I am crazy about sports to a fault. I used to play Cricket fairly well, and am comfortable with any racquet game, be it Tennis, Badminton or Table Tennis.
I had the fortune of having been associated with quite a few national sportsmen who had become coaches in their respective discipline while doing MBA. There was Muraleedharan, the badminton coach who later went on to coach the Indian National Team, Victor Manjila, the friendly Football international who retired recently, E J Jacob the Physical Education Director, Ashraf, the Athletic Coach who has since taken a doctorate and last heard was in Germany and many others. They all stayed in staff quarters siutated around our hostel. Most days we meet at the tennis court to play tennis. For everyone other than Jacob, tennis was not their first choice sport, but they did play, at times clumsily. But one thing I noticed was their competitive nature, mental toughness and the will to win at any cost. The lazy Palghat boy learned mental toughness and the winning habit from them in those clay courts. A lesson that has stood me over the next quarter of a century.
We are all obsessed with the Tendulkars, Federers, Schumakers, Kakas, Tiger Woods of this world. We love to watch the supreme talent on display. But at times the real flavour of sports happens at lower levels. Of journeymen teams and players playing out of their skin at the preliminary rounds. The victor at best gets a chance to proceed to the next round, where they get whipped by a superior team or player. But, they still spill their blood and that is what makes sports so splendid to watch.
One such match was between USA and Egypt in the group stage of the Confederations Cup being played in South Africa. Both of them had a remote chance of going through to the semi final, provided Italy lose to Brazil, which they did. USA, the underdogs played brilliantly and scored 3 precious goals that was just sufficient to take them to the Semi Final. Not that Egypt played badly. It was a very absorbing game. Despite being 3-0 down, all Egypt needed was to score one goal to qualify for the semis, which they couldnt. That USA went on to break the 36 game unbeaten record of Spain in the Semi Final is another story. Likewise, no hoppers South Africa played a vintage game against the fancied Brazil in the other semi final and with a bit of luck would have beaten them. They held Brazil goal less for 88 minutes, and only a last ditch effort, brilliant free kick from the tricky Daniel Alvez, separated the teams in the end. But South Africa was so organized that they frustrated and harassed Kaka, Robinho, Fabiano no end and the coach Dunga was visibly showing his anguish. Despite being a hard nosed Brazil fan, I had to admire the brilliant game plan of South Africans, coached incidently by a Brazilian,Santana.
But what triggered this post was a terrific tennis match I saw on Friday between Marin Cilic of Croatia and Tomy Haas of Germany. Haas won the first two sets, but Cilic hit back to win the third. Haas recouped, had 2 match points in the 4th set. Cilic, a towering 20 year old, served powerfully and took the game to the tie break. He survived a mini break, won 6 points in a row and tied the match at 2 sets all. He broke Haas early in the fifth and was leading 3-0. Haas was being hustled and was getting irritated by the minute. He could barely stand on his two feet. The sun had long since gone down. The scoreboard lights started becoming brigher. Haas was being almost counted out when he got us at the count of 8, held his serve, then broke Cilic and then held his again. Tennis was of the highest quality, with winners being hit on both flanks by Cilic and Haas coming up with some wonderful volleys. Both players did not give an inch. 3-3 became 4-4, then 5-5 and then finally on the 4 hour mark Haas nervously held his serve to level the match at 2 sets all, and 6 all in the final set, when play had to be called off due to darkness. There was drama, character, outpouring emotions, fantastic shotmaking, heavy serving, vociferous croatian fans and the silent brooding German Camp. Remember, this is only a third round match. It is a pity that they have to come back tomorrow to finish this match. I would have accepted both of them as winners if I had an option. There are no losers in such matches, the sport wins. It is matches like these that separated men from boys. Those in the Centre Court were privileged to watch tennis at its best and I am sure the very few who saw it on television like me will remember both the players fondly in the days to come.
