Comments on: SNAP! BRAD GILBERT GETS TOUCHY ABOUT COACHING FEDERER

By: BORIS BECKER COACHES ROGER FEDERER: RAFAEL NADAL IS YOUR WORST ENEMY | GOTOTENNIS

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:51:28 +0000

[...] Boris Becker just offering friendly advice or is he angling to be Roger Federer’s next coach? Get in line, buddy. . [...]

By: freakyfrites

freakyfrites — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:34:22 +0000

I think Roger needs a coach mostly to help him handle the pressure that I think he’s starting to feel – I think it would help him. . .but I am not convinced he’s ever going to listen to a coach, again!

By: Ru-an

Ru-an — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:17:46 +0000

Interesting stuff. You seem to have a lot of ‘inisde’ info about Roger, hope you don’t mind if I use some of it in my own blog. Getting a coach may not be a bad idea for Roger. Just someone to give him another angle on the Rafa situation. But someone who will encourage him to go to the net selectively and someone who would inspire belief in himself when playing Rafa. Not sure who would be the best. Cahill was a good attacking vollyer i think so maybe not a bad choice.

By: freakyfrites

freakyfrites — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:54:35 +0000

Yeah, it is surprising how everyone – media included – describes Brad as a “big” personality that can be hard to deal with. Perhaps Brad is feeling doubly sensitive about it, considering that Andy Murray dumped him pretty badly and then went on to be No. 4 in the world. . .And you’re right, Liz, it always sucks to be compared to your colleagues in a negative way. Brad’s probably like “But Darren always show up late at the ESPN booth and I have to pick up his slack!!!!”
Personally I love Brad Gilbert and think he could do wonders for anyone, including Roger.

By: TopSpin

TopSpin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:26:58 +0000

Much as I agree with you that the ‘toxicity’ alluded to was more a statement on the relationship than Brad himself, I can sort of understand why he’s a little incensed. I myself am not a fan of his, but it seems to me everytime his name is mentioned, there’s always the implication that he’s way too outspoken, brash even (as though the guy has no other faculties to speak of). There may be some truth in this but Brad is what he is (amongst other things an outstanding coach), and you would have thought that the media have had ample time to get over it.

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:06:09 +0000

I think Brad is responding to the description of the Cahill type — maybe he feels the implication is that he doesn’t possess these qualities? Or maybe he only read as far as “toxic personality” and hit the roof!