Hewitt named Young Australian of the Year

Sat Jan 25, 5:36 AM ET
AP

MELBOURNE, Australia - World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt earned another title Saturday when he was named Young Australian of the Year as part of the Annual Australia Day honors.

The award will go some way toward consoling the 21-year-old tennis sensation for his disappointing elimination from the Australian Open this week.

Up until last Monday, Hewitt had been the hot favorite to win the Open, his home grand slam. Instead he was knocked out in the fourth round by Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui

America's Andre Agassi and Rainer Schuettler of Germany will contest the final Sunday, which is also Australia Day.

Hewitt agreed the award went some way to helping him deal with his loss in the Australian Open.

"My close friend Pat Rafter won the Australian of the Year last year," he said. "I've sort of seen what he has had to go through and the way that he handles everything that he does. He's a very good role model."

Hewitt has finished world number one in tennis for two successive years, is the reigning Wimbledon champion and has a US Open to his name.

**an article criticising Lleyton as the choice for Young Australian of the Year 

New honour added to tennis triumphs

January 26 2003
By Larry Schwartz
The Age

Tennis star Lleyton Hewitt said yesterday the highlights of his career were Davis Cup victories such as the defeat of Gustavo Kuerten on Brazilian clay.

It was in front of a crowd of 15,000, "booing and screaming, and very hostile" in a quarter-final in 2001.

Speaking after being named Young Australian of the Year, the player, 21, who that year became the youngest player to be ranked number one in the world, said there had been "no worse feeling" than losing to Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in the previous Davis Cup final.

He said he was buoyed by public support, and inspired when playing for his country. "The goosebumps just go through the whole body," he said, describing the sensation of listening to the national anthem before play, "and that's why I make myself available for every Davis Cup tie that I can play."

Girlfriend Kim Clijsters accompanied members of the Hewitt family to the function in Melbourne's Princess Theatre, at which he received the award from Prime Minister John Howard.

Speaking at a media conference, Hewitt said: "I think I've been able to be a role model for a lot of young kids out there." He said his influence was probably responsible for the many young tennis players running around in baggy shorts, shirts left untucked, and caps on backwards. "But that's me, I guess, out there," he said, "and my personality comes on."

Asked if the award would help compensate for last week's fourth-round Australian Open upset by the Moroccan veteran, Younes El Aynaoui, Hewitt said he "got over the loss straight away". He said he had done everything possible to prepare himself for the event, but had faced strong competition, and "you can't do anything about that".

Hewitt was now looking ahead to the Davis Cup match against England. "This for me is a great privilege," he said. "My friend Pat Rafter won Australian of the Year last year. I've seen what he's had to go through, and the way that he handles everything that he does, and that's a great role model for me."

He said it was difficult to compare the Young Australian award with a tennis victory. "It's got to do with inspiring young people and working extremely hard and putting in the effort and trying to do good things for Australia," Hewitt said. "And at the end of the day, it means as much as a lot of the tournament victories."

 **an article disagreeing with Lleyton's award. Below the article is Jeremy Bath's reply to this ridiculous article. Thank you Jeremy!
Congratulations Lleyton: our pork chop of the year By Peter FitzSimons
January 27 2003

Lleyton Hewitt. The official Young Australian of the Year.

I am agin. Let me count the ways.

If you were to do a poll of every Australian as to which young person most represents brattish behaviour, as in tantrums, calling people "spastics", and generally carrying on like a pork chop - including at least one alleged racial slur - I submit that Lleyton would be well up there. I submit that that is not the kind of stuff that a Young Australian of the Year should be made of.

You think I'm being harsh? It's possible. But give me another name then, a young Australian who more embodies "brat" than our own enfant terrible with the killer forehand.

You're right. Lleyton's behaviour in recent times seems to have improved markedly, including the graceful way he bowed out of the Australian Open. But he is a long, long way from being the pin-up for admirable behaviour the way Patrick Rafter was throughout his long career.


But moving right along. Of all the things that our famous international sportspeople need, more fame and recognition is not among them. Out of all the young and other worthy Australians out there doing fabulous things in so many different fields, was there not someone else who could have really used the recognition ? Someone whose been working alone in the dark for little reward and certainly not millions of dollars in prizemoney and a $30 million sponsorship agreement with a famous sweatshop like, say, Nike? And had the Australia Day Council given that recognition to a young researcher, social worker, inventor, musician or whatever, wouldn't that also send a much-needed signal to young Australian kids that there are so many more things that they can aspire to besides being good at sport?

