The Swamp

Thiem out on the first day of the French Open, Zverev is down 2 sets.

The draw is insane, all the fire power in the top half.

Of the top 8 seeds

Top Half
1. Djokovic
8. Federer
7. Rublev
3. Nadal

Bottom Half
4. Thiem
6. Zverev
5. Tsitsipas
2. Medvedev

Naomi Osaka faces default from Grand Slam for refusing to speak to media

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/57301475

What kind of shit bag do you have to be to read this and want to dunk on her??

I wouldn’t even call myself a casual tennis fan and I know and like her. This seems like an unprecedented miscalculation by whatever leadership is in charge.

mister d wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 4:57 pm I wouldn’t even call myself a casual tennis fan and I know and like her. This seems like an unprecedented miscalculation by whatever leadership is in charge.

These organizations have to fulfill press and sponsor obligations. This is why the winner of the tournament gets over 3 million.

If they don't drop the hammer, it essentially opens the door for anyone with the financial means inside the top 25 to start saying "no, I'll just pay the fine" when it comes to media availability. A precedent needed to be set here.

The winner makes $3 million because of press conferences? C’mon man.

rass wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 7:16 pm The winner makes $3 million because of press conferences? C’mon man.

We sitting in here -- I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we in here talking about press conferences. I mean, listen: We talking about press conferences. Not a game. Not a game. Not a game. We talking about press conferences. Not a game. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game like it's my last. Not the game. We talking about press conferences, man.

He’s right and it’s why the sponsors will put their names behind the decision to force her withdrawal.

It's a fairness issue. Every player must do press conferences in pretty much every sport.

Seriously Osaka has to step back and decide if she can do this job. It would really suck if she quit, but press conferences, promos, public speaking is part of the job. And she plays a world sport so it's the world's media. And we've seen Japanese media and how dedicated they are.

I’m just posting so I don’t get fined.

A_B wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 8:44 pm I’m just posting so I don’t get fined.

Maaronshawn Bond

rass wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 4:26 pm What kind of shit bag do you have to be to read this and want to dunk on her??

Trust Piers Moron to come up with the worst possible take on things

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... l#comments

It's really sad. I'm treating it like she's torn an ACL or something. She needs time off to recover and reassess.

Tennis people from players, former players and press are pretty upset. They've built this sport, especially the women's game, to unprecedented heights and they feel like all that is taking a hit this week.

Well one little-known sponsor supports her at least.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:03 amIt's really sad. I'm treating it like she's torn an ACL or something. She needs time off to recover and reassess.

Except if you tear an ACL you can't play tennis.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:21 am

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:03 amIt's really sad. I'm treating it like she's torn an ACL or something. She needs time off to recover and reassess.

Except if you tear an ACL you can't play tennis.

If you can't do press, you can't play either. It's the whole package.
It's like the publisher makes the author do book tours. Or the production company makes the actor or singer do promotional tours. Countless interviews countless cities.

Baloney wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 7:30 am

Trust Piers Moron to come up with the worst possible take on things

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... l#comments

I couldn't get past more than a couple paragraphs, but Piers writes like a sulky 13 year old girl lashing out at the world. Fuck him. If anything, wouldn't a narcissist love having the press line up to interview them, and be more apt to want the attention and not quietly walk away from a Major tournament they are one of the favorites to win for the sake of avoiding controversy? He is one of the most vile humans on the planet. I'm 75% sure it's all an act to get attention, but whether its an act or he really is that big of a twat, he is a horrible person either way.

Side note, I just assumed Osaka was American. She looks mixed race, so I just assumed.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:54 am

Baloney wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 7:30 am

Trust Piers Moron to come up with the worst possible take on things

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... l#comments

I couldn't get past more than a couple paragraphs, but Piers writes like a sulky 13 year old girl lashing out at the world. Fuck him. If anything, wouldn't a narcissist love having the press line up to interview them, and be more apt to want the attention and not quietly walk away from a Major tournament they are one of the favorites to win for the sake of avoiding controversy? He is one of the most vile humans on the planet. I'm 75% sure it's all an act to get attention, but whether its an act or he really is that big of a twat, he is a horrible person either way.

Side note, I just assumed Osaka was American. She looks mixed race, so I just assumed.

Absolutely. He's still in love with Meghan.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:37 amIf you can't do press, you can't play either. It's the whole package.
It's like the publisher makes the author do book tours. Or the production company makes the actor or singer do promotional tours. Countless interviews countless cities.

Yeah, that's not true, atleast not in any comparable sense.

(Also, to the analogy, I'm pretty sure whoever the world's #2 author is wouldn't have a very hard time finding a publisher even if s/he said they weren't going out on tour to promote it.)

Giff wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:18 am Well one little-known sponsor supports her at least.

Easy win for any sponsor here. They're all getting arguably more visibility to their brand than they would have had she just played out the tournament.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 10:21 am (Also, to the analogy, I'm pretty sure whoever the world's #2 author is wouldn't have a very hard time finding a publisher even if s/he said they weren't going out on tour to promote it.)

A smaller publisher would get into less stores making less money.
Look, I agree that press conferences may be outdated and there could be better ways of doing things to be discussed privately.
The author can't have pocketed the publishers investment and then not do the book tour.

