Can someone explain to me what Bodo is trying to say here?

[SF Nadalite]

I think we all need to be careful when it comes to associating anyone's personality with their country. I've met gregarious, warm people from Switzerland and arrogant, rude people from Spain...and I'm sure there are plenty of quiet, soft spoken people in Serbia.

Tennis has a long tradition that is more reserved, respectable, etc....as in just about everything =Wimbledon.

Things are changing - slowly - but I don't think it should come as a surprise to anyone that Nole (or Serena, for that matter) are hardly the most beloved tennis players.

 

[Srini]

I never liked Peter Bodo's articles. Agreed he is a Sports Writer but he is more concerned about the 'Writer' bit than about the 'Sports' bit. I dont care how good the language is, I am more interested in analysis about tennis. But all his articles are full of complicated sentences trying to prove his literary skills. Steve Tignor is exactly the opposite, to-the-point articles with cristal clear opinions.

 

[Mastoor]

I think this is interesting. "The fact that Djokovic hails from a very different Europe than Nadal or Federer also inhibited our full embrace of him."

How superb his English is you'd never guess, but Bodo is from Hungary which is some 250kms from belgrade, where No1e is from, therefore the same part of Europe, so he knows what he is talking about in this case.

That's an interesting insight, Mastoor...I wouldn't have known that back-story. However, do you really think that's true...or true from your perspective? I thought it was gratuitous when he said it, but how much do you think it matters? When Rafa came up there was a little bit of Northern Europe is elegant vs. Southern Europe is brute-force. Now Bodo is trying to say that most can accept Switzerland and Spain, but they exclude Serbia from their affections. It seems slightly over-determined to me, in an individual sport, where it's personalities, not national affiliations that determines fan-loyalty, but tell me what you think.

I'll still go back to this, though: what Djokovic lacks in fan love (which fades with every year,) is that the world was already divided into Federer/Rafa fans. But "was" is a point. Plenty of people seem to be coming to the Nole camp.

Neither nationalities nor personalities but huge corporations namely Nike and Adidas. Bodo is employed by what should be called "Nike Tennis Magazine" if they were to be honest and it should be at www.niketennis.com url.

Just look at their front page just couple of days after No1e won MC. 2 pictures of Federer, 2 pictures of Nadal, Sharapova and Azarenka on 1 each, that's 8 pictures of Nike players, ZERO pictures of players who are not dressed in Nike.

But for the rest i agree with your post.

 

[britbox]

How superb his English is you'd never guess, but Bodo is from Hungary which is some 250kms from belgrade, where No1e is from, therefore the same part of Europe, so he knows what he is talking about in this case.

Not really. I think Northern Europeans would be better able to explain how they themselves think. Bodo is making assumptions - wrong ones, in my opinion.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Djokovic's nationality being the reason he's less popular is nonsense. I don't see how this can affect his popularity more than obvious facts: When he came along, there was already one hugely popular tennis star who had already accomplished a ton (perhaps the most popular in tennis history), and a young exciting challenger who already shared a big rivalry with him that, at the time, was defining the modern era of the sport.

Djokovic arrived when Federer and Nadal were already hugely popular, and keep in mind, they continued to dominate tennis for some time after he broke through, meaning that they kept on acquiring a huge fan base (particularly Nadal). They just had a head start on him.

That's not to say that he'd be guaranteed to be just as popular if he had broken through sooner, but the chronology is definitely the main reason.

 

[huntingyou]

I agree with broken!

The other main reason is their actual game and style.

Federer is poetry in motion on a tennis court, cool and always under control of his emotions; Nadal is reckless abandon, unorthodox strokes with plenty of eye popping flair, his entire demeanor on a tennis court spells battle.

Djokovic in the other hand, is like a robot......the perfect modern tennis player. His game is like a textbook, methodical and ruthless. He carries a lot of emotion as well; but its more like a chip on his shoulders; always proving himself that he belongs; trying to be accepted.

From a psychological perspective; the human mind will be drawn to those who don't look for their approval....for those who stand out above the rest. From a neutral fan base (non Serbian, Spaniards and Swiss)..........the qualities I described above will define who they align with.

