Go figure: Serena Williams doesn’t like sports or working out
Wency Leung, Globe and Mail, January 2, 2012
She may be one of the world’s leading tennis stars, but Serena Williams says she’s not all that into the game.
In fact, the U.S. champ says she doesn’t even like sports in general.
According to the London Telegraph, Ms. Williams made the stunning revelation while discussing her plans to further cut back on playing this year, after taking off the latter part of 2011.
“It’s not that I’ve fallen out of love with tennis. I’ve actually never liked sports and I never understood how I became an athlete,” she said. “I don’t like working out, I don’t like anything physical. If it involves sitting down or shopping, I’m excellent at it.”
Ms. Williams, 30, nevertheless won the opening round of the WTA Brisbane International on Monday, beating South Africa’s Chanelle Scheepers 6-2, 6-3.
Even though her heart may not be in it, she told reporters she still finds it difficult to imagine a life without tennis.
“I don’t love tennis today but I’m here. I can’t live without it. There’s a difference between not loving something and not being to live without it,” she said, adding that taking time off to do other things “helps keep my motivation up.”
By scaling back her playing schedule, she explained, the tournaments in which she does participate will be special for her and her fans. “It’s going to be a forum where I’m really excited to play there.”
Ms. Williams, who learned to play tennis from her father at a young age, has won a total of 23 career Grand Slams. Beyond tennis, she has also been involved in television, fashion and philanthropy. In September, she was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
If Ms. Williams were able to become an all-time tennis great as a closet couch potato, one wonders how much better a player she might be if she were actually passionate about the game.
Does passion really improve one’s performance?
Habs enlist sports psychologist
BILL BEACON, The Canadian Press, Feb. 03, 2012
A regularly scheduled visit by a sports psychologist came at an opportune moment for the struggling Montreal Canadiens.
The club is coming off a 5-3 defeat in New Jersey in which it blew 2-0 and 3-1 leads and now has a pair of afternoon home games against the Washington Capitals on Saturday and the Winnipeg jets on Sunday.
Psychologist David Scott, who talks to players from time to time during the season, spoke to the players ahead of an optional skate on Friday.
“It's good timing,” coach Randy Cunneyworth said. “Mentally, physically, these are the challenges we have.
“It's difficult, that mental part of not having the level of success you want. It's about starting fresh, getting ready, recovering. No one says it's easy but if we stick together, we will battle it by committee.”
He said the visit was scheduled well in advance and had nothing to do with the club's current plight. Montreal is 0-2-0 since the all-star break and is tied for last place in the NHL Eastern Conference.
“Everybody has some level of frustration,” said Cunneyworth. “But you have to get in the right frame of mind and try to improve.”
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"Scotty" was one of the best professors I ever had! He taught Sport Psych to me during my Master's Degree at UVIC in the 1990's. I ran into him in Moose Jaw - in the bowels of the old "crushed can" in 2006 while out in Sask. on a winter scouting trip. I wanted to show my wife the Hell-Hole that used to be my office downstairs... walking around, I saw a door open in what used to be our weight room. I see this guy sitting behind a laptop, his eyes peek over the top, and I hear his Irish accent asking, "Can I help you?" Wow! I hadn't seen him for ten years! All of a sudden, he recognized me, lept up and we had a great chat. Small world! He had been working in Hockey, Cricket and a variety of other sports that took him all over the world; plus he still maintained a teaching appointment at UNB. I hope Scotty can help the Habs turn things around.
Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
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