Geez Maria

bebots · Jul 11, 2007

LOL

Regarding pulling out of Fed Cup:

"I know this withdrawal is very frustrating for all my Russian fans, but I promise you it is way more frustrating for me," Sharapova said. "Nothing would (have) made me happier than beating the Americans on American soil."

That's a bit tasteless from her. Americans and Russians alike are raising eyebrows. Tennis to me is totally an individual sport, I don't necessarily root for Americans, I could care less where players come from. But why does Maria think that would've happened after getting an a** beating the last time she played Venus and the last two times she played Serena?

Probably not the wisest thing to say when she's defending her US Open title in a couple months.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_y...YF?slug=ap-fedcup-sharapova&prov=ap&type=lgns

Lindros13 · Jul 11, 2007

First of all, I think she's ridiculous for calling herself Russian.

Since the age of 6 (nearly her entire life), she's played and trained in America. Sharapova is just as American as all of the other Americans that went through Bolliterri's camp in Bradenton, Florida.

If it weren't for America, where would she be?
Yet she says she's happy to beat Americans on American soil.
Seems out of whack to me.

Am I missing something?

crazylevity · Jul 11, 2007

It's just to appease any nationalistic Russian fans who may be doubting her patriotism (and with good reason, too).

babySuri · Jul 11, 2007

she doesn't belong anywhere. a lot of americans don't like her and most russians hate her. she should play for japan. they love her there. but then again, they love paris hilton.

Musashi · Jul 11, 2007

babySuri said:
she doesn't belong anywhere. a lot of americans don't like her and most russians hate her. she should play for japan. they love her there. but then again, they love paris hilton.

Haha, so true~

pirateofthecarribean · Jul 11, 2007

Maria sucks. Her persistent shoulder injury = her downfall from WTA as a top player.

Sup2Dresq · Jul 11, 2007

Can she speak russian well? Anyone have a clip or seen a clip where she responds in Russian? I am just way too curious.

CyBorg · Jul 11, 2007

Sup2Dresq said:
Can she speak russian well? Anyone have a clip or seen a clip where she responds in Russian? I am just way too curious.

I don't have a clip but she speaks with a certain difficulty.

Sup2Dresq · Jul 11, 2007

CyBorg said:
I don't have a clip but she speaks with a certain difficulty.

Found one on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni-G0tvEqsY&mode=related&search=

She seems to speak it fine, but I dont know russian.

Kudos Maria.

She is hot so she can call herself whatever she wants.

CyBorg · Jul 11, 2007

Sup2Dresq said:
Found one on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni-G0tvEqsY&mode=related&search=

She seems to speak it fine, but I dont know russian.

Kudos Maria.

She is hot so she can call herself whatever she wants.

I would say that it's at the level of a 9-year old or so. That's not bad - she struggles with some words but her pronunciation is all right.

I speak roughly at the level of a 12-year old. I immigrated at that age to North America and have more or less stayed at that level. That means I speak very well and can read Internet-based information in Russian, but nothing complex nor scholarly. I also don't follow certain contemporary slang in Russian, but that's expected.

Sup2Dresq · Jul 11, 2007

CyBorg said:
I would say that it's at the level of a 9-year old or so. That's not bad - she struggles with some words but her pronunciation is all right.

I speak roughly at the level of a 12-year old. I immigrated at that age to North America and have more or less stayed at that level. That means I speak very well and can read Internet-based information in Russian, but nothing complex nor scholarly. I also don't follow certain contemporary slang in Russian, but that's expected.

So speaks about the same level Spadea speaks English.

"ain't afraid of ya"

superstition · Jul 11, 2007

Russian is one of the most difficult languages for English speakers to learn. Since she knows both, it probably takes more effort to speak in English for her than if she were monolingual.

fgzhu88 · Jul 11, 2007

obviously, when refering to "the Americans" she's probably talking about the williams sisters. So good for her!! stick it to them!

pirateofthecarribean · Jul 11, 2007

fgzhu88 said:
obviously, when refering to "the Americans" she's probably talking about the williams sisters. So good for her!! stick it to them!

