4 minutes ago, Cat said:

 

Thanks for the context. I figured something must have been up the way the Aussie tennis authorities gave him that exemption.

Also, Australia/Melbourne/Sydney have a pretty significant Serb community, many second generation Yugoslav-Australians as well, so he likely has a big fanbase there.

Nadal and Naomi are back playing this year (big question marks on their conditioning after a long layoff), but yeah. 

 

 

Gawd I hate this family!!

 

5 hours ago, Cat said:

Nadal discussing the situation. 

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/06/tennis/rafael-nadal-novak-djokovic-australian-open-spt-intl/index.html

Nadal gets it because even though double-jabbed, he caught Covid in December. He also understands the sacrifices that ordinary people continue to make throughout this pandemic, especially in Australia which is in strict lockdown.

Joker doesn't understand because he is treated as a near god in his home country, by his family and inner circle. He is in awe of his body's powers of regeneration after changing his nutrition patterns to deal with various food intolerances and health problems. And now he buys into anti-science nonsense, probably because he feels his physical conditioning and years at the top practically give him superpowers. And that the laws of other countries, of other institutions, of vaccine mandates, simply do not apply to him.

He is arrogant and a fool. But I blame Tennis Australia just as much for this mess. He knew the rules and felt he could flout them anyway. Tennis Australia also knew the rules but STILL reinforced this man's deity complex by assuring him they would be bent for him if he came over. They set up this mess. I almost wonder if they set it up, knowing he'd be stopped and deported, to bring more publicity to the tournament.

100% perfectly put @Cat

I cannot stand the arrogance of this prick. Joker is an apt nickname indeed. 

I’m still a Novak fan, and I think there’s a lot of blame to go around here if you dig into the story. This was an avoidable situation in many ways from his end. Right now, it’s become a sideshow and a distraction.

Anyone catch the CNN report on Novak? His mother and father appear as his dad starts protests on the streets.

Close to what CNN reported a few minutes ago.

 

 

“The birthdays,” @MehdiAli98 says, “are the saddest days. They are supposed to be the happiest, but during my time in detention, they are always the heaviest days. I spend the whole day thinking about all the years I’ve lost.” https://t.co/iLBh0j0fHe

— Ben Doherty (@BenDohertyCorro) January 7, 2022

It was a three, not a handful of people, as Tiley claimed?

The third and final Australian Open participant (an official, not a player) who used same exemption as Djokovic has voluntarily left Australia @theage https://t.co/Cn9uaxDII1

— Paul Sakkal (@paulsakkal) January 7, 2022

So joker tests positive on Dec 16th. Didn't he have covid already before this?

Dec 17th goes mask less to a trophy ceremony and takes pictures with others.

Dec 18th does a photo shoot

Damn this dude is fucked up!

Edited January 9, 20223 yr by Soapsuds

Speaking of happenings "Down Under", a first title in Australia for Monfils!

 

The moment @Gael_Monfils claimed his first title Down Under! 🏆#AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/UpBIt9f8nA

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 9, 2022

11 hours ago, Soapsuds said:

So joker tests positive on Dec 16th. Didn't he have covid already before this?

Dec 17th goes mask less to a trophy ceremony and takes pictures with others.

Dec 18th does a photo shoot

Damn this dude is fucked up!

Well it appears that what happened is what should have happened.  From the dates, I believe the deadline from Tennis Australia I think was December 10th or 12th for the request for exemption with the paperwork that you were positive.  So he missed that deadline anyway.  I've been trying to follow along.  But, whether or not a deadline was extended or not - doesn't matter.  What people don't understand is that it's not Tennis Australia that matters.  It doesn't matter what they say you need to provide for an exemption or whatever is necessary to play in the tournament.  It doesn't matter, for the basic premise that you have to get into the country first.  So while it appears they expected him and told him he was cleared to come, that's not getting into the country.  

And regardless of all of THAT  - a visa is just a visa.  Different things happen at the border anyway, and it does in every country.  They can refuse you for whatever reason they want - visa or not.  From my understanding (and I do not travel internationally), the visa has some type of approval from someone at the Embassy or Consolate or whatever BEFORE you go.  That's how you have a visa.  So someone gave him one and should not have.  Or he did not have proof of paperwork when he got to Australia.  You can have a visa but still have to provide whatever documentation they ask for at the border - and he either didn't have that documentation or they didn't like it.  Which either happens.  Someone at the border doesn't like you, you're not getting in.  

I know I can never travel to Canada because I've had a DUI.  Now, I've been told that I can get to the border and they may not 'catch it'.  But they share a database with the U.S. because of 9/11.  If I get to the border and they see it, I'm not getting in.  Pretty much ever.  There is - yes - a process you can go through to get admitted.  Having all of your paperwork that you satisfied your duties and punishment, letters of recommendation, time passing - I don't remember.  But I do know that a President of ours had to have a pardon to get in and didn't even go through all of that.  There are stories out there of people who had possession of pot when they were in college, and are now in their 50's or 60's, and it's on their record, and they get stopped and cannot get into Canada.  Things may have changed, but if they have it's been since I checked within the last 5-10 years.  I know what I'm talkin' bout there.   Which, in case anyone wants to know - a lot a lot a lot of people do not know - Canadians can have a DUI and come to the U.S. without question.  So, when I hear people talking about the problems with border control, I make sure I inform them of this - because I know they're griping about Mexico, and don't even know this about Canada.  But that's another show as Oprah would say.

Long and short, Australia ain' Djokin' around and he isn't getting in to a Grand Slam because he missed two shots.  

Edited January 9, 20223 yr by Fevuh

The WTA Player that was allowed in Australia and played a matched was sent home and so was the chair umpire.

 

Edited January 9, 20223 yr by Soapsuds

Australian Open qualifying tonight on ESPN+.

Oops....wrong thread😂😂😂😂😂😂

Edited January 10, 20223 yr by Soapsuds

Novak hearing underway. Novak's lawyer confirm Novak is unvaccinated.