August 2, 2024 • 50 mins
The Paris Olympics roll on and so does Open Era as Simon and Devang bring you the latest and greatest from the Tennis at Roland-Garros. Plus, the guys discuss their favourite Olympic events so far, Dronegate and the Canadian Women’s soccer team and plenty more. As always, they conclude with Parting Shots and 2 Challenges Remaining!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Hello, and welcome to the Open Air Podcast Olympics edition.
My name is Today Design. I'm joined as always by
mister Simon Bush or Bush almost halfway through the Paris Olympics,
give me a vibe check. How are you enjoying them
so far?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Oh, it's been great. I have watched a truly staggering
amount of content in the Hurst five days. As we
sit here and recording, I am a true Olympic junkie.
I can't get enough of it, which is probably not
a good thing. Really, I need to learn to dial
it back somewhat.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
No, it's been great. Definitely been struggling trying to find
things and where they're playing. But the CBC gem app
has been a lifeline.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I will say I have been I've been full of VPN.
I mentioned in the podcast that well BBC on one
screen and CBC on the other, it's worked like an
absolute charm for me. How the BBC stream going, How
the CBC at the same time?
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Which one have you preferred so far?
Speaker 2 (01:10):
There really is no there's no comparison to the CBC
is very very poor. I would say like some of it,
I should say like some of its coverage in terms
of how many sports you can watch is really really good,
Like you can just find a stream of an event
going on and that's that's great. But their main channel
coverage I find really kind of very weak in comparison.
(01:33):
And I know there's a funding gap difference and all
the different things, but the BBC's ran circles around it.
From my perspective, M yeah, I've seen a.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Lot of praise for CBC in these parts. I do
think like the live programming has been tough though, in
that like primetime slot which falls in the afternoon for us,
like I feel like playing things live and indicating when
things are live have been a bit hit or miss.
But I have been enjoying being able to find whatever
sport I want through that app.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
So have you enjoyed it? I think a zepic ads
and gambling.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Ads ads, that's a story for another day. I mean,
have you watched any sport really that's continuous except for
soccer because it is on pay channels now, Golf it
happens f one, it happens here, right. I'm not sure
why people are surprised. Maybe I've been too desensitized.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
I think it's just because it is the national broadcaster.
I think if you come from a position where you
don't have advertisements or that kind of thing, and then
to see it plastered all over your national broadcaster with
gambling commercials, it's not the greatest look in the world.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
It's fair, it's fair. I was trying to remember, Well,
that's the thing though we were kind of at the
whim of whatever they decided to show back in the day.
We weren't aware of what they were not showing really
until it was maybe put in the newspaper. So I do.
I know it's not necessarily related to your advertising comment,
(03:03):
but it's changed a lot. I do marvel it, just
like the logistics of pulling this off, and I do
think there are some elements of this that I just
I marvel at as people we've done this kind of thing,
so I think, not to the scale, but I think
it's like I just appreciate the madness that it takes
to pull this off as well. So I don't know
I'm fully games pilled. I know I'm not being objective
(03:26):
here in truths of how I'm approaching how much I've
enjoyed the Olympics so far, because there has been bad
things there have been bad things, So we're going to
talk about them. But let's talk about the tennis because
I think there is a good portion of good and
bad maybe from rolling Garro so far Bush.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I think so yeah. I think it's been an entertaining event.
It's not often that you get to see something like
the doubles or the mixed doubles take priority viewing like
it has on a number of these broadcasters. To have
some of these big names playing in the doubles discipline,
I think has drawn attention to it. But you've had
big names going out, you've had big names looking old
(04:06):
and washed, and you've had some retire as well. So
it's been a good few days of watching the spot.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
It has. Let's start with the women's side, and we're
going to kind of do this in a half week
check in, so well, we'll talk about what's happened. But
the biggest stories so far, I think one of them
being Antie Kerber and her career coming to an end
after another incredible run. We saw a bunch of great
runs from the elder statesman of the game, but Antie
(04:32):
Kerber falling to jenk One in an epic three setter.
Kerber had a bunch of great matches here Bush. It's
fitting she went out this way as she is or
she was one of the best match producers of her era. Yeah,
goodbye to a great She's my age too, so I
definitely feel like part of me is dead with this
(04:53):
Annie Kerber retirement.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Cutthroat from Jane, you could say we'll cross that version
of second So Aji Cover obviously a three time Slam
champion of former world number one. She joined Lena in
being the only the second woman past the age of
twenty eight to win to her first two Grand Slams,
which is a fantastic achievement. Oldest player to make a
(05:20):
debut at world number one as well. Really just a
very very good player and one who is testament to
longevity and consistency in staying with it. And I think
if you were to circle a player for people to
sort of emulate who have been around the tour and
have never quite ascended to the top of it, she's
one to really use as a hold up and use
(05:41):
as a market for that because her career is defined
by the second half of it, which is something that
you can't say for a lot of the top players.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
No, that's a really good point. I twenty sixteen man,
if she had won that Olympic final, which she probably
should have against Pek, Monica Peek's running rio down it's
one of the most incredible things we've ever seen. But
if Kirber wins gold there, that twenty sixteen season goes
down is one of the greatest ever, correct, I think.
(06:11):
So that's two slams. She made a final at Wimbledon.
She had a blip at the French Open, and I
don't think she was ever really a thread at the
French which makes a run here at the end kind
of kind of interesting. But that twenty sixteen bush was insane.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
It was, yeah, and it's one of those things you
always have to check history on this one when we
say it's one of the greatest runs of all time,
and then you remember that Monica Sellas and Steffi Graff,
Chrissy Evra, Matina evertzlover existed, Serena Williams, Venus Williams. There's
been some very very good years for women's turns at
the top of the women's sport, but this is right
(06:46):
up there. It really was in terms of reaching heights
a game which I don't think was modeled on power
as much more about precision, counterpunching, maneuverability of the boy
around the court, someone who is really quick and possessed
a really, really good brain as well. So just a
really quality person from a tennis perspective and someone that
(07:10):
I think will be missed on till.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Very well said lots of tributes poured out to Antie
Kerber following her loss, going to miss her. I think
the match match quality she was able to produce is
something that we shouldn't We shouldn't gloss over, and I
don't think we are. I think it was mentioned on
our discord as well. But when you can really rely
on someone to give it their best and also bring
(07:35):
out the best in their competitor, it makes her really
great viewing. And I feel like Antie Kerber did that
more often than not. That quote from Steve Simon or
dedication to the sport of tennis produced results that define
her as one of the great players of a highly
competitive era. That's really true. There was a lot of
great players in her day, and yet I think Antie
(07:56):
Kerber found a way to stand out. So that is
a testament to her abilities and a big shout out
to her.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Do you think her fourteen career titles seems low.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Yeah, a little bit. I guess when you consider the
significance of the titles she did win, then it perhaps
that makes sense. But yeah, really, I mean the big
big years for her came later, like you said, like
from twenty sixteen on, or it is when she she
(08:30):
began to get recognition. Twenty eighteen it was another phenomenal year.
I think she was nominated for Player of the Year.
That were year as well, But she beats Serena a Wimbledon.
So the two best years of her career happening after
the halfway point. Maybe that makes sense that she wasn't
mopping up titles.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I think it does make sense. Yeah, I just think
we are so in have become so accustomed to top,
top level players racking up you know, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy,
you name it titles that just being down in the
single teams seems just a small amount. But then again,
(09:09):
as we've touched on before, and as you just touched
on entirely backloaded, maybe it isn't surprising that that number
looks small by comparison to some of her peers.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Speaking of players on their way out, Rafa, Nadal Bush
out in singles, out in doubles, as well, Nadelkaraz losing
to the American team of cry Check in RAM. But
I think the singles match you called this, I'm going
(09:38):
to give you your flowers, Bush, when everyone was salivating
over Novak versus Rafa in round two after the track
came out, I think a lot of people were expecting
Novak to win. I think that was probably the major
sentiment based on current form. But overall, maybe a spectacle
is what we had banked on. But you had said, Bush,
it was going to be sad, and it mostly was.
(10:00):
It mostly was, aside from like twenty minutes at the
end when we saw some glimpses of old Rafa. But yeah,
this was Novak beating Rafa in straight sets, and then,
like I said, Nadal Carraz going out in doubles. I
thought it was nice that Rafa had this moment before
the tennis started, with the torch and the Eiffel Tower
and like all of that. I'm really glad that happened,
(10:21):
because I felt like it was always going to be sad.
The fairy tale wasn't coming, and I think Luke said
this alid discord, but it really is true. Like the
parallels to late stage fed are quite quite apt. I
feel like like it's just enough is good to good
enough to make you feel okay after him getting through
some wars that never used to be, wars against your
(10:42):
Martin Fukevich or whoever, and then when he needs to
get better, it will be much better than he has.
He just can't be. And that was the case against Djokovic.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Yeah, I don't know who. This tweet was put up
by some My apologies for not finding the handle here,
but just crazy facts about Novak Djokovic raf Nadal right
rivalry two thousand and eight. The last time Nadal beat
Djokovic on a grass court twenty ten, The last time
that Nadal beat Djokovic on an indoor hard court twenty
and thirteen. The last time Nadal beat Jokovic on an
(11:14):
outdoor hard court twenty and thirteen. The last time Nadal
want to set against Jokovic on any hard court. Djokovic
has not lost to Nadal away from clay since Obama
was president in the United States of America. Anyone who
thought that this was going to go any different way
is either not watching the sport or is incredibly naive.
(11:37):
I'm naive.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
I thought there was magic, but it's job. It's so djover.
I'm sorry, yeah, yeah, it's well, do you think he
plays the US Open? How about that he signed up
for it.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
It's it's done right, it's it's over. So his Yeah,
just a question of whether or not he wants.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I just wonder now, like it was really I felt
like the torch stuff was so perfect, like this was it.
But I just I don't think he's going to play
at the US Open to get smoked early, you know,
So I wonder if he shows up there but he
calls it may be in New York, but it feels over.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
He's not a top thirty player anymore, and it's going
to be, i know, very harsh and very challenging for
a lot of people to hear. But his form since
he's played and him coming back has not suggested that
this is a person who's remotely capable of competing anymore.
