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Sports presenter Sue Thearle regularly rubs shoulders with an array of sporting stars that we could only wish to meet. In her Sports Starter blog, Sue gives us an insight into the world of sport and explains how you can get involved in a big way.

With years of experience as a sports journalist and presenter for a number of broadcasters - including the BBC, where she was the sports presenter on BBC Breakfast for 13 years, and also the first female voice on Match of the Day - Sue is perfectly positioned to give you the ins and outs on whatever sport we throw her into.

Currently presenting the News and Sport on the BBC News channel and on BBC World News, this keen fitness follower and one-time London Marathoner, promises to get you off the sofa and into your gym gear, even if you aren't quite going to make the line-up for 2012.

For more info about Sue, check out her website.

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I almost felt sorry for Nikolay Davydenko this weekend. I really did. Okay, I understand that it’s hard to feel too sorry for a man who has just picked up a cheque for around a million pounds, for winning the end of season ATP Masters Series event at the O2 in London.

But after beating Juan Martin Del Potro in a one-sided final, the 28-year Russian admitted that he hadn’t been asked for a single autograph all week in London. Blimey. That is tough. Especially when you consider that over a quarter of a million people had been to watch the tennis at the old dome and not one bothered to ask our Nikolay for a trusty scrawl on their programme?

I guess we can only conclude it is something about the way Davydenko looks and conducts himself, that makes him so anonymous. Afterall he has just returned to number 6 in the world and has been an immensely talented player for many years. But on-court personality is not something we have seen in abundance. In fact shamefully, when I was at the tennis last week, I didn’t even think of including him in our list of bald-sportsmen who have been a success.

But I am clearly not alone in thinking him almost invisible. One tennis correspondent has suggested this morning that Davydenko looks like he could be employed as a provincial branch manager for the sponsors of the tennis at the O2. Ouch. That really must hurt. Sport shouldn’t ever really be about a beauty contest, but I guess it still is.

 

Sponsors are queuing up to sign up the likes of Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray and Del Potro. Davydenko wouldn’t top any wish list in that department. And he keeps himself to himself on the tour. Unlike someone like Djokovic, who is a hugely popular figure and whose tennis impersonations are the stuff of legend.

Davydenko isn’t a must-see at Wimbledon either. In fact he could potter through the grounds of SW19 without a second glance. But fair play to him. He may not be all rippling muscle and brooding good looks, but he can play tennis. And even without the X-factor, Davydenko can return home to Russia, where he admits he isn’t as famous as he should be, and count his winnings.

His predicament has made me wrack my brains this morning for similarly anonymous superstars of the sports world, or those who are, how should I put it, a little unconventional. Eddie the Eagle springs to mind – although he couldn’t have looked less like a ski jumper and couldn’t actually do it either..... But I would welcome any top notch suggestions. Come on. It’s a miserable Monday morning. Let’s skive off work and play this game instead!

 

Tags: Nikolay Davydenko, Juan Martin Del Potro, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Eddie the Eagle Edwards

Post Views: 249

Comments

Some benefit for a Russian to look like Valuev perhaps!

posted by Johnf premium member on 30 Nov. 2009 12:56p.m.

anyone who's in a sport i don't follow would be anonymous to me but what about Darren Gough - does he really look like a cricketer - or is that just me..

posted by anoif55 premium member on 30 Nov. 2009 1:26p.m.

Two excellent points my friends. Darren Gough could actually have been a darts player and yes Davydenko has a look of the Russian baddie about him!

posted by Sue_Thearle premium member on 30 Nov. 2009 5:37p.m.

To be honest Sue...(Hello by the way, I've been busy for a while),,,I watch a lot of tennis and I have said before, I really think they are all a bunch of miserable sods (on the courts)....FGS if I was earning anywhere near as much money as the lowest paid of them, I would at least raise a smile or even a sneer for the camers occasionally!...I know they have to get in the zone to play, but it's scientifically proven that you are more relaxed etc etc when you smile......I love watching Davydenko play, I think he is a technical genius and I don't object to his lack of personality, but it would be lovely if some of them smiled occasionally.

posted by flanker2 on 2 Dec. 2009 11:07a.m.

I totally agree. I would be grinning like a Cheshire Cat just to be in the first round of a Slam, never mind winning the end of season Masters. I understand they need to be in the zone, but really. And actually you can be a star and still have a personality. Look at Usain Bolt. He mucks about all the time, but can still produce the goods with a huge smile on his face.

posted by Sue_Thearle premium member on 3 Dec. 2009 1:39p.m.

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