Comments on: Let’s Talk Tennis http://www.lilacspecs.com/2009/09/lets-talk-tennis/ From the city of three rivers to the city of three towers, and everywhere in between... Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:29:00 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=1554 By: Goofball http://www.lilacspecs.com/2009/09/lets-talk-tennis/comment-page-1/#comment-6434 Goofball Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:52:18 +0000 http://www.lilacspecs.com/?p=1235#comment-6434 It's a fact that internationally we're not scoring big on any sport right now (except for the US Open this week). The Belgian soccer team is just sad, very very shamefully sad. So it is so fantastic to see how Kim has returned to tennis and is succeeding in her own genuine spontaneous relax way. She's very competitive yet always seems to be able to put things in perspective (now having a family even more so). I've always loved her genuinity and that made her my favourite over Justine . Yet we all hope Justine gets inspired to return as well :)...and that Yanina is continuing to grow her tennis skills. When I first read your post a couple of days ago I had the impression that you were saying only tennis and cycling are sports that are alive in Belgium and worth following. If that is part of your thinking, I must disagree on that! Even though we suck big time in soccer in international games, soccer is very much alive among the people here. Watch the news on Sunday and Monday and the special sports programs and it's all about soccer. Watch FB when someone has done a nasty tackly, listen to the conversations on the bus etc....it's all about soccer. Go on tram 21 on a Saturday evening when the Buffalo's are playing at home and see all the families dressed up in blue/white to support their own team. See all the people with flags along the roads of major cycling races sheering for their favorites (many more than just Boonen: Stijn Devolder, Gert Steegmans, .... Check out the busses that arrive around the corner where I live with drums and scarfs to cheer for basketball. There's even an active hockey league in Belgium! (maybe you should look it up and go and see it). My point is simply that a lot of sports are "big" in Belgium as in big in team support and enthousiasm. On the other hands Belgians are always quite down to earth and do not create idols very easily. So you won't see us easily going nuts down in the street spreading a general sports maddness. But I also think that it's the latter that creates the professionalism of our athletes. We don't accept them to behave as arrogant stars. That's why Boonen's hype is long gone already...and why we love Kim so much. It’s a fact that internationally we’re not scoring big on any sport right now (except for the US Open this week). The Belgian soccer team is just sad, very very shamefully sad.

So it is so fantastic to see how Kim has returned to tennis and is succeeding in her own genuine spontaneous relax way. She’s very competitive yet always seems to be able to put things in perspective (now having a family even more so). I’ve always loved her genuinity and that made her my favourite over Justine . Yet we all hope Justine gets inspired to return as well :) …and that Yanina is continuing to grow her tennis skills.

When I first read your post a couple of days ago I had the impression that you were saying only tennis and cycling are sports that are alive in Belgium and worth following. If that is part of your thinking, I must disagree on that! Even though we suck big time in soccer in international games, soccer is very much alive among the people here. Watch the news on Sunday and Monday and the special sports programs and it’s all about soccer. Watch FB when someone has done a nasty tackly, listen to the conversations on the bus etc….it’s all about soccer. Go on tram 21 on a Saturday evening when the Buffalo’s are playing at home and see all the families dressed up in blue/white to support their own team.
See all the people with flags along the roads of major cycling races sheering for their favorites (many more than just Boonen: Stijn Devolder, Gert Steegmans, ….
Check out the busses that arrive around the corner where I live with drums and scarfs to cheer for basketball.
There’s even an active hockey league in Belgium! (maybe you should look it up and go and see it).

My point is simply that a lot of sports are “big” in Belgium as in big in team support and enthousiasm. On the other hands Belgians are always quite down to earth and do not create idols very easily. So you won’t see us easily going nuts down in the street spreading a general sports maddness.

But I also think that it’s the latter that creates the professionalism of our athletes. We don’t accept them to behave as arrogant stars. That’s why Boonen’s hype is long gone already…and why we love Kim so much.

]]> By: jen of a2eatwrite http://www.lilacspecs.com/2009/09/lets-talk-tennis/comment-page-1/#comment-6432 jen of a2eatwrite Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:18:54 +0000 http://www.lilacspecs.com/?p=1235#comment-6432 Beautifully written and spot on. I'm so tired of these athletes who make millions of dollars and behave so terribly. It's incredibly sad. Beautifully written and spot on. I’m so tired of these athletes who make millions of dollars and behave so terribly. It’s incredibly sad.

]]> By: Jientje http://www.lilacspecs.com/2009/09/lets-talk-tennis/comment-page-1/#comment-6431 Jientje Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:03:07 +0000 http://www.lilacspecs.com/?p=1235#comment-6431 My husband just told me the whole story. I agree. Kim did well. My husband just told me the whole story. I agree. Kim did well.

]]> By: mum http://www.lilacspecs.com/2009/09/lets-talk-tennis/comment-page-1/#comment-6430 mum Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:45:09 +0000 http://www.lilacspecs.com/?p=1235#comment-6430 Actually, she lost after her little tantrum, but you are right...shameful and unprofessional behavior...she must be watching all those republicans at the town hall meetings! Actually, she lost after her little tantrum, but you are right…shameful and unprofessional behavior…she must be watching all those republicans at the town hall meetings!

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