Tennis: the fix is in?

[Fash]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id ... _article=1

US tennis legend John McEnroe expressed his concern on Friday that organised crime, such as the Russian mafia, could be infiltrating tennis.

The former world number one believes that threats to tennis players or their families could be forcing them into throwing matches.

"The thing that worries me is that mafia types, like the Russian mafia, could be involved. That's potentially pretty dark and scary," McEnroe told The Daily Telegraph.

"I think that's the side that people aren't really looking at with these match-fixing stories. Someone may have threatened the players, and they are put in a situation. I'm guessing that could happen. That would make more sense to me than top players throwing a match for money.

"Throwing a match for money would be stupid, as you would be risking losing what you've worked for your whole life. It seems crazy that players would take that risk for money. It would make more sense that they've been threatened in some way and that's why they're doing it."

Russian Nikolay Davydenko, the world number four, is being investigated by the ATP after a defeat in Poland in August while Italian Alessio di Mauro was suspended for nine months for betting on matches and Philipp Kohlschreiber has had to defend himself of accusations of match-fixing in the German press.

"With a high-ranked guy like Davydenko, he's making so much money to begin with that he'd be risking so much by doing it, as if you get caught you should be banned for life," McEnroe said.

"But it's pretty tough to prove that someone has thrown a match unless you're tapping the guy's phone or something."

But some of the lower-ranked players in men's tennis could be tempted by bribe money, McEnroe said.

"I think this issue has to be closely looked at, because it's very conceivable that it's happening. There are guys out there who are 100 in the world, 200 in the world, and they're making 50,000 pounds a year.

"And if someone says that they'll give you 50,000 pounds, so your entire year's money, I think there's a strong possibility that they have taken the money, without a doubt," McEnroe said.

"There is definitely temptation for people. It's becoming more of a drama because there's more money in sports."

[Winnow]

Maria Sharapova is good looking woman. I'm sure crime boss...er Russian President Vladimir Putin is doing whatever it takes to make her his next wife.

http://images.google.com/images?num=30& ... +Sharapova

[Fairweather Pure]

They've had thier fingers in hockey for decades.

[Winnow]

They've had thier fingers in hockey for decades.

I'd rather have my fingers in...ah hell, I forgot to make a useless poll for Friday.

[Nick]

I'm a keen tennis player and fan of tennis, this news saddens me.

It's not exactly new news as such, but its good to see the tennis world confronting it head on instead of legitimising it by passively accepting the state of affairs (which cycling seems to do - from what I know, which admittedly isn't much - Maybe Noel can fill us in there).

It probably doesn't really matter at the lower levels, players in the top 200 dont really earn much and no one really watches them or gives a shit, but once it starts happening in the top ten, with people like Davydenko, then it's serious cause for concern.

Still, I'm all for it being wiped out at every level, not just the top level.

Sucks

[Canelek]

My old football coach used to call tennis skirtball. It kinda stuck.

[Nick]

Yes, sports with any degree of subtlety tend to be derided by meatheads

[Canelek]

Well, he was a bit of a meatball, but a helluva a HS football coach.

As far as tennis, I was always horrid at it and went Macenroe on several line judges at the age of 8. No shit.

I stick with racquetball, as the ball generally comes back and you get to wear bitchin' goggles.

I didn't know tennis was played much in Ireland, figuring it would be more popular in your soveriegn neighbor, England.

[Nick]

It's played a bit, but like most sport in the UK and Ireland, its a dying breed.

You wouldn't believe how little sport gets played in these countries, its really sad.

I get a lot of my tennis played when I'm off in Spain and the weather is nicer, or I use indoor courts over here, which are expensive. Tennis, squash etc wouldn't really be a popular sport in Britain, which is a shame, because racquet sports are great fun

[Thess]

Maria Sharapova is good looking woman. I'm sure crime boss...er Russian President Vladimir Putin is doing whatever it takes to make her his next wife.

http://images.google.com/images?num=30& ... +Sharapova

Sharapova has lived in America since she was 7 years old, if you have ever heard her speak at length, she sounds 100% american!

[Winnow]

Sharapova has lived in America since she was 7 years old, if you have ever heard her speak at length, she sounds 100% american!

I've only heard her grunt when she hits a tennis ball and that's a 100% Russian grunt. She may speak perfect English but there's no disguising your ancestry when you let loose a primordial grunt in a sporting event.

If you taped Nick playing tennis, he'd sound just like that little Leprechaun from those horror movies.

[Nick]

And if you taped Winnow he'd sound like the usual bigot that he is.