Društvo| Sport

Novak the Magnificent?

Chris Farmer RSS / 04.07.2011. u 23:21

Let it come to no one as a surprise: Novak Djokovic did NOT walk on the moon.

Nor did he cure tuberculosis, invent the wheel, pave the Information Superhighway, or single-handedly create the heavens and the earth in six days. To my knowledge (and I could be wrong), Mr. Djokovic was not responsible for the breaking down of Apartheid, the lifting of the Iron Curtain, or the forging of lasting peace in the Middle East.

He may, of course, have assassinated Bin Laden. No one knows quite WHAT happened there...

If you look at Belgrade over the last couple of days, however, you may come to wonder what he actually did do. He has been welcomed home from London as a hero, a national icon, someone of whom statues will surely be erected somewhere in Serbia, someone about whom elegies will be versified. The president, usurping as much of the spotlight as the cameras would allow, calls him a role model for youth of Serbia.

(If I had a hat, I might remove it at this point.)

As it turns out, he won a lot of tennis. Tennis is a sport. A game, if you will. Certainly, it must be hard to win in a game which pits a lot of very good players against a lot of other very good players. I surely could not have done it, as any of my tennis partners would aver.

Moreover, many of the youth of Serbia to whom Novak the Super-Duper is a role model could not have done so either. This is notably, or so I am told, because the state does not allocate a lot of funds for individual sports such as tennis. We pay for basketball and football. Even water polo, I guess. In this way, I suppose the president is right: he is an example of how no one will help you until you are the world's number one and then they will try to take credit for it.

But let's be happy for Novak. After all, he did win. And he is the world number one for the moment. And let's be happy for ourselves too, since we live in the same country as he does. That must confer a little greatness on Serbia and, by extension, on the rest of us who live here.

After all, had he lost, he would have skulked into Nikola Tesla without fanfare, and it might have been just another Monday night in Belgrade. No kudos for second place here. Number Two is just number two.

I am aware that I shall not be making myself a lot of friends in my adopted homeland by nay-saying the apotheosis of Novak Djokovic. But, really, enough already. No conversation in these last days has strayed far from his name. None will be clear of Novaks and Noles for at least a couple of weeks. And God help us all if he maintains the pace through Flushing Meadows.

Yesterday evening, on the eve of the great victory, my son asked me if it was normal that people were riding on the top of their cars.

No, I said. It is not.

 

Atačmenti



Komentari (272)

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maca22 maca22 12:37 05.07.2011

Re: ***

ivon.i
to this & to the few my deleted comments

On no, all those sexual fantasies of yours are lost!
srdjan.pajic srdjan.pajic 12:52 05.07.2011

Re: ***

maca22
ivon.i
to this & to the few my deleted comments

On no, all those sexual fantasies of yours are lost!



Most of them were elegies about how she is leaving, then she is left (almost) and then leaving again. We were all in tears.
ivon.i ivon.i 18:24 05.07.2011

Re: ***

now i am back..still in tears..and it is so fantastic !!



but - sorry - can not help you at all, there are special experts for you 2.
for people who hate.
much too much you 2 hate and you hate for the sake of it, Just Like That.
byeeee for now, for good, i barely care..



ivon.i ivon.i 23:28 05.07.2011

Re: ***

Ne bi ti to razumeo, mržnja je slepa !

maca22 maca22 23:41 05.07.2011

Re: ***

ivon.i
Ne bi ti to razumeo, mržnja je slepa !

So, making him angry with all of your false accusations is making you happy. Perhaps it's safer for the environment to let Novak make you happy. So... kudoz to Novak!
alselone alselone 12:24 05.07.2011

Sleep

Plese stop talking about Nole, just shut up - I can not sleep!
maca22 maca22 12:26 05.07.2011

Re: Sleep

alselone
Plese stop talking about Nole, just shut up - I can not sleep!

