November 28, 2008
FUZZED: It's The Team, Stupid
We can delve into many ugly truths these days, thanks to the miracle of the internet; we can learn more about everything than ever before possible, for better or worse. Along with the tennis world, I watched most of the Davis Cup final and followed the news and comments in the aftermath of Spain's tremendous victory/Argentina's bloody fall/David Nalbandian faces his inquisitors.
The Oscar and Nobel Prize are awards that only bring fame to a few, and do not recognize others who may have been essential in the effort. That's one reason I don't pay much attention to the winners, good or bad. At least Davis Cup is always awarded to a team. However, just as with those other awards, we don't usually hear the whole story behind the win - which are often more interesting than the actual result. Teams usually try to hide the unpleasant things; it's natural to try to avoid looking bad - but after this final, a lot of it has been leaking out, and yes, it makes the Argentines look bad - especially Bandies.
Davis Cup players usually say something about how it's great to play on a team for their country in a sport that's typically a solo act. Perceptive folks will further comment that it can be a real struggle for solo actors to come together as a team. After all, if they were real team players to begin with, they'd be playing a team sport, right?
The US has had its share of Davis Cup problems, too - many of them involving John McEnroe and his disagreements with Arthur Ashe (a captain) and Pete Sampras (for whom Davis Cup was a difficult and unrewarding experience). The mix of national pride, personal ego, and professional sport can be combustible, especially in countries where tennis is a major sport (unlike ours). Ah, the weight of those expectations. Cry for them, Argentina. A country with its share of crabby and moody but talented players - like Bandies, like Coria., like Gaston Gaudio - who are a team in name only.
I don't wonder why the last match between Jose Acasuso and Fernando Verdasco (I kept waiting for the ITF radio commentator to slip up and say 'Acanando' or something) was so ugly, but so dramatic. They were both so nervous you had to feel for them both. At least Nando could celebrate afterwards. Jose will take a long time to recover, poor guy. And Bandies? He definitely has an ugly side. Talented? Definitely. A mature team player? A leader? Hell, no. He did come back and apologize to the press for skipping the post-match presser. Will he, um, reform his character somewhat? Stay tuned.
[If you turkey'd too much, don't just sit there - go hit balls. Tennisform.com, where I go to check live stream schedules, has been showing NADA! I haven't seen that before and I am reeling! Can't take this much longer...]
Discussion
3 Comments on "FUZZED: It's The Team, Stupid"
#1
Posted by Jenny, November 29, 2008 7:42 AM
Great post as always, Lexa. I truly feel Nalbi is being given far too much flak over this, not by you I hasten to add, or any other writers or commenters on TD. I admit I'm a huge fan of his brilliance, neither have I seen him as the Angel Gabriel either, he never said he was. I've never seen him dis' a player on court [lol the Henman worst kind of rubbish incident, he did wait until he was off the court!! We laughed at it here, even Tim, it was so over the top and Nalbi at his nasty best]. It's so easy to like the genuine sweeties on Tour, Nalbi isn't 'sweet', never has been. For me there's an honesty about him, he doesn't pretend to be what he's not. His face is a picture sometimes with those baby blues colder than an iceberg. He's always marched to his own drum, he's a maverick, I've always liked that. If he isn't best pleased, everyone knows it, lol I can relate to that too. It's very easy by some to put the boot in, blame him for the disarray within the Argentine Team just because Nalbi's in a strop. He's the proven, committed star DC player of many years. Surely, there are times when sugar & water, rather than vinegar, and clash of egos are needed to smooth a moody, mercurial player, rather than antagonise him. You have to ask yourself would Argentina have won even a rubber without him, I have my doubts. imho each member has to take a share of responsibility and that includes Mancini. If true, why on earth didn't he listen to Nalbi's expertise and preference regarding the doubles pairing? One could argue he's given too much of himself to DC over the years. Nalbi won the first rubber, he wanted Arnold to partner him in doubles. JMDP wasn't 100% fit, and Feli outplayed him with his varied game and serve, neither was Jose fit or match tough, I really felt for Jose in so many ways. I'm also hoping this will make Nalbandian [without injury, please God] furious enough to awaken the sleeping giant with cold aggression to give more than a few tennis lessons in 2009.
I was so proud of Ferni Verdasco and all the Spanish team and that includes Rafa, David, Tommy, Nico who all played their part. Sorry it had to be Argentina who fell to them. I was hoping Ferni would hold himself together, he's always a bit dodgy at crucial points. This time he clinched it for Spain and his colleagues. He's started to think, rather than nervously whack the ball even harder. Let's hope it kick starts him for 2009.
#2
Posted by LEXA W. LEE, November 29, 2008 8:51 AM
Thoughtful comments, Jenny. Bandies is one of those forever paradoxical guys on tour - although Marcello Rios would prb take the cake in public surliness. The ATP and ITF fine guys who don't fulfill their press/publicity obligations, but I guess they don't openly demand players ACT NICELY - they just hope they do. Sure there were other reasons Argentina lost, and I wonder if there are some cultural reasons involved? It didn't help to have all those fractious, angry political/financial/etc struggles long before the weekend.
When Bandies plays for himself, it's less of a deal than when he's a team member - which is the point. He ain't a team member at heart!! but he gets picked for Davis Cup cuz he can produce.
#3
Posted by Jenny, November 29, 2008 10:47 AM
I'd forgotten about Rios, Lexa. Coria had his moments too. I had a soft spot for him though, a flawed genius on clay imo, he was fighting more than his opponents, but pain, the lines, the umpire and himself. I miss him very much. Think of what a tie it could have been, in more ways than one, had a fit Coria and Nalbandian played those singles rubbers on clay.
It was a shame about all the other stuff allegedly going on behind the scenes before the weekend. As you so rightly say, 'He ain't a team member at heart!!'
Recent Posts
tennis Community
-
Community home
Community home
-
Publish a post
Publish a post
-
Recommended
Recommended
-
Audio
Audio
-
Video
Video
Leave a comment