Thanks for this, Roger. In my FS days I played tennis at the mediocre club level. My wife was better. Neither of us has touched a racket in 30 years, but we remember the sport fondly, and Carol still watches with great attention when TV covers a match. This was a fun read. And a good photo of you, too, BTW!
That was too bad about the ET thing. Maybe if you promised to talk about Falun Gong and the abuse they suffer in China twice as much as you do about the anti-semitism sweeping the globe, you could get back in their good graces, I don't know. It's Ok to have heroes Roger and you're one of mine as the "no punches pulled" columnist that you are. Your fabulous wit doesn't hurt either.
Thanks for an always enjoyable read. I was never a tennis fan but I became a Djokovic fan when he refused to take the SARS CoV 2 non-vaccination. I also took the first two shots because I didn't know better and I was offered the shots and then would have been required to take the shots to continue to work. I was, however: treating patients before the "shot" and wasn't infected until after the "vaccination". BTW I thought that it was important for Djokovic to have an unmasked party because the downside was so small and masks don't stop viruses ( see the Cochran Report). If you have ever worn a properly fitted N95 mask you would know that almost everyone walking around with a mask is virtue signaling that they comply or have "compassion" for their fellow man while they applaud people losing their jobs because they didn't take the jab. I wish Novak great success.
I absolutely agree re: the masks. They were a fraud from the start. I didn't mean to overstate the danger (whatever it might have been--probably not much) of Novak's party. I was probably anticipating pushback. But the readers of this Substack are very smart.
Thanks for the praise for The Goat. I too am amazed that some people still wear the masks. Of course some are Antifa, so we know what that means. Kudos are due to Denmark that has banned the hijab. Wouldn't it be nice if that spread?
Yes, would be nice if that ban spread and one step further would be to severely limit immigration. Knifings are becoming commonplace in Europe and I'm shocked that the Syrian accomplice to the knifing of the American kid in Dresden was arrested and then released. Re masking, I mostly see them on older women in my Trader Joe's :)
Great post Roger! Casual tennis fan but even I can recognize greatness when I see it. I'm 72, did not vaccinate or accept the mask standard. A few of us like minded knuckleheads wore them like we were in kindergarten when required. Do you remember the nasty responses doled out in those days for "non-compliance"?
My husband has been a Djokovic fan since he appeared on the tennis stage. He's not a tennis player (he's a swimmer and runner), but with my husband's Slovak surname he was interested in following this player. He was not disappointed. I don't follow pro sports, but I became a fan when he refused to cave to the covid mob. From as early as 5-yrs-old, I've despised mob pressure. "Novak...arguably took his protest too far, staging an unmasked player party...at which several of his athlete colleagues contracted the disease, although it didn’t appear to last very long for them, more like a flu." I disagree. The fact that the virus was like the flu (which can also kill the elderly), which we don't get hysterical over and try and stop the earth spinning, is evidence he didn't go too far. Looks like I'll be buying some matching Djokovic shirts for Christmas.
I can't improve on others' comments. While I'm a former tennis player, now playing the ubiquitous pickleball, tennis remains, for me, ballet on the court.
Djokovik is so impressive as a player and as someone with integrity who stood up, at great cost, for truth. How rare that is and to be admired when it is seen.
Really enjoyed this opinion piece. I agree with you that Nole could certainly be recognized as a top tennis player. I don’t know how he does it, especially because of his health problems. When he refused the jab, he became my tennis hero. And I was awakened to the truth about Australia. I played tennis in high school and college, and am proud to admit that I always was given The Most Improved Trophy.
Good read as always, Roger, and like you I do appreciate Novak’s stance on the COVID crap even though it did negatively impact his quest for the most grand slam wins. If NYC had not gone to the dogs, my wife and I would be in the city next week. Until the shutdown for COVID, we had missed only one Labor Day tennis weekend at the Open in 21 years, sometimes with our daughters, most times just the two of us. Didn't even miss in 2016 as I fought cancer, getting a short break from radiation to go to NYC. Now, we don’t go due to the rapid decline in the city (we always stayed in or near Times Square, now don’t want to chance it. Take care and enjoy the rest of the tournament!
Roger, I didn't know you were censored by ET... who else??? This is upsetting news... I noticed I hadn't seen anything from you for a while... Was it antisemitism? -Amy Lansky
I have male co-workers who are wearing face nappies all day, every day. Males and females on public transport, some I see walking alone, in the fresh air, with the face diapers. A lot of unsocialized young people like this, fearful (sadly) elderly at the store, and a fit 60-ish man I see walking outside and on my bus who wears two masks, layered, for extra protection.
