I don’t see why he withdrew from Abu Dhabi. It’s a month away and it’s like 2 or 3 matches, anyway.

December 2nd, 2015 at 10:23 am

Wonder why he withdrew from IPTL. Maybe because fedal will be participating this year. They might cramp his style. Lol

December 2nd, 2015 at 10:42 am

“Are these withdrawals an indication that Djokovic has become wiser in his scheduling…?”

his scheduling has been pretty awesome really since about 2012 when he cut out extra 250 tournaments to concentrate on bigger events.

i really think this has to do with how successful his 2015 campaign was. he just needs to recharge by the sounds of it. last year he ended up playing the doha and the first week of the AO with a cold/flu. maybe he’s taking extra precaution this year. hope so.

good decisions, imo.

December 2nd, 2015 at 10:54 am

Good for you Novak that’s why you are world number 1, you need to rest and relax with your family

December 2nd, 2015 at 10:55 am

“extra precaution” in what regard? That he’ll avoid the cold/ flu? Lol

December 2nd, 2015 at 11:12 am

Well? I think it depends a lot on how much someone likes travelling and taking the family along, too, Ben. Fed’s always said he loves that part. However for others, time on the road takes away from spending precious time with the immediate family at home.

IPTL is an interesting idea – I like it in theory. But this time of year, it could be seen as an interference with being rested and ready for ATP 2016. Bravo, Nole :D

Agnieszka Radwanska was supposed to play for a team but she’s either reduced her commitment or cancelled completely – can’t remember which. She was also complaining about the length of the WTA season though…so, I don’t know. Are some players maybe feeling a need to scale back WTA/ATP schedules and allow more time for IPTL?

December 2nd, 2015 at 11:20 am

Novak decided not to play Abu Dhabi months ago.

December 2nd, 2015 at 11:30 am

And your point is, elina?

December 2nd, 2015 at 11:33 am

Abu is New Years. Maybe he have other plans with his family. And he doesn’t need the money, playing Doha is already a great warm up for AO and mid way flight to Melbourne. Seema wiser.

I wonder of Murray will play either one of the pre AO (Doha or Brisnane) or just Hopman Cup.

December 2nd, 2015 at 12:02 pm

And you think the 6 players who have entered Abu Dhabi are playing because they need the money?? Fed plays Exos because he needs the money? Never heard such a load of hooey!!

December 2nd, 2015 at 12:19 pm

The money could be an issue for some in the ITPL, Giles. We’d both be surprised if we knew… maybe. For example: Jackie Onassis Kennedy, it’s been said, all her life was afraid of being poor, no matter how many millions were in her bank account.

Certainly not Fed or Nole about the money…but training programs and paying teams must have some astronomical price tags at their level.

December 2nd, 2015 at 12:34 pm

I think Elina was answering my query. Will Novak play Kooyong instead, maybe?

Maybe Federer and co don’t “need” the money, but surely they want it. Why would you pass up a couple million bucks to play 2 or 3 matches that have no consequences? Seems foolish.

Giles, what are you actually talking about? Do you really need extra precaution explained to you?

December 2nd, 2015 at 12:47 pm

Would bet on it, Ben. (They) want the money. It comes in handy ;)

But I still like to think Nole is spending time with Jelena, Stefan, and co. Creating memories – keeping life as real as possible. Speculation…

December 2nd, 2015 at 1:03 pm

Whatever Novak needs to do to remain at the top :).

December 2nd, 2015 at 1:07 pm

you could be right jalep. last year novak was there but posted a pic of himself holding stefan. that must’ve been where his heart was at that moment, not in playing an exho…. that little one is at such a fun age right now. just learning to walk and talk. speaking of which, how old are fed’s boys… they must be nearing 2?

December 2nd, 2015 at 1:10 pm

I’m sure family plays a big role (Nole seems like a family man). But also, consider that he has played more matches this year than any other of his years. In 2011, the end of his year fizzled. This year, he kept winning/playing deep in tournaments until the last tournament of the year. So it makes sense that he would need extra rest.

December 2nd, 2015 at 1:33 pm

After the yr Novak has had, all he’s achieved, he needs to recharge his batteries have a good rest with his lovely wife and son, enjoy life from tennis , so when he gets back it will be business as usual beating everybody across the net, cant wait for that roar again at Wimbledon, go nole you are the best

December 2nd, 2015 at 1:47 pm

“Djokovic will return June 4 in Doha …”

Tom, that’s really long break and I would say enough to recharge his batteries;)

December 2nd, 2015 at 1:49 pm

Nole is family man, old fashion family man, for the people who are not familiar with the meaning of being family man in Serbia you can use Italian or Greeks, very similar. He doesn’t need nor wants nannies to raise Stefan, he doesn’t want to take him on the road, but rather to be with mother and grandparents and Nole has millions of dollars but still lives in two bedroom flat that he bought at the very beginning of his career, they are happy there.

December 2nd, 2015 at 2:07 pm

I’ll take his 2 bedroom flat anytime :)

December 2nd, 2015 at 2:30 pm

Wog Boy, what? No 10.000.000 dollar “glass mansion” by the lake abomination?

December 2nd, 2015 at 3:22 pm

Daniel, Andy has said he wont play Doha, dunno about Brisbane, but would think it unlikely.

December 2nd, 2015 at 4:19 pm

“That he’ll avoid the cold/ flu?”

yes. do you not recall your fave, rafa, beginning the season – more than once, in fact – with a cold or other flu-like virus? in fact, in 2013 it was the stated reason he pulled out of AO. there was another year when he was sick during pre-AO events too, with a fever.

perhaps you’re not aware, but when people travel a lot they’re more susceptible to catching viruses. why wouldn’t a professional athlete avoid that if he can – novak has no need to play an exho. i’m sure he’d rather begin the season at doha, with more rest, more time with family, and less travel.

December 2nd, 2015 at 4:29 pm

“Djoković will return June 4 in Doha”? Am I missing something?

