Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wish she hadn't felt like she should withdraw. There should NOT be a rule that athletes have to speak with press, either before or after competing, in any competition.

I agree. It’s messed up that her tennis skills are apparently not as important to the organization as the press reports. The sad thing is that there are plenty of gregarious players that would probably love attention from the press. It should be optional. The press can report on the actual matches and interview those who are happy to be interviewed.

It angers me that it’s not enough for her — or anyone— to be skilled at their game and a decent human being. It’s the press or the Instagram that apparently “really” matters. And there will be press anyway — focusing on her withdrawing. I hope it at least leads to change.

Sports are entertainment, most athletes accept that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am seriously wondering if she can go to the press conference with shades on and even headphones and just stare at them while they ask questions?

If a response is required 'I am here in order to not be fined for violations'.

NBA players have done this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Michael Phelps took communications training, and sure got attacked with his DUI. He did an HBO special on depression in sports.

I'm going to watch this - it looks interesting. Thanks for sharing but also note that he did this five years after he retired.

Yep but he discusses his breakdown between London and Rio.

[Anonymous]

I think all the players should speak their mother tongue at press conferences for a while. Given the importance of maintaining languages, officials shouldn't be able to protest about players speaking Japanese, Bulgarian or Maori.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a typical Millennial—I feel “uncomfortable“ therefore it must be a mental illness. I should not have to interact with people if I don’t wanna! Even if they are paying me millions of dollars which they get from selling not only my game but who I am. Boo-hoo! The millions I’m making are not enough if I have to talk to people.

Seriously, enough already. People should interact with each other. It’s part of our humanity. Not everyone loves it but get over yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a typical Millennial—I feel “uncomfortable“ therefore it must be a mental illness. I should not have to interact with people if I don’t wanna! Even if they are paying me millions of dollars which they get from selling not only my game but who I am. Boo-hoo! The millions I’m making are not enough if I have to talk to people.

Seriously, enough already. People should interact with each other. It’s part of our humanity. Not everyone loves it but get over yourself. [/quote
She’s 23. Not a millennial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a typical Millennial—I feel “uncomfortable“ therefore it must be a mental illness. I should not have to interact with people if I don’t wanna! Even if they are paying me millions of dollars which they get from selling not only my game but who I am. Boo-hoo! The millions I’m making are not enough if I have to talk to people.

Seriously, enough already. People should interact with each other. It’s part of our humanity. Not everyone loves it but get over yourself.

She’s 23. Not a millennial.

That's right, she's Generation Z. Stop blaming millennials for everything. These are the children of Generation X.

[Anonymous]

She apparently was OK enough with being in the public limelight that she signed enough endorsement deals to make her the highest-paid female athlete. But if engaging with the press is too stressful for her she can find another job, or perhaps just live off her current earnings, and the tour will go on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She apparently was OK enough with being in the public limelight that she signed enough endorsement deals to make her the highest-paid female athlete. But if engaging with the press is too stressful for her she can find another job, or perhaps just live off her current earnings, and the tour will go on.

Hmm... Thank goodness she has you to tell her what to do.
Maybe this will start a change eventually, but someone has to be first. Though things don't often go well for the first one, like Kaepernick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She apparently was OK enough with being in the public limelight that she signed enough endorsement deals to make her the highest-paid female athlete. But if engaging with the press is too stressful for her she can find another job, or perhaps just live off her current earnings, and the tour will go on.

Hmm... Thank goodness she has you to tell her what to do.
Maybe this will start a change eventually, but someone has to be first. Though things don't often go well for the first one, like Kaepernick.

She’ll either do the pr side of things or continue to get DQ’d

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think all the players should speak their mother tongue at press conferences for a while. Given the importance of maintaining languages, officials shouldn't be able to protest about players speaking Japanese, Bulgarian or Maori.

Naomi is not a fluent speaker of Japanese. She has said that she understands more than she can speak, and when she is asked questions in Japanese, she responds in English.

She grew up mostly in the US, so English is the language she is most comfortable in.

[Anonymous]

Oooh Black girl, Asian girl...they were gonna get you. Now they got you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She did this after winning the first round and was fined for refusing to appear at the subsequent international press conference. What do you all think of the sports requirement that athletes speak to media even when they’re uncomfortable?

Snowflake.

[Anonymous]

Well there is someone else waiting in the wings for that number two spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wish she hadn't felt like she should withdraw. There should NOT be a rule that athletes have to speak with press, either before or after competing, in any competition.

Again, this is how the prize money gets determined. It's how much the media & advertisers are willing to pay. We could probably have sports with no interviews, but the prize money will be less. If someone wants to start a tournament with that set-up, they should feel free. Saying there should not be requirements is crazy. All jobs have requirements.

I’m saying this shouldn’t be a requirement of the job.

+1 It should not be a requirement. The press can report on the details of the actual matches. There will also always be extroverts happy to be interviewed. Why force it as a demand on the likely small number of athletes who aren’t up for it? And why push it to the point where spectators and players will now miss the chance to see and experience a truly gifted player — because she’s not also comfortable with the way the press is handled?

Because hearing from the athletes is part of what drives interest in the sport which translates into money for the winner.