ITF, Tennis Integrity Unit Ruining Public Perception of Tennis

Agree with Jeremy Davis. And this follows on the heels of what the public thought was a huge PED scandal. A shoot themselves in the foot scandal.

One where the “suits” of the ITF along with PR bungling and lack of a good response at the ATP/WTA level managed to come across as casting pro tennis as a sport significantly tainted by drug use..as a result of a clean athlete not following testing rules and one who made an honest mistake because his mom bought the wrong type of glucose tablets.
Resulting in a needlessly smeared Rafa and Serena in particular. And a truly ticked off Djokovic articulately hammering and denouncing WADA, the ATP And ITF leadership’s conduct at the 2013 Barclays Championships after beating Fed in the semis.
The gambling affair is Buzzfeed and BBC using a disgruntled former Tennis Intergrity Official making charges about players BBC and Buzzfeed would not name.
And much of this is cast in a nonsensical way – “tennis is above gambling since it is a genteel sport”.
Gambling helps drive sports popularity.
With tennis, it was rampant in the amateur days as touring “amateurs” played local club pros with lots of side action betting making up income for the amateurs too pure to be paid directly. THese days, tennis is no more immune from the 3500 year long “plague” of gambling on sports than boxing, racing inc chariot races long gone, American style football and “amateur” NCAA basketball, global pro basketball, Euro football clubs, birdfights in Mexico and the Philippines.

You can’t eliminate gambling anymore than you can eliminate other core aspects of human behavior. Best you can do is bring the gamblers out in the Open as many nations do, allow the bookies (or gaming resources online betting firms as those bookies are called). And allow them to advertise on the AO and Real Madrid stadium billboards (for example).

BTW – I Agree with Jeremy that tennis can be pretty lame at the PR level in a way other sports entities are not. The powerful NCAA in America would make an all out defusing effort – instruct all not to talk to the press about allegations – and if they found any substance to it, shut down athletics at a school without spilling all the dirt.
The battalions of lawyers/barristers for British and American football clubs, the NBA – would be in court to help get control of scandal investigation away from the media.

February 10th, 2016 at 12:00 pm

Amen. The media has been driving this “corruption” story to death. It’s all futures and challengers. The only “name” is Davydenko from 10 years ago.

February 10th, 2016 at 12:11 pm

CF1, what PED scandal?

February 10th, 2016 at 12:41 pm

Ben Pronin – Exactly.

February 10th, 2016 at 1:03 pm

What is your rationale for not publishing this news? The umpires are down the “food chain,” not very consequential? Tennis can’t handle this controversy?

I think this story has a little more traction than that. Didn’t Djokovic even acknowledge being approached? Sorry, this is a bit more of a story, so a cover-up (not reporting) is probably not the best approach.

Sure it hurts the perception. But there are problems here and if you want to overlook this (like any FAN wants to avoid such reality), you’re doing more harm than good.

And if MLB was in a similar predicament with its umpires, there would be a big scandal reported. Not sure where you got that inference. You’re wrong.

Fans are not that surprised by this kind of thing anymore. Let the media report it. If it’s not that damaging (a few Challenger level umpires), it will go away.

I think you want that transparency if you really think about it.

February 10th, 2016 at 7:02 pm

Matt,

I like both of your last two articles, though don’t agree fully with them. Somhow I have a feeling that as much as you appreciate Nole’s extraordinary levelof play in 2015/16, you are trying to tell us that his success is partly due to weak era, but at the same time you are not so explicit about 2003-07, being weak era too in that case.

As for Nole not being able to sustain level from first two sets against Federer I disagree too, Roger lifted his level in the third and fourth, not so much that Nole’s level dropped.

February 10th, 2016 at 7:59 pm

WB,
Ha! Put that on my blog. Thanks!
My point is all three are flawed. Period.
I’m very stoked for Novak. Incredible tennis.

I’m just trying to add a little perspective.
That’s all.

February 10th, 2016 at 8:12 pm

Matt,

I’ll try, but to be honest I hardly can manage posting on one nevertheless on two blogs, I am not a woman that can do three things at once, I am just the man and hardly can do one thing properly;)

February 10th, 2016 at 8:19 pm

A guy on reddit has recently compared results of top players in Slams from 2004-08 with 2011-15, giving points for each round won, and 1 point for just playing. Here is the post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/tennis/comments/44o960/
this_is_probably_the_best_comparison_between_the/
So, enough about Novak weak era.

