The nice thing about being a blogger is that you can write about whatever you damn well please. Which means you can also ignore topics that annoy you to pieces. But it seems like this jacket discussion is not going away. It’s in Sports Illustrated, it’s on the Times U.K. , it’s in the forums. Roger Federer breaks the “sound barrier” at Wimbledon – taking Pete Sampras’ 14 and raising him 1, and everyone’s obsessing over a little bit of gold embroidery on the back of a warm up jacket.
Exhibit A:
(OMG! WHAT A F’ING A**HOLE!)
Exhibit B:
(Wow, those guys beat G.O.A.T. contender Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in the NBA finals. Good for them!)
I like basketball but only follow the playoffs. I love the Celtics even though I’ve never been to Boston, was born in Chicago (yo, M.J.!) and live in Los Angeles. So last year, when I watched Boston win the championships (YES!) and then the Lakers skulk into the locker room while the confetti fell, I thought naively (as a tennis fan): “WAIT, doesn’t the other team have to stand there and smile and clap while the Celtics say ‘Geeze, great series, guys. Guess in the end someone had to win and we’re the lucky ones.’”
Maybe LeBron and I could do a podcast on the topic.
BLECH!
But tennis is an individual sport, which means that when we judge the winner, we judge the person. So the fact that Roger Federer, doing something no one has done before in the Open Era, actually seemed to brag about it in a pseudo-subtle way, was distasteful. How dare he rub Andy Roddick’s sweet face in the Magic Number 15?
Poor Roddick is a “one-slam-wonder”, an underdog who valiantly fought to the the outer limits of a fifth set. He refused to be broken until the bitter end, even though Roger served almost twice as many aces. And then Roger has the nerve to wear a “15″ on his jacket? How tacky! How modern! How NBA! Gosh darn it, it just tarnishes Roger’s legacy - doesn’t it? (Thanks Sue Barker!)
That’s what I love about tennis – we demand that our heroes are humble. Or at least we do now. Connors, McEnroe, Lendl, Pete and Andre weren’t all that humble. But now we expect our champions to go deep 1930’s. To admit faults and take bad line calls like Baron Von Cramm. It’s like the amateur era, plus millions of dollars in sponsorship money. God forbid someone caves and wears a jacket that some Nike lackey runs onto court at the very last minute (check the replay and you’ll see a guy in a kilt bringing Roger his “15″ vestments, or click here for Roger’s explanation.)
Random observation: Roddick, amidst his tears, managed to pull on his Rolex watch during the trophy ceremony. Is that crass commercialism or just a guy wanting to know the time?
Give me an f’ing break. (And lay off the players, too!)
But I’m no Fed apologist – I admit that the “15″ on the jacket made me cringe. Just like the vest and strangely prescient Michael Jackson jacket. That’s because I’m a tennis snob, like most Roger fans and like most Rafa fans – we like our heroes humble. Like Wimbledon, itself – still hanging tough with its logo-free green walls – we don’t want to admit that the Nikes of the world hold sway. We want our players to acknowledge the bad calls that went their way and give the other guy the benefit of the doubt. Let’s face it: Tennis is an anachronism to everyone but the players and the fans who love it beyond common sense.
Nike, it’s time to join the twentieth (not the 21st) century.
Thumbnail: Off, damn jacket! Photo by Julian Finney/AFP/Getty Images via Daylife
Roger Federer rubs it in: via the London Times.
Celtics celebrate: AP Photo/Winslow Townson
Andy caves to commercial pressures (not!): AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus via Daylife
Tags: 15 jacket, ATP, Federer, Nike, Roddick, tennis, Wimbledon
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Very well put Frites!
But tbh, I don’t know what to think about the 15 jacket, but that’s me.
I definitely think it was a misstep, image wise. Nike doesn’t understand the subtleties of tennis.
What I’m interested in is WHY there is such a backlash. Other sports don’t hold their heroes up to such standards of modesty – especially when it comes to breaking the one MAJOR record in tennis.
I guess that’s partly why we all love the sport so much.
But in the end, no one’s going to remember the jacket – unless it becomes a quaint anecdote.
I do hope Nike stops with the vests and man purses though. It’s just bad style. I like Roger looking fresh – the all black at Wimbledon 2007 was great!
I agree with you on all counts.
I think right now, people just need to find fault with him, to make him somewhat “imperfect” if you ask me.