Today I saw a woman wearing an Islamic headscarf & a "medical"-ish Covid-type face mask.
During the Covid operation, I noticed how the strictures--face covering, no singing in church or shul (if they were even meeting in person) mirrored Muslim proscriptions on women and infidels.
Also disturbing to see how the normalization of public face concealment (which used to not be permitted in the West) has facilitated shoplifting and vandalism, which I have witnessed with my own eyes, and of course is often seen with the Hamas-nick Jew-menacers.
The Black Lives Matter valorization of public disorder and martyred criminals has played into this too.
Another great read, Roger! Off the subject, I know, but you mentioned censorship in the Epoch Times. Mightn't that be worth an in depth write-up? I thought they were supposed to be the good guys.
I might at some point, but I don't enjoy attacking others unless absolutely necessary. As I did note, I wasn't the only one of their writers to resign basically for the same reason. They were among their best people, some quite well known. .
What an entertaining read!! I ran the gamut from serious - a young buck tennis player meeting the older master, to admiring - YOU GO Djokovic in refusing to take the shot!, to informative - I don´t play tennis but always wished I did, to nostalgic when viewing your picture. You look disarmingly like my imagined mature version of the boys I went to school with at Biddle Street Elementary growing up in a predominantly Jewish community.... same kindness in the eyes. Bravo Rog!!
Now we're talking!! I started playing back in the early 80's. My first racket was a Tad Davis which is part of my racket collection including a Wilson T-2000 strung with original cat gut! (sorry cat lovers) I followed McEnroe, Vitas, Borg, Becker, Connors, Agassi and many more. I was self taught and usually played at least 5x/week. Even after a repaired torn Achilles, I was able to achieve a 4.0 in USTA tennis ratings as a recreational player. Other than lacrosse, my other sport, tennis kept me in shape both mentally and physically. I miss the old school players and hardly watch any tournaments as I can hardly pronounce the names of most players. I would love to see these players revert back to the old wooden racket days just to see how they play. Now I'm 71, with a new hip, soon to be a new knee and a retorn Achilles that never healed so my playing days are long gone. But, the great memories and friendships on and off the court will always be with me!
Thanks for this, Roger. In my FS days I played tennis at the mediocre club level. My wife was better. Neither of us has touched a racket in 30 years, but we remember the sport fondly, and Carol still watches with great attention when TV covers a match. This was a fun read. And a good photo of you, too, BTW!
That was too bad about the ET thing. Maybe if you promised to talk about Falun Gong and the abuse they suffer in China twice as much as you do about the anti-semitism sweeping the globe, you could get back in their good graces, I don't know. It's Ok to have heroes Roger and you're one of mine as the "no punches pulled" columnist that you are. Your fabulous wit doesn't hurt either.
Thanks for an always enjoyable read. I was never a tennis fan but I became a Djokovic fan when he refused to take the SARS CoV 2 non-vaccination. I also took the first two shots because I didn't know better and I was offered the shots and then would have been required to take the shots to continue to work. I was, however: treating patients before the "shot" and wasn't infected until after the "vaccination". BTW I thought that it was important for Djokovic to have an unmasked party because the downside was so small and masks don't stop viruses ( see the Cochran Report). If you have ever worn a properly fitted N95 mask you would know that almost everyone walking around with a mask is virtue signaling that they comply or have "compassion" for their fellow man while they applaud people losing their jobs because they didn't take the jab. I wish Novak great success.
I absolutely agree re: the masks. They were a fraud from the start. I didn't mean to overstate the danger (whatever it might have been--probably not much) of Novak's party. I was probably anticipating pushback. But the readers of this Substack are very smart.
Big fraud and yet, people are still wearing them. I don't get it. BTW Roger, loved your book The Goat!
Thanks for the praise for The Goat. I too am amazed that some people still wear the masks. Of course some are Antifa, so we know what that means. Kudos are due to Denmark that has banned the hijab. Wouldn't it be nice if that spread?
Yes, would be nice if that ban spread and one step further would be to severely limit immigration. Knifings are becoming commonplace in Europe and I'm shocked that the Syrian accomplice to the knifing of the American kid in Dresden was arrested and then released. Re masking, I mostly see them on older women in my Trader Joe's :)
Great post Roger! Casual tennis fan but even I can recognize greatness when I see it. I'm 72, did not vaccinate or accept the mask standard. A few of us like minded knuckleheads wore them like we were in kindergarten when required. Do you remember the nasty responses doled out in those days for "non-compliance"?
