From: gaf5@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (Gail A. Fullman)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.tennis
Subject: RE: Ramblings
Date: 9 Sep 92 15:38:39 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <9SEP92.01572926@vax.clarku.edu>, htilney@vax.clarku.edu writes:
>
>In a previous article, clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin) wrote:
>>
>>   Mike Lupica, a sports reporter, claims that what today's
>>players lack is the kind of intensity that drives players
>>like Connors.  Connors never gives up...
>>He claims today's players
>>are money grubbing and complain and whine about life in the
>>high pressure world of tennis, and they have no right to
>>do so.
>>--
>>Charles Lin
>>clin@eng.umd.edu
>
>I take exception to comments like that from Mike Lupica. As if he's
>qualified to judge the rigors of the tour! And how would he know which
>players have "intensity?" I'd say that all of the top names do, the
>difference being that Connors is more demonstrative than most.
>
>I must admit that I'm biased when it comes to Connors. He's certainly
>left his mark on the sport, but one thing he's never had is class. Sure,
>it's great that he can still add alot of excitement to the game, but I've
>seen him be unsportsmanlike too many times to make up for "heroics."
>
>And I'm not talking about profanity or arguing line calls. (One of my
>favorite players is John McEnroe.) I'm talking about trying to be a
>sympathetic figure to the crowd and being a sore loser. I've seen too
>many matches with Connors, especially in the past few years, where he's
>been a very ungracious loser. Perhaps his "intensity" is commendable,
>but it irritates me when Mike Lupica tries to make him out as some kind
>of role model.
>
>-                              |   "A guy with a hard-on is not
>Bart "Webb" Tilney             |    my idea of art."
>Email: htilney@vax.clarku.edu  |                       - John Mellencamp
>
I agree.  I think some people have a problem with "out with the old and in
with the new".  Connors act, and it is just that now in his career, is just
that.  He is not the only player, past or present, who plays with intensity.
Maybe Lupica should watch the faces of the players - last night's two men's
matches are a prime example:  Washington/Chang, Lendl/Becker.  Just because
they don't jump around flamboyantly or play cheerleader to the crowd, doesn't
mean they aren't focusing on the match.

As far as the rigors of the tour:  granted, to an outsider it seems glamorous;
traveling all over the world, luxurious accomodations, etc.;  but the pressure
is on to perform at a high level every tournament.  Even the queen of tennis,
Chris America, would like to go back to the cities in which she played so she
can actually see the cities.  When does Lupica think these guys train?
Practice?  On the airplane?  He should now how tiring travel can be - yet
tennis players are supposed to come off the plane, adjust to the time change,
environment, and play at a high level, week after week, tournament after
tournament.  Granted, some do chase the money in exhibitions at the expense of
their careers - can you blame them for picking up a few extra tens of
thousands for a "scrimmage" where they can get in some "practice" without
affecting their ranking?
-- 

        ***********************
        *   Gail A. Fullman   *
        *   Manager - ADMO    *
        *   Ext. 83113        *
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.tennis