And that's Fine's his body has broken down, and for
(12:39):
this seems very unlikely. The trajectory or the direction of
travel here is that he's going to come back to
winning Grand slams all to say, that's totally fine. It's
just it's just figuring out what kind of retirement and
what kind of end to his career he wants.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Yeah, figuring out how to go. And you know, I
have face. He seems like a good dude in this
sense of not doing things through bullshit reasons for the
most part. So yeah, let's see how this shakes out.
But yeah, I just know I still, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
I'm very confused, from from my perspective of someone who's
been watching tennis for twenty five years, what what does
he want? What does his retirement look like? Because he's
done everything. I would have thought him walking off of
Roland Garris one last time would have been would have
been fine. I would have thought that, like the Olympic
(13:28):
Games would have been fine, because he's had so much
success there in representing Spain and what he means to
it on that court. I would have thought this would
have been it. But if not, he then then where
and then what what is he waiting for?
Speaker 1 (13:40):
I don't know really, Yeah, And.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
He doesn't need to appease me, like fuck me in regard,
he doesn't need he doesn't go it to anyone. But
it's just I'm just very curious to know what it is.
I agree with empathetical rap fuck you as we should say.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
But no, it's you know, I who needs to lose.
This verb is your last I'm read there though, So
I honestly I understand wanted to come back to shake
that taste. And if this is always part of the plan,
it probably was right like a year ago plus back
when he was plotting the end. But now it was
announced he was gonna be entered at the US Open
(14:14):
before the Olympics. But obviously things will change and maybe
the manner of how this went down will will affect
his calculus. But my new take is said he's gonna
show up to New York, but not play and call
it there because I the other thing is like a
lot of people are having their moments like anywhere. He's
gonna have his moment here too, So I don't know
(14:34):
if he wants to just fully take over. And he's
probably left already, you know, like so he's probably in
North America soon ish after a brief holiday, so I
think the end is coming soon. This is it's not good,
like even before the last twenty minutes against Novak, This
felt like one of those things that wasn't good for anyone,
even Novak, who I don't know. He did the violin
(14:58):
think of the end, but I'm like, I don't think
this is necessary, sir, Please carry on.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
He's gonna retire in the place that everyone loves, Cincinnati,
Ohio's in Ohio, western and southern. That's where it's gonna end. Everyone.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
We'll talk Murray and Dan Evans after the break on
parting shots, I think was unless you want to touch
on him now.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Maybe let's do it briefly and just kind of keep
it a little separate, just to give Murray his flowers.
It kind of does feel like we've been talking about
him retiring for the last six weeks or so, which
is totally again, totally fine. I think his the way
that he's chosen to go out has made complete sense.
To wrap up at Wimwooden, to have to send off
with his brother and then for's gonna was gonna make
(15:43):
I never read a car New joke, but it's not.
It's not a It feels too soon to make that
kind of joke, and then to end up here at
the Olympics and to go out at a tournament. He's
had so much success to be a flag bearer. It
feels right and has been real magic this week as well.
It's been very very entertained to watch him and Dan
(16:04):
Evans's exploits.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Co signed loved Dan Evans getting his flowers as well
as a lovable scamp we always knew he was, which
is probably not true at all, right, but this is
this is great stuff. I want to shout out some
overall tennis stuff, Simon, and you can't do, but just
the Felix age alias see who has rescued a very
(16:28):
very bad season and he liked Dylan Brooks. Once they
put that, may be leief on something happens man, because
it happened to the Davis Cup. It's happening at the
Olympics again. He's now said a mark for Canadian tennis
players in terms of how deep they've gone since the
sport was brought back in to the Olympic Games. Where
(16:49):
did this come from?
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Well, that's a comparison that I never thought I would hear.
Is the Felix seemed to Dylan Brooks one which a
shame on me for not finding that this top level
journalism that you can't teach you just to you have it,
you're born with it. All that being said, it's good.
It's good to see him making I don't think he's
(17:12):
done either here right. I think this is he has
the potential to cause a shock and keep going and
despite me me making fun of it, I think it
really is different for players if they've had a shitty
year or and they find themselves in a completely different
(17:32):
situation because it is not you're not all alone, you're
representing the country, you're in a team of It was interesting.
I had this conversation with some of the other day
and it was in regards to the sort of Team
Canada US as Team GB idea. And because we were
watching we were watching the British swimmers and the British swimmers.
We're all talking about how like it's a team event,
(17:54):
like we all support each other despite it being swimming
as a singles competitor. And I think the person I
was speaking to found it a bit strange coming It's like, no,
it's not like you're still just doing you're competing for yourself.
And I was trying to explain, like it's kind of
if you're in the camp, it is sort of beaten
into you this idea that you're all supporting each other.
(18:14):
You're there in this event and you're representing the flag
and as a big team, and maybe that does play
a role in someone's psyche going into these events.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
We've seen it before with him after poor stretches when
he plays for Canada, something happens. It's awesome to see
he's i think against Medvedev, who he hadn't beaten eight attempts,
like you'd seen different variations of losses, and the one
in Australia it stuck in my mind a while. But
a simon, he was brilliant serving, absolutely brilliant serving. His
(18:46):
return game was aggressive and I thought he was every
He was aggressive in general and his forehand is such
a weapon when it's on. He was fully full value
for the win. I think med after the match is
like you know, and I didn't play that bad, like
I played pretty well, but Felix is better than me.
And it's been a while, you know, since Felix, I
think it's done that to someone in the top five,
(19:07):
top ten, So that was awesome. Doubles, Like you said,
with Gaby Debrowski, he's gonna play for a medal because
they've made the semi finals there, so awesome, awesome stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
This is this is a great draw on both the
men's and the women's side, like in singles and doubles
and in mixed doubles. There's some fantastic matchups coming on
in the in the second half of the of the tournament.
It's this is no, this is not like the old
days of Nicholas Massou winning great ast respect Jesus.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Jesus, that remote, that remote live taping in Santiago is
going to go down.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
I'm really really good for a Chilean friend who's going
to never talk to me again after saying that maybe
I'll leap it from the record.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Anything else tennis vice not.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Off the top of my head, I think it's been better,
very very enjoyable. I have really enjoyed watching Crazie Coverns
and Ya have a play again. That was really enjoyable
to watch. So, you know, top line level is just
it's been a fun tournament.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
We're going to get to the drama after the break,
including IgA, Danielle Navarro and Chenk Goco Gough and the
umpires and Canada and spying. All of that coming up
next on Open Era. Welcome back to the Open Era podcasts. I'mon.
(20:37):
We've touched on some of the nicer things, some good moments,
things we've liked, But there's been beef at these games.
USA grade grade A beef, the USA behaving badly has
been the quote bandied about this is from Mary Carillo. Quote,
he's American women. I think they're running a little wild
(20:58):
these Olympic Games. Sounds a bit, a bit bunch. I
think that could be positive as well, because they want
a shitload of medals.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Quote.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Honestly, that wasn't true. But this is in response to
a couple of things happening over the past few days,
including Danielle Collins and Egostrion Tech slugging slugging away in
their quarter final match that had to end due to
collins abdominal injury. I think there was some there's an
accusation I guess from Danielle Collins to EGA being so
(21:32):
what was the word disingenuous, insincere, insincere quote. I told
Ega she didn't have to be insincere, but you know
my injury. There's a lot that happens on camera and
there are a lot of people with a ton of
charisma that come out and are one way on camera
and another way to the locker room. And I just
haven't had the best experience, and I don't really feel
like anybody needs to be insincere end Quote she keeps
(21:54):
going on, but she mentions fakeness afterwards. Quote they can
be the way they are. I can accept that, and
I don't need the fake That's the first time this
has been whispered about. Eager by the way, Simon, But
this was a lot like I think you could SEEEO
was distressed after their handshake, which was quite something. What
(22:18):
was your take on this whole thing?
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Well, this one thing that we can say for certain
is that no one will ever accuse Daniel Collins of
being fake and insincere in terms of her. We know
who she is on court and on off court, which
is is one thing. The playing at the service pace
stuff was I think eventually going to catch up with
(22:41):
the Igshiontek. Someone was always going to punch back on
it was kind of inevitable in the same way that
it has caught up with many players across the years.
This wasn't a nothing story. I think for the people
that are trying to sort of dismiss it and say
that it wasn't anything. It felt personal, you know, in
a way that some of these other stories kind of
(23:02):
don't and seem like just surface level heat in the
moment stuff. It kind of felt like someone burying some
bad blood here. So I wonder why. We don't really know,
But on the surface of it, it felt a bit
more real than some of the other ones to me.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Yeah, the fakest thing I think is something that other
players have been alluding to cryptically in a very very
cryptic passion. But I do I do wonder if this
will maybe give rise to other players speaking up. But
I thought it was pretty shocking. I came into it
without context, so I saw the end and then I
(23:37):
rewatched the handshake and the highlights afterwards. It was taken aback,
But I mean, a you're representing your country, so there's
the toxic stew of nationalism mixed in there. But be like,
Daniel Colt has had a really big year with a
lot of big things happening, and for this tournament to
end the way it did due to injury, like you
got to be feeling some type of way about it.
(23:59):
So I feel like some maybe some grace or some
empathy can be delivered in her way. And I mean
I didn't feel great for Ego afterwards either, But the
pace of play stuff feels like gamesmanship. And there is
stuff that she EGA has done regarding breaks she has
taken and when she has taken them that I think
has rubbed her competitors the wrong way as well. So yeah,
(24:20):
it's worth talking about, for sure, I.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Think it is. I do also think there's an element
of this, which is it is a there's a level
of disrespect I think in terms of almost talking down
to someone on court, lecturing someone, Yeah, that feels unearned, perhaps,
like I don't think that your personal feelings get to
(24:47):
come above the rest of everyone else's watching a match,
Like I think you can leave that stuff for in
the locker room. I think one of the reasons I
was saying this felt a bit more real is because
I think the manner of it is that it looked
like someone trying to make a point in the sense
of its in front of everyone in the Olympic Games,
(25:08):
very visibly and audibly to the world. I'm not really
a huge fan of people just like fucking lecturing other
people on court, it just comes across as a bit
patronizing and a bit like infantilizing, So I didn't I
didn't really appreciate this at all, even though I do
think there's some legitimacy to people taking their time and
not playing at service, being all that sort of stuff.
