It's all fine to get up early on a Sun morning, after less than 5 hours of sleep, when you consider that such matches are guaranteed to happen only twice a year. So, when the alarm goes off, it isn't a stand alone cuss word that starts the day, but a "What took the bloody Sun so long to come out??!!!" There is no tiredness or sleepiness, just nerve jangling excitement and tension.
Manchester United have made their best start to the season in over 100 years and Arsenal are floundering. To top it all, the feast is served at the Theatre of Dreams, hosting a Premiership record 75,595. With Arsenal clearly having fallen behind United in the past year, I can safely admit that along with ManU they play football, while the others defend their goalposts. So, this was going to be a football match and not a formation match that Chelsea versus Liverpool always turns out to be.
The goals didn't come. Thankfully, neither did the cards. However, it was non-stop action that left me breathless by the end of 30 minutes. It's at times like this that I make resolutions to wake up early on weekends and savour the live long day. Alas, when it all goes wrong horribly at the 85th minute, what promised to be the dawn of a glorious Sunday, sets the precedent for an arse of a day....
Monday, September 18, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Homage
The tributes have been puring in for a few months now. Here is a collection of my personal favourites...
1) Wimbledon, where you suspect they do not clear the cobwebs for the sake of leaving the old as it is, took a page out of the book of common sense (borrowed, obviously)/suspected a soccer style riot by the gentlemen and ladies/were moved to tears that their beloved champion was leaving forever (take your pick), interviewed Andre courtside at the end of his match with Nadal. First time ever that they conducted a court side interview. Boy, do they pick their moments!
2) "Beacon of success both on and off the court"
3) A record crowd of 23,736 packed into Arthur Ashe stadium for the first night of the Open to watch Andre play Pavel. At match point, the entire stadium stood up! The tradition continued through his matches with Baghdatis and B.Becker.
4) At the end of another timeless classic, Baghdatis says "He is more than a legend"....repeatedly!
5) B.Becker serving 5-4 for the third set. His shot hits the net and drops right next to it. Andre, who was struggling with his back and giving up on drop shots through the match, sensed the moment, and willed himself to reach it. Not only did he get there, but also managed to place it well, which the outstretched Becker hit wide. 23,712 rose and delivered. After a whole minute, the commentator goes "They can't salute him loud enough!"
6) After he played his last point, the crowd rose in unison....actually, they were already up....and thundered their appreciation for their beloved hero. They stopped when Andre took the mike from Mary Joe (kudos to her for doing the right thing!) and delivered a heartwarming rendition of a farewell speech, at the end of which, they started again and continued unabated until Andre decided to leave the court.
7) At the same time, on the adjacent Louis Armstong court, where Safin and Nalbandian were in the midst of the 5th set of their titanic duel, the crowd rose and gave Andre a standing ovation.
8) With his heart in his mouth, Andre told us "The scoreboard says I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I have found. Over the last 21 years I have found loyalty; you have pulled for me on the court and also in life. I have found inspiration. You have willed me to succeed, sometimes even in my lowest moments. And I have found generosity. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams; dreams I could never have reached without you. Over the the last 21 years I have found you and I will take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life"
9) Quotes:-
Notwithstanding all these moments and quotes, a literary creation was essential to bid farewell to the fan's ultimate champion. Enter Jun....a friend with no track record of expertise in this area.....
(if any congratulatory messages need to be sent to Jun, please let me know)
Yet another icon
Not spared the ageing muscles
Shown the door
To a whole new world where the surface ain't grass or clay...just another plain floor
Head bowed you said the scoreboard says I am not the winner,
Champion you are a complete winner!
Hearts wept as you left the arena,
You left only the arena!
Complete winner you are! You only are!!!
[courtesy: No Man's Land]
1) Wimbledon, where you suspect they do not clear the cobwebs for the sake of leaving the old as it is, took a page out of the book of common sense (borrowed, obviously)/suspected a soccer style riot by the gentlemen and ladies/were moved to tears that their beloved champion was leaving forever (take your pick), interviewed Andre courtside at the end of his match with Nadal. First time ever that they conducted a court side interview. Boy, do they pick their moments!
