Cannot understand why there should be comparison of the greats or legends from different eras or from the same era. How can one compare Federer to Sampras or compare Rahul to Sachin?
Can Federer play volley as brilliantly as Sampras does? Can Sampras read opponent’s serve as splendidly as Federer does? Can Federer produce a power shot (slam dunk) as superbly as Sampras does? Can Sampras play well on clay as well as Federer does? Can Federer match Sampras pace in the serve? Can Sampras produce angles at impossible points as Federer does? Can Federer play for a point as long as Sampras does? The list goes on and on.. and every minute detail can be pointed out, but the fact that Federer is ten years younger to Sampras and has grown up idolizing him should put a break to all this Sampras and Federer, who is great debate. But no, people have to indulge in this. Sampras is a legend and the games of the then era were not one-sided. I do not want to get into the debate about competitiveness and the mastery of Federer, for he is the master of every shot one has ever seen on the tennis court and then some. Federer is a master of his game and let me leave it at that. Sampras is still a legend, not because he retired and one has to talk good about him, but because he is one cool customer on the court and his game was not just fascinating, it was fierce and splendid.
Can Sachin play for two continuous days without pulling a hamstring? Can Rahul hit a straight six with the finesse of the master blaster? Can Sachin play a defensive stroke and make it look like a brush stroke of Da Vinci? Can Rahul play an aggressive stroke and make it look like this is what he grew up doing? Can Sachin bat one down and display the composure required for that position? Can Rahul open the innings (agreed he opened a few) and play with the magic of Sachin? Can Sachin build partnerships as well as Rahul does? Can Rahul provide the confidence to India that he can see the match through (except in test cricket ofcourse. Dare to challenge me?). Can Sachin lay claim to the victories India had, overseas? Let’s not go into statistics either. Can’t we just understand that the game plan is different for both the players, their style and approach is different? Sachin has been a legend and inspired even the likes of Dravid. Sachin is not God, but a human with boundless talent and so is Rahul, albeit with a different ball game. I would say that we are lucky India produced the likes of Sachin, Rahul, SOurav, Anil when it did.
The legends are merely a creation of stats, but the persona of the people is what leaves the mark on the pages of history and legends as above have already marked their greatness with their humility, dedication and self-belief. These people have been there and done that and nothing of the lasting debates will ever make them better or worse, apart from passing the too valuable time with inconsequentiality. Now this post should also be inconsequential, but I just had to rant out, for I just cannot understand the contrasts or comparisons. Sourav vs Sachin, Sachin vs Lara, Federer’s opponents vs Sampras opponents… Records are made and will be broken, if it is not today, it will be in some distant future. We all have role models and we walk with their memories in heart and some grow up with the memories in their blood. There will walk a legend one day who might appear to be better than everyone that earth has seen. But that does not belittle any of the achievements any other person in the history book has made. We just need to be open to appreciate that!
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