What really gets my goat though is this. If there is one problem in Australian sport at the moment it is the notion that everything is justifiable so long as you get the win at the end of the day. In the image of the Australian cricket team, it is OK to sledge, throw your bat, kick in doors and all the rest - so long as you become the champions. Because if you're a champion all things are forgiven. You could even shout out "black c---" within earshot of a visiting international team, and people would come out of the woodwork to defend you when administrators impose a penalty on you. "He's got an amazing cover-drive, so let him alone." The same rough phenomenon is most extravagantly obvious in rugby league, rugby union and AFL teams where time and again we see complete dickheads get away with murder because the only thing that counts is their performance on the field and nothing must be allowed to get in the way of securing the next win. It is not what sport was meant to be all about in the first place, and it is most definitely not the message you want to be sending to our kids.

In this case, the bottom line is that Lleyton Hewitt has got this award because he is the No.1 tennis player in the world... meaning that everything else can be ignored. It fits exactly with the problem described above.

None of this is against Hewitt himself particularly, as for starters he didn't give himself the award, he merely accepted it. He is a young bloke who despite all of our criticism during the past few years really has done extremely well in his chosen field and does appear to finally be growing up. As respected a figure as John Newcombe - a famous tennis player I grant you, but also with decades of admirable wider community activities behind him - has maintained that beneath all Hewitt's carry-on there really is a terrific bloke trying to get out.

Let's hope that he goes on to do exactly that, and does us all proud.

But in the meantime, seeing as the Australia Day Council is clearly obsessed with sport, let me use the appropriate metaphor: please give yerselves a good uppercut, because yers deserve it.

-----------------------------------------

Dear Peter,

let me begin by agreeing that Lleyton Hewitt is not the most deserving youth to be honoured as Young Australian of the Year. But then again, as with such awards, the most deserving never are. they work in anonymity, silence, and almost always, without any recognition of their heroics.

But I would counter Lleyton Hewitt is not quite as undeserving of the award as you might suggest. His boorish reputation is basically limited to Australia, in particular Australian journalists. As someone who has spent a number of years overseas since Lleyton's rise to prominence, I can assure you Lleyton Hewitt is highly respected and considered a positive character much in the same way Jimmy Connors was two decades earlier. His abilities to fight above his weight, his mental strength, his patriotism and loyalty to the Davis Cup have all earned him a respect that reflects in nothing but positive ways upon Australia.

Back home, those characteristics are similarly being admired more and more. I spend several hours on the court every afternoon with children, and every one of them want to be a Lleyton or Anna. Pat Rafter, (God bless his retired soul), captured the imagination of the Australian public, but never the hearts of our youth in the motivational way Lleyton has.

Lleyton's abilities transcend social and race barriers. He is an inspiration to our youth and for me, that is what counts most. The world isn't the most pleasant of places these days, and sport is one of the few avenues of escapism for young people. Lleyton through actions if not words, shows what is capable if one gives every fibre of their being to a challenge .

I would hope given you have chosen to target Lleyton as undeserving of the young Australian of the Year title, that you have spent time with the youth of the nation. Clearly you have not. It would be impossible for anyone to criticise the Australia Day Council for their decision had they seen the positive impact Lleyton Hewitt has had on so young people's lives.

regards

Jeremy Bath

Ps As is so often the case when people criticise a decision, you offer no alternative. If Lleyton doesn't deserve to be Young Australian of the Year, then who do you suggest is?

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Fitzsimons [mailto:pfitzsimons@access.fairfax.com.au]
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2003 1:51 PM
To: Jeremy Bath
Subject: Re: Lleyton Hewitt piece


Thanks Jeremy. If it was me, I would have selected a young
Muslim woman doing something terrific in her community. In
terms "of sending messages," you couldn't ask for better than
that. But I am interested in your opinion that he is more
highly regarded overseas than here. My fear, when you say that
kids want to be Lleyton, is that they will also think his
behaviour is acceptable. It isn't.

Best,

peter Fitz

----------------------

Peter, never actually expected a reply so thanks for that. Selecting a young Muslim woman would have been little more than tokenism and in my opinion would have done little for our community and repairing the split that has been developing post September 11. But good you actually do have a suggestion.

As for Lleyton's behaviour, I think too much has been made of this. His bratish outbursts are largely consigned to years gone by. While not making excuses for incidents such as the 'spastic' comment, they are nothing in comparison with what we hear through effects mics when watching union or league. For some reason, sportsmen who play individual sports are held to higher behavioural expectations than individual members of team sports. When was the last time a journalist made mention of Brad Fittler's skipping of an ANZAC day ceremony or being dumped at a Police Station unconscious from alcohol poisoning? Why should Lleyton continually have his past (and a minor one at that) continually referred to when others don't?

