"She's the whole package"

[ItsAUserNameThing]

I've heard this statement a lot over the past few days, in relation to Emma Raducanu. Today the media have been in overdrive about her after her amazing performance, but I keep hearing that "she's the whole package" and she will be the UK's highest earning sportsperson by the end of the year due to advertising / endorsements.

The implication seems to be that her sporting excellence is one thing, but that on top of that she's also conventionally incredibly attractive and young, and that "sex appeal" sets her apart.

No-one ever says this but I feel that's implied everytime the commentators say she's more than just a great tennis player, she has it all and she's the whole package.

Just wondered if anyone else noticed this.

www.tennis365.com/wta-tour/emma-raducanu-is-the-whole-package-says-martina-navratilova/

Grand Slam legend Martina Navratilova has heaped the praise on British teenager Emma Raducanu, describing her as the ‘whole package.’

Really OP and others?

@AgnesNaismith

Hmm, no. I thought it was to do with the fact she handles the media impeccably, she is shit hot on the court and seems very personable.

I haven’t seen any objectification and I generally spot it a mile off.

I don’t know whether it is spin or honest reporting, but the coverage has focussed a lot on how much she is enjoying her sport. She seems happy talking to the press and engaging, upbeat. Much as I love Andy Murray’s incredible determination, his progress in tournaments always comes across as a Herculean struggle where he is battling the confounding horrors of injury, mindset, stronger opponents etc. There’s also been all the hoo-ha over Naomi Osaka’s struggles and current fragility. Radacanu’s breezy demeanor and upbeat interviews have been quite refreshing by contrast.

They used to use 'the full package' a lot on Cardiff Singer of the World - opera singing competition. DH and I had a drinking game to see how often they used it. It blatantly meant good at singing, sexy AND thin.

Until the year Jamie Barton won it who is all kinds of fabulous and fat. And also went on to have the superstar international career that makes the competition meaningful.

Never heard the phrase again since. Because actually a fat woman was 'the full package' - confident, talented, personality, actually attractive despite shock horror being fat.

Presumably in Emma's case it means talented, attractive , not the wrong colour, none of those pesky mental health problems Naomi dumped us with, not a weird body shape like Selina, I could go on here

Emma is fantastic but the phrase 'the full package' says a lot about the person saying in and not about Emma.

To be honest, I’ve been more irritated by the BBC’s habit of interviewing our female Paralympics medallists’ husbands about their achievements and letting them wang on at length, including about their own (lesser) achievements if they are sporty too. I can’t remember the last time they had a male athlete’s wife on the Today programme to talk about her husband’s sporting career.

Emma is fantastic but the phrase 'the full package' says a lot about the person saying in and not about Emma

Do tell me please- what is it saying about Martina Navratilova?

I've definitely heard it said about sportsmen as well. Yes, it is based on aesthetic qualities, but it doesn't only apply to women.

I heard a discussion on exactly this topic - her marketability - yesterday (must have been R4 PM prog, too discursive for 6 o'clock news).

It was about her being even-tempered, hard-working, 'normal' to date (doing A-levels) and aspirational for girls. The implication was 'wholesome, good role model for kids' not sexy.

I'd suggest her problem will actually be the opposite. She'll have sponsorship contracts like a Disney princess actress, which will allow no adult content, not the slightest whiff of sleaze, drunkenness, or of temper. She'll be allowed a wholesome boyfriend and will have a public image as carefully managed as junior Judy Garland's.

Who are they going to sell Radacanu rackets and shoes to? The parents of girls.

And yes cheerful and mentally healthy (so far) is a big part of it. It's a very 'girl next door done good' image.

The 'full package' comments I've heard have been very much about having the right mental attributes to succeed, as well as the technical talent.

After the whole Naomi Osaka thing (athletes not talking to media if they don't want to) seemed to get a little traction, the media were always going to get behind stars that will engage with them.

@KimikosNightmare

Emma is fantastic but the phrase 'the full package' says a lot about the person saying in and not about Emma

Do tell me please- what is it saying about Martina Navratilova?