http://vukajlija.com/zabava/posteri/155517
alselone alselone 12:28 05.07.2011

Zlobnici isplivavaju

Pa nek prevede kako 'oce.
maca22 maca22 12:32 05.07.2011

Re: Zlobnici isplivavaju

Still can't sleep? :)))
skener92 skener92 12:32 05.07.2011

Re: Zlobnici isplivavaju

a dupe bi dali za jedan vimbldon! kako je to normalno kad se oni umotavaju u zastave na olimpijadama, a kada to neko drugi uradi onda je 'fuj'.
alselone alselone 12:33 05.07.2011

Re: Zlobnici isplivavaju

boo hoo, i still can't sleep, could you all just stop talking.

maca22 maca22 12:36 05.07.2011

Re: Zlobnici isplivavaju

skener92
a dupe bi dali za jedan vimbldon! kako je to normalno kad se oni umotavaju u zastave na olimpijadama, a kada to neko drugi uradi onda je 'fuj'.

No, I really think this is different.
alselone alselone 12:36 05.07.2011

Re: Zlobnici isplivavaju

skener92
a dupe bi dali za jedan vimbldon! kako je to normalno kad se oni umotavaju u zastave na olimpijadama, a kada to neko drugi uradi onda je 'fuj'.


Upravo tako!
Joj sto mi je zanimljivo da ih gledam kako se sada gicaju i pate od zlobe.
Jos samo da mi je Federerovu facu videti, pa da mogu mret na miru.
skener92 skener92 12:43 05.07.2011

Re: Zlobnici isplivavaju

maca22
skener92
a dupe bi dali za jedan vimbldon! kako je to normalno kad se oni umotavaju u zastave na olimpijadama, a kada to neko drugi uradi onda je 'fuj'.

No, I really think this is different.


maco, a da malo smanjis dozivljaj?
maca22 maca22 12:43 05.07.2011

Re: Zlobnici isplivavaju

Even if that were the truth, I enjoy poking on silly people, and those are Novak's irrational fans right now. :)
maca22 maca22 12:44 05.07.2011

Re: Zlobnici isplivavaju

skener92
maca22
skener92
a dupe bi dali za jedan vimbldon! kako je to normalno kad se oni umotavaju u zastave na olimpijadama, a kada to neko drugi uradi onda je 'fuj'.

No, I really think this is different.


maco, a da malo smanjis dozivljaj?

Look who's talking.
skener92 skener92 12:47 05.07.2011

Re: Zlobnici isplivavaju

maca22
skener92
maca22
skener92
a dupe bi dali za jedan vimbldon! kako je to normalno kad se oni umotavaju u zastave na olimpijadama, a kada to neko drugi uradi onda je 'fuj'.

No, I really think this is different.


maco, a da malo smanjis dozivljaj?

Look who's talking.


maco, ne mraci vise, keve ti!
Atomski mrav Atomski mrav 12:48 05.07.2011

Re: Zlobnici isplivavaju

Pusti je bre da uživa u životu, što si takva?
maca22 maca22 12:56 05.07.2011

Re: Zlobnici isplivavaju

Ok, Miss Skener92, may you enjoy life to the best of your abilities.
edi-va edi-va 12:44 05.07.2011

%

Dear Mr Farmer,

Be so kind to admit that the only reason for this blog was your attempt to achieve (once in a blog-lifetime) more than 100 comments... Trust me, they will forgive you.

alselone alselone 12:45 05.07.2011

Re: %

edi-va
Dear Mr Farmer,
Be so kind to admit that the only reason for this blog was your attempt to achieve (once in a blog-lifetime) more than 100 comments... Trust me, they will forgive you.



mikimedic mikimedic 13:02 05.07.2011

Re: %

Be so kind to admit that the only reason for this blog was your attempt to achieve (once in a blog-lifetime) more than 100 comments... Trust me, they will forgive you.


you meant to say... more than 10 comments?
mlekac mlekac 13:05 05.07.2011

Re: %

mikimedic
Be so kind to admit that the only reason for this blog was your attempt to achieve (once in a blog-lifetime) more than 100 comments... Trust me, they will forgive you.


you meant to say... more than 10 comments?


