Jimmy Connors wonders whatever happened to 'killer instinct'

[thor's hammer]

"Killer instinct — that's almost taboo now," he says. "The sport has changed. Attitudes have changed. They all want to win, but how much?"

Link to full article

Connors On His Blowups (Video)

[Mick]

probably because the top players aren't americans. players from other countries prefer not to expose their killer instincts when they complete like mcenroe, connors, ... serena would

[pmerk34]

Originally Posted by thor's hammer

"Killer instinct — that's almost taboo now," he says. "The sport has changed. Attitudes have changed. They all want to win, but how much?"

Link to full article

Connors On His Blowups (Video)

Connors has been saying this for the last 20 years. Just because a lot of players do not have visible disdain for their opponents doesn't mean they lack killer instinct. Nadal apologized to Roger after destroying him in the 2008 French Open. But the reality is he probabaly wanted to triple bagel him

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by Mick

probably because the top players aren't americans. players from other countries prefer not to expose their killer instincts when they complete like mcenroe, connors, ... serena would

Jimbo is talking specifically about the lack of killer instinct in American players.

[pmerk34]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

Jimbo is talking specifically about the lack of killer instinct in American players.

He's still wrong, the top American players have flaws that keep them from winning slams not mental problems. Yeah Connors was a fiery competitor, so what. He also had the best return of serve and the best BH in the game for a long while not to mention awesome footwork and endurance. If he didn't have these other attributes his will to win would still resulted in losses

[mad dog1]

"Interesting, isn't it?" Jimmy Connors says Wednesday morning. "From domination to frustration."

Once, American men regularly held all but one or two spots in the world top 10 rankings, thanks to a tennis boom Connors helped launch. Now he wonders if this country will ever again produce players with the "desire" and the "killer instinct" it takes to be great.

"Killer instinct — that's almost taboo now," he says. "The sport has changed. Attitudes have changed. They all want to win, but how much?"

The sad state of men's tennis in this country is just one of the many topics Connors addressed in our 45-minute conversation.

.....


He laments the social trends that have driven an entire generation indoors to a life of "obesity and computers and no exercise and diabetes."

[Mustard]

Jimmy Connors was one of a kind in the "killer instinct" department. He does, however, have a point in regards to modern day American tennis players. The fact is that Europe rule the roost now when it comes to tennis domination.

[BeHappy]

Originally Posted by Mustard

Jimmy Connors was one of a kind in the "killer instinct" department. He does, however, have a point in regards to modern day American tennis players. The fact is that Europe rule the roost now when it comes to tennis domination.

Borg didn't need to shout and swear to basically destroy Jimmy Connor's career while he was active.

[pmerk34]

Originally Posted by BeHappy

Borg didn't need to shout and swear to basically destroy Jimmy Connor's career while he was active.

I wouldn't say he destroyed Connors career

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by BeHappy

Borg didn't need to shout and swear to basically destroy Jimmy Connor's career while he was active.

LOL. Are you joking? Connors was still playing full-time into his 40s, while Borg was burned out in his mid-20s.

[BeHappy]

Originally Posted by Mustard

LOL. Are you joking? Connors was still playing full-time into his 40s, while Borg was burned out in his mid-20s.

That's why I added 'while [borg] he was active'.

Didn't really worked for Connors against Borg either. Who had the better career, Nastase or Borg? Probably equally talented.

Connors knows this, he's just promoting his seniors matches and this is an easy way to get into the media, and at the same time remind everyone how exciting his matches are.

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by BeHappy

That's why I added 'while [borg] he was active'.

Didn't really worked for Connors against Borg either. Who had the better career, Nastase or Borg? Probably equally talented.

Connors knows this, he's just promoting his seniors matches and this is an easy way to get into the media, and at the same time remind everyone how exciting his matches are.

Despite his losing head-to-head, Connors has beaten Borg in two US Open finals, a US Open semi final and a Masters final. I should also mention that Connors in 1982 was an improved player, especially on serve.

[jrepac]

Originally Posted by BeHappy

Borg didn't need to shout and swear to basically destroy Jimmy Connor's career while he was active.

But, I'd say Borg had a killer instinct....he was a silent assassin!

He wanted to win at all times, no? And he had some real knock down, drag out matches with both Mac and Jimmy.

I think "killer instinct" here is not merely on court antics, but that real drive to win. You see it in Nadal and Djokovic, not so much from Fed now.

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Originally Posted by BeHappy

Borg didn't need to shout and swear to basically destroy Jimmy Connor's career while he was active.

It isn't a matter of shouting or swearing, it is a matter of desire and not being distracted. I'm sure Connors would say that Borg had a huge killer instinct.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Mustard

Jimmy Connors was one of a kind in the "killer instinct" department. He does, however, have a point in regards to modern day American tennis players. The fact is that Europe rule the roost now when it comes to tennis domination.

Connors is right.But the problem with computers and not doing exercise, is something around the world, not just the US.So, if no american player is dominant anymore, he should look somewhere else (Training conditions,coaches,surfaces, basics,options...)

