this situation. Most people would agree that the rankings are a little wack but there's a way to complain about that without mocking Dinara. It seems to me that the Williams either need to play more or just accept the fact that without playing full-time they will have a tough time taking over rankings held by women who do play full-time (esp if you throw in a couple of first round losses). I try so hard to like Serena; she just makes it difficult.

[admin]

Jul 5, 2009 21:38:27 GMT sapienta said:

I guess they're all arrogant douchebags.

He didn't have to wear it, what Federer wants, i'm sure he can get. He could have shown some humility and grace, the way Nadal did last year when he had to put up with Federer's sobbing at a loss.

Federer has never been a gracious loser, unlike Nadal, unlike Roddick. That was hidden for a long time by the fact that he wasn't losing. It came out a lot last year, in losses against Murray and Nadal. He has had an excuse for everything, and often a putdown towards Murray, who stated that himself. Now that entitled attitude that he had as a younger man seems to be extending to his winning habits too.


And others are starting to see it too. - "It was, a former Wimbledon star told me yesterday, "the most graceless acceptance speech I have ever heard"."

[falafaclese]

I do think the most classy move to make would be to tell Nike that he didnt want anything special to wear after the match. He's not the first player to do something like this (I've seen Tsonga sporting premeditated post-match shirts too) but given the nature of the occasion, I wish he had just kept it simple. The moment has enough gravitas all on its own without adding to it in such an artificial way. That said, I don't think it was evidence that he and Nike assumed he'd win. As for the pre-match getup, I don't think it's any more obnoxious than Serena's crazy kits a few years back, but this is part of the reason why I said before that I hope he forgoes all the costuming next year.

I wonder who the "Wimbledon star" is? Becker?

[prettyvacant]

Federer got bashed a lot on tennis forums and blogs after Wimbledon for the outfit and speech so I think many found his outfit and speech offensive. Personally, I think his speech was fine-he acknowledged Rafa and I think he was trying to cheer up Andy (though others think he was being rude). The outfit is kind of cringe-worthy. At any rate, I'm glad we can disagree here without being horrible to each other. People elsewhere (both pro and anti Federer) were being assholes.

[oopssorry]

I think the lens one has on Federer makes all the difference when reading him. Because I see the divide fall out as intense versions of people's original feelings about him. I love him, so I forgive him his fauxpas'es. I personally don't think he means any ill will toward anyone, though I don't know the Murray thing y'all are talking about.

I kind of feel like the 15 on the jacket doesn't harm anyone in any way, and it's not like he was jumping around pointing at it. He got asked about it, showed it, and moved on.... right? If he's not waving it in everyone's face, isn't it kind of less agressive than others are taking it? I don't know. I personally find an overstated "C'Mon" more in-one's-face than this.

Here's how I try to see it. I hate, hate, hate my sister in law and so when she arrives at the house and says one word about anything I hear layers and layers of snark. I am often surprised that I do not have this response to Nadal, since I dislike his tennis so much. But I do "get" his off-court demeanor, and so I'm not irked.

I guess all in all I'm stunned by the way people have reacted so negatively to this - especially when self-pumping things in sports are much more the norm than to my taste (end-zone dances, etc.)

Now. If trophies were handed out for speeches, Roddick would be the GOAT for sure, imo. He has a real gift there. I'll spend the next week wondering how that reconciles with the on-court swagger we see sometimes....

[vallegirl]

I'm a big Federer fan who's becoming less and less of one every day, and for all the reasons in that article.

Did he point to the 15? No, but it was there, as he was speaking with his back turned to Roddick, so Roddick could see it. Which is just as bad. Intentional or not, it was rubbing salt in Roddick's wounds.

And his speech? It was always going to suffer by comparison to Andy's, but it was graceless, and worse, felt disingenuous. He just looked like he wanted to be gracious, but wound it all back to himself to say "Buck up, little camper. Even I, the awesome Roger Federer, knows what it's like to lose."

Also, as reviled as Pete Sampras is, he never let Nike turn him into a fop or a ridiculous dandy. Sure, they had their living colorform doll in Agassi, but a player always has the option to say no. Federer has been saying "Yes, PLEASE! And more" for the last couple of years now, and it's just getting so preening and obnoxious. If you're getting compared to Serena Williams in the sartorial mistakes sweepstakes, it's time to dial it back.

Lest we forget the starfucking that his friend's booth has become, too. Gwen! Gavin! Tiger! Anna! Who cares? Well, clearly, Roger does.

Worst of all? Now I want to see Djokovic's impression. Because I bet it's dandy, and I don't want to like anything about Djokovic.

