First, let me just say this. Fernando Gonzalez looks like Barry Watson. There's no way around it. And Barry Watson has always creeped me out. Something about him looks skeletal. I think it's the nose.
Anyway, Gonzo beat James Blake today in a thrilling three setter that saw the last set go 11-9. It was a tough loss for James, who just yesterday ousted The Mighty Fed in straight sets. But what's pissing off James isn't the loss in and of itself, but a disputed point wherein Gonzo showed his true non-sportsmanlike colors. From ESPN.com:
The incident that upset Blake occurred with Gonzalez serving at 8-9 in the final set. On the first point, Blake hit a backhand passing shot long but contended the ball ticked Gonzalez's racket before landing, as TV replays confirmed.
Blake appealed in vain to the chair umpire, and said Gonzalez should have conceded the point. He went on to lose the game to make it 9-all.
"Playing in the Olympics, in what's supposed to be considered a gentleman's sport, that's a time to call it on yourself," Blake said. "Fernando looked me square in the eye and didn't call it."
Gonzalez said he was uncertain whether the ball hit his racket.
"I didn't feel anything," Gonzalez said. "I mean, it's just one point. There is an umpire. If I'm 100 percent sure about it, I mean, I will give it. But I'm not sure."
Let me be clear. Gonzo's cheating didn't cost James the match, much like Justine's infamous "Hand" incident didn't cost Serena the match. In fact, Blake is retarded for letting it affect him as much as it did. But it's still a horribly unsportsmanlike thing to do and I am a big fan of classy sportsmanship. Replays of the incident clearly show that the ball hit Gonzo's racquet with enough pace that any world-class tennis player would have felt it.
I guess if you're busy staring at your Olympic medal you don't have to look at yourself in the mirror. This isn't going to sit well in the locker room, that's for sure.
