A member of my forum posted an interesting article about a speech that was done by the Director of the Stella Artois Championships here in London.

http://www.svetlanakuznetsovafans.invision...hp?showtopic=21

Apparently he believes only privilidged young people should be given the opportunity to play Tennis and get to the highest level simply because they would be more intelligent (through the privilege of a first class education) and therefore would be able to win more matches through their brain power.

This is a story that seems to have gone unnoticed almost when it should be a big story about why we never produce anyone over here of any note if attitudes like that continue.

Just wondered what your thoughts are on it?

Intelligence has nothing to do with wealth. A "first class" education can allow a person to achieve his or her fullest potential and can coach them to do well in exams etc but cannot make them more intelligent - that is down to the individual.

Also on court intelligence and academic intelligence aren't necessarily the same. You could be a child prodigy but lack the court awareness and instincts to make you a good tennis tactician.

Also you could be intelligent, have received a private education, be a master tactician on the court but lack the skills and natural talent to be able to impliment any of this.

Intelligence is relative. Todays tennis requires more than just brainpower to win matches.

And herein lies the reason that Britain hardly ever produces world class sportsmen and women.

brain power....

....Beckham.... (ok not tennis)

...... :huh:

On the pitch Becks has always been intelligent you could say though ;)

He has great vision, that's for sure, he always has been able to pass brilliantly!

Off the pitch... roflmao
I don't think Posh does him any favours though, he's smarter than her that's for sure.


Here's a quote by Noel Gallagher, after Posh had just revealed Becks wore her thongs:

"I feel sorry for Becks. He must come home and shut the door and say to Victoria: 'What the f**k did you say today?" roflmao


And here's a snippet from an interview in the documentary "Being victoria Beckham" in 2002:

Victoria: What was that film we watched last night?

David: What lies beneath

Victoria: Scary film. We wanted to go to the toilet but we didn't have the nerve. We was so scared, wasn't we?

David: We was.

roflmao roflmao roflmao

Well he's talking out of his backside. And comments like that are hardly going to make people from all walks of life get involved in tennis as is much needed are they? Honestly people like that really get on my nerves. No wonder British tennis has been in a crap state for years with atttitudes like this prevailing. It's as good as calling the lower classes thick. :doh:

So intelligence is the sole domain of the middle classes is it? roflmao How many thick middle class people are there out there? Loads, i've met several. And clever working classes? Again loads! I've met several. I wonder how this guy measures inteligence - qualifications, accent, manner? Russia fan is right that wealth gives you better acess to fulfilling your potential through education, and as a result m/c people tend to be better educated and more likely to have reached their potential. However, this is nto a measure of intelligence either in terms of life skills or tennis skills. There are plenty of lower class kids who never reach their full academic potential but that doesn't make them less intelligent and they can also be taught if necessary. Not only does this buffoon make class inflammtory comments, but he's also got it wrong tennis wise IMO. Intelligence is essential on court, but natural flair, skill and power are all parts too and the most intelligent tennis brain is screwed if they can't play the game phsycially. We need to focus on all aspects to get good players and focus on attracting kids form all backgrounds to the sport. In fairness, tennis seems ot have been pretty much middle class for decades and look where that has got us.

As he has dragged class into the debate, then he's missed the point that kids from less priviledged backgorunds tend to be hungrier, more determined and better fighters and we need that too. The Willaimses aren't your typical tennis class are they and they've done well. And if we are looking at Britain our GOAT is Fred Perry - a working class lad from the North West I beleive. :D

It's rubbish really... look at the number of players Russia is producing... a lot of them know that doing well at tennis gives them a higher quality of life than they would otherwise have. This makes them hungrier than players from some other countries.

was going to say a similar thing myself earlier.

I also think that our education system has alot to do with it as well. Not applauding success so as not to hurt the feelings of the beaten ones?

Not having competitive sports days?

No bloody wonder the killer instinct is lacking in British teams / individuals

True, but sadly the Russians are pretty similar in general. I'm not convinced that money is the best motivation to ge a great tennis player either. Sure they will work hard but do we want more clones? I don't anyway.

I remember P.E. lessons at school in the late 90s. I remember getting to play tennis maybe 3 or 4 times in six years at school, each time with awful, half-broken racquets on tarmac courts with nets in a "barely there" condition. Not exactly very encouraging is it.

Jon Henderson, the guy who wrote the article in The Observer newspaper, has given me the contact number of Ian Wight at the Queens Club. I contacted Jon today. Do you think its worth contacting Ian Wight and registering what people's thoughts are? I could always send him an email with links to the forums. What do you think?

Glad you raised that. We played once in all the years I was at school. We never got any coaching a such, just left to it while the PE teacher had a fag! Got sick of fetching the ball from outside the court.

I think it would be worth doing. I hope you told that John guy what a fool he is :doh:

At least you got to play tennis!

We get the choice between rugby and football! :yikes: :yikes:
Not that i mind it!

But still a bit of variety would be nice!

Hi SereaW19, just to clarify, Jon is the journalist from the Observer who wrote the article. He agrees with us. He was trying to expose Ian Wight of the Queens Club and expose his outdated views. I'm thinking of an appropriate way to contact Ian Wight.

You start to wonder whether the British Tennis Establishment would prefer a champion (snigger) from London and the Home Counties. The idea of a champion with a working class background probably horrifies them.

That's why I think some people have a problem with a rough around the edges ragamuffin like Murray doing well. (Not that I'm saying he's from a working class background as I don't think he is, but you get my point).

Yeah you get the feeling Murrays face doesnt fit in certain tennis circles ... I dont care if a player is from the slums or not , its their tennis that matters !

O rite thanks Laurie, I obviously need to pay closer attention :blush:

Yep I think a letter or some form of communication would definitely be a good idea to let Ian Wright know what people think :)