Spain, France Going To War Over This Rafael Nadal Spoof Video

Wow the video is pretty funny :)

February 8th, 2012 at 2:37 pm

LMAO!

February 8th, 2012 at 3:03 pm

French warped sense of humour!

February 8th, 2012 at 3:18 pm

im a fan of rafa,but i have to say this is still really funny.

February 8th, 2012 at 3:21 pm

this is plain French envy. When was the last time when a French won Roland Garros, or the French Tour?

I just can’t remember.

February 8th, 2012 at 3:37 pm

Can someone explain how the Spanish federation can sue a channel in France?

February 8th, 2012 at 6:30 pm

Ben, they are in EU, that is why they can sue each other.

February 8th, 2012 at 9:20 pm

Lol, not quite “Grand Guignol” but somehow horrifically absurd nonetheless. And the ensuing “war” is great drama. Oh those Spaniards and French, gotta love em. :)

February 8th, 2012 at 11:45 pm

Of course the more “outraged” everyone gets, the more publicity for the video. Uncle Tone has right approach.
Not quite my humour…….

February 9th, 2012 at 1:22 am

Vamos Rafaaaa! Just carry on stealing the Coupe DES Mousquetaires from Frogland!!!

February 9th, 2012 at 2:41 am

Normally I don’t like such videos and I respect Rafa but his constant pestering to switch to a two year ranking system is starting to make me really really HATE him: http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/7552875/tennis-double-ranking-period-atp-tour-trouble He’s being so self-centered and cunning as the change is rankings systems would suit him. You can’t just change an established ranking system in the middle of nowhere. Then why not change it before Roger Federer’s era so Rafa would have never gained the No.1 ranking in 2008 or 2010? It’s very disgusting and lowly of Nadal to even say anything publicly about the two year ranking system. I hope he shuts up his BS. I will boycott watching tennis and buying tickets at ATP and ITF tournaments if they change the ranking system just to suit Nadal. It’s wrong and his reasoning behind it is also wrong.

February 9th, 2012 at 2:44 am

@Dory. Rafa merely making a suggestion! Why do u have to ‘really really HATE him’? HATE is a very strong word.

February 9th, 2012 at 3:47 am

“Rafa merely making a suggestion!”

Cunning.

February 9th, 2012 at 4:13 am

You think Rafa is cunning? Wish he was!!

February 9th, 2012 at 4:34 am

this thread was supposed to be about that spoof video,i dont know what two year rankings have to do with this?much ado about nothing as its never likely to happen anyway.

February 9th, 2012 at 5:48 am

mark but your always saying how much you hate nole,comments like classless serb,djokass etc,so dorys now saying it about your favourite player,not very nice is it when the boots on the other foot,get used to it,its called tit for tat.

February 9th, 2012 at 6:02 am

although i have to admit i do find this video funny even as a fan of rafa,i notice others who mostly find it funny,seem to be fans of nole and fed,but not rafa,i wonder if those fans would find it that funny if the video,was about one of there favourites hmm,makes you wonder.

February 9th, 2012 at 6:17 am

I doubt this video was made for fun.
I just dunno why these french fellas are so badly after Nadal.
They cannot make such a video IMHO as they don’t have the slightest proof about Rafa’s supposed involvement in this drug thing. It’s a aubtle way of raising a grievous accusation, I guess.

February 9th, 2012 at 7:24 am

I mean ‘subtle’ way

February 9th, 2012 at 7:26 am

Hey Alison. Thought u were a Rafa fan as well.. You sure don’t sound it. Stick up for your man – that is a true fan.

February 9th, 2012 at 8:09 am

COme on, I would take this as a compliment. I am sure Rafa feels the same.

February 9th, 2012 at 8:55 am

mark in answer to your question i am and i do,and believe me some of the posts directed at rafa,do piss me off big style sometimes,but i ignore them as they are not worth bothering with,but the thing you have to realize is when you go on a forum,you and your favourite player are fare game whether you like it or not im afraid,i do love rafa but not as much as the game itself,im a tennis fan not a rafa hero worshipper sorry.

