A GAME WITH WHICH I'M NOT FAMILIAR

Just in time for the the last few days of Wimbledon, I got a 47" Vizio LCD-LED HD TV. I was even able to record the first part of the final today while we were at church. I figured it was about time I joined the modern world.

Andy Murray, with the crushing weight of British expectations on his shoulders, acquitted himself full bore and valiantly. He made some magnificent shots, played may close games, one of which took sixteen minutes and twelve deuces, fell or slipped to the ground three times and did everything an athletic human could do---and still lost in four sets.

Many years ago at the Masters, the great Bobby Jones, by this time confined to a wheel chair, made the winner's presentation in the cottage at the Masters. Jack Nicklaus beat Arnie Palmer with an incredible display of golf. Bobby Jones said to Arnold Palmer, the previous year's winner and thereby ready to assist Jack Nicklaus donning the green jacket, "Arnold, you played a game that normally should have won." He turned to Jack Nicklaus and stated, "Mr. Nicklaus, you play a game with which I'm not familiar." Jack Nicklaus said he almost choked on the spot. It is one of the world's great compliments.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, may I turn to Roger Federer and repeat: "Mr. Federer, you play a game with which I'm not familiar." This match displayed Roger Federer as an athletic artist supreme. He floated around the court, even more smoothly that ever, and made a dazzling array and variety of shots: bullets to the corners, unplayable drop shots, crisp volleys, explosive overheads, overpowering forehands and backhands---the whole schmeer. Mr. "Has-Been", who had not one a major in two and a half years, won the biggest and is now ranked number one in the world again, tying Pete Sampras for most weeks on top and equalling his seven Wimbledon victories. Hooray for the "over-the-hill" gang!

We are blessed in this modern era to have three super-stars in Djokovich, Nadal and Federer (the order of their ranking prior to Wimbledon). At least for a few more shining moments in an athletic lifetime of them, Roger Federer shines brighest of all as number one and secured his place as the greatest of all times with seventeen major titles. It was a joy to watch.