Time and again, History has reiterated that every time a legend crawls into his sunset, rediscovering his off court reality of being, but another human, subject to the infallible law of father time, another successor arrives to heighten the existing barrier of greatness. Rewriting that which we were obliged to consider in our limited experience, the finale’ of the finesse. Each of these immortals in their own time reach the supreme level of an adorable divine art, decorating their respective stages in style.
In any realm, it would be a foolish drill to argue the greatest of all time, comparing different eras, for who have we to debate, save some statistical figures to compare. We stand mesmerized by Messi or Ronaldo, but how many ever got to witness the fluid art of Pele, Maradona or Best even earlier. We have the dashing bolt who travels like the wind, ripping across the circuit pausing our pulse, but how many have stood testimony to the flight of a brave Owens defying the mental terror of Hitler. Indeed, the late advent of technology has robbed us some glorious chapters of divinity in human sport.
To me, addiction to sport cannot be a fault when Sport merely captures life on a grand platform, with all its myriad emotions; upheavals, triumphs, tears, celebration… And as in life, opportunity upon the biggest stage is a destiny, not granted to all. So with this humble background, I produce my compilation of the 4 greatest legends or rather sporting gods of my generation.
There are a countless number of sports in modern times but I’ve captured my personal favorites, one each from Tennis, Basketball, F1, and Cricket. If you intend to search statistical figures beneath my claims in my article, I assure you that you are in the wrong place, because I deal in emotions. Numbers matter, but they are merely a part of the greater picture. As a poet by passion, I rather prefer to deal in the emotions attached.
All of them have one common factor though. ‘It isn’t that they never fell. Their success was the story of their determined will to rise upon falling.’ The trait of a champion!
#1. Sachin Tedulkar (Cricket)
Coming from a land of a billion people, it seemed like he had a calling, akin to the messiahs, born to lead. The calling, unto his reserved seat, as the worthy ruler of countless hearts and minds. Every shot he essayed was a brilliant stroke that evoked gasps, no matter who you were. Even if you were the opposition bowler at the receiving end, a mild applause amidst all this battering, would have certainly passed your brain. ‘After all can God ever pain you? He can only punish you for your shortcomings.’
Unto him was bestowed talent in an enviable measure that promised along, an inevitable life of pleasure that could distract, but amidst all the gifts showered upon his shoulders, he still stooped down with a bat in hand, in total concentration, to fructify a million prayers for victory. His never ending enthusiasm for the sport despite traversing more than 2 decades of hostile hurtling from the pacers or the tricky spinners, shows his passion and love for his game. And regarding all the talk of his sunset, I just believe ‘When a man walks a 1000 miles, he certainly knows when to stop.’
#2. Michael Schumacher (F1)
Initially, I considered F1 a boring sport that engaged one in merely counting laps, spending 2 hours of a precious Sunday upon a racing car that gobbled up precious fuel (hike in fuel prices is still a rumor probably in this industry!). But with the passing times, I soon ended up hooked to this sport. And the single factor was my icon – Micheal Schumacher. Speaking frankly, Ferrari for all its popularity as a manufacturer of the world’s best cars was introduced to me and perhaps to most in the world like me, as merely a racing car that Schumacher used.
#2. Michael Schumacher (F1)
Initially, I considered F1 a boring sport that engaged one in merely counting laps, spending 2 hours of a precious Sunday upon a racing car that gobbled up precious fuel (hike in fuel prices is still a rumor probably in this industry!). But with the passing times, I soon ended up hooked to this sport. And the single factor was my icon – Micheal Schumacher. Speaking frankly, Ferrari for all its popularity as a manufacturer of the world’s best cars was introduced to me and perhaps to most in the world like me, as merely a racing car that Schumacher used.
And when I sat through those 2 hours, I realized what life held amidst its sharp turns and winding bends; A narrow lane full of competitors, fighting to get past you, some risking even life to overtake, to reach the chequered flag first. And amidst this hostile pursuit to the flag, was a single man, consistently atop the podium. He had the pulse for the adventure, often taking daring, extreme risks to win. While there were years when he brushed aside the season sweeping a major share of the titles, there were years when he had to battle unto the last race for asserting his supremacy. And this he did with a steely determination.
