Lost respect for Gonzlez today

SystemicAnomaly

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
Until today I had really admired Gonzo for his play and his tenacity in many of his matches. However, that admiration turned to disgust after his failure to admit that he deflected the ball out on an excellent get by James Blake late in a very close 3rd set in the semis at the Beijing Olympics.

It was hard enough to believe that the chair umpire completely missed it but it was truly unbelievable & unforgivable that Gonzo remained silent as Blake made his appeal to the chair. The deflection was quite obvious to moist spectators. It is difficult to believe that Gonzo neither heard the deflection nor felt it. Gonzo's cheap win over Blake guarantees him either a gold or a silver medal.

If the shoe was on the other foot, I believe that Blake would have admitted touching the ball. I know that I've seen both Roddick and Agassi giving up a mis-call on a critical point on quite a few occasions.

What has happened to this sort of sportsmanship?
 
Americans don't care when their rude spectators call balls out from the stands in order to give American players an unfair advantage. Ask Nalbandian.
 
Agassi was a real ******* in his earlier years and yet no one seems to remember it...

I agree that Gonzales should have given the point to Blake but in any case it wouldn't have made a difference.
 
^
I remember Agassi very well in his younger years. I don't share your recollection. He may have been brash & flamboyant, but I don't ever recall him cheating like this. In fact I do recall him applauding good shots by opponents quite often. He had integretity even in his younger years.

FalconX said:
Americans don't care when their rude spectators call balls out from the stands in order to give American players an unfair advantage. Ask Nalbandian.
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This is not an American thing. Actions by spectators do not excuse Gonzo's action (or lack of action).
 
Geez... You have never played in the Olympics and been in that situation. So, you should not be sitting in your glass house throwing rocks.

Blake didn't lose the match from one point. Get over it!
 
That one point was a big deal, It could have allowed Blake to break Gonzo late in the 3rd set. However, that is not the larger issue I'm bringing up here. It is about integrity that has seems to be waning in the modern game. I've been playing for more than 3 decades now and I don't really think that I need to get over that loss of integrity.
 
Oh please! I mean it's certainly not the first time that a Chilean tennis player has cheated. Perhaps it's a genetic thing. In any case, Gonzo's fan base will hopefully erode, and any sponsors he enjoys will entertain second thoughts.
 
etienne47 said:
Oh please! I mean it's certainly not the first time that a Chilean tennis player has cheated. Perhaps it's a genetic thing. In any case, Gonzo's fan base will hopefully erode, and any sponsors he enjoys will entertain second thoughts.
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It's the second time you say Chilean tennis players are cheats. Care to name another examples, sweetheart? Doping? Something to say about Massu, Rios, maybe Capdeville or Ayala?

Sour g****s taste awful, don't they? :)
 
Ok people, let's not have this discussion degenerate in an American vs Chilean vs anyone else. I'm talking about the integrity of individual players and not making generalizations about ethnic groups.


allcourter2008 said:
I read that Agassi spitted towards the umpire after labeling him as an *******s (in the early 90s).
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So it sounds like your recollections of the younger Agassi might actually 2nd or 3rd hand.
 
In the modern sports world, most participants care only about winning. The fans are the worst offenders in most cases.

I grew up in Dallas, Texas, as a Dallas Cowboys fan. At a certain point in my life, I stopped spending any time on their games. When the topic came up, I explained that (1) I don't really have time for more than 3 hours of couch potato work, non-stop, half of which is a parade of beer commercials and other advertising inanity, and (2) I cannot really get excited about rooting for criminals like Michael Irvin. I can pick up the paper the next day and say, "Good. I see the Cowboys won." But I cannot really get all that emotionally invested in people who do not represent me in any way.

The average Cowboys fan thinks I come from another planet. The average fan is praying every night that the NFL will reinstate "Pacman" Jones so that yet another criminal might help them win a couple more games next season.

We have met the enemy, and they are us. -- Pogo, cartoon character.
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"Playing in the Olympics, in what's supposed to be considered a gentleman's sport, that's a time to call it on yourself," Blake said. "Fernando looked me square in the eye and didn't call it."
 
Gonzo cheated. I can't believe he's trying to deny it. Claiming he didn't know whether it touched his racquet or not is about as believable as a woman saying she doesn't know if she has any children or not.

That said Blake should have just got on with it and won the match. This just gives him an excuse.
 
SystemicAnomaly said:
"Playing in the Olympics, in what's supposed to be considered a gentleman's sport, that's a time to call it on yourself," Blake said. "Fernando looked me square in the eye and didn't call it."
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That is exactly right. Golf as well as Tennis are sports about having integrity. That is what makes each one such a great sport. In golf if you break a rule (even if no one is watching) you are required to call a penalty on yourself. Tennis is the same in regarding close calls.