(25:29):
Anyone who's played club level tennis knows what the fuck
they're talking about on this one. It's incredibly frustrating, incredibly
annoying when you have someone who does it whilst at
the same time like being an adult, bit a bit
of a grown up on this one.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
The Emma Navarro Jenkywn Beef Bush Emminavarro not happy with
Jeng following a third set drubbing and Jeng replying an
incredible spicy manner. I believe the quote from Jeng, I'm
(26:04):
trying to dig it up quickly. I will not consider
it and I will not consider it an attack because
she lost the match. Navarro though, Bush, this is your girl.
What's going on here with her comments about Shank. I
didn't like this at all.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
I thought this one was down to the crowd more
than I think down to Shenki when I think it
was a boisterous rowdy loud crowd who were very vociferously
too many long words in a single sentence. This is
why I should never be allowed on the CBC. Who
(26:38):
were supporting their athlete. And it was fucking boiling on
court as well, So all of that combined, I don't.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Basically her response to the Net was I didn't know
you had fans.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Basically it was very odd. Yeah, very very odd. What
are you talking about?
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Like? That's holy cow? Yeah, that felt to me like
a bit of us and I hate, I hate to
say this. I just felt like a bit of a
spoiled brat response, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
But never from a billionairebe I don't.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Yeah, maybe I don't hate to say that Japek would ever.
I honestly mean that, I don't think she would do that.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
So in any case, that no one would accuse the
Chinese fans of of not supporting their athletes during the
Olympic Games. I think if you've watched enough coverage, they
travel in numbers, and they travel.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
If you see in ten minutes of the volleyball fan camp,
you know that China's fans are doing great stuff. The
I love those the fan camp stuff in between events
at those Arenas. So there was that, So there was
Emmin and R Danielle Collins, and then Coco GoF Bush.
The Now, this I think is a bit different because
(27:50):
this I feel like we've seen examples of this happening
to Cocoa a few times now, especially at this exact
tournament or a venue in which she's not getting the
benefit of the doubt and it's clearly frustrating her.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Am I controversial to say that I didn't I didn't
think the umpire did anything wrong.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
No, But I think I think, yeah, I think this
is more on like.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
The body of body of evidence.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
This is not just yeah, this is not just one instance,
like I felt bad for Donnovec could still get me
wrong and like we shouldn't have been waiting there. It
felt uncomfortable and cringe. But I get what Cocoa GOV
felt like she was at a loss there because it
has happened to her multiple times. And I think for
someone who is by the book and like about sportsmanship,
(28:38):
et cetera, et cetera, like I think this is something
that like she finds she's not getting she's not getting
the benefit of the doubt even though she's done what
she's done in the game. But I can understand how
that would be frustrated.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Totally. Yeah, I think you want to believe the stuff
balances out or comes out in the wash. As an athlete,
is that for as many bad causes that you're going
to receive, you're also going to get ones in the
opposite direction. And I came away from this thinking, can
we just fucking go to electronic line calling? Please? This
is ridiculous. I've had enough of this. I don't want
to keep talking about it, especially when it's the only
(29:11):
event that is happening at We.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
Have this stuff for the stupid as shit. At least
we could do at least we could do, sorry, is
implement this for things that matter and that could affect
things and cause less stress on everyone involved. Jesus Christ,
as I said, like, I don't, yeah, sorry, I just
I was. This is not great for vekage either as
the competitor playing a geinst scarff.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
No, it isn't. Not when you're standing it was five
five and a half minutes. I think of how long
this exchange.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Took, nine thousand degrees or whatever, And I.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Was reading some things about it of I think talk
about being disingenuous about it, of saying of reading some
commentators saying, well, the UMPI I should have given him
a time violation for five and a half minutes of time, Like,
come on, get your head out your ass on this one.
I think a person is entitled to to make that point.
(30:03):
With all that being said, how many times dev have
you ever seen an unpar changed their mind after a
conversation with a player. I think it's a big fat
goose egg. It's happened zero times in the history of humanity.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
Outside of azany exhibition.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Zero.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
So yeah, I'm with you the Americans, though, I mean
I cheekily named this episode red White and f you.
But I do think part of what makes America America
is this attitude on the world stage when most people
are like what and they're like, now we're going full in,
(30:41):
like Simone Biles is a good example of this, or
she's just now Fumagate, like just blazing that ex gymnist
who is talking trash about to us, to even now
they are all just oh, it's they're winning. And I
think that's just so America to me. But then we're
getting some some instances of the ugly American and I
(31:04):
know we have wonderful American listeners, but I'm curious, like
I think there's levels of this obviously, but it's part
of what makes them kind of such a catch at
these international events because we need villains. And I do
find it like interesting and sort of nice that Canada,
or at least the Canadian women's aga team is now
a villain kind of in Paris.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Yeah, I think the Olympic Games is fascinating because you
are representing the flag and you can have a bunch
of narratives attached to that in terms of national identity
and how the kind of personality that come. And it's
not a monolith. I think anyone claims that it's completely ridiculous,
but you do have a a of a you know,
a very hearty and loud American contingent in the crowd.
(31:46):
You might have a slightly more reserved, you know, Japanese section,
perhaps with polite applause when their athletes are winning and
all this kind of stuff, which you know, it's all
stereotypes and it's all leaning into different areas, but it's
it's also one is not better than the other. This
is the thing that's always kind of lost in all
of this thing like you need to act a certain way,
you need to support a certain way, you need to
(32:08):
play a certain way, or because everyone's going to have
their own interpretation of what that looks like on your
sort of individualistic versus your sort of community side of
things as well. So it's I think the Olympics are
really fascinating for that, and nothing I know more than
that demonstrated than watching the team gymnastics competitions. I think
those are fascinating for many different reasons about how the
(32:30):
Southeast are holding themselves.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
The Chinese gymnast Oh my god competition, who oh God,
you got bad teammates? Or what not to do in
a teammates situation. His teammates deserted this guy after he fell.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Ah, that was really rough. That's that's not what you
like to see. I think depending on where you were
born and where you grew up and everything, and who
you who you're supporting, whether you whether you associate yourself
with a national team or are these sort of things.
I do think it's interesting how those those marks or
those things that you think sometimes are either good or
bad about how your your nation handles themselves, they become
(33:11):
they rise quite a lot during the Olympics, where like
I would never consider myself to have like national pride
when it comes to Team GB or Team Canada in
any capacity, But by god, am I going to get
into the spirit of it in the exact way that
those teams do whenever they're performing well. And I think
that's probably not a good thing. I think that's probably
(33:31):
maybe not a good reflection how we are as a
society in general.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
Well, I think when I was younger, I would have
felt like personally attacked by the tron story. I would
have like FIFA and their French authorities are personally coming
after me in my honor as a Canadian soccer person
and fan. How dare they monsters? Et cetera. And because
I haven't done that, I found myself relishing their success
(33:55):
for and enjoying it more because I'm less bogged down
in the minutia of it. And I think it's because
i've I've I'm less patriotic in this sense of going
full on Canada or bust like I might have if
this was like twenty ten or possibly two thousand, Like
I remember watching Simon Whitfield win the triathlon in two
(34:15):
thousand and feeling fully Canadiana, et cetera, et cetera. But
it also felt like that was part of that era
in my life, where like that's what fandom was. Whereas
now maybe it's a bit easier to understand, like what
is contributing to this How we made it this far?
How is Canada now winning medals and swimming? Maybe? How
(34:38):
are we doing better in track and field? Why are
we doing better? Who's investing the funds? Like I feel
like a lot, it's a lot more, there's a lot.
It's a lot easier maybe to feel less invested in
like the shame and the glory aspects of this stuff.
And I think that's better, Like that's a lot healthier
than it used to be.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
I mean, I agree also think that sometimes it's hard
to look at the Olympics outside of the context of
modern geopolitical tensions or what the nation state represents, because
I have said numerous times on this podcast how much
(35:19):
of a complete stan I am, Because in my heart
of heart, there is something incredibly cool about a global
sporting competition where really it's supposed to be amateurs, right,
you are just competing against other nations, and it's supposed
to be a celebration. It's supposed to be a festival
where everyone comes together and is competitive against each other
(35:41):
and it's done in good nature. Like I am obviously
accepting very much so that that is a romanticized view
of what it is, because you can't look beyond all
the things in their IOC and you know, doping programs
and how it's used for soft power, like I'm acutely
aware of about those things. But the same time, it
should be. It should be something that we celebrate dea
(36:03):
of it fucking should be because there's something very cool
in there and something very sweet and lovable and something
very pure about it, which I think is lost so
many times. And I really want to believe in it,
because if you can't believe in it, then you kind
of you become cynical about the whole thing.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
No, it's really well said. There is an interview with
a Canadian swimmer last night with Devon here Harry You,
the CBC reporter. I believe it was Ingrid Will went
a Canais or is she she made the final? But
I don't believe she meddled, but she had. She's been
a great interview. The whole week and she gave a
final interview with Devin and it was excellent, excellent stuff,
and it was just like the perfect example of Holy Cow.
(36:43):
This is a major milestone for this person. They're often
I think the other part of this is getting older. Bush.
That's when I was at the age of these people competing.
I think I was a little more. I don't know,
I just I think I prospect has changed so much
that I appreciate the journey so much more. And to
your point, like I less, I don't care so much
(37:06):
about winning, you know, And I think this is the
one one place in sports where that's true for me.
And this feels like the healthiest way to consume it.
So of all the stuff around the games being obviously
toxic and bad, and I mean, we can there's a
laundry list of reasons why you probably shouldn't want your
city to host an Olympic Games, but the other stuff
(37:29):
man projected.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
And I think if you think about what it means
to have national pride or the things that never get
spoken about of what a country actually, you know, is
good at, that is not what it presents us to
the world, Like elements of solidarity and community, you know,
arts and culture, sporting, achievement, innovation, like all of these things.