I found there also the new concept of BOAT. While Fed is the GOAT, Novak is the BOAT.

Guess I am battlestar Galactica.

February 10th, 2016 at 8:26 pm

My POW about the match Novak-Fed in the AO semi:

although Novak played very well the first two sets, Roger played under his usual level. In the very first game, he missed an easy passing shot into the top of the net, in the following game he had an easy ball at the net, e.g. Overall, he missed a lot of shots he usually makes.

On the other side, the passing shot Novak played in the first game after an excellent return was exquisite.

So, it was a point here, a point there. To get back to that first game of the match, an easy miss, a rare passing after an excellent return, and instead of 30 all it-s 1-0.

From the third set Roger played better and we had two excellent, tense sets.

February 10th, 2016 at 8:36 pm

I’ve watched many matches that ended 3-0 and were closer than matches ending 3-2.

In many ways, I think the final, this year, was closer than last year. In 2015, Novak fell in the first set, and he opened his shoulders and started feeling freely only when he had nothing to lose, in the third set, when Andy made a break.

But when he did it, the margin was substantial — it was just a question when he will start using hyper-cruise.

This year, I felt that Andy had really good chance to win both the second and the third sets. He fought bravely, and was the better player for 2/3 of the match.

Unfortunately, you don’t win matches by playing better — but by playing better when it matters most.

But here too, we should really stop BS-ing. So many matches have been decided by an inch or less, two, three balls falling on the wrong side of the line. It’s all razor thin.

I watch tennis for so many years, but what we have now is unprecedented. To make a comparison with players using the same technology — take Hewitt, Ferrero, Moya, Roddick, Safin from 2003 and pitch them against Berdych, and I truly believe that Tomas would finish with a positive h2h against them in a double round robin.

February 10th, 2016 at 8:49 pm

Meanwhile, Jeff Sackman published his ELO list for the top 104 ATP players (there’s a WTA list too), here:

http://tennisabstract.com/reports/atp_elo_ratings.html

February 10th, 2016 at 9:08 pm

The standard deviation should be +- 60, btw.

February 10th, 2016 at 9:14 pm

thanks for the links and analysis mat4. it’s true that the “big points” are so important, often “must win” aspects to a match.

February 10th, 2016 at 9:47 pm

Hi, jane.

Let’s also note that Novak’s results, so far, are impressive. In 2016, his dominance ratio is 1.52, which in unprecedented, too. So far, Simon and Berdych have played the best against Novak.

Simon has, btw, been very dismissive about Novak’s mental coolness on key points in his latest interview — he was also a bit contradictory. When you see that time and time again he wins key points in matches, against respectable opponents, I don’t quite agree with him.

Anyway, Novak was probably right: in the lady’s locker-room, I guess that not everybody wanted him to lose.

BTW, could you explain to me the difference between hate and hatred? Is it a question of degree?

February 10th, 2016 at 10:14 pm

Finally, Novak’s rating is the best ever. That’s the reason he’s the BOAT…

February 10th, 2016 at 10:15 pm

I love what this bible verse says about hatred.
Proverbs 10:12…..”Hatred stirreth up strife, but love covereth all sins”……Hate is a verb and hatred is a noun…..example “I hate Americans” or “My hatred for Americans”…..I am not sure it’s a degree thing, mat4….

Regarding the bible verse, if one is an atheist, that wouldn’t apply, because that person would not believe in the bible either….I would guess???

February 10th, 2016 at 11:09 pm

Mat4,
Your point is. . .Novak is really really good?
Got it.

We’re prisoners of the moment. His 2011 was magnificent, but 2012-13 not so much.

And now. . . he’s alone. What does this mean? It means he is defining the game as we speak and we are lucky to be along for the ride.

The analytics very often are half-truths.
You know this.

February 11th, 2016 at 12:06 am

@mat4

You wanted descriptions of hate and hatred. You speak French, so I’m linking you the article from Tribune de Geneve that encapsulates both “hate” and “hatred”. I understand Swiss are buthurt by Djoker’s trashing of Federer and Wawrinka, but to write an article like this borders on pathology…

Quotes such as:
“Pour le Serbe, ogre insatiable et enfer des autres sur le circuit ATP, l’enfer, ce sont… les autres.”

