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Djokovic Should Hire Connors As US Open Consultant
39 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
By Scoop Malinowski
Next week Novak Djokovic begins his conquest to make tennis history as he will attempt to win Grand Slam no. 21 at the US Open.
Tennis players are always seeking to improve and look for edges and it seems Team Djokovic is complete and ready to take on the ultimate challenge, to win the fourth Grand Slam of the year. But could Team Djokovic use an extra boost of wisdom and energy after the Olympic failure?
Maybe the coaching and advisory staff of Djokovic would benefit by the addition of a beloved US Open legend by the name of Jimmy Connors, who could help and educate Djokovic in a few areas he needs improvement, such as controlling crowd energy and support.
Imagine how potent Djokovic could be if he had the US Open crowd at his fingertips the way Jimmy Connors did at the US Open in 1991 at age 39.
Imagine how energizing and inspiring it could be for Djokovic to have Jimmy Connors at his side and in his corner, sharing memorable US Open stories, advising tips on how to earn crowd support and maybe a few tips on new fist pump techniques. Could you imagine the hysteria of Ashe Stadium if Djokovic did some Jimmy Connors tribute celebratory imitations during his matches?
Can you imagine the media reaction and fan reaction of having Jimmy Connors back on the scene in The House That Jimbo Built?
Tennis history is seven matches from being made by Novak Djokovic.
If you’re gonna do it, do it right, sang the late great George Michael of Wham! in their smash hit “I’m Your Man.” Jimmy Connors just might be the man to help push Novak Djokovic over the edge, in style, into a dimension of sport, tennis has never ventured before.
Jimmy Connors · Novak Djokovic · US Open
Sam · August 28, 2021 at 7:15 pm
Scoop, speaking of Djokovic, there’s a rumor that he attended a concert in New York City requiring so-called vaccination.
Do you think this is true, or just an unconfirmed rumor?
Now that the U.S. Open Gestapo are requiring “vaccination” for spectators, I hope tons of folks boycott! 🤮
By the way, do you really think he was so foolish as to have sex with Bouchard at Wimbledon a few years ago? You’d think that he’d be super-focused and “all business” at a Grand Slam event.
Scoop Malinowski · August 28, 2021 at 7:42 pm
Sam, heard nothing of that, did hear Djokovic had dinner on Tuesday night in NYC and had lots of wine and pasta. Djokovic is so recognizable and high profile, if he was at a concert, someone media would know. USTA is really really pushing BUY tickets on the site, suggesting ticket sales are way down. Answer to your Q it was pre Wimbledon, before round one, not during the fortnight. Safin had his AO harem of “friends” and did ok that year.
Djoker Fan · August 28, 2021 at 11:15 pm
Djokovic was at the Lake Street Dive concert at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on Tuesday night.
No Covidiots at the 2021 USO. Dem da rules.
Cheers.
Sam · August 29, 2021 at 1:41 am
Sam, heard nothing of that, did hear Djokovic had dinner on Tuesday night in NYC and had lots of wine and pasta. Djokovic is so recognizable and high profile, if he was at a concert, someone media would know.
That makes sense, Scoop. It was actually a Djokovic fan who was saying that, but maybe they got just their facts wrong. Yes, something about that would eventually pop up in the media if it really happened.
USTA is really really pushing BUY tickets on the site, suggesting ticket sales are way down.
😆 Great to hear. Well, since I can’t boycott the actual event (never planned to go anyway), I can at least boycott the U.S. Open Web site!
it was pre Wimbledon, before round one, not during the fortnight.
Interesting. Where was Jelena?
Still hard to believe he could be so stupid as to think she wouldn’t ever find out. Well, if they had a fling, that would help explain why Bouchard went off on him recently.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2021 at 9:13 am
Thanks for the info Djoker Fan. Much appreciated. Heard of that group Lake Street Dive on FUV radio station but not familiar with their sound. Will sample it.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2021 at 9:16 am
Sam I don’t have any intimate details of that short romance, have to wait till someday she pens a Tell All like Mamie Van Doren and blond bombshell starlets. As an insider once told me “Facing Bouchard” would be a huge seller, and I don’t mean totally on the court chronicles either. )
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2021 at 9:35 am
Lake Street Dive is great! Cover of one of my favorite Hall & Oates songs Rich Girl from 1976. Her voice is exceptional, I’ve heard her often on FUV radio station but never connected it to the group. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Oc1UE7SS4
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2021 at 9:37 am
Singer’s name is Rachael Price, she blows away Gaga, Beyonce, or any pop star today. She did another great cover of my favorite Kinks song from the 80s Lola. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7_Lg5dd_9g
Djoker Fan · August 29, 2021 at 11:30 am
No problem.
