Back in 2009 at the semi-final of the US Open, the usually serene Serena Williams ended up seething in anger.
It all started with a foot fault during her match against Kim Clijsters. Williams disputed the call by the lineswoman and then let go a volley of abuse, full of the ‘F’ word, at her. The subsequent penalty point imposed on Williams also cost her the match.
It was another tantrum moment in sport. Tantrums add spice and colour to sport – provided it is within limits. It encompasses almost every sport, including darts and golf. It manifests in many forms – from smashing racquets, breaking windows and abusing like there is no tomorrow,
Tantrums have grown as more money poured into sports. Today, glitzy sports millionaires are reduced to ordinary street fighters when things go against them.
In tennis, players like Australian Nick Kyrgios and Slovakian Novak Djokovic still keep the red flag flying. Earlier, Bad Boy John McEnroe enriched the language of many around him with some choice words. Jimmy Connors wasn’t far behind.
But sometimes tantrums go wrong as Argentine David Nalbandian found out.
Facing pressure in the final of the Aegon Championship in London against Martin Cilic, Nalbandian vented his anger at an advertisement board near the judge’s chair. A known tantrum man, Nalbandian kicked the advertisement board so hard that it ricocheted and cut the shin of the nearby official, causing a lot of blood to flow.
Nalbandian paid for it. He was suspended, fined and points were docked from his ranking. And he was winning too when the incident happened.
A sport like football lends itself to tantrums. And even the great Ronaldo did it. During a Euro 2016 clash Ronaldo, frustrated with not having scored all tournament and being denied some chances in the game, picked up the microphone of a reporter and threw it into the river.
Italian Paolo Di Canio, playing for West Ham, was so angered after being denied at least three clear-cut penalties that he sat down on the middle of the pitch, refused to budge and asked his captain to take him off.
And take the case of Argentine Carlos Tevez.
After captaining Manchester City to a victory earlier, the player was benched for a Champions League tie. With his side trailing at 0-2, Tevez was asked to go in as substitute but he refused. Club boss Roberto Mancini read the riot act and banished the player to his country.
However, all’s well that ends well. The club had to eat humble pie and they offered another contract a few months later which resulted in Chavez leading his team to the Premiership title.
Even golf is no exception. Top golfer Rory McIIroy actually lost one of his prized golf clubs after a particularly bad drive.
The ball landed in a river and McIIroy sent the golf club flying along with it.
Cricket was called a gentleman’s game. But with growing professionalism and infusion of loads of money, tantrums have surfaced big time. Breaking the stumps, smashing the bat in the dressing room and breaking windows of the pavilion have become part and parcel of the game.
In 1979, Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg was no-balled for the 11th time in six overs. Frustrated by it, he kicked the stumps and stormed off to the dressing room during the game.
However, former England captain Nasser Hussain was not lucky. Playing against the West Indies, Hussain got a nasty decision, according to him of course. Bubbling with anger, Hussain reached the dressing room abusing loudly. The players present there beat a hasty retreat to nearby safe havens.
However, Angus Fraser, was padding up for his turn and could not exit. He watched Hussain walk right to the lockers and smashed one of them with his fist. Suddenly there was a feeble cry for help. Hussain had angrily smashed the locker so hard that his hand got stuck inside it.
Fraser helped to get his hand out but claimed that Hussain has still not thanked him for it.
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