http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylt=AjlG...ov=ap&type=lgns

maybe he should...um..i don't know..WIN A MAJOR before he starts badmouthing others who actually have won.

From that article:

"Everybody is talking about him being maybe the greatest ever," Haas said. "He still has to do a couple of things in my mind ... maybe this guy wins 15 Grand Slams."

And just how many slams have you won, Tommy-Boy? Snicks, I couldn't agree with you more.

Tommy, you've been naughty. Come here, I think you need a spanking. wink

I think his comments are pretty bang on. Federer coud probably win 15 Grand Slams and then he would deserve that title but its a bit premature at the moment.

I agree it is a bit premature. The measurements are Laver and/or Sampras so lets leave it for another 5/6 years before Fedderer is classed as greatest ever and, particularly, after he has bagged Roland Garros too.

I've never understood the desire of observers to proclaim the current top player or team as the best ever, when the player has yet to have the longevity that is an element of being the best ever. It might seem obvious how great the player is, inevitable even that he is/will be the best of all time, but it isn't guaranteed to happen. McEnroe was incredible for a five year stretch, culminating in his dominating year in 1984, but then didn't win another major. He is one of the all-time greats, to be sure. But the last 1/3 of his career he was not even one of the best players on the tour.

I love watching Federer. But Sampras was also dominant for a stretch in his career, then continued to win majors and hold #1 for many years. Laver won two Grand Slams seven years apart. Federer is a few years away from taking their spots. Of course, if he could prove himself on clay, then he wouldn't need as much longevity, imo. And that's the challenge I'm anticipating, how Federer plays on clay this year and next.

I more shocked by Tommy Haas saying that Jim Courier practically had his tongue up Federer's ass! That's harsh.

I thought Jim handled it impeccibly, however.

From a similar article:



[ January 24, 2006, 07:40 AM: Message edited by: Gaga4Gaby ]

Oh Tommy! Why must you say such horrible things?

Please log onto this website and look at my screen name and take a lesson: What would Chrissie do?

Let's just attribute this to frustration after a tough loss.

Oh, and from what I hear, Jim has had his tongue up more asses than just Federer's.

now Tommy's tongue up Federer's ass - thats worth envisaging. Sorry I'm in danger of turning this to trailer trash levels.

I kind of agree with Haas. Courier is commentating here, in tandem with John Alexander, on Australian television and is also doing on court after match interviews.The commentating is excellent however the interviews are done in a patronising, awful style and they usually revert to him personally. Like the post match interview with Baghdatis, last night, was cringe material. Unfortunately Courier, like many past players now commentators, suffers from the "I" disease.

[ January 24, 2006, 02:13 PM: Message edited by: xanthos ]

What was so awful about the Baghdatis interview? I didn't see it. And yeah, I was quite surprised by the crudeness of Haas' remark--you don't hear that sort of thing out of tennis players much.

double post

[ January 25, 2006, 06:02 AM: Message edited by: JC ]

Tommy's remark strikes me as very curious. Why 'tongue up his arse' instead of 'nose up his butt'?, the latter seems more the common phrase. I mean, how many people actually think about tongueing someone's ass, but we've all talked about brown nosing, etc. Just a curious phrase to me. Not that I'm opposed, but that's another story...

And I'm not at all bothered by commentators saying Roger is the greatest ever, or more accurately saying, 'probably the greatest ever'. Yes, at this stage it's hyperbole, but in other fields things like this are said all the time, Picasso is the greatest painter, F Scott Fitzgerald the greatest writer of his generation, T Boone Pickens the smartest investor....We all recognize the context of the phrase. Sure, anything could happen between today and when Roger actually holds the no 1 ranking for 10 years, but we can see it now. Unlike the other story of the Open, Hingis, we never really labelled her the greatest tennis player, we saw how smart and crafty she was, but reserved the top accolade because she was lacking. Monica surely could have held the label but a horrible unforeseeable event happened, but she definately deserved the recognition. Same with Roger, we can see it now. So call it like you see it.

Well currently I believe Federer only has 6 Grand Slam titles and has been #1 for less than 3 years. So he has less/no more credentials than Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, or Boris Becker. Calling or implying that he is the best ever is WAY premature.

I would guess that Tommy was a bit upset after losing a tough match, but he there is also some merit to his comments. I think commentators (especially Gilbert, P.McEnroe, Courier) tend to pick out favorite players of their own to kiss up to (ie: Roddick) and pigeon hole others. The "tongue up his ass" is probably just a bad translation from a saying in his native German, but we still get the point.

Haas is as American as Sharapova; they are other nationals only by birth. I think his command of the English language is pretty spot on.

Shore I'm with you that Haas knew which words/phrase he was using. Would love to be in the room when he and Courier have that conversation!

This is making a mountain out of a molehill. He was simply saying stop with all the best talk now, wait until he is the best. It's got to be tiring to always hear how no one has a chance against him. And, while it does seem to be that way, Roger can lose. I too think if he can stay healthy, he will be the best ever, but there is a lot of time before that time comes.

I think that's all Tommy was trying to say.

yes, but he said it right after he lost to federer, so i do think there was the bitter taste of sour grapes in his mouth.now..about the taste in courier's mouth, well...

Bitter, indeed.........