Rootin' for the Villain

[DarthFed]

^ If you don't enjoy the way he hits his forehand you probably aren't going to enjoy his game. That forehand spin and great movement/retrieving is HIS game. And there are plenty of other reasons I don't like the guy that don't have to do with him beating Federer.

It's amusing how much offense you take to someone not liking your boy. Should we grill you about the reasons you don't like Federer or Djokovic and then sound outraged at them?

So not liking his forehand is why you have such a violent reaction against Nadal. (And let me not overplay it here. You have stated on this thread you have not ever and would never root for him, amongst other things you've said against him on other threads.) Even though it's rated as one of the great forehands in the game?

As to your above about dislike and outrage: I don't suppose it has escaped your notice how much vitriol is directed towards Nadal, and you are not the least of the flingers. It's not that offense is taken. It's really confusion. And you haven't illuminated. I was asking for an explanation why, if it wasn't for his record against Roger (and Nole,) which at least IHaychew owns up to. All you've got is his forehand. Doesn't seem worth the bile, if that's all it is.

I mentioned in the post there are other reasons for it (not just the style of play). And regardless, I don't see why it is important to disclose why I do or don't like a certain player. I don't really care why some people don't like Roger. I know they have their reasons and that's fine.

 

[Moxie]

^ If you don't enjoy the way he hits his forehand you probably aren't going to enjoy his game. That forehand spin and great movement/retrieving is HIS game. And there are plenty of other reasons I don't like the guy that don't have to do with him beating Federer.

It's amusing how much offense you take to someone not liking your boy. Should we grill you about the reasons you don't like Federer or Djokovic and then sound outraged at them?

So not liking his forehand is why you have such a violent reaction against Nadal. (And let me not overplay it here. You have stated on this thread you have not ever and would never root for him, amongst other things you've said against him on other threads.) Even though it's rated as one of the great forehands in the game?

As to your above about dislike and outrage: I don't suppose it has escaped your notice how much vitriol is directed towards Nadal, and you are not the least of the flingers. It's not that offense is taken. It's really confusion. And you haven't illuminated. I was asking for an explanation why, if it wasn't for his record against Roger (and Nole,) which at least IHaychew owns up to. All you've got is his forehand. Doesn't seem worth the bile, if that's all it is.

I mentioned in the post there are other reasons for it (not just the style of play). And regardless, I don't see why it is important to disclose why I do or don't like a certain player. I don't really care why some people don't like Roger. I know they have their reasons and that's fine.

Fair enough, then.

 

[Moxie]

I.Haychew gave you the answer you wanted.

I suppose I deserved that, a bit. But for as much as some folks like to really talk down Nadal, I did think a few others of them might like to illuminate. The thread IS about "the villain," after all. I've shared.

 

[Tennis Miller]

As a huge Borg fan, I was shocked to find myself rooting for the formerly evil Jimmy Connors in his elder statesman years!

Cheers
TM

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

As a huge Borg fan, I was shocked to find myself rooting for the formerly evil Jimmy Connors in his elder statesman years!

Cheers
TM

I too was a huge Borg Fan,hell would have to freeze over before I Ever cheered for Connors....:nono

 

[Kieran]

I was a Borg fan too, and I remember watching the Wimbo final in 1982 and wondering if there was a way they could both lose. Kinda like this year, actually! :lolz:

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I was a Borg fan too, and I remember watching the Wimbo final in 1982 and wondering if there was a way they could both lose. Kinda like this year, actually! :lolz:

.........

 

[Tennis Miller]

I was a Borg fan too, and I remember watching the Wimbo final in 1982 and wondering if there was a way they could both lose. Kinda like this year, actually! :lolz:

Felt the same way in 82. But grew to like both Jimbo and Mac. Go figure....

Cheers
TM

 

[nehmeth]

I was a Borg fan too, and I remember watching the Wimbo final in 1982 and wondering if there was a way they could both lose.

Felt the same way in 82. But grew to like both Jimbo and Mac. Go figure....

Cheers
TM

Borg was the tennis villain of my childhood. Panatta was my hero each time he upset the Swede.

