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Post by mercedes on Dec 16, 2004 16:19:41 GMT
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Post by mercedes on Dec 16, 2004 17:40:12 GMT
Here is the translation. The reporter seemed pretty agressive. The translation may be smoothed it, but I didn't like very much the interview....
My dream is winning Davis Cup, no TV Rating
At some hours to have his debut in Copa Argentina, Mariano Zabaleta talks about his TV show and about the difficult relationship between tennis players and people
He hits a drive here and follows the camera there. Mariano Zabaleta have been splitting for 3 months his time between the professional circuit and his TV show Tenis Pro, broadcasted by América on Sundays noon. At some hours to debut in Copa Argentina de Tenis, he talked with Olé about both things.
-When a sportman makes a TV show, the first you think is: “He is making a job because the other is ending”. Something similar to Zabaleta’s case?
-Nothing to do. I am only 26 years old and I think keep playing at high level for four more! Actually, this proposal was made some time ago, and I didn’t accepted it, because I didn’t want to mix things. But they insisted and… I loved the idea because I don’t have many responsibilities and this gives me the opportunity to escape from routine. It’s been nine years that I have been playing in a professional way and training, traveling, match plan “burn your head a little”. This is to clear my head off for a while. I do it as a hobby, tennis is first. - Tennis is first, but if you lose three tournaments in a row in first round, people would say “and what do you expect, he is making TV”?
- It could be possible if I beat Los Roldán (note: the most popular TV show in Argentina)! Talking seriously, it took me a lot of time to decide to make the show because of that type of prejudices, because I know that if I lose, people are going to say those things. But finally I realized that I didn’t care much about that. Do you know who made me notice that? Gaudio. He also told me that it would be a success! It seems that we have known each other for nine years. Because of that, the first invited person to the show was him. Besides that, we had already won Roland Garros.
- You didn’t say him in the show that if he won RG you were able too.
- He knows that that thought is a good sense. I dreamed to be top ten. But I also noticed that it is not easy to get there. But I see that other players no so talented, like Berasategui or Lapentti were also top ten, so I ask myself, why not? Well, what I’m lacking of is regularity. But I keep the dream. If not, I would leave everything and I would dedicate to TV full time.
- 3 years and a half without winning a tournament, does it matter at playing time?
- No, because it is not easy to win a tournament. From outside, it seems easy, but you play against 60 guys who hit the ball as well as you. There are not so many players who have 3 tournaments won, I do. Anyway, my dream is to win Davis Cup, not TV ratings. I prefer winning Davis Cup to conquer another tittle.
- That should matter, because you had never had a good performance there as in the circuit.
- But they were some punctual things.
- Like which ones? From outside, it seems that you all have a great performance, but when it is time to put the argentine t-shirt on, you fail.
- First, Davis Cup is played as visitor and during a whole year. During that time, you have different performances. We had to play in Russia, in a fast carpet, and our strenght is clay. Then, we were critized for loosing with Spain there, and they had Moyá and Ferrero, first and third in the ranking. Nobody measured what it was written or said. I had cramps because I was not ok physically, but here it was said that it was a psicological problem. Gastón was “killed”. Everybody can say what they want. I do it in football and I am a bad player. But people show no mercy with tennis players. Coria was “killed” for not being and he had a surgery. I trained with Nalbandian in Athens and he quit because he couldn’t really play. Abroad, everybody says wonderful things about argentine tennis players and here the only thing that is done is critizicing. It is very unfair, because I play the whole year for the country. Whenever I am presented in a tournament, they say “Mariano Zabaleta from Argentina”, not “Zabaleta from Zabaletaland”<br> Isn’t it suspicious that you get hurt so often?
- After doping incidents with some of the guys, who I obviously believe (NR: Puerta, Chela, Coria) everybody decided not to take anything. I only have Redoxón (note: a vitamin) as if I were a kid. How are you going to do get not hurt? If you play every week and you don’t have vitamins, you can’t support it.
- But there are some other attitudes. Like dismissing Luza as DC captain through a letter. And you were one of those who signed.
- Yes, and today, nine months later, I recognized it was a great mistake. If I could go back in time, I would act differently, for sure.
- But you can’t - No. That’s why the better thing is to learn from past and look forward to future. Because I, like a tennis player, have a lot of future.
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Post by mercedes on Dec 16, 2004 17:41:43 GMT
Interview's pic:
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Post by louiselp on Dec 16, 2004 18:00:02 GMT
Thank you Mercedes I have seen bits of this interview in various other places today too So... shall we join a queue to beat up this Journalist? It seems to me... (and I KNOW NOTHING!!!) that this guy has obviously been given a cue-card on Mariano - but not actually done the research himself. TO Mariano Thank you for giving full indepth detailed answers to these questions
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Post by louiselp on Dec 16, 2004 19:48:13 GMT
Comments regarding the Interview above - thank you for the Brilliant Translation Mercedes FROM THE INTERVIEW - Journalist - When a sportman makes a TV show, the first you think is: “He is making a job because the other is ending”. Something similar to Zabaleta’s case
Reader's Comment NO... the first thing you (a fan of a tennis player) thinks is - wow! when? who do we know who lives in Argentina who can tape the shows? who can start the tape chain, who can write a fan review of the shows, who can provide translations for us poor people stuck in Europe that only have coverage on the Internet? Abroad, everybody says wonderful things about argentine tennis players and here the only thing that is done is critizicing Readers Comment Argentine Tennis Players are very friendly people. They act like they are playing every match as if their lives depend on it. Their games on clay especially are brilliant. AND they are all polite and respectful towards the people that come out to see them - They make a crazy group of worldwide people meet up and arrange to travel places to see Argentine Tennis Players play again.... - You guys are addictive! - of course, everyone has their favourite, but like the Players... the Fans stick together too. Mariano.... Four years ago in Indian Wells someone said to me... "We know who our true fans are.... People don't realise this... but ... we know.." This is the same person that told my friend 5 years ago - she didn't want his autograph because "she didn't know who he was" - she told him exactly who he was - and forced him to sign for her..... NOW this same person is a very popular (worldwide!) Tennis Player AND TV Presenter - and I feel he should know that His True Fans respect him alot - they even travel the world to see Him - and spend 5 days finding accommodation in Athens in a fully booked up city when he is a last minute replacement in the Olympics...... we do NOT need Journalists to suggest bad things about him - but maybe that is some sad sign of success??? I guess you have to feel sorry for these sort of people - after all, they have to earn a living writing about people. Happy stories do not sell papers - allegedly. Obviously we would love you to win title after title after title as after all you are a Tennis Player and that's what Tennis Players do - but your name is NOT Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer or Andy Rodthingy - you are much more friendlier than these people. But... we do NOT stop supporting you just because you lose - to us - you are not the standard issue player... and you never will be...
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Post by egg on Dec 16, 2004 20:55:20 GMT
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Post by DAUSSYK on Dec 17, 2004 5:07:24 GMT
mariano, you have reason, this year you will be in top ten and this journalist-------
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Post by DAUSSYK on Dec 17, 2004 5:08:37 GMT
mariano, you have reason, this year you will be in top ten and this journalist-------
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Post by kitzfan on Dec 19, 2004 16:49:54 GMT
Thank you Mercedes for the translation!!!! When I read the questions I was very upset , but when I read the answers I felt better. I think Mariano could deal with the situation very well and I am sure everybody who followed this interview made the right conclusion about the person who asked and the person who answered based on the content and the style. I hope his dream comes true soon!!!!
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