There is no way Gonzo didn't know if the ball touched his racquet. If that was true then why did he go hide on the far side of the court when Blake was arguing with the chair? Do you think Fed and Nadal would have done the same? NO!!! I have seen them and other players over rule calls and give the point to their opponent several times.

This is not about one country against another but about 1 player that today showed what he is really made of. I used to really like him as a player and always pulled for him to win but after today I have lost all respect for him and could care less if he ever wins another match. I will be pulling against him in the gold medal match because he does not deserve to win.
 
Hoot said:
That is exactly right. Golf as well as Tennis are sports about having integrity. That is what makes each one such a great sport. In golf if you break a rule (even if no one is watching) you are required to call a penalty on yourself. Tennis is the same in regarding close calls.

There is no way Gonzo didn't know if the ball touched his racquet. If that was true then why did he go hide on the far side of the court when Blake was arguing with the chair? Do you think Fed and Nadal would have done the same? NO!!! I have seen them and other players over rule calls and give the point to their opponent several times.

This is not about one country against another but about 1 player that today showed what he is really made of. I used to really like him as a player and always pulled for him to win but after today I have lost all respect for him and could care less if he ever wins another match. I will be pulling against him in the gold medal match because he does not deserve to win.
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Well said and I agree 100%. Not that he has any chance anyway. What's the old saying, what comes around, goes around.. or something like that. This kinda thing usually comes back and bites one in the ***..
 
firstblud said:
can someone tell me what point of the match he cheated? i want to watch the rewind for it, thanks.
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Late in the match, like last 2 to 3 games. However, not sure you'd call it cheating. He didn't really break any rules. He just accepted a point that he "probably" knew he did not deserve. Sportsmanship and integrity question, not a rule violation. You watch it and call it however you think. There are multiple opinions on what you call it.
 
FalconX said:
Really? Didn't seem like it was bothered people here that Nalby got robbed against Roddick. Those of that were bothered were told to shut up and waive the flag.
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Did ya say "WAIVE" the flag? :lol:

Ah!.. :-) nothing like good ol' caustic Ameri-phobe hatred to fuel some unintended--and rather delicious--irony. hahahahaha.

my word!......oh brother..... :rolleyes:
 
"waive" that baby goodbye! .............

FalconX said:
Really? Didn't seem like it was bothered people here that Nalby got robbed against Roddick. Those of that were bothered were told to shut up and waive the flag.
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Did ya say "WAIVE" the flag?

Ah!.. :-) nothing like good ol' caustic Ameri-phobe hatred to fuel some unintended--and rather delicious--irony. hahahahaha.

my word!......oh brother..... :rolleyes:
 
jaggy said:
Flach and Seguso come to mind.
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1985 US Open final, Yannick Noah and Henri Leconte quit after the 3rd set, lost 4th set 6-0 after a similar incident. Can you fill in that 13 yr old blank between my ears? Saw the match, Trabert ragged on the Frenchmen about this action.
 
FEDXFAN said:
Late in the match, like last 2 to 3 games. However, not sure you'd call it cheating. He didn't really break any rules. He just accepted a point that he "probably" knew he did not deserve. Sportsmanship and integrity question, not a rule violation. You watch it and call it however you think. There are multiple opinions on what you call it.
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Since when is hitting a ball out and taking the point not cheating? :confused: It's just as bad as calling an in-ball out.
 
Dedans Penthouse said:
Did ya say "WAIVE" the flag?

Ah!.. :-) nothing like good ol' caustic Ameri-phobe hatred to fuel some unintended--and rather delicious--irony. hahahahaha.

my word!......oh brother..... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Nothing like a good ol' reactionary USA-phil who can neither contain his boner nor control his fingers after spotting a spelling error. Your patriotic duty for the day has been fulfilled private Dedans. But Keep up the good fight against foreigners.

I hear them ruskies invaded Georgia. Alabama may be next.
 
I thought it was classless for Gonzalez to take that point. I am not a fan of James Blake but found myself wishing some sort of karma would come around after that. One of the commentators thought Blake might not even shake hands. I think it was very honorable for him to still do so. I kept thinking in my head that this is exactly what the the Olympic games are NOT about.
 
FEDXFAN said:
Late in the match, like last 2 to 3 games. However, not sure you'd call it cheating. He didn't really break any rules. He just accepted a point that he "probably" knew he did not deserve. Sportsmanship and integrity question, not a rule violation. You watch it and call it however you think. There are multiple opinions on what you call it.
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No. There is no opinion. Gonzalez objectively cheated if he felt that ball, and unless he is physically handicapped or was on some sort of drugs (both highly improbable given the tennis he played), he definitely felt that ball.
 
