are really hard to find these days. To be honest, I don't have a single christ-like role model. I makes me both ridiculously sad and ridiculously angry. Out of the 3ish billion men on the face of this earth, the only living role-model I have right now is Roger Federer. I mean, I legit believe that God made Federer to be the greatest tennis player in history (right before the end of the world, too. I mean, c'mon)
Roger Federer- the man has perhaps the most beautiful game anyone's ever seen. Tall, sleek, strong, one handed-backhand, etc etc. He has twelve major titles and counting. The world record is held by Pete Sampras at fourteen. Sampras was thirty-something when he retired. Federer is twenty-six. He has plenty of years left in him and he only needs three slams to be the best player in history. That.... and maybe sometime win Roland Garros (the last slam to have eluded him).
What's stopping him? Rafael Nadal. He is truly Federer's kryponite, achille's heel, thorn in the flesh, etc etc. Nadal, on the other hand, has been right beyind Federer for the last four years. He's won more tournaments (especially on clay) than many other # 1s in history yet the only thing or person stopping him from becoming the best player in history is Roger.
These two players, one- probably the best player in history and the other-probably the best clay court player in history, make a great example for how God intervenes in life. How? Because both Federer and Nadal can't reach their "final destination" when the other person exists. It's like Harry Potter and Voldemort. It's just not possible.
I totally believe this was a set up by God. He wanted to keep Federer humble (especially when Federer knows that Nadal is better on clay) through Nadal. Likewise, Nadal too is limited on faster court surfaces. Even though he may very well improve well enough to win the other majors, he's going to forever be eclipsed by Federer.
This is irony up the monkey. But I totally love it. Federer is going to lose his number one ranking fairly soon. But he's going to win Roland Garros and beat Sampras' record and be the best player in history. Nadal will be number one soon, but he'll go down in history as the best # two... ever.
True humility is evident in the most successful men and women. "God gives grace to the humble but despises the proud". It's there, over and over again. I totally see God's love for Federer and Nadal. He's keeping them both humble, so they can succeed in the long run. Don't you get it?
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Edit:
Today, Novak "Djoker" Djokovic (World #3) was defeated by Russia's Marat Safin (a two time GS winner, himself) in the second round of Wimbledon 2008. I was really happy when I found out because, even though Djokovic has a very powerful attacking game (very strong forehand and serve) and a formidable defense (he uses a lot of slide lobs), I really can not stand his attitude. Just because he's #3 now, he thinks he's on par with Federer and Nadal. I mean, he's beaten both of them before. I understand that. But relating this to the post up there ^ , unless the arrogant jerk humbles himself, history will record him down as the stupid trashtalker who got pwned before he could even get to Federer.
That out of the way, I'm happy to report that Federer got through to the third round beating Robin Soderling in straight sets (Nadal's still in it too).
... GO FEDERER!
Comments (4)
you know, this whole Revelife thing is kind of annoying. Xanga wouldn't let me post on this entry, for I don't know what, so I was bumbling around and I saw the other entry.
I was gonna say:
hey, what if Rafael just never existed?
then Federer would just keep going?
Who stopped Michael Jordan? or Babe Ruth?
ne.
wakaranai.
in the end, we're all ultimately stopped at death. ne.
I'm sorry. I was pissed off at some chick.
I was hoping you wouldn't read it,I didn't want to hurt your feelings.Hello Josh,
You worked hard to make your site simple yet elegant. I see that you have a wide variety of personal observations here!
I want to help people to really get to know know God and His plans for us, especially in these troubled times."And those slain by Jehovah will certainly come to be in that day from one end of the earth clear to the other end of the earth. They will not be bewailed, neither will they be gathered up or be buried. As manure on the surface of the ground they will become." (Jeremiah 25:33) (YLT)
I like to write articles about God and religion on my site. I hope you get a chance to look at them.
@the_AcE_oF_hEarTs@xanga -
As for MJ- I think it was Larry Bird... but anyways.
If Nadal never existed, Federer wouldn't be a great as he's going to be. He wouldn't be as good as he is now, either. Why? because he knows he's not perfect and he knows he needs to improve (especially on clay- though, he is probably the world's second best clay-court player) in order to beat Nadal.
Records are there to be broken, but after it's broken the motivation of winning will dwindle until burnout. With Nadal constantly at Federer's heels, he's forced to stay motivated (just to keep his #1 position). Nadal is a great blessing for Federer- definitely.
Sampras had Agassi, Muhammud Ali had George Foreman, The Celtics have the Lakers...
It's everywhere. I think that's how it works in a lot of ways. But yes, until death take us all. I agree.