Yay! Hear hear Freaky … I was just reading through some of the stuff on Bodo’s blog and going “seriously?” … ah, just don’t read what the Mirror wrote.
Thanks for the links on the guy handing the jacket to Federer and Fed’s own explanation. People need to look more carefully before they start their personal attacks on players.
I liked the jacket, I didn’t care for the “15″ – it was small, it was a celebration of a historic achievement, and they do similar things in a lot of other sports. I don’t think it was the best or the most ’sensitive’ idea that Nike’s ever had, but at the same time, I get why they would do it: imagine in 20 years time, people will look back at pictures of Wimbledon champions holding their trophies and for 2009’s winner, they’ll see Federer with a small 15 on his jacket. And they will know what that means. It’s a nice touch, even if it didn’t seem like it right after the match. Whatever crap is being written now will be forgotten, but the achievement won’t.
I just wish Sue Barker never pointed it out in the trophy presentation, right in front of Roddick, who happened to look like he wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it. That was tactless. They could’ve waited until everyone had gone inside to talk about something as trivial as a jacket.
But at the same time, some of the reactions has just been ridiculous and mean-spirited. Really! This whole argument that “oh Federer already had his jacket made before the final – he thought Roddick was easy fodder, that insensitive asshole”: 1) Fed didn’t know about the jacket. 2) Fed wasn’t using it to rub it in, God forbid he should celebrate his historical win, 3) While the writers of SI, Tennis.com and every British tabloid out there had been anticipating a Murray v Federer final, Federer was the only one who pointed out in his pressers that he considered Roddick to be a strong contender for Wimbledon. It wasn’t Federer who thought Andy Roddick was easy fodder.
Like I said, if writers and haters are talking about a jacket rather than decline/ no motivation/ mono/ back injury/ nemeses, then Federer must be doing well. By all means, keep talking. At the same time, a guy just won 15 slams in 6 years, I can’t even describe the enormity of the achievement. It’s annoying to see some people out there trying to spoil the celebrations with “oh let’s feel sorry for Roddick and take the mickey out of Federer’s clothes”.
Pffft!
woah, didn’t realise how much I ranted just then. HEEHEHEEE
Really, dootsiez, wonderful comments! And a great point about Roger tipping Andy RODDICK for the final. The funny thing is that Roger’s always been one of Andy R.’s biggest fans – even when the American was slumping.
I agree that this will either be a non-issue or a quaint issue (like the old time players letting themselves get aced when they thought a call went against their oppponents.) In the end the record – the 15 – remains.
But the hype was too much and I had to post about it. Feel kind of guilty, but I guess that’s the modest tennis blogger in me!
I’m glad you posted, because THIS is just bordering on slander:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/holt/2009/07/08/federer-has-become-a-preening-poser-in-the-emperor-s-new-clothes-115875-21503277/
Thanks, Dootsiez for the link to that article! I just read it, and I can’t help but think that the one who wrote it didn’t hear completely Roger’s acceptance speech, or perhaps he thought he did, but has hearing problems and didn’t hear correctly.
He wrote: “It was, a former Wimbledon star told me yesterday, ‘the most graceless acceptance speech I have ever heard’.”
I wonder if it’s true or if he’s making it up, since there is no name of the person who said it…
I’m with you all the way. Can you imagine if it were reversed and it was an American with the record win – boy there would be fireworks, ticker tape parade and the whole enchilada. But he’s not an American – he’s Swiss so let’s rip him to shreds and downplay his absolutely tremendous achievements. Nuff said
I just kept nodding as I read your comment. You make such valid points on the issue. Right up until now, I didn’t know what to think, but the more and more that people harp about the jacket…the more I think they’re making something trivial into something big!
“I just wish Sue Barker never pointed it out in the trophy presentation, right in front of Roddick, who happened to look like he wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it. That was tactless. They could’ve waited until everyone had gone inside to talk about something as trivial as a jacket.” – That right there, stood out to me the most. That’s absolutely spot on!
for me , they are just jeaolus.they just want to say something bad again after his historic win.they are always like that.always finding fault to bring the guy down .they dont want Roger to be damn happy that they are putting this crap talk about insonsequential things.They want to pick him apart first with his so called slump last season ,his fashion choice in Wimby , then they glorify him and put him on the pedestal after his historic win and now they are attacking him based on being too much forward because of wearing that jacket?Whats next?Will they criticize him on how he wear his hair or how clipped his nails?Pure garbage.
