Cheer for the player or the country?

[Pacific3000]

It's exciting to see Fish going into USO with some momentum. I like watching matches with Americans more. My favorite players have all been from the U.S. (Sampras, Agassi, Roddick and Fish).

If an American was in the finals, the ratings would be MUCH higher than another Djokovic-Nadal match. Why? Because the typical American sports fan doesn't care about non-American athletes. I work in an office with almost 100 people, and there are exactly two people who watch tennis - and I'm one of them.

Tennis was MASSIVE in America in previous decades, but today, not so much. It's much more popular on an international scale. So, while it's good for American tennis that Fish and Roddick are in the top 15, no Americans have won a slam since 2003! If more Americans were winning slams, interest would be much higher in the U.S.

So, I gotta ask: Do you cheer for the player or the country?

 

[jaggy]

I look for British players and especially Scottish

 

[norbac]

I also only cheer for Scottish players.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Where a player is born has zero to do with me liking or disliking a tennis player (or anyone, for that matter). Who cares? People don't choose where they're born. It's no personal accomplishment being born somewhere. Way to go! You were born in the States! I choose favourite players by their personalities and the type of game they play. Blind loyalty based on nationalism hasn't really worked out that well in human history.

 

[kishnabe]

I hope Fish does well....but this momentum might mean nothing if he loses in the second round. Though I see a QTR or Semi. But if reaches the Final....and the opponent isn't Djokovic. I give him a chance to win!

 

[Winner_DownTheLine]

My Favs have been Sampras & Federer.

 

[Mainad]

I look for British players and especially Scottish

When I look for British players, I only look for the Scottish ones! :wink:

 

[Ben Hadd]

Cheer for the player, not the country. We're all from the same planet

 

[PSNELKE]

Cheer for the player, not the country. We're all from the same planet

Amen.

10 chars

 

[Tony48]

The player.

I can't stand Roddick but I will root for Fish, Young and possibly Harrison

 

[Mustard]

I always cheer the player. The country is an irrelevance to me.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I always cheer the player. The country is an irrelevance to me.

I agree, I like Roddick a lot but I don't care where someone is from.

 

[Sid_Vicious]

I cheer for the player unless it is during a davis cup tie.

 

[FedExpress 333]

Where a player is born has zero to do with me liking or disliking a tennis player (or anyone, for that matter). Who cares? People don't choose where they're born. It's no personal accomplishment being born somewhere. Way to go! You were born in the States! I choose favourite players by their personalities and the type of game they play. Blind loyalty based on nationalism hasn't really worked out that well in human history.

Exactly That shows prejudice, racism deeply entwined into american culture (and I am an american!)

 

[Sid_Vicious]

Exactly That shows prejudice, racism deeply entwined into american culture (and I am an american!)

BS. People cheer for their countrymen all around the world. Why the hell did 140 million people in China watch Li Na at the french open? Why didn't as many people watch Federer and Nadal play in the final? Oh yeah, chinese people are racist jerks :roll:. Why do the majority of UK tennis fans cheer for Murray? Why do the french cheer for Gasquet, Monfils, and Tsonga? Why do Serbians have Djoko-fever?

Yeah, if Americans are prejudiced and racist than so are the Serbians, English, French, Chinese....

I am all for cheering for the player, but criticizing people for being racist simply because they cheer for their countrymen in sports is just pathetic.

 

[Netzroller]

Where a player is born has zero to do with me liking or disliking a tennis player (or anyone, for that matter). Who cares? People don't choose where they're born. It's no personal accomplishment being born somewhere. Way to go! You were born in the States! I choose favourite players by their personalities and the type of game they play. Blind loyalty based on nationalism hasn't really worked out that well in human history.

Cheer for the player, not the country. We're all from the same planet

I always cheer the player. The country is an irrelevance to me.

Same here. Tennis is an individual sport and and it should be treated as one.
(besides, cheering for German ATP Pro's isn't lots of fun these days anyways...)

But the truth is that it does matter a lot to the majority of the people, as you can easily see in the popularity of the sport in different countries. Therefore I am happy if players from my country do well, because it leads to my favorite sport gaining more attention and being shown on TV more frequently.... So yeah, overall I am somewhat cheering for players from my country

 

[Netzroller]

Exactly That shows prejudice, racism deeply entwined into american culture (and I am an american!)

That's really not only an American phenomenon

 

[d4o]

I route for myself, for the player, nor country they represent are any of my concern.

 

[fundrazer]

Always the players, country doesn't matter for me. Although, I do happen to like a lot of Croats... In regards to this country, well, who cares if they watch tennis or not. It's their loss

 

[slice bh compliment]

I am an American who loves college tennis and Davis Cup. I usually root for Americans in a Davis Cup tie. In college tennis, it does not matter for me (but maybe i favor the conference I played in and the schools of my friends).

