Australian media and Pat Rafter are fair weather friends to Tomic

[Bartelby]

The TA establishment is very powerful, as Paul McNamee found out, so the fact that the upcoming potential champion is not interested in being subservient to it must be irritating for TA.

And it's people loyal to TA who mostly get quoted by the media.

[Virginia]

Australia (and Australians for that matter) don't have any time for people who get "up themselves" - something that can easily happen to an up and coming tennis player, who gets a lot of media attention.

Did any of you watch the presentation to Tomic when he won at Sydney yesterday? Ken Rosewall, yes Ken Rosewall, arguably having one of the best and certainly longest career of just about anyone, presented the trophy. Notice how humble he was? Notice how he kept well in the background? That Olympic stadium is named after the guy but he's the most unassuming person you could possibly meet.

[Candide]

Tomic's treatment by the media is a function of is own behaviour and anti-charm. He's dumb as a stick and arrogant to the point of psychosis. Unfortunately that very arrogance is a great asset on court and as pointed out above gives him a great degree of self-belief on big points and the courage to hit his shots. His problem is that he can't turn this competitive arrogance off when he's in front of the cameras. He is trying though and has clearly gotten some coaching/advice in the off season, however, his efforts to suck up to audiences in Perth and Sydney were comically transparent. In an interview after beating Djokovic he used the phrase, "All credit to myself..." about his performance with no idea that the protocol is to use this construction to praise your opponent's performance. Clang! He's also said he will make top ten this year and that he's going to be the greatest to play the game. This kind of vainglorious guff is OK in your nighttime fantasies (or perhaps if you're a boxer) but turns a lot of tennis fans off.

He will cause a few upsets in the future but I fear I will never warm to him as I never did to Hewitt for somewhat similar reasons. I'm not troubled by patriotism so it's easy for me to root for the other guy when he's playing. Having said that I'd like to see him reach the third round to see Federer give him a lesson in humility.

[Blocker]

Originally Posted by Amelie Mauresmo

So now, Patrick Rafer is upset at Tomic because he won't be available for the next Davis Cup tie. Isn't it interesting how the Australian media and Rafter operate, now that Tomic is on a hot streak, winning his first ATP Tour title in Sydney, and beating Djokovic in an exhibition he's suddenly the pride of Australia again.

Didn't Rafter just diss Tomic, glad the young man is starting to stand up for himself. I don't know why he would even bother considering playing Davis Cup for Australia at all?


I hope Tomic and his family can see through the bigoted Australian media xenophobic BS. So suddenly because Tomic is successful again he's the pride of the country since he's the only legit player of the future they got. But a few weeks ago, Tomic was considered worse than scum. Funny, how having better results makes someone a hero once again.

I know Tomic is young, but this kid has serious talent, I hope he is smart enough to see the hypocrisy of the Australian press, Rafter and others ect. towards him/ They do not have this young man's best interest at heart they only see him as a means to an end.

OP you need to get your facts right about Tomic. So much time and money has been invested into him, and yet he carries on like a dick. Tennis Australia has not just got interested in him now because he is on a "hot streak". Tennis Australia has been investing in him for a long time now. The Australian media is just sensationalising Tomic and Tennis Australia but alot of national media outlets do that. Heaven forbid if Tomic was British, the British media would have incarcerated him by now. Australia's last big hope Philipousis was an epic fail as far as tennis success is concerned, because of his lifestyle, lack of determination and then injuries. Had he had Sampras' dedication and drive, he could have been anything. But no, slamless, and last I heard, about to lose his house a couple of years ago because he could not afford the mortgage repayments. He lives the next suburb over from me. The way Tomic is going, he will also be an epic fail. He needs to pull his finger out and fast.

[Bartelby]

Tomic's been with IMG since 13 and most monies that come from Government through the AIS need to be repaid through purse prize winnings.

So whatever he has got through TA he hasn't really needed so he's obviously not inclined to be grateful.

Philipousis decided to become a playboy, but in any event he was too injury prone to reach the very top, whereas Tomic has greater drive and despite his adolescent frivolousness he's unlikely to become a complete party boy.

