Has James Blake sticking around hurt his legacy?

[surfvland]

What legacy?

[HunterST]

Okay, this "he has no legacy" thing makes no sense to me.

"Legacy" just means how a player will be remembered in the future. The question is simply if James Blake's recent poor results will make people remember him as a less talented and successful player than he was.

It's cool if you think how he plays in the twilight of his career does not affect how he's remembered, but, c'mon, EVERY player is remembered in some way.

[BeHappy]

When I said he had no legacy, I still liked watching him play and he was an incredibly exciting player. A bit like Tim Henman.

His USO match against Federer is one of the greatest matches in terms of level of play from 2 players at the same time I have ever seen. I think Federer broke James Blake's back in that match.
I felt that in the 2006 TMC final and all their other matches onwards Blake just rolled over. Federer crushed Blake's confidence in their USO match.

Blake's legacy among his fans will be his comprehensive domination of Nadal off clay.

I was just making the point that I have never heard of a player like Blake or Henman (or even Ferrer who is having a similar career to Bkake, beating Nadal in 2 slam QF's) talking about having a legacy.

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by HunterST

James Blake is one of my favorite players, but any real hope of him having a big success has been gone for a few years. Players and fans often talk about how players should retire when they're still close to their original ability to preserve their legacy.

Do you think JB sticking around and losing fairly often to players ranked outside the top 100, and even 200, has hurt his legacy?

Let's admit it, James isn't going to make into the hall of fame. and Pssssst, don't tell anyone but he needs the money to support his poker room habits..

[abmk]

Originally Posted by Mustard

I've never understood the argument that a player who carries on playing as their results decline "damages their legacy". Any results they have made in the past are not removed by playing on.

For example, I've heard some people say that Connors should have retired after 1984. Why? What he did up to 1984 will always be there whether he had stopped at the end of 1984 or carried on well into the 1990s, as he did. I believe that by squeezing every last drop out of his potential, surely he increased his legacy all the more.

because many people have short memories or start watching from the decline period of the player .....

for instance, how many do you think would be impressed by sampras in 2001-02 .... great serve ok .. but can't return, can't stay with the younger guys from the baseline ......gets passed by them repeatedly at the net ... net play is a failing strategy against the new generation ... blah blah blah ..

[tacou]

Originally Posted by BeHappy

His USO match against Federer is one of the greatest matches in terms of level of play from 2 players at the same time I have ever seen. I think Federer broke James Blake's back in that match.
I felt that in the 2006 TMC final and all their other matches onwards Blake just rolled over. Federer crushed Blake's confidence in their USO match.

Well like I said, everyone has a legacy. My father has never played professional sports but he has two sons, a successful business, etc. That is his legacy. Blake's legacy involves him suffering one of the worst years a man can endure, then going on to return to his profession and having more success than he did before the suffering.

Your analysis of the USO match is spot on. Wow. One of a few matches that randomly pop into my head whether I'm watching tennis or not. Anyone who says Fed played in a weak era just need to look at matches like this..James Blake could have beaten anyone in the world that day, except unfortunately than man he was playing. Beautiful match.

[tata]

While Federer prevailed in most of their meetings, their matches were always entertaining. When I watch the highlights on youtube of some of their matches, I really wish tennis would return to the way they played it. All out aggression on fast surfaces.

[MasturB]

After last night's match, Blake's Legacy should be safe.

[asifallasleep]

If there is a legacy it's his choke against Agassi at the Open and as a player who never realised his full potential by being stubborn, sticking with a coach for far too long, and not varying his strategy during matches. Seems like a nice enough bloke, but truly a one trick one dimensional pony. Rip everything and if you're on you win and if not you lose and thats it. For a Harvard man, he played a lot of dumb tennis in his career.

[WhiskeyEE]

Most athletes don't care much about their legacy. They want to make money and play their sport.

[Relinquis]

Ok... all yous haters... did you see his match against Tsgona yesterday?

If he had retired we would have been deprived of that. I hope he plays for as long as he likes. I for one, love watching his tennis.

[NLBwell]

I think players should play as long as they want. I'm in no hurry to have Blake or anyone else leave. I still like to watch him play. What he has accomplished will not be diminished by playing more.

[citybert]

What about Date is she hurting her legacy at 42? She had a better career than blake overal but people love her now and it appears she is enjoying the tour.

[Blaxican10s]

His legacy will always be the awesome hair he once rocked!

[ollinger]

Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Unitas, Michael Jordan, Tom Seaver, Rod Laver, Wayne Gretzky, and on and on --- virtually all the great athletes with "immortal" legacies ended their careers with a few years of very modest performance, but who thinks less of them today? These threads about hurting one's legacy always seem to lose sight of that fact. Have a little perspective. A generation later nobody's thinking about how your career ended. They're thinking about what it was at it's heights. Having said that, Blake has had an OK career but hardly the kind that people will be talking about years down the road.

[JoelDali]

Blake will settle between Roddick and Ashe on the GOAT list of all time.

If you read Breaking Back you will understand his GOATness better than what is debated on sleazy Internet Talk Shows.

[luishcorreia]

I saw him live at the estoril open some years ago and really loved to see him play. I think he lost the final. Tis last game with tsonga was very close, showing that he could be easily Top 20. I really enjoyed the game aGainst tsonga.... So just glad he is still around.dont know or care about his legacy

[BeHappy]

Originally Posted by luishcorreia

I saw him live at the estoril open some years ago and really loved to see him play. I think he lost the final. Tis last game with tsonga was very close, showing that he could be easily Top 20. I really enjoyed the game aGainst tsonga.... So just glad he is still around.dont know or care about his legacy

It looked like he could be top ten again really.