Count Zero wrote:

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steven wrote:

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indiana wrote:

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It's like he often quotes stats without really understanding their context or significance.

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True, though it's a charge that could be levelled at the vast majority of the population!

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Thats why i built steven, to give meaning to that maddness. Where there was once chaos there is now order. The beauty of clarity.

 

(i do apolgise that steven sometime makes errors, it is still a prototype afterall, but i try to spot them quickly)

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I am more than happy to blame my 'creator' for any errors I make.

It's Peter Ashley.

So here's a question. It's Friday afternoon, and today has been a non-stop Brit-fest. Yes, Elena Baltacha and Laura Robson lost, but they lost hugely gutsy, competitive matches with players ranked in the top 20. Fleming and Hutchins didn't just win; they demolished the 7th seeds. Liam Broady has won Roehampton (and for all we know we've got British winners in the boys' doubles, too). Murray (A) will be on for his third-round match later, and Murray (J) is just starting his 2nd round in doubles. Marray/Delgado are engaged in the final set of what could be an Isner-esque battle in their doubles, too.

So what chance, do you think, that we'll get lots of nice coverage of all this talent? (Not just Murray, Robson and Baltacha, but the doubles players, too?) And will the media be able to restrain its (general -- with honourable exceptions!) tendency towards overhyping (Robson certain to win next US Open!) or indiscriminate pulling down (British players are are all whiners/whingers/unable to close out big matches!)? How lovely if there were lots of articles noting that GB has a lot of people right now who are making good use of their talent and doing some pretty nifty stuff in the process!

By the way, not sure if it's been mentioned here, but Steve Tignor of Tennis magasine is doing a daily round-up of the tabloids on his blog. There's enough affectionate amusement in his discussion to make it fun to read ... though he also notes some home truths often articulated on these pages about the nature of the coverage! 

-- Edited by Spectator on Friday 24th of June 2011 02:29:56 PM

-- Edited by Spectator on Friday 24th of June 2011 02:33:42 PM

-- Edited by Spectator on Friday 24th of June 2011 04:09:59 PM

steven wrote:

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In the Times today - Proof that Andy Murray has every shot in the book - far be it from me to suggest anyone pays a 1-day sub, but if you do, you won't regret it.

Sports photo of the year in waiting in my opinion (if composites are allowed to win prizes) - and putting a lonely Gasquet in the pic (you'll see what I mean if you look at the pic) makes it a candidate for comedy photo of the year as well.

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I'm assuming from your description, Steven, that it's the one which also appears in today's print edition (interestingly headed "Hot shot:  why Gasquet never stood a chance" & accompanied by a technical explanation by Marc Aspland of how he did it which went right over my head!   ), so I don't have to.   Stunning image!

Non-tennis, but it made me laugh so I thought I'd share it. UK Athletics Head Coach yesterday:

"A lot of people in athletics make it sound as if they are living a hard life, as if they have to go to the coal mines in Azerbaijan every morning or maybe have to work for the Daily Mail every day. That's what I call tough."

You what?!

For those that don't understand why he has a gripe with The Mail, it is because it is they who coined the term 'plastic Brit' which they have been using to describe the 5 or so British track and field athletes that have recently switched allegiance. Also, it was a Mail reporter who challenged Tiffany Porter to say the words to God Save the Queen in a press conference.

I think it's important to differentiate between those who compete under Britain because they have no other option and those who have just taken advantage of some rather lax regulations. Tiffany Porter is a fully fledged American who changed to represent GB after not being picked by the Americans. Someone like Shara Proctor for example has to represent GB to have any chance of competing in the Olympics since she is from a Carribean island with no Olympic commitee.

Very different circumstances yet I'm sure some of the press would have no problem referring to both as 'plastic Brits'. Hopefully any future success JoKo has isn't disregarded by the media as 'she's Australian really so it doesn't count.'