The Roar
The Roar

The Roar

Kate Smart

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Joined June 2012

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Writer and blogger. @katesmart12 www.sportmediatheory.com or www.theshankingsoigneur.com

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I agree with you, Alfredo, if kids aren’t taught the finer points they never learn it. It’s such a shame for those of us old enough to remember when tennis was about finesse and not just trying to smash the life out of the ball. I think most agree those days are long gone and not coming back. But when we do see finesse, we marvel at it and equally we find the lack of it frustrating…or at least I do.

Thanks for the comment.

The Sam Stosur roller-coaster continues

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Tennis
 
2016

Thanks for the comment, Hugh.

I think you make some good points, but making the Davis Cup a bi-annual event doesn’t solve the problem of the already busy season. It’s interesting also, that many of these players who complain of such a long season and don’t play DC also sign up for the very lucrative end of year cash grabs, oops I mean exhibition events!

Sadly the power of the dollar has eroded away at DC. I definitely think that a bi-annual DC or FC would make a mockery of tennis in the Olympics. Olympians represent their country in their sport not just once every four years, but for the majority of their careers. A lot of the top players only play DC or FC when the Olympics are drawing near which is a shame.

Thanks again for reading.

It's time to toast that ol' tennis stalwart, the Davis Cup

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Tennis
 
2015

Hi peeeko,

Thanks for your comment. I’m not saying this is the most important Davis Cup. I’m not sure where you’ve got this from, but obviously I haven’t made my meaning clear enough for you. So I do apologise for that.

What I’m saying is that the Davis Cup is a relevant competition, where others say it isn’t. It’s relevant because a) it has an important tradition that should continue, b) it’s played with passion, just look at GB and Aus as two excellent examples of this and c) sport unites us and can help build strong community ties or help us through grief and other times of difficulty.

There are those who want to see it scrapped or played every second year which I obviously don’t agree with.

However, I do think this final could be an incredibly interesting final, especially if fans are locked out.

Thanks again for your comment.

It's time to toast that ol' tennis stalwart, the Davis Cup

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Tennis
 
2015

Thanks matth, yeah Djokovic will certainly take it to Fed. It’s a shame that the younger guys are still quite a way behind, especially in terms of winning a Slam. Nishikori, maybe if he can stay healthy? Does Federer have another in him? And of course Stan proved everyone wrong by winning a second. I’m really hoping to see some of the younger guys develop over the next few years.

Thanks again for the comment.

No Djoke, Novak is an unstoppable force

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Tennis
 
2015

Thanks for the comment FrozenNorth. I do agree that his majors are much more evenly spread than Nadal but Nadal has 1 more Masters win than Djokovic. I’m sure this time next year it will be a different story!

Thanks again for the comment.

No Djoke, Novak is an unstoppable force

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Tennis
 
2015

I think Djokovic will overtake Nadal in the slam count, tbh. Remember, 9 of Nadal’s 14 are at RG and he began winning Slams at a much younger age than Djokovic. Can he match Fed? Hmm, that should be interesting to see how that pans out.

It is interesting that Nadal hasn’t won end of year, and Djokovic is currently dominating it.

No Djoke, Novak is an unstoppable force

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Tennis
 
2015

Thanks, Brian. Yeah, the GOAT convo is always a winner! I think it’s interesting how many people don’t like him yet he is very entertaining and one of the few with a personality. Or is it we don’t like certain types of personalities? Is he a bit like Lendl in that way? Something to keep thinking about.

Thanks again for the comment.

No Djoke, Novak is an unstoppable force

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Tennis
 
2015

You know strayan, you’ve really summed it up for a lot of Aussie tennis fans. I really admire how his on court achievements and the style with which he’s bowing out. I think we can expect that same determination in Davis Cup which can only be a good thing.

Thanks again for commenting.

How Australia warmed to Lleyton Hewitt

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Tennis
 
2015

Thanks Liam for commenting. It’s strange isn’t it how meeting people in unlikely places can change your opinion and in this case for the best. I know someone who interviewed him last year and he was really generous with his time.

How Australia warmed to Lleyton Hewitt

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Tennis
 
2015

I completely agree, kazblah. I like the Phar Lap analogy – very Melbourne Cup week!

How Australia warmed to Lleyton Hewitt

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Tennis
 
2015

Thanks for that insight, Winston. I think you’ve raised a point that courage is open to interpretation. I think there are few who would say he lacked courage as fighting to the end is generally seen as a strength. I guess also, does one shot make or break a player? I think this is an interesting question that I’ll give some more thought.

I also think you’ve raised an interesting question at the end here. I think with Lleyton it is the honest and humble trier that we like so much more than the precocious winner. Is it perhaps our mythology of cheering for the underdog? Something else to keep thinking about.

Thanks again for your comment.

How Australia warmed to Lleyton Hewitt

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Tennis
 
2015

Thanks Jef, Yeah I do agree with you about his maturity growing over time. I think growing up in the spotlight must be very difficult and he’s done it remarkably well.

Thanks again for the comment.

How Australia warmed to Lleyton Hewitt

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Tennis
 
2015

Thanks for your comment, DB.

I do agree it would have been nice to hear him talk about the Nikki Vance investigation into OGE. I read something at the time he retired which quoted Vance as suggesting maybe he didn’t tell her about the doping due to being unsure about the consequences. I wonder how many of us would have been truthful though if in the same position?