(37:55):
Because there's so many different layers on top of each
on top of each other. They don't just have been
in isolation. Obviously, there's many reasons behind why it happens
in a certain way. But it's nice to support your
country periodically. It's nice to have a bit of national
pride about something, even if it's feeling, you know, somewhat
dirty if you associate with a country that has a
(38:18):
somewhat checkered past as.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
Well, said sir, do you want to talk about any
other tennis stuff or let's just go full Olympics.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Yeah, I was going to ask you on this one.
Mira and Jovah won a tall title. Let's just say
that she's seventeen years and ninety days. Congratulations to her.
She's going to be fantastic. She'll be a slam champion
before she's twenty. I believe that very strongly. But let
me ask you this question, what did you make of
the women's football the Canadian situation? Because this seems massively
(38:49):
this is a story that's taken up a lot of
airways and is a story which has made global news,
literally Global News, not another broadcaster here. So what was
your opinion on this? Do you feel like this is
overblown or do you feel like the FIFA was out
to get Canada here?
Speaker 1 (39:07):
It's a tough one. I feel like the humors of
the coaching staff to employ their usual methods at the
Olympics where there's like incredible surveillance and security and the
French authority is watching everything like a hawk, Like that
was so so stupid that I feel like the repercussions
for this will be felt for a very long time.
(39:28):
That being said, the actual crime itself, like, I don't
feel like it is a major competitive advantage to do
what Canada did, And I think there's different way people
go about this. But the idea of like quote unquote spying,
I think it's done in many different ways, whether it
be without a drone or with a drone. So like
(39:49):
I think, like the actual act itself, I feel less
less like dropping monocles about it and fainting at the
idea of us doing it. But I do think there's
like a gap here in the sense of like how
Canadians perceive themselves and like how no, like what it
takes to win which makes me feel a big grind
(40:10):
me to say the last part. But like the idea
of Canada never be like we could never do this,
or like that's not something we would do to win,
or like we do things the right way, Like let's
be serious here, What the fuck are we talking about
when it comes to that, Like that's insane, It's truly insane.
And I think the funny part is we're trying to
get an edge and every way we can. And like
(40:31):
I think John Herdman, whether or not he was the
mastermind or not, and it's reportedly we don't know for
a fact that he was. But like the idea that
they had to institute these things to get on like
the same level as the rest of the world kind
of checks out when you look at how Canada has
done the last six or seven years. Wow, So I think, yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Yes, and no, right he checks notes from the Oh yeah,
the defending gold medalists. Oh it's not exactly like it's
this is a small plucky underdog's coming into this.
Speaker 1 (41:05):
No, but yeah, I just I think they they brought
they brought the things in that they knew worked elsewhere.
But I think there was any naivete about what it
took probably and once once you have Bev Priestman letting
HR know that someone does not want to spy for her,
you created an insane paper trill that'll get you caught.
(41:27):
Like I think that I feel.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
I mean, the players are incredible, like the fact that
they had won all they won all three games and
two of them after the punishment, the point punishment, Like
it's one of the greatest sports accomplishments, I think, in
our country's history. But it's it's it's a it's a
situation of our own doing, which makes it almost like
the perfect Canadian sports story because like it has all
(41:50):
the elements of joy, pride, but also like embarrassment and
shame and people being angry at journalists for reporting on
the story, which is another thing of like just media
literacy being in the absolute toilet in not just.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
This country but overall. It has everything, and it's yeah,
it's one of those things that soccer is continuously making
headlines for hilarious reasons, and it makes me laugh. Is
considering by career trajectory, just not picturing it happening like
this maybe ten years ago. But it's pretty pretty remarkable.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
What a story I think there's a couple of points there. Firstly,
whenever any when anyone ever uses the phrase like we
don't do that or this is not who we are,
you absolutely are, you know, immediately after the thing happening,
it's like shooting happens in local town. This is this
is so unexpected. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is. Secondly,
what on earth for France doing in the twentieth minute
(42:47):
to concede a goal like that? They did not, It's
truly remarkable set of naivety from a set of players there.
Ian Thirdly, so obviously I've former leads manager myself also
caught in similar circumstances in terms of filming, opposition and
going through this like I've already lived through this story
(43:08):
once in a different capacity, and be USO's on record
like they gave a exceedingly long I think it's only
a sixty minute press conference, complete with PowerPoint presentation sort
of outlining and saying how this did not give us
an advantage, Like because the amount of data that's available
out there, everything match is televised, what you can actually
(43:29):
get out of a training session, there's not enough of
there to demonstrate that this is a sizable advantage for
a team to get. I do think that's a little
bit different in women's sport and in the position of
women's football in general, just given that a lot of
those things don't translate as well over from a professionalized
men's game as well. So I do think there's something
that's lost in that, whilst at the same time I
(43:50):
think it's it is an interesting question to ask how
much of an advantage can you get when you kind
of know what formation everyone's going to play? You know,
all these play it like in the back of your hand.
Does it actually do anything or are we just kind
of being you know, this is just a spirit of
the game thing.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
I would feel a lot differently about it. I guess
if this was a one off in Canada was doing
something no one else was doing, But I think we
know that's not the case. I think it was just
the way it went down really really a robb the
players of this moment that was that was theirs, and
they're taking it back, they're wrestling it back to their credit.
(44:28):
But also like at the beginning of the Olympics, this
was the only story, Like athletes are competing everywhere and
this was the only thing we were talking about, So
in that regardles, it's shitty, but like I think the
story now of what they can do with this, it's remarkable.
And and then the priestsman emails things like butter emails
Hillary Clinton style, like we're going back to twenty sixteen.
This is going to be this is insane. Why did
(44:52):
you Why did you email h about that?
Speaker 2 (44:55):
I don't understand this some very what was it the
not to quote Jesus not listening to me? Quoting Michelle Obama?
But it's the.
Speaker 1 (45:07):
This does have a direct last person. I expect you
to say.
Speaker 2 (45:10):
That could have pulled anything from a bag from anywhere
in the world. But wasn't she saying like she sat
on boards and been in meetings everywhere. And the realization
that people aren't that smart no matter which position they're in.
I feel like that is that rings very true here
as well. Okay, can we do an Olympic episode like
(45:31):
separated from tennis? Yeah, let us know how you want
to achieve that, because.
Speaker 1 (45:36):
I will yeah, well probably won't do this. That's is
your two challenges remaining Olympics. We waited because you can
continue this or.
Speaker 2 (45:46):
I mean I feel like it shouldn't be, given that
we've just done twenty five minutes on non tennis related things.
I do have a two challenge remaining. If would you
let me to go first, or do you have something
that I would actually no, I would welcome you, Okay,
So I just wanted to shout out. I watched a
documentary called Being Japanese by the YouTube channel Life where
(46:07):
I'm From, which is really really good, and it's about
a bunch of different people from who have different backgrounds
in Japan in a nation that doesn't hand out citizenships
so readily, and the language that is used, Japanese oftentimes
does have trouble in defining who is defined as Japanese
given the backgrounds of various people. And it was wonderful.
(46:32):
It's a really really good documentary. It's free, you can
find out on YouTube. But I think it also brought
up a lot of things for myself, which is being
a citizen of two nations and what it actually means
to have lived twenty one years in Britain and growing
up there and then living thirteen years in Canada and
spending my adult life there and feeling, you know, am
I am I truly Canadian?
Speaker 1 (46:52):
Do I.
Speaker 2 (46:53):
You know, I have the passport, I'm a citizen of
the country, like what does. But I don't really have
the cultural fluency. Perhaps I didn't grow up with those
sort of things and have the shorthandle a lot of
people use. Maybe in terms of how people hold themselves,
you know, it's not quite there. Do I feel British? Yes,
I do, but I kind of don't at the same
time because I've not been there for a while. So
I just thought it was a really good documentary of
answering some of those questions and it really rang true
(47:15):
to me.
Speaker 1 (47:16):
Wonderful, sir, I mine is. I went to a live
podcast taping a show podcast show. Yeah, the first ever
one of those. It's a lot, I think I've been
to a few of those. But I went to Comedy
Bang Bang live in Toronto. I'm not sure if you've
heard of that show, Simon.
Speaker 2 (47:35):
I have heard of it, better ever listened to Okay.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
So I was my sister who's also a fan, and
we had a great time. But like it was one
of those zones where like you think something is like
not that popular or like kind of like your thing,
and you're like, oh, I wonder what other freaks are
gonna be here for this. And then we got to
the venue and the line was literally street slot Simon,
like easily the biggest line I've ever been in to
(48:01):
get into a show, and it was just it was remarkable.
It was crazy how many people showed up. And it
makes sense that they are on a North American tour,
but yeah, it was great and it was just one
of those most funny things. I thought I was so cool,
but really, this is a podcast of thousands and thousands
of stance.
Speaker 2 (48:19):
Yeah, it is interesting, isn't it How these what were
once thought as niche sort of media pieces have now
spawned into their own and have been that way for
a very long time. It has to be sad this
is not a new thing. But there's a reason that
I think the podcast market got saturated is because it
works and people found audiences and they resonated with the
(48:41):
material that was being put out there. So I guess
it isn't surprising. With all that being said, dev, when
is the open air live show happening?
Speaker 1 (48:48):
Well, I was gonna say the community aspect is I
think the part that I underappreciated and I sheltered at
that live show, So we should do it. I'm going
to be on site the National Bank Open in Toronto
next week. If you're around, holler at me. I'll be
at the Rogers tent a lot. So yeah, maybe we
can do something show up. Yeah, you're gonna be in
(49:11):
town too, aren't you.
Speaker 2 (49:12):
I don't think that soon. I don't think it's okay.
Speaker 1 (49:16):
We'll take these we'll take these plants offline. Yeah, we
got to plan the open era and meet up. I
think the New York City US Open thing has to happen.
But we'll actually try and figure this out in the
coming days, probably for next year. But anyways, I'm just
rambling now. I'm gonna plug our Patreon though that's a
nod to our tennis community. I mentioned the one I
(49:36):
thought at that that podcast taping. But our discord is great.
It's been awesome, sure, the Olympic, It's awesome all the time.
But join us on patreon dot com for slash open
Eric at the show early when we record, get an
ad free and get access to the Tennis Discord Open
Era where we're chatting tennis plus everything else, news, politics,
(49:56):
et cetera all the time. And I think that's it
for pretty UK, for Dylan on the Ones and two
US and for Simon. Thank you so much for listening
to Open Era. We'll talk to you next week.
