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Back in the days when we wrestled ice cubes from funny metal trays stacked precariously in refrigerator freezers and Microsoft Windows was just a gleam in the eye of Bill Gates—Bjorn Borg ...

Deconstructing a Roger Federer Fan...

by J.A. Allen (Columnist)

48

2197 reads

Opinion

September 28, 2008


Back in the days when we wrestled ice cubes from funny metal trays stacked precariously in refrigerator freezers and Microsoft Windows was just a gleam in the eye of Bill Gates—Bjorn Borg walked away from tennis, taking with him his wanton white shorts, his cat-like prowling along the baseline and his amazing game. 

He vanished.  Living in my provincial hometown in rural USA, there was no information about Borg—he disappeared into a media black hole after the 1981 U.S. Open. 

Sounding sublimely sinister, rumors surfaced about a threat on his life.  More than likely, after failing to capture his sixth Wimbledon championship and after losing his fourth US Open final, Borg had enough…

As a huge Borg fan, I was numb with loss.  No blogs, no fan sites, no websites existed, and no news surfaced—therefore no communal commiseration. 

Not another tennis fan lived within 50 miles, let alone one who worshiped at the altar of the adroit and unendingly appealing Borg. 

For a long time, I actually hated John McEnroe because I blamed him for driving Borg away from tennis and into oblivion…

In the absence of Borg, and after a brief panicky hiatus, I found myself leaning toward another Swede, Mats Wilander—who won the French Open at age 17 in 1982.

With long blond hair—and what self-respecting, tennis-playing Swede didn’t sport such tresses—Mats wasn’t rock-star magnetic like Borg but he was cute and terrier-tough—a real fighter.  His tenacious game soon diluted my sorrow, and I could freely love again. 

After six years of gut-wrenching, grueling tennis, Wilander became the No. 1 player in the world in 1988.  Then, he too, blinked out like a bad bulb…probably burnt out from the extreme effort involved in securing the No. 1 ranking.  Another sinkhole swallowed my second tennis phenom. 

Understandably, I had to spurn Stefan Edberg, afraid to love a Swede again… My tennis tank stuck on empty.

Eventually I found myself living the life of a sub-species—a slug, because I could only root against Ivan Lendl.  Out of deep-set desperation and lingering depression, I had deteriorated into an anti-Lendl fan. There was no passion, no thrill—just retribution. 

Somehow it was less fulfilling because a tennis fan’s true joy comes from positive emotions like winning.  Also Lendl didn’t lose that often…

I tried to move on, flirting with the Aussies: first Cash, then Rafter.  I was quite fond of Rafter’s aggressive serve and volley game.  Becker was intriguing and Edberg—well, I explained about Edberg. 

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48 comments Last one added 2 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Vinny Do 9 months ago

    Good stuff fellow Fed Fan

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  2. Dhaval Brahmbhatt 9 months ago

    This is exactly what I feel like.

    I don't play tennis myself and I hear experts commenting on how he is not the best player ever if he doesn't win French open.

    It is beyond my understanding how tennis experts fail to understand that HE IS THE BEST tennis player ever considering his achievements. I don't blame ordinary people or RAFA fans for that as I can understand them not believing but tennis experts ?

    Tell me how many clay court specialists did Borg defeat during his time? Tell me how many players like RAFA did he beat or even Sampras beat?

    How many times spectators or even comentators had their jaws drop to see Sampras or Borg or even Nada for that matter, produce unbelivable shots?

    If people are talking Fed is producing un-heard or unseen tennis, surely that menas Sampras or Borg didn't do the same thing right? isn't that testament enough of Rog being the best player?

    Apart from that, he is the BEST person I have ever seen as a sportsman. Take any sport. He just like a child, you should see him crying when he won AO in 2006, absolute kid.

    When people say, we have to consider ourselves lucky to witness the quality of tennis he has produced, it really means something. How many times did people say that for Borg or Sampras or Nadal or if they ever will?

    Absolutely lovely article. Glad to see oldtimers ackowledging this as well.

    I have been watching wimbledon since when I was a kid but Rog has practically seduced me to the game of Tennis.

    Dhaval

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Hey Dhaval - When you love Roger Federer as a player and as a person it is hard to understand why others don't see him as we see him...I know!!

      I will take your comment about "oldtimers" with the understanding that you must be extremely young! Do be careful - we are all so very young at heart!!

      Thanks for your comments! jaa

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    • Long John Silver 9 months ago

      Borg beat some incredible clay courters in his time

      and yea - here is a counter point

      6 RG + 6 Wimb - on a TROT

      match that -

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  3. adri mulder 9 months ago

    Fantastic, you describe exactly my feelings and irrational behaviour as a Federer fan. Getting up in the middle of the night, yes I do that too, but only for Federer of course. And also the crying endears me to the point that I am crying too. I hate it when he loses, but indeed, the highs of the triumphs are higher.