 

[Mastoor]

How superb his English is you'd never guess, but Bodo is from Hungary which is some 250kms from belgrade, where No1e is from, therefore the same part of Europe, so he knows what he is talking about in this case.

Not really. I think Northern Europeans would be better able to explain how they themselves think. Bodo is making assumptions - wrong ones, in my opinion.

Why? Who cares about what Northern Europeans think? I don't think Bodo even mentioned them.

 

[Alex]

I always love reading thoughts on the reasons behind the relative popularity of players. It hits on so many different issues: marketing, the inherent appeal of someone's game style (some people will fight to the death that there is something intrinsically beautiful about Fed's game with which other players cannot compete, while others will argue that that perception is largely the result of good marketing), media bias, unfair stereotypes of nations and regions which may or may not play a role... I don't think there ever will be a conclusion. But this question always provokes a good discussion.

 

[Billie]

I always love reading thoughts on the reasons behind the relative popularity of players. It hits on so many different issues: marketing, the inherent appeal of someone's game style (some people will fight to the death that there is something intrinsically beautiful about Fed's game with which other players cannot compete, while others will argue that that perception is largely the result of good marketing), media bias, unfair stereotypes of nations and regions which may or may not play a role... I don't think there ever will be a conclusion. But this question always provokes a good discussion.

Welcome to the board Alex.

I think the main issue with Nole in his past is not so good marketing. And he came up in the time of Federer and Nadal who are not only great players but their agency at the time was the biggest in tennis. So they made sure they signed them with big companies like Nike who spend money at them and market them very well.

I went to see Nole in Toronto last year and even though both Nadal and Federer were missing from the tournament, there were big tents of Nike with both Federer and Nadal's faces all over the place, Lindt was there, Wilson, all with Federer's posters. You could buy their equipment, but not Nole's.

Now I think that Nole is gaining some ground in that department but I think he should hang out with Masha a bit more and learn from her.

 

[Alex]

Well, I'm always a proponent of Nole and Masha spending more time together...

Your point about marketing is well taken. This is a little tangential, but it's frustrating that it's still very difficult to purchase Novak's Uniqlo clothes. They made some of his current and Australian Open gear available on the Uniqlo USA website a couple of weeks ago. I purchased the Australian Open track jacket when it first became available. Within literally a couple of days, the small and medium sizes sold out. Now all of the jackets are sold out in all sizes, as are most of the other items. What about people who still want to purchase his clothes, or people who don't live in the USA and also don't have a local Uniqlo store? The ability to purchase his clothes may not seem like a big thing, but it's emblematic of of a larger problem.

One other point related to this topic: Fed and Nole will never win over the massive amount of female Nadal fans whose fandom originated in the fact that he epitomizes the stereotype of a earthy, sexy Spanish guy. If Grigor Dimitrov makes it big, I think he'll be the next big sensation with the ladies (smart of Nike to sign him early)...

 

[tented]

Well, I'm always a proponent of Nole and Masha spending more time together...

Your point about marketing is well taken. This is a little tangential, but it's frustrating that it's still very difficult to purchase Novak's Uniqlo clothes. They made some of his current and Australian Open gear available on the Uniqlo USA website a couple of weeks ago. I purchased the Australian Open track jacket when it first became available. Within literally a couple of days, the small and medium sizes sold out. Now all of the jackets are sold out in all sizes, as are most of the other items. What about people who still want to purchase his clothes, or people who don't live in the USA and also don't have a local Uniqlo store? The ability to purchase his clothes may not seem like a big thing, but it's emblematic of of a larger problem.

This is just a guess, but they may be getting ready to introduce a new line of clothing for Roland Garros, which is why there isn't much of the Australian Open clothes left.

 

[Mastoor]

Well, I'm always a proponent of Nole and Masha spending more time together...

Your point about marketing is well taken. This is a little tangential, but it's frustrating that it's still very difficult to purchase Novak's Uniqlo clothes. They made some of his current and Australian Open gear available on the Uniqlo USA website a couple of weeks ago. I purchased the Australian Open track jacket when it first became available. Within literally a couple of days, the small and medium sizes sold out. Now all of the jackets are sold out in all sizes, as are most of the other items. What about people who still want to purchase his clothes, or people who don't live in the USA and also don't have a local Uniqlo store? The ability to purchase his clothes may not seem like a big thing, but it's emblematic of of a larger problem.