December 2nd, 2015 at 7:02 pm

And, of course they’re playing for money, what else is there? Could it be they’re playing for pure fun maybe? Let’s just offer them to cover the costs of participating, without any prizes and bonuses, see who plays then :)

December 2nd, 2015 at 7:06 pm

Hi, everybody!

Novak will probably change a bit his scheduling next season because of the Olympics. He has to do the basic preparation and every day could count. He looked obviously very tired at the end of this season.

I guess there is a possibility, if he wins the AO and plays well at IW and Miami, that he also skips Monte Carlo and Madrid, just to be ready for the FO, WB, the Olympics, and then the USO.

December 2nd, 2015 at 8:34 pm

Obviously enjoying something and being paid for it are mutually exclusive things…
I enjoy a great many things I don’t get money for… but if I got cash on top of it, why would I enjoy them less?
Djoker isn’t playing and others are, clearly one of these two things has to be right and other completely wrong… it’s all binary when you’re a bit.

December 2nd, 2015 at 11:08 pm

I’ll say he’s a little on the tired order, but mostly he wants some good quality time with his precious little boy. I wonder if they travel with a nanny like Fed? If so, he stays caught up with baby love…..and Mommy love!! He’s got the best of both worlds……playing the sport he loves with family in tow!! I want to see a pic of the little boy, just have seen his back side. There might be a faithful Novak fan that could post a link with Stefan in it.

December 3rd, 2015 at 12:39 am

Believe Andy and Stan are splitting Nole’s matches between them.

Soderling planning to return 2016, and, of course, Del Potro….wonder what effect they may have on top ten…..

December 3rd, 2015 at 3:15 am

Oki,
Novak and Jelena never posted a picture of little Stefan so that his face is visible. It is always from behind. I have seen only one frontal picture of the baby Stefan but it was snapped by a paparazzo.

For example:

https://twitter.com/stefan_djoker/status/621823474298818560

As for his skipping the exhos, with more than $21 million earned this year alone, I am seriously doubting he is in need of cash :). This is a holiday season and I am sure there is nothing more important to him than to be with his family and enjoy some free time. He needs rest after a season where he played all the last rounds of the tournaments. Season is energy sapping on so many levels. His AO preparation will be Doha. If he manages to get to the finals there, that will be another record of having achieved all the finals of the tournaments played within 52 week span.

December 3rd, 2015 at 3:16 am

Thanks Margot!

People already answer my point on money. Abu Dhabu and Doha they made huge amount of money. The word is Nadal, Fed, Djoko make more than 2 mi per appearance in these tourneys, so yes. You can dish that out anytime for 2-3 matches. Yeah right!!

That’s why they sacreifice New Year every year and spend there in middle east. Athletes life has a short span (10-20) if tou are luckt where they have to bank as much as possible. Of course these super stars are in a safe position now but they still have a huge entourage to pay for, specially Novak and Fed with 2 coaches.

December 3rd, 2015 at 6:51 am

He is so cute danica.

This is something many celebritiea do, kind of a trend😜 Gisele Bundchen also doesn’t post face pics and many others celebs as well. But they are right, babies shouldn’t be under this but also in out society they are all used to cameras and phines filming them all the time as well.

December 3rd, 2015 at 7:33 am

Danica – The 21 million is prize money is the smaller of the two big sources of income for Djokovic. As with Federer, the top earner in tennis. Fed had 9 million in prize money in 2014, a small fraction of his 67 million in total income. His prize money is almost a pittance, compared to the endorsement and appearance fee money Roger commands.
Djoker is in an almost unique situation where if he does almost as well as as well as he did in 2015, or at least gets the FO or Olympic gold, his endorsement money, already past Nadal’s, jumps up even higher.
IMG is working hard to add to Nole’s cash pile by delivering more endorsements his way as a result of the 2015 on court performance and off court champion image Nole now exemplifies so well.

In Andy’s case, winning the Davis Cup will add piles more in endorsement money. Several million more each year.

And annual income does not count income from investments, nor capital gains.

I imagine Djokovics present 2 bedroom flat in Monaco, which he got before his success led to a wealth explosion, will suffice for a few more years. But another kid or two, with dogs, with all the family travel clothes and gear needed – he may have to buy bigger. Hope he stays “everyman” though, and doesn’t go the palace or castle route. Maybe a 4 bedroom flat with a studio and larger back yard will be next.

Rafa has a nice place, but it totally fits him. Large house on the ocean on his native island of Mallorca, boats can dock, half the villa is set aside for his parents and sis.

December 3rd, 2015 at 7:55 am

Nole will also be playing DC 2016 – another reason why he will be judicial with his schedule..

Andy has said he’d play the UK v Japan DC but doubts he will be able to fit in subsequent DC rounds … it is difficult for all of them particularly with the Olympics as well.

December 3rd, 2015 at 9:41 am

Anyone who believes these guys play exhos for the sake of another million dollars or so is being naive. By far the biggest slice of their fortunes comes from massive sponsorship and endorsement deals. Which means they must honour their obligations to maintain a high profile in the markets their sponsors are interested in.

December 3rd, 2015 at 9:48 am

^^^ Speak to Daniel on that one. He thinks the players are chasing the $$$$$$.

December 3rd, 2015 at 10:35 am

Honfleraise – Players sponsors tend to be global in business outlook. I don’t believe endorsers ask that specific new markets get the exos, nor is there language in the contracts requiring players to do exos or go where the endorser wants them to go. But endorsers do benefit overall from the promotion of tennis the exos do in new markets and some may indeed try to set up an event to reward their rich clients…like Royal Bank of Scotland may help underwrite a Cayman Islands exo with Andy Murray. Getting a little appearance money (OK, not so little) from RBS Coffers on top of Murray’s usual annual endorsement compensation playing for and doing meet and greets with RBS’s wealthy Caribbean-based clients and Latin American bigshots

December 4th, 2015 at 10:50 am

Chrisford1 – the RBS would be obliged to report any such sponsorship (whether it was Andy/Roger/Rafa etc.) – they are operating within tight financial restrictions- are owned almost wholly by the People.

