I am so glad we have such a melting pot in BR-Tennis; every writer comes from a different standpoint, which is lovely.
We might not agree with each other sometimes, or might take the Mickey out of each sometimes, but it adds to the strength of the Tennis domain we have here.
With the very emotionally sapping tale told about how lady luck deserted Rodger (there was a pool of tears on my keyboard when I finished reading it…really), then the PR debacle it would have been if Niko won yesterday’s final against De-Joker…those are two very interesting facets of the year ending masters’ championships story. With tales of the injured and vanquished recited already.
Here is the third facet—and this one’s about the Protagonist (well, with De-Joker, one always needs to be careful in using that word—Antagonist may be more appropriate). The story is embedded with many characters, but the core was always going to be Nole after what he accomplished yesterday.
It’s all fun and well to talk about Rodger on a day such as today, and I appreciate that, but talking about Federer today is akin to talking about Lucifer on Christmas Eve (or) Santa Claus on Halloween. It just does not fit.
To contradict that opinion that lady luck was against Federer, you can make that argument for sure, also take into consideration that Nole was just as unlucky too. He played lights-out tennis the past two weeks and he was one victory away from toppling Federer as the No. 2 player in the world.
Jo-Willie Tsonga cost him that opportunity (Nole’s only loss the tournament), and it’s ironic that a loss of that gravitas from a high quality opponent can be considered as a cake-walk draw.
Sampras has had many straight set Wimbledon championship wins and Federer has too. Ironic again, that whether it is a cake-walk draw or a completely dominating performance is contingent on the athlete under question. So, yes, after respectfully (but completely) disagreeing, I move on.
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about 1 month ago
Oh Jelena ... don't tell my wife, but that face could melt the polar ice caps.
Djokovic does deserve credit, but I was preoccupied with the doomsday scenario that would have resulted from the alternative. Glad you came along to give him the credit he deserves.
from about 1 month ago
no rob - thats why i told, we are lucky in the fact that - many wonderful writers in here (you and jaa, and others) look at the different FACETS of the same story
i agree with JJ - msot my friends like her cos of her person
i heart Hingis too - love hingis ! unfortunate the way she bowed out ....
cheers - thanks - credit where credit's due to Joker, so sad sob story for rodge this time around, its Joker's day
about 1 month ago
Hewitt served and volleyed better than Davydenko, and seemed better at taking his opportunities. Pre-Reign of Fed, there were a lot more opportunities to be taken, too.
from about 1 month ago
go on - i wanna hear more about Niko and Lleyton - you make sense ....
can you tell me more ?
from about 1 month ago
I wrote about how Fed and Rafa have made counterpunchers in general extinct here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/46683-defense-is-not-enough
In essence, they do everything counterpuncher does well and they have weapons. Hewitt struck before that in 2001-02, winning two major and finishing two years at No. 1. He seemed better and taking his opportunities when they came his way, and he was better able to serve his way out of trouble and mix things up at the net than Niko.
about 1 month ago
Hey Long - I am at a loss here--i love your style and your casual observations - they and you are endearing...but, i cannot agree with your basic premise that Djokovic deserves to be front and center in this saga...he may be one figure to observe...but he was not for me nor for many...so in an effort to appease everyone's take in our little tennis world, we hash it out...
as we should...loved this...you are indeed #1. But who is the real story in this debate??? number 1 or number 2? i ask you..jaa
from about 1 month ago
well ... we disagree, thats OK right, we've known each other for so long that - i wud be surprised that it took us thing long -
cheers
about 1 month ago
emotionally sapping tale??? tears??? really??? you mock me!! i shall remember this!! i never forgive in sports...jaa
from about 1 month ago
i guess my sarcastic side has only been displayed in f-1 until now ... am guessing we both are grown up enough to not confuse on court and off court issues ....
from about 1 month ago
yea - i did mock you ... but i can take heat as elegantly as i give it though - hence no regrets
from about 1 month ago
Actually I laughed at your description - you slay me...really. Now, you know that i am not really angry or upset - i am just letting you know that the gauntlet has been thrown down...you and i are going toe to toe on this one!!
This is what i call a difference of opinion!! nothing more--we can agree to disagree!
i love sarcasm as long as it isn't personal or mean-spirited...you are not those things, ever!
So let it ride! jaa
from about 1 month ago
thanks - now i have some leeway to be who i am - in this regard
yeah -
you really dont speak about santa on halloween - besides that luck argument holds No water
am sure - Joker winning in OZ - attributing mono to it is so so so being a bad sport, but some federer fans do that - which really is bad
from about 1 month ago
so yeah - dont bother playing martyr
about 1 month ago
one cure observation is - ever since yourself and rohini came on board, i completely stopped writing rodge articles ...
cute observation -you guys save me work -
from about 1 month ago
Everybody writes about dear Roger--so you have to carry the rest--you and Rob...
hey i love Tsonga and baby-faced Simon--French guys are hot! Like Santoro - Love those accents...whew!
I like lots of the men on tour including your favorite guy - Bagdatis! He is so cute...I love it when he smiles...But Roger is special...you know that...you like him, too!
I never play martyr! When have i done that???
Did you ever see the Nightmare Before Christmas? Tim Burton? a merger of those holidays you say can't be mixed!
jaa
from about 1 month ago
its on my list to see ...
i love charlie (and) sweeney ! you can see am a Depp fan - depp and burton make a pair alright
about 1 month ago
Me, too! Johnny Depp is so great!! did you see Ed Wood??? man-he is an artist...sweeney todd - whoa! enjoy the movie! jaa
from about 1 month ago
yeah - and g-grape too
from about 1 month ago
Did you see Heath Ledger's performance here? I have not seen it but heard he was great in the role...i liked his work a lot. Hope you enjoyed the movie--Bond--that is.
Off on the road today--think for a change I will listen to Neil Young...I would listen to Moonlight Sonata if I had it on CD...heading North...out of reach...until very late...jaa
about 1 month ago
Djokovic's girlfriend is a cutie. Maybe, she'll make my next list of tennis beauties. Great piece Long John.
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