Doesn't Jim Courier feel foolish now...

[Cridal]

after he stated multiple times something to the extend of: "if Nadal wins the US Open, he should be considered #1 player in the world".

First, you don't say things like that before the second week of a grand slam. The same way Jimmy Connors doesn't start working with Roddick until after the clay court season. It's just too risky of a move.

Second, even if Nadal had won the Open, there is this little thing called ranking system, that determines, without anyone's biased opinion, who the best player is at any moment.

Courier seemed to have overplayed his hand. I remember him a couple years back, when he was this unsure of himself, mono-sylabic commentator, who couldn't put a couple of sentences together. Now he is offering judgments as if there were coming from Mount Olimp.

After this magnificent performance by Fed in the final, I hope Courier looks in a mirror and makes the one true insight: "I'm an idiot".

 

[West Coast Ace]

Actually Courier, because of his tennis career and his tennis commentating to date, can get away with an occasional outlandish (ridiculous?) comment. The networks encourage these guys to be somewhat controversial - as long as their politically correct.

Remember Charles Barkley (NBA hall of famer) and his book, 'Frequently Wrong But Never In Doubt.'

 

[oberyn]

after he stated multiple times something to the extend of: "if Nadal wins the US Open, he should be considered #1 player in the world".

McEnroe said something similar. These guys get paid to make statements. If they never said anything even borderline controversial they'd be out of jobs.

In addition, if Nadal HAD won the U.S. Open, the notion that, in some people's minds, he would be the "real" #1 player, regardless of ranking, is not exactly going out on a limb.

First, you don't say things like that before the second week of a grand slam.

If you're a commentator, particularly a color commentator, you absolutely do. Watch an NFL pre-game show sometime, those guys have already told me who's a lock for the playoffs.

After this magnificent performance by Fed in the final, I hope Courier looks in a mirror and makes the one true insight: "I'm an idiot".

Only if the check from USA Network bounces . . .

Seriously, I see what you're saying, but it's his job to stir the pot a little bit.