Yes they are global in business outlook but a measurement of all their activities on a profit/loss basis is fundamental….not the only bank to have to do so but relates to level of watchdog/previous failure etc. etc.

With respect, I would be interested in any Facts that you may have that indicate the RBS has a “loophole” and that Andy Murray personally benefits from it.

December 4th, 2015 at 2:02 pm

J-Kath, just tossing that out as an example because the exos are not obligated by endorsement contracts – but sponsors can be involved in certain conceivable situations where they use exos to reward clients, woo investors, extend their brand impact to new markets that dovetail with tennis’s new markets. Don’t know if RBS has used Andy and exos to promote their interests…likely…I have seen RBS gear at one of the exos he was in, signs, etc..Have no clue on the compensation structure. Like appearance fees for non-mandatory ATP events…the dollars and euros are not published broken down by who and in what percent in a consortium underwrites Roger’s Basel fee or Novak and Rafa’s 2013 SA exo tour with Gonzalez, Nalbandian & Co.

I believe the thinking has moved past “Exos are a joke like most of the rest, only 4 events in 4 longtime 1st World countries matter..”

December 4th, 2015 at 3:24 pm

I had relatives in India that went to IPTL last year and they loved it. Nice for them to see the big stars live as well. But tbh I don’t think it will be very long-lived.

December 4th, 2015 at 10:39 pm

Thanks ChrisFord1.

December 5th, 2015 at 4:36 am

Anyone who is interested in the Sports Personality of the Year (UK) may or may not know about the recent fury over Tyson Fury for his sexist remarks a sample of which includes – a woman’s place is in the kitchen or on her back…………..
Good bye Tyson – U blew it.

December 5th, 2015 at 4:47 am

All this “fury over Fury” in England is nothing but a hypocritical PC bullshit, as usual…
Here is a simple guy who gets hit in the head for living and he says what he really thinks about women. So what – that’s his opinion and he is not hurting anyone nor is enticing hate like many racist out there. If you a woman and do not like his philosophy on women, simply avoid him, definitely don’t marry him and possibly cheer against him when he fights.
On the other hand, Murray’s wife was caught on camera yelling “Czech flash fuk” at Berdych, which is arguably a hate-filled racist remark and England public was much less critical about her than about Fury. Double standard?

Murra’s wife opinion that Berdych was not just a flash fuk but a flash fuk from “lowly” Czech Republic reveals her nature and is a bit hurtful.
Fury’s opinion that “a woman’s place is in the kitchen or on her back” reveals his anachronistic nature, is a sweeping generalization and does not hurt any particular person’s feelings.

Yet, Fury is roasted in England and Murray’s wife was consider a nice lady. Tsk, tsk, tsk…

In addition, Fury did contribute somewhat by bring some national pride to England by winning the world’s most important boxing title. On the other hand Murray’s wife’s national contributions are non-existent – perhaps due to her spending majority of time in the kitchen or on her back ;-)

December 5th, 2015 at 5:49 am

Three things I like about Fury, kicking the ass of Wladimir Klitschko, his Irish Traveller backround and … I have forgotten third one..

December 5th, 2015 at 6:07 am

Correction: “kicking the ass of Wladimir Bitschko” formerly know as “Wladimir Klitschko”

December 5th, 2015 at 6:46 am

A woman should be in the kitchen or on her back classy err NOT,FAIL :(….

December 5th, 2015 at 7:10 am

“A woman should be in the kitchen or on her back classy err NOT,FAIL :(….”

As far as I am concerned, a woman can be in the garden, laundry, ironing room and not necessarily on her back..

December 5th, 2015 at 7:40 am

Wogboy the point is a woman should be treated equally,and dont get me wrong that goes for the men too, as women at times can be just as sexist…

December 5th, 2015 at 8:08 am

Hey everybody – Tyson’s Fury (couldn’t resist that) included a lot more heavy sexist comments than the one I quoted – has drawn over 5,000 comments on social network asking BBC to eliminate him….given that the BBC is of course the moral leader of British standards they have so far refused. I’ll see if I can find the article again and post.

December 5th, 2015 at 11:26 am

http://www.premierchristianradio.com/News/UK/Petition-to-remove-Christian-Tyson-Fury-from-BBC-Sports-Personality-exceeds-50-000

On another article he equated homosexuality and abortion with paedophilia.

December 5th, 2015 at 11:38 am

@Danica….Thanks for the link of baby Stefan. Precious! That’s so wise not to plaster pix all of the internet, his parents being so wealthy and all. I’m sure Novak wants quality time with his family. Like I said above if they travel with a nanny, he does get to see him more. You faithful Novak fans probably know their routine.
I think he wants to rest myself. He might have a niggle or two we haven’t been privy to, but hope not. Needing money…no……but wanting all he get…..yes! I like all I can get…… :)

December 5th, 2015 at 11:59 am

The “on her back” remark reminded of something my sister’s 80 yr old mother-in-law said once. Quote:
“I told Woodrow, (the father-in-law) I cant work like a horse all day and be rode like one all night”. My sister nearly fainted. All I can now, since I am so much older……..80 years…..wow, just wow!!

@Travis Bickle…..Tsk Tsk

December 5th, 2015 at 12:21 pm

J-Kath thanks for the link,what a silly ignorant man,i really dont know how anyone could actually defend the actions of someone like that,and i did actually like him after beating Klitschko,but not anymore,BTW im not racist as i too have Gypsy blood the clues in the monikor….

December 5th, 2015 at 2:41 pm

Oh dear. I don’t know how anyone can justify the stated beliefs of Tyson Fury…I would hope the other men who comment on these threads find them totally unacceptable.