Exactly, Ashley! Well said!
This post is on the money! First of all, if Sue Barker hadn’t pointed it out, no one would have noticed the 15. Why would she do that? I didn’t get it at the time and I don’t get it now. I also thought it wasn’t very cool, but I also thought that it wasn’t cool that Sue Barker pointed it out with Roddick standing there. However, I’m not freaked out about it.
These professional sportswriters writing long, ridiculous articles about trivialities like Roger Federer’s clothes are just clutching at straws to make up a controversy to do with Roger Federer. He doesn’t give them anything, they’re tired of writing more or less the same thing all the time, i.e. Roger Federer won over Player A, and so they make up this fake controversy. Don’t you remember the brouhaha when he broke a racquet? The guy is just too normal for them to get a good story, so they’re going to make one up. Trust me, if he were running around with floozies or abusing referees on court, no one would mention his clothes.
Nike pays him HUGE sums as his sponsor. Something bordering on the cringeworthy will happen from time to time. Bodo and his pals need to get over it and do their REAL jobs writing about the sport. As I’ve said before, a couple lines about the Rpger’s clothes, OK, but a whole article LONG article with several paragraphs? Give me a break.!
Hi, Alista! Every point you made in your comment to this post is spot on! True, if Sue Barker didn’t point out the “15″ on Roger’s jacket, no one would know about it to this day. It’s not like Roger waved it around Centre Court to the public, Roddick and the camera, bragging about Nike’s gift for him. He didn’t even know about it! It was a surprise Nike had prepared.
Although, I don’t mean to disrespect Barker, but I can’t help to think that she was resentful about the fact that Roger won Wimbledon, and not Murray, like the entire United Kingdom had hoped, hence the big deal they made about him and this year’s Wimbledon, and it backfired, just like it should. Therefore, the only way to ruin Roger’s amazing achievement was to publicly, worldwide, point out the small-discrete-pale coloured number “15″ on the bottom side of his jacket. She has been a journalist for a long time, and perfectly knew that fact would spark controversy in the sports media, as it did.
As far as Bodo goes, I believe he has genuinely, undisputably, rightfully, earned a new name: PATHETIC Peter Bodo…Of course, no disrespect towards him intended…
It’s just a jacket — didn’t anyone ever have a letterman’s jacket?
or a Boy or Girl Scout uniform with emblems of achievement on them?
Is that all you can pick on Mr. Federer about? His clothes? Really! Even if you are envious of his success and his good looks you could find something more significant to critisize him for.
SI is bias, ESPN commentators are bias, how do you explain ROGER appearing in the cover only once, when he won the French Open? Oh, I forgot that other cover when he lost Wimbledon and they are showing his back. In those videos you posted the other day, somehow you can watch on the show Mike and Mike (actually not Mike) debating about who is the greatest athlete, inspired on Federer winning 15, and they came up with Wayne Gretzky, because he won 8 MVP, excuse me, I am not going to write Roger stats, that will be like showing off a minuscule number 15 in his jacket.
I didn’t like idea of the 15 jacket either, but I agree with everyone that it is much ado about nothing. Freakyfrites, you’re right on in your observations on the tension between tennis’s emphasis on sportsmanship and the demands of corporate sponsorship.
on one hand, Greatness can be ruthless, particularly if the individual or team you support is the frequent victim of it.
I used to despise the Yankees, Duke Blue Devils, and Tom Brady (actually started out a fan of his) because they always won, beat the times that I rooted for, and I thought they were were smug, arrogant, and cocky in victory.
Yet, I have always loved Tiger and Jordan even though they are just as ruthless and just as smug and cocky in victory.
When I realized that I had double standards for certain great athletes and teams, I realized I should just appreciate their greatness and felt much better about myself and less bitter about certain outcomes.
Plus, double standards often lead to idolatry which is never good because you find pleasure or get let down by a certain human you don’t even know.
Now I just enjoy watching tennis, basketball, and football and admire the great ones even if their victories have elements of ruthlessness to them. People are of course entitled to play favorites and employ double standards… you can’t change how people think, but I was grateful when it was pointed out to me.
on the other hand, even though im a huge fed fan, I do think the jacket and the accessories may have been a little over the top, but people are making a big deal out of nothing. As a female I originally fell in love with him because of his game and because I found him to be real. He wasn’t manscaped or unnaturally hairless, he wasn’t trying to pose in Abercrombie and Fitch type catalogues looking like conquering frat boy, nor was he looking for his next trophy wife by lining up movie stars or running around town with blonde bombshell swimsuit models.
