[article] Shameful Federer Betrayed Spirit of Sport

[El Dude]

Read all about it.

Sometimes I wonder why people write such drivel, but then I realized I played right into it: to get attention.

I mean, sure, maybe Roger could have technically played. But I don't see it as "shameful" if he withdrew because he didn't think he could be competitive. If anything he's showing Novak respect. What might have been shameful would be to see him hobble around out there for two sets unable to give Djokovic a worthy match-up. Also, it isn't like Roger has a track record of doing this. When he withdraws I think he means it and he's certainly earned the benefit of the doubt.

Shameful article.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Yeah, I read it this morning. Awful article. The cross-sport analogies (Raheem Sterling) are flawed at best, since tennis doesn't work the same way. It also is based on the same flawed logic we often hear around here: If Federer was so injured how come he crushed Murray? Hopefully, people will finally realize the silly nature of this argument.

The article is also founded on the assumption that Federer will play the Davis Cup and look as fresh as a daisy. We don't know that quite yet.

 

[coban]

Read all about it.

Sometimes I wonder why people write such drivel, but then I realized I played right into it: to get attention.

I mean, sure, maybe Roger could have technically played. But I don't see it as "shameful" if he withdrew because he didn't think he could be competitive. If anything he's showing Novak respect. What might have been shameful would be to see him hobble around out there for two sets unable to give Djokovic a worthy match-up. Also, it isn't like Roger has a track record of doing this. When he withdraws I think he means it and he's certainly earned the benefit of the doubt.

Shameful article.

I'd really like to praise Federer for coming out personally and explain this, i think it takes alot more courage.

 

[Kieran]

Stupid. Like rafa against Hewitt, Murray is being used as proof that Roger was okay? Seriously... :cover

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

This is a guy that has never left a match midway in his career. He loves the game. If he could play, he would play.

 

[the AntiPusher]

If this had been Rafa, this thread would be into its 8 section page by now

 

[Kieran]

^^ Exactly.

But the Dude is right. This is crass attempt at generating traffic. As my old ma is fond of saying, "paper never refused ink."

Thankfully she's tech illiterate. I mean, what would she make of the Internet? :cover

 

[TsarMatt]

We can always trust the media for some impartial tennis analysis!

 

[mrzz]

I find the world more and more impossible to understand. Ok, I read the article (I should not). English is not my mother tongue. But it is the writer's, right? I tought the word "compete", in the phrase "I can't compete", was clear. But the guy translated it to "I can't win"... and built his article around this.

... so I checked the Cambridge dicitionary. At least I still know what "compete", and "competition" is.

 

[Federberg]

If this had been Rafa, this thread would be into its 8 section page by now

It's not clear to me that would have been the case. If that's the narrative you want to push though so be it! If you're injured, you're injured. As far as I can see Roger did what a lot of us have said is the correct thing to do. If you can't compete, don't come on the court. If Roger had played but then started whingeing about being injured to rationalise a loss, then 8 pages would have been justified, and I for one would have been one of the guys criticising him :blush:

 

[britbox]

If this had been Rafa, this thread would be into its 8 section page by now

It's not clear to me that would have been the case. If that's the narrative you want to push though so be it! If you're injured, you're injured. As far as I can see Roger did what a lot of us have said is the correct thing to do. If you can't compete, don't come on the court. If Roger had played but then started whingeing about being injured to rationalise a loss, then 8 pages would have been justified, and I for one would have been one of the guys criticising him :blush:

It's always better to state you're injured before rather than after the match. Pretty rare for Federer to pull out of a match, so I think it's fair to take him at his word. He's probably got one eye on the Davis Cup too and didn't want to risk playing hurt.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

it is diabolical prose. that much is clear.

 

[isabelle]

it is diabolical prose. that much is clear.

Stan wrote it....

 

[nehmeth]

^^ Exactly.

But the Dude is right. This is crass attempt at generating traffic. As my old ma is fond of saying, "paper never refused ink."

Thankfully she's tech illiterate. I mean, what would she make of the Internet? :cover

Herself being a Fed fan? One thing's for sure - food fights at Sunday supper!

 

[nehmeth]

Read all about it.

There is an editor's note at the bottom of the blog now:

Editor's note: This blog has been amended to tone down some criticism of Roger Federer...

...Although Federer's own comments suggested he could have played (although perhaps not at a high level), without knowing the full nature of his injury it was unfair to accuse him of any moral failing, especially as his career record shows he is not a player who takes withdrawal from a match lightly.

-------------

The headline is completely changed.

Someone must have posted the link on Fed's website. With all the devotees who worship there?
Yahoo Sport will be backpedaling for weeks. :nono

 

[phoebehigg]

And there's this Gillette ad!

 

[phoebehigg]

If anything he's showing Novak respect.

But how is it showing respect when Fed doesn't turn up for the closing ceremony and doesn't congratulate the winning champ after the competition? To me, it sounds like sourest of grapes. Roger said he "cannot compete at the same level with Novak", which is fair enough but why throw in an invented injury and run off? Should've stayed on, watched the exhibition match, participated in the ceremony. Things would've looked OK then. But to make a lame excuse, take the money and run doesn't somehow cut it....

 

[Federberg]

Lol! This is crazy. Novak himself spoke to Roger about his injury before the announcement on court. That is RESPECT. What you are asking for sounds like a sham to me. What is important is that Novak understood that Roger wasn't able to compete. This is getting as silly as the article from that publicity seeking journalist. Why does Federer have to put on a show to convince you that he's injured, and he's being respectful to Novak??

And as for money... really? The guy is worth hundreds of millions, I don't think he even needed the payday!

 

[DarthFed]

If anything he's showing Novak respect.

But how is it showing respect when Fed doesn't turn up for the closing ceremony and doesn't congratulate the winning champ after the competition? To me, it sounds like sourest of grapes. Roger said he "cannot compete at the same level with Novak", which is fair enough but why throw in an invented injury and run off? Should've stayed on, watched the exhibition match, participated in the ceremony. Things would've looked OK then. But to make a lame excuse, take the money and run doesn't somehow cut it....

Invented injury? He must be really terrified of Djokovic to invent an injury ahead of the 5th biggest final of the season. :cover I say it now and say it again, Nole and Rafa fans have no room to talk about someone wussing out of an event, and shady crap like fake medical timeouts, etc.

 

[Federberg]

If anything he's showing Novak respect.

But how is it showing respect when Fed doesn't turn up for the closing ceremony and doesn't congratulate the winning champ after the competition? To me, it sounds like sourest of grapes. Roger said he "cannot compete at the same level with Novak", which is fair enough but why throw in an invented injury and run off? Should've stayed on, watched the exhibition match, participated in the ceremony. Things would've looked OK then. But to make a lame excuse, take the money and run doesn't somehow cut it....

Invented injury? He must be really terrified of Djokovic to invent an injury ahead of the 5th biggest final of the season. :cover I say it now and say it again, Nole and Rafa fans have no room to talk about someone wussing out of an event, and shady crap like fake medical timeouts, etc.

Agreed. This is becoming a bit of joke now uzzled