Hello, and welcome to the Open Air Podcast Olympics edition.
My name is Today Design. I'm joined as always by
mister Simon Bush or Bush almost halfway through the Paris Olympics,
give me a vibe check. How are you enjoying them
so far?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Oh, it's been great. I have watched a truly staggering
amount of content in the Hurst five days. As we
sit here and recording, I am a true Olympic junkie.
I can't get enough of it, which is probably not
a good thing. Really, I need to learn to dial
it back somewhat.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
No, it's been great. Definitely been struggling trying to find
things and where they're playing. But the CBC gem app
has been a lifeline.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I will say I have been I've been full of VPN.
I mentioned in the podcast that well BBC on one
screen and CBC on the other, it's worked like an
absolute charm for me. How the BBC stream going, How
the CBC at the same time?
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Which one have you preferred so far?
Speaker 2 (01:10):
There really is no there's no comparison to the CBC
is very very poor. I would say like some of it,
I should say like some of its coverage in terms
of how many sports you can watch is really really good,
Like you can just find a stream of an event
going on and that's that's great. But their main channel
coverage I find really kind of very weak in comparison.
(01:33):
And I know there's a funding gap difference and all
the different things, but the BBC's ran circles around it.
From my perspective, M yeah, I've seen a.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Lot of praise for CBC in these parts. I do
think like the live programming has been tough though, in
that like primetime slot which falls in the afternoon for us,
like I feel like playing things live and indicating when
things are live have been a bit hit or miss.
But I have been enjoying being able to find whatever
sport I want through that app.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
So have you enjoyed it? I think a zepic ads
and gambling.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Ads ads, that's a story for another day. I mean,
have you watched any sport really that's continuous except for
soccer because it is on pay channels now, Golf it
happens f one, it happens here, right. I'm not sure
why people are surprised. Maybe I've been too desensitized.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
I think it's just because it is the national broadcaster.
I think if you come from a position where you
don't have advertisements or that kind of thing, and then
to see it plastered all over your national broadcaster with
gambling commercials, it's not the greatest look in the world.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
It's fair, it's fair. I was trying to remember, Well,
that's the thing though we were kind of at the
whim of whatever they decided to show back in the day.
We weren't aware of what they were not showing really
until it was maybe put in the newspaper. So I do.
I know it's not necessarily related to your advertising comment,
(03:03):
but it's changed a lot. I do marvel it, just
like the logistics of pulling this off, and I do
think there are some elements of this that I just
I marvel at as people we've done this kind of thing,
so I think, not to the scale, but I think
it's like I just appreciate the madness that it takes
to pull this off as well. So I don't know
I'm fully games pilled. I know I'm not being objective
(03:26):
here in truths of how I'm approaching how much I've
enjoyed the Olympics so far, because there has been bad
things there have been bad things, So we're going to
talk about them. But let's talk about the tennis because
I think there is a good portion of good and
bad maybe from rolling Garro so far Bush.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I think so yeah. I think it's been an entertaining event.
It's not often that you get to see something like
the doubles or the mixed doubles take priority viewing like
it has on a number of these broadcasters. To have
some of these big names playing in the doubles discipline,
I think has drawn attention to it. But you've had
big names going out, you've had big names looking old
(04:06):
and washed, and you've had some retire as well. So
it's been a good few days of watching the spot.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
It has. Let's start with the women's side, and we're
going to kind of do this in a half week
check in, so well, we'll talk about what's happened. But
the biggest stories so far, I think one of them
being Antie Kerber and her career coming to an end
after another incredible run. We saw a bunch of great
runs from the elder statesman of the game, but Antie
(04:32):
Kerber falling to jenk One in an epic three setter.
Kerber had a bunch of great matches here Bush. It's
fitting she went out this way as she is or
she was one of the best match producers of her era. Yeah,
goodbye to a great She's my age too, so I
definitely feel like part of me is dead with this
(04:53):
Annie Kerber retirement.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Cutthroat from Jane, you could say we'll cross that version
of second So Aji Cover obviously a three time Slam
champion of former world number one. She joined Lena in
being the only the second woman past the age of
twenty eight to win to her first two Grand Slams,
which is a fantastic achievement. Oldest player to make a
(05:20):
debut at world number one as well. Really just a
very very good player and one who is testament to
longevity and consistency in staying with it. And I think
if you were to circle a player for people to
sort of emulate who have been around the tour and
have never quite ascended to the top of it, she's
one to really use as a hold up and use
(05:41):
as a market for that because her career is defined
by the second half of it, which is something that
you can't say for a lot of the top players.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
No, that's a really good point. I twenty sixteen man,
if she had won that Olympic final, which she probably
should have against Pek, Monica Peek's running rio down it's
one of the most incredible things we've ever seen. But
if Kirber wins gold there, that twenty sixteen season goes
down is one of the greatest ever, correct, I think.
(06:11):
So that's two slams. She made a final at Wimbledon.
She had a blip at the French Open, and I
don't think she was ever really a thread at the
French which makes a run here at the end kind
of kind of interesting. But that twenty sixteen bush was insane.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
It was, yeah, and it's one of those things you
always have to check history on this one when we
say it's one of the greatest runs of all time,
and then you remember that Monica Sellas and Steffi Graff,
Chrissy Evra, Matina evertzlover existed, Serena Williams, Venus Williams. There's
been some very very good years for women's turns at
the top of the women's sport, but this is right
(06:46):
up there. It really was in terms of reaching heights
a game which I don't think was modeled on power
as much more about precision, counterpunching, maneuverability of the boy
around the court, someone who is really quick and possessed
a really, really good brain as well. So just a
really quality person from a tennis perspective and someone that
(07:10):
I think will be missed on till.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Very well said lots of tributes poured out to Antie
Kerber following her loss, going to miss her. I think
the match match quality she was able to produce is
something that we shouldn't We shouldn't gloss over, and I
don't think we are. I think it was mentioned on
our discord as well. But when you can really rely
on someone to give it their best and also bring
(07:35):
out the best in their competitor, it makes her really
great viewing. And I feel like Antie Kerber did that
more often than not. That quote from Steve Simon or
dedication to the sport of tennis produced results that define
her as one of the great players of a highly
competitive era. That's really true. There was a lot of
great players in her day, and yet I think Antie
(07:56):
Kerber found a way to stand out. So that is
a testament to her abilities and a big shout out
to her.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Do you think her fourteen career titles seems low.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Yeah, a little bit. I guess when you consider the
significance of the titles she did win, then it perhaps
that makes sense. But yeah, really, I mean the big
big years for her came later, like you said, like
from twenty sixteen on, or it is when she she
(08:30):
began to get recognition. Twenty eighteen it was another phenomenal year.
I think she was nominated for Player of the Year.
That were year as well, But she beats Serena a Wimbledon.
So the two best years of her career happening after
the halfway point. Maybe that makes sense that she wasn't
mopping up titles.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I think it does make sense. Yeah, I just think
we are so in have become so accustomed to top,
top level players racking up you know, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy,
you name it titles that just being down in the
single teams seems just a small amount. But then again,
(09:09):
as we've touched on before, and as you just touched
on entirely backloaded, maybe it isn't surprising that that number
looks small by comparison to some of her peers.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Speaking of players on their way out, Rafa, Nadal Bush
out in singles, out in doubles, as well, Nadelkaraz losing
to the American team of cry Check in RAM. But
I think the singles match you called this, I'm going
(09:38):
to give you your flowers, Bush, when everyone was salivating
over Novak versus Rafa in round two after the track
came out, I think a lot of people were expecting
Novak to win. I think that was probably the major
sentiment based on current form. But overall, maybe a spectacle
is what we had banked on. But you had said, Bush,
it was going to be sad, and it mostly was.
(10:00):
It mostly was, aside from like twenty minutes at the
end when we saw some glimpses of old Rafa. But yeah,
this was Novak beating Rafa in straight sets, and then,
like I said, Nadal Carraz going out in doubles. I
thought it was nice that Rafa had this moment before
the tennis started, with the torch and the Eiffel Tower
and like all of that. I'm really glad that happened,
(10:21):
because I felt like it was always going to be sad.
The fairy tale wasn't coming, and I think Luke said
this alid discord, but it really is true. Like the
parallels to late stage fed are quite quite apt. I
feel like like it's just enough is good to good
enough to make you feel okay after him getting through
some wars that never used to be, wars against your
(10:42):
Martin Fukevich or whoever, and then when he needs to
get better, it will be much better than he has.
He just can't be. And that was the case against Djokovic.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Yeah, I don't know who. This tweet was put up
by some My apologies for not finding the handle here,
but just crazy facts about Novak Djokovic raf Nadal right
rivalry two thousand and eight. The last time Nadal beat
Djokovic on a grass court twenty ten, The last time
that Nadal beat Djokovic on an indoor hard court twenty
and thirteen. The last time Nadal beat Jokovic on an
(11:14):
outdoor hard court twenty and thirteen. The last time Nadal
want to set against Jokovic on any hard court. Djokovic
has not lost to Nadal away from clay since Obama
was president in the United States of America. Anyone who
thought that this was going to go any different way
is either not watching the sport or is incredibly naive.
(11:37):
I'm naive.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
I thought there was magic, but it's job. It's so djover.
I'm sorry, yeah, yeah, it's well, do you think he
plays the US Open? How about that he signed up
for it.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
It's it's done right, it's it's over. So his Yeah,
just a question of whether or not he wants.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I just wonder now, like it was really I felt
like the torch stuff was so perfect, like this was it.
But I just I don't think he's going to play
at the US Open to get smoked early, you know,
So I wonder if he shows up there but he
calls it may be in New York, but it feels over.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
He's not a top thirty player anymore, and it's going
to be, i know, very harsh and very challenging for
a lot of people to hear. But his form since
he's played and him coming back has not suggested that
this is a person who's remotely capable of competing anymore.