I like the fact that Mirka is a naturally beautiful and thick woman and that hes stayed with her even though he was becoming a household name and could have gone down the same path as so many athletes.
Hopefully when his child comes into the world, he tones it down and goes back to the old Fed.
Hi slicearooni!
You basically described my way of thinking when it comes to sports – give great athletes their due and enjoy watching them perform at the highest level. So even though I have a soft sport for Roger and his game, I also like Rafa and all the other players. Though sometimes I do try to hate on Murray or Djokovic, just for fun
But then I feel guilty.
But I realize that most sportsfans just love their teams and find joy in rooting them on. And booing the other ones. (When I went to a Dodger game for the first time I was shocked that the crowd booed the visiting team when they walked on the field – even the Roland Garros crowd waits a few games!)
This is about as perfect a discussion as I’ve seen regarding the 15. Perfect meaning expressing my views exactly. Thank.You.
Errr… I actually wrote Nike after Wimbledon and inquired about them making something for purchase to commemorate Roger’s 15 titles and got a reply back. They are making a baseball cap and a t-shirt. The t-shirt is black with a big RF on the front and fifteen on the back (written with the same F/font as Roger’s RF) and the baseball cap has a 15 on the front and Federer written on the back of it by the ponytail holder part. While Roger has tons of money, he is owned in part by Nike and if they give him something to wear, I think he pretty much has to wear it and to me, wearing a jacket with a subtle 15 on it immediately after the win, is nothing different than other professionals wearing gear immediately after a win.
Just my .02 cents worth. I have the item numbers if anyone wants to look for the gear. They will, no doubt, go fast.
I’m planning on getting a gear!
I wish i could go to USOpen just to rub it in.
Not a misstep, and if Nike did not understand the subtleties of tennis, the would have emblazoned the 15 on the front or back. It was tiny, on the bottom. PeoplecN no longer criticize his lack of a coach or his need to see a sports psychologist or his FH that “just isn’t the same. They never could criticize his aloofness or unwillingness to talk to the press. I guess all the are left with is his choice of clothes.
It’s just the way people are.
I am sharing because freakyfrites has inspired me to do so
Excellent points all around. Here are my thoughts on the matter (which I also submitted to Jon Wertheim at si.com because I somewhat disagreed with his assessment)…
I love how tennis makes people think and it’s such a great time to enjoy all that comes with the sport. We need to appreciate how lucky we are to be witnessing the brilliant play and match ups of Federer, Nadal, Roddick, Murray, etc.
Given his staggering accomplishments, we know Fed rocks, but maybe Nike was just so excited for him they couldn’t help themselves? Maybe they send him stuff and he is too polite and appreciative to turn them down? They do pay him the big bucks for wearing their apparel. At least signed clothes and accessories make their way to auctions for Fed’s foundation and the proceeds help those in need.
Tennis is probably the sport with the least amount of ‘Look at me, I am awesome, I am rich and famous’ ego or what have you in it, especially compared to some of the other major sports in the US. Perhaps this is part of why we’re having this attire discussion.
What about the fact that winning teams in the NFL, NBA and MLB put on championship winner’s hats right after they win? Those may seem to be a lot more self-aggrandizing than a ‘15′ embroidered on the back of a jacket. Maybe judgements and perceptions differ when it comes to an individual vs a team sport?
It all seems a bit too much since we so recently witnessed the historic French Open win. However, with all that he has achieved in just 6 years, is it really too much to let Roger celebrate and wear the ‘15′ proudly? Maybe he can tone down the gold and accessories, but at least he always keeps it interesting.
I think this epic match between Roger and Andy, along with Nadal’s return, Murray in the mix, will make things super fun in NY. It will be interesting to see what Fed’s wearing for the US Open. As much as New Yorkers may love confidence and style, flashy and brilliant athleticism, we also appreciate champions who are gracious, humble and show a lot of heart! We know Federer has all of that within.
All this criticism of Roger comes from people who just need to write a story – ANY story. They completely write off Fed, only to resurrect him after the next win. They praise him as the ‘best ever’ only weeks after arguing that his time was over. And Nike has achieved what they wanted – publicity – by dressing their man in a flamboyant and even controversial outfit that was sure to draw comments from the conservative tennis world. I just hope Roger does not read too much about it, you just can’t please everybody.