February 9th, 2012 at 9:15 am

BTW mark even though i dont necassarily agree with your posts,as i dislike haters,i have to admit i love your passion for rafa.

February 9th, 2012 at 9:32 am

The comment by Yannick Noah was more offensive than the video imo; and yet, while the video was made for a comedy show apparently, I can totally understand how it would and can be off-putting. It is entirely absurd as mentioned before. Noah, though, is an ex-tennis player and made his statement in a news setting, which implies seriousness, and therefore I can see why Rafa was more disturbed by that. People are more likely to take that seriously perhaps? Also margot has a valid point; it might be better for Rafa to ignore this than to make a “war” over it as it just gets more publicity then. Is this some long-standing feud between the French and Spanish? I mean, where does all this come from?!

February 9th, 2012 at 9:34 am

yeah completely agree great post jane,its not so much about the video,but more about the drug taking insinuation,that rafa and his team may find offensive,time to let sleeping dogs lie.

February 9th, 2012 at 9:47 am

The french have forgotten gasquet’s positive for cocaine…That history was really funny!

February 9th, 2012 at 10:13 am

It shows the extend of jelaousiness of French, to accuse Nadal without even a trace of substance.Some people who claims that this clip is funny are not even fans of sport.

February 9th, 2012 at 11:46 am

We, the spanish people, are upset about the video because the french press is always pouring loads of dirt over our athletes. Not only rafa, but everyone. This video , in its own, it’s not that bad. But If you add up everything, it’s simply too much (like noah’s article). This whole thing can be explained in one simple word: ENVY!!

February 9th, 2012 at 11:59 am

About that video:

Such things are usual practice in France. No need to get offended. They do to anybody, starting with their president, prime minister…

February 9th, 2012 at 12:24 pm

mat 4 george michael did a video spoof of bush and regan ,for one of his songs called shoot the dog,with homosexual references,and madonna uses the shock factor in just about every one of her videos,like a prayer caused such a stir it offened the pope and the catholic chuch,as she was dressed like a prostitute tempting a black jesus down from the cross,so i agree anybody is fare game,but the thing is the insinuations that are made,its ok to have a laugh and a joke but where do you draw the line,between a joke and been offensive?

February 9th, 2012 at 1:37 pm

@alison:

I didn’t say I liked it, quite the opposite.

But although there is a lot of pressure to introduce the “pensée unique” in France, the “politically correct” in every instance and every moment, French still do resist. And they were never politically correct (except at universities, where the pressure on teachers is exceptionnal).

This kind of sketches started more than thirty years ago (the first I remember was the “Colaro show”, then I remember the late Thierry Le Luron). It was the same then, with impersonations of Giscard and Raymond Bar (names that don’t mean much today; the first one was president of France and the second one prime minister, after Jacques Chirac).

In French tennis fora, it is already an accepted fact that Nadal and Djokovic are doping (not “Doudou”, of course), and Yannick Noah, who is not a particularly clever man, just said what he could read or hear about everywhere.

I should add that posters in French fora, generally, are quite harsh and uncivil (though they are not, certainly, the only one).

February 9th, 2012 at 2:35 pm

Finally, I just wanted to state a fact about French TV shows. It is not my personal opinion.

February 9th, 2012 at 2:39 pm

mat 4 honestly no offence was taken,and a great post by the way.

February 9th, 2012 at 3:04 pm

@adam “The french have forgotten gasquet’s positive for cocaine…”

The whole world has forgotten Gasquet. Nobody seems to care for him anymore.

February 9th, 2012 at 4:15 pm

Nadal defended Gasquet during the cocaine ordeal.

February 9th, 2012 at 4:46 pm

yeah nadal defended gasquet over the cocaine ordeal,seems that the french have double standards.

