Stefan Edberg Award & Fan's favorite award

[peRFection]

Another piece of history for the world's greatest athlete:

* ATP World Tour - Fan's favorite award: record 10th straight year
* Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award (voted by ATP players): record 8 times

Absolute domination right there.......

HE DOESN'T JUST BREAK RECORDS, HE SET THEM...

 

[Candide]

Fantastic to see. Clearly most people know a class act when they see one. I want him to play until he's languishing in the 50s pulling out trick shots. It'd still be worth the price of admission.

 

[Cup8489]

Christ he won the sportsmanship award again?

 

[smoledman]

Christ he won the sportsmanship award again?

No give it to them:

 

[Rock Strongo]

That sportsmanship award is so diluted it's crazy. Wasn't there another guy who gave away a point or corrected a few calls this year?

 

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Yep, he can add it right next to his nonsensical achievement of being the second most trusted person in the world after Nelson Mandela.

 

[augustobt]

Yep, he can add it right next to his nonsensical achievement of being the second most trusted person in the world after Nelson Mandela.

Why nonsensical?

 

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Why nonsensical?

Oh yes, I'm sorry, Federer should have finished above Mandela, right? Mandela doesn't have a record consecutive QF streak like Federer does. :-|

 

[augustobt]

Oh yes, I'm sorry, Federer should have finished above Mandela, right? Mandela doesn't have a record consecutive QF streak like Federer does. :-|

There is no problem in Federer being second, or third, or any position. But you said that it was nonsensical, I am asking why.

 

[sunof tennis]

There is no problem in Federer being second, or third, or any position. But you said that it was nonsensical, I am asking why.

He is just upset because Nadal didn't make the list. It's all about Nadal in his tiny, little world.

 

[Steve0904]

Yeah, I don't have a problem with any of those guys winning the sportsmanship award, I mean after all, Fed won it this year after telling a fan to "Shut Up!"

 

[gsharma]

Yeah, I don't have a problem with any of those guys winning the sportsmanship award, I mean after all, Fed won it this year after telling a fan to "Shut Up!"[/QUOTE]

This. This award has become a joke. The top guy or the guy who has the best year gets it. This is a sportsmanship award not an MVP award. Give it to someone who truly deserves it - expand the field and give it to some guy outside the top-25 as they could use a little publicity.

What a load of crap!

 

[Cup8489]

We should have an MVP award.

 

[cknobman]

Yeah, I don't have a problem with any of those guys winning the sportsmanship award, I mean after all, Fed won it this year after telling a fan to "Shut Up!"[/QUOTE]

This. This award has become a joke. The top guy or the guy who has the best year gets it. This is a sportsmanship award not an MVP award. Give it to someone who truly deserves it - expand the field and give it to some guy outside the top-25 as they could use a little publicity.

What a load of crap!

Your theory is blown out of the water then because Federer is neither the top guy nor had the best year

Rafa had a chance at it until the unfortunate Rosol changeover incident

 

[Steve0904]

Your theory is blown out of the water then because Federer is neither the top guy nor had the best year

Rafa had a chance at it until the unfortunate Rosol changeover incident

I think your quotes are a little bit crossed up there. That Federer has not had the best year is very debatable just so you know. It is not a fact that he hasn't especially if he goes on to win the WTF.

 

[gsharma]

Your theory is blown out of the water then because Federer is neither the top guy nor had the best year

Rafa had a chance at it until the unfortunate Rosol changeover incident

Oh, lets see. Federer claimed the all-time weeks-at-#1 record, won a 17th slam, regained #1 ranking. Federer has had a ****e year, sure!

My point is it is always one of the top 4-5 guys that win the sportsmanship award. An MVP award is not equivalent to a sportsmanship award. But ATP and fans are too dense to understand that.

