I can remember as a little kid living in Singapore, waking up super early in the morning to watch playoff basketball games with my father on TV.
Back then, the team to beat was Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston Rockets who defeated both the New York Knicks and the Seattle Super Sonics in '94 and '95. To this day, I can still remember Vernon Maxwell's buzzer beater in Game 7 to win the series for the Rockets. It was a tremendous bonding experience for my father and I to share that passion for drama and excitement with each other, but I think these experiences also fundamentally shaped the person I have become today.
Our shared passion for drama and heroics would continue throughout my upbringing. No matter where we were, we would continue to watch such contests and battles, whether it was the Knicks-Heat playoff battles from the late evening into the early morning (because of the time zone) in Budapest, or the Ice Hockey World Championships from Moscow.
Perhaps it was these early mornings of my childhood that shaped my love for almost all sports, but ultimately, I think there is nothing better in life than a good story.
The ending provided yet another important life lesson. "Anything can happen" is one of the treasured aspects of sports, the reason we watch, the reason we bellow in disbelief, the reason we play in the first place. I was absolutely awed by the improbability of Soderling's performance given Nadal's invincibility on the clay courts in Paris. But upon seeing Soderling do his awkward and weirdly dismissive victory celebration, in which he barely glanced at Nadal during the handshake, and listening to his post-match interview in which he gave very little respect to the defending champion, I had a different thought.
Anything can indeed happen on a tennis court. And sometimes that sucks. After all life is unfair.
In losing, Nadal showed just how amazing his performance, and the performance of his rival, Roger Federer, has been over the last few years. To lose tight matches like this every once in a while is ordinary; to keep finding ways to win them, as Nadal and especially Federer have at every important event, is extraordinary. Federer has made it to the semi-finals of every grand slam tournament for the last 5 years, he has only ever lost to either Djokovic or Nadal (except for Australian '05 when a red-hot Marat Safin took him in a 5 set thriller) once there. The story line of the tournament is now whether Federer can finally capitalize on this window of opportunity. Never before (and likely never again) will he have such an opening at the French Open, to finally get that Career Grand Slam (of winning every major tournament), and to tie Sampras' Grand Slam titles record.
Of course, you never know, "anything can happen" and for Federer fans that is nerve wracking, but that's what makes this such a good story. And one that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Perhaps it was these early mornings of my childhood that shaped my love for almost all sports, but ultimately, I think there is nothing better in life than a good story.
A good story
A good story makes us feel good, it makes us feel connected to the world around us, and whethers it's Homer's The Oddysey, Tolstoy's War and Peace, or an epic 6 hour, 5-set Wimbledon final between two of the greatest players to ever hit a ball with a racket, there is drama, tragedy and emotion. And when we witness these storylines, I think we are brought closer to the truth that permeates all life but some how remains frustratingly ungraspable.
Last Sunday morning at the family home of my partner, Laura Neagos I had one such experience. We had all woken up and eaten already and I, being the impolite but wildly impassioned sports fan, left the table early to go watch the 4th round of the French Open. Upon turning on the tv, to my shock and amazement, Nadal, the defending champion at Roland Garros for the last 4 years in a row, with a 38-0 record having never lost in Paris his entire career, had actually lost the first set and was struggling to keep pace with Soderling in the second set.
Last Sunday morning at the family home of my partner, Laura Neagos I had one such experience. We had all woken up and eaten already and I, being the impolite but wildly impassioned sports fan, left the table early to go watch the 4th round of the French Open. Upon turning on the tv, to my shock and amazement, Nadal, the defending champion at Roland Garros for the last 4 years in a row, with a 38-0 record having never lost in Paris his entire career, had actually lost the first set and was struggling to keep pace with Soderling in the second set.
Soderling defeats a King
The match was wildly unexpected, and it demonstrated just how much "anything can happen" in sports, which is what makes them so exciting to watch. As the match unfolded and Soderling continued to play all-out, dialled in tennis, hitting shot after shot after shot at maximum effort, just catching line after line, we all began to realize that we might be witnessing an upset of significant magitude. Hearing my bellows and shrieks of excitement and awe, Laura's entire family, brother, mother, father and uncle were all drawn to the living room to see what was unfolding. The story of this contest brought us all together, Laura's family (who do not speak English nor play tennis but are casual sports fans) sensed the dramatic moment just as I did, all gathered around to watch the remaining duration of the match.
The ending provided yet another important life lesson. "Anything can happen" is one of the treasured aspects of sports, the reason we watch, the reason we bellow in disbelief, the reason we play in the first place. I was absolutely awed by the improbability of Soderling's performance given Nadal's invincibility on the clay courts in Paris. But upon seeing Soderling do his awkward and weirdly dismissive victory celebration, in which he barely glanced at Nadal during the handshake, and listening to his post-match interview in which he gave very little respect to the defending champion, I had a different thought.
Anything can indeed happen on a tennis court. And sometimes that sucks. After all life is unfair.
In losing, Nadal showed just how amazing his performance, and the performance of his rival, Roger Federer, has been over the last few years. To lose tight matches like this every once in a while is ordinary; to keep finding ways to win them, as Nadal and especially Federer have at every important event, is extraordinary. Federer has made it to the semi-finals of every grand slam tournament for the last 5 years, he has only ever lost to either Djokovic or Nadal (except for Australian '05 when a red-hot Marat Safin took him in a 5 set thriller) once there. The story line of the tournament is now whether Federer can finally capitalize on this window of opportunity. Never before (and likely never again) will he have such an opening at the French Open, to finally get that Career Grand Slam (of winning every major tournament), and to tie Sampras' Grand Slam titles record.
Of course, you never know, "anything can happen" and for Federer fans that is nerve wracking, but that's what makes this such a good story. And one that I will remember for the rest of my life.
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1 comment:
you bring back so many good memories Chris. Sarah read this as well and though she's not much of a sports fan, she commented how beautifully written this piece is.
I am hoping for Federer in Paris! I wish I could watch it with you.
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