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re: Ben Sheltons rise in Tennis is unique and elite; he is the next big American story
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:32 am to WestCoastAg
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:32 am to WestCoastAg
quote:
thikn OP knows has a prettty good idea about what is and isnt abnormal when it comes to competitive tennis
Why does that even matter? He's trying to imply this kid is coming out of nowhere, which he isn't, and that he'll have a good story to tell, which he doesn't.
The real story-kid with natural talent that played tennis with his former pro-tenns father, decides to finally recognize his tennis talent and play tennis competitively in regulated events.
He's closer to Charlie Woods than Tiger Woods. But he's knock-off brand.
Best of luck to him and I'm sure the typical tennis fans will be a little more interested.
This post was edited on 1/21/23 at 10:33 am
2
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:34 am to Saint Alfonzo
quote:Whether or not it should matter isn’t the question.
What's ridiculous? Is he not a mixed race kid? Why should it matter? Can he play tennis or not? That's how he should be covered by the media. The fixation on race is what's ridiculous.
The fact is it does matter huge for the media for sports especially those like tennis and golf. For a sport that isn’t mainstream, it’s an element for the media to push and promote
This post was edited on 1/21/23 at 10:36 am
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:34 am to Keys Open Doors
quote:wouldnt surprise me. seems like something that is very technique dependent
Is tennis the sport that has the highest percentage of people who specialize in it before 10?
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:34 am to WestCoastAg
The average age of specialization for elite tennis players is 10.4 years old. It’s the youngest sport
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:35 am to lsupride87
quote:
And also, not that it should matter, but he is black which helps his story line,
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:35 am to lsupride87
quote:
But eh wasn’t playing in any competitive environment. That’s nuts for tennis
It's actually not that unheard of. Lleyton Hewitt also didn't start playing competitive tennis until he was 13 and he became the youngest World #1 ever at 20 years old.
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:37 am to lsupride87
quote:
Whether or not it should matter isn’t the question.
The fact is it does matter huge for the media for sports especially those like tennis and golf. For a sport that isn’t mainstream, it’s an element for the media to push and promote
Yeah, because they're fixated on race, you know, like racists do. Arthur Ashe and Serena say "who gives a shite?"
On what planet are tennis and golf not mainstream?
This post was edited on 1/21/23 at 10:38 am
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:37 am to Bench McElroy
quote:That is completely false
Lleyton Hewitt also didn't start playing competitive tennis until he was 13
Hewitt was traveling the world as early as 12 for tennis.
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:39 am to Saint Alfonzo
quote:Yeh, no shite. That’s the entire point
Yeah, because they're fixated on race
And you make a great point bring Arthur Ashe up. If he was white, he isn’t even a well known commodity really. Much less having the main tennis court in America named after him.
This post was edited on 1/21/23 at 10:42 am
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:42 am to lsupride87
quote:
The average age of specialization for elite tennis players is 10.4 years old. It’s the youngest sport
It’s not, gymnastics is.
quote:
What is Sport Specialization? Recent study of former NCAA gymnasts: mean age of specialization was 8 (some specialized as early as 2!!!)
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:42 am to lsupride87
Is this why US tennis has fallen off in the last two decades?
When it comes to track, gymnastics, and swimming the US is as good as it has ever been. Basketball and baseball (and to an extent, golf) have more international competition but the US remains dominant.
Soccer and hockey have improved as youth programs have gotten much more professionally run.
So that really leaves tennis as the one sport in my lifetime that the US has fallen off. Of course the dominance of the Williams sisters has covered over that on the women’s side until recently.
When it comes to track, gymnastics, and swimming the US is as good as it has ever been. Basketball and baseball (and to an extent, golf) have more international competition but the US remains dominant.
Soccer and hockey have improved as youth programs have gotten much more professionally run.
So that really leaves tennis as the one sport in my lifetime that the US has fallen off. Of course the dominance of the Williams sisters has covered over that on the women’s side until recently.
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:43 am to lsupride87
quote:
Yeh, no shite. That’s the entire point
You brought it up, not the media. Where are the stories centered on his race?
quote:
And you make a great point bring Arthur Ashe up. If he was white, he isn’t even a well known commodity really. Much less having the main tennis court in America named after him.
I brought it up because being black in tennis isn't a story.
This post was edited on 1/21/23 at 10:45 am
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:44 am to Keys Open Doors
quote:In my opinion yes. American boys as a whole aren’t willing to go all in on tennis from an early age like other countries do
Is this why US tennis has fallen off in the last two decades?
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:45 am to Keys Open Doors
quote:isnt our mens gymnastics program pretty disappointing?
gymnastics
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:46 am to Saint Alfonzo
quote:I brought it up and even said “it shouldn’t be a thing”
You brought it up, not the media.
Look, you can get angry at me all you want, but when Shelton makes his big breakthrough and wins a grand slam, his race unfortunately will be a big angle for the American media here
And while it’s unfortunate, it will at least be good for tennis because they will focus on him and push him more than if he was white
I mean, did you miss the tiafoe craze at the us open this year. They fricking brought Michelle Obama in on it dude
Taylor fritz has broken in to the top 10 in the world and he gets 1/8th of the hype as tiafoe
This post was edited on 1/21/23 at 10:48 am
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:48 am to lsupride87
quote:
In my opinion yes. American boys as a whole aren’t willing to go all in on tennis from an early age like other countries do
My son is 10 and plays here in palm beach county. He’s ok but nothing special. I think a lot of the boys hate getting whooped by the girls who are bigger and more physically developed at this age.
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:49 am to WestCoastAg
I thought we established years ago on TD that if a ball isn’t involved it’s not a sport?
It’s an event, meet, or performance
It’s an event, meet, or performance
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:50 am to lsupride87
fair enough
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:51 am to lsupride87
quote:
I thought we established years ago on TD that if a ball isn’t involved it’s not a sport?
Not sure if you’re being facetious but that’s just retarded. So golf would be a sport (which I think it is by the way) over something much more physically demanding like track, swimming, wrestling, boxing?
Posted on 1/21/23 at 10:53 am to lsupride87
quote:
I brought it up and even said “it shouldn’t be a thing”
You brought it up, making it a thing.
quote:
Look, you can get angry at me all you want, but when Shelton makes his big breakthrough and wins a grand slam, his race unfortunately will be a big angle for the American media here
I'm not mad at all, dude, relax. I guess we'll see if they make a big deal about it. Mixed kids don't usually get press unless they're doing Kaepernick shite.
quote:
I mean, did you miss the tiafoe craze at the us open this year. They fricking brought Michelle Obama in on it dude
Yes, I did miss that.
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