“Quoi qu’il dise, quoi qu’il fasse, quoi qu’il gagne, «Nole» reste (très) en retrait des géants.”

These quotes (and others in the text) show that the author is really miserable (or très miserable) from the recent developments in men’s tennis. I LOVE that douchebags like this journalist are so obviously suffering these days and will continue to suffer for the foreseeable future. They deserve it for being so full of hate…

Here is the link:
http://www.tdg.ch/sports/actu/novak-djokovic-
palmares-zones-ombre/story/16460473

February 11th, 2016 at 12:08 am

I thought “hate” was also a noun…

No, I am not an atheist. I am pagan, I believe in the Good Goddess (because she’s a blond), and mostly in Crom, who dwells on a great mountain. Little he cares of men. He is grim and loveless.

February 11th, 2016 at 12:11 am

mat4 did you say you love (opposite of hate ;) ) jeanne moreau or am i misremembering?

February 11th, 2016 at 12:31 am

@Travis Bicle:

I have already read that nasty article, full of insinuations, of bias, here:

http://www.24heures.ch/sports/novak-djokovic-palmares-zones-ombre/story/14212476

But I’ve seen worse in French.

@Matt:

No point at all. Just sharing infos, things I’ve read. Ratings, stats, etc. in case somebody would be interested.

February 11th, 2016 at 12:41 am

Yes, I like Jeanne Moreau, if I understand well the difference between “like” and “love”. She was beautiful indeed.

February 11th, 2016 at 12:51 am

@mat4…..Now I know why you and GG get along so well, she too is Pagan!!

February 11th, 2016 at 12:58 am

@mat4……..I guess Roger will have to board Novak’s GOAT BOAT……lol

February 11th, 2016 at 1:04 am

@Okie:

I consider officially both GG and you as heretics. But since my religion is quite tolerant, we let you live. We haven’t invented Inquisition yet, nor are we burning witches. And in polytheism, there’s always some place for another god.

February 11th, 2016 at 1:06 am

What about Sophia Loren, mat4? I thought she was beautiful……

February 11th, 2016 at 1:07 am

@mat4…..LOL…..I appreciate that! Epitaph on the tombstone of an atheist….”All dressed up, no place to go”……….. :(

February 11th, 2016 at 1:11 am

just rewatched “jules et jim” mat4, that’s why i asked… :)

February 11th, 2016 at 1:15 am

Watching Papillon circa 1973. Haven’t seen this one in years. It will be like the first time all over again. I can’t remember one thing about it. That is one good thing about getting old…..all old movies are new again!! Being a senior citizen has its perks!!

February 11th, 2016 at 1:17 am

Keep it coming mat4, you are in a God’s mood, whichever God you prefer out of few you believe in;)

February 11th, 2016 at 1:20 am

I bought a TV stand that has an electric fireplace insert installed in it. I love my little fake fire that I have going on atm…..and I don’t have to gather firewood. It is the neatest thing. I can watch Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman with the warm glow of a pretend fire……life is good atm…..

February 11th, 2016 at 1:24 am

@Okiegal:

There are a lot of beautiful actresses, and all Italian actresses in general, from Loren to Lollobrigida, Vitti, Dellera…

But you mostly like actresses for the films they played in. I recently watched “Don’t come knocking”, and Lange played a beautiful woman in that film.

February 11th, 2016 at 1:26 am

Okie,
Pay attention on the last scene, you can see diver pushing Steve McQueen away from the cliffs, what a blunder.

February 11th, 2016 at 1:28 am

Okie,
If it is legal in America, I suggest you watch
Pier Paolo Pasolini “The Decameron” and “The Canterbury Tales”, very relaxing movies.

February 11th, 2016 at 1:33 am

“Jules et Jim” was for me always painful to watch. But yes, Moreau was appeailing in that film.

February 11th, 2016 at 1:35 am

@WB:

I have watched both. The only film I didn’t manage to watch until the end was “Last year in Marienbad”. It’s also very relaxing…

Did you watch “Cinema Paradiso”? Jane would say that I am under the hold of nostos…

February 11th, 2016 at 1:43 am

Hellooo to all,

Let’s not forget the beautiful blond actors. Every time I watch a film with Peter O’Toole, I have a crush ;) Lawrence of Arabia is my favorite

February 11th, 2016 at 1:50 am

mat4,

I am sure for the first one I haven’t, but the second one rings the bell, I have to check it.