Whatever - one of the main reasons for just few comments on his blogs is his unfortunate habit of not responding to most of commentators.
mikimedic mikimedic 13:07 05.07.2011

Re: %

Whatever - one of the main reasons for just few comments on his blogs is his unfortunate habit of not responding to most of commentators.


for some reason he never failed to respond to me

i feel priviliged



maca22 maca22 13:14 05.07.2011

Re: %

What were you talking about Miki?
mikimedic mikimedic 13:17 05.07.2011

Re: %

What were you talking about Miki?


i was talking about...
maca22 maca22 13:22 05.07.2011

Re: %

...and he replied to that? I doubt it. :)
edi-va edi-va 14:06 05.07.2011

Re: %

mikimedic
Be so kind to admit that the only reason for this blog was your attempt to achieve (once in a blog-lifetime) more than 100 comments... Trust me, they will forgive you.


you meant to say... more than 10 comments?


I was just kidding, and now I am really sorry for my "bad" joke(s).
I didn´t mean to initiate malicious comments.
mlekac mlekac 14:50 05.07.2011

Re: %

mikimedic
Whatever - one of the main reasons for just few comments on his blogs is his unfortunate habit of not responding to most of commentators.


for some reason he never failed to respond to me

i feel priviliged





For some reason most of people never failed to respond to you, Miki. Maybe that's because of your natural charm?
maksa83 maksa83 13:24 05.07.2011

medalje

Smoriste za tri.
maca22 maca22 13:33 05.07.2011

Re: medalje

tyson tyson 14:41 05.07.2011

Re: medalje

maksa83
Smoriste za tri.

I ti si mnogo ozbiljan; ma vežba se malo engleski, a i da učinimo čoveku plezir sa trocifrenim brojem komentara a da nisu jutjub muzički spotovi



bluestar bluestar 15:21 05.07.2011

Re: medalje

maca22



aloo, bre, gde se gasis!? smorila si vise i autora teksta i blogere. culi smo sve sto si zelela reci, hajde sad malo oladi
maca22 maca22 15:29 05.07.2011

Re: medalje

Use this one
srdjan.pajic srdjan.pajic 16:56 05.07.2011

Re: medalje

maksa83
Smoriste za tri.


Eavalabaš. Novak je car, a evo jedna 'taraba', koja je čak i od naše starija. Hobiton, cca 3100 B.C.

ivon.i ivon.i 18:33 05.07.2011

Re: medalje

bluestar
16:21 05.07.2011
Re: medalje
maca22



aloo, bre, gde se gasis!? smorila si vise i autora teksta i blogere. culi smo sve sto si zelela reci, hajde sad malo oladi



ne gasi se.
ugašena pa tinja around & all over.
maksa83 maksa83 21:59 05.07.2011

Re: medalje

Eavalabaš. Novak je car, a evo jedna 'taraba', koja je čak i od naše starija. Hobiton, cca 3100 B.C.

Aha, dakle i tada su ostajali bez para u po' gradnje...
srdjan.pajic srdjan.pajic 00:04 06.07.2011

Re: medalje

maksa83
Eavalabaš. Novak je car, a evo jedna 'taraba', koja je čak i od naše starija. Hobiton, cca 3100 B.C.

Aha, dakle i tada su ostajali bez para u po' gradnje...


Il' je to, ili su šićarili na krovnoj konstrukciji, pa odneo vetar.
Prohujalo s vihorom.

skyspoter skyspoter 13:37 05.07.2011

Chris

is peeved because no one mentioned Independence Day yesterday... I am just guessing the road from the US embassy after the reception was lined with Serbian flags?
kremba kremba 14:12 05.07.2011

Novak the Magnificent?

Jeste i magnificent ali je bolje nesalomivi!
NNN NNN 14:20 05.07.2011

US Open

God help us all if he maintains the pace through Flushing Meadows

MOŠA!

(translate this)
kremba kremba 16:14 05.07.2011

Re: US Open

God help us all if he maintains the pace through Flushing Meadows


xexe Cak i ja, koji slabo divanim engleski, sam primetio gresku.

"God help us all when he maintains the pace through Flushing Meadows"?
Bojan Budimac Bojan Budimac 19:00 05.07.2011

Question of feelings and letting them show

Or why I love living in Turkey, my adopted homeland?

