Roland Garros, Paris, France, ATP GRAND SLAM (Paris Sidewalk Cafe Discussions II)

[Mastoor]

And that is bad why? Don't we all search for something better in life?:scratch:

He was talking at that time he wanted to be British, he didn't say he's there just for their money.

 

[Moxie]

Well if they said it, then it must be true.

I know what Djokovic family said about that topic on more than one occasion. Anyway nobody here took any part of the negotiations so we don't know what really happened. What we know is that somebody declined somebody's offer seeing what transpired after the negotiations. And since Britain had the more established tennis infrastructure and money compared to Serbia, my bet is that Djokovic family turned the offer down and decided to go on their own and roll the dice. Also that happened years ago so what is the reason of bringing the subject again, I have no idea. Parents are supposed to seek the best possible circumstances for their children, aren't they?

Chis Bowers never talked with any members of Djokovic family about that book (which I read) so his opinions are just that, his opinions.

As for Bedene, the guy played as well as he could, I think, in today's match, and he obviously benefitted from joining GB team. Today's result is misleading, imo, as some of the games were close and he did push Nole to play some of his best tennis so far in the tournament. To scold a grown man for choosing where he wants to work and live it's just silly, especially the reasons given by Mastoor.

Which is the reason I brought the other up to him. Mastoor was being awfully superior, when it could have been his player that had chosen the same thing, imo. There is no reason to doubt that conversations took place. The Guardian is not, in my experience, in the habit of making things up. And why wouldn't the Djokovic's consider all best options for their young and promising player, as you say? I'm glad it's working out for Bedene. He's not the first player to do it.

 

[Mastoor]

It is going to be a Andy vs Djokovic final.


I will cheer for the underdog.


I have Andy in 4.

Glad to see you alive, are you out of hospital? You're wrong about the final though.

 

[Billie]

He was talking at that time he wanted to be British, he didn't say he's there just for their money.

Even better, maybe he's just liked GB for a long time. My vacation there was one of the top 5 in my life

 

[Mastoor]

Even better, maybe he's just liked GB for a long time. My vacation there was one of the top 5 in my life

Please

 

[Mastoor]

Did anyone watch No1e's match with the British? What was that with Pascal Maria I've been reading about?

 

[Moxie]

Why would you think that when someone else tells opposite to Novak or his parents or his fans it is always someone else to tell the truth, not ever Novak or those related to him like his parents or his fans?

1. in 2005 Novak earned US$200,000 and in the first half of 2006 before this interview he earned around US$250,000
2. He already had contracts with Wilson and Adidas
3. There are interviews in which he says that once he started earning money (2005) he never considered playing for another country

I have not heard or read anything to the contrary from Djokovic or his parents, but if you care to supply a link, I'll read it. But I do trust the Guardian to report fairly. You'll see I already replied to Billie, just above. I don't see any reason to be defensive about the family at least listening to a proposal from the LTA. It's not about personal sponsorships, completely. The LTA has money and infrastructure. Obviously, at whatever part of the conversation, the Djokovic's turned it down. There is no reason for you to sneer at Bedene for making the choice he did. If Novak was already comfortable, that's fine, but Bedene clearly found the best option for his career. It's a job, and they make professional choices.

 

[Billie]

Which is the reason I brought the other up to him. Mastoor was being awfully superior, when it could have been his player that had chosen the same thing, imo. There is no reason to doubt that conversations took place. The Guardian is not, in my experience, in the habit of making things up. And why wouldn't the Djokovic's consider all best options for their young and promising player, as you say? I'm glad it's working out for Bedene. He's not the first player to do it.

But situations are completely different. Nole was a boy, living in poverty for the most part of his life then. Bedene is a grown up man with much better financial situation (Slovenia being part of EU). I don't blame anybody for wanting something better for themselves, if they think that it is. Like living and working in GB for Bedene. I understand, Mastoor gets your blood boiling sometimes. Mine too, but I still love him.

