Kyrgios h8er eh? You’ve come to the right place.
Take another potshot at a 20-year-old in the third round of Wimbledon. Why not? He’s just an insolent kid who was brought up being told he was the best, right?
Maybe. Or he’s very deliberately crafting an image of being an outspoken, interesting, funny person who does whatever he wants.
The real answer probably lies somewhere in the middle, but where does naivety end and being a tool begin?
That’s what all this comes down to, right? We’re worried that our Nick, little Nick, is going to be a tool, rather than a legend.
And that would be bad for Australian sport. Whatever that means.
But so long as he gets fair warning about the potential consequences of what comes with outspokenness I’m all for Nick Kyrgios dropping bombshells in interviews and throwing on-court tantrums.
Not only does he show a good understanding of how to manipulate the media in doing so, but he also shows he’s well read. Oscar Wilde might attest.
Because the one thing worse than being controversial is being boring. We just don’t need another boring sports star. There are plenty to choose from already – factory-produced from club-run media courses run by ex-journos, where the message is to say a lot of words, but actually say nothing.
Good on Kyrgios for rejecting that. Sport needs villains.
“I go out there and I like to entertain. I like to put on a bit of a show.”
Good, lest tennis become 32-bounce pre-serve routines and making sure your water bottle labels align.
“I don’t really like the sport of tennis that much.”
Don’t like tennis? Awesome. Like basketball more? Great! Hell, here’s an open invitation to write NBA columns on The Roar, Nick. Get in touch any time
I don’t care if any of it makes a lick of sense; if that’s what you feel like saying, go right ahead. I’ll write about it.
Kyrgios will figure out whether it was a good thing to say later on.
“I think laughing is pretty important. If you don’t laugh in a day it’s pretty boring, so I like making my friends and family happy and putting a smile on people’s faces. When you hit a nice shot in tennis everyone enjoys it and that’s important. Some players don’t really interact with the crowd, they’re really serious. But I think it’s part of my personality. When I go out there, I like to put on a bit of a show.
“I’ve probably watched that shot against Rafa about 100 times, honestly. I was love-40 down so it didn’t make much difference but it was pretty good. I practise tweeners all the time in training, so I thought it was the right shot.
“Me and Rafa don’t talk too much. We probably don’t have the greatest relationship, like me and Roger do. But I’m more than open to having lunch with the guy; I’m not shying away from anything like that.”
What about that? Where were the headlines about that?
My take – honest, open, insightful, interesting. More interesting than 99% of what comes out of players’ and coaches’ mouths, and that was the boring bit!
There is a real danger in being overly preachy about someone like Kyrgios. Amidst the outrage, you lose perspective on what it’s like for those competing at the tip top of their sport.
Remember Roger Federer? No, not the ice man. The young, angry Federer. I’m talking the Federer with a ponytail and a sour attitude.
The simple fact is that young players get angry. Old players get angry too, just not as often. Unless you’re Marat Safin, but by that point we’d just accepted it – “Good old Safin. What’s he upset about this time?”
His on-court tanty would then be followed up by an endearingly open interview, where the reporter asks him about his unique ability to lose his shit. It would be all smiles.
Good old Marat. The villain we love.
Bad young Kyrgios. The tool we hate.
We haven’t yet accepted Kyrgios. We’re still working out who he is. And at 20, it’s simply not good enough to be a tool.
Brazen confidence, speed stripes in your hair and saying whatever the hell you want are all indicators of an arrogant young man. Take his on-court tantrums to the ratings board.
Why can’t our Nick be more like little Thanasi Kokkinakis? There’s a tennis player you can set your watch to. At least until he throws his first racquet – then we’ll have him.
I’m a 26-year-old male who throws ping pong bats in the office when I lose.
With a million bucks on the line? I would be losing my mind.
Those ‘outraged’ by Kyrgios’ antics need to ask themselves what their expectations of this 20-year-old really are. And don’t confuse your desires with your expectations.
This is a 20-year-old, playing tennis. The difference is he plays it in front of 20 million people, where we play it in front of two.
Does that make his outbursts less acceptable?
Probably. But what is acceptable? Is his honesty acceptable? Do we take one without the other, and are they mutually exclusive?
Or should we just leach off the faux-outrage his actions cause? In fact, ‘kicks’ has a new nickname around these parts – ‘clicks’!
Get it? You might not, it’s a digital media thing.
The guy is 20. He will learn.
Speaking of learning, here’s a great life lesson, courtesy of the Simpsons, about the nature of elephants.
“Some of them act badly because they’ve had a hard life or been mistreated. But, like people, some of them are just jerks.”
If Kyrgios wants to be a villain, or a jerk, then that’s fine. Just like in tennis, he is in a position to make that call, as the chair umpire of his own destiny and behaviour.
But if it turns out to be the wrong call, then he knows who to direct his tirade at, and it won’t be Carlos Ramos.