Weren’t Murray’s outfits criticized for being too boring, drab, unflattering? Roger’s this time certainly was neither of these, but the criticism just continues.
I think Roger has become a victim of Nike wanting to get the utmost in publicity out of their man and the media always looking for a controversial story.
Good article, ff, and good comments all around. I must say I was a little put off when I first saw Fed’s warmup, but when I watched again, I realized that he hadn’t packed the jacket in his bag, but was handed it on court by a Nike rep after the match. I think Fed was so shell-shocked at the end of the match that he would have put on a tutu if they’d handed it to him. Well, maybe not a tutu…
Meanwhile, all of the furor over the jacket by Fed bashers has got me thinking. I think I’ll find a plain, white, jacket-style sweatshirt, or warmup jacket, and iron on or embroider a “15″ on the back side, over my right hip, just to show how much I admire this wonderful tennis player and all he’s accomplished.
Spot on Freakyfrites. If even the GOAT cannot indulge a little bit, who can? What astonishes me is the great length all these so-called sports writers have gone into about this total triviality. When I read Bodo’s piece on tennis.com I was expecting this whole clothes saga was just a prelude to something he has to say but no! the article was deciedly about the clothes. So is an article in the Times. ***yawn***
I have to admit I am not a particular fan of that military jacket/waistcoat combo (I blame bad taste at Nike – not sure if Roger would have *some* say on what Nike gives him to wear – or not? Or is he just too easy-going or he couldn’t care less???) but I think that jacket is fine. And I love that golden bag!!!
Btw he wore the same thing at the French Open but just NOT on the podium – he wore a jacket with a bigger ‘14′ on the back when he came out to greet the fans after all his media stuff. It’s just that this time, the Nike people brought it on court AFTER he won (not like some articles said “he pulled it out of his bag” – totally garbage and typical sweeping generalisation without evidence journalists make)!!!
For my taste I would prefer Roger to go back to the classics – thought he looked gorgeous in that blazer! the man himself exudes class – no need for any more superlatives.
Hi everyone! Thanks for all of your comments and insights. At the very least, these kinds of “controversies” encourage lots of interesting conversation.
BTW – I know that there is an issue with comments lagging after you submit them. Rest assured that if you make a comment it will show up – just not right away.
I don’t pre-moderate comments, it’s just that some server issues are slowing this part of the site down. Sorry for the inconvenience and please know that we’re working on it!
Sorry, then, for my double post. I didn’t realize it had gone through.
Oh no problem at all! Sorry for lag time. Hopefully we’ll get it solved soon.
Last month, during the Laker’s parade, Kobe wore the “Nike Most Valuable Puppets – 4 Rings Tee” while the rest of the team all wear the same generic championship Ts. Kobe’s shirt was a lot tackier and “in-your-face” than the subtle gold number “15″ embroidery on Federer’s jacket. At least Federer deserves to wear that jacket more than Kobe, he won an all-time record 15 Grand Slam titles. Kobe has not broken any winning record at all. Ironically, Nike made tons of $$$ of that tacky 4 rings Tee. They probably they can do the same with the “15″ jacket.
I had more trouble with the bag than the jacket. I was under the impression (watching the stuff on sale at the Open) that Roger’s outfits were somehow supposed to spur sales.Since I would think the bag would induce hysterical laughter from anyone who actually showed up with it I guess none of this is anything more than a fashion statement. Must say I liked his shirt and I was a refreshing change from the sea of blue worn at the French Open.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you. Federer deserves every personalized embroidery on his clothes. For God’s sakes, the man has 15 grand slam titles! Let him live a little. What I cringed at was Roddick’s sweat soaked baggy polo shirt. Would it really be that hard for him to wear a shirt that fits properly?
love reading the comments. the tutu one made me laugh!
can you imagine anyone else wearing (or carrying) the rf kit onto a public court or even at a tennis club? what about someone wearing one of maria sharapova’s almost too dressy for tennis dresses and jackets? (you hardly ever hear of anyone questioning her style- ok maybe the tux and shorts were strange, but hey). regardless, you better damn well be an awesome player to pull that off! i wear nike stuff because it’s the best material, style and fit of all the brands i’ve tried out while playing tennis and i’m a decent player, but not that good.
