A Spanish sports paper branded him a “parasite” for not turning up to a Real Madrid match earlier this year. But replay his goals, count his medals—and then tell him what he has to prove
”) Mr Agassi admitted that he hated tennis with a “dark and secret passion”. He cited the mental and physical toll of the game. Another example is Ronnie O’Sullivan, a snooker player with seven world championships to his name—and for some, the best there’s ever been. He regularly pillories his job, claiming it isn’t worth the “stress and hassle”.
Some say Mr O’Sullivan’s antics bring snooker into disrepute. Really? They are a marketer’s dream, and he probably knows it. But the image of the maverick player often goads people. Many find it intrinsically irritating that someone who has what most fans can only dream of—fame and fortune—might show dislike towards the very source of their privilege.
Hold the outrage. Bored, unhappy or disdainful sportspeople are often the product of the pressures put upon them to perform, usually from an early age. In 2015 Nick Kyrgios, an Australian tennis player, said he preferred basketball but pursued tennis at the behest of his parents. Perhaps it’s no wonder he’s thrown so many tantrums since. Naomi Osaka, a Japanese grand-slam winner, took a break from tennis because of the damage the spotlight was doing to her mental health.
Fans and pundits play a role in creating the world in which sports stars live. They should not be too vexed when pros acknowledge the cons, especially if they are still achieving results. Mr Bale’s last season in Madrid provides a cautionary tale about what can happen when the anger goes too far. After he missed Real’s match against their archrivals Barcelona in March 2022,, a Spanish sports paper, labelled him a “parasite”. The Welshman branded the attack “disgusting”. Quite right, too.
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