The Tennis Thread

tototoner said:

Novax Djokovic

sorry I'll get my coat

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Could've gone the whole hog with Djocovid

aliyid said:

Just because he’s had it before doesn’t mean he can’t get it (or one of the new variants) again…

Deleted the rest as this is the tennis thread and don’t want to de-rail it into yet another uninformed myths of COVID thread

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And just because one has had the vaccine, doesn't mean one can't get covid either. In fact, infection rates may be higher among vaccinated people than recovered ones, specially since the onset of omicron. Full disclosure here, I haven't read the actual data regarding this, just remember reading a few articles suggesting this to be the case.

mightyspur said:

The fact you referred to him as Nole, suggests to me you have a potentially biased view of his previous comments and how you interpret them as you are obviously a fan, which is fine by the way, but you should take that into consideration.

Djokovic is obviously a little out there with his 'spiritual world view' and as a fairly influential individual he should be more careful projecting dangerous narratives on the world. I read that he calls telekinesis and telepathy "gifts from this higher order, the source, the god, whatever, that allows us to understand the higher power and higher order in ourselves" and had a previous coach (Pepe Imaz) that taught him about telepathy and levitation and 'extremely long hugs'... OK

His actual comments around the COVID vaccine were; "Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn't want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel". Those first few words are pretty damning despite people saying he's not said he's "anti vax" and his comments relate specifically to the COVID vaccine for travelling. Yeah, it could relate to that, but based on his other opinions on medical things such as surgery etc. I'd suggest not and is his most likely on the balance of probabilities a general view.

His wife also has a few nutty opinions, sharing anti 5G videos at the start linking 5G technology to the outbreak of COVID and when it was debunked, instead of holding her hands up and saying she was wrong, simply doubled down. I get his wife isn't him, but let's face it, people with these opinions tend to be one and the same.

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I refer to him as Nole the same way I often refer to Nadal as Rafa or to Federer as Roger. I'm not a fanboy of Nole (though I do admire him a lot), it's just the way I'm used to call him after spending so much time of my life watching tennis.

Sure, we can take one general comment he made and try to interpret it our of context, or we can also take more specific comments he has made when pressed about the issue:

Speaking to The New York Times this week about his previous comments on vaccinations, Djokovic said: “I see that the international media has taken that out of context a little bit, saying that I am completely against vaccines of any kind.

“My issue here with vaccines is if someone is forcing me to put something in my body. That I don’t want. For me that’s unacceptable.

“I am not against vaccination of any kind, because who am I to speak about vaccines when there are people that have been in the field of medicine and saving lives around the world?

“I’m sure that there are vaccines that have little side effects that have helped people and helped stop the spread of some infections around the world.”

Also, this guy is not only in peak physical conditions in comparison to most people, but also in comparison to most professional athletes. You really think he has been able to get there by being an anti-science looney or something for the like? Okay, that could maybe be the case, but I still would argue that whatever stance he has regarding nutrition and health are at the very least as good as any.

And there's really nothing wrong with him having beliefs regarding the supernatural. I understand if that to you sounds a little crazy, but I personally don't see anything wrong with it and would seldom use it to discredit someone else

well he's currently retained in a room at the airport and has been for 12 hours, problem with his paperwork

Twizzle said:

well he's currently retained in a room at the airport and has been for 12 hours, problem with his paperwork

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He'll be loving that

Should make a decent episode of Border Security - Australia

I like Djokovic but I also respect Australia and their borders. Knowing us we would have anyone stroll in without meeting the requirement. Exemptions left right and centre.

ralvy said:

And just because one has had the vaccine, doesn't mean one can't get covid either. In fact, infection rates may be higher among vaccinated people than recovered ones, specially since the onset of omicron. Full disclosure here, I haven't read the actual data regarding this, just remember reading a few articles suggesting this to be the case.



I refer to him as Nole the same way I often refer to Nadal as Rafa or to Federer as Roger. I'm not a fanboy of Nole (though I do admire him a lot), it's just the way I'm used to call him after spending so much time of my life watching tennis.

Sure, we can take one general comment he made and try to interpret it our of context, or we can also take more specific comments he has made when pressed about the issue:

Speaking to The New York Times this week about his previous comments on vaccinations, Djokovic said: “I see that the international media has taken that out of context a little bit, saying that I am completely against vaccines of any kind.

