Two happenings over the last week that would seem completely unrelated somehow meshed to provide some common meaning.
Lleyton Hewitt won matches at the Olympics, reminding people he is still around and giving glimmers of a return to the glory days.
Billy Corgan brought his Smashing Pumpkins to Australia reminding people of his (and perhaps their) glory days.
(These are not the Smashing Pumpkins of Siamese Dream/Mellon Collie glory days – but really, it was all about Billy back then too.)
Billy and Lleyton make an odd couple with some similarities. Lleyton has never been fully embraced by the Australian public and ‘Camp Hewitt’ has always been looked upon with some suspicion that it was completely removed from reality and added to other negatives such as the spoilt brat persona and the Bec and Kim changeover.
As a rock star, it’s part of the PD to be out of touch with reality, and Billy fills it like hand in glove. From sackings and re-sackings of his original bandmates, overly pretentious stylings, to the plain creepy romance with one of the Veronicas – even Smashing Pumpkins fans are not necessarily Corgan devotees.
To understate it, in the ‘all-round-good-bloke’ stakes, Lleyton is no Pat Rafter and Billy is no Dave Grohl.
A Lleyton Hewitt match these days is a punishing workout. You know that nothing will come easy, you know that it’s hurting him but you know that he’s giving it the lot and that’s reason enough to keep watching. The trademark “c’mon’s” and stolen Mats Wilander hand signal are still there, it hasn’t really changed from the glory days except that the rest of the world ended up passing him.
And when Billy stepped on to the stage at Splendour in the Grass there was an eerie sense of connection. His opening rock moves were hard to distinguish between sincere and parody, much like Lleyton’s histrionics. After a bizarre opening that had his anonymous drummer singing a Kiss cover, he played a slew of hits in workmanlike fashion before settling in to the ‘new album’. At this point you couldn’t help but notice the protruding gut from under his T-shirt, the on-stage demands to roadies to fix this and fix that. Hanging on, the words that we’re all thinking with Lleyton.
Though when he launched into ‘1979′ followed by ‘Cherub Rock’ you could forgive him for everything – two very different but iconic songs from his two big albums and they sounded brilliant.
And when Lleyton takes a set off Djokovic, you remember what made him great and you dare to think that it could all come together and he wasn’t just ‘hanging on’.
The reality is Lleyton will never win another major and Billy won’t have another hit or critically acclaimed album. And for most, as soon as that point is reached they pack it all in and go and do something else where they can’t lose or ‘damage the brand’.
In sport it’s the commentary box, in music it’s showing up to do reunion tours every five years with maybe the odd dabble in a reality TV show.
And perhaps that’s what we should look at with these two often-maligned figures, give them credit for supposed egomaniacs taking the ultimate ego hit for the love of the game. Lleyton sure can’t enjoy seeing his name ranked at 179, and I don’t think Billy would feel great about being interviewed by Larry Emdur on the Channel 7 morning show to plug the album and tour.
They are ego hits that clearly are outweighed by the passion these blokes have for their craft in spite of what we think they should do. When Lleyton talks about playing on and Davis Cup being his ultimate priority, it can’t be anything but true and he’d probably be the only player in the last 20 years who could say that.
In ‘1979′ “Justine never knew the rules”, either do Lleyton and Billy and, despite their idiosyncrasies, that’s admirable.
James
Guest
Agreed!!!
James
Guest
I thought I was posting under Jon's comment this whole time. All of your first comment I totally agree with. I just get tired of him beating top 20 players and everyone telling him to retire. I don't believe even the the 200 ranked player deserves that. I think the only way to settle this is if he makes another Slam Final, you buy the tickets and we will go cheer him on. But I warn you if you think Lleyton is loud then you wont want to sit next to me! As for Carlton..... I am still distraught after they smashed my Lions so lets keep AFL out of it. lol
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"To go by your method: I don’t think he has any chance of winning another slam. and then….. The reality is that EVERY player, who enters a Grand Slam tournament, can win a slam and then…. he won’t be winning a third slam" I don't have a method. Of course, he CAN win another slam. Just as Carlton CAN win the 2012 AFL Flag, it is possible for him to do so. But the chances of his doing so are minute. "I base my comments based on his career of injury and fight and what the best in the world (players)say about him and then show him some support." I've already addressed this (which you haven't actually responded to), but none of those are IMO particularly compelling reasons. "A lot of people are going to eat their words about Lleyton if he stays injury free as he is still learning to play with a fused toe." Doubt it. If he wins a third slam, I'll more than eat my words. However I suspect there's a bigger chance of Murray claiming The Grand Slam, than of Hewitt winning a third slam.
James
Guest
To go by your method: I don’t think he has any chance of winning another slam. and then..... The reality is that EVERY player, who enters a Grand Slam tournament, can win a slam and then.... he won’t be winning a third slam I base my comments based on his career of injury and fight and what the best in the world (players)say about him and then show him some support. However, I love when everyone keeps saying what you do about him cause that just spurs him on even more. I hope this thread stays live throughout the year! 4th tournament back from injury he made the Final at Newport, made final 16 at the Olympics and now is through to second round of Cincinatti. A lot of people are going to eat their words about Lleyton if he stays injury free as he is still learning to play with a fused toe.
