With Bernard Tomic it never Rains but pours.

INTERNATIONAL tennis ace Bernard Tomic has links to a man who loves to party with members of the notorious Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang. 

Weeks after the Australian Crime Commission revealed increasing links between organised crime and professional athletes, The Courier-Mail can reveal Tomic has ties to the gang's Gold Coast chapter.

Tomic is close friends with Nelson Patea, a known associate of the club.

While The Courier-Mail is not suggesting Tomic is directly associated with the club, Mr Patea has a relative in the gang and his Facebook profile picture shows him standing beside Bandido national sergeant-at-arms John Fahey.

Police yesterday confirmed Mr Patea was associated with several club members who are also listed as friends on his Facebook page.

The page also contains pictures of Mr Patea partying inside the clubhouse with members who are in full Bandido colours.



Mr Patea and Tomic communicate through the social networking site. 

Friends have posted pictures of Mr Patea with Tomic's orange BMW before it was sold, and with the yellow Ferrari with "SinCity" number plates the tennis star was driving earlier this year.

Efforts to contact Tomic yesterday were unsuccessful and his manager Fraser Wright, of IMG, did not respond yesterday.

Bandido sources also refused to discuss the association, saying they "did not want to ruin his (Tomic's) career".

The link to the outlaw gang is another chapter for the controversial tennis star, who lost his driver's licence after a series of infringements, before he claimed people were "picking on him".

The connection comes days after Tomic stripped to his underpants while recording a video for YouTube at a tournament in Marseille.

Tomic was subsequently seen partying into the small hours at a players' function last week before retiring from his first-round match against Romanian Victor Hanescu at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

He retired in the opening set against Romanian Victor Hanescu, citing "a general illness".

Courier Mail.

When a 17 year old wins a challenger Tournament you should take notice.

I did let you know about this young Aussie but last week  Nick Kyrgios’ won the Nature’s Way Sydney Tennis International Challenger rising an incredible  229 places in the latest ATP rankings and vaulting him to 330th in the world.Just one month ago, Kyrgios was ranked No.843.

Tennis Player Pathway

I read with interest Paul MCNamee's Take on the Australian Coaching System employed by Tennis Australia and I have to agree with him on a number of points.

Below is what the article said.Many good coaches here in New Zealand are lost because of a flawed pathway that does not support players or coaches and the individual needs that is required to go to the top.I have called on TNZ many times to get their head out of the sand and see the real world start giving jobs to the best applicants and those with experience.Support must be given to the top coaches and not to the "yes boys" who are often given jobs that they cannot handle ...but of course will go with the flow and allow tennis to stagnate as long as they have a job.I liken the local system to rounding up sheep and putting them in a pen with the attitude one size fits all.Its been like this for the past 20 years .

After a couple of crisis years, the future fortunes of Australian tennis seemed to be taking a turn for the better after youngsters Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis contested the boys final in the recent Australian Open and 16 year-old Ash Barty reached the final of the women’s doubles.

But former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee has attacked the coaching structure adopted by Tennis Australia, describing it as fatally flawed. And he immediately found a high-profile supporter in the shape of former Wimbledon champion and Aussie Davis Cup hero Pat Cash.

In open letter to coaches, McNamee stressed the need for private coaches to be integrated into the system rather than ostracized. And if this trend is not reversed, he believes Australian tennis is doomed.
McNamee cited the example of an unnamed Australian player at Wimbledon last year who was under the guidance of their fourth coach in 12 months and how it was affecting this particular individual’s progress.

The letter read: “It’s fair to say that coach may come from anywhere, and may pop up at any moment, but it’s equally true that the most likely person to play that role is your coach in your formative teenage years, just like Ian Barclay was to Pat Cash.
“Well, at least that’s how it used to be until the Tennis Australia juggernaut decided to engage in and endeavor to monopolize the coaching industry, including directly employing coaches itself and designating which talented players they work with.

“What is the consequence of the Tennis Australia approach? At the junior level, how many players have been lured away from their private coaches into ‘the system’ and placed under the care of a ‘better’ coach? Worse than that, the players have been subjected to the TA coaching merry go round.

“Several of our most talented players in recent years have been shunted from one coach to another, under the direction of our governing body.
“At Wimbledon this year, I saw an Aussie player, part of the TA system, with the fourth coach in 12 months. I don’t need to tell you that a mix of inputs like that, however knowledgeable and well meaning, is a recipe for disaster.

“I don’t blame the individual coaches for accepting a very attractive employment option but, as our results demonstrate, the TA player development strategy is fatally flawed in my view. After all, systems do not produce champions, people do.
“As a consequence, and I’m not alone in saying this, we’ve pretty much lost a generation of players who have not transitioned to the Tour.

