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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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 Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 12:18 am Post subject: Sharapova |
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| I'm curious as to what russians think of Maria Sharapova as a person. She was born in Russia but pretty much grew up in the United States. I've never seen or heard her speak Russian and I am curious as to whether she can? Also From watching and listening to her...her mannerisms, body language, speech, etc. All is so very American. So do Russians notice this, and what do you think? |
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krasatulya
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Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 590
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:07 am Post subject: |
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At one point I read that a lot of other Russian players scoffed at her playing for the Russia team.
A quote from an article written in 1994:
"At last month's Kremlin Cup in Moscow, Kuznetsova made little secret of her dislike of Russia's highest profile female player. A journalist asked her which of the new generation of Russian women was the most popular worldwide. 'Sharapova of course - but I don't know if you would call her Russian though', she replied."
You gotta love how she got all the first-class training here in the States, but doesn't represent the U.S. |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| True...and if I was Russian I would scoff at her too...she comes across as being very American...I could so see her being from San Diego. But she is a good tennis player. Although Williams just clobbered her though...kicked her ass! |
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PhillipFromTexas
Frequent Guest
Joined: 01 Nov 2006
Posts: 49
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:33 am Post subject: |
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| It's funny Kuznetsova is cited as she really learned to play at the professional level in Spain. She I have heard even curses in Spanish. |
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PhillipFromTexas
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Joined: 01 Nov 2006
Posts: 49
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:38 am Post subject: |
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| You know in a way I am glad she plays for Russia. Sure she was trained here and is really a Floridian at this point, but don't you think Russia needs her more than we do? I mean come on. Yeah Russia is flexing its natural-gas muscle and loose nukes are a problem, but otherwise Russia is only now recovering from "perestroika" and still in many, many ways is a poor country, and if Sharapova gives them a lift, I say "Well done! Give them something to cheer about. |
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darthvader
WayToRussified
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 427
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:49 am Post subject: |
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Actually, many, many young tennis players have furthered their careers by moving to countries with better tennis facilities and training (admittedly, Maria was younger than most). Well, in Maria's case, it was her Dad who took to Florida. That Nick Bolletteiri Tennis Academy is truly amazing. Churns out some fantastic players.
What a knockout though, eh? Wonderful to watch.  Beauty, athleticism, power and court craft. And 6'2" (187cm?)! Massive, almost as tall as me. |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:58 am Post subject: |
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| yes so true she is nice to watch...scary thing for me is that she looks so much like an ex of mine...Finish beauty I dated in college. If you've ever seen the movies EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY with Jeff Goldbloom...she had a small role in that. Long time ago though. |
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darthvader
WayToRussified
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 427
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| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:00 am Post subject: |
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| surfguy wrote: | | yes so true she is nice to watch...scary thing for me is that she looks so much like an ex of mine...Finish beauty I dated in college. If you've ever seen the movies EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY with Jeff Goldbloom...she had a small role in that. Long time ago though. |
I have seen this movie, but don't remember it well. If possible, please post some image link of this character.  |
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Free-State-Nomad
Just Starting
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Posts: 7
Location: Baltimore
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:40 am Post subject: |
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| PhillipFromTexas wrote: | | You know in a way I am glad she plays for Russia. Sure she was trained here and is really a Floridian at this point, but don't you think Russia needs her more than we do? I mean come on. Yeah Russia is flexing its natural-gas muscle and loose nukes are a problem, but otherwise Russia is only now recovering from "perestroika" and still in many, many ways is a poor country, and if Sharapova gives them a lift, I say "Well done! Give them something to cheer about. |
I disagree with the notion "Russia needs her". Russia churns out some of the best tennis players in the world, bar none. Just look at the world rankings and you will see this. |
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PhillipFromTexas
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Joined: 01 Nov 2006
Posts: 49
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:59 am Post subject: |
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Free State Nomad, you are of course correct. The top 20 or so Professional Women Tennis Players is chock full of Russian women and the Russian "team" does not need her.
I apologize my earlier statement was not clear. What I mean is that it is good for the Russian country to be able to root for her as one of their one.
For the record Elena Dementieva and Anastasia Myskina are my favorites. Maria shrieks too much for me. |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:42 am Post subject: |
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| Yes and it seems as though Tennis is huge in Russia |
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Free-State-Nomad
Just Starting
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Posts: 7
Location: Baltimore
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:15 pm Post subject: tennis |
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| PhillipFromTexas wrote: | Free State Nomad, you are of course correct. The top 20 or so Professional Women Tennis Players is chock full of Russian women and the Russian "team" does not need her.
I apologize my earlier statement was not clear. What I mean is that it is good for the Russian country to be able to root for her as one of their one.
For the record Elena Dementieva and Anastasia Myskina are my favorites. Maria shrieks too much for me. |
While not a huge tennis fan, in fact I only watch womens tennis lol, I like to root for Maria, just because I was so pleased that someone other than a Williams sister, be at the top of the sport, regardless of nationality. I like Hingis the best though. |
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mister_wizzz
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Joined: 27 May 2004
Posts: 582
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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Sharapova is the new Russian business barbie doll, the previous one was Kournikova. With the noticable exception she has good result in playing tennis though. I will not be surprised to see her with Justin Timberlake on the first page of a people magazine.
As for me, my favorite is Elena Dementieva, she so beautiful, so simple, so natural and added to this she speaks very good french.  |
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librarian-on-fire
Just Starting
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 5
Location: New Zealand
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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In January this year I got to met Anastasia Myskina at the ASB Open here in Auckland. She was charming. She and her coach converse in English but on the court Myskina swears in Russian.
I wished Myskina good luck for the year. She went onto hurt her foot and hasn't played tennis since.....
As for Sharapova, born in Russia, but American through and through. |
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darthvader
WayToRussified
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 427
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:38 am Post subject: |
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| mister_wizzz wrote: | | Sharapova......I will not be surprised to see her with Justin Timberlake on the first page of a people magazine.... |
You could be right! He will probably have to stand on a box or put on some muscle first so he doesn't look more effeminate than Maria. |
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