The Marinovich Project - Could Explain The Nadal Model

First topic message reminder :

During this week I was laid up with the flu hence not much posting on the board.

What is obvious is 2 things.

Nadal still has the massive target on his back to those with loaded guns.

The LA fingerpointing at everyone successful is the new crap dogmatic way of thinking.

On my week off I watched a documentary called "The Marinovich Project" I implore anyone who is keen to see how exactly a well oiled athlete can be created from youth without all the "doping" nonsense I see daily on the internet.

In question when it seems that Nadal is the sole figure of doping accusations, I think certain things are forgotten which really should aim the finger of curiousity elsewhere.

The documentary in question is brilliant. Todd Marinovich was groomed by his development/fitness fanatic father Marv Marinovich. Now Marv Marinovich is a pioneer in athletic development. This guy changed the way the NFL developed players. As a former footballer himself, he actually suffered through 'Over training' and was then met with a desire to improve his fitness regime and maximise his athletic ability. Post career he studied the Eastern Bloc training methods and incorporated other methods into this and became one of the first 'Strength and Conditioning' coaches. He worked with the Raiders and even founded a training centre which many athletes went to.

Marv then had the idea and notion he could train his son Todd from early age and he begun training Todd the moment he was born. Even before Todd had taken his first steps, Marv was stretching his quads in his crib! Todd at the age 6 ran a mile in 8 minutes! He was on a diet which had no meat or processed foods in it. Simply put, Marv was creating an athlete who was to be years ahead of anyone. Todd himself was playing in national matches at the age of 14 which was unheard of. Todd would run miles each and every day and also do weights. We are talking a teenager here! Todd broke the college record for yards thrown in a season. However, once Todd turned pro, he imploded. A mixture of the strict regime from childhood meant that he yearned for a normal lifestyle and his career was cut short by recreational drug taking. His pro career is not the focus of my point here. It is purely about the development. Todd was seen as light years ahead of anyone in football. A mixture of natural athletic ability and the training and diet program to match meant that kids nutured in the right way can achieve amazing results.

Let's look at the top 4 who have dominated the game in recent times. Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray.

Nadal turned pro at 15 whilst Federer, Djokovic and Murray turned pro at 17.

Nadal also has a 'sporting' athletic family. Federer hasn't. Djokovic hasn't. Murray had Judy who was a handy female tennis player.

For me it is clear that Nadal and his accusations are based on results and the brand of tennis he plays which to many seems physically impossible to maintain. Tennis in general at the moment has a massive problem in testing and because of the lack of testing means that the temptation is there to dope and get away with it. Tennis is nowhere near as lax on doping or testing compared with yesteryear, yet those successful in those times are given a free pass. It's clear Lendl was the first to really place emphasis on fitness and conditioning.

This whole LA lovesacks is really annoying. It seems that any successful athlete gets met with the 'Well LA got away with it' narrow minded thinking. Agassi's admission in recreational drug use and the soft approach from the ITF and ATP was exposed. Can't say that really it is the same old structure that still exists. I mean christ should every general in the German outfit be met with "He could become a Hitler" casting aspersions because we believe history explains everything and being obtuse is the way to think to prevent travesties.

Lets look at cycling. I can't recall anyone or ever hearing of anyone who was 'naturally talented' at cycling. Like running the stamina without a doubt is the core element for success. Tennis is not that straightforward. You could place Paula Radcliffe on a tennis court and all the stamina in the world would not stop her getting bagelled by a park standard player.

The Marinovich Project is a must watch for those who have not seen first hand the impact of development. It was an eye opening documentary. With the right structure in place superb athletes can be created and nutured under the right environments. How the athletes stay at their peak is another matter all together.

Yes Nadal doesn't cover himself in glory. Yes his views can be somewhat self-serving, however the guy for me is naturally athletic. Out of the top guys genetically he stands the greater chance of being naturally athletic.

Anyone please watch the documentary. What it can explain is how athletes are created from youth and how they become nearly 90% of the end product to mature into.

laverfan wrote:Also this forgotten one - http://www.spinner.com/2009/09/03/original-beatles-drummer-pete-best-tells-his-side-of-the-fab-fou/

Sadly the forgotten one was Stu Sutcliffe...

Wasnt Stu the guy Lennon beat up, then sang 'Jealous guy' in honour of him when he died?

As I stated before, HawkEye, Harrison is my preferred choice a single artist. But most of the huge Beatles success came off the back of of Macca slaving away in the production room, fixing synths, perfecting harminies while Lennon was passed out somewhere. Macca may have physically been the Pretty Boy, but Lennon encapsulated the role.

