Sports Thoughts (11.7.21)

How nice it was to see a woman’s tennis match that was more about skill and less about screaming.

Will Novak Djokovic ever be given the credit he deserves? He is one of “The Big 3” but he’s the one who arrived late and had to raise his game to meet the standards of the 2 who were already established. Federer may be the more graceful player, but he also turned up first and was able to dominate the Men’s game for half a decade, amassing a large chunk of his Grand Slam titles in that time. Nadal, as talented as he undoubtedly is, has won more than half his Majors at one event – the French Open. Djokovic has had to break their duopoly, learn to excel on all surfaces, and do all that while being seen as unpopular and unworthy of the praise heaped upon his peers. Every story needs a villain, and Nole has had to be the pantomime baddie to Roger and Rafa’s Ugly (one of them) Sisters, even though he doesn’t act that way. He’s cold and calculated, sure, but he’s had to be. But making him out to be the Evil Triplet is ridiculous casting. He is easily The Best Of The Bunch and future hindsight will deem it so.

In less than 12 hours, England may be European Football Champions.
I shall rejoice in their victory, even though I’m not exactly “Mr. Soccer”. I’m not a huge fan of cricket, either, but it’s lovely to know we are currently World Champions. It gives one a sense of national identity and pride. I felt the same when we won the Rugby Union World Cup back in 2003 – very little interest in the sport, but a huge feeling of joy when we won it.
So, I won’t do this sort of thing very often, but from the bottom of my heart – “COME ON ENGLAND!!!”

RC 11-7-21