February 11th, 2016 at 1:51 am

P.S.: Also like Marlon Brando in “Last Tango in Paris” :)

February 11th, 2016 at 1:52 am

Wog Boy,

Indeed, a church-going old lady from deep south of USA will be relaxed by watching Pasolini’s movies.
Actually, his movie “Salo” would probably be the most relaxing in that context…

February 11th, 2016 at 1:58 am

TB,

You beat me, I was just about to say “Okie, If you are Southern Baptist, forget about my suggestion”.

February 11th, 2016 at 2:01 am

Question: Can we consider Brass’s “Caligula” relaxing? Just a joke ;)

February 11th, 2016 at 2:02 am

The uncensored “Last Tango” too…

Then, TB, I believe that Okie is younger than WB…

February 11th, 2016 at 2:03 am

VP,
Since I watched that movie I don’t use butter, only margarine..

February 11th, 2016 at 2:03 am

Lol WB . Good one

February 11th, 2016 at 2:04 am

@WB:

That’s the way to start a diet!

I believe that she hasn’t seen the uncut version.

February 11th, 2016 at 2:05 am

Mat4, I have seen the uncut version ;)
Do you want me to prove it, by explaining here the details? Do not think so :)

February 11th, 2016 at 2:07 am

mat4,

If she lives in Germany she definitely saw uncut version.

February 11th, 2016 at 2:08 am

WB,

I travel often to Romania. The very good thing there is: Internet has the best quality in Romania from Europe countries perhaps, …and you can download what you really want, free of charge :)

February 11th, 2016 at 2:13 am

why is jules and jim painful? i mean, the end … but all those gorgeous long shots, the way moreau gets to chose who she wants when ;) the cute cottage and wine in the afternoon. it looks like a lot of fun for the most part. ;)

good lord! you guys are talking passolini?? that’s intense film-making. did you know bertolucci worked with him? i love il confomista!

February 11th, 2016 at 2:13 am

All this conversation reminded me of another good film: “Sex, Lies and Videotape”.

February 11th, 2016 at 2:24 am

Uhh..I think Sean is about to sin bin us..

February 11th, 2016 at 2:28 am

How about “Blue velvet”…interresting movie. Like David Lynch…

February 11th, 2016 at 2:31 am

@mat4
Ah, “Cimema Paradiso” would be in my top 30, which is always being re-arranged! I grew up in a small Welsh town. Crikey it was dull but it did have a cinema. My love of film stems from there.Didn’t like SL and V at all tho. How about “Cache/Hidden?”
Love so much of French cinema and my hero Ken Loach is far more revered in your country than mine.
BTW “hate” can be a noun but has to hitch itself to other words eg “hate mail.” To stand on its own it has to change its form and become “hatred.”

February 11th, 2016 at 2:32 am

i like both those 80s films.

wog boy, you mean put us in the trunk?

February 11th, 2016 at 2:33 am

my grandpa ran a projector in a small town so i always think of that when i think of cinema paradiso. it’s worth watching just for the final romantic montage!

February 11th, 2016 at 2:36 am

jane,

In rugby, sin bin is when the player is kicked out for a 10 minutes.

February 11th, 2016 at 2:37 am

ah, i got you… like a timeout, or a penalty. sean’s probably asleep. :)

February 11th, 2016 at 2:38 am

You know what? Sometimes I believe that mat4 is Sean’s man, he starts the discussion on TX and we keep click biting..

February 11th, 2016 at 2:44 am

you may be right.
and i was thinking how funny/ironic it is that we’re writing all this stuff about films, many of them risqué or even banned, on a thread worried about “ruining public perception” ha ha.
us tennis fans are a strange lot. :)

February 11th, 2016 at 2:47 am

Yes, indeed, jane.

I misread “Grass” for “Brass” and “Dracula” for “Caligula”. I needed half an hour to understand that Gunther Grass didn’t write a novel about Dracula, and the Brass in question is Tinto Brass, if I remember well.

I should go to sleep, I guess. I’ll have a coffee.

February 11th, 2016 at 2:55 am

Who needs enemies with friends like you two…

;-)

February 11th, 2016 at 3:05 am

Lol Mat4. made me laugh with your last observation…”Die Blechtrommel” ist Grass’ Dracula :))

February 11th, 2016 at 3:05 am

@Margot (a new victim…)

Did you like Brightshead revisited with Jeremy Irons?

