wow serena willams is a head case

[Chad]

lose weight fast -- hell, she's big enough to chase a bear with a switch..

Ronnie

post of century

[vredstein]

Mac's outbursts were because he felt/feels entitled to it. He didn't feel anyone was his level, except bjorn.

And Mac would focus on questioning the competency of the ump/judge, never threatening.

[rowdyhillrambler]

i find her handsome

[Badonkadonk]

she's an all time great of the women's game

times change - for his time johnny mac was as bad

she was very classy in loss and congratulatory toward stosur

[victoryfactory]

Yep, head case.
She is also dealing with sports star menopause
and pressure of her sister's health issues too.
Tennis is a very short career and we have seen some nutty behavior from
the stars as they get to the end when still in their 20's.
These kind of teen star sports (like gymnastics) have often produced world class
psychos.
But she is also a great champion.
Probably needs to bust a move.

[ChimpMensa]

Great champion?? If by that word as referring to titles, majors, W-L record, etc, no question about that.

Champion, as in emblematic of demeanor, skill and respect for the game, not even a whisper. SW is a thug.

[WadePatton]

Great champion?? If by that word as referring to titles, majors, W-L record, etc, no question about that.

Champion, as in emblematic of demeanor, skill and respect for the game, not even a whisper. SW is a thug.

yes, methinks "Champion" should include the above, the things of positive role models. but perhaps that is the "old skool" definition. and yes, they are becoming rarer. now we have winners and whiners and pays-me-the-mostests (local football asshole), fewer champions (albeit amidst more "championships" than ever).

Johnnie Mac was considered wicked nasty back then. pretty lame compared to today's tantrums.

the only sport were i see sportsmanship from top to bottom these days is MMA (ped use excepted). For those who haven't seen it: these guys beat the shit out of each other for three 5-min rounds, then shake hands/man-hug as soon as the bell ring if they're able to stand. many fights end in submission or knock out (not technical knockouts). it's real, not hollywood.

as to Serena, sound was muted but i saw her mouthing off sitting in her chair and thought something like this "ignorant overpaid roid-loaded athlete" and changed the channel. sports is entertainment...

[bertiewhang]

Top level sport isn't about being gracious in defeat, it's about winning and selling shitloads t-shirts and trainers.

[victoryfactory]

Champion means Champion

Someone who wins. Period.

The problem with fans is they want their champions to also be heroes
and be a role model and behave well in public and smell good too.

A hero is not necessarily a champion, a champion is not necessarily a hero.
Ask Lance.

None of my heroes are sports stars.

[54ny77]

must've had a bad horsemeat omelette for breakfast.

[the bottle ride]

Champion means Champion

Someone who wins. Period.

The problem with fans is they want their champions to also be heroes
and be a role model and behave well in public and smell good too.

A hero is not necessarily a champion, a champion is not necessarily a hero.
Ask Lance.

None of my heroes are sports stars.

+ 1,

Well said.

[vredstein]

Champion means Champion

Someone who wins. Period.

The problem with fans is they want their champions to also be heroes
and be a role model and behave well in public and smell good too.

Nothing wrong with that. If the champion can't behave, root for another to be champion, become a fan of another. If more people did that, Nike would have quite a different ad campaign.

[bellman]

Champion means Champion

Someone who wins. Period.

The problem with fans is they want their champions to also be heroes
and be a role model and behave well in public and smell good too.

A hero is not necessarily a champion, a champion is not necessarily a hero.
Ask Lance.

None of my heroes are sports stars.

I agree with this 100%

I admit to being guilty on the expectation part. It's human nature.

[Someguy_Onabike]

Video is here: Watch Serena Williams Go Off on 'Hater' Umpire During US Open Final

[WadePatton]

where's the problem with wanting your winners to not be losers-in all other aspects of their lives?

yes, there's a problem with celebrity--period.

everyone expects artists and musicians to have a higher incidence of mental instability--to be nearer the edge. athletes are expected (well they used to be) to behave better because of the work-ethic required and that, when the sport calls for it, they should be part of a team and responsible to coaches and training staff. hence better "socialized".

our local high-school football team has a new slogan: fear none, respect all. i hope half of that sticks, it will help the kids in real life.

my heroes are old guys who are still able to get it done-whatever his endeavor is.

[jitahs]

This was nothing. The 09 incident should have given tennis authorities the right to invoke any bullshit rule they wanted at any time.

Anyway, Dazza's definition works for me:

[JeffS]

Video is here: Watch Serena Williams Go Off on 'Hater' Umpire During US Open Final

That's one of the mildest player rants I've ever seen.

[Dave]

Any thought to the athlete today who has more handlers/agents making big decisions for them then the actual star. Larger entourages, living in our current culture we see scandals sell, not respect.

We have desensitized ourselves to become used to this kind of bs. More media coverage looking for something juicy, reality tv as scripted as can be to promote drama, trying to dethrone people and pull the curtain back on the mystery of perfection. Any one who expects sports athletes to be more is subject to their own disappointment.

20 to 30 years ago we didn't read/hear stories of secret meetings, dirty people, or see celebs act like asses. We might have known it was happening, but it wasn't reported on. People today...the mob not individuals feed on the carnage of filth. We want to see amazing things unveiled making the argument that we could do it. Ignorance has replaced hard work and realization.

We see a female tennis player larger then most of the male players who acted with darn near every stereotype of a rood user. She got pissed, lost control and acted like an ass. Yet as long as it shows us that she is fallible we continue to watch. We want to see what is next, what will she do to top this and when will it happen. Why bother I say, unless she whips out a gun and takes out a ball boy for running to loud as she heads to the locker room to shave before her next set. (tongue firmly planted in cheek)

[Saab2000]

Eddy Merckx was not an ass and he was the biggest cycling champ ever, proving you can be both a champion and a gentleman.

Champs and not asses:

Jack Nicklaus
Arnold Palmer
Martina Navratilova
Eddy Merckx
Magic Johnson
Steffi Graf
Walter Payton
Roger Staubach


It can be done without whining and moaning and bitching about the umps.

[Jef58]

Eddy Merckx was not an ass and he was the biggest cycling champ ever, proving you can be both a champion and a gentleman.

Champs and not asses:

Jack Nicklaus
Arnold Palmer
Martina Navratilova
Eddy Merckx
Magic Johnson
Steffi Graf
Walter Payton
Roger Staubach


It can be done without whining and moaning and bitching about the umps.

I agree 100%. If you notice though, the people listed are from a different Era of sport that held a certain amount of respect and appreciation of where they got themselves to. There seems to be a huge sense of entitlement with sports figures and with the ever increasing access we have to their personal lives and interactions on social media, we see bad things out of many. How many are coached or groomed throughout their rise to fame to carry themselves in a positive manner, or is it about the quick fame and money.