And I don’t even care about tennis, don’t much believe in sports heroes, but … (h/t/ Stephen McIntyre):Thanks for reading Meaning In History! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Djoko is the greatest of all time in his sport. Had he not been excluded from the AO (where he is as unstoppable as Nadal is at the French) last year for vax reasons, he’d now have the outright Majors titles to prove it, and, unlike Nadal, he’s got 3-4 years to go to rack up several more. I’ve been watching the current triumvirate (Federer, Nadal and Djoko, in that order) closely throughout their entire careers, and have to say that, whatever your superlatives are for Michael Jordan and what have you, Djoko’s mental focus on excellence is otherworldly. Plus, he’s a modest and notoriously-funny (nicknamed Djoker) dude--what’s not to like?
Not only did he break serve on the Branch Covidian efforts against him, he has taken (for years--well before Russian invasion) all kinds of anti-Serbian shit (one step down from the Russian and Byelorussians who get their flags blocked out at all the Majors) from the Slava Ukraīni types who get all the tickets at the US Open but never played the sport. He a champion on MANY fronts.
Djokovic is extremely admirable to have suffered the personal insults and career damages the despicable politicians in Australia have inflicted on him and yet to have handled it so well. It is gratifying to see the Australian people (now) knowledgeably support him. And yet given all of the truths that have been revealed and the tyrants that have been unmasked there remains a place that still refuses to recognize the truth and give up its tyranny. You guessed it:
"As it stands, Djokovic is expected to miss two more tournaments — Indian Wells and the Miami Open — thanks to the federal government’s ban on unvaccinated non-nationals. Hey, at least Indian Wells isn’t too far from the southern border. You don’t need to be vaccinated to enter the country that way. Djokovic has some options."
Rascal you are not alone by any stretch of the imagination as Mark concurs below. I am of similar feelings. I grew up playing all the major sports and was pretty good at football and baseball earning scholarships and some attention from BB scouts, but never realized the dream. I continued to play baseball at an amateur level in a pretty good league in the Twin cities of which many former pros on the downturn would play in hopes of reviving their careers. I played until I was 56, but never in the over 35 or senior leagues, I liked the thrill of competing with the college kids half my age. I was a real fan. Stopped watching Pro basketball after the Celts-Lakers golden years as they game evolved into a playground style of play. Stayed with the college game and in football I followed both. I stopped caring about football for same reasons as you and haven't watched a world series in probably 10 years. The social engineering is relentless and tiresome. The talking heads are incredibly narrow minded and boring while insulting my intelligence with BS. I note yo are from WI, I used to play against a number of good town ball teams in WI and the club out of Eau Claire (the Cavaliers) were really good as they recruited top players across the country and Carson Park was an awesome ball park with great history when they were in the Northern League, an affiliate of the Braves. I really miss playing, but no longer interested in the game as it is today.
You mention the 1980 Olympics and that club had plenty of UW and UM players and they were amateurs, that's when it was interesting and exciting. With the pro's in hockey and basketball these games are now such a dud. Politics and social engineering permeate every aspect of our lives and it is so obvious what they are doing. Hollywood is the worst of the bunch. They've run out of ideas and the more they add special effects the more obvious the lack of talent in script writing and filming.
Thanks for sharing your feelings about the "games."
I hear ya! It's about creating chaos and taking away those things we love and tormenting those they disagree with and hate. I agree they are simply fueling more hatred among us all. I sense they is a growing awareness that there is something seriously wrong with our country and the shame of knowing our nation is becoming a pariah.
I've lost most interest in sports for the same reason. It was kind of refreshing, however, to see how the Qataris told all the Woke Brigade to take a hike during the last World Cup. I think it was kind of shocking for the PC crowd to realise that 90% of the world doesn't share their love of perversion.
I completely get it, Mark, and have made cuts (particularly to sponsoring/following my alma mater’s beloved hoops team, after cutting off the school itself for missteps a decade before that), but I do my best to focus solely on the athletics in football and elsewhere and not let the bastards get me down. Sports tribalism is pretty much my last guilty pleasure of joyous irrationality, so, the wokesters can come pry that from my cold dead foam fingers. 🤣🤣
As a Brit (and Swiss), Rascal, I'd like to challenge you to explain to me as simply as possible the rules of American football. I really never got it! In return, I'll explain cricket.