And that's Fine's his body has broken down, and for
(12:39):
this seems very unlikely. The trajectory or the direction of
travel here is that he's going to come back to
winning Grand slams all to say, that's totally fine. It's
just it's just figuring out what kind of retirement and
what kind of end to his career he wants.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Yeah, figuring out how to go. And you know, I
have face. He seems like a good dude in this
sense of not doing things through bullshit reasons for the
most part. So yeah, let's see how this shakes out.
But yeah, I just know I still, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
I'm very confused, from from my perspective of someone who's
been watching tennis for twenty five years, what what does
he want? What does his retirement look like? Because he's
done everything. I would have thought him walking off of
Roland Garris one last time would have been would have
been fine. I would have thought that, like the Olympic
(13:28):
Games would have been fine, because he's had so much
success there in representing Spain and what he means to
it on that court. I would have thought this would
have been it. But if not, he then then where
and then what what is he waiting for?
Speaker 1 (13:40):
I don't know really, Yeah, And.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
He doesn't need to appease me, like fuck me in regard,
he doesn't need he doesn't go it to anyone. But
it's just I'm just very curious to know what it is.
I agree with empathetical rap fuck you as we should say.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
But no, it's you know, I who needs to lose.
This verb is your last I'm read there though, So
I honestly I understand wanted to come back to shake
that taste. And if this is always part of the plan,
it probably was right like a year ago plus back
when he was plotting the end. But now it was
announced he was gonna be entered at the US Open
(14:14):
before the Olympics. But obviously things will change and maybe
the manner of how this went down will will affect
his calculus. But my new take is said he's gonna
show up to New York, but not play and call
it there because I the other thing is like a
lot of people are having their moments like anywhere. He's
gonna have his moment here too, So I don't know
(14:34):
if he wants to just fully take over. And he's
probably left already, you know, like so he's probably in
North America soon ish after a brief holiday, so I
think the end is coming soon. This is it's not good,
like even before the last twenty minutes against Novak, This
felt like one of those things that wasn't good for anyone,
even Novak, who I don't know. He did the violin
(14:58):
think of the end, but I'm like, I don't think
this is necessary, sir, Please carry on.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
He's gonna retire in the place that everyone loves, Cincinnati,
Ohio's in Ohio, western and southern. That's where it's gonna end. Everyone.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
We'll talk Murray and Dan Evans after the break on
parting shots, I think was unless you want to touch
on him now.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Maybe let's do it briefly and just kind of keep
it a little separate, just to give Murray his flowers.
It kind of does feel like we've been talking about
him retiring for the last six weeks or so, which
is totally again, totally fine. I think his the way
that he's chosen to go out has made complete sense.
To wrap up at Wimwooden, to have to send off
with his brother and then for's gonna was gonna make
(15:43):
I never read a car New joke, but it's not.
It's not a It feels too soon to make that
kind of joke, and then to end up here at
the Olympics and to go out at a tournament. He's
had so much success to be a flag bearer. It
feels right and has been real magic this week as well.
It's been very very entertained to watch him and Dan
(16:04):
Evans's exploits.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Co signed loved Dan Evans getting his flowers as well
as a lovable scamp we always knew he was, which
is probably not true at all, right, but this is
this is great stuff. I want to shout out some
overall tennis stuff, Simon, and you can't do, but just
the Felix age alias see who has rescued a very
(16:28):
very bad season and he liked Dylan Brooks. Once they
put that, may be leief on something happens man, because
it happened to the Davis Cup. It's happening at the
Olympics again. He's now said a mark for Canadian tennis
players in terms of how deep they've gone since the
sport was brought back in to the Olympic Games. Where
(16:49):
did this come from?
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Well, that's a comparison that I never thought I would hear.
Is the Felix seemed to Dylan Brooks one which a
shame on me for not finding that this top level
journalism that you can't teach you just to you have it,
you're born with it. All that being said, it's good.
It's good to see him making I don't think he's
(17:12):
done either here right. I think this is he has
the potential to cause a shock and keep going and
despite me me making fun of it, I think it
really is different for players if they've had a shitty
year or and they find themselves in a completely different
(17:32):
situation because it is not you're not all alone, you're
representing the country, you're in a team of It was interesting.
I had this conversation with some of the other day
and it was in regards to the sort of Team
Canada US as Team GB idea. And because we were
watching we were watching the British swimmers and the British swimmers.
We're all talking about how like it's a team event,
(17:54):
like we all support each other despite it being swimming
as a singles competitor. And I think the person I
was speaking to found it a bit strange coming It's like, no,
it's not like you're still just doing you're competing for yourself.
And I was trying to explain, like it's kind of
if you're in the camp, it is sort of beaten
into you this idea that you're all supporting each other.
(18:14):
You're there in this event and you're representing the flag
and as a big team, and maybe that does play
a role in someone's psyche going into these events.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
We've seen it before with him after poor stretches when
he plays for Canada, something happens. It's awesome to see
he's i think against Medvedev, who he hadn't beaten eight attempts,
like you'd seen different variations of losses, and the one
in Australia it stuck in my mind a while. But
a simon, he was brilliant serving, absolutely brilliant serving. His
(18:46):
return game was aggressive and I thought he was every
He was aggressive in general and his forehand is such
a weapon when it's on. He was fully full value
for the win. I think med after the match is
like you know, and I didn't play that bad, like
I played pretty well, but Felix is better than me.
And it's been a while, you know, since Felix, I
think it's done that to someone in the top five,
(19:07):
top ten, So that was awesome. Doubles, Like you said,
with Gaby Debrowski, he's gonna play for a medal because
they've made the semi finals there, so awesome, awesome stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
This is this is a great draw on both the
men's and the women's side, like in singles and doubles
and in mixed doubles. There's some fantastic matchups coming on
in the in the second half of the of the tournament.
It's this is no, this is not like the old
days of Nicholas Massou winning great ast respect Jesus.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Jesus, that remote, that remote live taping in Santiago is
going to go down.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
I'm really really good for a Chilean friend who's going
to never talk to me again after saying that maybe
I'll leap it from the record.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Anything else tennis vice not.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Off the top of my head, I think it's been better,
very very enjoyable. I have really enjoyed watching Crazie Coverns
and Ya have a play again. That was really enjoyable
to watch. So, you know, top line level is just
it's been a fun tournament.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
We're going to get to the drama after the break,
including IgA, Danielle Navarro and Chenk Goco Gough and the
umpires and Canada and spying. All of that coming up
next on Open Era. Welcome back to the Open Era podcasts. I'mon.
(20:37):
We've touched on some of the nicer things, some good moments,
things we've liked, But there's been beef at these games.
USA grade grade A beef, the USA behaving badly has
been the quote bandied about this is from Mary Carillo. Quote,
he's American women. I think they're running a little wild
(20:58):
these Olympic Games. Sounds a bit, a bit bunch. I
think that could be positive as well, because they want
a shitload of medals.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Quote.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Honestly, that wasn't true. But this is in response to
a couple of things happening over the past few days,
including Danielle Collins and Egostrion Tech slugging slugging away in
their quarter final match that had to end due to
collins abdominal injury. I think there was some there's an
accusation I guess from Danielle Collins to EGA being so
(21:32):
what was the word disingenuous, insincere, insincere quote. I told
Ega she didn't have to be insincere, but you know
my injury. There's a lot that happens on camera and
there are a lot of people with a ton of
charisma that come out and are one way on camera
and another way to the locker room. And I just
haven't had the best experience, and I don't really feel
like anybody needs to be insincere end Quote she keeps
(21:54):
going on, but she mentions fakeness afterwards. Quote they can
be the way they are. I can accept that, and
I don't need the fake That's the first time this
has been whispered about. Eager by the way, Simon, But
this was a lot like I think you could SEEEO
was distressed after their handshake, which was quite something. What
(22:18):
was your take on this whole thing?
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Well, this one thing that we can say for certain
is that no one will ever accuse Daniel Collins of
being fake and insincere in terms of her. We know
who she is on court and on off court, which
is is one thing. The playing at the service pace
stuff was I think eventually going to catch up with
(22:41):
the Igshiontek. Someone was always going to punch back on
it was kind of inevitable in the same way that
it has caught up with many players across the years.
This wasn't a nothing story. I think for the people
that are trying to sort of dismiss it and say
that it wasn't anything. It felt personal, you know, in
a way that some of these other stories kind of
(23:02):
don't and seem like just surface level heat in the
moment stuff. It kind of felt like someone burying some
bad blood here. So I wonder why. We don't really know,
But on the surface of it, it felt a bit
more real than some of the other ones to me.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Yeah, the fakest thing I think is something that other
players have been alluding to cryptically in a very very
cryptic passion. But I do I do wonder if this
will maybe give rise to other players speaking up. But
I thought it was pretty shocking. I came into it
without context, so I saw the end and then I
(23:37):
rewatched the handshake and the highlights afterwards. It was taken aback,
But I mean, a you're representing your country, so there's
the toxic stew of nationalism mixed in there. But be like,
Daniel Colt has had a really big year with a
lot of big things happening, and for this tournament to
end the way it did due to injury, like you
got to be feeling some type of way about it.
(23:59):
So I feel like some maybe some grace or some
empathy can be delivered in her way. And I mean
I didn't feel great for Ego afterwards either, But the
pace of play stuff feels like gamesmanship. And there is
stuff that she EGA has done regarding breaks she has
taken and when she has taken them that I think
has rubbed her competitors the wrong way as well. So yeah,
(24:20):
it's worth talking about, for sure, I.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Think it is. I do also think there's an element
of this, which is it is a there's a level
of disrespect I think in terms of almost talking down
to someone on court, lecturing someone, Yeah, that feels unearned, perhaps,
like I don't think that your personal feelings get to
(24:47):
come above the rest of everyone else's watching a match,
Like I think you can leave that stuff for in
the locker room. I think one of the reasons I
was saying this felt a bit more real is because
I think the manner of it is that it looked
like someone trying to make a point in the sense
of its in front of everyone in the Olympic Games,
(25:08):
very visibly and audibly to the world. I'm not really
a huge fan of people just like fucking lecturing other
people on court, it just comes across as a bit
patronizing and a bit like infantilizing, So I didn't I
didn't really appreciate this at all, even though I do
think there's some legitimacy to people taking their time and
not playing at service, being all that sort of stuff.