“For each one of those players, there’s one of you coaches out there who’s hurting and bemoans that fact, and who wished the outcome had been different. For the sake of Australian tennis, this must not continue.”

Cash supported McNamee in all he said and added: “Tennis Australia have such a poor success rate only surpassed by the Lawn Tennis Association in the UK. To me the missing ingredient is so obvious.

According to Cash, Tennis Australia has long failed to utilize all the coaching experience waiting on their doorstep in the form of ex-players including themselves along with the likes of Peter McNamara, Jason Stoltenberg, Richard Fromberg and many others.
“In fact I offered to help them in this area so many times over the years I’ve given up bothering,” said Cash. “They have wasted another generation of talent and there’s another to follow by the looks of it.”

Thanks to Daily Tennis News Wire for the above.

Posted with Blogsy

Day Three Round up - Melbourne Park International

Nick Kyrgios beat Rubin Statham yesterday in Melbourne.At 17 is certainly a bright prospect.

Wanted a Great Tennis Player

It is with no surprise that the Sunday Star Times reported that the  Seed Foundation, an organisation set up to fund New Zealand's most promising tennis players, has stopped handing out money, because it can't find anyone good enough!!The article went on to say"The sad fact is that no player has any chance of making it from New Zealand unless they have wealthy parents or get money from Seed. Yes this is the climate for tennis players in this country,since the glory days of "Parun,Lewis Fairlie etc the local culture has disintegrated in many areas.Basically the Administrators of the game in this country are making more than the players  !Wasted funding in many regions have gone unaccountable and if you want proof then look at the Southern Region of New Zealand a debacle and $200,000.00 spent and  for what? a region that is still in debt.Wasted money on cars,High performance coach,CEO I could go on ,and this does not stop just in Southern.Tennis is for the wealthy and its no wonder we are not attracting enough of the athletic players with "grit" instead we attract a lot of "sooks" crying juniors spoilt by Mummy and Daddy (new racquets , new shoes) and when the going gets tough they cant get going!Mentally we are light years behind our counterparts on the other side of the world.We cannot HOPE to get it right if our structure is wrong and it starts with Admin and funding,Players and juniors could of been better off with that           

$200,000 spent in Southern! The picture on the left really defines Tennis attitude in New Zealand and I cannot believe this "head in the sand" thinking.I mean there are some horrific story's out there with bad administration and persecution of top coaches.If you are prepared to go with the flow you are safe ..buck the system here and its to the "gallows"with you! Lets be honest there has been some bad appointments to key positions and the best person for the job has quite often been overlooked! Yes I believe we have talented juniors not many that can make it population and participation does not allow i but we have a few but unless a better plan, more dedication and discipline can be installed , better access to funds for both players and THEIR coaches.Notice I highlighted their, here in Zealand The National Body are trying to take juniors from their private coaches and lets put it out there to appointed coaches that can "spin the yarn" and dont really have opinions except to check their Bank Balance.I mean do a little research and all players in the top 100 have their own coach and to create a scenario where NZ appoints a Davis Cup Coach to help a player for "x" amount of months is just stupid, sit down and talk to the player and their coach and see if you can "nut out a funding arrangement based on performance!I mean Rubin Statham just made the semi's of a Challenger in Australia ..and no help from Vos but by his own means and his own team.A Davis Cup coach needs to work with player and coach providing feedback to TNZ on results not pretending you are their coach.. C'mon guys get that head out of the sand and get with it! Tennis is an individual sport you need to put money into things that are working!

The College system is  a great backup for our juniors and it probably is the best option for current juniors but its no surprise that New Zealand current Number 1 in Men and Women did not do the college scene.At the end of the day you get a degree, you get three meals a day, training, a few parties ...its a great life ...but is it the toughness that will get you to the top your sport I say no!

What needs to go is Top Dog and the way rankings and more importantly the culture it has brought to Junior tennis I mean how absurd that A local club game can mean more than winning a National Final.I have written on the blog before with this basic principle being the root of all evil , it needs to go! and bring back rewards as your progress through a tournament rather than head to head.It really is a Joke when you look more carefully and you hear the story"s around the country as they try to beat the system with Parents "stalking " out older players that have been given an outrageous top dog code..or by electing not to play an opponent as they may lose points.Lets reward the tournament player and bring back some real meaning to these events.Read Articles here Link 1 and LINK 2

You need to understand that by accumulating ITF junior points does not necessary mean success Juniors , coaches and parents are pretending to be on the actual pro tour and the amount of ItF tournaments played is ridiculous , sure if you want to go to college the rankings help, but smart college coaches will look at results at the end of the day.A perfect example is Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis 16 year old who reached the final of the recent Australian Open Juniors un seeded and ranked over 700 ITF. It would be great if Junior players Kyle Butters and Cameron Norrie looked at his schedule and training regime.If Juniors here keep following the same path then I see it impossible to make it on the Pro Tour.Credit To Statham and Co who have gone for it with limited resources and advice from the National Body.Juniors you need to be making the quarters of ITF Grandslam's and Grade A and 1 and 2 events consistently to have any hope.