And you are a traitor of America if you still support Maria.

charlottefromca · Jul 11, 2007

fgzhu88 said:
obviously, when refering to "the Americans" she's probably talking about the williams sisters. So good for her!! stick it to them!

LOL.. maybe she pulled out of Fed cup because the williams sisters ARE playing and she hasn't had a very good record against them.

Maria maria.. she obviously is just willing herself to "want" to play fed cup so she can go to the olympics next year and get a bronze medal or something (as much $%&* we talk about Sharapova you have to admit she usually at least makes the semis)

OrangeOne · Jul 11, 2007

Zverev said:
I don't beleive she meant it.
Media loves to take words out of context, she could have said it with a smile like joking. Just picture that and it would sound fine.

You could be right. Equally, smart and professional people, when facing the media, KNOW that things will be twisted and are careful to avoid such silly comments.

It still escapes me why people hate Sharapova.

The screaming doesn't help, neither does the attitude often seen. Anyways - if you can't see that different people like and dislike different people, well, you're the one with learning to do...

I have greatest respect for her. She's a workaholic and great humanitarian.

Workaholic? Hmm, believe it when I see it.

She donated lots of money to the children of Beslan, where around 1000 kids were taken hostage by Chechen terrorists;
She donated lots of money to Tsunami victims;
She just has been appointed UN Development Program Goodwill Ambassador
She has donated $100,000 for children hospitals that treat radiation related illness in Chernobyl area. She pledged more for other projects in the region.
As part of UNDP works to eradicate povery, children to school, safe drinking water and other programs

Good. People with stupendous amounts of money should donate stupendous amounts of money. But if she donates 10% of her earnings and the local garbageman donates 10% of his earnings, don't expect me to respect either more or less because of it.

So what the f... do you know? And what the f... have you done in you life?
Write it on the small pice of paper and then come back biitching about Shara.

Outside of that being outside the rules for these boards, and aside from me not knowing who you were aiming the question at, why do you think that someone who happened to be naturally gifted at tennis is in any way better than anyone else? Why do you choose to put a sports-star on a pedestal? If people want to whinge about someone, well, it does happen here. Doesn't diminish their own achievements, and just because someone hasn't won a tennis slam doesn't mean they haven't potentially achieved much more than someone who has.

CyBorg · Jul 11, 2007

superstition said:
Russian is one of the most difficult languages for English speakers to learn. Since she knows both, it probably takes more effort to speak in English for her than if she were monolingual.

That's not true. I can say with all conviction that English is the easiest language to learn of all of them. She has no one to blame but her stupid brain.

superstition · Jul 11, 2007

CyBorg said:
That's not true. I can say with all conviction that English is the easiest language to learn of all of them. She has no one to blame but her stupid brain.

I heard it straight from a Linguistics Ph.D that Russian is one of the most difficult language for English speakers to learn. I've also heard this from a Russian professor. (Japanese takes longer, by the way). I assumed that difficult works both ways.

Zverev · Jul 11, 2007

OrangeOne said:
.....Outside of that being outside the rules for these boards, ......

Thanks for pointing this out, I guess I became a bit agitated towards the end of my post. And my comments are not aimed at anybody in particular.

OrangeOne said:
Why do you choose to put a sports-star on a pedestal? If people want to whinge about someone, well, it does happen here. Doesn't diminish their own achievements, and just because someone hasn't won a tennis slam doesn't mean they haven't potentially achieved much more than someone who has.

I don't put her on pedestal. It just amazes me how aged men can call young girl a ***** all the time. Is it well inside of these boards?
And all that just for the pitch of her voice? Geees, I've heard Venus screaming horribly on the low volley, and what?
I've seen Connors talking to Roddick, coach of one of the girl (forgotten her name) showing how to hit the ball, numerous other examples.
But Shara got the hammering over banana? Some half wits on these boards insist that's coaching and keep serious face. Come on....

