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David Nalbandian, or "El Mullet" as he is fondly called in the tennis home (tennis.com) because of his retro-mullet, is an interesting character. He is a few pounds heavier for a tennis athlete and sort of on the pudgy side...

"El Mullet" Decides to Play Ball Again

by Long John Silver (Senior Writer)

14

693 reads

Opinion

October 13, 2008


David Nalbandian, or "El Mullet" as he is fondly called in the tennis home (tennis.com) because of his retro-mullet, is an interesting character.

He is a few pounds heavier for a tennis athlete and sort of on the pudgy side. The last I heard, David had the Domino’s outlet number in Argentina on speed dial. I also think he shoves ‘em in buttery pies during the Christmas break every year …

When I asked, ‘Do you think David runs hills during the break to prepare for next year?’, my mate quite succinctly put it with crisp eloquence, ‘What hills, during Christmas? There are NO hills in Buenos Aires’.  Now, I barely pulled a C- in high school geography and hence not sure about the terrain in Argentina, but what I am sure of is, there is no running going on with Nalbandian during the break.

There probably is eating...more eating and some drinking.

Every year, at the Australian he appears to be on a mission to go down two sets every single round and haul his sweet ass back to win in five. I think in 2006, he managed to go down two sets, even match points in each of the first three rounds, before pulling through in five.

The French he plays well, flies under the radar to reach the final eight, or final four and has many a times lost to Federer. He was also one of the few who (HAD) a winning record against Federer.

At best, his backhand is of vintage, can play every shot from the baseline and move the ball around ominously, all this with the disclaimer that if he actually is in a mood to play.

He reached the finals at Wimbledon in 2002, losing to Hewitt. He actually appears completely disinterested in even rocking up to London these days. He plays well below his normal level and loses early.

New York is different; he constantly seems to be on the boil, but suddenly loses to an opponent whom he really should’ve put it past that day (Gael Monfils in 2008?). 

He went down in three not-so-close sets to Monfils, and by the end of by the third set looked like he just wanted to get the hell out of there…as soon as possible.

That’s Nalbandian for most part of the tennis season for you – disinterested, muted, indifferent and couldn’t care a shred less. Throughout the year, he also is the pick of the fans for ‘FAT ALBERT’ stories. Himself and Baggy (Bhagdatis) are spared no rod by the tennis fans (tennis.com).

Author Poll

Does Nalbandian's mullet look cool ?

  • Yeah - Its Allright
  • No - mullet's are 80's
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Does Nalbandian's mullet look cool ?

  • Yeah - Its Allright

    77.8%

  • No - mullet's are 80's

    22.2%
  • Total votes: 9
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14 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Rob York 8 months ago

    Good work Long John, though I would point out that Nalby qualified to play in Shanghai as an alternate, not as one of the top 8. That makes his disinterest in traveling there a bit easier to understand, as he probably wouldn't have gotten to play any ball there.

    I think he does us a disservice by that staying in shape long enough to be competitive. His return of serve can be an awesome thing to behold.

    Thanks for writing this.

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    • Long John Silver 8 months ago

      THANKS Rob - i knew it was something along those line,

      so what does an alternate mean - you just go sit there and wait for someone to bust a knee or get injured ? love to know ...

      yeah - love his backhand too - but yeah, he is hardly in shape to go toe to too with the 2 R's and Joker

      pity !

      stop feeding Nalby someone

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    • Rob York 8 months ago

      Yeah, as alternate you pretty much wait for someone to drop out. I think he went as an alternate in 2005 and ended up winning the thing because Nadal, Roddick and Hewitt withdrew, and Federer was playing injured.

      I go back and forth between Nalbandian and Safin as to who has left more of their potential untapped. When he won Madrid and Paris back to back I wondered how it is that he's never won a major or been No. 1 in the world. But he clearly doesn't have the drive (or the diet!) to win a slam, so I've given up on him.

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    • Long John Silver 8 months ago

      love this lil phrase RY

      drive (or the diet!) ...

      true

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  2. Rohini Iyer 8 months ago

    hey no comments but just 5*

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    • Long John Silver 8 months ago

      Gracias !

      wanted to write about DN - given the fact that this was fall

      hope i did not come off too string in the comment for the stan article, i just felt very strongly about it, but i was fair i think

      cheers

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  3. Rohini Iyer 8 months ago

    yes u were right and i accept that was a wrong thing to say.

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  4. J.A. Allen 8 months ago

    Nalbandian is a real puzzler...so much talent...so little commitment! You just never know when he is going to turn it on or pull it all together--always at an inconvenient time for someone else! Entertaining. Great read. Thanks. jaa

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    • Long John Silver 8 months ago

      thanks JAA -

      i knew we must have some Daveeed fans in the house at least, he is a lovely ball player, but if only he can cut some pounds down and wanna play the whole year ... if only

      i know you would enjoy this one from Bodo -

      http://tennisworld.typepad.com/tennisworld/2008/10/zurich-1.html

      cheers

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  5. ivy 8 months ago

    this was fun to read, and informative - all of "Daveed's" ups (when he feels like playing and minus the belly) and downs (bored and plus belly) on one page. i've long been a fan of Nalbandian, but I don't really care if he wins or loses, cause that's just way too frustrating. But he is full of talent, really quite amazing. He's got to be one of the most intriguing "case studies" (or head cases) around. Safin rates high, too.

    Oh - what's a butter pie?

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    • Long John Silver 8 months ago

      am not so much of a fan of nalby - but he has grown on me for sure

      Ivy - your equations are messed up, Nalby ups and downs yes - but the BELLY always stays in the eq.

      i dont think hes a head case, i just think he is himself all the time, he is no case like amelie or marat, he just does not want a 365-24-8 job

      butter pie - it like ....

      meat pie - sort of like a lasagna stuffed with butter and cream - incredibly yummy, it is from england
      scroll down - http://goodthingscatered.blogspot.com/2008/05/strawberry-hand-pies.html

      and yeah - i cans ee why he eats them - but he really should'nt, he could use those less few pounds in the 5th set at 5-5, against Nadal

      cheers - thanks for reading

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  6. Andrew Nuschler 8 months ago

    I don't know enough about the finer points of tennis to comment about the details, but I'll read anything that mentions a mullet in modern pro sports.

    And this one didn't disappoint. Funny stuff.

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  7. Kara Martin 8 months ago

    Hilarious & total genius! I can't resist an article about a good mullet, I worte a month or so ago and how it relates to NASCAR, good to see the mullet spread it's wings and make a showing in the tennis world!

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