There has always been colliding principles or ideas that shape public opinion. The sport world is no exception. But the two colliding principles that shape our perception of sport, and athletes in particular, is this notion of the old school versus the new school. Naomi Osaka’s recent withdraw from the French Open illustrates these two principles through the eyes of the sports fan.
For those unfamiliar, Naomi Osaka, the world’s number 2 ranked tennis player, has made no secret of her struggles with depression. She has also stated that shef gets a ‘huge wave of anxiety’ before speaking to the press. After being fined for not attending post match press conferences, as well as being threatened with expulsion from the tournament if it continued, Osaka made the decision to withdraw from the French Open.
The Old School Way
The old school way in the eye of the sports fan has a history of being both direct and ruthless. There is an expectation that if an athlete is getting paid millions of dollars they should shut up, stop whinning, and get out on to the field and play. No excuses.
When Osaka stepped aside from the French Open we could see the old school way becoming evident on social media from a section of sports fans. Here are a few Tweets that illustrate the direct nature of the old school way:
There is no doubt that these opinions are insensitive, especially when knowing about Osaka’s struggles. But this is a standard reaction to sport fans that adhere to that direct old school way. Even Rafael Nadal has stated that ‘Without the media, tennis players would not be recognised for their achievements’, when asked about his views Osaka’s decision to boycott post-match interviews.
Fortunately, there is a growing sensitivity towards athletes with mental health issues today than there has ever been in the past. If the same situation has arose a twenty years ago, then they would have been labelled as weak, soft, and whatever else. But this new school way identifies athletes as more as everyday people that have the same insecurities, rather than just super athletes with no emotion.
On Twitter, we have seen not just the public, but numerous athletes such as Phil Mickelson and Steph Curry supporting Naomi Osaka’s decision to step aside.
The majority of the comments on Twitter appear to align themselves with the sensitivity of the new school ways. Maybe it is a small sign that the public is becoming aware of the fragilities that come with being a professional athlete. However, people are ruthless, especially when it relates to the competitive nature of sport. And there will always be that ‘old school’ train of thought.