It was said earlier - it says that Emma is considered a commodity

“The whole package” is a term often used in sport. Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton are often described like this. Male tennis player also have the same phrase used e.g. Novak Djokovic www.palmspringslife.com/novak-djokovic-is-the-whole-package/

As for commercial opportunities, look at David Beckham compared to Ryan Giggs (before the womanising/alleged assault) etc.whilst they were playing for Man U. Ryan could have exploited all the commercial opportunities, tv appearances etc. that Becks did but chose a different path.

It is up to Emma and her advisors to select what is right for her. Look at Lando Norris who has been very media savvy from a similar age.

She was saying that she has the tennis skills and also the emotional skills to deal with the tournaments etc. I actually think its great if it opens a lot of doors for her, she will be able to choose what avenues she goes down, plenty of sportsmen have big endorsements or walk the red carpet at events, is that also an issue? There also isn't much representation in sport, the media or whatever else for people who look like her, so I think it's bloody fabulous.

I am delighted for her and think she seems great but agree with OP. I can't help feeling that the "package" is that she is behaving within expected/demanded norms. Piers Morgan type-expectations. Don't be too "angry", don't be too "difficult" etc.

It's comparing her against other athletes who do not conform. therefore are perceived as lacking.

The "package" is bullshit and denies her agency.

@Griefmonster

I am delighted for her and think she seems great but agree with OP. I can't help feeling that the "package" is that she is behaving within expected/demanded norms. Piers Morgan type-expectations. Don't be too "angry", don't be too "difficult" etc.

It's comparing her against other athletes who do not conform. therefore are perceived as lacking.

The "package" is bullshit and denies her agency.

I don't agree with that, she hasn't followed a convential route into the sport, and pulling out of Wimbledon I wouldn't say was confirming.

@Kisskiss

I think she also comes off as a really nice person in her post match interviews, down to earth, genuine, humble… so yes, she’s young, talented, good looking AND decent.. a bit different from the last great British tennis star!

Who do you mean?

@Mumoftwoinprimary

She has an A* in maths A level. That makes her my type of person.

Commodity or brand?

Many famous people, like Beckham, own and control their own brand.

BananaPB

KimikosNightmare

Emma is fantastic but the phrase 'the full package' says a lot about the person saying in and not about Emma

Do tell me please- what is it saying about Martina Navratilova?

It was said earlier - it says that Emma is considered a commodity

Yeah sure- I'm sure that's exactly what Martina was thinking.

Honestly, when I hear the phrase 'the full package' about someone, in relation to a job, I understand it as meaning they have the full range of skills and qualities necessary to excel in that role and perhaps in that field. So a prediction of an excellent career.

I wouldn't normally expect such a 'package' to include physical attractiveness and that's not the first thing I'd think of when I hear it.

Whereas if I heard 'the full package' being used as a descriptor by a man who's just been a date with a woman, or is seeking to do so, then I would imagine physical attractiveness likely to be part of that 'package'.

So, I wonder if you're hearing male sports reporters talk and 'hearing' them as lascivious middle-aged men discussing a very young woman and if so, whether that is actually what's being spoken, or whether there's an element of 'mis-hearing' or perhaps 'mis-contextualizing' going on.

I have heard "the complete package" term used before about sports men (usually), and it refers to them being good at different aspects of the sport, so I think YABU and tbh, you are the one saying it's about her looks.

If the quote came from Martina I imagine she’d have been talking about the new player’s all round tennis ability!

I've definitely heard it used about male cricketers, and it means they can attack, defend, accelerate the pace, block, build a big partnership, rotate the tail, etc.

I thought Navratilova went on to say high tennis IQ and high IQ too. Which may explain the thought process there.

@Dozer

If the quote came from Martina I imagine she’d have been talking about the new player’s all round tennis ability!

The quote is from here.

www.tennis365.com/wta-tour/emma-raducanu-is-the-whole-package-says-martina-navratilova/

According to BananaPB the phrase the full package' says a lot about the person saying in and not about Emma

. I did ask what it's supposed to say about Martina Navratilova, but answer came there none as Banana's "answer" just repeated what she thinks the phrase means.