On Roger and Rafa
I’m not ashamed to say that I had more than a passing interest in the outcome of the Men’s Finals Match at Wimbledon. I’ve had a distaste for Federer since he shot back at reporters after being asked what he would do to prepare for a match against Andre Agassi. He said something to the effect that Agassi wasn’t the one winnig the major tournaments and maybe the reporters should ask Andre what he was doing to prepare for Roger Federer.
I’ve always held in contempt those who disrespect the ones that laid the stones on which they stand. Federer’s comments were, from a sportsman’s viewpoint, unforgivable. But, as I was watching the Wimbledon Final I realized that Federer posses something less noticable that draws my disdain. When Roger Federer plays tennis he does so with such seemingly little effort. He almost floats across the court, and hits pin point precise shots with such small amounts of emotion that one is lead to believe that the man simply expected everything to go right. None of the best of any other sport convey a feeling of such little effort as Roger Federer. I guess I want to see in athletes I support a true struggle to be the best.
Enter Rafa Nadal. The first time I heard about someone beating Federer it was Nadals name in the headlines. Nadal is the kind of athlete I can get behind. He pounds the court with every stride and bullys the ball to the spots he wants to hit. He always seems to be on the verge of over extension, of over exertion. One gets the feeling that at any moment his body won’t be able to take the strain any longer, but in the face of that adversity, when his body seems to give such protest, he presses on.
I think the average fan wants to see athletes that grapple against odds, that overcome in some way. Fans weary quickly of the one with endless talent but limited tact, with efortless gifts, but no heart. I’m in the process of thinking of others that i see as having that detestable trait. Alex Rodriguez come to mind. While he has had his struggles, he’s always seemed not to care at all that he’s struggling. At anyrate it was eye opening for me, and I’m sure I’ll be rolling it around in the old noggin for a while.
RKW
