Keep on keepin on Martina!

I remember absolutely hating her back in the day. I mean, I hated the athlete who seemingly constantly beat whomever I was cheering for, not the person.

She was just frighteningly dominant at times.

So, even as someone who was never her biggest fan, I’m thrilled to hear this news. I hope she has many more happy and cancer-free years ahead of her.

I know what you mean. I was always rooting for someone else as a kid and I don't know why I never clicked with her. As an adult I totally respect her and consider her to be one of the greatest tennis players ever.

I’ve thought about it a bit since making that comment.

I think not only was it about rooting for the underdog or similar, it was just that she wasn’t as personable of a player. In her post-playing years you got to see a bit more of her personality, but when she was playing, she kinda came across as that stereotypical eastern-bloc Ivan Drago-type athlete.

That made it easy to dislike her - especially in the Cold War climate during which she played.

These days I don’t think of her that way at all, but at the time, according to my own (potentially faulty) memory, her interviews and the political climate of the day made her seem… cold.

I understand. For me it was probably because Evert was prettier. That's was probably enough for <10yo me to root against her.

Great news!

Not gonna disagree there. I’m sure there was some of that for me as well.

Now explain why ≈7-10 year old me liked Borg over McEnroe. :P

And now she must fight the cancer in her soul and brain as she continues her fight for bigotry against trans people.

Transphobic hate monger. Sorry not sorry

Why do you say that?

She’s no Wade Boggs, that’s for sure

https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/martina-navratilova-on-trasgender-swinner-lia-thomas/

I've actually heard worse comments about Transgender people.

She did win the California open though.

Hell yeah!

Wasn’t that Gina Davis?

Her career for me was one of continuously-increasing respect from me. I mean, she kept beating my favorite players until I had to acknowledge just how great she was.

Plus, late in her career, a buddy and I were walking around Aspen and spotted her hitting with a partner on an outdoor court. Seeing her in person, crushing the ball over and over while clearly not even trying was something to watch. Eventually, the guy she was hitting with messed up and she immediately waved and said “hi” as if she had been waiting to be nice the first instant she could stop hitting.

Probably doesn't like that Martina puts fairness of competition ahead of inclusion when it comes to women's sports.

That’s the thing though: NOW (or maybe better said: post competition) she’s has seemed like a fantastic human being - or at least a decent above-average one.

That’s why my memories of her frustrate me: either I got it entirely wrong or she has changed a lot.

It’s probably a combination of both though. And I have a tough time judging someone for not being very good at being famous - especially in their 20’s…

I’ve heard it said that the best doubles team in the history of tennis was John McEnroe and anybody else. After watching Martina’s career, I dunno. Seems like her doubles play was at that same level as McEnroe.

She told the truth. Glad she is cancer free and back to being a LGBTQ+ pioneer.

Hopefully the fear of death helps her realize how her words threaten the existence of trans people

You mean lgb. She is most definetly not a friend of ours

🤞🤞

Might’ve been Secretariat.

.

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Now you’re imagining me as Lori Petty in A League of Their Own

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Seems like she isn’t alone. better get your pitchfork out again