December 5th, 2015 at 4:17 pm

JK,

I believe you understood I was joking and teasing GG, I even put two dots at the and, but by saying this I do get TB’s point, if they jump on sexist statment they should equally jump on chauvinistic one, even more so due the nasty things that going around the world, and what Kim said was plain chauvinistic, instead we had comments here how sweet it was from Kim to come next day in RL arena with that sweater and R rated message printed. I thought those christian radios are against chauvinistic behavior too, it is against christian faith, no?

December 5th, 2015 at 4:48 pm

No Wog Boy – Kim was being personal…Tomas did goad Andy – whether she was right to intervene is questionable. But Travis’s comments seem to state that it is OK to demean women and any group of people that Fury doesn’t like — not even in the same book, never mind the same page…am disappointed that you may agree to some extent. For the record the article is all over the press and not by any means restricted to a Christian radio or publication….it just happened to be the first one I saw. Try the Guardian, try any of them or try the 5,000 tweets.

December 5th, 2015 at 5:07 pm

JK,

I disagree, it would be personal if she said “f..inf Berdych…” but not if you say “f..ing Czech”, huge difference, try to say publicly for Mardy Fish “f..ing Jew..” In RL Arena and wait for the reactions next day.

December 5th, 2015 at 5:21 pm

Besides, I read this and his tweets and don’t find his comments outrageous considering he is a gipsy himself, different way of life:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/boxing/tyson-fury-twitter-message-jessica-ennis-hill-sexist-spoty-petition-a6761426.html

December 5th, 2015 at 5:51 pm

WB’s comment at 5:21pm:
Spot on, you got my point! It’s not the same saying “f-ing Joe” and “f-ing Joe Jew or Czech or Gypsy, etc.”

That woman was racist or chauvinistic at least.
Fury was sexist.

What is worse, racist/chauvinist or sexist? That’s all I asked…

And folks (mostly women) here pretend as they did not understand my point and keep defending Murray’s wife as she is much better person than Fury (“Kim was being personal”, blah blah blah) – no she was not – she revealed what her inherited beliefs regarding Czechs were in this particular case – it’s reasonable to extrapolate and conclude what she thinks about other nationalities/races..

However, it’s an internet forum, nothing serious – everyone should feel free to defend racists/chauvinists as well as sexist. What bugs me are double standards these hypocrites utilize in doing so!

December 5th, 2015 at 6:37 pm

Wogboy/TB Im not condoning what Kim said either as that was equally as bad,and i did in fact make my point about it at the time,this years AO i believe?,what i said was i doubt people wouldve given Tomas Berdych girlfriend Esther Satarova a free pass had it been her insulting Murray,or words to that effect,come on Wogboy you know me better than that,as for Travis Bickle you havent been here all that long so you dont im afraid….

December 6th, 2015 at 1:20 am

GG,

Of course I know you, I didn’t say anything about you, was just teasing you about place of the woman and whether she should be on her back or not;) The other part of my conversation wasn’t aimed at you, it was just my opinion.

December 6th, 2015 at 3:35 am

Derogatory remarks between tennis players and their supporters are nothing new and there has been some memorable ones (Mrs. RF to Stan) ; Kyrios to Stan – Kim to Tomas – in the latter case the worst aspect was the reference to Tomas’s nationality. Andy knows all about that when he’s called every sludge and hate name using his Scottish nationality as the reason for his shortcomings —

The difference – and it is huge – is that Fury’s remarks are aimed at dismissing half the population (females) and other sections of the population e.g. homosexuals as said above. It is not surprising that 50,000+ people have protested at his inclusion in the Sports Personality of the Year.

We shall see whether the BBC respond to the protest or not.

December 6th, 2015 at 4:54 am

Wogboy yeah you did actually say that to me@4.48pm December 5th,which i didnt actually read properly,before dashing of to work this morning,so my apologies to you for getting my knickers in a twist ;)….

December 6th, 2015 at 8:42 am

J-Kath well said,i dont even know why Kim was dragged into this….

December 6th, 2015 at 8:54 am

#GG…..I guess Kim was dragged into this because
somebody doesn’t like Andy. Gypsy, our guy’s gal is very quiet and docile. All you ever see her do is to stand up and say Vamos!! I’m glad she is never in any controversy. Rafa gets enough criticism for ten people.

December 6th, 2015 at 10:07 am

Why do some people on this forum have to be so condescending??? Gets on my last nerve…..grrr

December 6th, 2015 at 10:11 am

Dear Okiegal, did You felt the same way when people were dragging Marjan Vajda and his sick wife.For me it was more”condescending” .Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

December 6th, 2015 at 11:36 am

Dear Okiegal,

Did You felt the same when Marjan’s sick wife was dragged in or it was OK because somebody doesn’t like Novak.For me it was more condescending than this.Marjan’s wife should not be dragged in while Kim said something that some people do not like and they do not hate Andy.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

December 6th, 2015 at 11:52 am

Dear Okiegal,
Did You felt the same when Vajda’s sick wife was dragged in or it was OK becuse somebody doesnot like Novak.I think that was much more condescending than this with Kim. Kim said something that some people do not like and it dosenot have to do any thig with Andy.Other wise it means if You like something You are going to like every thing about that even bad staf.

December 6th, 2015 at 12:08 pm

Okie its as J-Kath explained players spouses have had their moments when it comes to dishing out deragatory remarks to their rivals,but Tyson is doing alot more than just insulting one person,your right though people are condescending on this forum at times….

December 6th, 2015 at 12:38 pm

Gypsy Gal and Okiegal – You have both clearly hit the heart of the problem – side issues exist and seem to be used to diminish the main issue – but your comments have cut through it all.