You have to make your own vax decision obviously. I’m vaxed as is everyone I’m going with and we’re all pleased about the new policy. It would actually make for a better experience being less crowded than it usually gets but I’m not sure it will impact much. The local USO crowd is probably mostly vaxed and foreign tourists weren’t attending anyway.
It’s kinda sad someone writing about tennis may potentially miss what I think will be the most significant tennis achievement on the men’s side in 50+ years. CYGS. I think the crowd will be pulling for Djokovic big time which will be nice for him to finally be the crowd favorite. And he is technically a New Yorker I guess with his Soho apartment.
Sam · August 29, 2021 at 11:37 am
Scoop, here’s the policy of that place:
“All guests will be required to show proof of full Covid-19 vaccination in order to enter our shows at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. In addition, masks are required upon entry to the venue and strongly encouraged for all guests for the duration of the performance, as is physical distance.”
So, you STILL have to wear a mask to get in? Complete lunacy. 🤪 This shot has nothing to do with health, but merely separates the men from the sheeple. 🐑
Anyway, if Djokovic got the jab, then that’s really disappointing. 🙁
As for Bouchard, she doesn’t sound like the deepest person out there. 😉 And Djokovic is lucky that his wife gave him another chance.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2021 at 2:09 pm
Djoker Fan, We live in strange twilight zone times. The last, empty US Open was most illustrative. Yes I believe Djokovic will finally gain the unanimous crowd support and it will inspire him to accomplish what is probably the all time highlight pinnacle achievement of tennis history – Grand Slam to break the all time GS record of 21. Federer and Nadal never came so close to the Grand Slam in one year. This is the ultimate moment of tennis history and for sure it’s a disappointment to miss being present to such a historic event, if Djokovic can take care of business, which I believe he will. You can also say he’s part a Jersey Boy too as I believe he is still staying at the secluded, private, estate in Alpine, NJ and he has stayed there for the last decade or so during US Open.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2021 at 2:15 pm
Sam, there are ways to get around things, such as fake ids and fake cards. I never met or interviewed Bouchard but I’m sure she is no dummy. No one can get to the top 100 in professional tennis by being a dummy, and she got to top 5 and a major final. She’s surely an intelligent, quick witted smart girl, if not educated. But what we know now about the education system, she may even have an advantage intellect wise over many college grads. In all my years of covering tennis and doing Biofiles with about 500 pro tennis players, I never encountered one who seemed even remotely dumb. Only smart people can be successful in a sport like tennis or any sport really. Even if Shaq could not spell “period” it doesn’t mean he’s dumb )
Sam · August 29, 2021 at 4:38 pm
Sam, there are ways to get around things, such as fake ids and fake cards.
Good point, Scoop—especially if you’re rich and famous. With his high profile, I don’t think he could’ve gotten away with a fake card, but it is possible that he pulled some strings and got admitted without needing to be “vaccinated.” Hope that’s the case at least.
I never met or interviewed Bouchard but I’m sure she is no dummy.
Well, there are different kinds of intelligence, Scoop. It’s possible to be a great athlete yet still be a bimbo. 😉
In all my years of covering tennis and doing Biofiles with about 500 pro tennis players, I never encountered one who seemed even remotely dumb. Only smart people can be successful in a sport like tennis or any sport really.
Again, it’s a certain kind of intelligence. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they are sharp academically—or even have a lot of common sense, but obviously they’re sharp in ways that matter for their sport.
Even if Shaq could not spell “period” it doesn’t mean he’s dumb )
Well, it also doesn’t mean that he can write above a sixth-grade level either. 😆
Similarly, someone can be great in the classroom 🧠, but terrible at sports. They’re just very different skill sets.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2021 at 5:26 pm
Sam, I believe Everyone is smart and dumb, depends on the area, to excel in areas also means to be weak in others. Just realized this is 30th anniversary of Jimbomania.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2021 at 6:32 pm
I did some research. Not sure if Djokovic even saw Lake Street Dive perform, He was there mainly for Zia Victoria, who is a young singer about 16 and the daughter of Gordon Uehling, who is the host of Djokovic at his mansion during the US Open for the last ten years.
