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Home , Henri Leconte

Serving it up to Jim

they’re down a couple of sets and a break. Give that The commentary is a real shame, because the has been so good. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Frenchie Novak Djokovic fighting it out on Wednesday night. teaching Lleyton Hewitt a lesson in bloke a go beauty and style. And Tsonga beating Nicolas Almagro may be The Northern Territory News’ own the most exciting tennis I’ve seen. tennis tragic, BEN LANGFORD, has a But something strange has been whine happening late at night — the USTRALIA. Greatest phenomenon of Henri Leconte. I sporting nation in the turned on the telly the other night world, right? Sure is, at and it was doubles. But before I least if we leave out could switch off, I heard something A was different. those pesky Kiwis who seem to be unbeatable by Australia in the There was the old Frenchman, a only sport the nation plays. crowd favourite as a player, getting seriously weird as a commentator, And yes, I know I’m risking the letting off all kinds of hoots and hatred of all netballers by assuming whoops and snorts through his NZ-landers only play rugby. But it’s Gallic nose. too late for me. Judging by the last time I played mixed netball in Doubles is already strange Darwin, they already hate all of us enough, with the players hiding tall, basketball shorts-wearers who their mouths when talking and know how to use a pivot foot and giving each other high fives every don’t like jigging up and down minute or two. The other day Bob K running into people. and were playing. Y They gave each other a high five

Perhaps I’m getting off topic M before I even start. Where were we? after one of them successfully took Ah yes, greatest sporting nation in a toilet break. C the world. No arguments there. Then 10 seconds later they gave But as I’ve been catching a few another five after he successfully picked up his racquet to return to moments of tennis in between ads ANNOYING: Television commentator (right) interviews winner Andy Murray of Britain (left) the court. for Channel Seven’s new shows, the after Murray’s victory over Marin Cilic of Croatia in their men’s singles semi-final match on day 11 of the question burns in me. Meanwhile up the other end the tennis tournament in Melbourne on Thursday COLOR: Not the question of why people in opposition are holding tennis balls England get to watch the ‘‘as players, we have to do ... blah they’re all mates. about your hobnobbing. The only in front of their mouth to hide their

Australian Open live but people in blah blah’’. Past tense, mate, past ‘‘I saw Roger in the player thing I want to hear about the lips as they plan the point. 41 Darwin cop a two-hour delay, tense. He who, when talking to restaurant and he said to me ... blah player restaurant is Damir Dokic But the stream-of-consciousness although that’s a good one. Andy Murray the other day, blah blah.’’ and his righteous battle against banter from Leconte made it My question is why do we need to admitted he was trying to stretch Sure, a meaningful interaction overpriced salmon. watchable. the interview to fill in network time demean ourselves each year by over the vol-au-vent. Give us OK, I’d also like to know whether I don’t care if he’s biased, weird PAGE: having that full-of-himself Yank because the match had finished a break. the players are talking about why or eats frogs. He makes tennis fun commentator as such an integral early. And there’s Murray, having Gentlemen, I don’t want to hear so many seem to retire hurt when where Courier makes it tiresome. part of the Australian Open? almost beaten who Yes, Jim Courier, he who loves retired hurt, exhausted and standing too close to players for a wondering why he must go through My question is why do post-match interview where a second ordeal. ‘ Courier does all the talking. Attention Channel Seven: every we need to demean He who gets up in their face time Courier comes on camera, you

ourselves each year 30-JAN-2010 within seconds of a match finishing lose a viewer. I switch off. and asks them long questions about Never has there been a by having that full-of- what they do with their girlfriend. commentator who so loves the himself Yank He who never fails to mention his sound of his own voice, and given accomplishment, winning the tennis commentators are probably commentator as such DATE: Australian Open, not realising the the most annoying of any sport, an integral part of the truly stylish are humble. that’s quite an achievement. He who talks to players as if he’s Always they insist on referring to Australian Open? 2009-10 Aged Care Approvals Round one of them — the other day he said the players by first names, as if ’ INVITATION TO APPLY

The Department of Health and Ageing is inviting applications for: NT NEWS • 8,140 residential aged care places • Capital grants of up to $41.6 million to construct or upgrade residential aged care

services PUB: • More than $150 million in zero real interest loans (That is, loans for which the interest rate is set at the level of the Consumer Price Index) • A combination of zero real interest loans and capital grants • 1,582 Community Aged Care Packages and Community Care Grants • 1,541 Extended Aged Care at Home packages and Flexible Care Grants • 955 Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia packages and Flexible Care Grants Important note: Potential applicants for this and future rounds should note that a larger number of EACH and EACH-D places is being made available than has previously been indicated. The increase in EACH and EACH D in this round may mean that fewer EACH and EACH-D places will be made available in future approvals rounds, depending on the outcome of the 2009-10 Aged Care Approvals Round. APPLICATION KITS The 2009-10 Application Kit comprises the 2009-10 Essential Guide which includes an overview of the assessment framework and assessment process and detailed instructions on how to complete your applications; and a disk, containing all the approved 2009-10 application forms. The Essential Guide incorporates the 2009-10 Regional Distribution of Aged Care Places which provides details of the distribution of places across the state and territory aged care planning regions. To obtain an Application Kit, prospective applicants should call the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853. The Information Line is open from 8.30am to 5pm (AEDT), Monday to Friday. Application Kits can also be down-loaded from the Department’s website at www.health.gov.au/acar2009-10 AMUSING: Henri Leconte of reacts after CLOSING TIME AND DATE a point in his doubles match with Patrick Rafter All applications must be received within the Department of Health and Ageing by: against and . 5.00pm Monday 15 March 2010. adcorp20408 mg 250623 Leconte’s ‘seriously weird’ commentating made the match watchable www.ntnews.com.au Northern Territory News, Saturday, January 30, 2010 — 41