    Many compliments for a so astonishingly exact description of my own feelings. Thank you!

    Adri

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Hi adri--I am so there with you!! Sometimes just watching him play is agony until I know he has won!! Thank you for your comments! jaa

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  4. mira wong 9 months ago

    I can't believe I have found others like myself. Only you guys understand what it feels like to truly love Federer and his 'out of this world' shotmaking. I'm so excited.......

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Hi Mira - Many, many Roger lovers on this site so welcome!! Thanks for commenting and feel free to do so anytime! jaa

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  5. Alejandro Muller 9 months ago

    Great article very well written and emotionally packed. congrats.

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  6. denise grant 9 months ago

    absolutely right on

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  7. Long John Silver 9 months ago

    These are my NOTES - as i kept reading -

    i love mats too -

    j-mac probably brought the best out of Bjorn - similar to senna and prost

    dosent mats remind of you of Rafa - the extreme effort needed to get to the pinnacle

    i loved stefan too - the poetic backhand cross-court volley

    you contradict yourself - lendl did not lose much, is rodge the same way and you liked him ?

    fans do start watching - by following an individual, but after a long time, you fall in love with the game in itself, you still hav favs - but you are balanced - and you love the game

    i think this is where we differ - chalk and ink - i think each player brings his own individuality to the game, I adore Lleyton, Connors and ROD as much as Rodge-why, because it is the diff personas that add to the game, in fact they help the fans who appreciate Rodge - appreciate even more .... it is the mere presence of a white, that helps us distinguish black from it

    here is one more where we differ - i absolutely LOVED Jim - why, because he maximised whatever talent he had to it absolute limits, same like lleyton, you maximise whatever that is naturally endowed to you .... to the absolute extent possible (economists call it the lagrange multiplier)

    + I diggged the inside out PILE driver forehand, and you know what, unlike many others, Jim has made the smoothest transition from retirementhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4JyN8Do9jE&feature=related to commentary - he has a kickass sense of humor

    here is something you would love

    - and someone who makes me THINK so much about the game, the POTD +5 is the least I can do, you are one of the VERY FEW who makes me seriously think about the game

    do you realise that your record is perfect - I have POTD'ed every one of your work until now, and i only give em when I think they are worth it

    jeez - sorry for such an storybook response ....am gonna stop

    cheers

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  8. Long John Silver 9 months ago

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4JyN8Do9jE&feature=related

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Love to read what you have to say! I loved Borg - I found tennis through him quite by accident...and I suspect I followed Mats because he seemed related to Borg. Of course, Mats was such a fighter...as you suggest much like Nadal. I think Lendl was a great player but he also had many, many matches contested against Borg and then Wilander--so it became a habit to root against him!

      I totally agree about Courier--I very much like him now as a commentator and as a spokesperson for tennis...but when he was playing, I did not much care for his game...sorry.

      Just as I like McEnroe now, for the most part except when he gets down on Roger!

      Thanks, as always, for the support...jaa

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  9. Long John Silver 9 months ago

    one more - you would like

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/62992-deconstructing-a-roger-federer-fan#comment_290615

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  10. Long John Silver 9 months ago

    sorry - this one

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCq9Ame5DpM&feature=related

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  11. Vinny Do 9 months ago

    Jim Couriers was a great player but he is an even BETTER commentator.

    I vote for him as the greatest tennis commentator of all time.

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Vinny--I remember watching Courier when he began as a commentator and I thought like most commentators, he talked too much and digressed too often. But, he has certainly turned that around throughout his career and is now one of the best...I agree. I like to listen to Cahill and Drysdale as well. At times, John McEnroe is excellent because he knows so much about playing the game at the top. I loved the US Open in 2007 when Roger was playing Roddick and Agassi joined John McEnroe in the booth...Andre certainly had lots of really positive comments about Roger and his analysis was right on!

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  12. karen wilson 9 months ago

    once again your writing about ROGI mirrors my sentiments. I too will get up in the middle of the night, even after 24 hrs of travelling to watch him play; if no TV available, I will sit transfixed in front of the Live Scores on the computer to follow the play. I exalt when he wins - madly clapping, and jumping up and down - and when he loses, the pain and sadness is unbearable. I felt his jubilation when winning the Olympic Gold with Stan and was over the moon when he won the USO. I was thrilled for him knowing how much it would mean after so many earlier 2008 disappointments.

    For me ROGI is the gold standard as both a player and a human being. I dread the day when he will eventually step off the stage -- I fear I too will cease to be a tennis fan.

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Hi Karen - It is hard to imagine enjoying tennis without Roger! We will have to really make the most of these next few years...I am predicting 2009 will be a banner year for the golden boy! jaa

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  13. omniscient 9 months ago

    Nice article.. this is exactly how i feel about federer and will continue to do so .. tennis is an obsession becasue federer plays it ..

