SCUD NOT HUNGRY: CASH
The Australian
30th November 2000
The eyes are flinty, the face devoid of expression, the tone of voice flat-edged and abrupt: "Unless Mark Philippoussis changes his attitude, he will never win a grand-slam tournament."
The speaker is Pat Cash, now 35, still possessor of Cassius' lean and hungry look, and such men we know are dangerous if not combustible.
But on the Senior Tour, grace and good humour override intensity and even a question on Philippoussis, once Cash's charge, elicits no verbal fusillade or anything, for a brief moment, he is generous.
"Mark is the most talented guy on the curcuit, " he said. "Even Lleyton (Hewitt) is not in the same league as him in talent."
But it is as far he will go. He need not add the obvious corollary, for Philippoussis, the under-achiever has become a sporting cliche. Philippousis' best has been a sole grand-slam final, the 1998 US Open.
As Pete Sampras begins a slow fade, Andre Agassi's motivation remains in his hotel room and Yevgeny Kafelnikov is undecided what mood to bring on court, Philippoussis has had the opportunity to step up, but hasn't.
They say champions love a fight. Cash said Philippoussis flinches instead.
"Once champions get a taste of meat they become like wild animals," he said. "Mark's had a taste but doesn't like it."
Philippoussis' relative failure does not confuse cash.
"He has to have a better work ethic and a willingness to listen, " he said.
Cash says that Philippoussis himself "admits he's lazy". And that he told the player he would have to "increase his output by 20-30 %."
In fact, he explains that he sent an e-mail to this effect to Philippoussis. It was the last time Cash spoke to him.
That Cash should find Philippoussis' refusal to sweat inexplicable is understandable, even now at 35, he embraces routine and discipline.
"'Nails' (Bob Carmichael), who coached me, once told me that 'If there's an easier way, I'll tell you', " he said.
Philippoussis' lifestyle is unknown, but what Cash does say is that "he doesn't work for more than 2 hours".
Perhaps he requires a stern talking-to from the man a few rooms down from Cash at their hotel in Bangalore-Guillermo Vilas-who would stay out in the sun for 8 hours, his practice partners arriving and wilting in procession.
It is ironic, of course, that a week after Cash's comments, the big-serving Philippoussis should reach the final of Paris, and say: "The good thing is I'm training hard. No one is pushing me hard to train. I want to do it myself. I'm working hard off the court by myself, doing fitness on my own. I lost seven kilos on my own. It makes me feel good on court."
Add to that valuable statistic: his five-set loss to Marat Safin in the final. His first defeat in six five-set matches this year.
Pat Cash won't be impressed. This wasn't a win. It wasn't even Paris, when it counts in the summer. "Win that, Philippoussis," you can almost hear "and I'll eat the raw meat."