i never wear the maria dresses though. i wonder if people do.
i think it makes the sport more fun when players wear something unique. i’ll take that over plain and boring any day… especially when the champions who wear the custom made outfits have the results to back it up. why not have fun with it? we don’t have to buy any of it if we don’t want to. it’s like watching fashion runway shows… most of the outfits (which cost lots of $) are not meant for public purchase. it can mean whatever you want it to mean.
regardless, fed kicks ass on court and is by all accounts a kind and respectful person. isn’t that what matters most? i think we’re all just biding our time until he’s back on court, post baby fed!
do you see what you’ve started freakyfrites?!
who really cares? 15,20,30 years from now no one is going to rememeber the jacket Roger wore right after winning his 15th grand slam…I doubt many will rememeber who he even played…what people should remember is the tennis that Roger plays…what is any different from the players putting the little trophies on their sneakers than it is from putting it on a warm up jacket that you might only see once? Roger is not the only one that decorates his sneakers with his wins..Rafa does it too.
Please stop sweating the small stuff!
Hi Patti!
I do agree with you about taking the long view. Guys like John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors are remembered fondly, as great champions (no argument from me), but I’m pretty sure that they did much worse things on court than what Roger supposedly did with his jacket!
But I think it’s interesting how many people (including journalists) have made an issue of it. And where there’s a stink, there’s likely to be some sweat, too!
hey everyone. yeh, i definitely agree that everything said so far is spot on. quite obviously, the british press is still hurting over the fact that when it comes down to the business end of grand slam tournaments, andy murray is a no show.
as to the rubbish on federer and his apparent lack of humility, etc., give the guy a break! he’s just confirmed his status in the game. he knows he’s awesome. we all know he’s awesome. what’s wrong with that? what was he meant to do? walk around and pretend he hadn’t just won 15 grand slams? a small number 15 on the back of his jacket seems like a pretty restrained way of celebrating after an absolute stunner of a match if you ask me.
and of course, everyone focuses on this one jacket (which is not controversial by any stretch of the imagination), rather than on federer’s pretty much spotless career.
yep, i can certainly smell most commentators clutching at straws to bring the great man down at the moment!
(btw i love this site; far and away the best one out there. been silently following proceedings since the Rome Masters this year!)
Hi, Bogers!
I couldn’t agree more with this thought: “obviously, the british press is still hurting over the fact that when it comes down to the business end of grand slam tournaments, andy murray is a no show.”
By no means, I’m trying to offend Sue Barker, but perhaps, she doesn’t like Federer very much and was resentful that he won Wimbledon, and not Murray, like the entire United Kingdom had hoped. Therefore, pointed out the “15″ on the jacket, to stir up controversy about it. She has been a journalist for some time now, and she knows very well the kind of facts that people criticize (especially, sport writers in this case). It made it much less “unusual” that she would point out to what Roger was wearing in the middle of the creremony, since his Wimbledon style had been criticised even before the tournament began…
By no means, I’m trying to offend Sue Barker, but perhaps, she doesn’t like Federer very much and was resentful that he won Wimbledon, and not Murray, like the entire United Kingdom had hoped.
========================================================
Hahaha! You obviously aren’t in the UK. Sue Barker loves Roger. Really, really, really loves Roger. I’m sure there are a few interviews on youtube with her fawning all over him. The reason she noticed the 15 is probably because she was perving, and I suppose it is kinda eye level with her.
She was really happy when he won the French, there was a long talk with her and Andy Castle during the coverage where it transpired that she was one of the few who hadn’t written him off last year. So I imagine she was ecstatic when he won Wimbledon. She really loves Rafa as well but I think she wanted Roger to win Wimbledon more last year – not that she said anything. I’m sure she’s happy about Andy Murray but nothing is going to get in the way of her fedophilic behaviour.
Hi, Rae! You may be onto something there…Since Sue Barker “really, really, really loves Roger”, then I’m sure it was nothing more than a live “slip-up” from a very professional and experienced journalist, with millions of people watching…
And since “nothing is going to get in the way of her fedophilic behaviour”, then most probable, had no idea of the controversy a certain #15 would spark among the sports media, even though she has been in an environment involving tennis/journalism/sport media for most of her life…
Barker was a tennis player in the 70s/80s before she got the job with the Beeb in the 90s. The beeb will employ former sports stars as pundits and sometimes move them on to presenting if they are any good on camera. Sue just presents Wimbledon and various other sports programs. Yes she’s an experienced presenter but she’s not a journalist by any stretch of the imagination.