February 9th, 2012 at 4:56 pm

If it were just a case of letting sleeping dogs lie, it would be fine, but that doesn’t seem to be what’s in store for Rafa. I thought that maybe Noah was just a one off, but now it looks like someone in France is going to walk this dog until it takes on a life of it’s own and Rafa is truly discredited. I don’t think the Federation has a choice really. I find it shameful, guys like Noah will run Nadal into the ground, and I do think it’s personal. So NO, I don’t think it’s funny. I think if France is so concerned with doping, then they should look to their own players first.

February 9th, 2012 at 6:03 pm

This is very stupid…and not funny at all trying to show one of the greatest athletes in poor light without any evidence.

February 9th, 2012 at 8:29 pm

“I think if France is so concerned with doping, then they should look to their own players first.”

You mean like…… Alberto Contador? From Spain?

Look, without evidence no one can claim anything. However, Spain has historical issues with accusations about PEDs, and France is right next door. Maybe to close for comfort? I agree France is probably shouting sour grapes, but that video was hecka funny. Seriously, what is gonna come out of all this? Nothin.

February 10th, 2012 at 1:02 am

Frogs will be Frogs! Very appropriate name for the French!

February 10th, 2012 at 3:50 am

I hope what comes out of this is that the false accusations stop because they are harmful, even if they’re just planting seeds in the minds of people who may not know much about tennis or the “historical” relationship between Spain and France, and I would imagine that relationship (where France slanders Spain) exists only as long as Spain is competing and whipping their asses. It’s not just this cartoon, its the enuendo, the sarcasm, and outright stupid blanket statements that just add up. I have no idea what the outcome will be, but for sure it’s going to go from bad to worse if they don’t try. Basically, the trouble makers need a timeout, or better yet to be hit in the pocketbook, that always seems to make an impression.

February 10th, 2012 at 12:16 pm

No Skeeze, I believe Spain took care of Alberto Contador. The French need to mind their own business and worry about whatever doping might be taking place in their own back yard, because if it is prevalent (as you say) then I’m sure there are plenty of French athletes to be wary of as well. I mean most countries have their own hands full when it comes to doping. I know we do.

February 10th, 2012 at 12:23 pm

“No Skeeze, I believe Spain took care of Alberto Contador.”

In 2010, Alberto Contador tested positive for clenbuterol. He was then “cleared” by the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation (Spain). This was then reviewed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (international organization) and he was found to be guilty and received a ban.

Anna, this is why you can’t trust one country to arbitrate over doping matters. Of course countries will protect their own athletes.

As far as this video goes, it’s just a spoof. Do you take everything on Saturday Night Live at face value?

Nadal defended Gasquet… so what? Nadal also defended Contador, and both Gasquet and Contador tested positive. Both received bans. That’s how the system works.

February 10th, 2012 at 1:55 pm

Oleg,

Was gonna respond to that but you beat me too it ;)

February 10th, 2012 at 6:47 pm

Well, as a Contador fan, I appreciated Rafa’s tweet to Berto:

Nadal said on his official Twitter feed: “The Contador news is incredible, there is no definitive evidence and they give him the maximum punishment…LAMENTABLE…keep your spirits up champion! All my support!”

http://au.eurosport.com/cycling/tour-de-france/2012/schleck-upset-over-ban_sto3142238/story.shtml

February 10th, 2012 at 9:28 pm

Oleg – Saturday Night Live takes potshots indiscriminately and everyone is fair game. If they pick on a Republican candidate in week 1, then they’ll do the same to a democrat the following week, so no problem with SNL. The situation with Nadal and the Spanish athletes is not comparable. I’m not suggesting that countries arbitrate their own athletes for doping, I understand how wada (?) works, I’m suggesting that the french CONCERN themselves (different than testing) with their own athletes, quit whining about the Spaniards and get on with the business of sports. I mean they do have an agenda, otherwise Contador could have easily been Lance Armstrong and Rafa… maybe Marty Fish. But then Marty hasn’t won the FO six times and God knows how many clay court titles. As I said in an earlier post, this video isn’t exactly an isolated incident.