People cheat all the time, not just in tennis but everywhere. It's very embarrassing and people who know Gonzo will know that he cheated which is really a loss for him. But it seems to me such things are usually forgotten very quickly by the general public and media. It's sad but true it seems - society nowadays remembers only winners and forgets the loser even whey they cheat. On top of that when "winners" start becoming "losers" people start insulting the former "winner" and the vicious cycle continues. It's a tough world out there ... Shame on Gonzalez (if he did cheat - which seems to be the case) and deep respect to Blake for shaking his hand after the game.
 
SystemicAnomaly said:
That one point was a big deal, It could have allowed Blake to break Gonzo late in the 3rd set. However, that is not the larger issue I'm bringing up here. It is about integrity that has seems to be waning in the modern game. I've been playing for more than 3 decades now and I don't really think that I need to get over that loss of integrity.
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Very well put. It was *cheating* plain and simple. What a POS. Third World code of "honor" I guess. Apparently he has no problem is living with his ****bag decision.
 
T. H. Park said:
People cheat all the time, not just in tennis but everywhere. It's very embarrassing and people who know Gonzo will know that he cheated which is really a loss for him. But it seems to me such things are usually forgotten very quickly by the general public and media. It's sad but true it seems - society nowadays remembers only winners and forgets the loser even whey they cheat. On top of that when "winners" start becoming "losers" people start insulting the former "winner" and the vicious cycle continues. It's a tough world out there ... Shame on Gonzalez (if he did cheat - which seems to be the case) and deep respect to Blake for shaking his hand after the game.
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I disagree, when I think of Flach and Suguso, I still think cheaters. When I think of Gonzo from now on I'll think cheater. Everyone will.

Blake should have gotten over it, but he didn't. Too bad.
 
Gonzalez objectively cheated if he felt that ball
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No he didn't. It is the umpire's job to make calls, not Gonzalez's. Gonzalez is in no way cheating by sticking to playing points rather than calling the match himself.

Also, don't overestimate how easy is to do the right thing when you really, really want to succeed.
 
Very poor sportsmanship on the part of Gonzalez. It's worse than Keifer throwing his racquet across the net.

It will be interesting to see what kind of crowd reception he gets at the US Open.
 
Baxter said:
I disagree, when I think of Flach and Suguso, I still think cheaters. When I think of Gonzo from now on I'll think cheater. Everyone will.

Blake should have gotten over it, but he didn't. Too bad.
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IMO Blake handled it with class and dignity in his post match interview. He told it like it was in a calm and professional manner. No way, and no reason, to pretend it did not happen.
 
Il Mostro said:
IMO Blake handled it with class and dignity in his post match interview. He told it like it was in a calm and professional manner. No way, and no reason, to pretend it did not happen.
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"Playing in the Olympics, in what's supposed to be considered a gentleman's sport, that's a time to call it on yourself. Fernando looked me square in the eye and didn't call it," Blake said.
"That's a disappointing way to exit the tournament when you not only lose the match, but you lose a little faith in your fellow competitor," he added.


"Wah wah wah....I lost only because of that single point. Wah wah wah.."
 
There are 2 distinctive types of cheating.

1. Calling your opponents shot out while it is in.

2. Unknowingly touching the ball that was definitely going out and not being sure whether you touched it.

Blake should know the difference before crying a river.
 
GraphiteMachete said:
There are 2 distinctive types of cheating

2. Unknowingly touching the ball that was definitely going out and not being sure whether you touched it.

Blake should know the difference before crying a river.
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BS -- the ball clearly *changed direction* after touching his racquet. No way *unknowingly* comes into the discussion.
 
GraphiteMachete said:
There are 2 distinctive types of cheating.

1. Calling your opponents shot out while it is in.

2. Unknowingly touching the ball that was definitely going out and not being sure whether you touched it.

Blake should know the difference before crying a river.
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As hard as that ball was hit there is no way he could not tell his racquet touched the ball. And it is as bad as knowingly calling a shot out that was in.
 
I dont think its possible to hit the ball and not realise just because hes tired. The ball should feel the same if hes tired or not.


Gonzalez played down the incident later saying he had been so tired that he was unaware whether the ball had touched his racket or not, although television replays suggested that Blake had a legitimate gripe.


Gonzalez denied any wrongdoing and said if he was sure he touched the ball, he would have said so.

"If I'm hundred percent sure about it, I will give it. But I'm not sure," he said.
 
i didn't see the ball changed any direction at all ! Ppl make this up in their mind.

One way u can tell is Gonzo's reaction after the ball passed him, he looked back immediately to check if it went out or in. If he touched the ball, he wouldn't need to do that because he knew he just lost the point.

Don't make it up MEN
 
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