Michael Russell Says He Didn’t Approve Facebook Rant Against “Douche Bag” Lleyton Hewitt, But Takes Reponsibilty

I don’t care how bad of a publicist you are, no publicist makes an error THAT bad. Russell should just admit what he did and move on.

July 15th, 2013 at 9:47 am

Russell wasn’t wrong, racist is the name for the people who don’t turn up for a wedding of their doughter/sister because she is getting married to an Australian of Lebanese origin. That is what Lleyton and his parents did.

http://womansday.ninemsn.com.au/celebrityheadlines/8287637/leytons-sisters-sorrow-hewitt-family-feud

July 15th, 2013 at 10:19 am

Not sure why he (or his supposed publicist) is all riled up about what Lleyton said, which was not exactly controversial stuff.

July 15th, 2013 at 10:23 am

MR has a publicist? LOL, that must have been his other hand.

July 15th, 2013 at 11:10 am

Didn’t Hewitt once make an unfortunate remark about a black line-judge?

July 15th, 2013 at 11:34 am

skeezer Says:
MR has a publicist? LOL, that must have been his other hand.

Exactly my thoughts!

July 15th, 2013 at 11:36 am

Why is it that the U.S. men’s players are always making fools of themselves and demonstrating poor sportsmanship. I thought with the retirement of Andy Roddick everything would improve, but I see that the U.S. reputation has sunk even lower. A 35 year old man should have more control of his life, especially his Facebook account. No excuses. What a shame.

July 15th, 2013 at 12:09 pm

LOL. Agree with Skeezer. Why does Michael Russell even have a publicist. Hysterical…and sad all at the same time.

July 15th, 2013 at 12:33 pm

This whole episode is a epic LOL. At least Russell has now done something folks will remember him by. if you can’t make a name for yourself on court: go viral! Kudos to you Russ- look forward to the next post from your ‘publicist’!

July 15th, 2013 at 1:36 pm

As the saying goes if you cant be famous be infamous.

July 15th, 2013 at 3:37 pm

“I ONLY use twitter linked to my Facebook account. I NEVER post directly on Facebook…”

LOL just man up, man.

July 15th, 2013 at 3:42 pm

Doesn’t everybody have a PR person?

I checked with my dog, and she has one.

July 15th, 2013 at 4:14 pm

I think you’re afraid of dogs, Humble, and the dark, check your bio.

This is hilarious, and a poor cover up

Sorry wrong place but stoked fed is back on court this week. And with a old school pro-staff looking racket!

July 15th, 2013 at 4:25 pm

@Humble Rafa

You have a dog????? You don’t like dogs, remember?? According to your book, you say you are afraid of dogs. LOL

I too am afraid of dogs after getting bit by one when a small child…..I hate them,actually.

Back to the thread, MR needs to own it and get on with his bad self, IMHO.

July 15th, 2013 at 4:36 pm

@Dari

You got your post on before me……..funny. If I would have waited a tad longer I could have saved some wear and tear on my fingers!! LOL

Maybe we got our points across, however. Big Rafa fan here and like old Humble also!!!!

July 15th, 2013 at 4:40 pm

Humble Rafa, does your Uncle Toni have a publicist? Because based on this article, I think he might need one. (Just not the one that MR has). http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/07/uncle-toni-i-talk-rafa-during-matches/48355/#.UeRyHm3veKE

July 15th, 2013 at 6:06 pm

form RZ’s link, Uncle Toni says:”“In the tennis world, those who are mentally stronger, are also technically stronger.”

That’s an intriguing comment. Wish he could have fleshed it out a little. For instance, is he saying there is a causal link between mental and technical strength,and if so, which is cause and which is effect? That’s not a trivial point. People who tend to downplay the mental side will be inclined to think that it is the technical strength which is causal.

But there is another possibility, too. You could have a kind of spiralling situation, wherein a strong mind is productive of attention to technical detail, the absorption of which further strengthens the mind which in turn makes possible extended technical learning, which then………

July 15th, 2013 at 6:22 pm

Grendel, I was intrigued by that comment too. I think his overall point is that if you stay mentally strong, your form remains strong too. If you start to falter mentally, you’re more likely to rush and play sloppy.

July 15th, 2013 at 6:54 pm

Uncle Toni: ‘I talk to Rafa during matches’
—
Usual business. Nothing to see here. Move on.

July 15th, 2013 at 7:34 pm

So lets name his publicist

July 15th, 2013 at 9:56 pm

Only douche here is the publicist – should be named to clear Russell. Always laugh when Americans call Australians racist – half the US went to war to keep slavery and racism. That would have been unthinkable in Aus.

July 15th, 2013 at 10:12 pm

^^^

Aren’t we missing something here? Until 1967 Aboriginals were considered subhuman and they didn’t have the right to vote. Is that racism? No, it can’t be, it’s Australia.

July 15th, 2013 at 11:26 pm

Humble Rafa,

Why are you not addressing your fear of Dogs? Apparently you have no problem accusing others of having Cats.

“Paradox”

July 16th, 2013 at 12:40 am

@Bad Knee Rules, not only were Aboriginals considered subhuman, the Aus Government also tried to make Oz a white nation. Any white person who went to Oz could become a citizen simply because he/she is White!
I’m sure, you’re aware of your country history, @Rob? Know why former PM Kevin Rudd on behalf of the the great Oz Government made a public apology to the Aboroginals? The stolen generation? I’m not saying Aussies are more racist than Americans. But racism is racism whether it’s in the US, Australia, Asia or Africa. It sucks! Just don’t be a part of it!
And yeah next time before you bring up American slavery thing, do take your time to think about the stolen generation Down Under.

July 16th, 2013 at 1:55 am

I sometimes visit the Australian site Sportal, and the comments on the forum often make me wonder if I’ve stumbled into a Southern USA white supremacist website by mistake.
Racism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia and general nastiness are alive and well Down Under, believe me. As they are in the UK, of course – and probably everywhere.

July 16th, 2013 at 3:53 am

@RZ 6.54

I think the way you look at it is sound. But the interesting thing about Uncle Toni’s remark is that it lends itself to a number of perfectly sensible interpretations. It’s a kind of aphorism, really, in the tradition of Lao Tze and people like that.

Uncle Toni – who would have thought it?

July 16th, 2013 at 6:05 am

Rob Says:

Only douche here is the publicist – should be named to clear Russell. Always laugh when Americans call Australians racist – half the US went to war to keep slavery and racism. That would have been unthinkable in Aus.
____________________________________________

Rob, you are getting too close to the truth. Someone is going to throw a penalty flag on the play! We do NOT have a race problem in the USA. I think the Zimmerman verdict demonstrated we are all ON THE SAME PAGE!

July 17th, 2013 at 10:27 am

“The post has since been removed and in a series of twitter tweets the 35-year-old has apologized stating that his publicist posted the remark without his approval.”

YEAH RIGHT.

If this is true, you need to sack your publicist.

But I didn’t think a 3rd rate player could afford to employ a publicist. That means every player on the tour would have one.

July 17th, 2013 at 1:26 pm