I do like your idea about donating royalties from his book to the AIS. Doping isn’t a criminal offence, so he can profit from his book, yet if it was a criminal offence he wouldn’t be able to. Interesting.

Thanks again for you comments.

Stuart O'Grady, cycling and punishment

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Cycling
 
2015

Thanks for the comments, guys. I

think for people like O’Grady we can understand the environment of the 1990s and accept that as factor in past behaviour.

I have no problem with David Millar being involved in cycling and now that we’ve seen a remorseful apology from O’Grady, I have fewer problems in his involvement in cycling.

I think we need to see some form of palpable punishment and Millar’s 2 year ban and O’Grady’s public apology fit that criteria, for me anyway.

But Craig Fry’s point is a pertinent one and I know others like, Lee Rodgers make the same point: the dopers do the get career and the fame, media jobs etc whilst the clean riders miss out. In this case though, I think we need to give O’Grady the benefit of the doubt that it was a once off.

Thanks again for reading and commenting.

Stuart O'Grady, cycling and punishment

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Cycling
 
2015

I do see what you’re saying, but I’m not sure I quite agree, Julian. I think Froome was doing a bit of the ‘I’m tougher than you’ routine, to be honest. The ‘Harden up Federer’ tweet suggests this to me and I think a of tennis fans see it this way, too.

There is no doubt that there is a difference between tennis and cycling but isn’t the real issue poor fan behaviour? And doesn’t that need to be addressed rather than telling Federer to ‘harden up’.

Given the vast amount of kilometres cyclists ride, you’re probably right in that there could be more accidents than there are, but the number of accidents caused by stupid fans is too high. If you’ve gone to see a cycling race, surely you have the common sense to stand back a bit and not get in the cyclists way. Equally, if you’re at the tennis, you can stay in the stands.

I wonder if the boot was on the other foot, just how Mr Froome would take to twitter then?

Federer doesn’t need to "Harden up" but fans need to behave

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Cycling
 
2015

That should be a BAC of .14. I think anyone, greatest Olympian or not would be dead with a BAC of 1.4! Sorry about that.

Phelps may be the world's best swimmer but no man is an island

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Swimming
 
2014

Hi Kevin, it’s been reported this morning that Phelps had a blood alcohol reading of 1.4 and Maryland’s limit is .08. That’s a long way over the legal limit.

I’ve seen another piece arguing he should be banned for a year. I’d love to hear people’s thoughts on that too.

Thanks again for the comment.

Phelps may be the world's best swimmer but no man is an island

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Swimming
 
2014

Thanks Simon, Bill and Tristan for your great comments.

There’s no doubt that Cadel has left his own individual mark on Australian sport.

I know we’ll miss him but I know we’ll keep talking about his fantastic performances for many years to come!

Chapeau, Cadel

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Cycling
 
2014

Thanks, Patrick.

I’ve written before on this website how much I admire Cadel, especially because he wears his heart on his sleeve. I think that being yourself is often the hardest thing to do and he is always himself, even if that frustrates others!

We’ll miss him but what he’s given us will last for such a long time.

We are very lucky indeed to have been Aussie sports fans during his era.

Chapeau, Cadel

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Cycling
 
2014

I completely agree, Tim. I really like ‘G’ because he just doesn’t seem to have an ego the size of Everest and I suspect that’s one of the things that makes him a good fit for Sky, because let’s be honest, they have enough Everest sized egos. I think only someone with a real case of sour grapes wouldn’t be happy for Thomas and his Comm Games performances.

Geraint Thomas: A worthy winner of Commonwealth gold

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Cycling
 
2014

Hi delbeato, long time no hear. I hope you’re well.

I agree with you about Ritchie. I think the point is that you really need to be so well prepared for a Grand Tour and I think he was thrown into a really tough situation, which he handled well. But winning the TdF requires the TdF being your whole goal for the season.

Like every else, I really want to see him win a GT and I hope this setback is just a minor one.

Tinkoff-Saxo - the best team at the 2014 Tour de France

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Cycling
 
2014

HaHa! Well, as you know, Tim I haven’t written anything for a while, so why not come back with a bang.

I do agree that Giant were great, but I think that article should be about the fabulous performance of the Germans across multiple teams. We’re they all great!

I agree Bretagne were the most disappointing and Sky failed to deliver. It seems that Sky is under permanent attack though, aren’t they?

I still maintain that Tinkoff did the best job of salvaging something from nothing, but yes, I may have been a little cheeky!

Tinkoff-Saxo - the best team at the 2014 Tour de France

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Cycling
 
2014

Thanks maglia cutty for the comment.

Sadly I think we’ve had a break down in communication: judging by your comment I don’t think you’ve understood my point.

The article is not suggesting that AG2R or Nibali don’t deserve their placings in this TdF. The article is about how Tinkoff salvaged their tour and they did a better job of it than Sky. I do, however, take your point that I obviously haven’t made this clear enough.

Perhaps jump on my profile and take a look at some of my other articles for my stance on doping. Once you’ve done this I think you’ll see how you’ve jumped to quite a number of wrong conclusions!

Thanks again for your comment.

Tinkoff-Saxo - the best team at the 2014 Tour de France

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Cycling
 
2014

Thanks for keeping me company, Sam!

Tour de France Stage 20: preview, live blog, and updates

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Cycling
 
2014

Thank you so much for following along.

Don’t forget to join us tomorrow for the final stage of the 2014 Tour de France.

Tour de France Stage 20: preview, live blog, and updates

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Cycling
 
2014
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