February 11th, 2016 at 3:08 am

mat4,

What do you think about this movie:

http://youtu.be/DCj540ToXko

February 11th, 2016 at 3:14 am

I prefer “Tri”. I met Antonije Isakovic, btw… and his daughter, the actress.

I mostly don’t like your modern films. Just like French films, it is absolute void filmed. I don’t like Kusturica’s work either. He made two good films, the rest… it’s not my world.

February 11th, 2016 at 3:32 am

Well, they are two completely different movies, different themes.
BTW, I have great respect for Kusturica, nothing to do with his movies.

February 11th, 2016 at 3:43 am

WB, I like Kusturica’s movies a lot. My favorite is “Arizona Dream” :)

February 11th, 2016 at 3:49 am

@mat4
It was OKish but when you’ve read and enjoyed something how it’s interpreted on the screen is often problematic.
Pictures in your head stuff.
There are some honourable exceptions however. One would be “The Shipping News.” One of my favourite books ever. Sat like thunder through the first 20 minutes of the film but when I realised the director perceived the book as a comedy, I sat back and enjoyed…a bit ;)
Often have problems when my favourite detectives are portrayed on the small screen too.

February 11th, 2016 at 4:49 am

International Tennis Federation should be there for players not opposite!

February 11th, 2016 at 7:45 am

Wow, things picked up on TX after I went to bed last night. I seemed to have been the one to get the discussion on “hate” started and also the movie discussion by my mention of “Papillon”.

Wog Boy I am not Southern Baptist, I attend a non-denominational church. I did not notice the push at the end…..I had turned off my computer before I saw your comment. I have never heard of Decameron but know of Canterbury Tales, haven’t seen it either. Have seen Last Tango but not the uncut version. I have never even heard of some of the movies mentioned above or the directors. Jeremy Irons is always good and I also like Daniel Day Lewis. Denzil Washington and Meryl Streep are my all time favorites….Morgan Freeman too….love his voice. I missed the Lange movie…..Jessica or Hope???

Mat4, I am older than Wog Boy…..I feel sure. I saw his picture one time….I am basing my opinion on “a picture is worth a thousand words”………

mat4, it’s my coffee time now! Smell it brewing. Love my hazelnut flavored coffee. I need one of Serena’s espresso coffees maybe I would get myself up and clean this house…..LOL

February 11th, 2016 at 9:51 am

10 great films from the balkans. would you guys agree?

http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/lists/10-great-films-balkans

February 11th, 2016 at 12:32 pm

wow, Jane, thanks for the shared link. Now I can see some movies, which I haven’t yet seen :)

February 11th, 2016 at 12:55 pm

@Margot:

I’ve read Morse and Rebus — partly in French, partly in English.

I watched Morse first, and I enjoyed both the films and the books. I adored Thaw in those films.

But I read Rebus first — I liked Hannah version’s better, but Ken Stott was better in the role of Rebus.

The only film that was better than the book was The Last of the Mohicans, with DDL. Although I liked the plot of the book better.

February 11th, 2016 at 1:08 pm

I loved DDL in Age of innocence and In the name of the father

February 11th, 2016 at 1:12 pm

Mat4, sorry if I bother you….I never understood, why Kubrick never got the Oscar…It’s one of the best directors, in my opinion….

February 11th, 2016 at 1:20 pm

van persie, i know none of those films; just saw that link today and it reminded me of last night’s discussion.

February 11th, 2016 at 1:49 pm

rebus = good fun. but i’ve only read rankin; haven’t seen visual portrayals.

February 11th, 2016 at 1:51 pm

Jane, I will recomand you one thing: Pls watch first Arizona dream from Kusturica. Is not on that list, but it would be a good introduction for you, to understand a bit the balcanic mentality and “philosophy”. I was born in Romania, and I can digest Kusturica’s movies, but I have friends in Germany who simply cannot enjoy them….

February 11th, 2016 at 2:03 pm

Van Persie….my fav DDL The Last of the Mohicans filmed in the Carolinas around Ashville. Gorgeous scenery, great acting and the music soundtrack was beautiful!

February 11th, 2016 at 2:05 pm

Okie, I loved that movie too, but somehow I think, that I have seen DDL’ s best performences in the 2 movies, which I have mentioned above :)

February 11th, 2016 at 2:12 pm

@mat4…..I just now scrolled up the comments and read your comment on the DDL movie (Mohicans). We agree, how about that??? :)

February 11th, 2016 at 2:12 pm

Did not see either one of those, heard of the first one but not the second one. I will go to the movie rental and look for them.