 

[Kieran]

I never once rooted for Agassi, never for Mac or Jimbo. So rooting for Federer a few times almost rates me as a fan. I rooted loudly for him against Robredo last year at the US open.

That's 3 times! :devil :emperor:

 

[nehmeth]

Cheering for Fed 3x?! You really did dabble with the "dark side".

 

[Kieran]

Cheering for Fed 3x?! You really did dabble with the "dark side".

I'm a decent bloke!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Cheering for Fed 3x?! You really did dabble with the "dark side".

I'm a decent bloke!

......:heart:

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I never once rooted for Agassi, never for Mac or Jimbo. So rooting for Federer a few times almost rates me as a fan. I rooted loudly for him against Robredo last year at the US open.

That's 3 times! :devil :emperor:

Rooting for Roger against Robredo is like a lion rooting for a gazelle to safely cross the stream to his side without being eaten by a crock...not too pure an intention there...

 

[I.Haychew]

Not that it matters to anyone, but here is how it went down phor me (during the Nadal/Phederer era)...Until about 2009, I was only a "casual" tennis phan. I'd sometimes watch phinals of majors, but that was about it. During the Nadal/Phederer era, there were only two players that mattered to me...Nadal and Phederer. I liked Phederer because of his phluid style, one-handed backhand, and on-court demeanor. Nadal's style didn't really bother me, but his on-court demeanor did. The grunting, phist-pumping, and VAMOS-yelling was a huge turn-OPHPH. The pre-serve routine and all the little quirks were annoying, too. Then he started owning Phederer, which was the icing on the cake. Late 2009 was when I began to become somewhat of a die-hard tennis phan. I began to phollow other, less popular players (I'm one of those underdog guys). Even though he was my phavorite of the big guns, I became less interested in Phederer. Still, my hatred of Nadal persisted, and still does. I respect the guy, but I'll never like him and I cheer against him every time he takes the court. Again....Not that anyone cares, but that's my condensed version as to why I developed a hatred phor Nadal.

 

[Billie]

clap

shouldn't it be: turn-ophph?

BTW: I don't share many of IH's opinions about this topic, but I admire his frankness.

 

[TennisFanatic7]

When it comes to the big four, obviously Murray's my guy, but I do like all four of them -

Roger's one of the most likeable sportspeople I've ever seen. A family man, a stylish performer, a classy winner, which we've seen over the years, and a classy loser too, which we saw moreso last year.

Nole has put Andy down in a few GS finals, but how can you not like the guy, even in the last 12 months his Wimbledon winners' speech oozed humility and class, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he follows up last year's dance moves in Canada. I can only help but giggle when he gets carried away with his celebrations too:

[and that win over Rafa in MC really was excellent].

Rafa is my least preferred of the big four, because I'm not a big fan of how he plays, or the fact that he gives me little to feed off as a tennis fan who loves the underdog, but again, on a personal level, I can't force myself to actually dislike him, he's incredibly humble after the obscene success he's enjoyed, and, out of the rest of the world's elite athletes, I can't think of many who have a more infectious smile - try and look at this guy and feel genuine hatred:

 

[Iona16]

In all honesty I don't hate any player. If I don't really like a player then I have little or no interest in discussing them. I'd rather concentrate on the players I do like.

I don't really care if posters don't like Andy or Rafa on or off the court. What I do find annoying is posters that are deliberately provocative in their discussions on tennis forums. It becomes less about the player they 'hate' but more about baiting the fan base of said player. You'll find these types on every tennis forum. The challenge for me is trying to rise above it and that is blooming hard sometimes.

 

[I.Haychew]

clap

shouldn't it be: turn-ophph?

Phixed...Good phind, Billie!!!

 

[tennisville]

Nice thread , I have rooted for Nadal in the French Open matches over Djokovic as I just dont want Novak to get the career slam.3 players getting it so close to each other would ruin the achievement for me. I have also rooted for Nadal whenever he plays Berdych.

Apart from the Berdych matches , I have only rooted for Murray once and that was in that ugly US Open 2012 final

I dont think I have ever cheered for Berdych in any match and this has gone on since 2005.I just love watching Nadal destroy him in each and every match.