My husband has been a Djokovic fan since he appeared on the tennis stage. He's not a tennis player (he's a swimmer and runner), but with my husband's Slovak surname he was interested in following this player. He was not disappointed. I don't follow pro sports, but I became a fan when he refused to cave to the covid mob. From as early as 5-yrs-old, I've despised mob pressure. "Novak...arguably took his protest too far, staging an unmasked player party...at which several of his athlete colleagues contracted the disease, although it didn’t appear to last very long for them, more like a flu." I disagree. The fact that the virus was like the flu (which can also kill the elderly), which we don't get hysterical over and try and stop the earth spinning, is evidence he didn't go too far. Looks like I'll be buying some matching Djokovic shirts for Christmas.
I can't improve on others' comments. While I'm a former tennis player, now playing the ubiquitous pickleball, tennis remains, for me, ballet on the court.
Djokovik is so impressive as a player and as someone with integrity who stood up, at great cost, for truth. How rare that is and to be admired when it is seen.
Thank you for another magnificent essay.
Really enjoyed this opinion piece. I agree with you that Nole could certainly be recognized as a top tennis player. I don’t know how he does it, especially because of his health problems. When he refused the jab, he became my tennis hero. And I was awakened to the truth about Australia. I played tennis in high school and college, and am proud to admit that I always was given The Most Improved Trophy.
Good read as always, Roger, and like you I do appreciate Novak’s stance on the COVID crap even though it did negatively impact his quest for the most grand slam wins. If NYC had not gone to the dogs, my wife and I would be in the city next week. Until the shutdown for COVID, we had missed only one Labor Day tennis weekend at the Open in 21 years, sometimes with our daughters, most times just the two of us. Didn't even miss in 2016 as I fought cancer, getting a short break from radiation to go to NYC. Now, we don’t go due to the rapid decline in the city (we always stayed in or near Times Square, now don’t want to chance it. Take care and enjoy the rest of the tournament!
I dumped Epoch Times at just around the same time you left. It started out good but then cratered!
Roger, I didn't know you were censored by ET... who else??? This is upsetting news... I noticed I hadn't seen anything from you for a while... Was it antisemitism? -Amy Lansky
I have male co-workers who are wearing face nappies all day, every day. Males and females on public transport, some I see walking alone, in the fresh air, with the face diapers. A lot of unsocialized young people like this, fearful (sadly) elderly at the store, and a fit 60-ish man I see walking outside and on my bus who wears two masks, layered, for extra protection.
Today I saw a woman wearing an Islamic headscarf & a "medical"-ish Covid-type face mask.
During the Covid operation, I noticed how the strictures--face covering, no singing in church or shul (if they were even meeting in person) mirrored Muslim proscriptions on women and infidels.
Also disturbing to see how the normalization of public face concealment (which used to not be permitted in the West) has facilitated shoplifting and vandalism, which I have witnessed with my own eyes, and of course is often seen with the Hamas-nick Jew-menacers.
The Black Lives Matter valorization of public disorder and martyred criminals has played into this too.
I was wondering why you left the Epoch Times. What did they censor?
Another great read, Roger! Off the subject, I know, but you mentioned censorship in the Epoch Times. Mightn't that be worth an in depth write-up? I thought they were supposed to be the good guys.
I might at some point, but I don't enjoy attacking others unless absolutely necessary. As I did note, I wasn't the only one of their writers to resign basically for the same reason. They were among their best people, some quite well known. .
You could simply state the facts dispassionately. Doing so wouldn't be an attack, would it? Of course, if they are guilty, they might view it as such.
I'm always amazed when I see a side of you, Roger, I hadn't known of before! Great work!
What an entertaining read!! I ran the gamut from serious - a young buck tennis player meeting the older master, to admiring - YOU GO Djokovic in refusing to take the shot!, to informative - I don´t play tennis but always wished I did, to nostalgic when viewing your picture. You look disarmingly like my imagined mature version of the boys I went to school with at Biddle Street Elementary growing up in a predominantly Jewish community.... same kindness in the eyes. Bravo Rog!!
Now we're talking!! I started playing back in the early 80's. My first racket was a Tad Davis which is part of my racket collection including a Wilson T-2000 strung with original cat gut! (sorry cat lovers) I followed McEnroe, Vitas, Borg, Becker, Connors, Agassi and many more. I was self taught and usually played at least 5x/week. Even after a repaired torn Achilles, I was able to achieve a 4.0 in USTA tennis ratings as a recreational player. Other than lacrosse, my other sport, tennis kept me in shape both mentally and physically. I miss the old school players and hardly watch any tournaments as I can hardly pronounce the names of most players. I would love to see these players revert back to the old wooden racket days just to see how they play. Now I'm 71, with a new hip, soon to be a new knee and a retorn Achilles that never healed so my playing days are long gone. But, the great memories and friendships on and off the court will always be with me!