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by kiki

Connors is right.But the problem with computers and not doing exercise, is something around the world, not just the US.So, if no american player is dominant anymore, he should look somewhere else (Training conditions,coaches,surfaces, basics,options...)

True. Plenty of the top tennis players today love computer games.

[6-2/6-4/6-0]

I'll agree to a certain extent with Jimmy. The killer instinct and mental fortitude that used to make players like Sampras, Mac, Conners, etc. great just doesn't seem to be there. American players seem to reach a certain level in the bottom of the top then, then they marry a super-model and try to maintain a lifestyle rather than digging in to become the best (just like Nole has done as a contrast).

I'll throw out another theory - that half of our problem as Americans is that we don't know how to play anymore. It was amazing to me to see that video clip with Pat McEnroe saying 'the Spanish trained players always hit the right shot, they may not make it, but it was the right shot.' The number of times that I mumble to myself watching guys like Fish and Roddick choose the absolute wrong shot on critical points is plentiful (granted I'm not in those situations, and I couldn't make the shot against the guys they were playing 96 times out of 100 even if I were able to get to that point in a match against them). Fish hitting cross-court backhand approaches when he needs to go down the line is one that always makes me grimace, and the passing shot often gets by him when he does.

Our point construction is poor, our shot selection is poor. I've beaten people much better than me simply because I can use slice effectively and like to approach the net and many current players aren't comfortable against those tactics. There's nothing about that way of playing that should reasonably cause someone serious problems facing that, but we've become a nation of bangers who look at players like Nadal and Agassi and hit the crap out of the ball thinking we're like them, but not realizing that they both know how to put together points and had great shot selection - they aren't/weren't just crushing the ball from the baseline like idiots waiting for a winner or an error to happen.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by 6-2/6-4/6-0

I'll agree to a certain extent with Jimmy. The killer instinct and mental fortitude that used to make players like Sampras, Mac, Conners, etc. great just doesn't seem to be there. American players seem to reach a certain level in the bottom of the top then, then they marry a super-model and try to maintain a lifestyle rather than digging in to become the best (just like Nole has done as a contrast).

I'll throw out another theory - that half of our problem as Americans is that we don't know how to play anymore. It was amazing to me to see that video clip with Pat McEnroe saying 'the Spanish trained players always hit the right shot, they may not make it, but it was the right shot.' The number of times that I mumble to myself watching guys like Fish and Roddick choose the absolute wrong shot on critical points is plentiful (granted I'm not in those situations, and I couldn't make the shot against the guys they were playing 96 times out of 100 even if I were able to get to that point in a match against them). Fish hitting cross-court backhand approaches when he needs to go down the line is one that always makes me grimace, and the passing shot often gets by him when he does.

Our point construction is poor, our shot selection is poor. I've beaten people much better than me simply because I can use slice effectively and like to approach the net and many current players aren't comfortable against those tactics. There's nothing about that way of playing that should reasonably cause someone serious problems facing that, but we've become a nation of bangers who look at players like Nadal and Agassi and hit the crap out of the ball thinking we're like them, but not realizing that they both know how to put together points and had great shot selection - they aren't/weren't just crushing the ball from the baseline like idiots waiting for a winner or an error to happen.

I never liked Bolletieri, but he certainly could make Agassi,Seles,Courier or Arias hit the right spot...

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Mustard

True. Plenty of the top tennis players today love computer games.

Jajajajaja

[mad dog1]

i think there's a number of reasons why americans aren't winning any longer - some of them are a sense of entitlement, instant gratification, and too many choices which leads to distractions.

look at MLB. so many of the stars come from poor nations such as the Dominican Republic, Mexico, etc. there's no sense of entitlement in these countries. there's no such thing as instant gratification there where baseball is seen as their only chance to get out of their impoverish situation. because many of the ball players are from poor families some of who can barely afford to feed and cloth their families, they certainly can't afford PS3, Xbox, Wii, iPads, etc so for entertainment, the kids focus all their time playing baseball. so from a very young age, these kids spend every afternoon and all weekend on the baseball diamond. they see their heroes who are now stars in MLB which only fuels their desire and passion to try harder to improve.

kids in the US? there's too many choices, too many distractions and way too many luxuries have made them soft. if they get bored or arent' good enough at baseball, they can try basketball or football or something else. and if they aren't good enough at that? who cares? playing Wii, PS3 is just as much fun and easier and parents are very willing to buy this stuff for their kids.

you see the same thing happening with basketball and football. a lot of the NBA stars come from impoverished families from the inner city.

it's no surprise that the are so many serbians, another war torn country, close to the top in tennis. think about this...americans get in their car and drive everywhere. we barely ever walk anywhere. europeans do alot more walking and don't drive nearly as much. while they're walking, burning off calories and building muscles/endurance, americans are sitting in their cars in traffic, eating fast food, gaining weight and losing fitness. europeans have a better fitness base to build from starting from a very early age.

adversity builds character. adversity pushes the human spirit to strive for and achieve more. adversity encourages us to push the boundaries. it's through adversity that we learn about who we are and what we're made of. right now even in this economic recession, life is too easy and comfortable compared to what people in lesser developed countries have to go through every day.