Nalbandian "Bad Boy"

[Federer Admirer]

Did you see Nalbandians outburst at the Pacific Life Open against Jonas Bjorkman i never really considered Nalbandian as a Bad Boy but that was terrible.
It wasn't over a line call or a wrong score call it was because a ball boy didn't give him his towel during the changeover he was swering and he pushed the umbrella away when the ball boy held it over him. At the moment Nalbandian has moved on to my bad list

 

[bc-05]

dude.. did u see him smash his racquet in half in a match last yr.. i forgot against who but since then i knew he wasn't a good person.. but oh well look at his face thats the kinda face u see on movies as a killer

 

[pound cat]

He insulted Safin when Argentina was playing Russia in Argentina accusing publicly him of faking injury when he said he couldn't play. This was just before Safin was off with a wrist injury for 8 months & I have seriously disliked Fat Dave as he is commonly referred to since then.

 

[verdasco67]

dude.. did u see him smash his racquet in half in a match last yr.. i forgot against who but since then i knew he wasn't a good person.. but oh well look at his face thats the kinda face u see on movies as a killer

so people who smash racquets are not good people? whats your point?

 

[007]

the ESPN commentators (somebody + Joshua Eagle) noted that he is far from well-liked on tour by his peers and is generally considered unfreindly, standoffish and can be rude.

 

[Colpo]

Nalby's been chippy for years. If anybody saw the TTC documentary on the Masters Cup 2003, you'll recall him lecturing at least 4 tournament "white guys" AFTER HIS MATCH LOSS about some issue he had with the officiating, who the fans were cheering for, air quality, who knows?

And yes, bc-05, he does have the face of a killer from the movies.

 

[verdasco67]

nalby plays kiefer next...what do you guys think the result will be? i think nalbandian will win in 3 close sets..

 

[alan-n]

His podium comments on Hewitt was telling of his own personality.

 

[Andy Hewitt]

He does look like a madman alright. First saw him at the AO vs Hewitt. The dude is seriously crazy.

 

[Fedubai]

I have to say this isn't surprising. He used to be my favorite. I saw him on tv at the US Open last year and it was embarrassing the night he lost. He needs to get a hold of that temper of his. It's out of control a lot on court. He doesn't just get frustrated, he gets very angry and then he starts up with his stuff...for instance, look at this exchange from 2003:

When the match ended, the players shook hands at the net and then debated the matter, their conversation growing increasingly animated. It briefly appeared as if a fight might break out.

"It's not against him, and he understood that," Coutelot said. "David is a good friend of mine. ... He just told me, 'Come on, don't ask the chair umpire to give a warning. I'm your friend.'"

That was from http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/french/2003-05-30-coutelot_x.htm

He just seems like a sore loser some times and I think he needs to get his temper under control and take his fitness more seriously before he can ever think about playing to his potential, which I think is very great because he has a chessmaster's mind, and he can work people around the court very well.

 

[BERDI4]

His father died 2 months ago. It's not a justification but his going through a bad moment. He said his father appears in his head on every match making him loose concentration.

 

[DoubleHanded&LovinIt]

Well said Fedubai. Nalby is a very crafty player. Doesn't have power but can really work the angles. Even though he's not terribly out of shape, in the modern game, it helps to have core strength. I believe someone here posted a picture of him warming up, shirtless, for the Kooyong Classic, the exhibition right before the Australian Open. He had a big tire for a stomach. That needs to go.

 

[Fedubai]

Yeah I know BERD...I understand that. But his behavior has gone on a long time. Still, it was very sad about what happened. I hope for his sake he can get himself under control because I believe that he has a lot of potential, if he would just do those two things he could do great things I think. Because on court he has a tremendous work ethic, and he's very tactful as sh&li pointed out. I think his way of just working you around the court and hitting these incredible shots is right next to Federer...he can see the dimensions of the court like only a few can. I know he's going through a bad time but sometimes his behavior is just cringe-worthy. It's been like this for a long time and I hope someone around him can point this out and maybe he'll work on changing it.

