The last time I was enthralled with tennis John McEnroe held a racquet instead of a microphone. Back then there were several players to like and intensely dislike, on and off court drama and more arguments than a pick-up basketball game at the Dowd YMCA. The tennis was great, too.
I don’t follow the sport the way I once did. But I happened to turn on the Wimbledon
I didn’t watch all of it. I kind of forgot about it, to be honest with you. But I caught it at a restaurant late Sunday morning and again mid and late Sunday afternoon. It was like the NFL in that it lasted all day. But it did not include Chris Berman and there was no fantasy angle or home team.
Before, between and after rain delays, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played stunning tennis. Nadal’s quickness and athleticism appeared not at all muted as they played into the night.
I was pulling for Federer, the aging veteran. But I can’t complain. Although he almost came back from a two-set deficit, young Nadal earned the five-set victory.
I don’t know if tennis can regain its former glory. Some sports fade, as fans of boxing and horse racing will attest. But the next time Federer and Nadal play, I suspect I’ll watch from the start.
No Chris Berman? Must not be a real sport!!
I enjoyed the mens final immensely, could've cared less about the Williams sisters playing each other though.
See you at the Y this week?
Posted by: kyrasnonnie | July 06, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Great job by those clowns at wcnc breaking in probably the best wimbledon final in history...who can't look out the window and see that it's pouring outside!!!
Posted by: hl | July 06, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Yeah the weather disruptions were a pain. Thankfully, ESPN Classic is reairing the match tomorrow evening. I have been watching tennis for 20 years and this is the best match I can ever recall watching.
Posted by: Kelly | July 07, 2008 at 01:20 AM
WCNCs coverage had to be the worst ever. Breaking in and going full screen to say there is a thunderstorm and tornado warning 50 times during a Grand Slam Final is inexcusable. Could have been handled with just a text scroll...which they finally started doing after the break-in...but again they did it over and over again, stating the exact same thing!
WCNC is a bunch of frakking idiots!
...whatever Tom.
Posted by: Bob | July 07, 2008 at 07:19 AM
btw - great match! It would have been Fed's had he converted a few of those break points and not had 52 unforced errors.
again, just because it needs to be said again so hopefully they get the point...WCNC is a bunch of idiots. Think they would have done that to the Super Bowl! They'll warn you first! What a joke...
Posted by: Bob | July 07, 2008 at 07:24 AM
Yep, best match I've ever seen, but your comments completely disparage this "fading" sport. Federer is "aging", in comparison to what, a guy just now allowed to drink? He's 26 years old. Does anyone ever actually READ what you write before it goes to press?
Posted by: Troy McClure | July 07, 2008 at 08:53 AM
very good match, best ever??? I don't think so!!!! How long have you guys been watching this sport. Do I need to name some classic matchups? Borg/Connors, johnny mac/ connors, johnny mac and anybody!!!!! Yesterday had great volleys, a great comeback, but these two have the personality of john stockton and karl Malone.
How bout boris Becker and Ivan lendal, and who can ignore Sampras and agasi, sampras still the greatest player EVER!!!!! In his prime he would have crushed these two.
Posted by: scott | July 07, 2008 at 11:37 PM
At least when this magnificent championship match finally ended, no announcer said: "Turn out the lights, the party's over."
Of course, by that time it was dark anyway on the storied Wimbleton centre court.
Posted by: David McKnight | July 12, 2008 at 03:04 AM