Comments on: OFF: How Will You Remember Martina Hingis?

By: Aaress

Aaress — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 04:48:14 +0000

Thanks Richard for telling me your list! As for me, I would have put Graf before Navratilova, followed by Chris Evert. Like you, I (still) believe Hingis factors into the list, but I probably would not put her in the top ten all-time.

By: Marija

Marija — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:26:19 +0000

Whether or not Martina took drugs, I will remember her as a grand slam champion and one of the best players ever. And, as I can see, many people are on her side: they are focusing on her career accomplishments or they don’t believe she’s guilty.

By: battty

battty — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 20:37:17 +0000

I will remember her as a great tennis
player;however it still makes me wonder if she took steroids also because there was a peiord when she was trying to put on muscle to keep up with the taller power players!
I noted that Venus Williams and other players feel that we should give hingis the benefit of the doubt on the issue of taking drugs which makes since to me

By: Alice

Alice — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:53:19 +0000

Naturally Hingis has to take responsibility for her actions. I think this whole episode has been greeted by a sigh of dissapointment, rather than a desire for vengeance against Hingis. I feel there is sadness that a once great player has apparently for whatever reason, fell foul of temptation.

Yes Hingis has to accept the consequences of her actions. However consideration should be given to a culture of fame success and glamor that fosters and facilitates a need for drugs in the first place. A need for a means of coping with the emotional isolation and pressures that come with being both a professional sportsperson and public celebrity.

Before casting any stones, we have to examine the sports celebrity and media culture that exists. Just who are the pimps here? The suits making money selling heroism, only to corrupt and destroy it’s intrinsic beauty.

If not quite endemic, recreational drugs and performance enhancing drugs are certainly widespread in sport. Much as I have a very strong personal dislike of drugs having experienced what they do to other people, a touch of compassion and joined-up thinking is needed. You see, the real causes and culprits have to be rooted out. Making high profile scapegoats wont cure the sickness, redeem sport, recover and restore public faith in the integrity of sport. This isnt about Hingis or other athletes who have been in similar predicament. It’s much deeper.

Strength character alone isnt always enough to resist, when there is a culture of corruption in the land.

This blemish shouldnt detract from her achievements. This is a dark time for her. But I trust at some point she will come out from the chrysalis a teacher a giver an inspirer. Moving on with her life.

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 05:14:52 +0000

Aaress, the #1 women of all time would be the other Martina! Navratilova! Before Graf won the 99 French, you could say it was a tossup between her and Chrissie for the #2 position. of course this is my opinion, as others might disagree with my Top 3.

I never thought about where I’d put Hingis, but she probably belongs in a Top 15 of all time list.

By: Aaress

Aaress — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 03:03:52 +0000

Richard, now you’ve made me curious! If Graf is No. 2, what player would you consider as No. 1?

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:17:17 +0000

I will always remember her 99 French meltdown, whether she was a druggie or not. That was a defining moment for women’s tennis, as Steffi Graf solidified her status as the #2 female great.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:07:21 +0000

Hmm I’ll remember her as Martina Hingis, a tennis player…her cocaine use has nothing to do with her wins…

Even if she did use it, it was reasonly so it merits nothing against her records prior.

I still want Hingis to come back…she was and still is one of the best personalities in tennis.

We need drama and cat fights…

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:44:59 +0000

I will remember Martina as the player who drew me back into watching tennis after I had burned out as a fan.

I will remember her as a somewhat nasty, bigoted brat who later grew into a delightful woman.

I will remember her as the smartest player I ever saw.

I will remember her as ******* over by the ITF.

I will remember her as a tennis great whose career was cut short by injury and other misfortune.

By: pov

pov — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:41:28 +0000

My feeling is “big deal!” So she had some cocaine in her system. Maybe she was partying with the “jet-set” and got a little over-zealous. At the same time I realize that many people may feel differently.

I feel that her achievements speak for themselves. Also for those who have the mistaken notion that it was taken for performance:

“The few studies that exist suggest that little to no performance gains are incurred from cocaine and its amphetamine-like properties. Cocaine is notable for distorting the user’s perception of reality; for example, an athlete may perceive increased performance and decreased fatigue in the face of actual decreased performance in both strength and endurance activities. An increase in heat production combined with a decrease in heat loss associated with cocaine abuse impairs the body’s ability to regulate its temperature during physical activity.”

Article - http://espn.go.com/special/s/drugsandsports/coca.html