Really, I'm for the player with the more versatile game, the guy with the sweet one-hander, the underdog, the guy who's been down on his luck, the one society has oppressed the most, and the one with the greater love for the sea.

After those variables, may the best man win.
Oh, and if a black dude is playing guy from an imperialist honky land (or Japan), I get a little racist (everybody's a little racist) and I just naturally root for the brotha. Sorry whitey.

 

[FedExpress 333]

BS. People cheer for their countrymen all around the world. Why the hell did 140 million people in China watch Li Na at the french open? Why didn't as many people watch Federer and Nadal play in the final? Oh yeah, chinese people are racist jerks :roll:. Why do the majority of UK tennis fans cheer for Murray? Why do the french cheer for Gasquet, Monfils, and Tsonga? Why do Serbians have Djoko-fever?

Yeah, if Americans are prejudiced and racist than so are the Serbians, English, French, Chinese....

I am all for cheering for the player, but criticizing people for being racist simply because they cheer for their countrymen in sports is just pathetic.

I agree,but I have noticed, going to foreign countries (barring China) that that type of support is much less.

 

[Sid_Vicious]

I agree,but I have noticed, going to foreign countries (barring China) that that type of support is much less.

No it is just as strong and in some places it is worse than it is in the U.S.

Last year Federer lost to Aisam Qureshi in doubles match in Basel. Knowing full well that Federer is my favorite player, one of my pakistani coworkers starts bragging about how "Pakistani Legend" kicked Federer's ass. :lol: :lol: I feel bad that I had to put him in his place by telling him it was a doubles matches that Federer couldn't give a backhand-shank about.

Also, do you watch the French Open? Classy crowd, huh? They act like wild animals everytime Monfils plays and starts performing his circus acts ( break dancing, full body dives, jump smashed).

 

[rossi46]

Becker, Sampras, Nalbandian, Safin, Federer, Gonzalez and Philippoussis. So other than the Aussie in this mix, player for me is more important than country.

 

[rossi46]

I am an American who loves college tennis and Davis Cup. I usually root for Americans in a Davis Cup tie. In college tennis, it does not matter for me (but maybe i favor the conference I played in and the schools of my friends).

Really, I'm for the player with the more versatile game, the guy with the sweet one-hander, the underdog, the guy who's been down on his luck, the one society has oppressed the most, and the one with the greater love for the sea.

After those variables, may the best man win.
Oh, and if a black dude is playing guy from an imperialist honky land (or Japan), I get a little racist (everybody's a little racist) and I just naturally root for the brotha. Sorry whitey.

Can you really outdo the us when it comes to imperialism ???

 

[FedExpress 333]

No it is just as strong and in some places it is worse than it is in the U.S.

Last year Federer lost to Aisam Qureshi in doubles match in Basel. Knowing full well that Federer is my favorite player, one of my pakistani coworkers starts bragging about how "Pakistani Legend" kicked Federer's ass. :lol: :lol: I feel bad that I had to put him in his place by telling him it was a doubles matches that Federer couldn't give a backhand-shank about.

Also, do you watch the French Open? Classy crowd, huh? They act like wild animals everytime Monfils plays and starts performing his circus acts ( break dancing, full body dives, jump smashed).

LOL but Aisam DID play very good in that match.

 

[Pacific3000]

The player.

I can't stand Roddick but I will root for Fish, Young and possibly Harrison

Harrison is fun to watch - might have some serious game.

 

[TheMagicianOfPrecision]

I cheer for the player who plays a style of tennis that i love and appreciate as a former player myself.

I also cheer for my countrymen.

But if my favourite player is playing a countryman...Lets say Federer vs Soderling...I root for Federer.

 

[Pacific3000]

Always the players, country doesn't matter for me. Although, I do happen to like a lot of Croats... In regards to this country, well, who cares if they watch tennis or not. It's their loss

I care, because more people watching leads to better ratings, more coverage, more popularity for American tennis.

Tennis is my favorite sport. There is nothing as exciting as a Sat. night match at the U.S. Open with the crowd going wild... but I don't share that excitement with my friends. They all like football

 

[Gizo]

For me style of play and personality are far more important than nationality. I cannot blindly support a player regardless of their playing style or personality, just because they come from the same country as me. Also apart from when players participate in the Davis Cup/World Team Cup/Olympics, they are not representing their country, they are only representing themselves.

 

[Pacific3000]

Oh, and if a black dude is playing guy from an imperialist honky land (or Japan), I get a little racist (everybody's a little racist) and I just naturally root for the brotha. Sorry whitey.

No need to apologize, you're probably the ONLY fan Donald Young has. Ha, ha...