(25:29):
Anyone who's played club level tennis knows what the fuck
they're talking about on this one. It's incredibly frustrating, incredibly
annoying when you have someone who does it whilst at
the same time like being an adult, bit a bit
of a grown up on this one.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
The Emma Navarro Jenkywn Beef Bush Emminavarro not happy with
Jeng following a third set drubbing and Jeng replying an
incredible spicy manner. I believe the quote from Jeng, I'm
(26:04):
trying to dig it up quickly. I will not consider
it and I will not consider it an attack because
she lost the match. Navarro though, Bush, this is your girl.
What's going on here with her comments about Shank. I
didn't like this at all.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
I thought this one was down to the crowd more
than I think down to Shenki when I think it
was a boisterous rowdy loud crowd who were very vociferously
too many long words in a single sentence. This is
why I should never be allowed on the CBC. Who
(26:38):
were supporting their athlete. And it was fucking boiling on
court as well, So all of that combined, I don't.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Basically her response to the Net was I didn't know
you had fans.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Basically it was very odd. Yeah, very very odd. What
are you talking about?
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Like? That's holy cow? Yeah, that felt to me like
a bit of us and I hate, I hate to
say this. I just felt like a bit of a
spoiled brat response, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
But never from a billionairebe I don't.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Yeah, maybe I don't hate to say that Japek would ever.
I honestly mean that, I don't think she would do that.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
So in any case, that no one would accuse the
Chinese fans of of not supporting their athletes during the
Olympic Games. I think if you've watched enough coverage, they
travel in numbers, and they travel.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
If you see in ten minutes of the volleyball fan camp,
you know that China's fans are doing great stuff. The
I love those the fan camp stuff in between events
at those Arenas. So there was that, So there was
Emmin and R Danielle Collins, and then Coco GoF Bush.
The Now, this I think is a bit different because
(27:50):
this I feel like we've seen examples of this happening
to Cocoa a few times now, especially at this exact
tournament or a venue in which she's not getting the
benefit of the doubt and it's clearly frustrating her.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Am I controversial to say that I didn't I didn't
think the umpire did anything wrong.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
No, But I think I think, yeah, I think this
is more on like.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
The body of body of evidence.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
This is not just yeah, this is not just one instance,
like I felt bad for Donnovec could still get me
wrong and like we shouldn't have been waiting there. It
felt uncomfortable and cringe. But I get what Cocoa GOV
felt like she was at a loss there because it
has happened to her multiple times. And I think for
someone who is by the book and like about sportsmanship,
(28:38):
et cetera, et cetera, like I think this is something
that like she finds she's not getting she's not getting
the benefit of the doubt even though she's done what
she's done in the game. But I can understand how
that would be frustrated.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Totally. Yeah, I think you want to believe the stuff
balances out or comes out in the wash. As an athlete,
is that for as many bad causes that you're going
to receive, you're also going to get ones in the
opposite direction. And I came away from this thinking, can
we just fucking go to electronic line calling? Please? This
is ridiculous. I've had enough of this. I don't want
to keep talking about it, especially when it's the only
(29:11):
event that is happening at We.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
Have this stuff for the stupid as shit. At least
we could do at least we could do, sorry, is
implement this for things that matter and that could affect
things and cause less stress on everyone involved. Jesus Christ,
as I said, like, I don't, yeah, sorry, I just
I was. This is not great for vekage either as
the competitor playing a geinst scarff.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
No, it isn't. Not when you're standing it was five
five and a half minutes. I think of how long
this exchange.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Took, nine thousand degrees or whatever, And I.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Was reading some things about it of I think talk
about being disingenuous about it, of saying of reading some
commentators saying, well, the UMPI I should have given him
a time violation for five and a half minutes of time, Like,
come on, get your head out your ass on this one.
I think a person is entitled to to make that point.
(30:03):
With all that being said, how many times dev have
you ever seen an unpar changed their mind after a
conversation with a player. I think it's a big fat
goose egg. It's happened zero times in the history of humanity.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
Outside of azany exhibition.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Zero.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
So yeah, I'm with you the Americans, though, I mean
I cheekily named this episode red White and f you.
But I do think part of what makes America America
is this attitude on the world stage when most people
are like what and they're like, now we're going full in,
(30:41):
like Simone Biles is a good example of this, or
she's just now Fumagate, like just blazing that ex gymnist
who is talking trash about to us, to even now
they are all just oh, it's they're winning. And I
think that's just so America to me. But then we're
getting some some instances of the ugly American and I
(31:04):
know we have wonderful American listeners, but I'm curious, like
I think there's levels of this obviously, but it's part
of what makes them kind of such a catch at
these international events because we need villains. And I do
find it like interesting and sort of nice that Canada,
or at least the Canadian women's aga team is now
a villain kind of in Paris.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Yeah, I think the Olympic Games is fascinating because you
are representing the flag and you can have a bunch
of narratives attached to that in terms of national identity
and how the kind of personality that come. And it's
not a monolith. I think anyone claims that it's completely ridiculous,
but you do have a a of a you know,
a very hearty and loud American contingent in the crowd.
(31:46):
You might have a slightly more reserved, you know, Japanese section,
perhaps with polite applause when their athletes are winning and
all this kind of stuff, which you know, it's all
stereotypes and it's all leaning into different areas, but it's
it's also one is not better than the other. This
is the thing that's always kind of lost in all
of this thing like you need to act a certain way,
you need to support a certain way, you need to
(32:08):
play a certain way, or because everyone's going to have
their own interpretation of what that looks like on your
sort of individualistic versus your sort of community side of
things as well. So it's I think the Olympics are
really fascinating for that, and nothing I know more than
that demonstrated than watching the team gymnastics competitions. I think
those are fascinating for many different reasons about how the
(32:30):
Southeast are holding themselves.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
The Chinese gymnast Oh my god competition, who oh God,
you got bad teammates? Or what not to do in
a teammates situation. His teammates deserted this guy after he fell.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Ah, that was really rough. That's that's not what you
like to see. I think depending on where you were
born and where you grew up and everything, and who
you who you're supporting, whether you whether you associate yourself
with a national team or are these sort of things.
I do think it's interesting how those those marks or
those things that you think sometimes are either good or
bad about how your your nation handles themselves, they become
(33:11):
they rise quite a lot during the Olympics, where like
I would never consider myself to have like national pride
when it comes to Team GB or Team Canada in
any capacity, But by god, am I going to get
into the spirit of it in the exact way that
those teams do whenever they're performing well. And I think
that's probably not a good thing. I think that's probably
(33:31):
maybe not a good reflection how we are as a
society in general.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
Well, I think when I was younger, I would have
felt like personally attacked by the tron story. I would
have like FIFA and their French authorities are personally coming
after me in my honor as a Canadian soccer person
and fan. How dare they monsters? Et cetera. And because
I haven't done that, I found myself relishing their success
(33:55):
for and enjoying it more because I'm less bogged down
in the minutia of it. And I think it's because
i've I've I'm less patriotic in this sense of going
full on Canada or bust like I might have if
this was like twenty ten or possibly two thousand, Like
I remember watching Simon Whitfield win the triathlon in two
(34:15):
thousand and feeling fully Canadiana, et cetera, et cetera. But
it also felt like that was part of that era
in my life, where like that's what fandom was. Whereas
now maybe it's a bit easier to understand, like what
is contributing to this How we made it this far?
How is Canada now winning medals and swimming? Maybe? How
(34:38):
are we doing better in track and field? Why are
we doing better? Who's investing the funds? Like I feel
like a lot, it's a lot more, there's a lot.
It's a lot easier maybe to feel less invested in
like the shame and the glory aspects of this stuff.
And I think that's better, Like that's a lot healthier
than it used to be.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
I mean, I agree also think that sometimes it's hard
to look at the Olympics outside of the context of
modern geopolitical tensions or what the nation state represents, because
I have said numerous times on this podcast how much
(35:19):
of a complete stan I am, Because in my heart
of heart, there is something incredibly cool about a global
sporting competition where really it's supposed to be amateurs, right,
you are just competing against other nations, and it's supposed
to be a celebration. It's supposed to be a festival
where everyone comes together and is competitive against each other
(35:41):
and it's done in good nature. Like I am obviously
accepting very much so that that is a romanticized view
of what it is, because you can't look beyond all
the things in their IOC and you know, doping programs
and how it's used for soft power, like I'm acutely
aware of about those things. But the same time, it
should be. It should be something that we celebrate dea
(36:03):
of it fucking should be because there's something very cool
in there and something very sweet and lovable and something
very pure about it, which I think is lost so
many times. And I really want to believe in it,
because if you can't believe in it, then you kind
of you become cynical about the whole thing.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
No, it's really well said. There is an interview with
a Canadian swimmer last night with Devon here Harry You,
the CBC reporter. I believe it was Ingrid Will went
a Canais or is she she made the final? But
I don't believe she meddled, but she had. She's been
a great interview. The whole week and she gave a
final interview with Devin and it was excellent, excellent stuff,
and it was just like the perfect example of Holy Cow.
(36:43):
This is a major milestone for this person. They're often
I think the other part of this is getting older. Bush.
That's when I was at the age of these people competing.
I think I was a little more. I don't know,
I just I think I prospect has changed so much
that I appreciate the journey so much more. And to
your point, like I less, I don't care so much
(37:06):
about winning, you know, And I think this is the
one one place in sports where that's true for me.
And this feels like the healthiest way to consume it.
So of all the stuff around the games being obviously
toxic and bad, and I mean, we can there's a
laundry list of reasons why you probably shouldn't want your
city to host an Olympic Games, but the other stuff
(37:29):
man projected.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
And I think if you think about what it means
to have national pride or the things that never get
spoken about of what a country actually, you know, is
good at, that is not what it presents us to
the world, Like elements of solidarity and community, you know,
arts and culture, sporting, achievement, innovation, like all of these things.
(37:55):
Because there's so many different layers on top of each
on top of each other. They don't just have been
in isolation. Obviously, there's many reasons behind why it happens
in a certain way. But it's nice to support your
country periodically. It's nice to have a bit of national
pride about something, even if it's feeling, you know, somewhat
dirty if you associate with a country that has a
(38:18):
somewhat checkered past as.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
Well, said sir, do you want to talk about any
other tennis stuff or let's just go full Olympics.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Yeah, I was going to ask you on this one.
