Nadal and Federer strong enough for this?

You've heard my famous saying 'You have to be a real man to apologize', haven't you?

Given the fact that by now the infractions both Nadal and Federer have earned - on and off the court - are known to even cucumbers AND the spectacle that none of them are showing ANY signs of abating anytime soon, shouldn't both come out and attempt to initiate a new fresh start - by apologizing for ALL past violations?

Nadal could start with:

I have used the time between points, on-court coaching, making my opponent wait at the net etc. in the past to wrongly gain advantage over my fellow players. I have come to realize it's improper and hurts everybody including me, not to mention the sport. Just admitting to it is like taking a huge load off my shoulders. But I want to go a step ahead and sincerely apologize to everyone who has been impacted and I promise that from now on I will make a concerted effort to eliminate all these shenanigans completely.

I am sorry. It will NEVER happen again.

Federer could start with:

My competitive nature has intervened time and again from allowing me to be a gracious loser in the past. In that rage I have said and done things that have hurt my fellow players - on and off the court. As someone striving to be a good ambassador for the sport, I realize it's been a big mistake. At this point in my career I need to set a good example for everyone involved from players to fans to ball boys.

I sincerely apologize for my behavior and promise that it will NEVER happen again. I am deeply sorry to everyone who had to endure the despicable show.

You think, most people AND players will be willing to forgive them after that AND allow them to start afresh to mould their legacy the way it should have been in line with what the two have achieved? How about sponsors or endorsements? You freaking betcha!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But you need brass balls for it. Do they have them? Don't think so.

Comments

[Jef Costello]

And Tiger Woods does not really apologise for his piss-poor behaviour on and off the course. On the course, he apologises for acting like a big idiot, then continues to act like a big idiot. Recent garbage is his spitting incident last week. Classy.

Ali was a trash talker in his prime. I never recalled him apologising for it, even when he was not telling the truth.

TP never apologises when he is so far wrong in trashing the reputation of people he has never met or knows at all (outside of what the rest of the world see and read), and the tennis players that makes this blog minutely successful among its niche / minority readership.

I guess that TP has never heard the age-old saying "practice what you preach".

And yeah, I know this is a tongue in cheek post by TP, though to write it, something must be stirring on his insides and usually it is a reflection of oneself, rather than really wanting others to come clean. So come on TP, dish out your apologies. Dish it out to Roger and Kim too. Doesn't mean that you can then keep on doing it.

[banti]

"spitting incident"

lol, googling now. Ahh Jef give him some slack he means no harm:) Ok maybe sometimes he does.

[Jef Costello]

"Ahh Jef give him some slack he means no harm:)"

heh heh... I am giving TP slack, particularly with my last paragraph. I know he is tongue in cheek many times, though just can't help but bite him back for the myopic, "holier than thou" comments. It is what makes me keep coming back though, to see how far he scrapes the bottom of the barrel :-)

[sperry]

The barrel no longer has a bottom... so long it has been scrapped

[Xeres]

TP they're saving it all for their autobiographies and also a book they're collaborating on(title should be FEDAL) ;)

[Claire]

I can't remember what match but Federer refused to go to net until Nadal did. It was so funny; Nadal kept looking over at Federer!

Also, what does Federer have to apologize to ball boys?

[nelson goodman]

Claire, I think it was Madrid 2009 (not exactly a minor match in Fedal history and I don't think Fed's win and this incident are completely coincidental).

[banti]

"Federer refused to go to net until Nadal did. It was so funny; Nadal kept looking over at Federer!"

Saw the match missed the incident.

[kitty]

Instead it would be great if they thump their chest and shout at everyone like Ali

[nelson goodman]

Here's some footage - though Rafa is already up at the net, waiting for Fed. Note also that Fed, for the first time, won the toss and elected *to receive*.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PSMMIG64vM

[nelson goodman]

sorry, it's at 9:17.