2) "Beacon of success both on and off the court"
3) A record crowd of 23,736 packed into Arthur Ashe stadium for the first night of the Open to watch Andre play Pavel. At match point, the entire stadium stood up! The tradition continued through his matches with Baghdatis and B.Becker.
4) At the end of another timeless classic, Baghdatis says "He is more than a legend"....repeatedly!
5) B.Becker serving 5-4 for the third set. His shot hits the net and drops right next to it. Andre, who was struggling with his back and giving up on drop shots through the match, sensed the moment, and willed himself to reach it. Not only did he get there, but also managed to place it well, which the outstretched Becker hit wide. 23,712 rose and delivered. After a whole minute, the commentator goes "They can't salute him loud enough!"
6) After he played his last point, the crowd rose in unison....actually, they were already up....and thundered their appreciation for their beloved hero. They stopped when Andre took the mike from Mary Joe (kudos to her for doing the right thing!) and delivered a heartwarming rendition of a farewell speech, at the end of which, they started again and continued unabated until Andre decided to leave the court.
7) At the same time, on the adjacent Louis Armstong court, where Safin and Nalbandian were in the midst of the 5th set of their titanic duel, the crowd rose and gave Andre a standing ovation.
8) With his heart in his mouth, Andre told us "The scoreboard says I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I have found. Over the last 21 years I have found loyalty; you have pulled for me on the court and also in life. I have found inspiration. You have willed me to succeed, sometimes even in my lowest moments. And I have found generosity. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams; dreams I could never have reached without you. Over the the last 21 years I have found you and I will take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life"
9) Quotes:-
- James Blake - "We all owe a little debt of gratitude for what he's done because he's transcended the sport to become an international superstar, more so than any other tennis player over the last 20 years"
- Lindsay Davenport - "In the last 20 years, he's been the most important person we've had in our sport.He's beloved. Not many players become what he has become" (Do I put the entire quote in bold?)
- Andy Murray - "I think 50 or 60% of people in the locker room were probably in tears as well and were holding it back. I know I was. I'm sure all tennis players would love to have the respect that he has from all the players and the fans. Everybody loved him anywhere he went"
- Serena Williams - "I think the game is going to miss him more than probably they miss anyone"
Notwithstanding all these moments and quotes, a literary creation was essential to bid farewell to the fan's ultimate champion. Enter Jun....a friend with no track record of expertise in this area.....
(if any congratulatory messages need to be sent to Jun, please let me know)
Yet another icon
Not spared the ageing muscles
Shown the door
To a whole new world where the surface ain't grass or clay...just another plain floor
Head bowed you said the scoreboard says I am not the winner,
Champion you are a complete winner!
Hearts wept as you left the arena,
You left only the arena!
Complete winner you are! You only are!!!
[courtesy: No Man's Land]
Sighter#4 - James Blake
Match on.....Blake stuns Federer to win the third set in a tiebreaker. Its great quality tennis from both sides with the 30 stroke rally in the tiebreaker confirming that Federer's defense isn't exactly defense. On the run, while at full stretch his forehand comes back with depth and spin. Blake can only keep going for the lines....which he did and won!
Blake has been in prominence for a year now. His comeback started just before the Open last year and since, has remained in the limelight. One thing is certain. He is the most aggressive retunrner of serve out there. It was suspected during his El Clasico with Andre Agassi in the QF of US Open'05. It has a stamp of approval now, considering that it is Federer's serve he is up against.
Go James! Keep the tradition alive....
Update: Federer up 5-2 and serving for a place in the Semi!
Blake has been in prominence for a year now. His comeback started just before the Open last year and since, has remained in the limelight. One thing is certain. He is the most aggressive retunrner of serve out there. It was suspected during his El Clasico with Andre Agassi in the QF of US Open'05. It has a stamp of approval now, considering that it is Federer's serve he is up against.
Go James! Keep the tradition alive....
Update: Federer up 5-2 and serving for a place in the Semi!
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