Except they can because no one is pulling an already written Stephen King(?) book at the last minute because he won't go sit in some bookstores unless they want to shoot themselves in the foot like french open leadership did this past week. Just because something is "the rule" doesn't mean it needs to be reflexively defended.

"Ms. Osaka has let us know that she doesn't believe it to be in her best interest to do press conferences during this tournament. We at the french open stand behind her and all athletes who are struggling with mental health while on tour. We wish her the best of luck and will not be speaking again about this matter."

She can still do her job, her fans can still watch her play and the tournament looks good for being supportive. Right thing to do, easiest thing to do, the end.

Hoooooooly shit:

That's really crazy.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 10:21 am (Also, to the analogy, I'm pretty sure whoever the world's #2 author is wouldn't have a very hard time finding a publisher even if s/he said they weren't going out on tour to promote it.)

Meryl Streep won't do EW? Fuck her!

The Sybian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:54 am

Baloney wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 7:30 am

Trust Piers Moron to come up with the worst possible take on things

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... l#comments

I couldn't get past more than a couple paragraphs, but Piers writes like a sulky 13 year old girl lashing out at the world. Fuck him. If anything, wouldn't a narcissist love having the press line up to interview them, and be more apt to want the attention and not quietly walk away from a Major tournament they are one of the favorites to win for the sake of avoiding controversy? He is one of the most vile humans on the planet. I'm 75% sure it's all an act to get attention, but whether its an act or he really is that big of a twat, he is a horrible person either way.

Side note, I just assumed Osaka was American. She looks mixed race, so I just assumed.

A beautiful take down of the Moron

https://brokenbottleboy.substack.com/p/ ... ce=twitter

I don't understand (other than they a) vastly underestimated the backlash and b) are assholes) that the French Open didn't just continue to fine her and let it go at that. These pressers are fucking stupid anyways.

I hope this gets them all thinking more about mental health issues. Seems like the next big hurdle in terms of the public's understanding, the stigmas involved, how we treat it, etc. Need more Phelps and Osakas and others to talk about it openly like this.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 4:43 pm I don't understand (other than they a) vastly underestimated the backlash and b) are assholes) that the French Open didn't just continue to fine her and let it go at that. These pressers are fucking stupid anyways.

I hope this gets them all thinking more about mental health issues. Seems like the next big hurdle in terms of the public's understanding, the stigmas involved, how we treat it, etc. Need more Phelps and Osakas and others to talk about it openly like this.

I think it's about equality and face as well. A) everyone in the field must go through the same thing, no star preference. If they keep fining her $15000 someone else will feel that they can pay $15000. B) Osaka doing this at the grand slams.

The organizations aren't disputing Osaka's health problems, they just feel she could have handled it better. It puts them in a bind with sponsors and media. For example, she didn't have to outright declare in public that she wasn't doing press. She could have taken it day by day and talk to people behind the scenes, "Look I'm really not comfortable right now, these pressers take a toll on us as players, what can be one about it?" Maybe New York last year as a more friendly place to address this after her one day sit out rather than doing it in Paris in front of the pompous French Federation.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 5:28 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 4:43 pm I don't understand (other than they a) vastly underestimated the backlash and b) are assholes) that the French Open didn't just continue to fine her and let it go at that. These pressers are fucking stupid anyways.

I hope this gets them all thinking more about mental health issues. Seems like the next big hurdle in terms of the public's understanding, the stigmas involved, how we treat it, etc. Need more Phelps and Osakas and others to talk about it openly like this.

I think it's about equality and face as well. A) everyone in the field must go through the same thing, no star preference. If they keep fining her $15000 someone else will feel that they can pay $15000. B) Osaka doing this at the grand slams.

The organizations aren't disputing Osaka's health problems, they just feel she could have handled it better. It puts them in a bind with sponsors and media. For example, she didn't have to outright declare in public that she wasn't doing press. She could have taken it day by day and talk to people behind the scenes, "Look I'm really not comfortable right now, these pressers take a toll on us as players, what can be one about it?" Maybe New York last year as a more friendly place to address this after her one day sit out rather than doing it in Paris in front of the pompous French Federation.

The hell they aren’t. By running her off and threatening her with removal from other GS events, they marginalize her anguish…& good luck selling the sport when you block arguably your best player from taking part in its events. All this over Osaka’s right to remain silent. (o;

And who really cares what any player says after their match? Watch the damn match if you are so invested in what a player does. Them talking about it doesn't add anything to the conversation. Just a bunch of cliches and platitudes.

Really impressive composure while his opponent asked to speak to the manager after every point

Osaka is falling apart on the court, throwing rackets, rushing through games. A few weeks ago a harmless press conference question brought her to tears and forced her too leave for a bit, and she seemed to be really miserable in the Netflix documentary. I wouldn't be surprised if she took a long break or even retired.

TIAFOE!!!!

Don't look now but there are already three American men in the round of 16, and Sock just took the first set against Zverev

degenerasian wrote: ↑Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:29 pm Don't look now but there are already three American men in the round of 16, and Sock just took the first set against Zverev

But then had to retire due to a thigh injury.

Great win by Shelby Rogers though.