The greatest on the green grass

“If they ever tell my story, let them say that I walked with giants. Men rise and fall like the winter wheat, but these names will never die. Let them say that I lived in the time of Hector, tamer of horses. Let them say I lived in the time of Achilles…”
- Odysseus, from the movie, ‘Troy’

At two sets to love, Rafa looked like decimating Roger Federer on the centre court. And then he had Championship points. But, Federer was not giving up yet. McEnroe in the commentary box was giving Federer the same advice that Steffi Graf’s coach used to give her - “Remember who you are.”

And it looked like everytime Federer remembered who he was - the five time wimbledon champion - he managed to come up with an ace to stay in the match.

Federer had a 65 match winning streak on grass till this match.

In the end, after 5 sets, 4 hours and 48 minutes, Nadal was crowned the champion.

I have seen some great Wimbledon matches. Seen some great champions, right from Borg, McEnroe, Becker, Agassi, Sampras, Ivanisevic, to Graf. For the quality of the shots played till the very end of the match, I have not seen a better match.

Wimledon witnessed magic this night.

Be Yourself

“Be yourself. If you try to be someone else, it won’t work. Whatever you do, you are not going to make everyone happy.”

-Kimi Raikkonen, F1 Champion, Ferrari

Hero or a forgotten villian?

The Premier League season ends tomorrow. Manchester United are on the verge of winning the championship. If they beat Wigan tomorrow, it wouldn’t matter if Chelsea win or lose. Man U will be crowned champions.

It will be correct to call this season’s team as ‘One Man United.’ Cristiano Ronaldo has single handedly dragged Man United to the top of the league table and to the finals of the Champions League with a staggering 38 goals this season!

In 2006, during the World Cup in Germany, Ronaldo was called ’a disgrace’ in England… and blamed for England’s exit from the World Cup. He had winked at his Portuguese teammates after ensuring Wayne Rooney was sent off. The Sun tabloid ran a cover photograph of the wink, with a dartboard. The BBC reporter covering the match had asked, “How can he look Rooney in the eye and stand alongside him in battle for United after helping wreck his colleague’s World Cup?”

Well, there’s your answer. Man United on the verge of a double.

The English just love their hero!

The Prestige

That’s what a magician gets as a product of a successful trick. How far would rival magicians go to get the prestige? 

Watch Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman perform some serious onscreen magic in this Oscar nominated movie.

Rating: Must Watch

Hallelujah!

Listen to Arooj Aftab’s rendition of this Leonard Cohen song. She breathes the song into your soul.

“love is not a victory march
it’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah”

 

For a good fight you need two heroes

“We are living in an environment where only winning counts. Anyone who loves sport knows that when two boxers enter the ring, there can only be one winner. Yet, for all that, for a good fight you need two heroes. Unfortunately, today, too much attention is paid to the winner. I find that sad. Cheats are forgiven, as long as they win.”

- Arsene Wenger, speaking about his stint with AS Monaco when Marseille bibery scandal broke out.

Impossible, but doable.

“Most beautiful women are just impossible, but definitely doable”

- J

There is money to be made…

‘There is money to be made in the market-place, but under the cherry tree there is rest.”

- Ruskin Bond

The Football Coach

“I get no satisfaction from my job. It’s a madness. You do it for the challenge.”

- Roy Keane, Football Coach, Sunderland

What do you do, when you are in the lead?

Almost half way through the EPL season. By next week, most teams would have played 19 of the 38 games in the season. It’s amazing how the league positions for certain teams become clear by the half way mark. Most teams would have played against all the other teams once. The league table now is a good indicator of their relative capabilities.

The premier league is a bit different from the championship. For the teams in the bottom six of the table, there will be no chance of a comeback. No surprise revival like what happened with Sunderland in the championship last year, when Keane took over.

Derby is destined to be relegated. The other team that is headed that way looks like Fulham. No chance for these two.

At the top, it looks like straight a fight between Arsenal and Manchester United. Whether Chelsea, Liverpool, or Manchester City can get involved in the fight depends more on the leaders than the chasing pack.

What do you do, when you are in the lead? Run so fast that the others fall by the wayside, chasing? That’s what Man Utd would do. Or do you stay strong and take down the closest chasers, one-at-a-time? That’s what Arsenal is trying to do, get the results in their favour against the top four rivals.

Will Chelsea catch up? Not without Drogba.

Will Liverpool catch up? Not with Rafa.

Will Man City catch up? Hmm. Who is Sven buying in January?