FEEDBACK: WEDNESDAY, JULY 24
Don't criticize a great champion
I live in the Dominican Republic,
which is called a third world country, but I am proud to say
that, although tennis is not the main sport here [like] baseball,
Dominicans appreciate very much what Pete Sampras has done
for the tennis world in the last decade.
It is a shame to see you writing
here such distasteful, to say the least, of the "stuff"
you wrote about him. I was wondering if you did not have anything
better to do.
Every one, and that will include
you someday you can be sure of that, goes through periods
of bad times, and I hate to see people making logs of a fallen
tree. I sincerely hope that when your time of falling apart
comes, no one, but no one writes of you like you have done
here!
Sampras is not a fallen tree, and
his accomplishments no one will achieve or surpass ever!
You should be thankful for all the
has done these great years and you should very much desire
that we get some Sampras like on this sport soon before it
falls apart from seeing boring baseliners, and wondering who
is going to hit the ball harder next game!
I am sorry for you, really sorry,
you sound like a very sad and unhappy person!
Maritza Llenas
Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic
THURSDAY,
MAY 30
All
top players go through a decline
Well its the same old story as far as sports
reporters, columnists, commentators etc. are concerned as
far as Sampras is concerned. After a decade of nothing bad
to write or talk about the great man, except maybe his somewhat
lesser display of emotions, they are now out for his blood.
And boy, don't they just love it.
All the greats of the past who had long
careers had to go through the same phase as Sapmras is facing
now. Laver, Rosewall, Newcombe, McEnroe, Connors, Edberg,
Lendl, Becker etc. all went through this conundrum. The only
true great who didn't was Borg; but then again, he didn't
stay around for long after being usurped by McEnroe, did he?
So I say cut the bull, and appreciate the man for still giving
us glimpses of his former brilliance.
As
for Ramsay's article on Henman, I think that this year the
pressure on him to succeed will be either lower or much higher
than in the past few years depending very much on what might
transpire in another event, a global event, that will take
place halfway across the world in Japan/South Korea i.e. the
Football World Cup. For if England do go on to make the semi-finals,
then Wimbledon and Tim Henman may well become afterthoughts
at least in England. But if England falter early on, then
the expectations on him to pull of a "British win"
will be much, much higher.
Roshan
Fernando
Negombo, Sri Lanka
THURSDAY,
MAY 30
Sampras
never top champion
Good job on exposing the sham that Pete has been of the last
few years. His game is gone, of that there's no doubt. Add
that to his growing list of lousy on-court antics and whinning
and excuse making and you do not have a pretty picture. While
most writers are too timid to take the legend to task, I'm
glad you have. Now write a truly informative piece about how
Pete's 13 Slams are empty seeing as he almost never played
doubles and hardly played Davis Cup and when he did the record
was spotty. Had John McEnroe or Rod Laver or other greats
exclusively channeled his energies into just singles and no
doubles or Davis Cup, there's no telling how many more singles
Slams that would have won. Also, examine the flaccid competition
Sampras often faced in those Slam finals compared to what
a Mac or Borg or Connors or Lendl or Laver had to face. Good
riddance Sampras, you're a fake.
Richard Glowaki
Syracuse N.Y., USA
WEDNESDAY,
MAY 29
Fan
club prez comes to Pete's defense
I have to comment on the article by Alix Ramsay regarding
Pete Sampras at the French.
Boy, nothing like kicking a guy when he is down. Did you get
a kick out of writing this story? Did it make you proud?
Are you aware of all the time that Pete has put in trying
to get better on clay: Did you watch any of the match? Did
you consider the weather conditions or where Pete may be mentally
right now. Or did you just take advantage of an opportunity
to write an article that would get you some attention? Where
is your empathy or compassion for a great champion who is
presently struggling? I guess if you would have written a
compassionate story, it would have been taken as boring.
Well you certainly got my attention, along with many other
fans of Pete Sampras!!!
Joy Parker
Kansas City, MO, USA
President, Samprasfanz.com
TUESDAY,
MAY 28
A
failing Sampras is better than no Sampras at all
While
I agree that watching Sampras fall from grace is depressing,
Alix Ramsey's article about another Sampras first-round loss
at Roland Garros was quite obnoxious.
For
the amount of years that Sampras has given to tennis and for
the highlevel of play that he attained, he doesn't owe anyone
anything. Even a sub-par Sampras can still pull out a few
great matches a year. Consider his epic clash with Agassi
at last year's U.S. Open. I would rather have a losing Samrpas
in the game, capable of pulling out inspiring victories, than
no Sampras at all.
David Rosenberg
Brooklyn, N.Y., USA
TUESDAY, MAY 28
Reporters
need to show more optimism
What
satisfaction do you and your colleagues get writing articles
such as this about the Great Pete Sampras? Why do you relish
in others sadness? All I can say is I'm glad Pete Sampras
kept you waiting and ruined your dinner plans. At least he
did one thing right.
[Alix
Ramsay] has forgotten that Pete Sampras does have a worldwide
fan group who also believe that he will win again. It is wrong
to keep judging Pete on the number of tournaments he has played
in and hasn't won when he only plays for the Slams. This just
makes for very boring reading.
What I wish for (which unfortunately
will never happen) because Pete Sampras has more important
things to do with his life, but if he were to read what you
reporters write about him he would be probably sue you, and
I for one would back him all the way. Luckily for you, he
doesn't bother to read what the press says, as he has said
so in many a press conference when asked the question. The
old adage is: You will only appreciate the Great Pete Sampras
when he has retired. But until then you reporters should just
let him enjoy his tennis in whatever way he wishes to and
stop all your unconstructive criticism.
You could start by showing
him the respect he has earned throughout his career. Thank
goodness not all tennis reporters are like your group at tennisreporters.net.
Pete Sampras does have many optimistic writers who write very
positive stories about him.
Jane
Nixon
Hertfordshire, UK
Related
story: Poor Pete can't win
one measly match