CyBorg · Jul 11, 2007

superstition said:
I heard it straight from a Linguistics Ph.D that Russian is one of the most difficult language for English speakers to learn. I've also heard this from a Russian professor. (Japanese takes longer, by the way). I assumed that difficult works both ways.

No, Russian is hard to learn because it's incredibly complex. Ditto for Japanese.

superman1 · Jul 12, 2007

The funny thing is that she can't speak Russian or English like a native. It's a pain to watch her interviews because she talks in such a lazy, drawling voice. She's a girl without a home.

sondraj · Jul 12, 2007

superman1 said:
The funny thing is that she can't speak Russian or English like a native. It's a pain to watch her interviews because she talks in such a lazy, drawling voice. She's a girl without a home.

Girl without a home, have you been around america lately

this is the place for people who don't speak English well. this is def their homes if they choose to make it that way.

superstition · Jul 12, 2007

CyBorg said:
No, Russian is hard to learn because it's incredibly complex. Ditto for Japanese.

What do you mean, "no"?

Complexity is precisely the reason I heard from those professors.

English is a complex language, too. English only has 8 inflexional case endings, while Russian is loaded with them and other things that are difficult for English speakers to master. It also has non-Roman characters. Japanese has no cognates and the world's most complicated writing system.

CyBorg · Jul 12, 2007

superstition said:
What do you mean, "no"?

Complexity is precisely the reason I heard from those professors.

English is a complex language, too. English only has 8 inflexional case endings, while Russian is loaded with them and other things that are difficult for English speakers to master. It also has non-Roman characters. Japanese has no cognates and the world's most complicated writing system.

English is not complex. Of course part of it has to do with it being so very common globally today. It's the easiest language to learn today.

princess bossass · Jul 12, 2007

CyBorg said:
English is not complex. Of course part of it has to do with it being so very common globally today. It's the easiest language to learn today.

Eh, I disagree with that. For example, most of my international students find romantic languages much, much easier to learn than the mutt that is English. Just my two cents. If by "easiest" you mean that English is everywhere so it's hard not to pick up bits and pieces of it, or its easier to immerse yourself in, then sure.

Sharapova's "lazy drawl" is Floridian. Lots of my family sounds just like her.

For not learning English until she was gradeschool age (past the age when most of us absorb language the fastest), I think her English is impressive. She says "amazing" and "at the end of the day" and "great" a whole helluva lot, but I figure that's because she's a twenty year-old athlete whose main objective in life isn't verbal brilliance.

CyBorg · Jul 12, 2007

princess bossass said:
Eh, I disagree with that. For example, most of my international students find romantic languages much, much easier to learn than the mutt that is English. Just my two cents. If by "easiest" you mean that English is everywhere so it's hard not to pick up bits and pieces of it, or its easier to immerse yourself in, then sure.

Yes, it's the combination of these factors.

a) It is very simple gramatically

b) It is very widespread

princess bossass · Jul 12, 2007

CyBorg said:
Yes, it's the combination of these factors.

a) It is very simple gramatically

b) It is very widespread

Simple compared to what? To Spanish??

sondraj · Jul 12, 2007

I think is has to do with the individual, I don't think spanish is hard to read at all but speaking and understand it when some speaks it just kills me. It seems everything you learned as a rule is no longer a rule when people speak it.

superstition · Jul 12, 2007

CyBorg said:
English is not complex. Of course part of it has to do with it being so very common globally today. It's the easiest language to learn today.

All languages are complex, in different ways. English lacks Russian's extensive case system but it has difficult spelling and pronounciation because there are many many more sounds in English than are reflected by the small alphabet.