Lee
Guest
Jon's view is ridiculous!
Lee
Guest
Who cares if he wins another Slam or not. For me, it's what he stands for; his determination, fighting spirit & belief in himself that is nothing short of inspiring. Some people ARE ignorant to his achievements, extensive injuries & that he really is a great guy (which I believe was James' point when referring to comments made by some of the world's key players). His outbursts particularly in the past, do not define him as a person (just defined his passion). To people who say he should give up &/or retire, you obviously do not appreciate all that Lleyton (& Sport for that matter), stand for. I'm behind this Aussie champ all the way!! Even if he doesn't get much further, wouldn't you like to think he could? And even experts in the field get it wrong! So who are we to say, except..... C'MON!!!!
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"Respect for people who don't believe or think it is unlikely to win another slam.... just don't say he can't especially when Djok says he can beat anyone on any given day." So you are taking it literal. The reality is that EVERY player, who enters a Grand Slam tournament, can win a slam. However only a few have a reasonable chance. Hewitt is not one of the few. "See him beat Federer in Hale two years ago in the final when Fed was at his best????" Putting aside that Federer is not the only player Hewitt needs to get past in order to win a slam, Federer has defeated Hewitt in 16 of their last 17 meetings, and in all 9 of their slam matches. "Show me someone more competitive than Hewitt??" Nadal is pretty competetive, however that's besides the point. Even if Hewitt were the most competetive player of all time, it wouldn't matter as being competive is nowhere near enough. As I stated in my original post, he doesn't have any major offensive weapons, and he won his slams in between eras. He overachieved and has had a much better career than he would have if he reached his prime a few years earlier or later. "GET SERIOUS MAN, HE JUST HAD HIS TOE FUSED, WAIT TO SEE WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHES INJURY FREE" I am serious, and I've seen what he can accomplish, but he won't be winning a third slam. You're one of the few people in the world who thinks he can win a third slam. That's fine, just don't be shocked if I (or others) completely disagree.
James
Guest
Respect for people who don't believe or think it is unlikely to win another slam.... just don't say he can't especially when Djok says he can beat anyone on any given day. See him beat Federer in Hale two years ago in the final when Fed was at his best???? Show me someone more competitive than Hewitt?? You need to read more about what the best in the world say about him. i.e. Fed Djok and Nadal. You show me someone else who would keep playing when doctors told him if he continued to do so he would be in pain walking for the rest of his life. He was getting pain killing injections into his toe for two years. Again, show me someone with 5 major surgeries who is still playing!! Feds words: I would not be where I am today without Lleyton Hewitt. I thought I was working so hard on the tour until I met him. I don't ever miss a match he is playing in. Nadal: He is incredible, I have so much respect for him. I don't know anyone that would still be playing after all the injuries he has had Djokovic (at Olympics): He dominated me for the first set and a half GET SERIOUS MAN, HE JUST HAD HIS TOE FUSED, WAIT TO SEE WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHES INJURY FREE Oh and him being liked was in response to the article so that people would get an insight into what the players think of him not just how he is percieved by the public
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"To say he can't win another major is just ignorant!!" I don't see why Hewitt should retire, however it's not at all ignorant to suggest that he can't win another slam. The two slams that he won were between the eras of Sampras & Federer, and he doesn't have any major offensive weapons. Being competetive, and a great returner of serve and a counterpuncher aren't enough, especially when there are active players who are better at all three. I don't think he has any chance of winning another slam. Furthermore, what does being liked have to do with winning another slam?
James
Guest
Djokovic said Hewitt is playing like a top 20 player and can beat anyone on any given day. Federer (world no 1) had a choice to practice with any player to warm up for the Olympics and who did he chose to best challenge him??? Lleyton!! This guy has had five major surgeries and still can take sets off Djokovic when even the top 5 struggle to do it. He is the most liked player on tour (according to Nadal, Federer, Djokovic etc.) and the most respected for his ability to take big scalps and rebound so quickly from major surgery. He is one of the best returners and counter punchers of serve to have ever played the game and no one has ever been more competitive. To say he can't win another major is just ignorant!!!
Shannon Gill
Roar Rookie
Jon - I think your view is shared by a lot of people, and that's exactly why I wrote this.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Silver platter, I meant to say.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Why? Why does he need to do anything? Tennis is an individual sport, and Hewitt doesn't have any obligations to anyone but himself. If the younger players want 'a chance', it's up to them to take it. Why should he step aside, in an individual sport, to help his rivals? They're not teammates, they're rivals, and they need to seize their opportunities, not expect it offered up on a silver tray.. Additionally, to call him egotistical, simply because he disagrees with you that he's finished, is absurd. If he wants to play till the age of 50, he has every right to do so, providing he's good enough. I'm no fan of Hewitt, however, when it comes to retirement, he neede to make his own decision, and not retire simply because some sports fans declare him to be finished.
Jon Marshall
Guest
LLZeyton Hewitt is finished and needs to retire and let younger players have a chance! I dislike is egoism Olympics or no Olympics he still needs to ride into the sunset once and for all!!!!!