February 10th, 2012 at 10:37 pm

Gotta love the video! I think the Spaniards need to get a sense of humor. Spanish pee is the way of the future! LOL

February 10th, 2012 at 11:06 pm

Yeah, a jackass will heehaw at most anything.

February 10th, 2012 at 11:09 pm

@Daniel. You r one sick dude!!!

February 11th, 2012 at 3:46 am

hhmmmmm…………..

more comments by Fedfans on this thread than on the other thread where….ehm, Fed lost to Fish…………..go figure.

February 11th, 2012 at 4:01 am

i would never be the type of person who believes in false propoganda.Well Federer`s loss is a true news.Learn to digest.

February 11th, 2012 at 9:32 am

I don’t even care to watch the video. Certainly such a ridiculous spoof from a comedy show is inconsequential, and Noah’s statements in the press were far more disturbing. In any case, the French media and tennis establishment will only have more cause for sour grapes after Roland Garros, as it will be either a Serb or a Spaniard holding the trophy! Hopefully it will be number 7 for the King! Vamos!

February 11th, 2012 at 9:46 am

According to the psychic:

The Spanish doper/ass picker/OCD bottle fixing freak AKA Nadal will win Roland Garros this year.

The French tennis fans and sports media won’t be happy at all.

February 11th, 2012 at 10:31 am

@Jamie. As long as Rafa keeps winning who cares about your remarks. You r a cheap A&&£&&E with a capital ‘A’!!!

February 11th, 2012 at 10:36 am

Have y’all noticed how Nadal looks like the GEICO Caveman?

The resemblance is uncanny!

http://ndn3.newsweek.com/media/74/071005_TV01_vl-vertical.jpg

February 11th, 2012 at 10:42 am

This came from another forum but I think it speaks to this situation better than most.

“There is a dfference though between satire and slander. Satire is where you poke fun at aperson’s well-known character traits and habits. Thus it is perfectly in order for the French channel to mock Nadal’s butt=picking or water bottle arrangements because everybody can see that he does these things when he’s on court. But to suggest that his urine is so full of PEDs it can fuel his own car is, frankly, slanderous because there is no proof that Nadal uss drugs to enhance his performance and to suggest otherwise is over-stepping the boundaries and becomes slanderous rather than satire.

It is important in a free speaking democracy, to understand and appreciate this important difference!

February 11th, 2012 at 11:14 am

The sad part about this is that this criticism comes from the country where nadal’s best tournament is held. He goes out there on the court where he has had some of the best moments of his career to a crowd who does not support him back. Pity

February 11th, 2012 at 11:37 am

[…] Coincidently, Nadal’s tweet or “response” comes during the same week in which a French TV spot suggested Nadal and his fellow Spanish athletes are dopers. […]

February 13th, 2012 at 10:31 am

I cannot understand why nothing further has been heard regarding the report that Novak Djokovic had undergone a blood enhancing treatment (oxygenation) along with a changed diet/exercise, etc.

To my mind anything which artificially improves an athlete’s physical performance, to the detriment of others, is the same as having ingested a “drug” to improve performance. How about that?

I’d be interested in knowing how others feel about this.

February 15th, 2012 at 8:21 pm

I would also add my name to supporters of Rafa Nadal in agreeing that the French press and sports officials have treated him shabbily, instead of recognizing him as the splendid champion, sportsman and gentlemen he has proven to be.

February 15th, 2012 at 8:26 pm

@Arline. Yr post 8.21. I agree. This has all been kept under wraps, the oxygenation part. There should be further investigation and more publicity. Somehow the journos are ignoring this very vital issue.

February 16th, 2012 at 7:56 am