A lot has been made of the Australian Olympic Chef De Mission’s comments regarding Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic.
Kyrgios returned serve recently, daring her not to pick him in the Olympic team.
The Australian media has roundly backed Kitty Chiller (the Chef De Mission), and condemned Kyrgios, stating that it’d be a ‘disgrace’ if he and Tomic represented their country.
This is the problem with the Australian sporting media. They are too often lazy and inaccurate in their criticism.
The fact is, Nick Kyrgios’ behaviour has been fine since the Australian Open – three and a half months ago.
Since then, he’s done nothing but make the quarters and semis of big tournaments, win his first ATP title and beat top 10 players regularly.
Yet, when Bernard Tomic misbehaves (as he did last week), the media and the Chef De Mission lump Kyrgios in with him.
This is poor leadership from Chiller. As a leader, one is meant to offer positive reinforcement when someone is performing well, as Kyrgios has been doing.
Instead, Chiller ‘bought the bull’ from the media and condemned Nick for something he hasn’t done recently.
Could you imagine the NRL boss condemning Mitchell Pearce for his past, three and a half months after he returned to the NRL, if he has behaved and played well since returning?
It’s no wonder Waleed Aly won the Gold Logie on Sunday, as I’m sure people (whether they agree with his views or not) are thrilled to see some intelligent, well researched journalism in Australia for a change. It is a far cry from the inaccuracy and dog whistling of the Herald Sun and Daily Telegraph.
Anthony Stavrinos
Guest
Nice work Rohan - I respect a fellow journalist that resists the drawing power of sheep mentality, which is obviously attractive to lazy journos because they can just cut and paste eachother's work.
clipper
Guest
I really think people expect better behaviour from tennis players than NRL players - you kinda expect them to act like they do, but agree it does seem a bit unfair. Think Kyrgios deserves a better reputation, he puts on a good game and has been OK lately.
Queries
Guest
It's obviously because neither are anglos. Anglos don't like it when others succeed, they are a very sensitive bunch.
Brendon
Guest
Typical of tennis coverage in this country. NRL and AFL players behave much much worse than Tomic and Kyrgios and the media, and especially the fans ignore it or brush it off, but when tennis players behave badly suddenly everyone is outraged. I've never cared about tennis at the Olympics and if I was either Kyrgios or Tomic I wouldnt worry about missing out.
Rosco
Guest
No reporting of the work he does for charity or the time he gives to young kids playing tennis. And my biggest concern is how knowledgeable tennis fans living abroad think of the way most of the Australian media treats him as opposed to what they have themselves witnessed from him in the last 3months, either watching him play live or live on tv. Keep up the great work Nick, your doing so well.
Ezemambuto
Guest
Great article. This is accurate journalism. The rest of Australia's media are like "soap operas" and in for the ratings
Rosco
Guest
Finally!!! What a relief we finally get a journalist who obviously does his homework. The reporting of Nick Kyrgios in the last 3months has been nothing short of a disgrace. Racism in this country is soooooooooo alive and well and the saddest thing about it is that these 2bob journalists are driving this hate and racism towards the kid,and lets not forget he is still a kid. No reporting of Nick seeking help from a psychiatrist to tone down his temper,no reporting of the charity work he does and no reporting of the time he gives to the kids. Would this happen if his surname was Smith or Jones? Nick and Bernard are like chalk and cheese. For one Nick is so much more brighter than Tomic and two, Nick has more talent in his his little finger than Tomic possesses in his whole body. Great article mate and look forward to reading more of your truthful insights. Cheers
Rohit Asopa
Roar Pro
Agree mate! Very sad some of these biased media publications have so much influence
Benny
Guest
Great article. It's a shame that most people's view of Nick is only instructed by what the media tells them, which is only bad stuff for the most part. They even exaggerate when he questions the umpire about a line call which most players do a lot of the time. People who don't actually follow the tennis tour should leave their opinions unspoken, because Nick has matured a lot this year and is making a go of it