Unless people who speak a certain language are all less intelligent than people who speak another, their language should be just as complex. However, it is possible, I suppose, to measure efficiency. Given that languages are always changing, though, efficiency should improve over time. For instance, English is evolving away from the case system toward a strict word order system. There are thousands of words that are no longer part of modern English, many of them redundant with words that are in use. Given that Japanese has the most complex writing system, it could be said that it's the least efficient when it comes to writing, but a Japanese teacher I know said when the government tried to get rid of Chinese characters in a reform, people realized how efficient they are for reading. They're not very efficient for learning, but make reading very fast.

English has many figures of speech which give foreigners trouble, too.

nc2 · Jul 12, 2007

Just for arguement's sake, for those who think Sharapova is an american because she's been here since 6, what about illegal immigrants who have spent more time in the US than their home country? Are they americans?

sondraj · Jul 12, 2007

nc2 said:
Just for arguement's sake, for those who think Sharapova is an american because she's been here since 6, what about illegal immigrants who have spent more time in the US than their home country? Are they americans?

No they are illegal, maria is a legal citizen. That means she is Russian-american, not the other way around. But yes she would be a citizen of both countries so i don't see the problem with calling her either or.

CyBorg · Jul 12, 2007

superstition said:
All languages are complex, in different ways. English lacks Russian's extensive case system but it has difficult spelling and pronounciation because there are many many more sounds in English than are reflected by the small alphabet.

Unless people who speak a certain language are all less intelligent than people who speak another, their language should be just as complex. However, it is possible, I suppose, to measure efficiency. Given that languages are always changing, though, efficiency should improve over time. For instance, English is evolving away from the case system toward a strict word order system. There are thousands of words that are no longer part of modern English, many of them redundant with words that are in use. Given that Japanese has the most complex writing system, it could be said that it's the least efficient when it comes to writing, but a Japanese teacher I know said when the government tried to get rid of Chinese characters in a reform, people realized how efficient they are for reading. They're not very efficient for learning, but make reading very fast.

English has many figures of speech which give foreigners trouble, too.

Let me put it this way: Learning basic English in the form of everyday conversation and the everyday forms of written communication is significantly easier than in most other languages. You are correct to say that English in its purest form can be complex, but that is not the English that is in common use globally.

I base what I say on the basic systems of communication - habitual interactions. This is what you learn when you immigrate to an English-speaking countries. You don't really learn Shakespeare or Hemingway. These systems are relatively simple in comparison to those of other countries I know. Canadian English, in particular, is virtually slang-free.

CyBorg · Jul 12, 2007

princess bossass said:
Simple compared to what? To Spanish??

To most languages.

simi · Jul 12, 2007

CyBorg said:
princess bossass said:

Simple compared to what? To Spanish??

Click to expand...

To most languages.

Italian is pretty simple too. On a recent trip to Italy, when my minimal Italian failed me, I was easily understood when speaking Spanish.

CyBorg · Jul 12, 2007

simi said:
Italian is pretty simple too. On a recent trip to Italy, when my minimal Italian failed me, I was easily understood when speaking Spanish.

It's certainly not Chinese trigonometry. Not a very widespread language however.

P.S. Just to bring us back to the topic, my point is that Maria has an excuse for not speaking Russian with an acceptable fluency (considering the complexity of the language), but should be ashamed for her 30-world English vocabulary.

superstition · Jul 12, 2007

I guess when you're bilingual, have won slams, and have been No. 1 in the world in a sport, you must trot out 50 cent words during press conferences to escape shame in a country that doesn't teach kids a second language until High School the majority of the time.

Heathers said:
I was pleasantly surprised to see that she made proper use of the word myriad in her suicide note.

sondraj · Jul 12, 2007

superstition said:
I guess when you're bilingual, have won slams, and have been No. 1 in the world in a sport, you must trot out 50 cent words during press conferences to escape shame in a country that doesn't teach kids a second language until High School the majority of the time.

