Tennis/Sports Behavior: American vs. European

[Winston]

Did any of you watch tennis in the 1990's? I did a lot, because I couldn't get any dates in America and had nothing else to do. The players were more exciting as well.

One thing I noticed throughout was that when the other player gets a bad call, especially on clay courts where you can see the marks made by the ball, European players will often overrule the bad call in favor of their opponent. But American players NEVER do this.

For example, in the 1996 or 1997 French Open Final between Andre Agassi and Andrei Medvedev, Agassi got a few bad calls, but Medvedev overruled them and they replayed the point, which was then won by Agassi. This happened several times. Each time they replayed the point, Agassi would win it. If Medvedev had been a selfish asshole like Agassi, he could have just pocketed those points. But he was too nice.

Then, when Agassi began making a comeback after losing the first two sets, Medvedev began getting bad calls. But Agassi NEVER returned the favor. He didn't give a shit. In his mind, it wasn't his problem if his opponents got bad calls.

The reason I never liked Agassi was that his face and body language and personality were that of an arrogant selfish asshole. That kind of vibe is a turn off. He acts like he's better than everyone and deserves to always win. And will take unfair calls too.

You all should have seen that final. It was very intense and edge of your seat. Medvedev blitzed Agassi the first two sets 6-1 and 6-2. Agassi looked like he was gonna be steam rolled. Then he summoned all his willpower and would not accept defeat. He wanted it like nothing else and began giving 110 percent. It was phenomenal. He then won the next three sets and accomplished the impossible against all odds.

It was an incredible display of will power. I've never seen a comeback like that, especially in a Grand Slam Final. When the tide turned, even little coincidences began going Agassi's way. Things are weird like that.

But his behavior in taking bad calls and not returning the favor to Medvedev was disgusting and unfair.

How come American players are so selfish but European players aren't? Any of you notice that?

[gsjackson]

The worst example of bad American sportsmanship I've seen was at the '99(?) Ryder Cup. Justin Leonard made a putt on the last hole of the final match, and the American team, led by uber-Christian Tom Lehman, went charging on to the green, in the process trampling on the putting line of Jose Maria Olazabal, who still had to putt.

This is the very worst sort of etiquette violation in golf. If Olazabal had made the putt, the match would have been tied at the end, instead of the Americans winning by half a point. Leonard should have conceded the putt to Olazabal, but you don't really expect that sort of honor from Americans now, do you?

I think Jack Nicklaus in the '60s or '70s would have stood on principle and conceded the putt, and I know beyond any doubt that Bobby Jones would have done so in the '30s. It wouldn't even have occurred to Jones to do otherwise, and he would have given his teammates a good blistering for the egregious breach of etiquette.

[Winston]

If anyone else hates that assholeish face and attitude of Andre Agassi, you will love this match below from the US Open where Patrick Rafter, a nice and humble Aussie, soundly beat Agassi and totally outclassed him. Rafter was at the peak of his serve and volley game. He was in "the zone". I saw this match live and it was phenomenal.