A contender or pretender?
'And all should cry, Beware ! Beware !
His flashing eyes, his floating hair !
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.'
The rise of Roger Federer threatens my reality.... I never believed that within three years of Sampras' retirement, people would be heralding the arrival of a new King of Tennis. It began with the horrifying winning streak and the breath-taking tennis Federer has a habit of playing. Non Sampras lovers first joined the camp, declaring that he was the best they had ever seen. With every grand slam victory, the Sampras faithful were crossing over, believing rather unwillingly that the Swiss devil surpassed all limits previously imposed upon tennis legends. The worst blow came in the form of a tribute from Agassi. “Federer is the best I have ever played”, said he, shattering all the illusions I’d built up of the phenomenon being nothing more than a short-lived quirk of reality. Some of the resolute old faithful claimed that the statement, coming in the aftermath of a long rivalry between Sampras and himself, could not be held up as heart-felt. Yet, the slightest doubt crept into my mind and I was curious to see still more of this Swiss brat. But as the adoring fan base grew, I found myself shying away from watching him… Out of disbelief; out of fear… Fear that anyone could replace the hero, the champion of my heart.
After spending long hours arguing with friends and family, I have gotten the fair to admit that Federer could never surpass Sampras at Wimbledon and that his opponents hardly hold a candle to Becker and Agassi at their prime, and the uncharitable to admit that it hasn’t been long enough to declare him better than the great man who won seven titles at Wimbledon. After that, I will be able to watch Federer with a fragile state of security but the anger and frustration never goes away. I am angry at his once adoring fans for finding a new idol; at his once respected rivals for the show of disrespect; at Federer, however unfair this may be for being a gentleman but most of all at God, for never giving Sampras a chance to get even after Wimbledon 2002…..
His flashing eyes, his floating hair !
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.'
The rise of Roger Federer threatens my reality.... I never believed that within three years of Sampras' retirement, people would be heralding the arrival of a new King of Tennis. It began with the horrifying winning streak and the breath-taking tennis Federer has a habit of playing. Non Sampras lovers first joined the camp, declaring that he was the best they had ever seen. With every grand slam victory, the Sampras faithful were crossing over, believing rather unwillingly that the Swiss devil surpassed all limits previously imposed upon tennis legends. The worst blow came in the form of a tribute from Agassi. “Federer is the best I have ever played”, said he, shattering all the illusions I’d built up of the phenomenon being nothing more than a short-lived quirk of reality. Some of the resolute old faithful claimed that the statement, coming in the aftermath of a long rivalry between Sampras and himself, could not be held up as heart-felt. Yet, the slightest doubt crept into my mind and I was curious to see still more of this Swiss brat. But as the adoring fan base grew, I found myself shying away from watching him… Out of disbelief; out of fear… Fear that anyone could replace the hero, the champion of my heart.
After spending long hours arguing with friends and family, I have gotten the fair to admit that Federer could never surpass Sampras at Wimbledon and that his opponents hardly hold a candle to Becker and Agassi at their prime, and the uncharitable to admit that it hasn’t been long enough to declare him better than the great man who won seven titles at Wimbledon. After that, I will be able to watch Federer with a fragile state of security but the anger and frustration never goes away. I am angry at his once adoring fans for finding a new idol; at his once respected rivals for the show of disrespect; at Federer, however unfair this may be for being a gentleman but most of all at God, for never giving Sampras a chance to get even after Wimbledon 2002…..
posted by Trying to make sense of life.. at 8:31 AM
1 Comments:
hey post woman!!! wat up wit u??
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