Sam · August 30, 2021 at 1:07 pm
Sam, I believe Everyone is smart and dumb, depends on the area, to excel in areas also means to be weak in others.
To a degree, yes. Some people are extremely talented, but as you’re saying, Scoop, everyone has their weak spots—even the most talented individuals.
Ultimately, though, it’s not so much your gifts that matter, but what you do with them. Author Madeleine L’Engle nailed it when she said this:
We can’t take any credit for our talents. It’s how we use them that counts.
In the Bible, Jesus said basically the same thing. In the parable of the talents, the dude who started out with five talents earned five more, but the one who started with two talents earned only two more. But guess what—Jesus rewarded them equally. 😄
Just realized this is 30th anniversary of Jimbomania.
Please don’t laugh, but what is Jimbomania? 😉
Sam · August 30, 2021 at 1:14 pm
He was there mainly for Zia Victoria, who is a young singer about 16 and the daughter of Gordon Uehling, who is the host of Djokovic at his mansion during the US Open for the last ten years.
Good research, Scoop. Okay, that makes it even more likely he could’ve pulled some strings to get it in, I guess. We should learn the truth eventually.
It sounds like you’re boycotting the U.S. Open. If so, that’s great! 👍
Anyway, concerning this whole nightmare with the “vaccines,” sadly, the moral of the story seems to be:
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. 😕
Sam · August 30, 2021 at 1:35 pm
Speaking of Connors, that quote about “Communists running the U.S. Open” sounds like something he might have said. 😉
Well, whoever said it—good for him!!! 👏
Sam · August 30, 2021 at 2:38 pm
Okay, I think I figured out what Jimbomania is. In fact, I remember watching Connors at the U.S. Open back in ’91. Didn’t know it was called that, though. 😉
Scoop Malinowski · August 30, 2021 at 4:07 pm
Sam, what else could we call what Jimbo did in 1991, it has to have a proper title, we’ve had Beatlemania, Cocomania, that was definitely Jimbomania. Unless there’s a better name.
Scoop Malinowski · August 30, 2021 at 4:08 pm
Sam, did Connors say communists are running the US Open? I didn’t know that he did. I know of another GS champion who did say it.
Sam · August 30, 2021 at 10:05 pm
Sam, what else could we call what Jimbo did in 1991, it has to have a proper title
Scoop, I guess that’s as good a name as any. 🙂
did Connors say communists are running the US Open? I didn’t know that he did. I know of another GS champion who did say it.
Oh, I was merely speculating about who might have said that. But now at least I can scratch his name off the list. Right now, Pat Cash seems to be one of the frontrunners. 😉
Scoop Malinowski · August 30, 2021 at 11:00 pm
Not Cash. Johan Kriek.
Sam · August 31, 2021 at 2:38 pm
Thanks for the inside info, Scoop. I definitely remember his name, but had to look up what Kriek looks like and which Grand Slam titles he won. So, he was the Australian Open champ in both 1981 and 1982.
Good for him for having a spine!! 💪
Sam · August 31, 2021 at 2:42 pm
Oh, I see that you’ve written several articles about Kriek as well.
Incidentally, nice portrait of you by Mr. Lacson. 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · August 31, 2021 at 4:08 pm
Sam, Kriek has a lot more than a titanium backhbone, he’s got major courage guts and intelligence too. Plus he knows how they ruined South Africa and that the same idealogy is at work to destroy America too.
Scoop Malinowski · August 31, 2021 at 4:11 pm
Kriek is one of the best interviews I’ve come across in tennis and his rise as a nobody from South Africa is a very inspiring story. Sen Lacson is a talented painter and I’m very grateful he did that portrait. All because many Filipinos appreciated my boxing articles exposing Floyd Mayweather’s secret play to duck Manny Pacquiao forever, using a litany of excuses and false allegations to block the fight. In the end, the head of CBS Showtime finally realizes Mayweather intended to duck Pacquiao forever and he stepped in and forced Floyd to do the fight, which was then rigged by Floyd and his manager by buying off the judges, the old, just go 12 rounds and the judges are rigged to give you the decision. I know this for a fact. Floyd knew he couldn’t beat Pacqiao in a real fight and that’s why he is still ducking the rematch for over $100m.