 

[Billie]

Did anyone watch No1e's match with the British? What was that with Pascal Maria I've been reading about?

It was a good match. They were trying to beat the darkness, except Bedene, I think he wanted to go on and come back the next day. Yes, your favorite ump was there. They were all smiles at the end.

 

[Tennis Fan]

Watching the future of tennis, Thiem v. Zverev. The future is looking pretty bright. I do hope the Zebra shirt design is buried under the clay of Roland Garros.

So do I. It has been glaring to see one zebra after another on the clay of RG. The company needs to retire that design. It's just too much.

 

[Moxie]

But situations are completely different. Nole was a boy, living in poverty for the most part of his life then. Bedene is a grown up man with much better financial situation (Slovenia being part of EU). I don't blame anybody for wanting something better for themselves, if they think that it is. Like living and working in GB for Bedene. I understand, Mastoor gets your blood boiling sometimes. Mine too, but I still love him.

But they aren't actually completely different. They very fact that Novak lived in poverty is reason why they might have taken a deal with the LTA, especially if it had come earlier. And as I said to Mastoor, working within a well-established and financed tennis association could be a draw. For Bedene, who was, yes, older, but less-talented, it was a good choice to go with the stronger federation. Nole, because of his talent, certainly had more options.

Yes, Mastoor can irk the crap out of me, sometimes. (I didn't even get into his comment about some Serbian tennis writer who could "turn gay" for Nadal, just because it drives him crazy that the guy is complimentary of Rafa. I mean..."turn gay" ??!! Jaysus, Mastoor! That was wrong on so many levels.) But sometimes he surprises me, and occasionally even amuses me. And I really do enjoy fighting with him. It's it's own kind of appreciation.

 

[Mastoor]

[QUOTE="Moxie, post: 21265, member: 17"]I have not heard or read anything to the contrary from Djokovic or his parents, but if you care to supply a link, I'll read it. But I do trust the Guardian to report fairly. You'll see I already replied to Billie, just above. I don't see any reason to be defensive about the family at least listening to a proposal from the LTA. It's not about personal sponsorships, completely. The LTA has money and infrastructure. Obviously, at whatever part of the conversation, the Djokovic's turned it down. There is no reason for you to sneer at Bedene for making the choice he did. If Novak was already comfortable, that's fine, but Bedene clearly found the best option for his career. It's a job, and they make professional choices.[/QUOTE]


Would you be able to understand Serbian? If so, i can try to find the interviews in which they talk about it.

 

[Tennis Fan]

It is going to be a Andy vs Djokovic final.


I will cheer for the underdog.


I have Andy in 4.

Hey Clay!!! So good to see you. Divine has been keeping me updated. I'm so grateful for this. Here's to a speedy recovery.

 

[Mastoor]

But they aren't actually completely different. They very fact that Novak lived in poverty is reason why they might have taken a deal with the LTA, especially if it had come earlier. And as I said to Mastoor, working within a well-established and financed tennis association could be a draw. For Bedene, who was, yes, older, but less-talented, it was a good choice to go with the stronger federation. Nole, because of his talent, certainly had more options.

Yes, Mastoor can irk the crap out of me, sometimes. (I didn't even get into his comment about some Serbian tennis writer who could "turn gay" for Nadal, just because it drives him crazy that the guy is complimentary of Rafa. I mean..."turn gay" ??!! Jaysus, Mastoor! That was wrong on so many levels.) But sometimes he surprises me, and occasionally even amuses me. And I really do enjoy fighting with him. It's it's own kind of appreciation.

You wouldn't believe those Djokovic's fans. 90% of them sound like deeply in love with Rafa, men or women. Only 10% of us don't have such feelings for him.