“My issue here with vaccines is if someone is forcing me to put something in my body. That I don’t want. For me that’s unacceptable.

“I am not against vaccination of any kind, because who am I to speak about vaccines when there are people that have been in the field of medicine and saving lives around the world?

“I’m sure that there are vaccines that have little side effects that have helped people and helped stop the spread of some infections around the world.”

Also, this guy is not only in peak physical conditions in comparison to most people, but also in comparison to most professional athletes. You really think he has been able to get there by being an anti-science looney or something for the like? Okay, that could maybe be the case, but I still would argue that whatever stance he has regarding nutrition and health are at the very least as good as any.

And there's really nothing wrong with him having beliefs regarding the supernatural. I understand if that to you sounds a little crazy, but I personally don't see anything wrong with it and would seldom use it to discredit someone else

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He is almost certainly anti-vax. Not in the sense that he thinks vaccines shouldn't exist, or they are all bad, but in his own personal belief that he feels he doesn't need them. Even that statement you have provided, which would have been pre-prepared by his PR team he doesn't state, "I have had vaccine x,y,z in the past". He is very careful with his language, but the gist of it is "I don't take them because I don't want to, but I have no problem with other people taking them if they want, because I am sure they do some good".

The problem with this, is two-fold. COVID is a public health issue and despite what you said in your first paragraph, the current evidence from various studies infers that people who are vaccinated are less likely to transmit the virus. Yes, it won't stop someone catching it, but because the body can quickly respond to the virus and kill it before it has a chance to replicate significantly, the chances of transmission are lowered. It is therefore everyone's responsibility to get vaccinated if there is no medical reason not to be.

He is also a very prominent figure that many people (for whatever reason) look up to and admire. They will therefore say to themselves, "if Novak doesn't take the vaccine, then I won't either". It's a sad indictment of society, but it is what it is. Like you say, that might be fine for someone like Novak who is a professional athlete in prime condition, but others may not be so lucky. It's also rather fool-hardy considering the number of deaths COVID has caused with other individuals in seemingly peak physical condition

With regards to your last sentence, yes I will absolutely use the personal beliefs of someone to determine if they are worth listening to when it comes to medical/science issues. It tells me that they are unlikely to consider scientific facts. People can believe what they want to believe, however ridiculous the claim, but I will quite happily think they are looney for having those beliefs

Novak has a choice and he has chosen not to get vaccinated, which is fine. But that decision has consequences

tototoner said:

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Alexa, file this under

Things you love to see

Nadal nails it

tototoner said:

Nadal nails it

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It's been difficult over the years to avoid the impression that the Big Three really are the closest of friends, apart from one of them.

Pisses me off that ‘stars’ whether it is music, sport, acting, or whatever think that they don’t have to follow the rules that every body else has to follow and that they should be treated better than the plebs.
if Djokovic had watched just one episode of nothing to declare, he’d know they are really strict on visas and stuff, even without the covid situation

tototoner said:

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The Oz govt says that doesn't count anyway, but am I being overly cynical in thinking that it's very handy he caught covid just in time to qualify for an exemption?

Arnoldtoo said:

The Oz govt says that doesn't count anyway, but am I being overly cynical in thinking that it's very handy he caught covid just in time to qualify for an exemption?

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It's an exemption criteria for the tournament, but not to get through boarder patrol to get into Australia. Still can't see them letting him in, which I think is right.

If you have rules they have to be followed, even by people who think they are above them.

Yid-ol said:

It's an exemption criteria for the tournament, but not to get through boarder patrol to get into Australia. Still can't see them letting him in, which I think is right.

If you have rules they have to be followed, even by people who think they are above them.

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Morrison - Oz PM - would have to make a screeching U turn as well, which is politically unlikely.

Djokovic has rapidly gone down in my estimation with all this.


Either he legitimately tested positive and he’s a selfish prick for continuing PR exercises knowing he should be isolating, or the result was faked purely to grant him the exemption he wanted to enter Australia.

Knob.

UncleBuck said:

What a shambles!

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Well not really. Border force (who i used to work for) dont give a flying fuck about anyone other than themselves.
No proper visa, no entry. 3 Year ban possible.

Arnoldtoo said:

The Oz govt says that doesn't count anyway, but am I being overly cynical in thinking that it's very handy he caught covid just in time to qualify for an exemption?

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There is more to it. If he had it why the pics of him in with public?
I like Novak but dont take the piss.
Get the vaccine idiot.