Sam · September 1, 2021 at 4:55 pm
Glad that Kriek has a good head on his shoulders. Is he involved with tennis at all these days?
Interesting about Mayweather and Pacquiao. Wait—someone’s actually offering 100 million dollars for a rematch between the two?? 😲
Scoop Malinowski · September 1, 2021 at 5:48 pm
No but he would get that at least but he refuses to fight Pac again, he only fights amateurs and you tube clowns. Kriek has an academy in FL.
Sam · September 3, 2021 at 9:49 pm
Don’t know much about boxing, but it’s sad that Mayweather’s such a wimp. 🐁
And tennis needs more people like Kriek to stand up to all the lunacy.
Scoop Malinowski · September 3, 2021 at 10:19 pm
Margaret Court stood up and spoke her truth openly and she got attacked and crucified for it like Jesus Christ. They even tried to steal her legend and her stadium. Character assassination. Pure evil. Mayweather is a coward and he’s even confessed he’s a coward on video twice. Pathetic fraud installed and protected by a corrupt system.
Sam · September 4, 2021 at 3:28 pm
Well, Maggie did the right thing, so I’m sure she has no regrets! 👍
Pretty funny that Mayweather even admits being a coward.
Scoop Malinowski · September 4, 2021 at 7:25 pm
Sam, Margaret Court is a true hero and brave beyond belief to stick to and defend her religious convictions. Mayweather is a real dummy with zero class and honor, total fraud pretender who robbed and cheated the sport, fans and history of the best fights. His influence has been terrible too, now most of the young American boxers all want to do it the Mayweather blueprint way, taking the easiest low risk, path of least resistance way to the top, and ducking and dodging the best while handpicking hired patsies and bums to build up fake records. Boxing in American is in bad shape now.
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2021 at 8:54 pm
Raducanu quote after Sorribes Tormo win: I think that to have so many young players coming through is just really great for the game, because it just shows how strong this next generation is. I think that having so many young players and 18-year-olds, I think we all inspire each other to play better. Because like for me today, I wanted to join them in the second week as well, so that was an extra bit of motivation (smiling).
Sam · September 8, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Sam, Margaret Court is a true hero and brave beyond belief to stick to and defend her religious convictions.
Yes, Scoop, it’s very admirable that Court has been speaking the unpopular truth. And is anyone else in the tennis world besides her standing up for their religious convictions?
I recently learned that, in 2018, Djokovic said he feels that it’s “very courageous” when homosexuals “come out” 😝, and apparently so-called conservative John Isner has expressed “gay friendly” views as well. 🤨
What’s so tragic in all this is that people who encourage homosexuality obviously don’t care a thing about homosexuals. It’s like telling someone who’s obese, “Here’s a whole box of doughnuts. Enjoy yourself!!”, or buying some bottles of vodka for an alcoholic and saying, “Here—drink up!!!” 🤪 You’re doing these people absolutely no favors by enabling their diseased behavior.
Mayweather is a real dummy with zero class and honor, total fraud pretender who robbed and cheated the sport, fans and history of the best fights. His influence has been terrible too, now most of the young American boxers all want to do it the Mayweather blueprint way, taking the easiest low risk, path of least resistance way to the top, and ducking and dodging the best while handpicking hired patsies and bums to build up fake records. Boxing in American is in bad shape now.
That’s really sad. 🙁
Scoop Malinowski · September 8, 2021 at 6:52 pm
Margaret Court is one of the most heroic figures in tennis history Sam, have as much respect for her as any other tennis champion for her achievements and strength on and off the court. Takes a very brave soul to do what she has done.
Sam · September 9, 2021 at 5:53 pm
Scoop, when you interviewed Court, did you ask her any questions about what it’s been like to endure all the flak she’s gotten?
Yes, Court is one of the few tennis stars I actually admire off the court as well. Andrea Jaeger (now Sister Andrea) is another one.
Scoop Malinowski · September 10, 2021 at 9:16 am
Sam, No I did not and that’s a good follow up interview to do.
Sam · September 10, 2021 at 1:45 pm
Scoop, yes, if you ever get to do a follow-up with her, that would be a powerful topic.