Too much comparison is made with the local scene and at the end of the day if this is your gauge  on success then you are deluded.

Take the current Fed Cup , most of the team except for Marina are college standard players and certainly not the top college players ,without Marina the prospects of promotion to a higher division looks dim.

For New Zealanders I dont think College is the way to go for Pro Tour aspirants ...for the realists it is.

Basically I have gone off on a lot of topics , I think my opinions are relevant and sorry if i have confused those reading.I could go on but for today I have written enough!

NZ Fed Cup Team "Bombs" out against Hong Kong China

In a must win match to top their pool and advance to the final to meet the winner of the other pool for the right to move to Group 1 New Zealand loses to Hong Kong China.Marina Erakovic New Zealand's Top player and the highest ranked player by a country mile in the event did not play in the tie.

One can only speculate events that lead to her omission? Erakovic playing would of assured the team a win.

Fanning lost to Chan who is ranked 357 and Hayman lost to Ip who is WTA 711.Erakovic is WTA 74.

We await patiently the match report. I am sure TNZ was hoping of some good news from the Fed Cup Team on top of the recent Davis Cup debacle unfortunately the News is all bad!

Latest:

Erakovic on slippery ground.

The New Zealand number one faces a break from the game after dislocating her thumb when she slipped on a hotel floor. Erakovic will fly back to New Zealand to receive treatment.And so ends New Zealand's chance for promotion.

Happy 105th Birthday Nana

105 years ago my Grandmother Charlotte Mary Burns-Montgomery was born at Tichborne NSW Australia. Today she will celebrate her 105 th Birthday.Nana was the eldest child of John Alan and Henrietta Maud Mary Burns-Montgomery,having four brothers and two sister who have all passed on.We love you and Happy Birthday from all in NZ , the pictures above are Nana aged 3 and just recently on my visit home in January.I guess this Blog might go on for a few years with those genes......: )

Posted with Blogsy

Tea Lady's and Tennis - by Tony Osborne

Tennis Administration has changed, unfortunately not for the better. It wasn’t that long ago Tennis was run by a couple of Administrators and a part time Office Lady, who also made the tea!, it was more successful, there were more people playing and we had a respected Davis Cup and Federation Cup Teams. Just go on the NZ Tennis web site, we have the C.E.O Steve[ I know nothing] Johns, Marcel Voss the National Coach, Voss, who must be very confused at the moment, having been replaced BY Alistair Hunt, poor old Marcel must be wandering around the flash new Office at NZ Tennis wondering what his actual role is, we have a National Game Development Officer, whatever that is?, we have a Coach Education Co –ordinator, Craig Bell who is rarely seen away from the Water Cooler, there are other positions as well that I have no idea what these people they actually do!, oh by the way they don’t have a ‘tea lady’, perhaps that's where they are going wrong. We really have to ask what are these people being paid?, what is it costing to run the operation, Salaries, Cars, Travel, Cocktail Parties that sort of thing?. Are these people paid on performance?. What’s wrong with the Coaches in NZ, why do they have similar opinions as to numerous articles published at ‘The Eye Of The Tiger, but don’t have the ‘balls’, to express them to NZ Tennis. It’s about time the peasants revolted!!. Lets take the crazy situation with the Davis Cup Team, how come a player ranked 10 in NZ, Mathew Simpson is chosen to join the Team, it’s ok to have a Top Junior, so that he can gain some experience but this ,guy is just a Club Player who plays a few tournaments occasionally, the big question did NZ Tennis pay for him to return to NZ?. It’s obvious that there has to be some big changes for the sake of Tennis in this Country, starting with Steve Johns, who really is out of his depth, Regards Tony Osborne.  

The Eyes Watching

Good work Tennis in Australia providing live streams.Guess who I am watching :) Rubin Statham NZ vs Greg Jones AUS.

UPDATE STATHAM WINS 6/4 7/6

MOVES INTO QUARTER FINALS...PLAYS A WILDCARD 

Posted with Blogsy

The eye Welcomes a new Contributor - Tony Osborne

I have written over 600 posts and My Blog is read New Zealand Wide and of course World Wide.It is certainly unique and covers a wide range of tennis topics.Yes sometimes its critical and opinionated but its a Blog.I have been threatened to take down articles but at the end of the day I try to deal with facts with a tongue in cheek theme.Yes the truth hurts and obviously ruffles some feathers, so remember if the shoe fits!  