 

[tennisaddict]

Yeah, I don't have a problem with any of those guys winning the sportsmanship award, I mean after all, Fed won it this year after telling a fan to "Shut Up!"[/QUOTE]

This. This award has become a joke. The top guy or the guy who has the best year gets it. This is a sportsmanship award not an MVP award. Give it to someone who truly deserves it - expand the field and give it to some guy outside the top-25 as they could use a little publicity.

What a load of crap!

What should someone do if a spectator sitting in the first row calls it 'out' during a 2nd set tiebreak rally, when you lost the first set ?

Smile and move to the next point to get the award ?

If Fed cheated on a point , we can be critical. But saying 'Shut Up' to an obnoxious spectator cannot rob Fed of the award.

He has been a model of sportsmanship - never retirning/ faking / bouncing balls / cheap on court tactics , etc., and he truly deserves the award.

 

[cc0509]

What should someone do if a spectator sitting in the first row calls it 'out' during a 2nd set tiebreak rally, when you lost the first set ?

Smile and move to the next point to get the award ?

If Fed cheated on a point , we can be critical. But saying 'Shut Up' to an obnoxious spectator cannot rob Fed of the award.

He has been a model of sportsmanship - never retirning/ faking / bouncing balls / cheap on court tactics , etc., and he truly deserves the award.

Yes and moreover he is the best face of tennis out of the current top four, even if a person hates Federer he or she would have to admit this fact. This award is really about the promotion of tennis globally and Federer really is the best man for that job, like it or not. No player has a perfect sportsmanship record and every player has the odd slip-up but Federer is pretty good overall.

 

[Crayola Oblongata]

Were those pictures taken at the O2 yesterday?

 

[Steve0904]

What should someone do if a spectator sitting in the first row calls it 'out' during a 2nd set tiebreak rally, when you lost the first set ?

Smile and move to the next point to get the award ?

If Fed cheated on a point , we can be critical. But saying 'Shut Up' to an obnoxious spectator cannot rob Fed of the award.

He has been a model of sportsmanship - never retirning/ faking / bouncing balls / cheap on court tactics , etc., and he truly deserves the award.

I am a Federer fan myself and I'm quite ok with him winning the award. I was simply pointing out that they all have their faults. Federer has done some stuff over the years that's gotten him in a bit of trouble (i.e press conferences, the finger wag, the "15" jacket), they all have because they're all human, but Federer has won this award a lot in spite of some of that stuff. He's a great sportsman I agree, but for this year someone like Del Potro or Djokovic was as well. It wouldn't hurt to mix it up a bit, maybe even give it to a top 20 player excluding one of the top 4.

Federer wins the peer voting often as well which is nice, and kind of affirms our educated guesses, but he wins the fan voting mostly because I think he simply has more fans than anybody else (and we all know fans can be a little blind when it comes to their favourite player). The reason I think this is because, as you said, he plays a beautiful style of tennis, and he's the most successful player in history arguably, plus he respects the sport as shown by never retiring in his career (not to say the others don't.) It also helps that he doesn't take about 40 seconds before every serve, also mentioned by you.

 

[cknobman]

I think your quotes are a little bit crossed up there. That Federer has not had the best year is very debatable just so you know. It is not a fact that he hasn't especially if he goes on to win the WTF.

Oh, lets see. Federer claimed the all-time weeks-at-#1 record, won a 17th slam, regained #1 ranking. Federer has had a ****e year, sure!

My point is it is always one of the top 4-5 guys that win the sportsmanship award. An MVP award is not equivalent to a sportsmanship award. But ATP and fans are too dense to understand that.

It was never my intent to imply that Roger has not had a great year.

I was only being factual in my response to your post that only the best player each year gets the award.

As facts would go no matter what Roger does in the WTF Novak has had the best year which is why he has won the YE#1 before the WTF even started.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

An MVP award is not equivalent to a sportsmanship award. But ATP and fans are too dense to understand that.

The award has become the official recognition of the fact, that one particular player has contributed to the popularity of the sport and generated most revenue with his presence.

That and the public image, that the RF brand has, makes it difficult not to give the award to Federer.