In 2002 I was fresh in Istanbul, living there for just two years. That was the World Cup (finals) year (South Korea & Japan). National team of Turkey achieved third place (in my humble and non-expert opinion they could get into the final). Football (or should I say soccer?) is a sport. A game, if you will. But "irrational indigenous people" were happy, very happy that those 24 chaps got so high in the world championship in kicking the ball. Hakan Şükür, Emre Belözoğlu, Ilhan Mansız, Umit Davala and pretty much the rest of the team were treated just like they walked on the Moon, cured tuberculosis and paved the Information Superhighway, all in the same time.

And yes, politicians were usurping as much of the spotlight as the cameras would allow (those vultures always do, and it's not speciality of Turkish or Serbian politicians). Unfortunately or fortunately the Turkish prime-minister of the time was too senile to use the opportunity, asked to comment success of Turkish football national team he blathered about beauty and success of Turkish folklore (that was the last time he appeared 'live' -- picture + audio -- on TV). But no one objected that usurpation.

Istanbul is (officially) 6 times bigger than Belgrade, commensurably 100 K yesterday in front of the Serbian parliament was quite a modest welcome comparing a million on Taxim square in Istanbul, and at least that much on the side-walks on a way to it. "Irrational indigenous people" were happy despite the fact that success of their national team didn't put one Turkish lira in their pockets, nor it would help getting their (previous year) devastated economy on its feet. They were happy and they showed it. They were happy and I (not a fan of any sport at all) was able to understand their joy and to admire the absence of inhibition to show it.

It is a drag to live in a country if you don't understand/accept its culture and mentality or when theirs is not compatible with your own. I had that experience, as seven years in Hungary (with knowledge of Hungarian) were not as pleasant as living in Turkey (first several years without knowledge of Turkish). Back to the question why I love living in Turkey, my adopted homeland? It seems to me -- for the very same reason(s) Mr Farmer feels uncomfortable in his.

Atomski mrav Atomski mrav 20:07 05.07.2011

Re: Question of feelings and letting them show

ninasimone ninasimone 20:24 05.07.2011

Re: Question of feelings and letting them

Bojan Budimac

And yes, politicians were usurping as much of the spotlight as the cameras would allow (those vultures always do, and it's not speciality of Turkish or Serbian politicians).

Manny Pacquiao solved this problem by becoming a politician himself. I'm no big sports fan either, and especially not of boxing, but I'm willing to watch him fight because he's simply awesome! It's easy to get why Filipinos adore him. If he's bringing them joy and pride and hopefully helps them make their country a better place, why not? Muhammad Ali certainly made America a better place.
Bojan Budimac Bojan Budimac 20:30 05.07.2011

Re: Question of feelings and letting them

Manny Pacquiao solved this problem by becoming a politician himself.


Hakan Şükür is now member of parliament.
fantomatsicna fantomatsicna 21:33 05.07.2011

Re: Question of feelings and letting them

Hakan Şükür is now member of parliament.

Djokovic for president?
ninasimone ninasimone 21:44 05.07.2011

Re: Question of feelings and letting them

fantomatsicna
Hakan Şükür is now member of parliament.

Djokovic for president?

Let's not get carried away
Bojan Budimac Bojan Budimac 21:52 05.07.2011

Re: Question of feelings and letting them

ninasimone

Let's not get carried away

Filip2412 Filip2412 20:11 05.07.2011

...

There's something else here too.

What I find a weird is that national euphoria in tennis.

I love tennis and never ever gave a shit where a player comes from. Tennis has a specific culture, waving flags and singing soccer style fan songs is just wrong wrong wrong.

But then again, that's my opinion.

I love tennis for it's culture of respecting the opponent and watching the game for the sake of game. But the world changes, these days people applaud when the opponent makes a double fault, when I see that I wanna stand up and go kick those fu..n ignorant out!

I started with tennis in Serbia in early 80's and we were given lessons on behavior when playing and when watching a game:
be absolutely quiet when the point is played, do NOT cheer if it's double fault or even some unforced error, only applaud if it's a nice point etc... and I loved that part of the game.
njanja_de.manccini njanja_de.manccini 20:33 05.07.2011

Re: ...

