Djokovic loses his cool and shirt

Sport on by Mogan Segadavan

IF Novak Djokovic were a soccer player he would have picked up a yellow card from the match referee on Sunday.
The Serb stripped off his shirt, and holding his arms aloft, screamed like a man possessed to celebrate his third victory in the Australian Open.
Djokovic beat Spaniard Rafael Nadal in an epic 5 hour and 53 minute slugfest to win the title. This eclipsed the record for the longest grand slam final, set in 1998, when Mat Wilander beat Ivan Lendl in the US Open.
While his antics may have thrilled the hordes of (female) fans there were those who called it shameful and arrogant.
I am not too sure it was.
Djokovic is not the first player to take off his shirt, and I dare say, will not be the last.
Remember Cristiano Ronaldo pulling off his Man United jersey and beating his chest? Of course he did get the mandatory yellow card.
I am often amused at the celebrations by various sports stars.
Former Springbok Breyton Paulse always did a summersault after scoring a try. Man United's Nani does the same.
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard runs to the touchline pointing to the heavens with both his index fingers. Initially it was reported he did this to honour one of his parents who had just passed on. Wonder why he does that now!
Then there are players who dash to the touchline sliding on their knees.
Even cricketers are getting in on the action.
Who will forget the sight of India's volatile fast bowler Sree Sreesanth waving his bat in the face of equally volatile Protea fast bowler Andre Nel, after thumping him for a straight six?
To have some fun turn on the telly when our own Premier Soccer League matches are in progress.
It seems all the celebratory moves, when goals are scored, have been choreographed and practised. It is a pity they do not practise as hard to improve their skills.
Of course the most comical (and saddest) celebration was that of the Bafana Bafana players led by Simpihwe Tshabalala doing the Diski dance in the mistaken belief that they had qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations competition currently being played in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Even the "injured” goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune dashed the length of the field to join his fellow mamparas.