Host: "How far down the men’s list would beat the number one woman in the world. How far down do you believe the number goes?
John Isner: "Oh gosh, I don’t want get the backlash from this comment. It would go down pretty far."
Host: "You know the truth. Just say the truth, you know it, you’re there."
John Isner: "I think 700 or 800 in the world."
--John Isner, in an interview with 790 The Zone Radio in Atlanta.
6 months ago
Ben Rothenberg
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That’s probably right. But it’s a ridiculously misogynist question. What, we can only assess the accomplishments of female athletes within the context of how they’d play if they were men? Utterly pathetic.
by TylerG on Sep 11, 2009 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Safina maybe. I think Serena could handle players a lot higher up.
But I agree with Tyler… what a prick for asking that question.
Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.
by saskhab on Sep 11, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yup. Bad question, just fishing for a “gotcha” response.
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by J.P. on Sep 11, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m still surprised he answered it poor rookie.
by Camry on Sep 11, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Idiot
But on any given day, Serena could beat a man ranked in the Top 250.
by planII2002 on Sep 11, 2009 2:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No way dude she couldn't even beat most 1-4 college players
Paul D. Kelley
Come as you are not who you pretend to be!
You are only as good as your 2nd serve and 1st volley
by so.cal.native1952 on Sep 11, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
One I think he exaggerated buuut yeah Safina I could see losing to a lot of people. Serena I’m not gonna go there shes more athletic than some guys on the ATP tour already.
This is already a game to me you could play until you need a walking cane. Thats why you could see Pete Sampras to me beat a guy on tour. He can’t be on tour because of the grind but on a given match or tournament I wouldn’t be surprised.
by Camry on Sep 11, 2009 6:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
http://www.dispatch.co.za/1998/01/28/sport/WILLIAMS.HTM
I don’t think they could have a chance for anyone 300 or above.
by Jsz on Sep 11, 2009 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
but she played Braasch who claimed he played around “500 or 600”
by Jsz on Sep 11, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let me expand. obviously Serena could not beat Djokovic. Djokovic played Jesse Witten, ranked 275ish in the world and Witten took a set.
Plus Devin Britton, an NCAA champ ranked around 1000 (obviously a newcomer), was able to break a shaky Federer and they played a 7-5 set.
if the top 300 can compete with the very best in the world, they could easily beat Serena.
by Jsz on Sep 11, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My thing is why everyone over 300? Which is kind of a funny makes me feel like I’m haggling because either way he probably shouldn’t of said anything.
She was still 16 years old she probably benches 200-250 by now.
Britton isn’t a bum hes going to climb up the ranks eventually and the guys who are around where he is probably will stay there. The guy is a top 100 caliber player for sure. But he is also still back in the thousands because hes new so mentally he’ll have to improve. But the guys around him to me they actually are their rank I don’t think Brittons potential/talent is exactly 1000.
I think its an exaggeration for Isner to say pretty much Junior tennis players would beat them. I mean thats too big of a gap to me. Doesn’t Usain Bolt run the 100m in like 9.58 seconds and I forget her name Shelley something but shes the no.1 woman running at 10.88 that time isn’t too bad. I know its a slight difference that can turn out to be a big result but I just think its short changing the female athletes.
I just kind of want to see this in action really and get a better feel for what would happen at this point. Because its still a lot of speculation but mostly everyone agrees the women would get stomped I just don’t think that would be the case for some of these ladies.
by Camry on Sep 11, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK look Serena doesn't have the agility to compete with any of the guys rank 1-1000
I know teaching Pros that would beat her not 0 and 0 but straight sets. most would run her then hit behind her. Others who know how to serve and volley would take the net away from here and eat up her lobs.
Paul D. Kelley
Come as you are not who you pretend to be!
You are only as good as your 2nd serve and 1st volley
by so.cal.native1952 on Sep 12, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We don’t even see guys who are 600 honestly we see one of the late guys every blue moon thats about it. I’m not gonna assume all of them have shots like someone in the top 100 or else they’d be there or that they’re physically there with the top 300 either its all speculation.
How strong is Rochus or Santoro or even fast compared to other players?
My thing is we discount them completely on athletic ability I want to see it first.
To me if we also bring up the Braasch or whatever his name is match. At his best he was still 38 only a year or two removed. Some guys are low in the rankings but they don’t represent their talent to me.
Serena-Venus weren’t developed at all. At this point Serena is more athletic than guys on the tour honestly. I know everyone says he was messing around but they still got what 1 or 2 games from the guy. About a decade later with more experience and conditioning I’m just not going to assume a junior tennis player will beat the Williams sisters.
I’ll have to see it instead of just looking right past them.
by Camry on Sep 12, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, did this ever take off...
It’s popping up all over the internets now.
Anyone read Arabic? http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=19249400
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by Ben Rothenberg on Sep 12, 2009 12:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Radio talk-show hosts have jobs because stupidity attracts flies.
by TylerG on Sep 12, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm I thought it wasn’t getting much attention at first. Mike Wilbon said he actually handled it well don’t know what he was smoking that day.
I just give them credit because one I don’t really expect a battle of the sexes happening. But anyway wow still he even said he expects backlash he must be a rookie.
by Camry on Sep 12, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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