Filip
I love tennis and never ever gave a shit where a player comes from. Tennis has a specific culture, waving flags and singing soccer style fan songs is just wrong wrong wrong.

it is wrong in your head, not in many other heads. is that clear to you? you are different, which does not make you right or wrong. how can you not accept that I don't understand.
you are not giving an opinion, you keep judging everybody else that does not think like you!
Filip2412 Filip2412 20:44 05.07.2011

Re: ...

you are not giving an opinion, you keep judging everybody else that does not think like you!
and the feeling is mutual, they judge me as well

All about tennis culture I was thought right there in Serbia. Things changed after and I never liked it. From grunting and screaming when you hit the ball, to the noisy audience which distracts the players.

Anyway, there is a reason why Davis Cup is not very popular with tennis crowd. Tennis is a lonely sport. Something like chess, we all remember Kasparov, Karpov, Fisher but we don't remember when USSR won world cup in chess.
Covek u belom Covek u belom 02:00 06.07.2011

Re: ...

Filip2412
Anyway, there is a reason why Davis Cup is not very popular with tennis crowd. Tennis is a lonely sport. Something like chess, we all remember Kasparov, Karpov, Fisher but we don't remember when USSR won world cup in chess.

That's a really funny remark that shows just how much you don't know about sport (chess in particular). First there are no world cups in chess for national teams. Team competitions are called Olympiads. And USSR won every single one they participated (and they participated from 1952 to 1990 except 1974 boycott in Israel) except on 1978 when they were 2nd. So remembering when USSR won is really extremely difficult .
Filip2412 Filip2412 02:18 06.07.2011

Re: ...

i was just joking white man, although the truth is i know little about chess

and yeah i talk about tennis & novak all the time at work these days it's just not my taste to make parades on it and have some horrible music on city squares a day after the wimbledon, my friends just told me there was tap 011, bunda bunda performance za docek novaka it is just not a good taste, tennis is sport of elegance and dignity
tyson tyson 02:40 06.07.2011

Re: ...

That's a really funny remark that shows just how much you don't know about sport (chess in particular).

Chess is not a sport


Filip2412 Filip2412 18:12 06.07.2011

...

Mega analiza-Noleta vole picke Nadala pederi

Gospodja Lola zaustavila autobus da Noleta casti sljivovicom

i naravno malo zayebancije, teze je ovih dana reazgraniciti salu od istine pa moram da naglasim :)

pravi-trenutak-da-srbija-napadne-ameriku

ninasimone ninasimone 06:19 07.07.2011

Re: ...

Filip2412
Mega analiza-Noleta vole picke Nadala pederi

Gospodja Lola zaustavila autobus da Noleta casti sljivovicom

i naravno malo zayebancije, teze je ovih dana reazgraniciti salu od istine pa moram da naglasim :)

pravi-trenutak-da-srbija-napadne-ameriku


pa ovde uopste nema razlike!

A vidi sta je, bre, class act - Carlos Santana na koncertu u Bgd se zezao sa publikom i cestitao pobedu Novaku
vladimir.bg vladimir.bg 21:40 06.07.2011

Novak

- He is great because he own characteristic typical for human. Feeling about
friendship, love, patriotism, love for familly...

- Those people are rare, some of these days.
Domazet Domazet 23:14 06.07.2011

You are definitely not ...

Chris Farmer
To my knowledge (and I could be wrong), Mr. Djokovic was not responsible for the breaking down of Apartheid, the lifting of the Iron Curtain, or the forging of lasting peace in the Middle East.

...wrong. The first two events were the responsibility of two very different groups of people so they (the events) cannot be attributed to a single person. And for the last nobody took the responsibility. At least not yet...
Domazet Domazet 23:40 06.07.2011

I have to say that I am both proud and...

...sad to see that there are so many bloggers that see eye to eye with Chris on this Nole thing. Just look at them, they look so intellectual in their disbelief over the irrational exuberance of the (SerBian) masses. That makes me so proud.

On the other hand, none of them, I assume, will ever go to Vancouver? Which makes me very sad. Vancouver is a beautiful city. And the people are kissing on the streets ...
njanja_de.manccini njanja_de.manccini 15:12 07.07.2011

Re: I have...

