"Love Means Zero" Discussion Thread

[NonP]

Here's a great interview with the director.

@NonP he used Kurosawa's Ran as inspiration!

https://melmagazine.com/would-you-let-this-tyrant-coach-your-kid-227c79f885f0

Apparently this would have ended up as an ESPN 30 for 30, if they got Andre to participate.

Finally getting to this now. Gotta admit I had misgivings at first but that was indeed a revealing interview with Kohn. Like many others I don't have Showtime, but the doc does look interesting (Kohn's own tennis background no doubt helped) and I'll definitely check it out when Amazon or some other streaming service picks it up. Thanks for the shout-out.

P.S. Just posted a capsule review of Kevin Macdonald's own doc Whitney, which deals with similar themes.

 

[Sixpointone]

I've seen the trailers for this, and am interested to see it. Largely speaking, I try and support tennis documentaries and movies in hopes there will be more made.

 

[SDRIA]

They didn't send their kids to him to learn how to hit strokes. Lots of people who have strokes who made no money at tennis. They sent them there to be successful tennis pros, grand slam champions. And how do you know this is the first time those parents are hearing that?

The ones who have a beef with him are those like Horvath where he just up and dumped them. I highly doubt there are many, if any, that are saying "I can't believe he couldn't get little Johnny to understand you need 45% flexion at this point in the forehand, and pronation at 60% of your power just before contact."

I understand how words on film have gotten many people in trouble. But those are things that actually matter. We're talking about tennis. An old tennis coach. Whom nobody had a gun to their head to hire. To say this film has impugned all of the USPTA by his statements in this film suggest you either have an axe to grind with Bolletieri(and I mean personally, not just "I hate that he did insert crime here), or you are overly dramatizing things. You're acting like something that is quite inconsequential is very important.

You’re still calling him a “coach” after he admits that he’s ignorant about crucial aspects of the sport? Where is your respect for the sport? Can’t you tell that I am simply pointing out the elephant in the room that no one is talking about? I didn’t expect any resistance for calling a person out who admits to being ignorant of tennis fundamentals and then charges $900/hour to teach someone how to hit the ball? I’m also rightly calling out the USPTA for certifying this man as a “Master Professional,” and you have a problem with that also.

 

[Bluefan75]

You’re still calling him a “coach” after he admits that he’s ignorant about crucial aspects of the sport? Where is your respect for the sport? Can’t you tell that I am simply pointing out the elephant in the room that no one is talking about? I didn’t expect any resistance for calling a person out who admits to being ignorant of tennis fundamentals and then charges $900/hour to teach someone how to hit the ball? I’m also rightly calling out the USPTA for certifying this man as a “Master Professional,” and you have a problem with that also.

"Respect for the sport"? Please. This is a business. All around. USPTA cares about people paying their dues. Parents had several options of people to instruct their kids, with no coercion, and they chose Bollettieri. At whatever rate he was charging. Why didn't they go to someone else? At no time did they not have that option.

I have a problem with you thinking this is some kind of revered, holy space that should unsullied by miscreants. I have a problem with your idealism that is unicorns and lollipops. I suppose next you are going to wish for a return to amateur days so as not to stain this canvas that happens to be a sport.

 

[SDRIA]

"Respect for the sport"? Please. This is a business. All around. USPTA cares about people paying their dues. Parents had several options of people to instruct their kids, with no coercion, and they chose Bollettieri. At whatever rate he was charging. Why didn't they go to someone else? At no time did they not have that option.

I have a problem with you thinking this is some kind of revered, holy space that should unsullied by miscreants. I have a problem with your idealism that is unicorns and lollipops. I suppose next you are going to wish for a return to amateur days so as not to stain this canvas that happens to be a sport.

And I have a problem with you supporting and not calling out the phonies and criticizing those who do. That makes you part of the swamp. You try to paint me as naive for simply pointing out a jaw-dropping confession made by someone who for decades had convinced the world that he knows how to teach people how to hit the ball the right way, and even more amusingly, you still call him a “coach” after he confessed ON FILM to knowing nothing about stroke technique and mechanics, the most basic aspect of the sport. Where is your respect for the truth?

I’m not just calling you out. I’m also calling out the USPTA for certifying him as a “Master Professional,” what they advertise and push as their “highest, most esteemed” category. Instead of attacking me, would you care to explain to the readers on this board how in the world that happened when one of the exams that an aspiring coach must pass to be USPTA certified as a “Master Professional “is an exam on Elite Stroke Analysis? I’m also calling out Tennis Magazine for listing him on their “Meet the Panel” page as someone “whose knowledge of the game is unparalleled.”

This is a classic case that proves PT Barnum was right. There is a sucker born every minute, but shame and woe on the network of swamp people who prey on and blame the innocent. I’m done with you on this topic. You may have the last word.