Sorry, but I have to agree with Ana on this one. Besides, the argument whether Barker is a journalist or television presenter is not relevant here. That is not the issue. It still does not alter Ana’s points on the REAL issue.
I could care less if Barker is a journalist (which she is not) or a television presenter, either way this wasn’t her first time, and she is very experienced and knowledgeable in what she does. To me, she had to know what she was doing. How could a television reporter not know what she is doing right at that moment??? If she had these “slip-ups” all the time, she wouldn’t be where she is now.
Hi, Bogers! I couldn’t agree more with this thought: “obviously, the british press is still hurting over the fact that when it comes down to the business end of grand slam tournaments, andy murray is a no show.”
By no means, I’m trying to offend Sue Barker, but perhaps, she doesn’t like Federer very much and was resentful that he won Wimbledon, and not Murray, like the entire United Kingdom had hoped. Therefore, pointed out the “15″ on the jacket, to stir up controversy about it. She has been a journalist for some time now, and she knows very well the kind of facts that people criticize (especially, sport writers in this case). It made it much less “unusual” that she would point out to what Roger was wearing in the middle of the creremony, since his Wimbledon style had been criticised even before the tournament began…
Way to go guys.I’m lovin the comments and opinions.
The mere jacket sparked enough controversy that made me think that Roger really IS THE MAN!.Those sports writers cant help themselves but be drawn to an enigma that is Roger Federer.Bad publicity is still good publicity right?Id say , its really ok for Roger to have worn that jacket as his way of rubbing it off to his critics faces ,those same people who have written him off the past year.For me, its his day of reckoning.Its only fitting to show them that he isn’t finished and he isnt done.I would have done the same if it were me. And i wouldnt put the 15 on the back but up front….
Hi, Jenica! I have to say that I completely agree with you; especially the line: “And i wouldnt put the 15 on the back but up front….” That made me laugh in agreement with you.
Those sport reporters/writers have nothing else to criticize, not his game, not his personal life, but his style. It is more pathetic of them to do so, than Federer wearing that jacket, because if it weren’t for Sue Barker (whom I completely blame!) nobody would have noticed!!
Gimme five!
Anyways, my irritation towards THE JACKET was somehow eased by this article.It already made me feel good.
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/1476654.html
and thank you guys for defending Roger by emailing those who wrote rubbish.
Good writing.
The articles by Bodo an others are ridiculous. People who doesn’t like Federer will always find something to critizise.
The funny thing is that Fed didn’t know about the Jacket until it was handed to him. He said it was done behind his back and it came as a surprise, but somehow journalists choose to ignore what HE has to say to make their own good story. PATHETIC.
Let’s forget that he stood up to applaud roddick, that he said he “was luck to win” and that he praised Andy heaps in the pressers and concentrate on a small 15 on the corner of his jacket that he didn’t know about prior to the match and make a big fuss out of nothing.
Seriously this has gone way out of proportion and the attempts to make Fed look like a twat are ridiculous. Gotta love all the hate he’s receiving in the forums etc. I wonder why? Oh yes, he’s back to winning Slams again and proving those doubters who said he was finished wrong!
rant complete.
Yes, yes, and yes! I was very surprised by the “insights” of some journalists which seemed to me nothing but thinly disguised meanness and jealousy perhaps? Or maybe the deadline loomed… Thanks everyone for speaking up! This really was a non-issue, if there was one. Rafa wore shoes with a number at French Open, and that was great, too. I see nothing wrong with celebrating one of the most significant records in the sport.
Did I just post a comment? Oh my goodness… Back to lurking…
Hi all! I just wanted to say HELLO!!!! to all the new commenters/lurkers (kim, bogers, nice to meet you) and of course extend my undying gratitude and admiration to all the GTT “regulars” who always keep the conversation flowing and fun (and damn erudite, too.) You guys are my Dream Team.
Random: A woman just Twittered that she ate next to Mirka and Roger in a Zurich restaurant today. Lucky lady.
Thanks for writing this post! I didn’t even notice the jacket until the trophy ceremony. THe funny thing is people have probably spent more time criticizing and writing about the jacket then the actual time Roger spent wearing it.