Mira and Jovah won a tall title. Let's just say
that she's seventeen years and ninety days. Congratulations to her.
She's going to be fantastic. She'll be a slam champion
before she's twenty. I believe that very strongly. But let
me ask you this question, what did you make of
the women's football the Canadian situation? Because this seems massively
(38:49):
this is a story that's taken up a lot of
airways and is a story which has made global news,
literally Global News, not another broadcaster here. So what was
your opinion on this? Do you feel like this is
overblown or do you feel like the FIFA was out
to get Canada here?
Speaker 1 (39:07):
It's a tough one. I feel like the humors of
the coaching staff to employ their usual methods at the
Olympics where there's like incredible surveillance and security and the
French authority is watching everything like a hawk, Like that
was so so stupid that I feel like the repercussions
for this will be felt for a very long time.
(39:28):
That being said, the actual crime itself, like, I don't
feel like it is a major competitive advantage to do
what Canada did, And I think there's different way people
go about this. But the idea of like quote unquote spying,
I think it's done in many different ways, whether it
be without a drone or with a drone. So like
(39:49):
I think, like the actual act itself, I feel less
less like dropping monocles about it and fainting at the
idea of us doing it. But I do think there's
like a gap here in the sense of like how
Canadians perceive themselves and like how no, like what it
takes to win which makes me feel a big grind
(40:10):
me to say the last part. But like the idea
of Canada never be like we could never do this,
or like that's not something we would do to win,
or like we do things the right way, Like let's
be serious here, What the fuck are we talking about
when it comes to that, Like that's insane, It's truly insane.
And I think the funny part is we're trying to
get an edge and every way we can. And like
(40:31):
I think John Herdman, whether or not he was the
mastermind or not, and it's reportedly we don't know for
a fact that he was. But like the idea that
they had to institute these things to get on like
the same level as the rest of the world kind
of checks out when you look at how Canada has
done the last six or seven years. Wow, So I think, yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Yes, and no, right he checks notes from the Oh yeah,
the defending gold medalists. Oh it's not exactly like it's
this is a small plucky underdog's coming into this.
Speaker 1 (41:05):
No, but yeah, I just I think they they brought
they brought the things in that they knew worked elsewhere.
But I think there was any naivete about what it
took probably and once once you have Bev Priestman letting
HR know that someone does not want to spy for her,
you created an insane paper trill that'll get you caught.
(41:27):
Like I think that I feel.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
I mean, the players are incredible, like the fact that
they had won all they won all three games and
two of them after the punishment, the point punishment, Like
it's one of the greatest sports accomplishments, I think, in
our country's history. But it's it's it's a it's a
situation of our own doing, which makes it almost like
the perfect Canadian sports story because like it has all
(41:50):
the elements of joy, pride, but also like embarrassment and
shame and people being angry at journalists for reporting on
the story, which is another thing of like just media
literacy being in the absolute toilet in not just.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
This country but overall. It has everything, and it's yeah,
it's one of those things that soccer is continuously making
headlines for hilarious reasons, and it makes me laugh. Is
considering by career trajectory, just not picturing it happening like
this maybe ten years ago. But it's pretty pretty remarkable.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
What a story I think there's a couple of points there. Firstly,
whenever any when anyone ever uses the phrase like we
don't do that or this is not who we are,
you absolutely are, you know, immediately after the thing happening,
it's like shooting happens in local town. This is this
is so unexpected. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is. Secondly,
what on earth for France doing in the twentieth minute
(42:47):
to concede a goal like that? They did not, It's
truly remarkable set of naivety from a set of players there.
Ian Thirdly, so obviously I've former leads manager myself also
caught in similar circumstances in terms of filming, opposition and
going through this like I've already lived through this story
(43:08):
once in a different capacity, and be USO's on record
like they gave a exceedingly long I think it's only
a sixty minute press conference, complete with PowerPoint presentation sort
of outlining and saying how this did not give us
an advantage, Like because the amount of data that's available
out there, everything match is televised, what you can actually
(43:29):
get out of a training session, there's not enough of
there to demonstrate that this is a sizable advantage for
a team to get. I do think that's a little
bit different in women's sport and in the position of
women's football in general, just given that a lot of
those things don't translate as well over from a professionalized
men's game as well. So I do think there's something
that's lost in that, whilst at the same time I
(43:50):
think it's it is an interesting question to ask how
much of an advantage can you get when you kind
of know what formation everyone's going to play? You know,
all these play it like in the back of your hand.
Does it actually do anything or are we just kind
of being you know, this is just a spirit of
the game thing.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
I would feel a lot differently about it. I guess
if this was a one off in Canada was doing
something no one else was doing, But I think we
know that's not the case. I think it was just
the way it went down really really a robb the
players of this moment that was that was theirs, and
they're taking it back, they're wrestling it back to their credit.
(44:28):
But also like at the beginning of the Olympics, this
was the only story, Like athletes are competing everywhere and
this was the only thing we were talking about, So
in that regardles, it's shitty, but like I think the
story now of what they can do with this, it's remarkable.
And and then the priestsman emails things like butter emails
Hillary Clinton style, like we're going back to twenty sixteen.
This is going to be this is insane. Why did
(44:52):
you Why did you email h about that?
Speaker 2 (44:55):
I don't understand this some very what was it the
not to quote Jesus not listening to me? Quoting Michelle Obama?
But it's the.
Speaker 1 (45:07):
This does have a direct last person. I expect you
to say.
Speaker 2 (45:10):
That could have pulled anything from a bag from anywhere
in the world. But wasn't she saying like she sat
on boards and been in meetings everywhere. And the realization
that people aren't that smart no matter which position they're in.
I feel like that is that rings very true here
as well. Okay, can we do an Olympic episode like
(45:31):
separated from tennis? Yeah, let us know how you want
to achieve that, because.
Speaker 1 (45:36):
I will yeah, well probably won't do this. That's is
your two challenges remaining Olympics. We waited because you can
continue this or.
Speaker 2 (45:46):
I mean I feel like it shouldn't be, given that
we've just done twenty five minutes on non tennis related things.
I do have a two challenge remaining. If would you
let me to go first, or do you have something
that I would actually no, I would welcome you, Okay,
So I just wanted to shout out. I watched a
documentary called Being Japanese by the YouTube channel Life where
(46:07):
I'm From, which is really really good, and it's about
a bunch of different people from who have different backgrounds
in Japan in a nation that doesn't hand out citizenships
so readily, and the language that is used, Japanese oftentimes
does have trouble in defining who is defined as Japanese
given the backgrounds of various people. And it was wonderful.
(46:32):
It's a really really good documentary. It's free, you can
find out on YouTube. But I think it also brought
up a lot of things for myself, which is being
a citizen of two nations and what it actually means
to have lived twenty one years in Britain and growing
up there and then living thirteen years in Canada and
spending my adult life there and feeling, you know, am
I am I truly Canadian?
Speaker 1 (46:52):
Do I.
Speaker 2 (46:53):
You know, I have the passport, I'm a citizen of
the country, like what does. But I don't really have
the cultural fluency. Perhaps I didn't grow up with those
sort of things and have the shorthandle a lot of
people use. Maybe in terms of how people hold themselves,
you know, it's not quite there. Do I feel British? Yes,
I do, but I kind of don't at the same
time because I've not been there for a while. So
I just thought it was a really good documentary of
answering some of those questions and it really rang true
(47:15):
to me.
Speaker 1 (47:16):
Wonderful, sir, I mine is. I went to a live
podcast taping a show podcast show. Yeah, the first ever
one of those. It's a lot, I think I've been
to a few of those. But I went to Comedy
Bang Bang live in Toronto. I'm not sure if you've
heard of that show, Simon.
Speaker 2 (47:35):
I have heard of it, better ever listened to Okay.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
So I was my sister who's also a fan, and
we had a great time. But like it was one
of those zones where like you think something is like
not that popular or like kind of like your thing,
and you're like, oh, I wonder what other freaks are
gonna be here for this. And then we got to
the venue and the line was literally street slot Simon,
like easily the biggest line I've ever been in to
(48:01):
get into a show, and it was just it was remarkable.
It was crazy how many people showed up. And it
makes sense that they are on a North American tour,
but yeah, it was great and it was just one
of those most funny things. I thought I was so cool,
but really, this is a podcast of thousands and thousands
of stance.
Speaker 2 (48:19):
Yeah, it is interesting, isn't it How these what were
once thought as niche sort of media pieces have now
spawned into their own and have been that way for
a very long time. It has to be sad this
is not a new thing. But there's a reason that
I think the podcast market got saturated is because it
works and people found audiences and they resonated with the
(48:41):
material that was being put out there. So I guess
it isn't surprising. With all that being said, dev, when
is the open air live show happening?
Speaker 1 (48:48):
Well, I was gonna say the community aspect is I
think the part that I underappreciated and I sheltered at
that live show, So we should do it. I'm going
to be on site the National Bank Open in Toronto
next week. If you're around, holler at me. I'll be
at the Rogers tent a lot. So yeah, maybe we
can do something show up. Yeah, you're gonna be in
(49:11):
town too, aren't you.
Speaker 2 (49:12):
I don't think that soon. I don't think it's okay.
Speaker 1 (49:16):
We'll take these we'll take these plants offline. Yeah, we
got to plan the open era and meet up. I
think the New York City US Open thing has to happen.
But we'll actually try and figure this out in the
coming days, probably for next year. But anyways, I'm just
rambling now. I'm gonna plug our Patreon though that's a
nod to our tennis community. I mentioned the one I
(49:36):
thought at that that podcast taping. But our discord is great.
It's been awesome, sure, the Olympic, It's awesome all the time.
But join us on patreon dot com for slash open
Eric at the show early when we record, get an
ad free and get access to the Tennis Discord Open
Era where we're chatting tennis plus everything else, news, politics,
(49:56):
et cetera all the time. And I think that's it
for pretty UK, for Dylan on the Ones and two
US and for Simon. Thank you so much for listening
to Open Era. We'll talk to you next week.
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