Sure beats my experience in trying to learn Gaelic-rules football from fellow Irish Americans who were simply looking to find a conveniently-timed sport and venue to have a socially-acceptable pint or two with eggs and bacon.
I used to tease a guy from Chippewa Falls, who was a big Pack fan and season ticket holder, by calling them the Lemon and Spinach team (referring to their colors), but I have been a Packer fan myself, but wife is strong Vikings after moving here from Miami. Yes, they are a religion up there and for good reason an great team history!
Green Bay is an incredible football town! Went out to see a playoff game where my Giants were supposed to (and proceeded to) get crushed, mostly to experience Lambeau, one of the last remaining "cathedrals" of NFL football. Try to imagine GB lighting up the town in the colors of the Vikings or Bears, as NYC did on the Empire State Building last night in honor of our bitter divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. GB would have the mayor's head!
Agreed, the "Miracle" moment is simply the best sports memory of my lifetime. Amazing that none of us knew we weren't watching it live, but on a 3-hour primetime delay. The little Upstate NY town where we were staying that night was only about 1.5 hours south of Placid, yet nobody came through with a "spoiler alert," such that everyone poured out onto the streets yelling and screaming at exactly the final horn on TV. Could never happen today, both in terms of technology and our losing our way as a culture.
That disgust, I believe, is a feature, not a bug, in their approach...to discourage and atomize groups of people who once found community in the (admittedly, frivolous) traditions surrounding sports. Can't tell you how many friends and family have walked away completely.
Seeing your profile pic pop up in my notifications, I've FINALLY caught on about your username--pretty embarrassing for someone who has devoured Dostoyevsky's works and was actually teased as a "raskolnik" (schismatic or apostate) by the old ladies at the Orthodox Church that I, as an American Catholic, used to attend when I lived in Moscow. Better late than never, I guess...
Djokovic has it right. It's up to the individual to decide.
As “the Frogs” say, “Il est exceptionnel!”
Djoko is the greatest of all time in his sport. Had he not been excluded from the AO (where he is as unstoppable as Nadal is at the French) last year for vax reasons, he’d now have the outright Majors titles to prove it, and, unlike Nadal, he’s got 3-4 years to go to rack up several more. I’ve been watching the current triumvirate (Federer, Nadal and Djoko, in that order) closely throughout their entire careers, and have to say that, whatever your superlatives are for Michael Jordan and what have you, Djoko’s mental focus on excellence is otherworldly. Plus, he’s a modest and notoriously-funny (nicknamed Djoker) dude--what’s not to like?
Not only did he break serve on the Branch Covidian efforts against him, he has taken (for years--well before Russian invasion) all kinds of anti-Serbian shit (one step down from the Russian and Byelorussians who get their flags blocked out at all the Majors) from the Slava Ukraīni types who get all the tickets at the US Open but never played the sport. He a champion on MANY fronts.
Djokovic is extremely admirable to have suffered the personal insults and career damages the despicable politicians in Australia have inflicted on him and yet to have handled it so well. It is gratifying to see the Australian people (now) knowledgeably support him. And yet given all of the truths that have been revealed and the tyrants that have been unmasked there remains a place that still refuses to recognize the truth and give up its tyranny. You guessed it:
"As it stands, Djokovic is expected to miss two more tournaments — Indian Wells and the Miami Open — thanks to the federal government’s ban on unvaccinated non-nationals. Hey, at least Indian Wells isn’t too far from the southern border. You don’t need to be vaccinated to enter the country that way. Djokovic has some options."