Undies
Guest
He's a tool, it's the way he is, it will never change.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
In sport, but what about the character of the person. I respect, actually in awe of Warne, the bowler, no respect for him as a man. I refuse to follow a NSW blues side with Paul Gallen & Greg Bird in the side, despite being a blue all my life. My love is football & was hoping an underdog, playing great attractive football like Chile wins the Copa America beating the powerful Brazil & Argentina, but after star player Arturo Vidal crashed his car & was well over the alcohol limit, well over, Chile still played him, go Argentina. But a player losing his cool & calling the umpire a 'dirty scum', yes spoilt brat, but like I said there are worse people in spot
Cav
Guest
Delly had considerable negative press in the U.S. It was undeserved but the response to him was far from as rosy as the Australian media portrayed it
Charl
Guest
Problem is, some people are brought up to think they're special, and that they are more important than others. They don't move past the tantrum phase, the "me me me" phase. The Paris Hiltons of life. Society tolerates that because we think fame is an excuse for bad behaviour. It should be the other way round. Privileged people should behave better, not worse than others. If a homeless man, hungry, cold and scared, behaves badly, that is excusable. If a spoilt, privileged brat does, it's not.
Charl
Guest
Double standards, Effeney. You can't moderate people on the roar for using bad language and throwing tantrums but maintain that it's ok for sports stars to do so :)
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Apologies, but I see abuse of an official as a worse sporting 'crime' than sledging an opponent .The most basic tenet in sport is to respect the umpire's position. I am talking also about occurrences on the sporting field of play not issues with personal lives off it such as your example of domestic issues.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Del Potro? Djokovic? Dimitrov? Yes its a good effort but others have done the same without being as rude.
Mitcher
Guest
Yeah, I like kyrgios. But that's a load of rubbish. Hewitt was pilloried early in his career. King for a day Steve.
Brian
Guest
Yea mate, you're clutching at straws there. Rafter was always a likeable person and player, not even going to go into that side of things. Hewitt and Scud were both tools. But Australia loves a winner and Hewitt won us a few slams and was a 20 year old world number 1. He also matured immensely over the years and became a great ambassador for the sport and Australia. I think Scud may have just cracked the top 10 at some point with 0 slams and then retired fairly young. In fact, the more I think about it, if you are even thinking about suggesting their respective popularity was based on race, you're a nut job.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Why am I not surprised the victim industry gatekeepers are on patrol, seeking out offence, deflecting, obfuscating, making it up on the run? I've always suspected there is a touch of underlying distaste for his miserable narcissistic attitude in the criticism. That is self evident.
Steve
Guest
Bit racist there mate. Hes only half Greek btw. Ive always suspected there is a touch of underlying racism in the criticism, although I can't prove it obviously. Hewitt was an absolute wanker before he won anything also. But we love him and the tax dodging Rafter. The Scud though, who helped us win two Davis Cups, was "bad" though
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
Perspective Glenn. Imagine an Australian bowler who criticises his fellow & lets a cameraman take the blame. Imagine an Australian bowler taking drugs & blaming it on a pill his mum gave him. Imagine an Australian bowler, who despite many opportunities continue to disrespect his wife & kids. Imagine an Australian bowling legend dissing out on his capt & v capt because they dared to drop him in Caribbean Test. I could add all the footy codes (all codes) & their misdemeanors & you are dirty on a tennis player for calling a umpire a dirty scum. Perspective Glenn.
Brendon
Guest
Andre Agassi was the biggest tool of all at 20
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
We don't need villains Paddy who openly deride and abuse officials. If anyone believes Krygios' statement that his "dirty scum" statement was self-directed is away with the dairies. His comment that he will not change his ways is a major worry as he seems to believe that abuse of officials is fine. Imagine the outcry there would be if an Australian bowler who had an appeal turned down and was heard in the stump mic to say "dirty scum".
Frank R
Roar Rookie
One thing Kyrgios has shown is that you don't need a long neck to be a goose.
dylan
Guest
Both hewitt and federer, among others, were tools at kyrgios' age and they matured with time. Give nick a couple of years and he'll do the same.
JB
Guest
he's got ability would love to see a humble kokinakis beat him to a maiden slam win and see how he goes when the cameras are pointed elsewhere. I get the feeling he'd hate it. Humility is a far bigger asset as a man than a forehand or serve, he's young let's hope he learns it at some point.
Josh
Expert
First documented use of "swaga" in a Roar headline. For what it's worth I find it amusing that society places athletes on a pedestal then acts shocked and offended when they run with it.
Steele
Guest
I think we have been hoping to have a successful tennis player for some time now, and he obviously is going to be that. However know one wants to go along for the ride with him if they can't relate to him. There's been a collective sigh of " not another tennis wanker", as his behaviour declines and brattish personality surfaces. If his toolish behaviour continues we won't care how good he is. They represent our nation, but instead of making us proud, they embarrass us and make us cringe.
Donald
Roar Rookie
If you are playing any sport on the world stage. You are a professional and are expected to conduct yourself professionally. If you have a job, you are in a workplace. You are a professional and are expected to conduct yourself professionally. It does not matter what age you are, there are expectations for everyone and that needs to be respected. Expectations can drop........