December 6th, 2015 at 1:50 pm

Dear bojana anel…..I was answering Gypsy’s question to J-Kath about why Kim was dragged into it and I said probably because they didn’t like Andy. You know how it can be some time…we’re all pretty star struck with our favs and if a tacky remark was said about their partner we might take offence to it and get huffy and then insults are thrown out about their fav and here we go we’ve got a full blown up war. To answer your question about Vajda’s sick wife she didn’t even enter my mind in this discussion. Since you brought her into it I think it’s terrible if anyone made light of her and Vajda’s situation regardless who he coached. Coaching Novak is his livelihood. Of course he did the right thing by being by his ill wife’s side. Now, concerning my comment about “condescending” people on this forum, I should have named HIM! That remark had nothing to do with Andy, Kim, Berdy…it was in response to a male poster’s comment to a female
poster. There again something I said gave off a different vibe than what I actually meant. One of these days I will learn to keep it up my sleeve and not share all of my thoughts. I hope I’ve cleared this up. Okie

December 6th, 2015 at 3:02 pm

@GG….I don’t know who this Tyson character, nor do I care to!

@J-Kath….Thanks!!

December 6th, 2015 at 3:06 pm

^^^^Character is….should say …..Why do I always proofread after it has been sent??

December 6th, 2015 at 3:09 pm

Okie hes a boxer that beat Klitchko a couple of weeks ago,i did actually like him till i heard all this,funny how certain remarks can put you off someone forever….

December 6th, 2015 at 3:24 pm

J-Kath im with Okie cheers….

December 6th, 2015 at 3:25 pm

It is OK with me and I do not care about Kim or Tyson.For me it is bad when we have different reaction on the same things.Say,when one of Rafa’s fans bring in Vajda’s wife it is OK,but if some body brings Andy’s wife than it is not.My point was react the same when next time Giles brings anything connected with Novak painted with hatred instead of talking with him about that.
To be honest I do not have anything against Kim.She is wife, she is with her man,she wanted to help him and maybe she even was not aware what she said.
People should talk more about tennis not about players families.

December 6th, 2015 at 4:49 pm

Great internet forum debate ladies! I am glad to see you are unified in your hate for Tyson Fury and your love for Murray’s wife.

Since one of you above brought up Rafa’s “girlfriend” into this debate (@10:07am) in order to show how Rafa has THE BEST partner (btw, I like Juan Monaco too), let me rank the Big 1+3 women:

#4. Murray’s wife “Kim the Chauvinist” – insulting players nationality is very low and potentially dangerous if folks like her would be in any position of power…
#3 Federer’s wife “Mirca the Chubby Bully” – calling a guy that is supposedly good friend of your husband “cry baby” during an important match is pretty funny, especially considering how effective it was; Stan was really bothered by it! However, not even close in hate-meter to Kim the Chauvinist…

Tie for the first are Novak’s wife Elena and Rafa’s “girlfriend” Francisca, since they both are very sweet girls and nice ladies!
So, to speak in tennis terms, this one goes to a tiebreak:
Tiebreak goes to Elena by walk-over due to the simple but obvious fact that Francisca is Rafa’s fake girlfriend!

So the final Bickle_Tennis ranking is as follows:
1. Elena the Nice & Plain Lady (327 points)
2. Mirca the Chubby Bully (198 points)
3. Kim the Chauvinist (14 points)
4. Francisca the Fake Girlfriend (DNF)

December 6th, 2015 at 5:12 pm

^^^^^ Tsk Tsk

December 6th, 2015 at 5:25 pm

Travis – What is the matter? You blow hot and cold! There is no hate for Tyson – just no respect. As for Kim – she simply does not belong in this discussion which is about Sports Personality of the year…you are the one who decided to make her a factor.

December 6th, 2015 at 5:29 pm

It is OK with me Okie,what was not is that we do not react the same for the same things.When Giles broght story about Vajda and wife painted with haitred You did not react the same as when Andy’s wife was brough in.If some Nole fan brings hatred story about Rafa I will not discuss with that person the story.
For me Kim is OK.She is the wife, she is with her man,wanted to help him and maybe she was not aware what she said.
Cheers..

December 6th, 2015 at 5:30 pm

I am ranking TB: FOB (zero points)

December 6th, 2015 at 5:31 pm

“she simply does not belong in this discussion which is about Sports Personality of the year…”

I thought the discussion was on “Novak Djokovic Will Not Play The Cash Grab December Exos”, but what do I know… I’ll go with whatever J-Kath decides to put on the menu :-)

December 6th, 2015 at 5:35 pm

It should be only one comment but it did not come out when I pres submit comment.So I did few times.
Sorry again…

December 6th, 2015 at 5:56 pm

Unfair Travis – but never mind – “see” you again.

December 6th, 2015 at 5:59 pm

Travis Bickle, Ultimate Forum Warrior:)

Just one correction Travis, it is Jelena, not Elena, though I personally love Elena name and it is not my wife’s name;)

The first one if of slavic origin and second one of greek, though they sound the same, the origins (meaning) are different.

December 6th, 2015 at 6:48 pm

Sorry, WB, but Jelena is of Greek origin, not of Slavic origin.

I don’t have time now to check in Trubachev, but it’s the same name.

December 6th, 2015 at 7:28 pm

hello peeps, i think bojana had a valid point! thanks for raising it.

but what’s with you two and you’re lady’s name etymologies? what’s the origin of wog? or mat? c’mon you two; let’s have it. ;)

December 6th, 2015 at 7:49 pm

*your…

December 6th, 2015 at 7:51 pm

mat4,

Sorry to disagree with you, even knowing that your knowledge of Serbian history and grammar is better than mine. We had that discussion before on another forum I am firmly behind theory that Jelena is of slavic origin and this is why, just Three post from that forum:

Jelena is a Slavic name. It’s a very common mistake that people connect it to Helen/Helena. Very similar but not even close in etymology. Slavic people in pre-Christian times had very strong bond with nature and many names derive from flowers and trees as well as animals. The name comes from the word “jela” meaning “fir tree” with a VERY common ending “-ena” or “-ena” (although the “-en”/”-an” are from the stem word in adjective form). Alternatively the name could be from the word for “deer” as animal names are used in personal names as well. The name was equated to Helen due to its similar spelling and pronunciation. The name is found amongst Slavic peoples even before Slavic-Greek interaction. Amongst Slavs the Greek name is usually found as Elena both an equivalent to Greek Helena/Elena. Russians have Elena, as do Macedonians and Bulgarians but also Jelena.
— Anonymous User 7/4/2009
Male: Jelen, Jelenko, Jelibor, Jelimil, Jelimir, Jelinko.

