It's not very often you have the opportunity to live and watch while the absolute greatest of all time competes in a particular sport...let alone TWO athletes in their respective sports.
I'm turing 40 this week, and feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to watch many, many great athletes compete. As a young kid, I went to watch Pele's farewell soccer game while he was with the Cosmos...I have seen Michael Jordan live and actually was able to watch him live with my son when he joined the Washington Wizards for a couple seasons. And, even though his skills were depleted, my son and I watched him drop 45 on an opposing team...it was a cool bonding sports experience.
My generation has enjoyed Barry Bonds (although his records really don't count!) and Greg Maddux, Beckham and Ronaldinio, Jordan, Kobe and Lebron (both on their way to legendary status)...and some football greats, like Elway, Marino, LT and Tom Brady. Without question these, and others of our time, will become iconic for generations to come.
However, two athletes that we all have been able to enjoy ever the last several years have already achieved legendary status - Roger Federer and Tiger Woods.
It's not all that surprising that yesterday BOTH Tiger and Federer won their respective tournaments. Albeit, Federer's win catapulted him to uncharted territories. He has now won more Men's Grand Slam titles that any other tennis player...ever. As his count will certainly continue, this may be a record not unlike DimAggio's 56 game hit streak - unbreakable. And, while Tiger's victory was not a Major, he continues on his path to catch Jack...once, an unthinkable task!
What is so unbelievable, at least to me, is the way these two athletes compete and win. They never waver, they never break...their level of execution makes competitors crumble. As for Federer's victory yesterday at Wimbledon, Roddick served 32 consecutive games without losing...he was virtually unstoppable, until he made two mistakes...Federer pounced, and in an instant, it was over! They both share a mental fortitude that is hard to grasp!
Sport fan or not, rest assured, when we are old and gray, someone will want to listen when you start talking about what it was like to watch both Tiger Woods and Roger Federer, back in the day!
mj
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