The only logical step…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com
Wow, what a weekend. Back home in Ohio. I didn’t plan on writing too much. But wham, 1) Kendall Holt scored the
KOs of the year on Ricardo Torres in 61 seconds. The first with his head, the second with a picture perfect right hand. 2) The Fight Doctor’s pride takes a hit as Forrest Griffin earns a unanimous decision over Rampage Jackson.
So I was all set, knew what I would write about until…wait for it, Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal.
If you follow the Boneman’s writing, you know I was the tennis nut for the last high school season (and hopefully the upcoming one). What I love about all of the MMA, boxing and tennis events: it’s mano a mano. There’s just you and your opponent. No teammates to bail you out. No him against the field garbage in golf. It’s you on one side and your opponent on the other.
Now I admit I love James Blake and Andy Roddick to no end, but right now, the Americans are not getting the job done.
But what I saw Sunday was pure beauty, the perpetual poetry in motion. And I parked my rear end on my old couch back home and watched nearly every last single minute of it. I missed the first set because I was still tired from my flights and losing the extra hour for Eastern time.
However, from the second set on, I was just enjoying myself. I cheered and applauded both men too many times to mention. It was jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring stuff. If you missed it, shame on you.
I knew it would be tough to match last year’s five-set epic, but it did just that.
Nadal comes out strong and takes the first. Federer seemingly regains his footing but loses the last five games of the second set. Down 0-40 in the third set and seeing his chances for an unprecedented sixth
Wimbledon title going down the drain, Roger pulls it out.
And then the rain.
And we’re back and Fed wins in the tiebreak. And the fourth set is glittered with even more brilliance. At this point, I’m calling the few tennis friends I have to make sure they’re watching this not just instant classic, but all-time epic classic.
And then we get the fourth set tiebreak. Rafa has two championship points, Fed keeps coming back with clutch serves. It’s insane.
And then we get more rain.
And after nearly five hours of playing and seven and a half hours from when it was first supposed to start, wow, Rafa did it.
Minor gripe about how it was an unforced error by Fed to decide the championship. And the class by both men was incredible.
So what’s next? The only logical place for them to go. Let’s get them in a cage or a ring and let them duke it out. I know there’s no animosity at all b/w the two, but I believe it’s time we find out who’s got the machismo?
All joking aside, hope you caught the highlights. Hope you record it on ESPN Classic tonight. Do what you can to get your hands on this one. They’ll be talking about this one for a LONG time.
I never thought the greatest bout I’d see this weekend was on a grass tennis court in
England. But sure enough, it was. I don’t feel too bad about it.
They went five hours and you know what? I think they could have gone another five. The conditioning was unreal.
We’re having a special year, and it’s only going to get better with the Olympics (I hope). Back to boxing and MMA next entry. I couldn’t pass up this opportunity with another one of my favorite (and so-called dying) sports.
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A great match indeed, this Sunday at the breakfast, lunch, dinner, and fourthmeal at Wimbledon.
Where does Fed vs Nadal match up with the all time greats on the court?
Borg vs. McEnroe
Agassi vs. Sampras
Moses vs. Pharoh