Laura's Right to Play charity video

philwrig · Hall of fame

RE: Laura's Right to Play charity video

Maza1987 · Challenger level

steven wrote:
I can imagine Laura is capable of rubbing up people the wrong way but this journalist should be ashamed, trying to trip up a 16-year-old like this - it's even worse than the 'Murray hates England' nonsense, since when she's just starting out on the circuit, the last thing she wants is something like this causing friction for her in the locker room.

No doubt quite a few female tennis players are what she probably meant by 'sluts' (if she actually used that word) and no doubt lots of the male tennis players are too, not least because it must be very difficult to keep relationships going when you're travelling around the world all the time. It sounds to me like Laura wasn't trying to have a dig at the other girls, she was just trying to point out that, like Muzza, she's a lot more serious about her tennis than some.

Mate, they wouldn't be allowed to quote it if she didn't say it. Otherwise, her people would sue for defamation (libel).

With regards to how the article was written, I agree it was written with spite. However, I never read these type of magazines and this type of journalism is probably what the demographic of readers expect/enjoy.

When you start faffing about with the bitchy world of fashion, you're going to get burned. Simple as.

-- Edited by Maza1987 on Tuesday 1st of June 2010 10:45:56 PM

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Good ol' Tim comes out with some defending.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/jun/01/tim-henman-laura-robson-sluts-interview

Spot on, Timmy!

Ratty · County player

It's not that I know a great deal about the world of journalism, but I think that it is standard practice for the interviewee to be given the draft of the article before it is published, with a veto on any dodgy stuff.

As I have said, nobody would expect a 16 year old to understand the fall-out from a few ill-chosen words, but it was utterly stupid of her agents, family, etc, to let this happen.

After all, Andy Murray is still feeling the pain from that "I support any football team that England are playing" remark, years ago. The first rule of interviews is never, ever, to make joky or flippant remarks, because you will always be quoted out of context.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, it does seem Laura's advisors have really let her down here.

However it is dressed up in context, it looks as if Laura has said things she should pronbably not ideally have said. But hey, this is still a 16 yo girl, however poised and confident she may come across, so like others I have a great deal of understanding for her here and just hope she learns from this.

As to the WTA Tour looking at it, actually fair enough, but don't make a big thing of it and if felt necessary maybe someone ( such as a media advisor ) can help wirh a few words of advice for the future but if they in any way come down hard on her here then they are just plain stupid.

Good comment from Tim that so often : "the media shoot themselves in the foot.....you put barriers up". Who can blame Andy for instance not being always interesting and forthcoming when he quite early in his career suffered the spin put on the "anyone but England" banter. Some of them will be the first to complain about how many tennis players today are so guarded and unforthcoming.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 3rd of June 2010 04:13:29 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

Reading the Daily Mail article is quite interesting. The headline says WTA to launch 'probe' which means penetrating investigation. However later on in the article it says that the WTA released a statement which 'suggests' they may start an investigation and then at the end it says there is 'virtually no prospect' that they will take any action.

Daily Mail just digging dirt IMO.

I suspect that the WTA will just have a quiet word with Laura, anything else would just be proposterous.

link http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-1283269/WTA-launch-probe-Laura-Robsons-controversial-slut-comments.html

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Was stunned to hear the wta are even looking into this. Rightly or wrongly (wrongly, may I add) she was just stating her opinion.

indiana · Tennis legend

Mm, can hardly having all the women going around regularly calling each other sluts and similar.

As I said, Laura is a young girl still learning lessons and if it is thought necessary I would have no problem in the WTA Tour having a quiet word, though no more.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Laura has apologised
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wtatour/7800833/Laura-Robson-apologises-for-sluts-comment.html

I see her people have finally given her some good advice.

-- Edited by Maza1987 on Thursday 3rd of June 2010 03:30:46 PM

-- Edited by Maza1987 on Thursday 3rd of June 2010 03:32:46 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

The WTA have also given her a pat on the back so alls well that ends well.
The media now don't have the ammunition to continue to feed off this story so her Wimby preparations shouldn't be affected.

indiana · Tennis legend

Good stuff.

There are many much older folk, including many politicians, that have never really learned how useful a contrite apology can be.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Laura confirmed for WC at Rosmalen next week.

Osomec · Junior player

I'm very annoyed that she was made to apologise. I thought it was a rare and wonderful thing for a young person to speak out in favour or higher standards of sexual conduct. She could have said any number of things that I would find morally repugnant and the PC establishment wouldn't have batted an eyelid, but she says one thing that goes against the permissive zeitgeist of the pothead-generation controlled establishment and they come down on her hard. Freedom of speech is now only granted to people with decadent values.

I despise the Rothermeres. The Daily Mail should stand for good values, but it is owned by a family of wealthy liberals who despise its readers, and therefore run the paper in a way that brings the values it is supposed to stand for into disrepute, while making as much money as possible for the Rothermeres.