#3. Roger Federer (Tennis)
Ah, the synonym of grace and grandeur, my favorite legend without doubt. Seldom does my mind embrace calmness as when this master magician gets to work and therefore serenaded by watching him waltz upon the green lawns or balle’ upon the red clay, is an experience of serene meditation. He’d create the most magical moments so effortlessly, transforming a battle of brute to a drama of aesthetic motion. All captured in a funny line I’ve picked from the recent open when a man declared ‘If there’s a girl as beautiful as Roger’s game, I want her.’ ‘Imitation is suicide’ is an adage I’ve long obliged, but I also opine that there are virtues that if not imitated, would destroy the wheel of progression, more so in the realms of art.
#3. Roger Federer (Tennis)
Ah, the synonym of grace and grandeur, my favorite legend without doubt. Seldom does my mind embrace calmness as when this master magician gets to work and therefore serenaded by watching him waltz upon the green lawns or balle’ upon the red clay, is an experience of serene meditation. He’d create the most magical moments so effortlessly, transforming a battle of brute to a drama of aesthetic motion. All captured in a funny line I’ve picked from the recent open when a man declared ‘If there’s a girl as beautiful as Roger’s game, I want her.’ ‘Imitation is suicide’ is an adage I’ve long obliged, but I also opine that there are virtues that if not imitated, would destroy the wheel of progression, more so in the realms of art.
Mesmerized by his suave display of whipping the single-handed back hand kissing the edge of the line for a stunning winner, I like most kids, attempt to mimic his magic! It’s after all in the imitation of greatness that evolution happens. His ability to break record after record is a lesson of the survival of the fittest. At 30, battling the fittest and finest generation of athletes, and in his weakest form, he manages to dip to The World No. 3! I don’t have many fears for life, save the day I will have to watch this god stop serving his divine menu.
#4. Michael Jordan (Basket-Ball)
The final legend to make it to the list from the sport I have embraced for life is Micheal Jordan from Basketball. Unlike in other sports where you’d probably contest my choice, here was an incomparable legend, with any of his peers. The intricate passing, enviable team work, accuracy in shot selection, mind-boggling dribbling, jaw dropping fakes, and ah, the ultimate gravity defying jump! He was verily god who could drive you crazy. I am sure he will remain the primary inspiration and icon for any player picking up a basketball, being one of the main reasons for the popularization of the sport.
#4. Michael Jordan (Basket-Ball)
The final legend to make it to the list from the sport I have embraced for life is Micheal Jordan from Basketball. Unlike in other sports where you’d probably contest my choice, here was an incomparable legend, with any of his peers. The intricate passing, enviable team work, accuracy in shot selection, mind-boggling dribbling, jaw dropping fakes, and ah, the ultimate gravity defying jump! He was verily god who could drive you crazy. I am sure he will remain the primary inspiration and icon for any player picking up a basketball, being one of the main reasons for the popularization of the sport.
One has to only watch his documentary ‘Michael Jordan to the Max’ to know what his character is all about. And trust me you’d love him like no other. He’s given some of the most motivational quotes none more favorite than ‘I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.’
The last decade gifted us MVP’S like Bryant, James, Nash, Garnett, Duncan and O’Neal. But there was, is and will be only one MJ – A Legend.
My generation saw the rise and fall of many stalwarts right from Brazil’s Ronaldo, Ronaldinho apart from present adorable stalwarts like Messi, C. Ronaldo and Rooney. And the list is endless. But one player who was exceptional was probably Zinedane Zidene who transformed the sport to art like the four mentioned above. Be it with France or Real Madrid, he created a soul stirring performance. But football is essentially a team sport after all, including the brain of even the heavy-weight coaches from the sidelines.
Probably for now I’d just play it safe saying ‘Football is a league of extra-ordinary gentlemen’.
