Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “,….. proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community….
I can’t remember a more dramatic reversal in my opinion pertaining to a performer in pro sports than the the 180 degree turn I’ve had with Novak Djokovic.
At the US Open last year, Djokovic was attempting to capture the calendar Grand Slam, that is to be the champion of the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in tennis all in the same year- something that hadn’t been done since 1969.
In dramatic US Open Final Daniil Medvedev halted Djokovic’s quest for the calendar slam because on that day Medvedev was terrific and Djokovic was just a little off while chasing tennis history
Trailing in the third set 5-4, during the changeover, Djokovic hid his face in a towel, very apparent that he was crying.
Crying because he knew he was beaten, or about to be beaten.
Crying because his attempt at history was going to come up one match short
Crying because he might believe he’ll never have another shot at the calendar slam
And crying because the fans at the US Open recognized Djokovic for his career brilliance and for his valiant attempt to do something that hadn’t been done in a half century.
It was terrific theatre, a very human moment in the sometimes robotic, emotionless world of pro sports and I admired Djokovic so much that day and afterwards for his humanity.
Then barely a season later comes the Australian Open fiasco in which Djokovic had his travel visa cancelled and was deported from the country, coming off as a celebrity vaccine sceptic, entitled, beyond reproach and to a large extent; a liar.
Certainly not the Novak Djokovic that I saw at the US Open and based on the Australian Open circus, it will be interesting to see just how he is remembered
For Pete’s Auto Body, I’m Fred Wallace.