 

[Moxie]

[QUOTE="Moxie, post: 21265, member: 17"]I have not heard or read anything to the contrary from Djokovic or his parents, but if you care to supply a link, I'll read it. But I do trust the Guardian to report fairly. You'll see I already replied to Billie, just above. I don't see any reason to be defensive about the family at least listening to a proposal from the LTA. It's not about personal sponsorships, completely. The LTA has money and infrastructure. Obviously, at whatever part of the conversation, the Djokovic's turned it down. There is no reason for you to sneer at Bedene for making the choice he did. If Novak was already comfortable, that's fine, but Bedene clearly found the best option for his career. It's a job, and they make professional choices.

Would you be able to understand Serbian? If so, i can try to find the interviews in which they talk about it.[/QUOTE]
If there is nothing about it in English, and it's not written in Cyrillic alphabet, I can try. If you can try something written in the Latin alphabet, it would be helpful.

 

[Billie]

But they aren't actually completely different. They very fact that Novak lived in poverty is reason why they might have taken a deal with the LTA, especially if it had come earlier. And as I said to Mastoor, working within a well-established and financed tennis association could be a draw. For Bedene, who was, yes, older, but less-talented, it was a good choice to go with the stronger federation. Nole, because of his talent, certainly had more options.

Yes, Mastoor can irk the crap out of me, sometimes. (I didn't even get into his comment about some Serbian tennis writer who could "turn gay" for Nadal, just because it drives him crazy that the guy is complimentary of Rafa. I mean..."turn gay" ??!! Jaysus, Mastoor! That was wrong on so many levels.) But sometimes he surprises me, and occasionally even amuses me. And I really do enjoy fighting with him. It's it's own kind of appreciation.

I listened to mom and dad many times before, and about this topic (although it's been a few years that nobody talks about it anymore). Both say that they had offers and were considering them, with LTA, but it was Nole at the end who said NO to all of it. It was a good decision, but then again that boy is a smart one.

As for you and Mastoor, no surprise there. He gets me from mad to laughing in seconds. And I'll even do a dance for him.

 

[Tennis Fan]

You wouldn't believe those Djokovic's fans. 90% of them sound like deeply in love with Rafa, men or women. Only 10% of us don't have such feelings for him.

That's interesting, but it's easy to understand why. Rafa is splendiferous in every way. It sounds like the 90% got it right, LOL.

 

[Moxie]

You wouldn't believe those Djokovic's fans. 90% of them sound like deeply in love with Rafa, men or women. Only 10% of us don't have such feelings for him.

"Deeply in love" is a bit much. I'm one of the biggest fans around, and I wouldn't call myself "deeply in love" with Rafa. Nadal, like Roger, is really popular around the world. They both came before Novak, in the order of primacy, and you have to stop resenting that. It's just a natural phenomenon. Before there was Nole, the tennis world was divided into Federer fans and Nadal fans. And, for however much longer, Rog and Rafa are still active. That means there is just a smaller pool of fans (and media attention) for Djokovic to draw from. All things change, but the Fedal rivalry has been the defining aspect of men's tennis for much of the last 10 years. Novak is carving out his own place in history, to be sure, but he happened to come up in a time when a long shadow had already been cast. That is his challenge, and he's handling it really well. But, realistically, he can only play in the time he does.

 

[Billie]

You wouldn't believe those Djokovic's fans. 90% of them sound like deeply in love with Rafa, men or women. Only 10% of us don't have such feelings for him.

Oh no, you are not exaggerating at all.

 

[EdbergsGhost]

Which is the reason I brought the other up to him. Mastoor was being awfully superior, when it could have been his player that had chosen the same thing, imo. There is no reason to doubt that conversations took place. The Guardian is not, in my experience, in the habit of making things up. And why wouldn't the Djokovic's consider all best options for their young and promising player, as you say? I'm glad it's working out for Bedene. He's not the first player to do it.

It's British media. I read one article on the Bedene match where they painted it to be something of an epic battle. Lol. They will embellish things just like the American press does. Were there talks? Probably. Did they go the way the Guardian says? Not necessarily. Does it even matter? No.

Good for Bedene to take advantage of an opportunity. Good for Djoker having made the most of his opportunities.