When he's in a good mood though, he's pretty awesome. It was his match against Roddick at the U.S. Open in 2003 that got me into tennis. Real tennis, not just tapping the ball over the net as I used to do without knowing or caring about the rules. It was a tremendous match and I hope he can start to play like that again sometime soon, because he isn't a player to overlook. Sometimes he makes you laugh, but other times he makes you shake your head. I don't want to pick on him because I know it hasn't been easy for him the last couple years getting injured all the time, but if he wants to fulfill his potential I think he's got to improve his control over himself and his fitness. Look at what Federer used to be like, he used to be an idiot, but he changed it and now look. I think David can do the same, but it'll take time and effort. Long post, but he used to be my favorite so I don't mind talking about him.

 

[BERDI4]

Yes, I guess you are right, Fedubai. He's a spoiled brat sometimes. I've heard he likes party. I don't know if this is true but as you say he has a lot of potential, he can play in all surfaces and he beat most of the top 10 players.

 

[Fedubai]

I heard that somewhere as well. Yeah, he used to give Federer fits! One point away from the '03 US Open final as well against Roddick. 2 points away from the Semis wasn't it when he played Hewitt Down Under this year...in the Wimbledon final, I think he's been to the semis of all Grand Slams...he's definitely got game. He just needs to get it together upstairs. He's got time, he's still in his early twenties.

 

[VamosRafa]

Nalbandian is a very cranky player. Always has been. He is very unpopular with the media because he is very uncooperative.

 

[Deuce]

Being unco-operative with the media is hardly grounds for condemnation. Quite the opposite.

But the other stuff - in particular the ball boy thing - if true, reveals him as a first class idiot.

 

[VamosRafa]

Being unco-operative with the media is hardly grounds for condemnation. Quite the opposite.

But the other stuff - in particular the ball boy thing - if true, reveals him as a first class idiot.

Totally disagree with you, Deuce.

The players with the most class cooperate with the media at least to a point. The recognize it's a duty to the sport. And something they are paid to do.

The ones who don't cooperate with the media, generally don't do so in other areas. Nalbandian is one example. He reminds me of Marcelos Rios in some ways.

Perhaps not in other ways. But he's someone who can make Marcelos look like a choir boy at times.

I'm surprised it's taken folks this long to see this about Nalbandian.

 

[Deuce]

Naturally you disagree with me, Susan - because you are a member of the media, and are therefore clearly biased in their favor.

There have been several mature, reasonable, and rational athletes who have refused to 'co-operate' with the media on principle - because they realize how the media tend to twist things around, manipulate, deceive, and tell half-truths and outright lies. I respect these people.

I don't feel that any athlete has an obligation to the media. They have an obligation to the fans - which is the obligation the mainstream media use to manipulate the players into believing that the only way for them to reach the fans is through mainstream media...

 

[bc-05]

ok maybe not smashing racquets... but this is when he just lost then when they were about to shake hands.. he smashed his racquets then starts kicking it viciously then he didn't want to shake the other guys hand for no reason...

 

[VamosRafa]

Naturally you disagree with me, Susan - because you are a member of the media, and are therefore clearly biased in their favor.

There have been several mature, reasonable, and rational athletes who have refused to 'co-operate' with the media on principle - because they realize how the media tend to twist things around, manipulate, deceive, and tell half-truths and outright lies. I respect these people.

I don't feel that any athlete has an obligation to the media. They have an obligation to the fans - which is the obligation the mainstream media use to manipulate the players into believing that the only way for them to reach the fans is through mainstream media...

I'm not a full-time member of the media. I do work with the media on occasion. But I'm a lawyer, and that's my profession.

And one thing that a lawyer learns early on in her career is that you have to look at both sides of things. Law school trains you for that.

So I do undertand your point. I mean, you can't rebut an argument unless you foresee it before you make it.

But with all that in mind, Deuce, I find that almost all players cooperate with the media. They do so, even when they have lost, and have to go in there and put on a good face and explain why they lost.

But they know the media there are promoting the sport, and are putting forth articles supporting tennis. Goodness knows, it's not like we are overloaded with tennis articles in the US. If we were, I wouldn' have to spend so much time getting articles about Nadal translated into English.

So the players generally do their bit, and are very gracious. Very few are not gracious. And that was my point.

It doesn't detract from Nalbandian's results, of course. It just detracts from his overall like-ability.