Female: Jela, Jelena, Jelenka, Jelibora, Jeliborka, Jelika, Jelina, Jelinka, Jelica, Jelka, Jelkica, Jeluša.

All of these names are found in old Slavic records, placenames etc. When Slavs practically haven’t heard of Greek Helen/Helena. The male names and other variations prove without a doubt that the name is either from “deer” or “fir tree” or both.

Jelka, Jelkica clearly show that the name means fir tree because the former name is also a noun for the Christmas tree and the latter a diminutive of the former. Jela is a synonym for “jelka”.
— mssdm 7/4/2009

It’s more likely that it derives from the word for the fir tree. There is even a Serbian idiom “vita kao jela” (slender as a fir tree) when referring to a girl or a female in general. It is of course a positive thing. And I think it should be added to the information given for the name, that it is associated with “jela” (fir tree) as well as “jelen” although the former is more probable. [noted -ed]
— Anonymous user 1/17/2011

December 6th, 2015 at 7:54 pm

jane,

Western Oriented Gentleman;)

December 6th, 2015 at 8:04 pm

jane,

Bojana always has valid points, one of the nicest and fairest Nole fans here.

December 6th, 2015 at 8:06 pm

i know wog boy… bojana’s popped in and out of here since back in 2007-08. well i read an article about “wog” – something about a bad word made good? :D

December 6th, 2015 at 8:30 pm

^^^^^Tsk Tsk……

December 6th, 2015 at 8:30 pm

OOPS…..Jane, Meant that for Travis Bickle….not you dear!!! EEEEK!

December 6th, 2015 at 8:33 pm

I don’t know where it came from, but in Australia, as I was told, originally was/is used as an derogatory name for Italians, Greeks and Eastern Europeans who came here after the 2nd WW, later extended to people from Middle East (Arabs).

Something like this:

http://youtu.be/58XpQmODrr4

December 6th, 2015 at 8:46 pm

^^^for jane

December 6th, 2015 at 8:46 pm

wog boy, only in the sweetest sense i’m sure!

December 6th, 2015 at 9:30 pm

Jane,

Something Aussie (with a bit od Dutch, French and Yorkshire..) to make laugh…or at least smile, have a look:

http://youtu.be/KpBYnL5fAXE

December 6th, 2015 at 9:50 pm

ha ha! fun wog boy – thanks for sharing that.

December 6th, 2015 at 10:03 pm

Sorry, WB, in etymology, despite what Voltaire wrote, it’s not all about changing vowels and mixing consonants.

The para-etymologies you quoted are based on nil. First, we know just two words of Slavic in pre-Christian times — strava and med, attested in the fifth century. We know very few names from pre-Christian times, and even fewer female’s names.

You just could have checked in Skok I, p. 663, to find that Jelena is from Helena. You made me search in Derksen 2008 and Trubachev to be quite certain.

Anyway, while there are no attestation of an early name *Elena in Slavic, there is absolutely no doubt that Jelena in old-Serbian is used for the greek Ἑλένη.

Anyway, I’ll ask Aleksandar Loma, just to be quite certain.

December 6th, 2015 at 10:33 pm

Thank You Jane for remembering me.Thank You Wog Boy for nice words.
I just do not like when people have double standards.If just we do not say to others what we do not like to be said to us the world would be much better place.

December 6th, 2015 at 10:44 pm

WB:

“We had that discussion before on another forum”.

I don’t remember it. It’s wasn’t with me, probably.

You have to be very careful, here. Lately, in Serbian historiography, there has been a new autochthone school of thinking, and unfortunately, it’s a mess.

We know very little about the Slavic ethnogenesis, the development of the language before the sixth century, the substrata, basically, it’s a big void. There are no doubts that we have to reconsider the “official” theories — here, I recommend the works of Florin Curta, Oleg Trubachev, Frederik Kortlandt, Aleksandar Loma (you can find his book “Prakosovo” free of rights on the internet — he posted it there himself), and in my library I have many more interesting titles. But we lack data. While it’s not easy to write a sociolinguistic history of French or English — we dispose of plenty of data, documents, texts, it is much more awkward to try such a work about Slavic.

December 6th, 2015 at 10:55 pm

@bojana:

Something that confuses me: are you also Bojana Anel, Anel Bojana?

December 6th, 2015 at 10:56 pm

mat4,

I am big fan of old names, no biblical names, names that means or describe something, like Novak, names that are not from bible, so even if you prove me wrong, which I doubt I’ll stick with my Jelena, and the version I consider right, you can’t deny that there is a logic in “Jela” and “Jelen” since that is how illiterate country people and people in the mountains used to give names to there kids until priests started to put pressure on them to pick the names from the bible, they picked the names that whose characteristic they wanted their kids to have, you know that I am a mixture of two very stubborn nations;)

December 6th, 2015 at 11:00 pm

mat5,

That was my english, saying “we” I meant group of us on the other forum but not you, sorry for confusing you.

December 6th, 2015 at 11:03 pm

mat4,

Yes it is me,Bojana Anel or Anel Bojana.Bojana Anel is my computer ID name other is from my galaxy note 3.
Sorry for confusion.
Any way my real name is one of these two names.

December 6th, 2015 at 11:14 pm

mat4,
What would You say for the name Bojana?

