Steve Flink: Nole is the Sportsman of the Year

5555

Hall of Fame
"I am not sure why, but Novak Djokovic has an enduring image as a brash and egotistical player who could sometimes offend colleagues and fans in his younger days. That image has no bearing on the reality of the Djokovic who stands today in the forefront of the game. They say that a player defines himself most meaningfully in the hard face of defeat rather than in the comfort of victory. When a great player loses, the sting of failure can be almost unbearable at times. The best competitors are expected to win with regularity, to come through steadily when it matters the most, to translate talent into success time and time again. Djokovic has dealt well with those lofty expectations—both his own and those of his growing legion of boosters. But his propensity for handling defeats has been second to none in his profession. The year 2014 was no exception to that rule. He lost a heartbreaker to Wawrinka in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, coming out on the wrong end of a 9-7 fifth set. He lost his second French Open final to Nadal in the spring, and that was the fifth time in his last six major title round matches that the Serbian had been beaten. Djokovic held back Federer in the Wimbledon final for his seventh career Grand Slam tournament title, but then was ushered out of the U.S. Open semifinals by Nishikori on an oppressive day. Plainly, Djokovic was not himself, and could not impose his physicality as he surprisingly wilted in the heat. But, typically, he offered no excuses when it was over, stressing that the conditions were the same for both players. He saluted Nishikori for a sterling performance. He conducted himself the way we wish champions always would when they lose big matches—with class, restraint and character. I choose Novak Djokovic as Sportsman of the Year. One of these days, the public will realize that no one in the upper regions of tennis copes with tough losses better than he does. No one."

Link http://www.tennischannel.com/news/NewsDetails.aspx?newsid=14677
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
I agree that Nole has developed into a great sportsman. But sometimes he can be like a spoiled kid when the crowd is not with him. That is something he has to work with, to not care who stands up and applauds when he finishes a point or if people are cheering for him.

Otherwise, he is graceful in interviews, in defeat, in victory etc. Also applauds his opponents when they do something good, wich is rarely seen by Fedal.
 
Why? The way he lost to Selby was disappointing.
I like him.
/

He was simply outtacticed by the the master of tactics. Why? Because he won the Masters, the Welsh, the Champ of Champs for the second year running & the UK & simply nobody in any sport can play theirs like he plays his at his peak level.
 
No way he is sportsman of the year. His 2014 was fine but not overly dominant for a number 1. Actually he had less points in 2014 than in 2013, his dominance had a lot to do with Nadal and Murray being injured and fed being 33 years old.

Still he was clearly the best player and a deserving number one but not best athlete among all sports.
 

Chanwan

G.O.A.T.
No way he is sportsman of the year. His 2014 was fine but not overly dominant for a number 1. Actually he had less points in 2014 than in 2013, his dominance had a lot to do with Nadal and Murray being injured and fed being 33 years old.

Still he was clearly the best player and a deserving number one but not best athlete among all sports.
this. at least half of the last 10-12 YE no. 1's have had a better year than Nole's 2014. not at all enough to be sportsman of the year
 

The_Mental_Giant

Hall of Fame
this. at least half of the last 10-12 YE no. 1's have had a better year than Nole's 2014. not at all enough to be sportsman of the year

Thats true..

Federer 2004-2007, 2009.
Nadal 2008, 2010, 2013
Djokovic in 2011

The only as worse YE1 since 2004 would be Nole in 2012... Nole has the poorest results for a YE1.. 1 slam seasons... that's it...

I could even add YE2 who were as good if not slighty better than Djoker YE1

Such as Nadal in 2005,2006,2007, 2011 and Murray in 2012
 
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Chanwan

G.O.A.T.
Thats true..

Federer 2004-2007, 2009.
Nadal 2008, 2010, 2013
Djokovic in 2011

The only as worse YE1 since 2004 would be Nole in 2012... Nole has the poorest results for a YE1.. 1 slam seasons... that's it...

