I came across this story while perusing ESPN this morning and I have to say this is definitely a first. I mean you always hear unruly fans calling out players for lack of effort or saying some guy tanked this game or that. But to come from an official DURING a match? Surprising indeed. It's not like this was some little league game and the coach was like "Billy, stop being such a pansy!" No this was a professional athlete in a professional tournament being told by the chair umpire to quote-unquote "TRY HARDER."
This story takes place in Russia at the ATP St. Petersburg Open (this is tennis for those of you who are afraid of any sports other than football). Nikolai Davydenko (the top-seed in the tournament) was playing a match against and Marian Cilic (Marian who?) that he eventually lost 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. During the match, after Davydenko's 6th Double Fault in the 3rd set, he was reprimanded by the chair umpire saying "Seriously dude? C'mon." Afterwards Davydenko was fined $2,000 for lack of best effort.
As for Davydenko's reaction, well after the match he said "this is just outrageous. how does the chair umpire know what I was trying to do? I was so upset with the whole thing I started crying." Talk about insult to injury. Oh and I forgot to mention this is the same guy who is already being investigated by the ATP for a large match betting scandal. Oops.
Everyone has bad days, and every athlete is bound to have some bad games. But where is the line between just being off that day and not putting forth the effort? So it begs the question, what performances or athletes can you remember watching where you thought something was just not right and wished you could have fined him/her for lack of best effort? Talk to me people.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Just Try Harder
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9 comments:
Uhm, to prevent this from getting out of hand, I belive you should forbid tales of former CMS center Hans, the Big Stank.
-CMS SuperFan '02
I think the best current example is Manny Ramirez. Breathtaking ability + absolute nut case = many befuddling, lazy efforts
well-said, we wouldn't want this thing to get out of hand.
Manny is so damn lazy, I cannot agree more.
How about shaq? If they guy would only just go for a run every once and awhile in the offseason then maybe he wouldn't weigh 350 pounds coming into every season and always break down.
I agree regarding Shaq. He was always great because of his sheer size and power, never because he out hustled anybody or had great moves. The 1 year that Phil got him to work on both ends he won his only MVP. If he had Michael Brandt's work ethic, he'd have been the greatest center ever.
In a different respect, the NBA is full of players who have awful work ethic (read: are lazy) and never fulfill their physical potential or maximize their physical gifts: Kwame Brown being the best example on our Lakers right now.
For the NFL, I'd have to go with Maurice Clarett. Ha, what a nutjob. He got so caught up in being an NFL superstar with the drugs, money, and guns that he forgot to work hard and become an NFL superstar.
I will never have this problem when lady fortune smiles upon me and I get my shot at the bigs.
Why does it always seem to work out that the players with the greatest talent tend to lack that desire to give everything and work harder than all the other guys? Michael Brandt is a great example. Imagine if Shaq played the game with the desire of an Elton Brand (NBA version of an incomparable player such as MB), he would be the greatest center ever. I didn't get to see Bill Russell live but I seem to think that he was one of those guys that worked harder than everyone else. Everyone knows someone personally too that could have been just absolutely awesome at something but just didn't put forth the effort (dan styles for you laguna people).
NFL I think you have to look at someone like Ricky Williams too, that guy had skillz but wanted to practice yoga and smoke weed more than perfect his craft.
Ha, it is absolutely sad that there are so many stars with so little drive to play their own sport. Is it not their job? Do they not have pride in their abilities? I'm ashamed....
Kobe against Phoenix 4th quarter last playoff game, I forget, was it two years ago or last year. One of the biggest tank jobs ever.
I love this post because it speaks to my "suck it up" mentality. Most people need that pep talk every now and then.
We all know your spouse needs that talk.
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