Anti-heroes

[Sam Mills 51]

Remember when McEnroe and Connors were vilified for yelling at umpires during matches? Now they're beloved and it almost seems to be a requirement to verbally abuse tennis officials if you are a top player.

Um, no. I didn't see Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal try to ride this to the top.

I understand that this is about anti-heroes, but just no ... there are more than a couple of exceptions among the top players who aren't/weren't vilifying others in the process.

----

Fully agree on both Kobe Bryant and Bob Barker. The former is shaping up to be similar to Dale Earnhardt ... died too early, therefore making any criticism an attempt to dance on graves according to some. The latter? Kinda made many of us want to pull for Adam Sandler ...

 

[DanOregon]

I was being facetious, but it is just not as remarkable as it once was to see a top player yell at umpires.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

On that I'll agree. See: Novak Djokovic and that ball he hit that got him DQed, and more than one incident from Serena Williams.

 

[Slacker]

If you give yourself your own nickname
you're probably a selfish goober.

Ol' Ball Coach Goober!

 

[Octave]

I thought his fawning barnacles in the state media gave him that after he referred to himself that way in an interview.

I remember dudes laughing at this guy's jokes one time like he was Don Rickles.

At least show a thin veneer of neutrality.