Borg was my sports hero as a teenager growing up in South Florida. I loved tennis. It became my best sport. I owe a lot of the love for the sport to two guys who are known by their last names: Borg and McEnroe.
Borg in particular was one of the greatest pressure players I have ever watched. He retired at 26 with five Wimbleton titles. I don't think the sport has seen a player of his quality, with the possible exception of Pete Sampras. If Borg had put in another 10 years, there is no telling how many grand slams he would have won.
w.Now Borg is selling his trophies to pay off debts. He goes from the number 1 in the world with millions of dollars in tow, to two divorces and bankruptcy.
Borg adds, "Even though the symbols of my victories are being sold, what I will always retain is the knowledge that for such a long time I was the supreme world tennis champion."
Ok, but what ultimately really matters? Is it our glory days?
Chuck Colson opens his book, , with the following paragraph,
"This is a book about the good life - not the good life touted in the Budweiser commercials or on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous or MTV Cribs, but the good life that you and I want to live when we reflect about what really matters. What makes life worth living? Why am I here? What's my purpose?"
Few us will ever achieve Borg's fame in this world, or face the public humiliation of hocking our trophy case with the world watching, but there is one thing we do share in common with Borg. We can reflect on our lives. We can ask the hard questions. We can reflect back on it and ask, have we lived a good life? Have we focused on what really matters? Why am I here, and have I fulfilled my purpose?
I was a great admirer of the unflappable Swede. He provided a needed contrast to the tantrums of Connors and McEnroe. I saw him lose his temper only once: following a call he disagreed with, he calmly hit every shot into the crowd until his anger abated. I think he was 16 or so at the time.
Too bad he didn't invest as well as he played tennis.
Posted by: Rob Ryan | March 06, 2006 at 15:10