To VP^^^^^

February 11th, 2016 at 2:16 pm

Have never heard of the Arizona movie. Where have I been all my life?? LOL

February 11th, 2016 at 2:17 pm

DDL is good in any movie he does…..

February 11th, 2016 at 2:18 pm

Okie, You will love Arizona dream: with Johnny Depp, Faye Dunaway ;)…Ok, will talk to you tomorrow again. Some friends are coming for a glas of wine. Have alovely day :)

February 11th, 2016 at 2:26 pm

VP…..love Johnny Depp…..he can be funny or serious…..excellent actor. I will try to find this one. Have your wine and a good fun time with your friends!!

February 11th, 2016 at 2:31 pm

jane,

Very questionable and I would say politically motivated selection, but there is a few really good movies in that selection. The wrong thing is to mix movies from the period when Yugoslavia existed with the movies after it collapsed. The motivation of some of the latest one is questionable, the one called “Serbian movie” is utterly rubish, sick movie that has nothing to do with Serbia or it’s cinematography, the author of the movie should see the doctor.
I would stick with pre 1990’s movies when I talk about Yugoslav cinematography.

February 11th, 2016 at 2:56 pm

This thread is the safest place to post the link about Nole in Pionir Arena in Belgrade last night watching basketball match, European league, entire Arena is cheering Nole even referees (they are not Serbians) wanted selfie with Nole:)

http://youtu.be/Oxj6IOpBiqY

February 11th, 2016 at 4:01 pm

Wog boy, any other links?

February 11th, 2016 at 4:33 pm

Django,

Actually that was quick YouTube download, since the game finished just few hours ago. I just spoke with my nephew from Belgrade, he was at the game, he is mad Red Star fan and used to play for them, he told me when Nole walked in Arena erupted, he couldn’t believe his eyes and ears and they kept chanting and singing Nole’s name. It will be probably more downloads later on.

February 11th, 2016 at 4:41 pm

thanks wog boy; i knew you or mat4 could clarify if it was a good list or not.

novak’s getting a lot of attention at that game. he’s home for a bit i guess – probably feels nice.

February 11th, 2016 at 4:59 pm

jane,

The problem with that list is that somebody is listing ten “best” movies from former Yugoslavia with three movies from Yugoslavia (1945-1991) and seven from after the collapse (1991-present days), it is mixing apples and oranges, I would say purposely, since the laters are based on aftermath of civil war, no need to elaborate, mat5 will do it better..if he is awake..

Yes, Nole arrived in Belgrade few days ago and will stay for a while. He is adorned where ever he goes, he goes with mother on the fruit and vegetables market and all people are chasing him for the selfie, and he obliged.

February 11th, 2016 at 5:14 pm

In a smaller-sized country, one man or woman can make a huge impact, in certain ways. Djokovic also appears to receive big welcomes in other Balkan nations, China, Latib America, and of course Italy.

Notice from the clip he was with his youngest bro.
Hope if he goes off to ski…he is damn, damn careful for the next few years. NO injury or sickness – he can have another historical year.

Going to be playing doubles with mentor and BFF Nenad Zimonjic in Dubai. The will be the Serb men’s doubles team. Need to get some practice together.

As a side thing, and bearing on past ITF/ATP mishandlings and the Jeremy Davis artice – Viktor TRoicki has been going deep in tournaments and looks good to crack Top 20 again.

February 11th, 2016 at 8:06 pm

Hi Okie,

Congrats for Rafa :)

Speeking of actors, I am posting a link for you here. I love the voice of Kevin Spacey ;)

http://proxycgi7.appspot.com/u?purl=Y2Y2cklRcHFv
ODA9dj9oY3Rhdy9tb2MuZWJ1dHVveS53d3cvLzpzcHR0aA%3D%3D

February 12th, 2016 at 3:37 am

I am awake, but I don’t have a good connection.

@VP: Stanley Kubrick made a great film — the landing on the Moon, with Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins in the main roles. Who needs an Oscar after such an international success?

@Okie: We agreed because you’re a sensible woman, from Oklahoma. It would be impossible if you were from Georgia.