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Hi omniscient - one of my favorite words and concepts!! Roger does add so much to the tennis world and I think he will continue to be a persistent force as long as he wishes!! jaa

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  14. Amit Ubale 9 months ago

    I am a big Fed-Fan and always on the lookout for good articles to read about him, and then by chance I happened to come across this article and another one. More than the facts its the presentation of the 'amazing qualities of Roger' by you that made me really reaccess my admiration levels for Roger.

    The presenation is a really poetic .

    I referred the article to a group of friends and lo....bleacherreport.com has got another 23 members added.

    Keep going...and I would really appreciate if you/somone can refer me an article where you have compared
    FEDERER v/s WOODS v/s JORDAN v/s SCHUMACHER v/s CARL LEWIS......

    I mean great sportsmen across all sports and give a reasson as to who is the greatest of them all.

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Hi Amit - Your comments mean so much - I love to write about Roger because he is so poetic, his movements and his artistry with a racquet! Poetry in motion -- as the song goes.

      An article, such as the one you detail, sounds most intriguing--something to work towards. Right now I am not aware of such an article existing...but I shall work on it! jaa

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  15. James Maxwell 9 months ago

    I became a big fan of Federer only recently (2005) when I got introduced by my friends to watching tennis. From that time on, I never looked back. I don't know, the Swiss maestro simply inspires me. I'm not a tennis player myself but watching him play on TV and losing precious sleep as well has been a yearly obsession for me.

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Hi James - I know what you mean about losing sleep...2008 has been rough, especially Wimbledon! But the Olympics double gold was such a high and the U.S. Open and the Davis Cup have contributed to making 2008 a good year - let's hope the Masters Cup will see Roger win out!! jaa

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  1. CM T 9 months ago

    This could be me. I found tennis through Borg and adored him. And I also was 'lost' when he quit at 26. I still followed tennis after he left but never with the same passion until Federer. The first time I heard of him was also like you...when he beat Pete. I was ecstatic that someone had beaten Pete because I was desperate for him NOT to tie Borg with 5-straight Wimbys. Funny how I wanted nothing more than Roger to do it last year - my two all-time favs sharing that record! Although, I was heart-broken this year when Roger lost that epic to Nadal and didn't win six straight...but as you say, those hurtful losses are what make his great wins so fantastic! Thanks for a great commentary. It's amazing how many fans there are just as crazy about Roger as me.

    Colleen

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Yes, Colleen - Borg was a heart-breaker, leaving the game so abruptly...it was crushing. But, Roger is a special athlete, so open and communicative and such a craftsman...carving up the courts! We share this passion! jaa

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  2. Michael Vu 9 months ago

    Hello,
    I guess this blog is reserved for Federer's fan club only ? Perfect, let me join in then.
    I have been following tennis since the early 90's but only with passing interest since there were other sports (eg NBA basketball, volleyball) that excites me a lot more. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson used to be my greatest sport heros until I found out about Roger Federer at the 2003 Wimbledon final.
    I saw that game (accidentally of course) and remember saying to myself 'I haven't seen someone play tennis like this before' and instinctively I knew there was something special about this young Roger guy who was befuddling Phillipousis with an arrays of shots I never seen before. Well, the rest is history and now I am a big Fed fan because of his personalities on/off the court and tennis skills.
    Thanks J A Allen for the well written article and all the other Fed fans on this page !

    Michael Vu

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Hi Michael - So much fun to visit with so many Federer fans--we are a special lot! Federer is the best, and all we have to do--is get everybody else to admit it! Thanks for your comments! jaa

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  3. Mo Connolly 9 months ago

    JAA
    You have described so eloquently how all Federer Fans feel. Even when I too admired Borg I did not feel anything like this. I am spell bound by the beauty of the game when he plays.
    Thank you for putting into words what I could not.

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Dear Mo - Yes, Federer can be an all-consuming passion...if you don't believe me--visit his website at anytime of the day or night and read what hundreds of thousands feel about the flawless Federer! jaa

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  4. H H 9 months ago

    Aha! A fellow "Federette"! This is a wonderful confessional, captures my own feelings exactly. Federer is an absolute gem among athletes - charismatic, brilliantly inventive, and yet almost fey. Thanks for expressing what (apparently) many Federettes feel!