https://www.outkick.com/things-get-awkward-between-john-mcenroe-and-chris-fowler-over-novak-djokovics-vaccine-status/
Rascal you are not alone by any stretch of the imagination as Mark concurs below. I am of similar feelings. I grew up playing all the major sports and was pretty good at football and baseball earning scholarships and some attention from BB scouts, but never realized the dream. I continued to play baseball at an amateur level in a pretty good league in the Twin cities of which many former pros on the downturn would play in hopes of reviving their careers. I played until I was 56, but never in the over 35 or senior leagues, I liked the thrill of competing with the college kids half my age. I was a real fan. Stopped watching Pro basketball after the Celts-Lakers golden years as they game evolved into a playground style of play. Stayed with the college game and in football I followed both. I stopped caring about football for same reasons as you and haven't watched a world series in probably 10 years. The social engineering is relentless and tiresome. The talking heads are incredibly narrow minded and boring while insulting my intelligence with BS. I note yo are from WI, I used to play against a number of good town ball teams in WI and the club out of Eau Claire (the Cavaliers) were really good as they recruited top players across the country and Carson Park was an awesome ball park with great history when they were in the Northern League, an affiliate of the Braves. I really miss playing, but no longer interested in the game as it is today.
You mention the 1980 Olympics and that club had plenty of UW and UM players and they were amateurs, that's when it was interesting and exciting. With the pro's in hockey and basketball these games are now such a dud. Politics and social engineering permeate every aspect of our lives and it is so obvious what they are doing. Hollywood is the worst of the bunch. They've run out of ideas and the more they add special effects the more obvious the lack of talent in script writing and filming.
Thanks for sharing your feelings about the "games."
I hear ya! It's about creating chaos and taking away those things we love and tormenting those they disagree with and hate. I agree they are simply fueling more hatred among us all. I sense they is a growing awareness that there is something seriously wrong with our country and the shame of knowing our nation is becoming a pariah.
I've lost most interest in sports for the same reason. It was kind of refreshing, however, to see how the Qataris told all the Woke Brigade to take a hike during the last World Cup. I think it was kind of shocking for the PC crowd to realise that 90% of the world doesn't share their love of perversion.
I used to follow certain teams faithfully--til they all went woke.
I completely get it, Mark, and have made cuts (particularly to sponsoring/following my alma mater’s beloved hoops team, after cutting off the school itself for missteps a decade before that), but I do my best to focus solely on the athletics in football and elsewhere and not let the bastards get me down. Sports tribalism is pretty much my last guilty pleasure of joyous irrationality, so, the wokesters can come pry that from my cold dead foam fingers. 🤣🤣
As a Brit (and Swiss), Rascal, I'd like to challenge you to explain to me as simply as possible the rules of American football. I really never got it! In return, I'll explain cricket.
Here's the most straight-forward primer that I've sent to my friends in London before attending the NFL games now being held there:
https://www.realbuzz.com/articles-interests/sports-activities/article/basic-american-football-rules/
Sure beats my experience in trying to learn Gaelic-rules football from fellow Irish Americans who were simply looking to find a conveniently-timed sport and venue to have a socially-acceptable pint or two with eggs and bacon.
I used to tease a guy from Chippewa Falls, who was a big Pack fan and season ticket holder, by calling them the Lemon and Spinach team (referring to their colors), but I have been a Packer fan myself, but wife is strong Vikings after moving here from Miami. Yes, they are a religion up there and for good reason an great team history!
Green Bay is an incredible football town! Went out to see a playoff game where my Giants were supposed to (and proceeded to) get crushed, mostly to experience Lambeau, one of the last remaining "cathedrals" of NFL football. Try to imagine GB lighting up the town in the colors of the Vikings or Bears, as NYC did on the Empire State Building last night in honor of our bitter divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. GB would have the mayor's head!
Agreed, the "Miracle" moment is simply the best sports memory of my lifetime. Amazing that none of us knew we weren't watching it live, but on a 3-hour primetime delay. The little Upstate NY town where we were staying that night was only about 1.5 hours south of Placid, yet nobody came through with a "spoiler alert," such that everyone poured out onto the streets yelling and screaming at exactly the final horn on TV. Could never happen today, both in terms of technology and our losing our way as a culture.
That disgust, I believe, is a feature, not a bug, in their approach...to discourage and atomize groups of people who once found community in the (admittedly, frivolous) traditions surrounding sports. Can't tell you how many friends and family have walked away completely.
Seeing your profile pic pop up in my notifications, I've FINALLY caught on about your username--pretty embarrassing for someone who has devoured Dostoyevsky's works and was actually teased as a "raskolnik" (schismatic or apostate) by the old ladies at the Orthodox Church that I, as an American Catholic, used to attend when I lived in Moscow. Better late than never, I guess...