I could even add YE2 who were as good if not slighty better than Djoker YE1

Such as Nadal in 2005,2006,2007, 2011 and Murray in 2012 (ye. no 3 though) and Djoko 2013
hehe, too funny. 5555, the floor is yours
 

Chanwan

G.O.A.T.
You right I forgot about DJokovic 2013.. 1 slam, 3 slam finals, 3 m1000, wtf.
I just noticed that it's not athlete of the year, but sportsman as in 'most deserving of the Edberg-award' kind of sportsman.

5555, my apologies. You're on ignore, so I didn't see your OP, but merely replied to a post in the thread assuming it was the correct interpretation.
 

Gonzalito17

Banned
Novak Djokovic or Wladimir Klitschko as Sportsman of the Year. Two class act great champions. Manny Pacquiao could win it too.
 

Djokovic2011

Bionic Poster
Thats true..

Federer 2004-2007, 2009.
Nadal 2008, 2010, 2013
Djokovic in 2011

The only as worse YE1 since 2004 would be Nole in 2012... Nole has the poorest results for a YE1.. 1 slam seasons... that's it...

I could even add YE2 who were as good if not slighty better than Djoker YE1

Such as Nadal in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011 and Murray in 2012

I want whatever you're smoking T_M_G. Nole's 2014 was better than Murray's 2012 too.
 

Djokovic2011

Bionic Poster
It never ceases to amaze me how posters like The_Mental_Giant see a one slam season as being disappointing without even
bothering to look at other tournament results. If he or anyone for that matter believes winning Wimbledon, the WTF and 4 Masters 1000s constitutes a lacklustre season they really do need their heads examining.
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
I want whatever you're smoking T_M_G. Nole's 2014 was better than Murray's 2012 too.

But murray won Olympic gold and a grand slam. If we are talking about who had a better season than its djokovic, but if we are talking about whos season I would rather have then its murray.
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
It never ceases to amaze me how posters like The_Mental_Giant see a one slam season as being disappointing without even
bothering to look at other tournament results. If he or anyone for that matter believes winning Wimbledon, the WTF and 4 Masters 1000s constitutes a lacklustre season they really do need their heads examining.

Sampras always used to say, if you win 1 slam in a year, than it was an amazing year. And that's not true. Most players never win a slam in their entire careers. Especially not the WTF plus another 3 or 4 masters.
 

Djokovic2011

Bionic Poster
But murray won Olympic gold and a grand slam. If we are talking about who had a better season than its djokovic, but if we are talking about whos season I would rather have then its murray.

Murray won a slam and the Olympics but he didn't win the WTF and I don't think he even won a Masters 1000 that year either.
 

Gary Duane

Talk Tennis Guru
It never ceases to amaze me how posters like The_Mental_Giant see a one slam season as being disappointing without even
bothering to look at other tournament results. If he or anyone for that matter believes winning Wimbledon, the WTF and 4 Masters 1000s constitutes a lacklustre season they really do need their heads examining.
I think some of us expect Novak to have more years with at least two slams, and I think that's a reasonable expectation. For a lesser player several years winning one slam is very good, but if you think back to 2014 and compare it to 2011, it's pretty understandable to imagine what would be different if a couple slams had not gotten away.

He underperformed at the AO and the USO, by HIS standards. Would you not agree?
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
I think some of us expect Novak to have more years with at least two slams, and I think that's a reasonable expectation. For a lesser player several years winning one slam is very good, but if you think back to 2014 and compare it to 2011, it's pretty understandable to imagine what would be different if a couple slams had not gotten away.

He underperformed at the AO and the USO, by HIS standards. Would you not agree?

Yes I think we all agree.
 

5555

Hall of Fame
I have detected many off topic posts here. This thread is about sportsmanship

"Sportsmanship (or sometimes sportspersonship) is an aspiration or ethos that a sport or activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsmanship
 
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