One other point related to this topic: Fed and Nole will never win over the massive amount of female Nadal fans whose fandom originated in the fact that he epitomizes the stereotype of a earthy, sexy Spanish guy. If Grigor Dimitrov makes it big, I think he'll be the next big sensation with the ladies (smart of Nike to sign him early)...

Oh I see, Dimitrov "epitomizes the stereotype of a earthy, sexy Spanish guy" too.

---

Well, I'm always a proponent of Nole and Masha spending more time together...

Your point about marketing is well taken. This is a little tangential, but it's frustrating that it's still very difficult to purchase Novak's Uniqlo clothes. They made some of his current and Australian Open gear available on the Uniqlo USA website a couple of weeks ago. I purchased the Australian Open track jacket when it first became available. Within literally a couple of days, the small and medium sizes sold out. Now all of the jackets are sold out in all sizes, as are most of the other items. What about people who still want to purchase his clothes, or people who don't live in the USA and also don't have a local Uniqlo store? The ability to purchase his clothes may not seem like a big thing, but it's emblematic of of a larger problem.

This is just a guess, but they may be getting ready to introduce a new line of clothing for Roland Garros, which is why there isn't much of the Australian Open clothes left.

No matter how strange this may sound Uniqlo just don't care about selling Djoker's clothes.

 

[tented]

Well, I'm always a proponent of Nole and Masha spending more time together...

Your point about marketing is well taken. This is a little tangential, but it's frustrating that it's still very difficult to purchase Novak's Uniqlo clothes. They made some of his current and Australian Open gear available on the Uniqlo USA website a couple of weeks ago. I purchased the Australian Open track jacket when it first became available. Within literally a couple of days, the small and medium sizes sold out. Now all of the jackets are sold out in all sizes, as are most of the other items. What about people who still want to purchase his clothes, or people who don't live in the USA and also don't have a local Uniqlo store? The ability to purchase his clothes may not seem like a big thing, but it's emblematic of of a larger problem.

This is just a guess, but they may be getting ready to introduce a new line of clothing for Roland Garros, which is why there isn't much of the Australian Open clothes left.

No matter how strange this may sound Uniqlo just don't care about selling Djoker's clothes.

I doubt and hope that's not the case. Out of curiosity I checked their website, and saw the special section for the "Djokovic Performance Wear." That they even created a separate area tells me they care, which makes sense considering the money involved.

If my original guess isn't the issue (they're waiting to introduce a new line in time for RG), then maybe they simply didn't expect to sell as much as they did, and didn't produce enough. I'm not sure how much experience they have selling athlete-endorsed clothing, so perhaps they'll get it right soon, after realizing they need to make more in order not to sell out again.

It's still a relatively new venture, so give it time to work out. I doubt it's a snub of the world's No. 1 ranked tennis player.

 

[tented]

Well, I'm always a proponent of Nole and Masha spending more time together...

Your point about marketing is well taken. This is a little tangential, but it's frustrating that it's still very difficult to purchase Novak's Uniqlo clothes. They made some of his current and Australian Open gear available on the Uniqlo USA website a couple of weeks ago. I purchased the Australian Open track jacket when it first became available. Within literally a couple of days, the small and medium sizes sold out. Now all of the jackets are sold out in all sizes, as are most of the other items. What about people who still want to purchase his clothes, or people who don't live in the USA and also don't have a local Uniqlo store? The ability to purchase his clothes may not seem like a big thing, but it's emblematic of of a larger problem.

This is just a guess, but they may be getting ready to introduce a new line of clothing for Roland Garros, which is why there isn't much of the Australian Open clothes left.

No matter how strange this may sound Uniqlo just don't care about selling Djoker's clothes.

I doubt and hope that's not the case. Out of curiosity I checked their website, and saw the special section for the "Djokovic Performance Wear." That they even created a separate area tells me they care, which makes sense considering the money involved.

If my original guess isn't the issue (they're waiting to introduce a new line in time for RG), then maybe they simply didn't expect to sell as much as they did, and didn't produce enough. I'm not sure how much experience they have selling athlete-endorsed clothing, so perhaps they'll get it right soon, after realizing they need to make more in order not to sell out again.

