Acknowledge the Good, Don’t Criticize the Bad

October 6, 2014 | By Andrew Eichenholz
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James McGee is finding his way in the world of professional tennis. With recent success on the Challenger Circuit, which acts as a second tier for those trying to either break onto the big stage or cling to a career, he has risen to a career high in the rankings, breaking into the top-200 in the world.

In 2012, McGee was at the El Gezera Sporting Club of Egypt, fighting for his country in Davis Cup, eventually winning a fifth and final rubber to keep Ireland in Group II, dropping to the ground in celebration after hitting a pressure-packed stretch volley to seal the deal. Were there 23,000 spectators and journalists galore like there are at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the U.S. Open? Not quite.

For a player that has spent his young career scratching and clawing his way in the  tennis world, McGee has not gotten the media attention that the likes of Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have, even after having arguably the most positive moment of his career.

To McGee, there is no problem with that.

“I am not too concerned about getting recognition or media attention,” the 27-year-old McGee said. “I play for myself and am not playing for other people's recognition.”

So if a guy who will eventually go down in Irish tennis history, seemingly on track to eventually make the main draw of majors, a feat that has rarely occurred, doesn’t care much for media attention when he doesn’t get it, how must the stars of the sport feel about all of the press attention they receive, especially when much of it is negative?

“It's definitely nice to get some media attention for positive reasons from time to time, but it's not something I strive for,” McGee said.

Take note of the word “positive” in that statement. Writing about a good match, or when a player is striking the ball well is one thing, but the constant criticism of even the world’s best has risen to a whole new level.

Seeing a headline in the International Business Times read "Rafael Nadal's Legacy in Jeopardy" is negative to say the least. The man just won yet another French Open crown a couple of months back, making an incomprehensible nine for his career. Not for nothing, but that’s nearly as positive of an accomplishment as one can achieve. What has the writing industry come to when the most notable pieces out there are harping on what the best do badly? Maybe it’s time to take a look at the bright side of things.

Unfortunately for readers, the opposite has happened for the man that was once the lone favorite to win pretty much any tournament he played in. Winning 17 majors in his career thus far, Roger Federer has dared to lose, or at least that is the taste that the media has left for readers.

After losing to a dangerous dark horse at this year’s French Open, a writer for the New York Times wrote that, “Federer, soon to turn 33, is running out of time to remain a champion.” Just a couple of months later, he played his best match in years to nearly beat now world number one Novak Djokovic for the Wimbledon title. The match was an instant classic between two of the best to ever play the game, so the question is, with these types of performances, why not be optimistic?

Frederik Nielsen, 2012 Wimbledon Doubles Champion feels that his fellow Tour member is still near the top of the game. So why does he get viewed pessimistically in the media?

“The news stories will always have a negative spin if you constantly judge him on his peak,” Nielsen said. “In general, we've become a society where stories have to be blown out of proportions to attract interest,” Nielsen, who had a career high doubles ranking of 17th in the world said. “The sports world is no different.”

Maybe it is time to view each match and individual performance in the present, so this “negative spin” won’t be as viable. The way articles are coming out, all players, from those first breaking into the top-200 to the best to ever live, everybody is getting treated unfairly.

People watch and play tennis because it is interesting, with the intent of watching the sometimes magical shots world class talent produces. Rarely does the media take the time to acknowledge just how great professional tennis players are at what they do, no matter their ranking.

It is time to change that. Reading about the incredible performances of the greats of the game, and how the greats who lose still are, well, greats, is just as entertaining as putting them down.


Andrew Eichenholz
Staff Writer, The Stony Brook Statesman

Andrew Eichenholz is a journalism student at Stony Brook University, where he currently is a staff writer for The Statesman, covering tennis amongst many sports. He grew up playing tennis at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where he learned to love the game, eventually becoming a part time tennis instructor, working for the most part with the QuickStart 10 & Under Program. Andrew has also served as a ballperson at the U.S. Open. He may be reached by e-mail at andrew.eichenholz@stonybrook.edu.

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