Old is the new young
Roger. Floyd. Cristiano. Lionel. Tiger. Even Cheat Lance or Rafa and Nole. Why new talent struggles. And the old school will rule for years to come.
I have two childhood heroes when it comes to sports and none kick the ball for a living:
Ayrton
and this dude
Ayrton is the one true love. Someone inspiring. With a god-given talent to succeed and surpass whatever obstacle life and circumstances threw at him. He carried a whole nation. He spoke for us all when he saw injustice. He was a true hero in the sense that he was pure, genuine, simple and, basically and wholeheartedly, Himself.
Ayrton was nothing else you saw on La Rascasse, at the podium as 3rd placed or if you met him on the street: Mr. Senna. “Muito prazer, pô.” In the flesh and soul.
Roger Federer is a whole new deal. I remember him being a spoiled teenager, going all ‘Nick Kyrgios’ when things didn’t go his way.
And I saw his meteoric ascent to Tennis Olympus when he basically disposed on anyone standin’ and runnin’ on the other side of the net. Another individual with a divine talent to perform and perfect his craft: give him a tennis ball and he will give you continuous and marvelous moments of greatness. Not achievable, just like Senna did, by any direct competitor.
After Federer, you get the clones: Rafa Nadal. And Novak Djokovic.
Both the Spaniard and the Serb share a common denominator: they’re counterpunchers. Baseline animals. Roger did just the opposite: finesse. Improv. Offensive tennis, unlike “the pussies of today”, Hank Moody said it best. Johnny Mac. Sampras. Connors. The whole ‘gung-ho’ mentality of “I don’t care if you’re going passing shot or lob, the point is mine, I dictate the pace of this thang”.
Then, we move to someone I’m surely unfamiliar with but whom I must praise in terms of resilience, craftsmanship and passion for the sport: Mayweather, Floyd.
People mistake him for a money making machine (he cuts only the fattest and best deals for himself, not caring for his opponent but only for the prize money). But I’d say he’s a a whole new type of idol if what you’re looking is…
1) Commitment
2) Love for what you do
3) Mid-term gratification
These are principles of men (and women, I didn’t forget Marta, Steffi Graf, Vlasic, you know, also older athletes with oustanding results) that know where they’re headed.
Mental fortitude doesn’t happen by chance. When Roger was not able to defeat Nadal, it wasn’t a mental battle: I don’t doubt both of them wanted titles the same way. You may say, as a hardcore Rafa fan, that the Spaniard had the psychological edge.
But then I should remember you all of the year 2011. And please would you like to refer to a certain Serb, going by the name of Novak Djokovic, that pulled off something out of this tennis world: he was unbeaten for more than 40 matches, both in ATP and Grand Slam matches, a record with 30+ years held by none other than… Johnny Mac.
Again, physical trumping mental. The Serb had a whole new physical regime — he was basically a spider on the court, you couldn’t catch him off guard — but, mostly, he found the extra mental mile he craved. He constructed a wall of dominance and submission, not accessible for any of his opponents.
So did Rafa.
So did Floyd.
So does Roger (whenever he feels like it).
Just like Cristiano and Lionel.
The CL factor
Champions League stands for s#hit. In Football, over the past two decades, only two first names stand out: Cristiano. And Lionel. A Portuguese skinny dude from Madeira that got on the plane to Manchester and made himself a #legend.
An Argentinian adopted by Catalonia who shattered every kind of opposition.
This kind of raw talent (Messi) and tenacity (Cristiano) doesn’t come cheap. I do not know if they’ll be able to walk or run when they turn 50. But, even so, they sacrificed themselves and their teams for you to cherish the most beautiful moments Football has ever seen in the last 20 years.
Tiger Tamer
Tiger Woods won a Masters tournament a few years ago. I know nothing about golf but one thing I know is this: this dude follows a route of public disdain and disrespect like no other above-mentioned athlete.
So he cheated on his wife with a pornstar. Who the hell cares about that?
Apparently, 99,9% of his sponsors.
I wonder if it had been a white guy… like Roger. Like Cristiano. Like Messi. Like “give me another white superathlete, and let’s see Gilette and Nike tear some contracts”. Yeah, I just went there. Because I honestly think this was — yes, 2010, can’t remember exactly — orchestrated in order to put him aside… somehow.
Tiger was, again, raw talent on his arms. He had rivals, sure, but for how long has he basically obliterated them, in and out of bounds?!
Old School
War vets and any other sort of vet establishes him/herself as someone with knowledge and experience. This is everything when we’re talking about team and individual sports. Historical evidence may show flukes, like first-timers having an edge or one-upping these athletes.
Well… not with Floyd.
Not with Woods.
Not with Roger and Rafa and Nole.
And I’m just guessing… absolutely NOT, NO, ZERO if you’re running against Cristiano and Lionel.
Old school has #seenthatdonethat. Or #beenthereseenthat. Whatevs. They know how it goes. When facing something new, they’re quicker to adapt and respond.
And that’s the Darwinist rule of thumb that’s mining new talent.
Who next?
Many people have been picking out new dudes that will even outclass the dudes I’ve mentioned.
No chance.
Thiem. Zverev. Medveded. Pawns… they will get their Slams eventually but with no chance of continuity nor consistency as we’ve seen from the others.
Neymar. Mbappé. Hazard. They will get their chance to shine as the World’s #1 but… I dunno. Mbappé has everything to carry the whole sport on his shoulders but will he handle the pressure?
Is he mentally made of Adamantium so press and pressure doesn’t bite him on the ass?!
For golf, I honestly don’t care. Tiger is and will be the s#it until he retires.
The same with boxing. Floyd is the man until someboy knocks him down.
Basically…
If you’re over 30, you’ve won titles for 5+ years in succession and you’re still challenging the new blood, you’re fine.
Nothing to worry about.
The big Q here is…
1) Is Roger Federer a candidate of sorts for something like Best Athlete of the 20th century? That’s open for discussion! Against Michael Jordan and, let’s say, I dunno, maybe Tiger Woods…
2) Is Floyd Mayweather someone touted to be remembered as the Best Boxer the World has ever seen? If no, please feel free to ellaborate and discuss!
3) Is the new talent doomed to fail when facing these giants? Are they just to overshadowed by greatness and afraid of unleashing their talents? Will Thiem break Nadal in Roland Garros? Can Medvedev win the USOpen? Can Mbappé win the Ballon d’Or for 5 years in a row?…
Key takeway is this: Old is old for a reason.
And New, until you’ve given us something worth watching and remembering, will always be… meh.
#talent #sports #GOAT #dominance #athletics #ftw #win
