RFE: Marat Safin, a Devout Public Figure, Greater than Sampras and Federer combined

[gavna]

Originally Posted by SoBad

"gifted tennis talent who could humble the likes of Pete Sampras and Roger Federer"

- that's what Radio Free Europe said

Of course, Safin is also handsome, as you point out, and a global spiritual leader.

Yeah a young pre prime Federer in his early 20s and Sampras at the end of his career......hmmmm how many slams did Safin finally win? Gasquet beat Federer once to. Ho hum.

And if showing up in a mosque playing politics is what passes for spiritual leadership - I guess he is leaning how to play the political game very well.

[Phoenix1983]

Originally Posted by gavna

Yeah a young pre prime Federer in his early 20s and Sampras at the end of his career......hmmmm how many slams did Safin finally win? Gasquet beat Federer once to. Ho hum.

When Safin beat Federer in the AO SF in 2005, Fed wasn't "pre-prime" - he was right at his peak; note his demolition of Hewitt in the US final in 2004. In fact this epic Safin win (still one of my favourite matches) was Fed's only non-clay slam defeat between 2004 and 2007.

Sampras was reigning Wimbledon champ in 2000 and had just broken the major record, so hardly an old mug.

So let's give Safin his due for these victories, even if his overall career is nowhere near in the league of Federer or Sampras.

[gavna]

Fed owned Safin (record is like 10 - 2) and Federer in was even better in 2006 onwards.....in 2005 he was still only just starting to dominate. Roger in 2006 onwards wouldn't have lost that 5th set.

As for Pete of course he was on The down side....by 2000 he wasn't dominating (he was older by close to 10yrs over Marat) and he knew he was towards the end of his time and everything he was doing was geared to getting those last few slams. Also Pete at Wimby was special.....but by 2000 the writing was on the wall.

[Bartelby]

And what rules are they? Its always been easier to rob people with a pen.

Originally Posted by SoBad

Everyone plays by the same rules - how do you draw the line between "good" and "bad" guys?

[Bartelby]

yes, good idea, that way you can keep erasing until your bank balance tells you to stop

Originally Posted by r2473

I use a pencil

[Bartelby]

Is that what American Presidents do when they visit Saudi Arabia? And they snort drugs and then pretend they're born again.

Originally Posted by pound cat

He is ethnically Tatar and they are Muslin but Safin has never been a practicing Muslim. But because he is a politician and a member of Putins repressive All Russia party in the Duma when he is visiting a an Islamic country or mosque he does the politically correct thing (see here in the picture). His family background may be Muslim but his Safin's lifestyle has never been.

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

And what rules are they? Its always been easier to rob people with a pen.

The natural law does not distinguish between suits, badges, leather coats, tubeteikas, etc.

[Dedans Penthouse]

Originally Posted by SoBad

Will TW carry the Safin hat??

[hoodjem]

Safin is on my ignore list.

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by Dedans Penthouse

Will TW carry the Safin hat??

No, this is not a fake-gold plated federer purse. It is an item that is conferred upon an enlightened individual by a higher-up spiritual leader.

Originally Posted by hoodjem

Safin is on my ignore list.

The historians at it again. Yesterday I went snorkeling on my private island in the Bahamas and the seafood life in the pristine waters was spectacular. Now I am back in my luxurious fazenda and will play Moonlight Sonata on my Steinway grand piano, thank you.

[BauerAlmeida]

Originally Posted by gavna

Fed owned Safin (record is like 10 - 2) and Federer in was even better in 2006 onwards.....in 2005 he was still only just starting to dominate. Roger in 2006 onwards wouldn't have lost that 5th set.

As for Pete of course he was on The down side....by 2000 he wasn't dominating (he was older by close to 10yrs over Marat) and he knew he was towards the end of his time and everything he was doing was geared to getting those last few slams. Also Pete at Wimby was special.....but by 2000 the writing was on the wall.

LOL. In 2005 Federer was at his peak. Just starting to dominate?? You missed the 2004 season.

And you say that after 2006 he wouldn't have lost that set?? Federer was much better in 2005 than after 2006. He only lost 3 matches apart from the Safin match.

And Sampras wasn's washed up. He had a great run to the final (defeating Hewitt in the SF).

[Kalin]

Great thread about a great (obviously) man.

And nobody says Marat was better than Pete and Roger on a daily basis. But he could be on occasion.

[_skunk_]

Seems just the natural career of the athletes of east Europe, once their career is over they go to politics, so many players did. Cannot really understand how people can vote for them.
Anyhow voting a guy who hasn't been able to handle himself, what kind of guarantees he can offer