@jane:

My connection was so bad that I didn’t manage to open the link you gave until now. But any list of Yugoslavian (or ex-yu) films should include: “Three”, the best on this list, you can find it on youtube, Sasha Petrovic made it; “The Fall of Italy”, which is absolutely no 2; “Do you remember Dolly Bell?” or “When Father Was Away on Business”, Kusturica’s first films that achieved fame, although I prefer “Dolly Bell”; “Love and Fashion” (yes, WB, yes…), another take on the socialist society, the happy side. “I Even Met Happy Gypsies” is a great film, deservedly on the list. I would add “The Mysteries or the Organism”, “The Wake-up of the Rats” and “The Ambush” of Zivojin Pavlovic.

February 12th, 2016 at 8:01 am

@jane:

The best comedies: “The Balkan Spy”, “Who’s singing over there” — with Engislih subs — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwozSLas8DM

and, of course, “The Marathon family”

Trying to find you the famous “Maraton family” — here is a documentary about Serbian role in WWI.

February 12th, 2016 at 8:16 am

I forgot the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzjqdWokdlM&amp

February 12th, 2016 at 8:17 am

@VP……Rafa’s win wasn’t too pretty, but a loss would have been even uglier! I tried to open up your link and it would go through…..

@mat4……Sensible gal from Oklahoma??? Well, the jury might be out on that one….my friends think I’m nuts…u know why??? Because I love tennis!! Do not have one friend who likes it…..I think they’re nuts…..LOL

You mention films I have never heard of in the states but folks across the vast pond know about all of the American films…..

February 12th, 2016 at 8:51 am

Lol Mat4, funny and realistic comment with l
the landing on the moon :)
Kubrik is one of my favorite directors, but I assume you do not like his movies. Matter of taste :)

February 12th, 2016 at 9:21 am

Okie, well perhaps you are not authorized to open the link…sorry. Will try later to post it again. It was a commercial from Kevin Spacey for US Open final 2015

February 12th, 2016 at 9:23 am

@Okiegal:

Tom Waits said that people from Oklahoma are sensible…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geDz-ojJye4

After WWII, the US signed treaties with his allies to diffuse a lot of American films. Otherwise, no credits. It’s a less known fact.

That’s why you don’t watch ” A Pain in the …” with Jacques Brel and Lino Ventura, but the remake, “Buddy Buddy” with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. The original is twice better, of course, that said with the usual European haughtiness or arrogance toward American culture.

February 12th, 2016 at 10:13 am

Okie, can U open this link?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08oqpQIr6fc

February 12th, 2016 at 10:25 am

VP….Yes I could, I had never seen that before.

@mat4….I have never heard of Tom Waits. If he was trying to imitate Dylan or Janis Joplin…a big “fail”!

February 12th, 2016 at 10:43 am

Okie, Europeans love to show off with their “knowledge” ;)

February 12th, 2016 at 10:50 am

@Okie

He’s my favourite singer, and he’s also a good poet. Here are two links with his best songs — imho:

Cold cold ground:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmrGImjmUZk

The part you throw away:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-g2X8NVVK4

February 12th, 2016 at 10:52 am

And my favourite song :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFukyIIM1XI

February 12th, 2016 at 11:06 am

@Van Persie:

You are younger than WB, I am certain. 4-6 years perhaps…

February 12th, 2016 at 11:12 am

sweet seventies :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icViP-RZDy4

February 12th, 2016 at 11:13 am

MAt 4, I have the ‘Peter Pan’ syndrome ;)

February 12th, 2016 at 11:14 am

Interesting… me too.

February 12th, 2016 at 11:17 am

Well, you lovely ladies and children , I am for a week off :)…I am going in the mountains, Net connections will be bad :(
Wish you all a lively weekend xxxx

February 12th, 2016 at 11:24 am

@Mat4
Think I mentioned Adrian McKinty as being an excellent crime writer, novels are set in NI during “The Troubles. He grew up there during that time. As good as Rebus.
Anyway, the titles of his “Sean Duffy” series come from Tom Waites songs. Just read “The Cold, Cold Ground.”

