C19 and Tennis

[MJ2004]

Assuming we’re talking about the same interview (he may have spouted off in more than one), the one I saw was very near the start of ESPN coverage yesterday evening. With Chris McKendry and Chris Evert.

[MJ2004]

Yep, same interview. Here's an article discussing it: https://www.yahoo.com/sports/john-mcenr ... 41231.html

[JazzNU]

I've noticed that McEnroe has gotten incredibly permissive of whatever wrongdoing or unlikable character trait Novax does or has and as far as I can tell, it's because he sees himself as Novax and Bjorn as the Federer/Nadal. Every time I see him defending Novax (didn't see this one, just read a bit), but on other stuff, his words could easily be a defense of his own outlandish behavior when he was playing. So what if I'm yelling at the top of my lungs and making threats to the umpires, they are awful and self-important inserting themselves into these matches constantly = So what he hit the lineswoman? How about not standing in the way of the ball when I need to blow off steam and hit it? It's become clearer to me with every incident that occurs. And he's almost gotten uncomfortable to listen to when discussing Novak's popularity vs. Federer/Nadal, like tepid applause from the crowd and he's like, see they are loving this and loving him. No they aren't John, you're projecting.

[ti-amie]

The McEnroe brothers and Djokovic have been close for years. Tennis media just never talks about it. What he reportedly said per that Yahoo article is no surprise.

[JazzNU]

The McEnroe brothers and Djokovic have been close for years. Tennis media just never talks about it. What he reportedly said per that Yahoo article is no surprise.

Exactly. And speaking of Patrick, when he appeared on Get Up at the end of last week, he could've stood to say more about the situation the way that Darren Cahill did when I heard him on Sports Center (a very good appearance from him). But Patrick basically boiled it down to Djokovic being a political football and that being what this is about. To say I was disappointed was an understatement.

And you know I hate Mary Carillo, but I saw her on MSNBC a few days ago talking about the situation and she did a great job.

[Deuce]

McEnroe always says stupid things - and it's legitimate to say that his defense of Djokovic is at least in part a defense of himself... but he also says some things that make sense sometimes.
For example - from the recent article/interview:
“It’s total BS. If he decides not to have a vaccine and the Australian authorities say, ‘You cannot go down there unless you’re vaccinated', end of story, it’s black or white."
That is spot on - that's exactly how it SHOULD have been handled.

As for Mary Carillo, in my view, she is the most intelligent and witty tennis broadcaster at present.

[MJ2004]

The two reporters who have stood out and done a great job in this scenario are Paul Sakkal (not a tennis reporter, but he's been outstanding) and on the tennis front Jon Wertheim gave a great interview with Christiane Amanpour.

Sakkal appeared twice on the No Challenges Podcast and gave the best and most detailed explanation I've heard yet of what happened down under. I think the first appearance was linked to here on TAT already, here's his second appearance, which aired yesterday:
https://nochallengesremaining.podbean.c ... e-is-done/

[meganfernandez]

and done a great job in this scenario are Paul Sakkal (not a tennis reporter, but he's been outstanding) and on the tennis front Jon Wertheim gave a great interview with Christiane Amanpour.

Sakkal appeared twice on the No Challenges Podcast and gave the best and most detailed explanation I've heard yet of what happened down under. I think the first appearance was linked to here on TAT already, here's his second

Probably helped that Sakkal isn't a tennis reporter. He needed news experience and civic contacts for this story.

[JazzNU]

The two reporters who have stood out and done a great job in this scenario are Paul Sakkal (not a tennis reporter, but he's been outstanding) and on the tennis front Jon Wertheim gave a great interview with Christiane Amanpour.

Sakkal appeared twice on the No Challenges Podcast and gave the best and most detailed explanation I've heard yet of what happened down under. I think the first appearance was linked to here on TAT already, here's his second appearance, which aired yesterday:
https://nochallengesremaining.podbean.c ... e-is-done/

Haven't seen Jon much on this, but agree completely on Paul doing a great job covering the story.

[ti-amie]

Someone on another site suggested that Novax would be allowed to play Miami since Florida is a no vaxx state.

[JazzNU]

Someone on another site suggested that Novax would be allowed to play Miami since Florida is a no vaxx state.

That's ridiculous. He needs to get in the country first. DeSantis doesn't set the rules for entry into the country, just permissiveness once in Florida. People have a very poor understanding of how things work. And obnoxious Novax fans are quite desperate right now and grasping at straws.

[meganfernandez]

A former State Dept friend of mine noticed that the law says people to the US arriving by plane must be vaccinated. He wondered if Djokovic could arrive by boat or through Mexico or Canada. I assume the same law applies by land or sea and he just didn't see that version, but it's a funny image, Novak pulling up in a yacht.

[ti-amie]

[ti-amie]

[ti-amie]