I do understand why people would prefer Lennon, though, music is a reflection of self. And quality is therefore objective.

Lennon was simply dire as a singles artist, though. Considering that he considered BB King (my personal favourite, after Jimi) a friend & that he was in the Black power movement, the fact that he continued making psychadellic nonsense with no soul or meaning unless you are high.

HE I think your comments are actually spot on. Macca was Jealous of Yoko Ono he realised she would be the spoke in the wheel I think. George Harrison received very little acclaim but he made a huge contribution. Ringo bless him... well he could have been a "journeyman"

But for what ever the controversey is that surrounds the song "Hey Jude" who ever wrote it and there was a difference of opinion on that one.. and for whatever reason McCartney has milked it dry and if ever a song makes me bristle that one does... what a load of cr@p Probably the only one he can remember the words (as you have guessed he was my least fav Beatle for all manner of reasons)

Haddie. I didn't know there was controversy over who wrote "Hey Jude". I thought Paul did. Was it thought that John may have?

Funny that you are not a fan of McCartney just like you are not the biggest fan of Federer. I've always liked them both. Must admit McCartney made me cringe though at the Olympics when they wheeled him out to sing. I couldn't watch it was that bad. He should have refused. But can you imagine if they ask Roger to hit a few forehands when he's 93 to celebrate something? He wouldn't be able to resist and would dress up for the occasion... Ha ha!

Yes HE there was always a question mark over Hey Jude it was thought that McCartney wrote the lyrics (for Julian Lennon when John divorced his mother) as for the music thereby hangs a question mark. But McCartney claims credit for it. I believe in the end there was some animosity between Lennon and McCartney but you are right I never liked Paul. more or less for the same reasons I dont like Federer.. dont deny the talent.. just the person. What you saw with Lennon was what you got.. true he didnt have much humility about him but he was what he was...frank and outspoken and very much his own person with sheer brilliance. "Imagine" is an all time classic and will always be imo.

McCartney is now a joke...its time to call it a day.

I did know what the song was about but had never heard that John may have provided the music. It wouldn't surprise me. I've always thought part of their success and huge talent was helped by how they were competitive with each other. They sort of spurred each other on to the heights that they achieved. Didn't their first meeting involve Paul trying to impress John with the number of chords he could play. John was impressed as was Paul with Johns coolness and ready formed band. There may have been animosity at the end but that was perhaps the result of an intense closeness. Growing up, marriage and kids would obviously not allow their intense relationship to continue.

You are right McCartney can be embarrassing but it's tough for everyone when they get old. For all his fame and success in his personal life he's had things tough. Losing his mother when young (same as Lennon), losing Linda who he appeared to really love and also losing his best friend and partner.

I think a lot of these bands have a love/hate relationship.. they are working and living with each other for so much of their lives that things are inevitably going to wrong at some time. McCartney had no more happen in his life than people like Roy Orbison whose life was nothing but one tragic event after another.Mcartney´s latter years are of his own stupid making. Sadly we all have losses.

Hey Jude is a wonderful song, never really thought Lennon did the composition, both men have their own style in terms of the musical side. Hey Jude doesnt have the Lennon feel, too many harmonies, a little sing-along. and just really busy in terms of instruments. Although the end does sound like a Lennon work....

Interesting comparison though, as while I prefer Macca musically, I normally prefer the opposite in sport. i.e guys who are physically gifted over those intrinsically gifted. Basically guys who could have played any other sport due to their physical gifts.
LeBron over Kobe
Nadal over Federer
Ronaldo over Messi
Blake over Bolt.

Well certainly there wont be any "confessions" forthcoming as to who or what exactly surrounded the writing of it (though as I say unlike you I could have done without that song in my life ) !! but its strange I have never thought of drawing a parallel between sportsmen and muscians though now its mentioned I can see certain similarities.

True, but surely someone close to the Beatles who needs some quick caah would have publushed a book revealing these little things?
Either way, it is a Beatles work..

Yes it is but Im not sure that the "need to know" exists much concerning the Beatles these days. They can be credited with some of the best music of the 60´s. The years when British music "ruled the world" and from what a lot of today´s music developed.

Haddie-nuff. Strange after talking about McCartney yesterday came across this today.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2285670/The-woman-break-Paul-McCartneys-heart-The-Beatle-reveals-dearest-wish-mother-again.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

It never ever surprises me that no matter how old we get we never forget our Mum. You get one and one only - love her and cherish her. We were given a belly button just so we can never forget her.

A quote I once read said "A man loves his wife the most.. but his mother the longest"