Besides. It is open to a discussion, whether a sportsmanship award should be given to someone, because he has done one memorable thing in regard to sportsmanship, or to someone, who has incorporated in his game the gentleman's approach, that the game of tennis was always associated with (respect towards the rules and the opponents). And in the world of Prosport, where the slightest advantage is sought, without being punished, the returns are greater on the highest level. That is why being at the top magnifies anything that constitutes sportsmanship.

 

[smoledman]

 

[Clarky21]

That looks disgusting and is swimming in grease.

 

[smoledman]

 

[Bloodshed]

That looks disgusting and is swimming in grease.

I guess that's you on a plate?

Kidding aside, Congrats for Federer for winning this award even though it has little value to it but it shows which player is the most respected in the locker room.

 

[Candide]

What should someone do if a spectator sitting in the first row calls it 'out' during a 2nd set tiebreak rally, when you lost the first set ?

Smile and move to the next point to get the award ?

If Fed cheated on a point , we can be critical. But saying 'Shut Up' to an obnoxious spectator cannot rob Fed of the award.

He has been a model of sportsmanship - never retirning/ faking / bouncing balls / cheap on court tactics , etc., and he truly deserves the award.

Didn't he say that to Djokovic's father? Or am I dreaming that?

 

[The Meat]

Bagel sandwich with yellow american cheese, egg, ham, and bacon? Very nice

 

[sbengte]

Were those pictures taken at the O2 yesterday?

Don't think so. Guess Sexi will get his awards on Wednesday after the RR match of the other group.

 

[sbengte]

I am a Federer fan myself and I'm quite ok with him winning the award. I was simply pointing out that they all have their faults. Federer has done some stuff over the years that's gotten him in a bit of trouble (i.e press conferences, the finger wag, the "15" jacket), they all have because they're all human, but Federer has won this award a lot in spite of some of that stuff. He's a great sportsman I agree, but for this year someone like Del Potro or Djokovic was as well. It wouldn't hurt to mix it up a bit, maybe even give it to a top 20 player excluding one of the top 4.

I agree it would be nice to have someone outside the top guys for a change. In fact, the nominees list this year was a step in the right direction : Cilic, Delpo and Ferrer were nominated alongside Federer. (I could be wrong, but usually a couple of top players like Nadal and Djoker are nominated)

It is decided by peer voting so the only way they can mix it up is by not having Federer among the 4-5 nominees. Federer is quite popular among the players it seems and dedicates a lot of time and energy for promoting the sport and representing players of all ranks in the players council. So no surprise that he wins it year after year. Of course he has his flaws like he can get whiny about line calls, but I am yet to see him indulge in rule breaking , cheating or showing any other form of disrespect for the opponent.

 

[Jackuar]

For all those who say Fed shouldn't have got the sportmanship - in case you forgot to notice - its not given by a committee for him to bribe them and get it but chosen by the very players who play against him - who have tried for the past 10 years to beat him with hardly a success... Its not as if he needs it badly at age 31 when his career at this point is way better than most others in their 30s.... Its not like he's pining for it day in day out... If his own fellow ATP players chose him for it, calling him sportsman of the year, what's itching you guys? Those who voted - the players - are not dumb to be unable to realise that its a "sportmanship" award and not a "best player of the year" award.

 

[Candide]

Good point. This stuff can't be faked; it's simply a sign of respect. I suspect that it's because Federer enjoys the game so much and has such a sense of its history and his place in it that contributes to his unexpected humility and honour. Has there been a thread on the poorest sportsmanship? The stories about Connors and Lendl are legendary - they make Nadal's stalling and sulking look like very small potatoes.

 

[lawrence]

Nadal has won the Sportsmanship award. I know that really chaps the a**es of the *******s on here,and that's just too bad.

No, Federer winning the Sportsmanship award has chapped the asses of Nadal & Djokovic fans, hence the reason this thread has turned into another debate as opposed to the discussion of Federer receiving the award.

It's pretty ironic, isn't it?