Roger Federer Transcending Boundaries—In More Ways Than One

There is something weird about it.

In here we all have said our bit about Corporate America (the one that makes shoes, shirts, and caps) and how it time and again plays with the outlook and apparel of top-notch tennis athletes.

Hence, that’s a dead snake, and let us not beat on it any more than we already have. Bottom line: Nike will keep selling your product down to the last toenail—well, that’s what they do. They exist to sell and derive profit.

As Federer transcends boundaries into the land of tennis immortality, there are some boundaries where he probably does not want to cross. There is an innate rationale as to why Federer is universally revered and liked. He is a "Common Man" champion.

He lends credit to his opponents, keeps it very fair, and is modest (not a Kobe Bryant and Barry Bonds), grounded, and down to earth. He is like you and me, with a little difference that he can nail an optic Wilson much more than you and I can ever dream about in life.

But that, as we speak, is changing.

Federer has never been diffident. He has never had a problem openly accepting his greatness and incomparable records. The ease with which he accepts it is quite beautiful. He has also never had a problem being "Simply the Best" on the court and being acknowledged for the same. He quite likes it that way.

But here is the little problem that has crept in the last few months. Greatness is as subtle as a sledgehammer. It radiates when you speak about it less. As Ronan Keating would say, "You say it best, when you say nothing at all."

It is embraced when you don’t speak about it. You certainly don’t need to dangle it in front of people’s face, least of all with gold (which is a sign of, I am RF and you are not).

Let me present this case. I am not saying nor do I believe Federer intends to do the above. But in a public life, it does not matter what your intentions are. All that matters is how it is perceived. I think it's a combination of Rodge’s intention to be regal and Nike’s marketing strategy.

Either way, the gold ensemble (military jacket, gold-lined shorts and shoes with RF embroidery, and that god-awful gold bag) is a bad idea. It used to be the attire with a touch of gold, but it has become a golden attire now.

Rodge, you are undoubtedly the golden boy of this tennis era, but we don’t need you to do that literally.

The Nike-made "15" badge that he showed to Sue Barker in the post-match interview: Really? Why?

Andy Roddick must have felt a touch uncomfortable, I am sure. ROD is not the type of bloke who thinks about it, he is so upfront and laid back. But did you have to show it to the entire world after you left someone bleeding and dry at 16–14 in the fifth in a London final, Rodge?

Sure, there is one side that thinks, "Is Federer that (over) confident that he was going to beat ROD to have carried that on court?"

There is another side that says, "No, he only was going to show it if he won; after all, his probability of winning is 0.5 at the least."

Sure, but did he need to do that with Andy on court?

Maybe Rafael should have whipped out an "Uno" badge last summer on a dark London evening (touched raw nerves?). No, that’s not the point. That surely isn’t the point.

The NY crowd does not hold back. They love their champions, and they certainly embrace the Swiss. But do we really want Federer to be jeered by the "in your face" NY crowd if they see too much of "I am FED, and you are not" attire there? They will let him know what they feel with no reservations.

Rodge, for all the respect that your opponents give you, for all the adulation you get from critiques and us (and the true blue Federer fans)—dial down the bling bling and the aristocracy a bit. We still want you to be "our" Federer.

It’s the Big Apple, Rodge, undoubtedly the fashion capital of the States. You can rock any attire you want (the ALL-Blacks, which I loved a couple of years before?). Dial down the badges and gold a bit; you owe that to yourself.

You are one of the unique few who transcends favoritism in any sport; you have transcended race, religion, politics, and language through the sheer artisan brilliance in your game. You have fans from all over the globe.

But there is one boundary you don’t want to transcend—the one from "Our Federer" to "King Federer," or even worse..."Bling Federer." 

I love the kid on the far left; I don’t know about you (article picture).

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