Kritik und Lob » African, Sarah Mae

LONDON -- Novak Djokovic certainly seems wound up at the moment and he gave another clear indication of his mindset with an outburst at the chair umpire Thursday.He became angered after chair umpire Fergus Murphy gave him a time violation for taking too long between points in the fourth game of his 6-1, 6-2 win against David Goffin at the Tour Finals. Milos Raonic later beat Dominic Thiem 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the evening session to join Djokovic in the semifinals.But the world No. 2 was perplexed that he hadnt been given a soft warning first. Can you explain why you didnt tell me before? Djokovic said at the next changeover, explaining it was the first time he had gone over the allotted 25 seconds.On the point in question, the Serb had taken 31 seconds to serve following a long rally that was ended by exquisite lobbed winner from Goffin, which had drawn a thumbs-up from Djokovic. Thats the rule, he was told bluntly by Murphy, though.That tells me that you have no clue about the game, you have no clue about the game, Djokovic shot back.Murphy replied: Thats your view.Djokovic continued to plead his case in what became a heated exchange. He played an amazing point. I went to get my towel and you give me a warning right away, he said. You think thats fair?Yes, thats the way we enforce the rule and weve been doing that for two years, said the umpire.Djokovic then stood up from his chair and gestured behind his chair to supervisor Tom Barnes, pointing one finger in the air and saying one time repeatedly.He perhaps had a right to be annoyed. It was the first time in the match that Djokovic had strayed over the time limit between serves and a soft warning at the change of ends may have sufficed.He sought out Barnes for a chat after the match to clarify the rules. I just wanted to get his view on this, Djokovic told a post-match news conference.First of all, I accept and I know that Im one of the players that takes the most time. There is no doubt. Im not running away from that.Every time that Im late, if I get a so-called soft warning or pre-warning, Ill accept it and I wont say a word. But I think its fair, correct and respectful towards the player and to the game if you go over the first time, lets say, over the limit, that you at least get a heads up.Thats all Im asking for, to be honest. Im not the only one who has that kind of mindset and perspective and opinion about this.I know that the rules are strict, you have to follow. But there should be a kind of a feel, a sense for the game. It was the fourth game of the match, after a long point, the first time I went over, a few seconds, he gives me a warning. I didnt think that was supported by the right facts. Thats why I wanted to have a conversation and understand why it was as it was.In the grand scheme of things, it did not matter at all. There was no fine for Djokovic, and he did not lose a point. Whats more, his position as group winner and his place in the semifinals was already safe and this was essentially a dead rubber.No stress at all, why stress? Djokovic said on court post-match. We come here to play, to enjoy. This is one of the biggest tournaments in the world. Im just having fun on the court.But he was more forthright in his news conference about the pressure he is under.I mean, look, you know, were all humans, he said. Every single day we face some certain kind of challenges, mental challenges, on everyday basis, private, professional life, emotions, thoughts.Its normal, especially if you compete on the highest level in professional sport, that you have maybe more of that hype and emotions and adrenaline going through your body. Its very important always to kind of know how to filter all of that, how to channel it in a positive direction.Certainly there are stages of the year or of the day, moments when you feel worse, and you feel better. The important thing is to be conscious of it and just deal with it in a best possible way that works for you.Djokovic will have known not to take Goffin lightly. The last time an alternate won a match at the Tour Finals, Djokovic was on the other side of the net, beaten 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 by countryman Janko Tipsarevic and eliminated from the tournament.Tipsarevic had joked after that match that Djokovic might then cancel their planned post-season holiday together.Here on Thursday, the 12-time Grand Slam winner managed to shake off the time violation incident to record a blowout victory. He took the first set in just 36 minutes and the second even quicker in 33 minutes.I was trying to put myself in the right state of mind regardless of who was at the net, said Djokovic, whose scheduled opponent Gael Monfils withdrew from the tournament with a rib injury Wednesday night.I felt the most comfortable today from all the three matches, and I felt I increased the quality of the tennis. Its not easy for him to come out, I think, to play. He didnt play his best.The umpire incident aside, it was the perfect afternoon for Djokovic -- he didnt drop his serve, and will have conserved his energy for the weekend.He now has a day off, while Andy Murray -- whom he is battling with to finish as year-end No. 1 -- faces a potential run of three matches in three days, should the Scot reach the final in what could be a straight shootout between the two to finish top of the rankings.If Murray takes a set off Stan Wawrinka, win or lose, in his final round robin match then he will face Raonic, the man he beat in the Wimbledon final.Ive played Andy many times this year, said Raonic, who is 6-0 against the Scot in 2016. I havent gotten the better of him. Hes been playing well. Hes been playing a lot of matches.I think the one thing that I might have is how much he has really on his shoulders right now, a lot of consecutive matches, and as well what hes playing for. I have to try to do my best to try to accentuate that as much as possible in my own favor so I can really get the most out of myself and hopefully be able to get on top of him for once this year. Stitched Blues Jerseys . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. Blues Jerseys 2021 . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. https://www.cheapblues.com/ . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. St.Louis Blues Shirts .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. St.Louis Blues Pro Shop . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. PRETORIA, South Africa -- Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Olympian described by a judge as a fallen hero, was sentenced on Wednesday to six years in a South African prison for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a ruling viewed by some as too lenient.However, Judge Thokozile Masipa appeared to anticipate criticism of a jail term that fell far short of the normally mandated 15 years for murder under South African law, declaring: Our courts are courts of law, not courts of public opinion.Pistorius, who shot Steenkamp through the door of a toilet cubicle in his home in 2013, was asked to stand and face Masipa as she announced his sentence in a wood-paneled courtroom in the South African capital, Pretoria. He was calm after the ruling, embracing his aunt and tearful sister before being led down a courtroom staircase to a holding cell ahead of being taken to prison.Later, a convoy of police cars with lights flashing and sirens wailing left a side entrance of the courthouse. In the convoy was a van with tinted windows, possibly carrying Pistorius.The sentencing was the latest act of a three-and-a-half year legal drama that has often played out on live television and shown the fall from grace of a runner once viewed as an inspiration to many for overcoming his disability. Both of Pistorius legs were amputated below the knees when he was 11 months old because of a congenital defect.He made history by competing at the 2012 Olympics on his carbon-fiber running blades, and was one of the worlds most recognizable athletes.Hes a fallen hero, he has lost his career and he is ruined financially, said Masipa, who originally convicted Pistorius of manslaughter, a ruling that was overturned by an appeals court that instead convicted him of murder and sent the case back to her for sentencing.In explaining the sentence, Masipa said there are substantial and compelling circumstances to show leniency toward Pistorius because he is a good candidate for rehabilitation, is unlikely to commit another crime and had shown what appeared to be genuine remorse over Steenkamps death.Pistorius, 29, maintained he killed Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and reality TV star, by mistake thinking she was an intruder hiding in the bathroom early on Valentines Day 2013. Prosecutors alleged that he killed her intentionally after the couple argued.Part of the difficulty for the judge in determining an appropriate sentence was that the Supreme Court convicted Pistorius of murder with indirect intent. Pistorius was found guilty because he knew someone might die -- even an intruder -- when he shot. As Masipa noted, the Supreme Court did not find that Pistorius knew he was firing at Steenkamp.Pistorius will be eligible to apply for parole after three yeears, according to legal experts.dddddddddddd Prosecutors, who had asked that he be sentenced to 15 years in prison, can appeal for a heavier sentence but have yet to comment on whether they will do so.The family accepts the judgment, Anneliese Burgess, a spokeswoman for the Pistorius family, said outside the courthouse.The Steenkamp family did not criticize the sentence. The family has said it before they wanted the law to run its course. It has done so. No further comment. They will keep a dignified silence, said Dup de Bruyn, the Steenkamp family representative.Legal expert Marius du Toit described the sentence as lenient but not wrong.Some people who gathered outside the courthouse were critical.The law didnt take its course, said Dukes Masanabo, a South African sports official who had hoped Pistorius would be sentenced to 10 to 12 years, not six.He said the sentence is too light because Pistorius was sentenced to almost the same sentence -- five years -- for his earlier manslaughter conviction. He served one year of that sentence before being placed under house arrest at his uncles mansion in Pretoria, and he had some freedom of movement outside the home during certain hours.The time that Pistorius already served in prison is not subtracted from his new sentence, which may have contributed to the judges relatively lenient decision, say legal experts.Another South African, Sarah Maete, said she wanted Pistorius to get the full 15 years in prison for murder.Its not enough, she said.In delivering her sentence, Masipa referred to the difficulties she faced in deciding a sentence that satisfies every relevant interest in a case that captured the worlds attention and led to extremes of opinion over the celebrated athlete. She noted that Pistorius had fired four times -- not once -- through the closed toilet door and spoke of the devastating effect the crime had on Steenkamps family.Ultimately, mitigating circumstances outweigh the aggravating factors, the judge said.Steenkamps parents, Barry and June, were present in the courtroom, which was packed with relatives of both Pistorius and Steenkamp, journalists and other observers.Pistorius defense lawyers had asked for no jail time at all, saying he should be allowed to do charity work with children.Ulrich Roux, a South African lawyer and commentator who is not involved in the Pistorius case, said it had opened a window for South Africans into how their justice system works, including cross-examination and how a judge reaches a decision.He said: Its been a huge learning curve for our society.---Imray reported from Somerset West, South Africa. ' ' '