You made mention of Lleyton's alleged racial slur on James Blake at the 2001 US open. As you stated, alleged is the word. Nothing was ever proven and in my opinion, no slur ever took place. I have been greatly surprised at the leniency Darren Lehman has been shown in the Australian media for his comments towards the Sri Lankan cricket team. It's unfortunate it was left to the ICC to hand out his punishment with the ACB happy to just sweep it under the carpet and move on. I wonder whether Lehman will still have the incident being raised in eighteen months time, despite there being no doubt as to his guilt? I sincerely doubt it.

As for Lleyton's influence on children, I have never seen any evidence to suggest him having anything but a positive impact. Children mimic his fight and patriotism , that's all. It's interesting that the Australian media was so forgiving of far worse behaviour from Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish during this year's Australian open. Whether Australian journalists are afraid to 'give it' to Americans is debateable but it certainly appears Lleyton has received more than his fair share of criticism for any bad behaviour he has demonstrated at what must be considered a terribly young age. When the media write of Marat Safin, they prefer to focus on his playboy image instead of his violent outbursts. And when mention is made of his racquet smashing hobby, it's presented as a funny, quirky side to his character.

How many times during Seven's coverage of the Aust Open did we see footage of McEnroe screaming at umpires? I didn't see or hear any journalists questioning Seven or the man himself as to the potentially negative influence such behaviour might have or had on susceptible children. Again I argue a double standard. One for Lleyton and one for the rest of the world.

No doubt you have received a copy of the 2003 ATP media guide. The front cover shows Lleyton Hewitt, passionate as ever. This is how most people see him. Only the Austn media try to show him as anything else.

I don't expect a reply. I'm sure if you replied to every e-mail you receive, you would have time for little else. I just ask that next time you are given the opportunity to criticise Lleyton Hewitt that you pause and consider whether you are creating a picture with paints from years past.

Regards

Jeremy


-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Fitzsimons [mailto:pfitzsimons@access.fairfax.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 8:57 AM
To: Jeremy Bath
Subject: RE: Lleyton Hewitt piece


Thanks Jeremy. Just quickly though, did you actually see the episode in New York with the black linesman? I did, and for me it was flagrant and not "alleged" at all. I'd be interested in your views,

best,

Peter Fitz

---------------------------

Hi peter, yes of course I saw the alleged incident. Not in the flesh, but on tv like most people. I watched the match live but couldn't make out all that was said by Lleyton at the time.

Transcripts of the incident later reveal Lleyton said

"Look at him. Look at him and tell me what the similarity is"

This incident has been incorrectly reported ever since on two fronts. Whether through lazy journalism or as a pitiful vengeance for Lleyton's refusal to deal with Australian journalists I am not sure.

The first error in reporting of this incident is that used to described Lleyton's actions when making the above statements. Almost all journalists reported that Lleyton "pointed" at firstly the black linesman and then James Blake when saying tell me what the similarity is.

This is completely unfounded as any viewing of the tape will show. This fact is backed by ITF Grand Slam Supervisor Stefan Fransson and referee Brian Earley who performed the subsequent investigation into the alleged racial incident, and concluded that,

"there was no gesture in the direction of Mr. Blake when he made the comments about the similarities. He did not use Mr. Blake's name; he didn't say, "my opponent." He made no reference to Mr. Blake."

The second error reported so often as to now be viewed as fact is that Lleyton refused to initially clarify his remarks and only did so at a subsequent press conference the following day. Below is Lleyton's reply to the question of what he meant by the remarks at his press conference immediately after the match with James Blake.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I didn't say it in that way. I went out there and I got two foot faults at one end. I asked if the guy could be moved. The umpire said, "Yeah, we can move him." They moved him, put him in a different position. I didn't care that the guy was staying on court, not going off the court at all. Normally in the past I would ask for a guy to get moved totally off the court. It all happened at one end. Whether I'm playing in Australia or anywhere around the world, I get foot faulted at one end two times on big points, not up the other end, something is not balanced there. If I'm doing the same thing up either end, which I'm sure I am, I've hit thousands and thousands of serves in my career so far, have the same action. That's all. I went to the umpire with my argument. He said, "We'll change him."

It is clear from this response that the similarity to which Lleyton referred was that the two foot-faultswere called by the same linesman. This is what ffrustratedLleyton.