Domazet
On the other hand, none of them, I assume, will ever go to Vancouver? Which makes me very sad. Vancouver is a beautiful city. And the people are kissing on the streets ...

ali to je Kanada, to se ne racuna, isto ko i Texas.
joj nikako da skontate o cemu prica Chris?!?!

: )))
Filip2412 Filip2412 17:26 07.07.2011

Re: I have to say that I am both proud...

On the other hand, none of them, I assume, will ever go to Vancouver?
Not everyone assumes so much as you brother :)

You should stop assuming and everything will come clear to your mind.
Domazet Domazet 19:30 07.07.2011

But of course...

Filip2412
On the other hand, none of them, I assume, will ever go to Vancouver?
Not everyone assumes so much as you brother :)
.
.
.

...Assumption is the mother of Invention!
Filip2412 Filip2412 19:45 07.07.2011

Re: But of course...

...Assumption is the mother of Invention!
that is true...
btw, my whole office in Toronto cheered for Boston, against Vancouver Canucks on that game... and they were happy to call them terrible names after the riots, they saw the riots as a proof that Vancouver does not deserve the trophy

i didn't care of course, for me it's hurts even talking about hockey in the summer
Filip2412 Filip2412 17:45 07.07.2011

a must see :-) !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0omiaHtyn4&feature=player_embedded#at=145


& no hard feelings, drugari bre, zabava i sala...
ivana23 ivana23 19:44 07.07.2011

Re: a must see :-) !!!

Filip2412
& no hard feelings, drugari bre, zabava i sala...


Fans of Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrate after he defeated Spain's Rafael Nadal in the Mens' Final during day thirteen of the 2011 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. Sunday 3rd July 2011.





LYRICS TO THE SONG:

IN SERBIAN:
Jos jedna pobeda,
Jos jedna titula,
Jer ti si Nole kralj,
Teniski Gospodar!
Nole-ole-oleeeeeeee,
Nole-ole-oleeeeeeee,
Nole-ole-oleeeeeeee,
Nole-ole-oleeeeeeee,
Nole-ole-oleeeeeeee...

IN ENGLISH:
Another victory,
Another title,
For you are the King Nole,
Tennis Master!
Nole-ole-oleeeeeeee,
Nole-ole-oleeeeeeee,
Nole-ole-oleeeeeeee,
Nole-ole-oleeeeeeee,
Nole-ole-oleeeeeeee...

tyson tyson 16:57 08.07.2011

Orphan


I hope the host of this blog has not really left his adopted country... He certainly did abandon his blog.



Chris Farmer Chris Farmer 20:45 08.07.2011

Re: Orphan

tyson

I hope the host of this blog has not really left his adopted country... He certainly did abandoned his blog.




tyson

I hope the host of this blog has not really left his adopted country... He certainly did abandoned his blog.


Not in the least... And I have been reading the back and forth with interest. I thought at one stage to respond to everyone individually and collectively, but it seemed a little superfluous.

You and many others seemed to take my point and I was grateful to see it.

I admire NDj in the same way I admire Borg, McEnroe, Lendl, and the many other champions I have admired in the past. I do not admire them as national(ist) symbols.

ivon.i ivon.i 13:05 09.07.2011

Re: Orphan

I admire NDj in the same way I admire Borg, McEnroe, Lendl, and the many other champions I have admired in the past. I do not admire them as national(ist) symbols


wow, statement, nothing else !!
instead of the whole story, you should write just this one sentence..on which i deeply disagree !!
if you have problems where do you really belong, Nole & Serbian people mostly do not.
they belong here.
roots are important, more then important, no matter how far we get or can get!
Chris Farmer Chris Farmer 16:20 09.07.2011

Re: Orphan

ivon.i
roots are important, more then important, no matter how far we get or can get!

The roots are used for gathering and sending up nutrients to the rest of the tree. The tree will live or die depending on that source.

What are NDj's roots feeding him now, I wonder. And how much of it can he digest?

maca22 maca22 16:57 09.07.2011

Re: Orphan

What he reaps is what he sowed.

Arhiva

   

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