I welcome Tony Osborne to the blog as a contributor.I asked Tony to provide readers with his background so he obliged!

I have been a fan of 'Eye Of The Tiger' for some time, and now am pleased that I will be contributing articles from time to time. My focus will be of the plight of Coaches in this Country. As a former Club Secretary and a parent who has had an association with several Coaches I believe that I see things from their perspective, and believe me it isn't pretty. I can't for the life of me see why anyone would want to be a Tennis Coach, stroppy parents, prima donna kids, poor administrators all topped off with possibly the worst National Body of any sport . We are fortunate to have some pretty good Coaches in NZ,working under some appalling conditions for little reward, all the time watching their backs from rouge Coaches ready to take their work, vindictive Committees and a confused National Organisation that offers nil support. I now have the time[ after selling my business], to devote to telling the stories of these every day Tennis Coaches, I will try and workout why NZ is just not producing Tennis Champions. I see after reading NZ Tennis's Passing Shots that they are seeking support for the Davis Cup, New Zealand playing against Lebanon most Kiwis would be asking, 'where's Lebanon'.

A little about myself, I was born in Wellington, and played a little Tennis at School, but ended up playing Rugby, my parents moved to Canberra where dad worked at the NZ Embassy, I was further educated there, and after Leaving University, I backpacked through Europe where I met my beautiful wife Heidi. We moved to NZ, 18 yrs ago and had our own Importing business, we are now pretty well retired and enjoy our Grandkids who incidentally play Tennis!. I am concerned with what has happened to this great game in NZ, and have fond memories of Onny, Brian Fairlie, the Simpsons, and Kelly Everden those players gave us something to be proud of , we neen to get that pride back, Regards Tony Osborne.

Tennis New Zealand Land

"When you wish upon a star , your dreams come true" but if your a tennis player in this country it might be wish in one hand and s**t in the other"
Another Former Davis Cup Player with "tennis balls" stood up and voiced his concern over New Zealand Tennis and the Davis Cup Selection.Former Davis Cup player Adam Thompson has fired a broadside at Tennis New Zealand for picking Matt Simpson in the squad for this weekend's tie against Lebanon at Albany.Simpson is ranked 1566 in the world and has been chosen ahead of a handful of higher ranked players, along with top junior Cameron Norrie.

Simpson spent much of last year playing club tennis in Germany.Thompson argues Tennis New Zealand would have been better to give a youngster a spot on the team.

He says Lebanon are not the strongest team and he would include a top junior to gain some experience.

Adam Thompson says at the very least the selection should have been done on ATP ranking and a higher class criteria.

This on top of New Zealand's top player Rubin Statham pulling out of the tie and speaking out over issues with TNZ.

He pulled no punches and put the blame on New Davis Cup Captain Hunt and Jeff Simpson...Matt Simpsons father and lack of criteria.

Here are the links to Thompson's interview on Radio Sport today PART 1 the segment starts around 10.15 into the time slot and continues PART 2

How much longer can ordinary people put up with applicants getting positions over others with better credentials not only at the playing end but throughout the country in Administrative and coaching positions.

Its one fiasco to another and good on Thompson for speaking his mind.Below is listed the ATP New Zealand ranked men.Youngster Norrie should of been blooded in this tie where Lebanon will not win a rubber!

*As a matter of interest the "eye" worked with Lebanon's top player Bassam Beidas whilst as Head Coach at the Smash Tennis Academy Cairo ,Egypt.Bassam is unavailable through injury .

1. Rubin (José) Statham			Current	Previous
	Singles Ranking Doubles Ranking		345   178	345  180
2. Daniel King-Turner			Current	Previous
	Singles Ranking Doubles Ranking		375 436	376  298
3. Michael Venus			Current	Previous
	Singles Ranking Doubles Ranking		514 416	514  291
4. Artem Sitak	Singles Ranking Doubles Ranking		Current 553 279	Previous 538 278
5. Marcus Daniell			Current	Previous
	Singles Ranking Doubles Ranking		693  319	693 321
6. Sebastian Lavie			Current	Previous
	Singles Ranking Doubles Ranking		791   735	791 735
7. Marvin Barker			Current	Previous
	Singles Ranking Doubles Ranking		1003 347	1003  347
8. Logan Mackenzie   9. Ben McLachlan	Singles RankingDoubles Ranking Singles Ranking Doubles Ranking		Current   1184  802  Current 1240 1507	Previous   1185 802 Previous 1240 1507
10. Finn Tearney	Singles Ranking Doubles Ranking		Current  1300  1208	Previous 1301 1208
11.Matthew Simpson	Singles Ranking Doubles Ranking		Current 1566  874	Previous  1567   874

