Tennis | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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MD Jazz

Don't understand football? Talk to the hand.
Feb 3, 2017
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Was interested to read what Navratilova said about the Margaret Court situation.

"When airports, buildings, streets or stadiums are named after particular people, it is done, or at least should be done, to honor exceptional human beings -- our heroes.
"Think Muhammad Ali, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Billie Jean King, Rod Laver, Rosa Parks. Would it not be appropriate if the Staples Center were renamed as a tribute to Kobe Bryant?
"Such luminaries excelled in their fields and transcended them; they made a positive contribution to mankind; they led by example. And, perhaps most of all, they were on the right side of history.

Not sure that a man (Bryant) who sexually assaulted a woman is leading by example or making a positive contribution to mankind? Perhaps his dedication to his daughters was in part making up for that mistake/incident but surely he shouldn't be so deified? I must admit to never being a great fan of his.
 
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Ridley

Tiger Legend
Jul 21, 2003
17,755
15,433
Big fan of Ash Barty but she's dead set choked in this semi final.

Two set points at 6-4 up in first set tiebreaker and loses 6-8.

Then in second set she has 2 set points serving at 5-4 and 40-15. Loses the set 7-5 and the match.

On face value pretty disappointing.
 
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tigertim

something funny is written here
Mar 6, 2004
29,891
12,161
In regards to the tennis action and crowds there wont be a huge amount going on with play and the outside courts as the Open will be at the QF stage by then and all those games will be in the main stadiums.

Early week one is when its buzzing, crowds up and action everywhere.
Yep, dead right. A lesson learnt, don’t get a ground pass in finals week.

Billy Idol was good without being great. Took him a while to warm up and surprise surprise I think he was under the influence. He is 63 now. Steve Stevens was unrecognisable from the 80s. Again, understandably. He’s 60 something too.
 

TigerForce

Tiger Legend
Apr 26, 2004
70,725
21,650
57
Yep, dead right. A lesson learnt, don’t get a ground pass in finals week.

Billy Idol was good without being great. Took him a while to warm up and surprise surprise I think he was under the influence. He is 63 now. Steve Stevens was unrecognisable from the 80s. Again, understandably. He’s 60 something too.
Billy's as stiff as Diamond Dave. Both had energy and edge in their younger hey days but we do age...

SS chubbed a bit, as expected, but still had 'the' hair.......unless it was a wig.



Big fan of Ash Barty but she's dead set choked in this semi final.

Two set points at 6-4 up in first set tiebreaker and loses 6-8.

Then in second set she has 2 set points serving at 5-4 and 40-15. Loses the set 7-5 and the match.

On face value pretty disappointing.
Haven't seen the full game but that's really disappointing. Must be the hype our players can't carry during the home grand slam.
 
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KnightersRevenge

Baby Knighters is 7!! WTF??
Aug 21, 2007
6,782
1,222
Ireland
Was interested to read what Navratilova said about the Margaret Court situation.

"When airports, buildings, streets or stadiums are named after particular people, it is done, or at least should be done, to honor exceptional human beings -- our heroes.
"Think Muhammad Ali, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Billie Jean King, Rod Laver, Rosa Parks. Would it not be appropriate if the Staples Center were renamed as a tribute to Kobe Bryant?
"Such luminaries excelled in their fields and transcended them; they made a positive contribution to mankind; they led by example. And, perhaps most of all, they were on the right side of history.

Not sure that a man (Bryant) who sexually assaulted a woman is leading by example or making a positive contribution to mankind? Perhaps his dedication to his daughters was in part making up for that mistake/incident but surely he shouldn't be so deified? I must admit to never being a great fan of his.

I "only" know Bryant from the assault case - I never saw him play. I was never a fan of American Basketball. It always felt so staged to me. As much theatre as sport, if you will. But I stopped watching basketball after the Magic folded. Used to love going to games, it always felt the game was played on its merits more than U.S. Ball. So I don't really understand all the talk of Kobe being a great sportsman and a leader/hero.