December 6th, 2015 at 11:21 pm

Bojana, I know you didn’t ask me but I want to beat mat4, one of those old names that I love:)

Značenje imena Bojan(a)

Staroslavensko ime. Smatra se da izvodi poreklo iz avarskog “bojan” u značenju “bogat, imućan”. Ime je ruskog legendarnog narodnog pevača iz 11. veka koji se prvi put pominje u “Slovu o polku Igorevu” u kome ga autor smatra jednim od paganskih slovenskih bogova, iskusnim pevačem i “slavujem starog vremena”. Po svedočanstvu autora, Bojan je pesmom nadahnjivao borce i budio im želju za vojničkom slavom. Neki naučnici smatraju da nije autentična istorijska ličnost. U narodnoj etimologiji prisutno je mišljenje po kojoj ime vodi poreklo od staroslovenske osnove “bojevati” u prenosnom značenju “bojovan, borben, bojdžija, borac ili koji bije boj”. Nasuprot ovome, drugi smatraju da je ovo ime izvedeno od osnove “bojati se” (onaj koji se boji), a po nekima je naprosto tepanje od Bogoslav i Bogdan. Od ovog imena izvedena su imena Boja i Bojana.

December 6th, 2015 at 11:32 pm

bojana, that’s the golden rule. :)

December 6th, 2015 at 11:44 pm

@WB:

First, I see you improved me a bit ;-)

Then, you can be as stubborn as you want, but here you’re wrong. The names derived from “jelen” are given to oxen in Serbian, or to sheep. Serbs also don’t give human names to their domestic animals — even the name Marko for asses is from the old word of somewhat unattested origin “marka”, that meant something like “horse”.

Then, while Serbs give names of flowers to their daughters, they don’t give names of animals, except “vuk”, because the wolf is their totem. Find me an example. I don’t remember that they give names of trees to their children.

BTW, “jela” originally meant probably “elderberry”…

December 6th, 2015 at 11:50 pm

@Bojana:

Here, I also don’t agree with WB. While there is indeed a name Bayan (with the change of a to o in proto-Slavonic), I think that there was also a convergence with the substantive *bojə, which was used in names like Bojeslav (attested). Then, Bojana was used as a hydronym, and usually those appellations are of very old origin. So, here, I would rather opt for a pure Slav(on)ic origin.

December 7th, 2015 at 12:15 am

When you have a friends like I do you don’t need enemies:(

December 7th, 2015 at 12:55 am

It could just be that the poets and grammarians are having it out. Meet in the middle!

December 7th, 2015 at 12:58 am

BTW,
Bojana is from Kragujevac and she has lot of nice girlfriends, but she doesn’t want to introduce them to me, she told me to stick with my wife..

December 7th, 2015 at 12:59 am

jane,

I knew from the very begging that it was wrong idea to get engaged in an argument with mat4, but yet I did. Couldn’t he just pretend that he hasn’t seen my original post and let me get away with it, that what friends do..

December 7th, 2015 at 1:02 am

wog boy you must know that mat4 is a perfectionist. he’s a grammarian. he likes details and stats. you? you like your plum brandy and music, you’re into the poetics. best to let mat4 have the last “word” on this one. although of course you have some grammar in you and mat4 definitely has some poet. he’s posted tom waits here before, for goodness sake! call it a draw.

p.s. bojana is right. :)

December 7th, 2015 at 1:54 am

Come on, WB, OCS and OF, and comparative grammar in general is what I studied. I am better in OF, though, but here I just had to open a few books. You made me read again more than ten pages of cryptic hieroglyphs, btw.

I prefer a Slavic origin for Bojana, but your explanation is also possible. Omelijan Pritsak was even convinced that (proto-)slavic was the “official” language of the Avar’s pax.

December 7th, 2015 at 2:04 am

@jane:

In the Balkans, and in Europe in general, etymology and comparative grammar are very dangerous sciences… Part of the Nazi ideology was based on comparative grammar.

December 7th, 2015 at 2:24 am

Christopher Hutton wrote an excellent book about it: Linguistics and the Third Reich: mother-tongue, fascism, race and the science of language.

December 7th, 2015 at 2:28 am

ah, so interesting mat4…. thanks, i will check out that source. jeez, what science didn’t they exploit? >:( v. annoying, how subtly things can be twisted. but then again, yes, yes; language is a very slippery and very powerful tool. one of the main tools of colonialists, of course.

December 7th, 2015 at 2:31 am

Ok jane, since you are so nice, just because of you I am ready to forgive mat4 for almost destroying my reputation and credibility on TX and call it draw..I think it’s fair, don’t you?
But I can tell you one thing though, now I know how Roger felt against Nole in London final, mat4 is as relentless as Nole in that final..my head is spinning..

December 7th, 2015 at 2:41 am

mat4,
Who said this but don’t go to Wiki:

“In this society we all suffer, men and women alike, but the roles are divided in this way: When we suffer because of women, it is always because women are not the way we want them to be. When women suffer because of us, it is always because we are the way we are. But most importantly, we all suffer and torture ourselves very often, for a very long time, very cruelly and meaninglessly.”

December 7th, 2015 at 2:48 am

@Jane:

It’s a very good book. But today, in the era of “narratives”, science is so often just ideology.

December 7th, 2015 at 3:08 am

@WB:

I really don’t know who wrote that nonsense. My favourite site has always been

http://www.menarebetterthanwomen.com/

and here, you can learn that a man doesn’t suffer because of women. I think it’s Tyson Fury’s favourite site too.

Because he’s a man.

December 7th, 2015 at 3:19 am

“SIGNS BY THE ROADSIDE” Ivo Andric, here is more:

http://www.ivoandric.cz/en/quotes/45-citaty

December 7th, 2015 at 3:48 am

I love Tyson Fury.

December 7th, 2015 at 3:49 am

Wogboy I dont hate Tyson Fury,i just dont like what he said,and i certainly dont condone anything prejudice either,and i dont condone anything towards Vadjas and his family either,and i make my stance about these things if/when that pops up,but as J-Kath explained Tyson offended quite a few different stereo types at the time not just one person,anyway END OF FOR ME….