And it's reminding me of the stories of what a petulant little self-absorbed brat he was in his early to mid teens. We thought he'd outgrown it, but I do think that his success is bringing that all back to the surface.

Fatherhood could bring him some perspective, and I hope it does because like the writer, I still love to watch him play when he's playing at his best, but I just can't bear to look at him off the court anymore.

[prettyvacant]

I think it makes sense to put this link here-Tennis player fined for racial slur. Ugh.

[lt]

Lest we forget the starfucking that his friend's booth has become, too. Gwen! Gavin! Tiger! Anna! Who cares? Well, clearly, Roger does.

They're his friends. Nothing wrong with them coming out to support him.

People elsewhere (both pro and anti Federer) were being assholes.

My online time has really cut down since after the match because of this--I've said it before, but the vitriol is alarming.

[jimena]

I love Roger. I do. I thought his speech was fine.

But the Nike crap has got to go. It's over the top and it diminishes him. Even worse, it's stupid. Wertheim called him on it on this week's maibag. I hope someone listens to him.

[Mpol]

At one point or another, all tennis players have said stupid things. There are reputaions on the line, egos to he stroked... I don't think Roddick and Rafa are any more graceful than Roger. If you were tp accumulate what they have said on/off court at some point or another, they too have 'tarnished' records. Raffa's on court leer when he is down farks me to no end. Roddick's umpire abuse is disgraceful at times.

Roger isn't perfect, and the jacket wasn't in the best of tastes but I HATE how the media is trivialising what this man has JUST accomplished. Winning the career slam at this year's French, backing that up with braking Pete's record of slams, re-claiming #1... and they bitch about a jacket? Whilst it was silly, the man has been more respectful that most would have been, when he was in his slump. He had his moments that made you want to slap him, sure... but every player has them. Roger's offences are the least of anyones worries, IMO. He cries after losoing the AO final? A final he was expected to win? He was slumping for a good year and yet everyone still expected to him to win because 'he is the perfect Roger Federer who must win everything and if he looses, OH MY HE IS OVER'. He lost to Nadal on hardcourt and boy did it hit him. He meant no disrespect to Raffa by crying and said some very gracious words to him as well. As he has said about every other player. And when it does come to Raffa, Roddick, etc, I haven't heard im say a bad thing by them. His rants about Murray weren't called for either but again, many have said much worse. This is competative tennis. I believe this generation's group of guys are very tame in comparison.

I just HATE how that as a Roger fan, I'm having to see this kind of crap after what the guy just did. To me, he remains the same man he always was. Kind, respectful and well spoken. Gracious, with a hint of arrogance at times... but dear gosh, so many more have accomplished so much less and have done it with the swagger of someone who HAS won 15 majors.

/End rant.

And that racism article makes me feel bad to be an Ozzie. Rasicm isn't riffe here but it isn't something that is a thing of the past. It exists and I HATE it!

[roseha]

Yes, I agree Mpol on Roger, I think he was making an effort to make Andy feel better after gong through an insane, pressure-filled match for 4 hours and 19 minutes - how coherent would you or I be?

It was only 12 months ago that the entire tennis world, or 90 percent of it. was telling Roger he was finished. I didn't see him reminding anyone of that. But he probably doesn't feel the pain anymore, and that was his point. I agree that he has accomplished so much in the last 6 weeks between the Career Slam and winning the 15th and I wish more people would just appreciate it.

As I said before though I still feel Andy's comments were ironic. Andy does seem to get a free pass with his on-court behavior, though, perhaps because he's the only American male contender these days, so the press goes easy on him? But he deserves a lot of credit for the way he handled things after losing.

[Mpol]

Oh I agree. He was so poised and just a true champion.

But I dislike how he gets a pass on such shitty behavior in other matches. Why haven't umpires said/done anything? He obviously toes a line but doesn't cross it. It bugs. I just hope this final/tournament makes him see, that by playing this composed and mature as he did, will translate to his coming matches. It is as others have said. off court Roddick can be cool at times (though I find him to be arrogant SOMETIMES, in the interviews...)

[tikigirl]

Maybe because I haven't seen a lot of tennis this year, other than the French & Wimbledon, but I had forgotten just how much I hate Djokovic and his preening and strutting.

Also, FUCK YOU, CBS announcers. Neither you nor a player should celebrate a lucky guess, you clueless fuckwits.

[harry24]

Also, FUCK YOU, CBS announcers. Neither you nor a player should celebrate a lucky guess

What was the lucky guess, tiki? I must have missed this.

BTW, I'm always psyched when I see that tiki's posted in this thread.