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and to think that Connors made a run 3 years past Andre's age...
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"Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is." -
In 1988, we had an exceptional final in Toulouse (south of France), in an average prized ATP tournament: Connors-McEnroe! My two fave players, aged 36 and 29, and of course no preference for me as far as who would win. It happened that Jimmy did, but what a splendid match they offered, what a load of "caviar" shots!
Sorry, I can't resist, as my mind is still stuck in the late 70s/early 80s tennis...
Just watch Jimmy in the locker room, and the way he entered the Centre Court (1977 Wimbledon final).
Then, don't miss the point he won at 4'20'' and the hip shakes he starts doing just after...
I mean, OK, today's tennis is faster (thanks to balls, rackets, and er, well, certain substances too, I'm afraid), but what can compete against Connors at his best playing either Borg or McEnroe?
In his book, released in 1980, Borg told about his second win at Wimbledon in 77, in 5 sets vs Connors, saying that he started thinking about holding the cup when he was leading 4/0 in the final set; then Jimmy began breaking on the court like a raging bull to set the score to 4 all... And Bjorn confessed that when the score shifted to 4/4, he suddenly felt like crying like a little boy! :D
So, this is Jimbo at his best, having a legendary fight with Borg. Good ole rock 'n' roll tennis here. Sorry again, can't help it!
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5DmXsjVmGmQ"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5DmXsjVmGmQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>posted by Ellyllions Men say, "I'll never understand women." That's a very lonely place to be if you're a woman because we don't understand half of what we do either.posted by ALinChainz Katy, Pipe down, pump off, and fly back to your cave you old bat.Comment
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and the great thing about Connors is that he never went away...for 20 years...
Connors and McEnroe are a lot of the reason a lot of people play and watch...
and I agree...
I would love to see the rackets get covered...
Remember when Borg came back playing with a wooden, hybrid racket?"Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."Comment
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How I remember...Originally posted by POJO_Risin
and the great thing about Connors is that he never went away...for 20 years...
Connors and McEnroe are a lot of the reason a lot of people play and watch...
and I agree...
I would love to see the rackets get covered...
Remember when Borg came back playing with a wooden, hybrid racket?
He played in Nice and Monte Carlo in 1991, at nearly 35. He who would never sweat the slightest drop back in the day got completely wet, and he even dropped his racket right after a serve - the racket fell halfway before the net... The legend suffered a lot when he came back.
I don't think that any male player ever succeeded to come back.
Women do it - Aussie Evonne Goolagong after bearing a child stopped for one year before winning Wimbledon again in 1980, 9 years after her previous win.
Monica Seles managed to come back after her stabbing, though she never reached the same level.
More recently, Martina Hingis went up to world number 12 or so, starting with no ranking in January (but she's regularly been dominated by top ten players ever since).
Connors was a phenomenon among a few exceptional players. His game required much physical involvement, but until the end he kept playing the same aggressive, brilliant game.
In addition, it often was a real show in between points as well.
posted by Ellyllions Men say, "I'll never understand women." That's a very lonely place to be if you're a woman because we don't understand half of what we do either.posted by ALinChainz Katy, Pipe down, pump off, and fly back to your cave you old bat.Comment
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Well...this could be it...
Becker serving for the match...
good rally for the first point...
Agassi into the net...
15-0..."Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."Comment
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40-0...
Ace...
Benjamin Becker beats Andre....
damn...
Benjamin Becker...fuck him...
I hope he gets crotch rot...
Agassi is crying...
he can barely fucking walk...
damn...time fucking flies..."Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."Comment
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Agassi is just bawling...wow..."Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."Comment
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been like a 5 minute standing ovation..."Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."Comment
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Becker talking about how Agassi was his idol growing up...
Agassi struggling to keep it together...
isn't Graf German?
Agassi coming out for an interview...he grabs the mic from Mary Joe Fernandez...who is fucking hot as hell by the way..."Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."Comment
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"The scoreboard says I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what I've found..."
"You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach my dreams...."
Damn...
that was a great speech...
wow...
he cried the whole time he said it...
and the last time he walks off a court as a pro...
Great moment in sports..."Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."Comment
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Wow...that was a great speech...
I remember my freshman year in college...I met Agassi at a match with McEnroe....not a tourney...but one of those one night deals...
and he was mimicking McEnroe the whole night...funny shit...
seems like fucking yesterday...lmfao..."Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."Comment
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Pat McEnroe...
didn't he lost to Connors during that last run in a five-setter?
christ...Pat has Connors to thank for his current job..."Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."Comment
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It's good to see Connors...lmfao...it looks like he wants to leap out of his seat after every shot..."Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."Comment
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Roddick up 4-2 in the fifth...just broke...and really is playing some inspired tennis...
and as I said before...Connors is fun to watch on the sidelines...
but I have to say...
there's a lot of discussion about how all this is Connors doing...his good play that is...
that won't last long..."Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."Comment
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I'd rather not have seen Andre's match, because I would have cried like a kid too.
20 years... Twenty years of rock 'n' roll tennis, taking the ball before the top of the rebound preferrably, just as Connors and McEnroe did but Agassi did it with faster balls and faster rackets.
He'll remain in memories as the only champion in the post-69 era to have won the 4 Slam tournaments, on 4 different surfaces, and as a very damn cool dude, one of the very rare with a real personality.
A few years ago, in 1999 or 2000 or so, when asked which player's game had most impressed him, Yannick Noah said "Andre Agassi", for hitting the ball so early and so hard, with so much constance. And Yannick saw many guys come and go, and a few big champions...
There will never be another one... like him.posted by Ellyllions Men say, "I'll never understand women." That's a very lonely place to be if you're a woman because we don't understand half of what we do either.posted by ALinChainz Katy, Pipe down, pump off, and fly back to your cave you old bat.Comment
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