Me thinks that is another knock on america, and I will refrain from commenting

superstition · Jul 12, 2007

It is a bad thing that America's K-12 system teaches secondary languages in High School and college instead of in elementary school. Science has found that people learn languages efficiency prior to puberty. I've had to suffer from this obsolete system personally. As a college student, I'm forced to take two full years of a language in order to graduate, and learning a language in your 20s is not nearly as easy as it is when you're a little kid. People who are bilingual growing up can master new languages with greater ease.

kaiotic · Jul 12, 2007

she sucks! periiod.

superstition · Jul 12, 2007

kaiotic said:
she sucks! periiod.

Fascinating. I personally think when someone wins slams they're fairly decent at tennis.

WillAlwaysLoveYouTennis · Jul 12, 2007

From that particular link, the audio wasn't so good to me, but she responded well. Not the best grammar but definitely understandable certainly. To be able to perceive and reply in a language that might be your ethnicity but is not spoken regularly around you, Maria did very well.

Russian I believe is not so very difficult to learn for an English speaker (word memory and grammar), but pronunciation can be quite difficult for them. As in reverse, its difficult to pronounce English for a native Russian speaker and not be accented. I think German is quite harder to memorize grammar, though you might know many words or phrases.

And just by personal example, it just seems to be one of those idiosyncracies about moving from country to country. I was born in US to 1st gen Russian immigrant and Alaskan native, but went back to Russia early on, before teens, though having spent my majority of adulthood in Germany, and speak German easier than English, and equal to Russian now. Just for those circumstances, American consider me Russian, but most Russians consider me American or OTHER. One can have a connection to both lands.

superstition said:
People who are bilingual growing up can master new languages with greater ease.

Bilingual or multiligual even more so.

Fedace · Jul 12, 2007

Anyone Know If Fedcup Is Being Streamed Anywhere Live ??

abenguyen · Jul 13, 2007

CyBorg said:
That's not true. I can say with all conviction that English is the easiest language to learn of all of them. She has no one to blame but her stupid brain.

isn't it fact that english is the hardest language to learn?

CyBorg · Jul 13, 2007

abenguyen said:
isn't it fact that english is the hardest language to learn?

Read carefully...

NO.

Rodditha · Jul 13, 2007

That girl is arrogant and stupid, how in the hell does she says that she would be happy to beat the Americans in America whereas she gets demolished all the time when playing Americans, i'm certain she withdrew because the William sisters will be playing the singles.

rob61 · Jul 13, 2007

This is not the first time she has made an anti-American comment such as this. It is fine if she considers herself Russian... who cares? But to make comments such as these when she was trained in the US... on SCHOLARSHIP no less, and has enjoyed becoming the world's best paid female athlete through endorsements from America's capitalistic system, she should feel a little bit of gratitude to the country that has allowed her all of this.

CyBorg · Jul 13, 2007

rob61 said:
This is not the first time she has made an anti-American comment such as this. It is fine if she considers herself Russian... who cares? But to make comments such as these when she was trained in the US... on SCHOLARSHIP no less, and has enjoyed becoming the world's best paid female athlete through endorsements from America's capitalistic system, she should feel a little bit of gratitude to the country that has allowed her all of this.

Anti-American comments? Where?

BreakPoint · Jul 13, 2007

sondraj said:
No they are illegal, maria is a legal citizen. That means she is Russian-american, not the other way around. But yes she would be a citizen of both countries so i don't see the problem with calling her either or.

The U.S. does not allow dual citizenship. To become an American citizen, you have to renounce all other nations' citizenships.

Are you sure Sharapova is an American citizen?

BreakPoint · Jul 13, 2007

superstition said:
People who are bilingual growing up can master new languages with greater ease.

I don't think that's particularly true.

Say you speak both English and French. I don't think that makes it any easier to learn Japanese or Chinese than if you only spoke English.

BTW, I learned Japanese when I was in my late-20's, and that was no easy feat.

BreakPoint · Jul 13, 2007

abenguyen said:
isn't it fact that english is the hardest language to learn?

I think it is for native Japanese speakers (and native Chinese speakers, too.)

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