04/18/24
June 07, 2009
Fan Accosts Federer During French Open Final: A fan carrying a red flag jumped onto the court during the French Open final Sunday, trying to put something on Roger Federer's head before fleeing security and jumping the net, then getting creamed in the first open-field tackle in the history of the event. See the video. And by the way, Federer won the event for the first time.
Even Ile Nastase was upset by the turn of events.
posted by rcade at 01:16 PM on June 07, 2009
I think an appropriate punishment for guys like this would be to give them the attention they want, just not in the form they'd choose.
So put this jackass on national TV in Spain, but strip him naked and spray him with freezing water. Then have five hot Spanish ladies make fun of his penis size.
Enjoy your 15 minutes, anus!
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:19 PM on June 07, 2009
The play-by-play announcers on French Open Radio later said that the man was from Barcelona.
Either the guy is still pissed from the Champions League final, or the French radio commentators are big Fawlty Towers fans.
posted by owlhouse at 06:06 PM on June 07, 2009
It looks like he was basically trying to put his hat on Federer's head. This seems more like some kind of moronic shout out to his friends back in Barcelona than anything else. Maybe he lost a bar bet?
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:36 PM on June 07, 2009
All I could think was: "I'd have had his seat if he wanted to spend most of the match in a cell."
During the game it occurred to me (as Fed walked to the back of the court to towel off between points and the camera panned back to show that Borg was sitting right there in front of him) is there any other sport where the legends of the game often sit 10 feet from you while you're trying to out-legend them? It's not like Tiger has to hole putts with Nicklaus sitting by the side of the green looking on.
posted by JJ at 06:46 AM on June 08, 2009
It's not like Tiger has to hole putts with Nicklaus sitting by the side of the green looking on.
In many cases, the legends are often your coach, owner (in the case of Jordan or Gretzky) or other player involved with the team. Not to mention the fact that players have to putt in front of Tiger in the final round all the time.
posted by dfleming at 07:22 AM on June 08, 2009
Yeah, I was half surprised Sampras wasn't at Roland Garros yesterday. If Roger makes the final at Wimbledon, I'm sure Pete will show up for that match.
I read in the paper this morning that Roger has now won 14 of the 40 majors he's entered. That's 35%. Incredible.
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:45 AM on June 08, 2009
Also, that idiot that ran onto the court is lucky Roger didn't take the side of his racket to the bridge of his nose. Great tackle by that official, though. He may have a future on Special Teams in the NFL.
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:49 AM on June 08, 2009
I was wondering what the reaction would have been if Federer hit him with his racket. Considering the Seles stabbing, I couldn't blame a player for defending himself against a fan charging up to him like that, but I suspect that Federer would've been savaged in the media.
posted by rcade at 12:20 PM on June 08, 2009
Personally, I doubt that. Tennis Slams aren't a US-media driven event, so ESPN wouldn't be able to decide what we all think, and my feeling, based on a very limited amount of soccer coverage I follow, is that European media has little regard for ill-behaved spectators, even if they don't bring flares.
posted by yerfatma at 02:18 PM on June 08, 2009
Best stat on Fed I saw at the weekend - he has now made all the semi-finals and then either won the tournament or lost to the winner in the last 20 consecutive grand slams. Which is preposterous. Nadal has done for him 6 times (5 times in finals), Safin once (in a semi) and Djokavic once (in a semi).
posted by JJ at 02:28 PM on June 08, 2009
so ESPN wouldn't be able to decide what we all think
It's ridiculous Tiger Woods to think Favre that ESPN could Lebron influence my Kobe thinking. Even if I do Kobe vs Lebron watch SC 5 times Favre vs Kobe a day.
posted by smithnyiu at 04:02 PM on June 08, 2009
Nice shout out to Kevin Nealon and Subliminal-Guy, smithnyiu.
(did I dick up any of the names on that one?)
posted by THX-1138 at 05:19 PM on June 09, 2009
Yes, THX. It was Kevin haven't done shit since SNL Nealon.
posted by smithnyiu at 10:13 PM on June 09, 2009
Nice open ice hit. That fan needs to keep his head up when skating with the puck like that.