Supremely gifted, but...

[Murat B.]

^ I don't know mate... Dustin Hoffman counting those tooth picks in the "Rain Man" didn't look like the result of heavy training.

That was more of a curse than a gift, no?

 

[Murat B.]

Hey Murat!

I disagree with the study! I coached tennis for 8 years and there were nippers who took a swing first day and got it, and others who held the class up. I saw kids whizz through the line, could imitate what they saw - and much much more, without even being taught. They were natural at sports. Their eye was good, as the saying goes...

Ok, I never disagree with the initial bit that might be there as I said before, but which kid out of those ones with the "gift" will become someone?

Well, that's the billion dollar question, isn't it? Kids who grow to become professional sports stars are special anyway. The geniuses - for want of a better term - are something probably none of us will understand - but they do things which can't be taught...

But Nole has a totally different forehand than 5 years ago...he learned that. He was not born with that. What he had was not good. What he has now is better.

 

[Murat B.]

By the way, there are tens of studies on this subject. They are all very interesting. Please grab the book Sports Gene sometime and give it a read. It is very interesting.

Speaking of gifts, there ARE certain things that you are born with, that's for sure. Like a longer and stiffer achilles tendon, which can make you jump higher. Also speed is something interesting. Every sprinter have the ACTN3, a gene that allows for the production of alpha-actinin-3, a protein found in the fast-twitch muscles of almost every top sprinter who has ever been tested for the gene. And in one study that involved thousands of kids, none who was slow as a kid got faster as an adult. No practice can apparently get you extra fast twitch muscle fibers.

Those are the natural things I do not disagree. My point is, once you pick up a racket, basketball, violin or whatever, that's where the nurture part pulls ahead in my opinion.

 

[Kieran]

Fellas learn, but you don't agree that some are just more naturally gifted? You think it's all learning?

 

[Murat B.]

Fellas learn, but you don't agree that some are just more naturally gifted? You think it's all learning?

Mostly learning. Because naturally gifted is so vague. I told this before about a conference I attended with a lady who had a way with words and everyone was so amazed with her speech that they were telling her that she had this gift..Her answer I never forgot. She said she had a big stuttering problem as a kid, for years. She had to re-learn everything. That was it for me. Talent, gift, these thing may exist, I just don't believe in the importance people attach to them.

From Jordan to Nadal to Nole to Roger to Messi to Ronaldo to Steve Vai (guitar maestro) to Dave Weckl (drummer) to whomever I know to be amazing at their jobs, they are also the hardest workers in their fields...That cannot be a coincidence. Also every time a great talent who has never lived up to expectations are mentioned with poor work ethic, that cannot be a coincidence either.

 

[Kieran]

What about guys who work harder than Federer and Nadal? Surely these guys like Fedal have gifts which are unique to the individual and can become great because they're great talents? And others who may even work harder fail in comparison - because they don't have such great natural gifts?

There's no way John McEnroe became the most gifted player I've seen through hard work... :nono

 

[Murat B.]

What about guys who work harder than Federer and Nadal? Surely these guys like Fedal have gifts which are unique to the individual and can become great because they're great talents? And others who may even work harder fail in comparison - because they don't have such great natural gifts?

There's no way John McEnroe became the most gifted player I've seen through hard work... :nono

I have said it before, I am not denying the initial bit. But where would FEDAL be if they said" You know what, we have this unique gift, it surely will be enough" and not worked as hard as they did? They would be called Nalbandian probably.

As far as Jmac, I am not sure he is the most gifted player I have ever seen, but I am sure he has put in his time on the practice court.

But beyond that, there are so many other factors too. Not just practicing, but practicing correctly, having the right coach with the right approach. Do you want me to pull out the Nole video where his is on his knees trying to serve:snigger

Let's agree it is a combo of both and you will lean towards the gift part, me towards the work part?

 

[Kieran]

I believe in the intangibles! Because science can't measure it in a test tube, doesn't mean they're absent. Mozart wasn't the greatest genius of all just because he put in his 10,000 hours. That helped, but genius is a gratuity, not a commodity that's on sale to the hardest worker.

As for Nole on his knees, good enough for the %$^^£!! :devil

 

[I.Haychew]

Of my three phaves (Eph 3, Dr. Youzhny, and KA 74), I think that Phabio and Dr. Y are phairly giphted. Iph only they had phirst-rate phirst serves! Anderson, on the other hand, is the opposite...Has a great serve, but lacks "natural" talent in other areas.

 

[Front242]

Not sure I'd count Tomic as supremely gifted but he's definitely got a lot of potential and just wanted to post this here rather than start a new thread. Bilateral hip surgeries at 22 is rough. They say he's doing really well but any major surgery like that at such a young age is dodgy. Hopefully he'll recover well. No fan of his rope-a-dope style of play but his AO match against Nadal was actually good till he strained his leg and even then he was still able to hit some great shots. Hopes to be back in April which is very soon after bilateral hip surgery.

He's a lucky guy...just look what happened to poor Kuerten after hip damage. Permanent limp now, walks like an old man.

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/03/tomic-aiming-april-return/50786/#.UxNN0oVZlE0