I think it was because his late coach was South African.
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Originally Posted by Rachael Now, in Roger Federer, I wonder if we're seeing exactly what that means: a player so good that opponents just can even envisage where they would need to get to with their own game to truly compete. A guy so versatile that he can't really be said to have weaknesses... such a complete player that even Agassi at the top of his game (as he was) could not see a way past.
ps. Any takers for Federer as the greatest sportsman alive today? |
Ok, to answer the question quickly, no.
But, to take it into more detail, to be the greatest ever sportsperson, for a tennis player anyway, I believe that you've got to win the Grand Slam. Federer may have won three in 2004; but it still aint the grand slam.
And for a tennis player to have claims to that sort of position you'd need to win the grand slam probably three times to be considered for that position. And he probably isn't the most talented player in world tennis; Marat Safin is, he has the potential to be the greatest ever sportsperson but even though he will win tournaments, he won't be as good as Federer. I think Federer can be known as the greatest ever tennis player though with the completion of a grand slam.
Greatest sportspeople alive include Pele and Muhammad Ali; hard to go past the first one as the greatest sportsperson still alive though.
As for Phil 'the Power'...Please greg, we are talking real sports, and to be the greatest ever sportsperson, I think a criteria should be "possesses a fair amount of fitness".
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Originally Posted by greg Schumacher is great but he isn't as good as Senna was.Now he was awesome. As for American sports like basketball and baseball,i wouldn't know as i don't watch them. |
Schumacher not as great as Senna? I beg to differ, I think Michael has set the benchmark for F1 Drivers, even though he has had a poor season. What people don't remember is that Schumacher is by no means driving the fastest machine out on the racetrack; that mantle belongs to McLaren or Williams, so in this day and age of driving a computer, Schumacher must be commended as he uses a substantial degree of natural and acquired driving talent.
American sports? Who could go past Michael Jordan, ex-Chicago Bulls star? Greatest ever basketballer, and he is one who would challenge for the mantle of greatest sportsperson alive.
As for baseball, Joe Dimaggio was simply sublime, but doesn't stand up to be the greatest ever sportsperson.
Wayne Gretzky even though his Canadian is widely recognised as the greatest Ice Hockey player, and would be in with a show.
As for the NFL, "The Juice" OJ Simpson is in the hall of fame, Dan Marino was also pretty good, but not sure who is acclaimed to be the greatest player.
AFL, Australian Rules Football, although there is much debate still over this topic, recognises Gary Ablett as its most talented player. Ted Whitten, Leigh Mathews and Wayne Carey also challenge for that role. Ablett, although in the Hall Of Fame, was involved in a scandal surrounding the death of a young girl from a heroin overdose in his guidance. Despite this, Ablett was finally inducted in to the AFL Hall of Fame in 2005. He became eligible in 2001, but much public anger was probably the reason for his non selection until now.