Given you have also seen the incident and no doubt the subsequent interviews, I am pperplexedas to how you could view Lleyton's comments as flagrant racism and not a misunderstanding by an American media on edge whenever the question of race is raised. In my opinion, the united States has become so paranoid of being seen as tolerant of racism (ironically endemic on many American social levels) that they now refuse to accept alternative explanations. They instigate policies such as affirmative action and believe this somehow gives them the right to proclaim expertise on the subject of race and what Lleyton Hewitt 'really' meant when he made those now infamous remarks.

I would be interested to know on what grounds you saw Lleyton's actions as flagrant racism, given he did not point at any stage to James Blake or ever refuse to clarify his position on what exactly was said.

Regards

Jeremy




-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Fitzsimons [mailto:pfitzsimons@access.fairfax.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 10:07 PM
To: Jeremy Bath
Subject: RE: Lleyton Hewitt piece


Bloody hell, Jeremy, you know the whole box and dice about it
for one who is no more than a distant observer!

What I remember is seeing the footage several times and being
absolutely clear as to what Hewitt's intent was. Sure it was
the sort of thing a good lawyer might have got you off on,
creating confusion as to who pointed at whom when, but like a
head-high tackle which is absolutely flagrant until picked
apart by bio-mechanic experts .... it was STILL obvious what he
was saying. As I recall, the Guardian also reported shortly
afterwards that Darren Cahill left the employ of the Hewitt
circle because of racist comments made by a key member of the
entourage.

I stand behind my column!

BEst,

Peter Fitz

------------------------------

Hi Peter, yeah I may have bombarded you with information. As a keen media observer, I am often disappointed and frustrated by inconsistencies in the media which are often no less than lazy journalism (I am not accusing you of this, only of perpetuating alleged inferences as spoken fact).

Our memories are subjective, and just because you remember something doesn't make it fact. There's a reason why police work so hard to get confessions when they already have eye-witnesses. We see and remember what we want to. Just as I would argue you saw what you wanted to see, the same could be said of me. When I view the incident, I only see Lleyton repeatedly point at the linesman in question, but never at James Blake.

However, the fact a full investigation was conducted with no evidence found, should mean the end of the matter.

As for Darren Cahill, it is widely known the reason for his split with the Hewitt camp was the birth of his first child in mid February. Following the birth of his child, Cahill requested that his wife and son be allowed to travel with team Hewitt. This was refused on the understandable grounds that a child less than twelve months old would prove a distraction to Darren and his career responsibility of coaching Lleyton.

This fact is common knowledge, something I would have thought a person in your position would have been privy to. Your citing of the Guardian's article demonstrates a point I raised in my last e-mail. Errors are printed, then repeated as fact by Australian journalists on an all too common basis, with no effort made to confirm the substance of the allegations.

That said, it is clear we sit on opposing sides of the fence when it comes to Lleyton's impact on Australia and in particular, Australian youth.

I admire your ability to stick to your guns, even if the bullets you are firing are in my opinion, little more than blanks.

I look forward to continuing to read your column.

Jeremy


-----Original Message-----
From: peter Fitzsimons [mailto:pfitzsimons@mail.fairfax.com.au]
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2003 9:47 AM
To: Jeremy Bath
Subject: Re: Lleyton Hewitt piece


Thanks Jeremy, I appreciate the thoughtful nature of your
response, even if I think your own 'mortar-bombs' are little
more than legalistic nit-picking, appropriate for a murder
case, but not on the subjective matter of what you put in
sports pages full of loud-mouthed opinion. That said, I do
stand behind the sentiments expressed, and think if you check
further on the Cahill matter you will DEFINITELY find it had a
lot more to do with it than the birth of his child. That hasn't
stopped him coaching Agassi for starters. All the best,
though, Warmly, Peter Fitz

--------------------

Geez, you're more persistent than I am. Yeah sure, my arguments are hardly worthy of a sports column. My hope was rather that you would find someone else to express loud mouthed opinions about other than Lleyton.

Court cases are won on facts, not opinions. I guess we have found something to agree upon.

I never suggested Cahill's child would hinder his coaching, only that the Hewitt camp thought so. And as for the truth reason behind the split, I suggest you confirm your opinion with Australian tennis journalists such as Alan Trengrove or Rosie Michie. They will disagree.

Even if the Guardian's claim was true, surely you wouldn't hold it against Lleyton given it the allegations involve one of the Lleyton's team members, not Lleyton himself?

Anyway...I'll sign off here.

I look forward to you continuing to write about tennis and helping generate interest in the sport, even if your targets are sometimes a little repetitive and facts on the lighter side.

Bulldogs and Lleyton in 2003

Jeremy