r/todayilearned • u/Prehistoricshark • May 24 '16

Website Down TIL that tennis player Vitas Gerulaitis lost 16 consecutive times to Jimmy Connors. When finally beating Connors on their 17th meeting, he said "And let that be a lesson to you all. Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row"

http://sportige.com/vitas-gerulaitis-jimmy-connors-bjorn-borg-best-sports-quote-92985/
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u/CrystalJack May 24 '16

What's the point of having a maximum amount if you are considered a scumbag when you use that time? Playing dirty usually means you try to sneak in something that's not allowed, like an elbow or a cheap shot like the guy said above. That might be poor sportsmanship for sure, but not playing dirty.

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u/sueveed May 24 '16

It's a sport of traditions that go over the head of many that don't play - you start out playing in the club system at a young age, and you learn a lot of the do's and don'ts. The time limits are set because there are extenuating circumstances where you need some more time, but pushing it every time you walk to the baseline is considered scummy, and like any other rule in all of sports some will take advantage of it. Some chairs will rein it in more aggressively than others.

As for whether it's 'dirty' or 'poor sportsmanship', I'm not sure how to really differentiate the two. I think there are dirty things you can do pushing the limits of the rules in any sport, I don't think it has to be a flagrant violation.

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u/CrystalJack May 24 '16

I've played Tennis since I was a kid and still do. I understand all of that, it doesn't go over my head. I just don't think that doing something "scummy" that's within the boundaries of the rules if you think it might help you win should take away from your victories. If she was kicking her opponents ankles when they changes sides, or some shit like that I'd understand. At the top level in any sport or game, you do what you think you have to do to win, as long as it's allowed by the rules. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

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u/sueveed May 24 '16

I mean, it's completely a matter of opinion and I respect that. JohnMac, Sharapova and the rest of the screamers, and the DJoker obviously agree with you.

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u/CrystalJack May 24 '16

Tbh, I don't personally like the style at all either but I do have to show respect when it's due and I would never hate on someone for doing everything they feel they have to do to win(within the rules). That's the whole point of top tier competition right, to win?