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Well, duh. :lol:
Slow news day.
This is a simple opinion piece I came across recently and even though it preaches to the choir and doesn't really offer any earth-shattering revelations, I thought I'd share it here anyway and get your opinion of Ms. Robertson's opinion. Notice that I included her e-mail here so that the rabid WTA fans can send her the Anna Kournikova virus.
IN MY OPINION
Men offer depth, skills and upsets
by LINDA ROBERTSON
[email protected]
I will take Roger Federer's strokes over Kim Clijsters' splits any day.
I prefer Andy Roddick's serve to Elena Dementieva's imitation of a serve.
I would rather watch Marat Safin's forehand than Justine Henin-Hardenne's backhand.
Give me Andre Agassi vs. James Blake and take Mary Pierce vs. Amelie Mauresmo -- please.
And, yes, Rafael Nadal's Capri pants look better than Serena Williams' go-go boots.
Men's tennis beats women's tennis, in terms of quality and personality.
I would not have said that a few years ago, when too many men's matches were like Robocop vs. the Terminator -- wham, bam, scram. All power, no panache. Blame it on the rackets. But the leaders of tennis, who have flailed around in their efforts to revive the sport's popularity, did one thing right: They slowed down the courts to lengthen the rallies. Even Wimbledon has tinkered with its hallowed grass.
Men's tennis is entertaining again. The groundstrokes are awesome. The quickness of players such as Nadal, Guillermo Coria or Lleyton Hewitt takes your breath away. Federer has brought back the art of shot-making.
Listen to the mesmerizing thwack-thwack of a men's match and contrast it to the sounds of women's tennis -- bleating and choking.
The men's game is filled with upsets and thrillers and the emergence of a Robby Ginepri or a Gaston Gaudio because there is more depth. The early rounds for women feature dreadful 40-minute two-setters. Or even the late rounds. Henin-Hardenne disposed of Pierce in this year's French Open final without getting her shoes dirty. Last year's Roland Garros final between Anastasia Myskina and Dementieva was unworthy of a Grand Slam. You, dear reader, could have beaten either player. Heck, even David could have won.
At least when Safin self-destructs it's fun to watch.
Would you rather hear Agassi speak eloquently about the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina or Venus Williams speak vacantly about how she's unaware of current events?
Federer is a cut above, but it's interesting to watch history being made; he's already drawing comparsions to Rod Laver. On the women's side, it's a parade of undeserving No. 1s such as Lindsay Davenport, Clijsters and Mauresmo.
The women are either physically hurt or mentally frail. The guys don't fuss about the crushing pressure of the pro tour. They accept it as part of sports.
The best thing about women's tennis was the Williams sisters. But Venus and Serena have gone from refreshing to annoying. They are now as shallow and materialistic as most athletes. Venus came up with a lame excuse for losing earlier this week. She said she blew her quarterfinal to Clijsters because Clijsters started playing poorly, causing her to play poorly, too. Uh, earth to Venus: Usually when your opponent stinks, you capitalize rather than capitulate.
Maria Sharapova has great potential -- if she doesn't become another burned-out-by-the-domineering-dad cliché. But it's the other dream teen -- Nadal -- who puts on a better show.
Right now it's raining men and the men reign.
Slow news day.
This is a simple opinion piece I came across recently and even though it preaches to the choir and doesn't really offer any earth-shattering revelations, I thought I'd share it here anyway and get your opinion of Ms. Robertson's opinion. Notice that I included her e-mail here so that the rabid WTA fans can send her the Anna Kournikova virus.IN MY OPINION
Men offer depth, skills and upsets
by LINDA ROBERTSON
[email protected]
I will take Roger Federer's strokes over Kim Clijsters' splits any day.
I prefer Andy Roddick's serve to Elena Dementieva's imitation of a serve.
I would rather watch Marat Safin's forehand than Justine Henin-Hardenne's backhand.
Give me Andre Agassi vs. James Blake and take Mary Pierce vs. Amelie Mauresmo -- please.
And, yes, Rafael Nadal's Capri pants look better than Serena Williams' go-go boots.
Men's tennis beats women's tennis, in terms of quality and personality.
I would not have said that a few years ago, when too many men's matches were like Robocop vs. the Terminator -- wham, bam, scram. All power, no panache. Blame it on the rackets. But the leaders of tennis, who have flailed around in their efforts to revive the sport's popularity, did one thing right: They slowed down the courts to lengthen the rallies. Even Wimbledon has tinkered with its hallowed grass.
Men's tennis is entertaining again. The groundstrokes are awesome. The quickness of players such as Nadal, Guillermo Coria or Lleyton Hewitt takes your breath away. Federer has brought back the art of shot-making.
Listen to the mesmerizing thwack-thwack of a men's match and contrast it to the sounds of women's tennis -- bleating and choking.
The men's game is filled with upsets and thrillers and the emergence of a Robby Ginepri or a Gaston Gaudio because there is more depth. The early rounds for women feature dreadful 40-minute two-setters. Or even the late rounds. Henin-Hardenne disposed of Pierce in this year's French Open final without getting her shoes dirty. Last year's Roland Garros final between Anastasia Myskina and Dementieva was unworthy of a Grand Slam. You, dear reader, could have beaten either player. Heck, even David could have won.
At least when Safin self-destructs it's fun to watch.
Would you rather hear Agassi speak eloquently about the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina or Venus Williams speak vacantly about how she's unaware of current events?
Federer is a cut above, but it's interesting to watch history being made; he's already drawing comparsions to Rod Laver. On the women's side, it's a parade of undeserving No. 1s such as Lindsay Davenport, Clijsters and Mauresmo.
The women are either physically hurt or mentally frail. The guys don't fuss about the crushing pressure of the pro tour. They accept it as part of sports.
The best thing about women's tennis was the Williams sisters. But Venus and Serena have gone from refreshing to annoying. They are now as shallow and materialistic as most athletes. Venus came up with a lame excuse for losing earlier this week. She said she blew her quarterfinal to Clijsters because Clijsters started playing poorly, causing her to play poorly, too. Uh, earth to Venus: Usually when your opponent stinks, you capitalize rather than capitulate.
Maria Sharapova has great potential -- if she doesn't become another burned-out-by-the-domineering-dad cliché. But it's the other dream teen -- Nadal -- who puts on a better show.
Right now it's raining men and the men reign.
