Osaka on French Open interviews: No comment

You have no idea what she goes through or doesn't. Not sure why you try.

 

Not trying anything. But you've seen Twitter right? The shit that is said to athletes on that platform--never mind non-white athletes taking important stances on societal issues--is hundreds of thousands of degrees worse for someone's mindset than any dumb questions anyone will field during a Zoom call or in a five-minute span in front of his locker or 10 minutes at a podium.

 

You do know that there are ways to tune out that noise on social media, right?

 

Of course. And I also have an idea of how social media has warped the brains of all of us but especially millennials, who have unfortunately come of age with this shit and often simply can't shut off the notifications and can't stop absorbing all of the toxic clutter. I hope Osaka is one of those who can tune it out.

Again, I get it. This is the wave of the future. She can be as inconsistent as selective as she likes with her approach. A handful of old dudes pointing it out on a message board will not sway her or anyone else. In 20 years (or maybe two years), we're going to look back at marvel at how there used to be superstars who ever talked in public settings.

 

Personally? Osaka can do as she pleases and push all the reforms she wants. It's between her and the tour.

I'm more curious about the media response. Time magazine clearly had no issue letting her make her case for restricting media access.

 

I never saw any utility in that setting. More often than not an awkward hurried affair that both parties have an interest in ending as quickly as possible.

But I am also sure she has fielded more adroit questions than those. Not everyone in that role is Tony Siragusa.

 

Most people have given up. It's probably worth the little publicity and sales boost Time might get from her on the cover to administer paper cuts 997,998, 997,999 and 998,000.

 

You think she’s reading her mentions?

 

that was my first thought, too. No fucking way she is. Like most athletes.

 

Most of the ones I know of are knee-deep in not just the mentions but also the search function. Might just be a small sample size. But why do people get on social media if not to interact and to see what people are saying about them?

 

To promote their brand.

 

Sure. And to also see what people are saying about them, no matter how toxic and terrible and impossible to ignore.