Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Channel 4 documentary: "Trophy Kids"


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 18104
Date:
Channel 4 documentary: "Trophy Kids"


Channel 4 are showing a documentary called "Trophy Kids" this Thursday at 9pm. One of the four youngsters featured is 12-year old Eden Silva, one of our top juniors in that age range.

However the previews I have read make it clear where the emphasis of the programme will be: "This Cutting Edge film isn't about the prodigies: it's more about their dads' unrelenting push for success". Eden is shown working with Robert Lansdorp (coach to four former world number 1s including Pete Sampras) who is quoted as saying "Without the parent, the kid is worthless"

The programme also covers a budding boxer and two golfers, one known as "The Wolf". I hope our Joey isn't switching sports wink

__________________


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 13354
Date:

Gotta make a living somehow!

__________________


Hall of fame

Status: Offline
Posts: 8846
Date:

Anyone watch it? Pretty depressing watching with Dad's trying to live their dreams through their kids and brainwashing them into thinking they wanted it.

The 'Wolf's' Dad was the worst telling him he had let the whole family down when he missed a putt!!

As a 'tennis Dad' if I ever get like that my missus would kill me!!

Eden Silva's Dad came across really badly I thought but unfortunately you probably have to be like that (and pay out huge amounts of money) to make it these days but it's a huge risk (both financially and in terms of potential ruining relationship with sibling)

__________________


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 18104
Date:

It was more or less what I expected, with none of the dads coming out of it well. Allowing camera crews to follow this type of story over a prolonged period inevitably gives them sufficient material to show the parents in a poor light, which suited the story line, so we don't know how fair the portrayals really were.

The sum of money Eden's father claimed to have spent (£125,000 in the last 18 months) is mindboggling for someone of her age and clearly unsustainable. I hope the whole scenario is what Eden really wants, rather than an increasingly weighty, and expensive, millstone round her neck.

__________________


Newbie

Status: Offline
Posts: 1
Date:

Have you no idea what the media and television do. Let me explain, a lot of what you saw was staged or the parents were egged on to say and do certain things. I know one of these parents personally and I can assure you this is the case. Comments made by this parent were completely taken out of context and the full comment was not shown. "hit the ****ing ball" was made under his breath, however the doc shows it as if he were saying it aloud and directly to his daughter and for everyone to hear. "At times our relationship appears professional and business like" again out of context, they left out "and other times I look at her and see a 12 year old child that I want to hug. This girl has 3 GCSE's and is a happy child who loves tennis. The parents are very loving and caring to both of their children. What happens on the court is not reflective of home life. Sometimes things are not as they seem.

__________________


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 34280
Date:

I'm so sure you're right - the media has so much power these days, especially TV, and they use it in such appalling ways. I wouldn't go on one of these programmes even if they paid me a fortune to do it - do you know why these people did?

__________________

GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!

GB top 25s (ranks, whereabouts) & stats - http://www.britishtennis.net/stats.html

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse
Powered by ActiveBoard