February 12th, 2016 at 12:33 pm

mat4 thanks so much for all of those film links and recommendations! have bookmarked them to watch when i have time. also, i love all that tom waits. did you ever get the chance to see him live in concert? he’s just wonderful. i like his acting, too.

margot, have also noted down that writer…need to check him out. right now am reading “under the skin” which is utterly bizarre and very different, more detailed, than the film,which was filmed in scotland actually, and directed by the quite brilliant, methinks, jonathan glazer…

February 12th, 2016 at 1:15 pm

mat4,

Now you are talking.
jane, that was the list of really good movies, best ones, made in Yugoslavia, you can go wrong watching any of those mat4 listed.

mat4,
Song for you from the one movie you haven’t put on your list, (1969) lyrics are so right:(

http://youtu.be/ZZHc8N6aOd0

http://youtu.be/ZZHc8N6aOd0

February 12th, 2016 at 2:46 pm

^^. I double posted same link

February 12th, 2016 at 2:52 pm

mat4,

BTW, I am not so old, I just look like that…I had a tough life;)

February 12th, 2016 at 2:57 pm

^^ and since you mentioned “Love and Fashion” (1960), this one is for you too, Beba Loncar was beautiful woman:

http://youtu.be/aV7t9kGfH7A

February 12th, 2016 at 3:07 pm

@Margot:

The third novel also has a title from Waits: “And in the morning I’ll be gone”. Found 1, 2 & 3 in French.

@WB:

I believe the list is good. There were other films I liked, but I also wanted to present a bit this other world we were so afraid of. And all those films make sense.

In the horrible article about Novak published in the Swiss press, Enki Bilal is mentioned. He’s a famous French comic book creator, and has won a lot of prizes in the seventies: I remember that he had 3 comics in the 10 best of that decade. But he wasn’t Hugo Pratt: Pierre Christin wrote all the stories, scripts, and he was the man behind the success of Bilal.

Pierre Christin wrote Partie de chasse et Les Phalanges de l’ordre noir in particular. His was the real genius there.

The script writers are the most underrated men in the making of a film, although probably the most important.

February 12th, 2016 at 4:31 pm

@jane:

I don’t like concerts, j. I only went to a concert of Nina Simone because I was dating a stewardess who wanted to see her — women make you do silly things…

February 12th, 2016 at 4:43 pm

mat4,

Was that stewardess by any chance that German lady you were chatting with while she was drying her hair..you know the one?

BTW, I don’t mind good concerts (not the ones my wife pick), every now and then, coming Tuesday Goran Bregovic and his “wedding and funeral band” are performing in Sydney Opera House and I am going to see him, I know he is plagiator, but he does it well, this one is from his Paris concert:

http://youtu.be/OyMA84-mowI

February 12th, 2016 at 6:43 pm

@WB:

I see that Almagro defeated Tsonga, and Rafa will play Thiem tomorrow. Tsonga plays on clay to prepare for the DC — I feel he really wants it, this year, and he should have big ambitions for RG.

What was strange was that Isner played Buenos Aires. He lost two TBs to Lajovic, who then easily lost to Thiem.

Almagro is due to a good season. When he’s on, he’s a joy to watch. I also like Baghdatis, and I don’t quite understand what has happened with him — how did he lose his ways? But he has a big smile, and plays usually well against good players.

PHM plays the qualifications in Rio. He lost the final of Montpelier to Gasquet, the other day, and made interesting comments about Gasquet’s game afterward. It’s so tough to come back from injuries.

February 12th, 2016 at 7:27 pm

mat4
Ah Nina Simone, my favourite female singer. Saw her in a small venue in London years ago. We were warned she might not turn up. She did. All in white. Magnificent. That voice. One of my very best music experiences.
Rebus and Duffy like Tom Waite too!
jane
Yes, very interesting director indeedy.

February 13th, 2016 at 1:28 am

Waits I mean! Jeez!

February 13th, 2016 at 1:30 am

Novak Djokovic was filmed last week amongst Serbian supporters singing Serbian Nazi Fascist Song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=equ_PuIa7Mk

Novak should be immediately penalised and suspended from Tennis for singing Nazi songs which celebrates Serbian conquests over suffering peoples of Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo.

Nazism and Fascism should not be allowed in this day and age.

Novak was also filmed many times not so long ago giving his Serbian Supporters at tennis tournaments around the world the Serbian Nazi 3 finger salute which had stopped after numerous complaints.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=empsyHMgn4g

Many hundreds and thousands have suffered under the hands of these Serbian Nazi Chetniks in what was Yugoslavia.

Novak Djokovic should not be allowed to spread and glorify Serbian Nazism around the world through his Tennis and popularity.

February 15th, 2016 at 12:24 am