It's still a relatively new venture, so give it time to work out. I doubt it's a snub of the world's No. 1 ranked tennis player.

Well, I just checked their website, and I was wrong. They do not have a new line, and they're still running low on, if not out of stock of, many items.

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/mens-clothing/collections/djokovic-performance-wear-workout-clothes

This is insulting. I imagine someone in his group has noticed, and is quite angry about it. I hope his contract isn't for too long, if this is the way they're going to treat him.

 

[Mastoor]

Well, I'm always a proponent of Nole and Masha spending more time together...

Your point about marketing is well taken. This is a little tangential, but it's frustrating that it's still very difficult to purchase Novak's Uniqlo clothes. They made some of his current and Australian Open gear available on the Uniqlo USA website a couple of weeks ago. I purchased the Australian Open track jacket when it first became available. Within literally a couple of days, the small and medium sizes sold out. Now all of the jackets are sold out in all sizes, as are most of the other items. What about people who still want to purchase his clothes, or people who don't live in the USA and also don't have a local Uniqlo store? The ability to purchase his clothes may not seem like a big thing, but it's emblematic of of a larger problem.

This is just a guess, but they may be getting ready to introduce a new line of clothing for Roland Garros, which is why there isn't much of the Australian Open clothes left.

No matter how strange this may sound Uniqlo just don't care about selling Djoker's clothes.

I doubt and hope that's not the case. Out of curiosity I checked their website, and saw the special section for the "Djokovic Performance Wear." That they even created a separate area tells me they care, which makes sense considering the money involved.

If my original guess isn't the issue (they're waiting to introduce a new line in time for RG), then maybe they simply didn't expect to sell as much as they did, and didn't produce enough. I'm not sure how much experience they have selling athlete-endorsed clothing, so perhaps they'll get it right soon, after realizing they need to make more in order not to sell out again.

It's still a relatively new venture, so give it time to work out. I doubt it's a snub of the world's No. 1 ranked tennis player.

Well, I just checked their website, and I was wrong. They do not have a new line, and they're still running low on, if not out of stock of, many items.

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/mens-clothing/collections/djokovic-performance-wear-workout-clothes

This is insulting. I imagine someone in his group has noticed, and is quite angry about it. I hope his contract isn't for too long, if this is the way they're going to treat him.

They only recently started selling No1e's last year's shirts and shorts on the website as retro. Until recently you couldn't buy them anywhere because all the items produced were for No1e himself not for retail.

They finally started selling his clothes on the website but I guess they could sell for kids too or first of all.

 

[britbox]

This is just a guess, but they may be getting ready to introduce a new line of clothing for Roland Garros, which is why there isn't much of the Australian Open clothes left.

No matter how strange this may sound Uniqlo just don't care about selling Djoker's clothes.

I doubt and hope that's not the case. Out of curiosity I checked their website, and saw the special section for the "Djokovic Performance Wear." That they even created a separate area tells me they care, which makes sense considering the money involved.

If my original guess isn't the issue (they're waiting to introduce a new line in time for RG), then maybe they simply didn't expect to sell as much as they did, and didn't produce enough. I'm not sure how much experience they have selling athlete-endorsed clothing, so perhaps they'll get it right soon, after realizing they need to make more in order not to sell out again.

It's still a relatively new venture, so give it time to work out. I doubt it's a snub of the world's No. 1 ranked tennis player.

Well, I just checked their website, and I was wrong. They do not have a new line, and they're still running low on, if not out of stock of, many items.

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/mens-clothing/collections/djokovic-performance-wear-workout-clothes

This is insulting. I imagine someone in his group has noticed, and is quite angry about it. I hope his contract isn't for too long, if this is the way they're going to treat him.

They only recently started selling No1e's last year's shirts and shorts on the website as retro. Until recently you couldn't buy them anywhere because all the items produced were for No1e himself not for retail.

They finally started selling his clothes on the website but I guess they could sell for kids too or first of all.

Nole seems to be having the same problems he had at Tachini. They couldn't get the gear out there in time or in the quantities required either. I suspect Unliqlo will probably end up breaching the contract in the same way. Next stop - Nike or Adidas. How will Mastoor cope?