No worries. But I'm just so glad that guys like Federer, Safin, Roddick, Moya and other in the Top aren't like that.

 

[35ft6]

I don't feel that any athlete has an obligation to the media. They have an obligation to the fans - which is the obligation the mainstream media use to manipulate the players into believing that the only way for them to reach the fans is through mainstream media...

It's part of their job to address the media. For better or worse, the media is the mechanism by which they interact with the fans. The ATP arranges for the media to interview them and they should consider it their responsibility as a professional to help promote the sport by answering a few questions after a match. There's more to being a professional tennis player than simply playing matches. They also must train, practice, eat and rest correctly, make sure they catch their flight, pay their coach, etc., AND take part in interviews. It's a small price to play to get paid millions (some do...) playing the greatest sport on the planet. Blah blah blah.

 

[Kobble]

Face of a killer, huh. Have you ever seen Ted Bundy. Looks like a normal guy, but he is one of the biggest wackos they ever captured.

 

[Deuce]

It's part of their job to address the media. For better or worse, the media is the mechanism by which they interact with the fans. The ATP arranges for the media to interview them and they should consider it their responsibility as a professional to help promote the sport by answering a few questions after a match. There's more to being a professional tennis player than simply playing matches. They also must train, practice, eat and rest correctly, make sure they catch their flight, pay their coach, etc., AND take part in interviews. It's a small price to play to get paid millions (some do...) playing the greatest sport on the planet. Blah blah blah.

Far be it for me to defend the obscene amounts of money professional athletes are paid. But... no doubt there are several athletes, along with other 'famous' persons who would entirely disagree with the price of having to co-operate with the media being small. These are people whose lives have been severely negatively affected by inaccurate/manipulative/deceptive stories on the part of an element of the media.

Lleyton Hewitt refused to speak with the media a couple of years ago, and the ATP was all over him for it. Hewitt defended himself. A lawsuit was involved. Say what you will about Hewitt's arrogance, etc. - but in this circumstance, he was 100% right. His job is to play tennis. Period. That is one very effective way to promote the sport - by playing in front of thousands of live fans, as well as hundreds of thousands of fans on TV. Anything else - be it speaking to the media, or participating in a 'Fastest Serve' competition for a charity - ought to be entirely optional - especially since there is undeniable evidence that co-operating with the media possesses the very real potential for results which are damaging to the player, via the media's irresponsibility and callousness in its neverending search for headlines.

If players from other sports can pick and choose when and when not to speak to the media, why should tennis players be mandated to speak to the media via some contract with the ATP? Perhaps when the media steps up and treats people fairly and humanely, rather than seek the sensational by publishing half-truths and lies, then one can say that it is one's duty to speak with the media. Until such occurs (and I don't believe it will be anytime soon), it ought to be entirely optional, at the player's discretion. Bearing in mind the unfortunate power, influence, corruption, and manipulation of the media, self-preservation is one's right, is it not?

 

[35ft6]

"The week before the (US Open) I gave a few interviews for CNN, USA Network, New York Times, USA Today and Sports Illustrated which had been arranged beforehand. The reason for giving these interviews is not only because working with the media is just part of the job, it is much more my desire to contribute to the promotion of tennis in the U.S."
-- Roger Federer writing in his on-line diary. Which he lets us read. Thanks Roger.

The ATP allows Hewitt to make a living... The ATP needs exposure... matches don't attract new fans, personalities do... in order to attract new fans, players have to be visible and heard off the court... and so on.

 

[VamosRafa]

The ATP allows Hewitt to make a living... The ATP needs exposure... matches don't attract new fans, personalities do... in order to attract new fans, players have to be visible and heard off the court... and so on.

I agree with you.

But to get back to the original point.

Notwithstanding his issues with the ATP, Lleyton actually is pretty cooperative in post-match interviews. More so than Nalbandian (whose English is excellent, BTW).

I do have one war story of sorts. After Nalbandian beat Federer in Cincy in 2003 (after two tiebreaks), he had to do his requisite interview. He was surly, and just generally uncooperative, which was strange.

After he left, a well-known journalist turned around and said to her colleagues, "Now I know how dentists feel when they are pulling teeth without permission."

It was funny at the time. *lol*