The Court scenario is hard one to process. I tend to judge these things against an Ablett measuring stick. The Hall of Fame is recognition of the player as a player, not a human. The honour bestowed on Court is as a player and contributor to Tennis, not humanity. So I would leave it alone. It would be purely political to change it. You have an Arena with no name, "Hisense" or "Virgin" or whatever the hell it known as now. If you want to honour Goolagong-Cawley you have the perfect opportunity to do it. Virtue-signalling from sports organisations turns my stomach a bit. Stick to what you are about. Leave the politics to the muppets in Canberra/Spring St.
 
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tigerman

It's Tiger Time
Mar 17, 2003
24,150
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Watching Serena warm up before her game, she looks smaller.....everywhere.
 
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MD Jazz

Don't understand football? Talk to the hand.
Feb 3, 2017
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Surprised Kyrgios amazing win last night hasn't raised a mention here. I can't stand him but he was gone and he himself was surprised and speechless at his comeback. The french guy choked it up a bit but Kyrgios played some amazing tennis to get back in and then win it. Think Thiem just outhustles him in the next round.

At times Kyrgios behaviour was again petulant and poor but the crowds love him and he seems to have a real mix of diehard fans.
 

Baloo

Delisted Free Agent
Nov 8, 2005
44,113
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He's a great player. If he could apply himself more he'd be fighting for the #1 spot.

As for his antics, John McEnro was a bigger prick than Kyrios has been so far.
 

MD Jazz

Don't understand football? Talk to the hand.
Feb 3, 2017
13,329
13,707
He's a great player. If he could apply himself more he'd be fighting for the #1 spot.

As for his antics, John McEnro was a bigger prick than Kyrios has been so far.
Great is overstating it. He can play great tennis, he aint no great player. Yet. Nor likely to be.

His behaviour has been honed through years of acceptance and condoning of his self indulgence. By any standards he can behave appallingly. No need to worry about comparing him to a guy that played 30 years ago.
 

22nd Man

Tiger Legend
Aug 29, 2011
9,185
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Essex Heights
Ash declaring that post tennis she is playing for the Tigers . Based on the close up of her arms, she won't need any gym work.
 
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tigerman

It's Tiger Time
Mar 17, 2003
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Ash declaring that post tennis she is playing for the Tigers . Based on the close up of her arms, she won't need any gym work.
She's have to play for the mens side, she'd be too good for the womens side ;)
 
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22nd Man

Tiger Legend
Aug 29, 2011
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She's have to play for the mens side, she'd be too good for the womens side ;)
Never thought of her in the W team. She would be the first person to present the Cup before winning one !

And was going to post this in the racing thread but here is just as good. On the racing coverage today Bruce McAveney said Gun jockey Jamie Kah was the most important Australian sports woman at the moment.
Now if the Aus Open wasn't taking place simultaneously 5km away from Flemington I would have given Bruce a little slack but I would have said Tiger Ash would be well and truly the flag bearer.
 
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TrialByVideo

HailBGale!
Mar 1, 2015
4,422
8,532
Just watching Ash play and it dawned on me how good it was with none of that 'ozzy- ozzy- ozzy' or the increasingly nauseating 'let's go so&so let's go'.... (them *smile* fanatics. ... a blight on society!)

Think the broadcasters should do us all a favour and forever have canned crowd noise whenever an Australian takes to court!
 
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scottyturnerscurse

Tiger Legend
Apr 29, 2006
5,167
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Just watching Ash play and it dawned on me how good it was with none of that 'ozzy- ozzy- ozzy' or the increasingly nauseating 'let's go so&so let's go'.... (them *smile* fanatics. ... a blight on society!)

Think the broadcasters should do us all a favour and forever have canned crowd noise whenever an Australian takes to court!

 
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eZyT

Tiger Legend
Jun 28, 2019
21,434
25,771
Our Ash is all class.

I wish she'd play in a Richmond jumper, with a Vegemite logo.

It adds another dimension to watching a grand slam for me.

Im not really nationalistic. I don't automatically barrack for Australians (especially Tomic and Kyrios who simply cant seem to find any inner class? ive been giving them the benefit of the doubt until now. oh they're young, they'lle mature. But I had a few kids when I was their age and had been modelling respect and decency for years)

But I can really barrack for our Ash.

she's a ripper.