I just finished Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played by Jon Wertheim. The book is an account of the 2008 Wimbledon Men’s finals match, but it’s about much more than that. Written by a Sports Illustrated reporter, it provides: an in-depth analysis of what most tennis cognoscenti agree was the greatest match ever; a biography of both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal; a discussion of what it takes to be a world-class athlete; a look at the culture and dynamics of the professional tennis circuit; and a paean to why competitive sports, professional or not, matter.
I must confess that I’ve been playing tennis since I was 8 and I’ve been a serious fan of the game as long as I can remember. This cuts both ways: I’m certainly biased in favor of a book devoted to tennis, but I’m also more qualified to criticize any shortcomings. However, you won’t hear any gripes from me. Wertheim, who is a really stylish and intelligent writer, had me from the get-go and I enjoyed every digression (and there are many), even as I longed to get back to the play-by-play. And of course I knew the outcome! (If you don’t know that Nadal upset Federer in five sets, there’s a strong possibility that you wouldn’t be interested in the book.)
What makes the book particularly compelling is that Federer and Nadal, while each very likeable and superb athletes, are so different in playing style and personality. Everyone who follows tennis will have a favorite – it’s sort of like Ted Williams vs. Joe DiMaggio (or for Beatles-lovers, Paul vs. John) – but even if you’re a fan of Roger (like me), you can’t help but come away with a deeper appreciation for Rafa.
Apart from all the “inside the game” stuff, which is, again, pure catnip for someone like me, there’s a universal message about sports and life in general, which is made possible because both players are so clearly decent and sportsmanlike both on and off the court. Whatever one’s talents, and these guys clearly are one-in-a-million, the notion that we can pursue our chosen métier with passion, strive to do our best, and not hang our head or undercut the other guy when (inevitably) defeats occur, is at once both obvious and profound. And if that isn’t a ringing endorsement for the place of sports in our lives – and for this book itself – I don’t know what is.
… [Trackback]
[…] Informations on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by My Homepage — June 8, 2023 @ 8:04 am
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by AMEBA ENTERTAINMENT คืออะไร — February 2, 2024 @ 3:19 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Info on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by BETFLIX282 vs LSM99 — February 2, 2024 @ 3:28 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by website brasileiro do snaptube apk — February 8, 2024 @ 8:57 am
… [Trackback]
[…] Info on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by home — February 12, 2024 @ 11:28 am
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by สล็อตวอเลท — February 15, 2024 @ 3:20 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Information to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by สล็อตเว็บตรง — February 15, 2024 @ 3:24 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Information on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by จดทะเบียน อย — February 28, 2024 @ 4:43 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by Springfield Armory Hellcat For Sale — February 28, 2024 @ 6:32 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Info here to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by คาสิโนออนไลน์ lsm99 — February 29, 2024 @ 5:02 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by ร้านคอมใกล้ฉัน — March 1, 2024 @ 3:31 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Information here to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by random chat — March 5, 2024 @ 5:58 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] There you can find 65007 additional Information on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by ปีนผาจำลอง — March 18, 2024 @ 5:18 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you will find 59129 additional Info to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by pilates woodland hills ca — March 19, 2024 @ 4:12 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More here on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by best therapists in san diego — March 27, 2024 @ 4:14 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Info here to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by plumber woodstock ga — April 7, 2024 @ 3:17 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Info to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by Skrota bilen Angered — April 12, 2024 @ 10:17 am
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More on to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by Meridiana, TX Real Estate Trends — April 12, 2024 @ 3:15 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] There you will find 31693 more Information to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by trustbet — April 19, 2024 @ 3:10 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Information here on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by สีทนไฟ — April 19, 2024 @ 3:22 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Info on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by seo for therapist — April 26, 2024 @ 3:13 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Info here on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by naga356 — May 4, 2024 @ 3:21 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by สล็อตค่ายใหญ่ — May 5, 2024 @ 5:40 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Info here to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by fence contractor valdosta ga — May 6, 2024 @ 6:58 am
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by Thai massage home service — May 12, 2024 @ 3:45 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by grote blote borsten — May 14, 2024 @ 9:39 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you can find 86396 additional Info to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by dallas web design — May 14, 2024 @ 9:58 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Info on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by ไม่ต้องฝาก — May 15, 2024 @ 3:18 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Info here on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by ข่าวบอล — May 16, 2024 @ 5:17 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Information on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by ข่าวบอล — May 17, 2024 @ 3:30 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by hfm ดีไหม — May 28, 2024 @ 3:20 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by nicht nachweisbarer gefälschter Euro, — June 4, 2024 @ 8:01 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Info here on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by รับเหมาไฟฟ้า — June 19, 2024 @ 1:19 am
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by ฟิล์มกรองแสง — June 20, 2024 @ 3:20 am
… [Trackback]
[…] Information on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by ks quik — June 20, 2024 @ 3:23 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by คาเฟ่อารีย์ — June 22, 2024 @ 5:10 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Info here on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by แทงหวยยังไงให้ถูก ราชา หวยออนไลน์ มีสูตรมาบอก — June 26, 2024 @ 3:20 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Information to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by Skrota bilen Kållered — June 29, 2024 @ 5:55 am
… [Trackback]
[…] Information on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by Stenungsunds bilskrot — June 29, 2024 @ 9:33 am
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by Skrot Lilla Edet — June 29, 2024 @ 9:40 am
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Info here on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by รับจํานํารถ — July 12, 2024 @ 6:51 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More here on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by ติดเน็ตบ้าน AIS — July 14, 2024 @ 4:57 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by trauma therapy san diego — July 15, 2024 @ 3:11 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by คลินิกปลูกผม — July 17, 2024 @ 4:07 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More here to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by dropshipping vs ecommerce — July 18, 2024 @ 3:21 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by site oficial — July 19, 2024 @ 12:16 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More to that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by ai generated celebrity porn — July 23, 2024 @ 3:11 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on that Topic: akascribe.com/archives/255 […]
Trackback by FunnelCulture.com — July 26, 2024 @ 3:08 pm