Leander has always been a showman, in everyway. Also the "hero", the "savior" of India and most people have fallen for it. He always know when to say the right things that will make him a "patriot" and takes credit for victories. The Davis cup players are right about him in saying he wants to play the fifth rubber against weak opponents and then take all the credit. And typical of the Indian management, and the coach, they want to make no comments. They dont want to confront anything and that's why Indian sports is the way it is now. Paes should go.
RE:Paes
by Mansur Ali on Feb 26, 2008 11:19 AM
Paes is not a dictator, when you are playing for your country with passion and you see somebody is looking more on commercial part, you will not tolerate this. This is what happen with Paes. We should support Paes.
Leander Paes in tennis is a bit like Sunny Gavaskar when he was captain of India in the 80s...a petty tyrant!!
Leander Paes wore his heart on his sleeve and was a true great...but that does not mean that he should treat his team members like dirt, they are also humans and have their personal lives beyond tennis! He can't behave like dictator and make them slog like crazy, thats what is happening, what Leander is forgetting is that India is a nation with limited talent in tennis, most of the kids like Prakash and Karan Rastogi have come from wealthy families(either NRIs or rich Indians) and are not used to hard life! Also, they can achieve only upto a level....If Leander expects them to become wrold beaters, then that is asking for toom= much!! That is the crux of the problem, Leander wants them to play way above their abilities and help India qualify for the world group!! Leander is a passionate idealistic man with very idealistic notions of success and belive me, i know Mahesh well enough to say that Mahesh is the most pragmatic down to earth individual you can think of!!
Thats it really, Leander is a man with lofty ideals and beliefs while the rest of the team just can't go along with his utopian dreams for Indian tennis!! Clash of personalities where i believe, the players should have a say in the choice of captain!! Leander would want Karan Rastogi to defeat Max Miryni in a Davis cup tie against Belarus sy for eg. IS IT GONNA HAPPEN??
RE:Leander Paes is a dictator!!
by Uma Venkatraman on Feb 28, 2008 09:01 AM
Leander has played above himself and beyond his abilities whenever he has performed for the country. He has beaten players like Goran Ivanisevic and Jakob Hlasek of Switzerland, and many other such players who were ranked much, much higher than him. What is wrong if he expects the players to give 200% for the country? He is not just a dreamer, he has also made the country's dreams come true. And if a player cannot work hard, he has no place in any sport. So what if players come from rich families? Does that mean they can be excused from working hard and slogging their guts out?
It is better that both Paes and Bhupathi are dropped forthwith. They have had their days and time has come to move on without them. Atleast we will be spared of their one-upmanship.
WHAT HE THINK HIMSELF?SAMPRAS OR AGASSI?KICK HIM OUT AND PLAY A JUNIOR TEAM.BECAUSE WHAT LEANDER DONE FOR INDIA IN DAVIS CUP EVERYONE KNOWS.WHEN HE PLAY FOR INDIA HE IS NOT LESS THAN A SOLDIER,AND HE BEAT TOP CLASS PLAYER IN DAVIS CUP.HOPE MR.KHANNA NOT ALLOW THIS TYPE OF THINGS,AND MUST BEHIND LEANDER.
RE:MAHESH
by rohan varghese on Feb 25, 2008 09:05 PM
well said . I have never seen an Indian sportsman play his heart out for his country like leander. Whenever he plays Davis cup ( represneting the nation ) he normally gives more than when he is playing as an individual. We should support him
RE:MAHESH
by Ramesh on Feb 25, 2008 10:06 PM
we need to support for a person irrespective of our opinion. The fact comes first . everyone knows what happens when leander plays for india . close your eyes and think honestly you knows the truth. The revolt because of some ones commmercial interest , he spoills minds of yound ones . first step is to remove the person who spreading like a cancer.
RE:MAHESH
by ramya kumari on Feb 26, 2008 12:01 PM
we should support him. what bopanna achieved . he is 27 yrs oldie , what he did for the country. he should kicked out
RE:MAHESH
by ramya kumari on Feb 26, 2008 12:01 PM
we should support him. what bopanna achieved . he is 27 yrs oldie , what he did for the country. he should kicked out
None of the greats incl Krishnans,Amritrajs,Paeses are recognised worldwide as top ATP player bcoz all these guys when they were young took premature retirement even when another 10 yrs of energy left.After that doubles only (shame) bcoz we r a lazier lot & fit to play cricket(also bad),golf & chess..Bcoz again we r not hardworking & probably our metabolism/race/food habits contribute to this....