The Big One. Murray Vs Djokovic

This is going to be a showdown.In one corner representing Serbia Novak Djokovic weighing in at 80kgs. Height 1.88. In the other corner Andy Murray representing Scotland and weighing in at 84.1kgs and standing 1.91.Both irritate me at times , with Murray pissing me off the most! Both men deserve to be in the Final and the result will come down to who maintains his mental game over the course of the match best.Murray is like a brick wall, it has to be a great shot to get the winner..Murray has great defense and this could rattle Djoker who is also known for this skill. Djoker has the edge on flair and shotmaking and it will be him that will be more the aggressor , Murray can worry Novak by getting to shots other players cannot. Murray has improved his serve and has the edge on first serve power serving last match at 192 average whilst Novak was 188. Djoker has the better second serve at 154 average whilst murray is 140.Novak should attack the second serve of Murray every opportunity.Murray has only been tested this tournament once by Federer in the Semi, Andy loves to yell at his support team, and as the match gets tighter Murray's course language comes out ( wish the chair had the balls to give him a code violation)obviously instilled by his mother when she refused to buy Andy a new racquet as a kid .Djoker relies a lot on his support team also and they look like the New York Mafia at times. Ivan the terrible ,has been credited with the new improved Murray,I bet we get a few cameo appearances from Ivan tonight ,sometimes I get the impression when the camera flashes he's thinking what the hell am I doing here watching this crap.Both have the best return of serve in the game and whoever serves the best will gain that edge that may just get them to the finish.At least tonight there will be no fireworks! or will there ?

Ok the great news from last nights women's match is Redfoo has recorded his good friend Azarenka's scream he is going to make a new song using this...Just on record mate No Way In Hell will I will be buying it ! And of course his friend took the title from Li Na in a lack luster match. It was close but !!!!!! thats all I am saying. Well just one thing that shriek of Azarenka is a weapon how anyone can hit the ball while hearing that banshee wail is beyond me, some say It's a mating call to her goofy ass looking boyfriend.

Well enjoy the match , if you want to watch paint dry tune in for the Mixed doubles final prior to the main event.

Posted with Blogsy

Two Young Aussies Battle it out on Australia Day.

In a November Article I wrote of a young Aussie showing great potential , Thansasi Kokkinakis 16 who today is battling another Aussie for the Junior Boys title at the Australian Open.If You missed the article I wrote click  HERE. He is playing Nick Kyrgios – the newest ITF world No.1 and third seed at the Australian Open Junior Championships. Kokkinakis was unseeded as he has been playing senior events which goes to show you sometimes points accumulated in Juniors dont mean a lot at the end of the day.Both these boys have a great future.Nick hails from Canberra and Thansai from South Australia.

I have video of Thansai practicing with Tsonga that I may post as a later entry.The eye has often brought readers to attention of up and coming players though other posts. New Zealand tends to compare their players at local level especially parents as they dream of their children making it on the tour.The eye is happy to give an assessment and a predication of any player ... where you are at and although may seem blunt exactly where you might sit eventually.Leave your email on a comment on this post and I will get back to you.At the time of writing Kokkinakis is leading 6/5 first set looking like a tie break will decide.


UPDATE KYRGIOS WINS 7/6 6/3

Federer or Murray

Finally Murray will get a tough match.What a draw he has had.My Heart says Federer but on paper Murray will win.Coach Ivan the terrible has been working to get Andy to attack more.And Ivan I am not fooled by the fact you are buying a size too small of a shirt so Andy looks like a Buffed Spiderman...without the mask of course.....some wish he would wear a mask! We know Fed can attack and he has to be at his brilliant best tonight......but remember Murray has youth on his side..Fed has two children that comes under distractions...the biggest distraction Murray has is his mother jumping up and down and showing the fist..in the players box. Fed must finish off at the net especially when he works Murray into the corners. Fed must attack Murray's second serve..Murray defense is the best on tour, Fed cannot give too many cheap points .. He has to bury Murray with his attack.The crowd of course will be behind Rodger , no doubt a few Englishman will infiltrate Rod Laver.Why is Andy so angry under pressure...Why is Andy so Angry when he's not under pressure?Tonight I am tipping with my Heart , will we witness the magic of Rodger or will Andy continue his Grandslam winning way. I just hope there's life in the old dog yet.

Posted with Blogsy