[*Sparkle*]

Originally Posted by OrLevy

Surely he must have known that publicly humiliating Tomic could backfire if Tomic's form suddenly improves, which it did (and it was likely to improve - again, he's young - these things were going to happen).

Some would suggest that it didn't back-fire. It went to plan. If they had no hope that he might improve, there wouldn't be any point in bothering.

I agree with the general theory that it's better to say things behind the scenes rather than letting it spill into the media, but there's no way of knowing that wasn't attempted.

The consensus was that Tomic was talented, but needed a kick up the arse. It looks like he's had that kick up the arse. It's not clear how much that can be attributed to Rafter or anyone else, or if he just realised he wasn't progressing as he'd hoped, and had a period of self-reflection and worked it all out for himself. I'd speculate that it was a bit of both.

Originally Posted by chandler bing

As I stated in the other thread, it's an Aussie thing.

I know in other countries, some sportsmen are considered to be godlike and untouchable. Not in Australia. Nobody is considered above criticism. It's the norm here for even very famous, talented people to be publicly and harshly criticized when they mess up. Bernie had it coming for ages.

It happens in the UK too. I can't think of any successful sports stars who haven't had their fair share of heckling, except perhaps the Olympics athletes who take part in sports where there isn't much money. But even they are starting to come under fire if they appear to showing any signs of enjoying their success or becoming too well known.

At this point in time, Tomic needs to focus on his own career, and build on his recent success. If he even thinks that what he's done of the last couple of weeks is a big "up yours" to the critics, he's in danger of reverting. He's still got a lot to prove, and I am confident that Rafter will be happier than most if he does live up to his potential.

[Seventeen]

Originally Posted by Kirijax

Everybody looks good and are embraced when they are winning. Even scoundrels like McEnroe. Just part of the sports culture.

When Tiger was close to winning that major a year or so ago, I got the distinct impression all would have been forgiven.

[Bartelby]

I know the good Tiger is single now and can do what he likes, but it would be really interesting to know whether he is now as completely virtuous as he promised.

[Sabratha]

The Australian media are just desperate for any given talent that comes by that happens to be Australian. They want to feed it into people's brains that Tomic is the next big thing, vulnerable people, people who don't know much about tennis and only watch it once or twice a year. They are successful a lot of the time as these people are also gullible and will believe anything the media throws at them.

[Bartelby]

The media make more money out of the sport if there are national champions.

[Beacon Hill]

Originally Posted by Amelie Mauresmo

Tomic got in a fight with a friend in a pool hardly serious. People act like Tomic was smoking dope and robbing banks or something. The Australian media are going overboard with this kid he's only twenty. I can see why Tomic isn't impressed with the Australian media they act like players don't have feelings.

Do people here remember when you were twenty years old? Also, all these Australian pros such a Stosur, Hewitt, Rafter, talking crap about Tomic in the press is uncalled for.

Tomic should be focusing on his tennis career it is an individual sport and let Hewitt play Davis Cup. This young man has massive potential yes he has some personal problems but who doesn't in life?

The way the Australian media are acting as though Tomic is on dope or doing something extreme when is not.

Yes, we just have to be so very thankful that Tomic was not smoking dope. Never in history has a teenager done that and then gone on to succeed in any way.

[slickerthansleek]

Originally Posted by Sabratha

The Australian media are just desperate for any given talent that comes by that happens to be Australian. They want to feed it into people's brains that Tomic is the next big thing, vulnerable people, people who don't know much about tennis and only watch it once or twice a year. They are successful a lot of the time as these people are also gullible and will believe anything the media throws at them.

As much as it pains me to admit it, this is more or less true. Australia has always been a very proud sporting nation, and it feels like a lifetime ago that Cathy Freeman won gold, Australia were the best cricketers in the world, our soccer team wasn't a laughing stock, the Wallabies and Kangaroos were the best union/league teams in the world, Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt were winning titles, and swimmers breaking records all over the place. We are DESPERATE for some new national (sporting) heroes.

[Relinquis]

Well, it's Rafters role to get DC wins. He's not going to like players tanking and not giving 100% and he is going to want players who are doing well to play for the team. Tomic is erratic enough to fit both categories over the course of a few months.