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  5. Long John Silver 9 months ago

    you made the front page JAA - am only glad

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Dear Long - Wow! I am stunned...I saw you were there - to be expected. I am so happy that what I have to say makes others happy or satisfied or relieved! Inspired and humbled by all this...jaa

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    • Long John Silver 9 months ago

      am happy for anyone - who takes Tennis to the front page, and you are one of the undoubted assets ive had the privilege of meeting in here

      am your unabashed fan -

      cheers

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  6. karen wilson 9 months ago

    I revel in reading comments by other ROGI obsessed fans like myself ! I just can't get enough of OUR MAESTRO - OUR CHAMP ! Although a member of rf.com for a few years now, I find as time goes by I am more and more "addicted". Although sorry he won't be playing Stockholm, I'm delighted he's taking care of himself in preparation for the bigger events later this year and in 2009. Yes, JA let's hope 2009 is a BANNER Federlicious year !!

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Yes - I am not surprised he has taken himself out of Stockholm because he needs more rest and recuperation than play but I know people are hugely disappointed at not seeing him because it really isn't tennis unless Federer is playing, is it?? I am on board for 2009!!

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  7. Donald Fincher 9 months ago

    I am a big Fed fan and I believe that he has the potential to be the best ever but, in my opinion, it is still Borg. Borg quit the game much earlier in his career than Sampras or Federer and only played the Australian Open one time yet still won 11 Grand Slams. How many could it have been if he had played in those 7 Aussies that he didn't play or extended his career 2 years (meaning 8 more overall Slam opportunities)? That would have been 15 more Slam opportunities with those 2 changes. He would have won some of them and Roger would be chasing him rather than Sampras and probably would not be able to catch him. And Borg was playing in an era of more competition too. Connors, McEnroe, and Lendl (though not all likeable) were all great players in their own right. Sampras and Fed did not and have not had to face that level of competition. Hands down, Borg was the best.

    But Fed is the most classy sportsman I have ever seen from any sport. I also like that he plays tennis in a James Bond kind of way - tactically superior, strategic, sophisticated, effortless, and lethal...all while being well dressed. I mean, come on, the man speaks 5 languages.

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  8. J.A. Allen 9 months ago

    Hi Donald - Yes, I loved Borg, too. But, I happen to believe that the "GOAT" debate is pointless in any sport because the game evolves, the equipment changes, the rules change, the athletes change and they never meet head on...I mean Borg and Federer, for example. It is difficult to generalize about the level of competition, too, because the game has grown and is more inclusive...

    No one wishes more than I that Borg had rededicated himself and come back and played longer...but he did not. It becomes impossible to award him trophies when he didn't play...

    I think it will be difficult to award the "greatest ever" label to Borg or Federer or Sampras or Laver, etc. But, it is fun to debate and disagree! Thanks for the comments...jaa

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  9. karen wilson 9 months ago

    Dinald, I LOVE your description of ROG : classy, playing tennis in a James Bond kind of way. It was at Wimbledon 2006 when he donned that gorgeous white blazer that I went over the edge !! :) Couldn't agree more with all your descriptions - tactically superior, strategic, sophisticated, effotless and LETHAL AND multi lingual ! I always thinks ROG plays tennis in a Zen like fashion......ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ ROG !!

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  10. Rose Ahmad 9 months ago

    this ranks up there with DFW's "Federer as a religious experience". I can't stop bawling!

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    • J.A. Allen 9 months ago

      Hi Rose - The homage is too great! "Federer as a Religious Experience" is my absolute favorite piece of sports writing...a modern masterpiece. Thank you...I am humbled...jaa

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  11. CGO CGO 4 months ago

    I have to say, you have written how I feel down to the Agassi being such a brat at the beginning of his career only to turn into such an amazing ambassador for Tennis. I am a HUGE Fed Fan. I am catching so much heat from friends as I did spend more than I should and got tickets to the USA vs Switzerland Davis Cup match in Birmingham, AL. My friends can not believe that my big dilemma is what Red shirt to wear and should I write "Fed Fan" or "Team Fed" on it. They can not believe that I would go and not cheer for Team USA. I say, you must not know me at all. I am 38, mother of 2 kids, happily married and fes up to owning "posters" of Fed that my kids were given for knowing Roger at the tennis shop when they were 3 (the owner thought it was so cute)...they are mine, the kids are not allowed to touch them. I acknowledge crying, literal tears when Wimbledon '08 was over, I had to be alone in my room. I also admit to watching every Fed match live during the '09 Aus Open, even if it came on at 3:30. I even had a friend over to watch the finals at 3:30 am (hot cocoa party anyone?) I am serious when I say, anyone who thinks I would cheer for Andy Roddick, does not know me, has not met me, can not understand my dedication to Roger. I was so upset after the Aus Open, I felt sick for him, worried that he would pull a Borg and quit. So, Yes, thank you for writing my feelings and any ideas on what to wear to the Davis Cup, let me know (on a budget so I will have to make it myself)

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    • J.A. Allen 2 months ago

      I am so sorry I missed this comment two months ago when you wrote it! I certainly would have preferred to respond to you then. I hope you are surviving the most recent angst of Federer lovers - have faith - it will be rewarded! jaa

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