- 01:10 AM
- 04/25/24
Guys, whatever his motives for once again bleating about this, McEnroe would beat either Willams sister, or both... i saw him hitting with one of America's top juniors on the outside courts at Flushing Meadows last year and he was giving this kid the complete runaround. Whatever else you think about him, he competes regularly on the senior's circuit and this ain't against walking stick-toting has-beens, this is against Thomas Muster, Petr Korda, guys who have been out of top flight tennis for only a year or two. Back in the 80s, then-world number one Chris Evert used to say she was regularly beaten by her brother John, a former college player. Not much has changed. The women have got stronger and fitter, but so have the men. The new technology in rackets allows McEnroe, Becker, Leconte et al to hit as well as ever. If he is fit, and Mac is, then he's the winner hands down against any woman. Similarly, former British number one Andrew Castle said last week that, given three month's practice, he would be very disappointed if he was not able to beat every woman in the top 100. I'm not so sure about that, but McEnroe is still a class act on a tennis court.
posted by ossian72 at 03:01 AM on June 27, 2004
Big, bad Billy-boy, of course you are at liberty to criticise the choice of language in my reports -- I am indeed flattered that you were moved to do so. There is nothing worse for a writer than being ignored or invisible... you of all people must be keenly aware of this. Constructive criticism is extremely important to a journalist. However, I'm not sure silly postings centred on "poking fun at" writers fall under this category and, for this reason, I feel little urge to justify my writing style to you. However, in the interests of educating you a little, I would point out there are a number of essential differences between my "simple piece of reportage" and the apercus incomparables with which you at one time enlightened the world. The most obvious one is that I write about people and you used to write about software. When dealing with people, the use of emotional language is often appropriate. Incidentally, I am very proud of a number of international journalism awards I have collected for my writing -- both sports and news reporting in Australiasia, Europe and the U.S. -- and assure you they are testament to the fact a good deal of people enjoy reading copy which contains insight into character and goes a touch beyond the straightforward stats-based style prevalent in U.S. publications. I suspect you have been weaned on and prefer the former. This is not your fault so, for your own good, I hereby BAN you from reading any more of my reports. I almost forgot, thank you so much for linking my name in your initial post to my author's page on my publisher's website. If you would like to critique my new book please feel free to buy a copy from there. It is also available on www.amazon.co.uk. The Language of Tennis (how can you resist) is a somewhat academic work devoid of comment or colour. You may well find it enjoyable. Good luck with your writing, big bad Bill
posted by ossian72 at 09:36 AM on September 12, 2003
Sorry you don't like my style of writing, billsaysthis... good luck on your nascent writing career, anyway... i hope you one day reach a wide enough audience that other literary luminaries may be able to "pile on and poke fun" at 'writer' Bill Lazar...
posted by ossian72 at 07:40 AM on September 11, 2003
Talk about incentive
Staropramen usually does the trick...