December 7th, 2015 at 4:34 am

Mat4 i dont hate men i love men,many/most of my friends are male,and like Tyson Fury i too are from Gypsy stock,the clues in the monikor ;)….

December 7th, 2015 at 4:42 am

Mat4,
Interesting that you mentioned that “med” (honey) was an old word. I was always intrigued whether there is a connection between Slavic “med” and English “mead” and “meadow”. Know anything about that?

December 7th, 2015 at 4:59 am

GG,

You are taking it too seriously, cheer up, you know mat4 and you know me, don’t worry about Tayson Fury, I am sure his mother still smacks him behind the ears when he misbehaves at home, he was just blabbing and over the moon after beating Bitschko:)

December 7th, 2015 at 5:07 am

Mat4,
just out of curiosity – what made you interested in Old Church Slavonic in the first place? Is it because of your love for the Russian literature (you mentioned it once)?

Anyhow, we were saying, Novak and exos… :)

December 7th, 2015 at 5:09 am

@GG:

It was just a joke. The site I mentioned is satirical, humoristic, about men’s chauvinism and complexes. Although I am quite surprised that a lot of people take it quite seriously.

@Danice:

It’s a word with cognates man IE languages. It’s reconstructed as *medhu in protoslavic, and we have Skt. mádhu, ‘sweet drink, anything sweet, honey’; Gk. methu n. wine; OHG metu m. ‘mead’; OIr. mid n./m. ‘mead’.

December 7th, 2015 at 6:48 am

Danica:

Sorry, it’s reconstructed as *medhu in PIE, and it’s *medu in protoslavic.

December 7th, 2015 at 6:50 am

Mat4/Wogboy i know it was a joke, thats why i put i smilie on the end of my post @4.42am notice?it was Tyson Furys comments and another certain poster who drags in players sexualities amongst other things that i took offence to,but certainly not you guys,so heres another smilie ;),and as its my birthday how could i be miserable anyway? CHEERS GUYS….

December 7th, 2015 at 7:33 am

Wogboy BTW loved your link on the Aussie commedian,with a bit of French,Dutch and (AHEM)YORKSHIRE thrown in made me lol,ive always been teased about my Northern accent,and that is exactly how we speak ha ha….

December 7th, 2015 at 7:41 am

GG,

That YORKSHIRE thrown in was for you and your birthday, happy birthday GG:)

December 7th, 2015 at 7:52 am

@GG:

Sorry, GG, I am a bit tired and I forgot about the smiley…

Happy birthday!!! I’ll even forgive you for being a rafan… but “just for one day”…

And now the present…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx0ekVnQEn8

December 7th, 2015 at 7:52 am

WHY AM I MODERATED AGAIN???

December 7th, 2015 at 7:56 am

Thankyou Wogboy ;)….

December 7th, 2015 at 8:07 am

Mat4 ahh thankyou love that type of music nice present,and Colin Firth is a dreamboat,as for been a fan of that guy,well i suppose the heart wants what it wants,and as the late Iron Lady that was Margret Thatcher once said the ladys not for turning sorry ;)….

December 7th, 2015 at 8:28 am

Danica apologies for hyjacking the Nole thread,anyway IMO Nole wont be too bothered about the ITFL as he will want to spend some time with Jelena and Stefan after whats been such an amazing year,so rest and and be ready for another assault on winning the AO will be his number 1 priority…

December 7th, 2015 at 9:29 am

I am late but i must say that I like both views on the name Bojana.I would say Bojana is slavic warrior.
Warrior for justice and truth.

December 7th, 2015 at 10:01 am

Happy Birthday GG – Hope you get a new Porche; a trip to the AO and anything else that takes your fancy…..a trip on Rafa’s yacht??

December 7th, 2015 at 10:02 am

J-Kath many thanks ill add a hot Aussie film star to that list you know who initials HJ LOL,anyway all sounds nice but wishful thinking im afraid,so ill settle for a ring,a box of chocs,a Green Lady colouring book,and an Indian Meal,and a nice card CHEERS ;)….

December 7th, 2015 at 11:32 am

Bojana i like your name very spiritual and cool ;)….

December 7th, 2015 at 11:34 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY oh kindred spirit!! Hope you have a good one and all your dreams come true for the coming year…….Since your the birthday girl wish for a slam or 2 for our guy in the coming year!! A gold medal would be good too!! Seriously, I hope you do have a great day! Okie

December 7th, 2015 at 12:14 pm

^^^^GG, forgot to address this to you…..

December 7th, 2015 at 12:15 pm

Thanks Okie,that would be good,but just to see him remain healthy another year will be great,and also happy to still be playing,i hope you also have a great year next year too you deserve it,my ethereal friend ;)….

December 7th, 2015 at 12:30 pm

^^^^^So true, so true!! Good health for all the players and the fans!!

December 7th, 2015 at 12:39 pm

Thank You Gipsy Gal and happy birthday.I wish You all the best in Your life and many happy days.
Also I will be OK if Rafa wins many more slams if only Nole first wins French open.
CHEERS…

December 7th, 2015 at 3:18 pm

Sorry, it should be Gypsy not Gipsy it is because of my first language………

December 7th, 2015 at 3:21 pm

Ah Bojana thankyou very much,your very sweet,to be honest i wouldnt mind Nole winning the FO,if Rafa can have the AO instead ;)….

December 7th, 2015 at 3:35 pm

Mat4,
Thanks for the clarification re: “med”, “mead” and so on ;).

Bojana,
I agree with you – there is no other way to explain your name, in my opinion, than that it was a warrior girl from Bojka, where some of our ancestors came from ;).
While you are fighting for the truth and equality for all, I will, being a Morning Star, spread light on your path :))

December 8th, 2015 at 3:12 am