FUZZED: CLOWN PRINCE OR CROWN PRINCE?
Written by FUZZED   
Thursday, 11 March 2010 18:24

Sports News - March 08, 2010

Singles tennis is fascinating on so many levels, and I'm not just talking about the game. In no other pro sport do we get to spend so much vicarious time up close to individual athletes. When the camera zooms in not just during play, but for the super slo-mos and the changeovers, we can see the pupils of their eyes. For the players, there's no place to hide.


Just for the sake of privacy, it helps a player to have a poker face. We know Federer used to cut loose oncourt as a kid, but I wonder whether his evolution into Mr Cool had anything to do with the intrusive cameras. Of course, they may have just the opposite effect on other players. Like maybe Djokovic. So is Djokies a Crown Prince, a Clown Prince, or both? He can bring the house down. He was a hit “Hitting for Haiti” at the Oz. You want laughs, you want nutty, you want a show, you invite Djokies. Rogi was so right to get him oncourt. Djokies made up for Samantha Stosur, who was so intimidated by the stars she didn't say a word.

Cut to Davis Cup, Djokies vs Isner. In their epic 5-setter/How John Lost and Became the Hero, Djokies displayed for us every human emotion possible at least six times. I had to mute the live stream because the Melodramatic One was just too much to take. Chest thumping, glaring, head-shaking, heaven-gazing, arm-waving, despairing, just fill in the blanks. He made you think if he lost he'd have to be institutionalized somewhere. You want calm, you want reason, you want clear thinking, you invite – well, John Isner. He did triple duty last weekend and carried the Stars and Stripes splendidly.

That Djokies can win long matches after all his emotional and physical sweating is some sort of miracle. But um I suppose he's had a lot of practice.His blood runs hot. And sport has always been a form of entertainment, right? I like the guy, although being around him too much might be a bit scary. The ability to be funny – especially in other languages – takes a rare intelligence. The ability to laugh at HIMSELF makes him likeable. At that age Johnny Mac and Jimmy Connors weren't as mature. The guy can compete, no question. And he's earned his ranking, although sometimes it looks shaky. As to whether their emotions help carry these guys to their wins, I'd say, sometimes. I also think their emotions have lost them a lot of matches. They don't have surge control; they just have surges.

Here's some of the commentary at Steve Tignor's blog at Tennis.com:

He seems to feed off his emotions as much as they feed off of him...Tortured artist... the Michelangelo of tennis...seems to be getting more volatile as he matures [!!! Like I said, scary]...The man can play tennis, but he just has no class...

Indian Wells! JUSTINE! ROGI THE MAYBE!



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written by Z, March 12, 2010
Fuzzed or Fuzzy, welcome back. This topic of "exposure" has been an interesting one as a coach of some high-level tennis players and performers on other fields. Part of creativity is tapped into through that vulnerability; part of the major distraction to creativity is the vulnerability. I mean "openness."
Maturity or knowing themselves - the players learn the balance for them in different phases of their career. Just and example: Oudin (like the young Capriti) might be overexposed = overwhelmed. Is your serve more or less exposed than your return of serve? Is privacy leading the players toward stinginess? On and off the court?
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written by Lexa is FUZZED, March 12, 2010
I try to keep it simple. It's about being contained, whatever is going on around you, blocking out the noise.

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