Leander is much better player then Bhupathi in Singles, but leander is a loud mouth. Every player worth his salt takes pride representing the country but some do quitely and some like leander who never tires of talking it. the way he is handling the team is immature and doing no help to the confidence of the young payers. Its seems that this in not an Indian team it is Leander Peas corporation. He can degrade and insult any player as he plaese and then say my country my country. Have you seen any captain in Indian Criket team degrading his players so openly and so frequently. Leander, you have done wonderfully well for India, but the time has come to say good bye to Davis Cup and enjoy the world circuit with your partner
RE:Ok
by Ramesh on Feb 25, 2008 10:12 PM
who respect the person like dhoni who back stabbed a person like sourav? he requires 100 live even to sit in front of sourav.all this is because of mafia or corporate money all back stabbed a genius never borns again . who respects dhone with such a character who dont want a genuine because you are not fit against him, you like a buccha infront of him.First show your worth who not able to stand hardly for 5 overs in tests? play honestly not cheating like incompetitive gloves and feeling like you are great? you are cheating all by hot using the standard gloves prescribed for cricket? you give respect to you? you want us to be a proud indian .you will never be a proud indian.you are cunning , cheater. everyone hates you
It is unfortunate that Poor Leander Paes is embroilled in such a controversy. But some how, looking to the contributions Leander has made for the country in the Davis Cup, and his commitment, none of these players stand anywhere near him. Paes is an icon in that respect. Probably these people are not putting similar effort and showing similar commitment which Paes used to have. I suspect persons jealous of him are trying to put him down. Even Sania Mirza was misadvised. Since any way, India is no more a big force in Davis Cup, AITA should broom upcoming youngsters under the leadership of Leander Paes and discard these present Davis players who is agitating since any way they are not great names and are not bring laurels for the country.
Mahesh might be a better player than Leander at the moment but its always been Paes who has played for the pride of the nation. Bhupathi wants people and the critics to hold him higher to Leander but sorry Bhupathi that cant be done unless u play for the National Pride rather than ur own pride.
For people who ask questions like has Paes ever won a ATP singles title,,, Leave alone Tennis,, He saved the face of the entire sporting fraternity and the People of India when he won the Bronze at Atlanta Olympics.
RE:Bhupathi is a better player!!!
by manjit on Feb 25, 2008 01:43 PM
Dear Uday
Leander has won 1 ATP Title Hall of Fame. He has also won many Grand Slam & also a medal at olmp. but mahesh has done more than him he is also proud to play for India. Being bought up in USA He can easily would have opted for USA but chosen India. He gives his heart out for playing for India. He Has 45 training centre in which he provide free training for 100 deserving kids from each training centre. His company is organising 1 ATP & 1 WTA in India not even AITF is doing that many tournament in India. He is running the carrier of many Indian upcoming Player including Sania Mirza.
RE:Bhupathi is a better player!!!
by sai krishna on Feb 25, 2008 01:53 PM
Manjit bhai you may be right about training centres and managing carier of Sania Mirza. You could not point out single greatest victory of Mahesh Bhupathi in a Davis Cup match and Leander Paes have many to show. Second thing if Mahesh Bhupathi opted to play in USA also there will be no takers in USA, nobody would have considered him because in USA there are more greatest players at that time than Mahesh and he got very little chance to prove there so he opted for India. But you are true Mahesh Bhupathi is also a very good player.
RE:Bhupathi is a better player!!!
by infoharsha on Feb 25, 2008 01:31 PM
Why sachin Tendulkar is silent on this issue? He should be a given a chance to be a captain
RE:Bhupathi is a better player!!!
by sai krishna on Feb 25, 2008 01:15 PM
You are right. These young players atleast try to learn some Desh Bhakti from Leander Paes. We dont want either this Bhupathi nor his followers in the Davis Cup.
RE:Bhupathi is a better player!!!
by nagaraj venkatesan on Feb 25, 2008 01:36 PM
u need to get ur stats updated.. Leander is much better player than Mahesh..becos.. Leander has won a ATP tournament..Mahesh has not.. Leander has beaten sampras,ivanisevic.. i dont remember Mahesh doing anythng like that..
Leanader has never lost to Mahesh on singles till date..
Leander has won junior grandslam which Mahesh has not done..
Leander is way better than Mahesh..
Just Mahesh won few more doubles slams becos of better partners..And on anyday Leander is much better doubles player than Mahesh..
Just that Mahesh cant tolerate Leander's achievements..
