Thursday 18 March 2010

So Long Lloydy

I can't say I ever thought Lloydy is a great nickname.  Too many Ls, too many Ys.
Od.  That's what's left, that's what it is.

Well anyway the Davis Cup captain of the past 4years (3 wins, 5 losses) has resigned.  And while it may be 5 ties too late, as least he had the good grace to go (I'm thinking of you McClaren), although it is days after he asked for LTA chief Draper to be kicked out.   Jamie Baker, who is Scottish as he has not won anything, was supposed to lose with the rest of them in the recent Tie against Lithuania, but hurt his ankle, does not want Draper to go. He thinks the investments of the LTA needs times to bear fruit and (I quote):
"I'm worried we could lose out in another, far more significant, contest: the blame game." This is now my fave quote, although I'm suspicous and think someone must have written it for him.

Well Andy Murray wants some say in it (that would be a say in the running of the tournament that he wont play anymore because they've dropped too low and he's too good for it 'No One-whine-Tells Federer-sulk- To Play').
Tim Henman has ruled himself out (did anyone care/ask/care?)
Mark Petchy (Murray Jnr former coach, who said Murray dropped after he got all famous, he split with his next coach through his agent, clearly a man who should be allowed a say ) wont work with Draper under the current regime- no I have no idea which regime that is? Could the LTA be espousing the values of Stalinist Russia? Apparently Petchy thinks Draper has spend tonnes/tons of money (in the squillions) and achieved nothing, let us please continue to measure our worth as people based on our performance in the Tennis Davis Cup. 
Greg Rusedski- who is the Talent and Performance Director at the LTA (raise eyebrows) is in line for job, which may be why Murrat wants some say in it? Rusedski BTW retired from Tennis, then wanted to return a few years later but wasn't let in the team by Lloydy.

Anywa, not that anyone's asked but- I would totally be up for the job.  If the hours were right...

Friday 12 March 2010

Murray, Davis, Baltachea, stuff...

Jamie Murray has a new ATP pic, finally since he looked about 12 in the old one (not 12, about 18 but you know 18 yr old guys look 12 quite often).  It is quite sexy, black and white, all arty like a french film...

The other Murray is asking that the players get a say in the new coach for Davis Cup- showing so much loyalty since John Lloyd hasnt actually been fired.  Lloyd wants Draper (head of the Lawn Tennis Association to be chopped).  Why? Because the Davis Cup lost (5th time in a row which doesnt look good for Captain Lloyd, although why 5 in a row is bad but 4 in a row is ok is odd, Ive been saying axe Lloydy for ages and no one listen to me...almost like I'm not an important part of the British Tennis world?  Can you have a British Tennis World Iw wonder?).  Apparently they were humiliated, I dont get that since they lost in 5 matches and a couple went to best of 5 so its not like they rolled over.  I think it was more arrogance in thinking that we're British we should beat rubbishy Lithuania.  Now we face Moldova which everyone thinks is funny cos there was a book about a guy who played the Moldova Davis Cup team as a joke and it was really hard (my dad told me about it, tennis people are so old ).  People in these teams take DC really seriously and are inspired by it, in Britain it's become a squabbling point- people always asking whos to blame for its failure before theyve even failed (although to be fair they do seem to fail a lot).  Sigh. Why can't they be like the ladies?


Elana Baltachea won in the first round of Indian Wells which is a good result, shes now the British number one at number 64 in the world.  Poor Anne Keothathong still outside the top 100 (at 123) after missing 6months with a knee thing.   She lost her match, I think she can get back to her peak (48) but shes a few years older than most players when they are working their way up- about 25.  Which makes her one of the few players actually older than me.  Maria Sharapova for example is two weeks younger than me, she won a grand slam when she was 17...I did some exams...

Anyway Tennis is rather slow this time of the year, it must be as the BBC Tennis top story is Andy Murray says something about Davis Cup, and stars sign up for Eastbourne tournament (which is in June).  Im sure some good tennis is taking place somewhere in the world.  Its how I sleep at night. You?