I just made a long car drive and came up with these tennis – sports facsimiles where the way a tennis player plays reminds you of an athlete from another sport…
What do you think, can you think of any more?
Sampras – Michael Jordan and Lennox Lewis
Monfils – Usain Bolt
Chang – Tiki Barber
Andy Murray – Don Mattingly
McEnroe – Larry Bird
Todd Martin – Gerry Cooney
Connors – Pete Rose
Federer – Baryshnikov
Djokovic – Muhammad Ali
Goran Ivanisevic – Steve Carlton
Marcelo Rios – Maradona and also Brazilian soccer star Marta
Safin – Ovechkin
Rafael Nadal – Sidney Crosby
David Ferrer-Arturo Gatti
Serena- Flo Jo
(Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko oil painting by John Murawski.)
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jeanius · December 6, 2011 at 11:47 pm
John Isner-Wilt Chamberlin.
Their height and long legs made them both extremely awkward movers when they started out as pros.
Scoop Malinowski · December 7, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Jean you could have said Manute Bol too for Izz but Izz is better coordinated and quicker than Bol. Wonder if Wilt ever tried to play tennis, he was a huge tennis fan, I remember seeing him once at the MSG Year-end WTA event in the early 90s.
Dan Markowitz · December 7, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Wilt did play tennis. Dan Bern, the folk singer, who was teaching tennis in LA, apparently gave him lessons.
Steve · December 7, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Brad Gilbert – Tebow —Winning Ugly!
Scoop Malinowski · December 7, 2011 at 2:37 pm
I would love to see film or photos of Wilt playing tennis. Remember reading that Marcus Allen used to play against Kareem Abdul Jabbar, would love to talk with either of them about that, they must love tennis. Actually just learned this weekend that one of my friends, a retired NYPD, used to work in the same precinct as Mr. Alcindor, Kareem’s dad. Mr. Aldindor was a NYPD too.
Scoop Malinowski · December 7, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Good one Steve, can you come up with any more?
Steve · December 7, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Phil Hellmuth – John McEnroe
Dan Markowitz · December 7, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Who’s Phil Hellmuth? Don’t see Djokovic as Ali, Ali was more like Ilie Nastase, but more talented. Some of your comparisons are great. Obviously, Rose and Connors. How about Mardy Fish and Eli Manning? Both very talented, but laconic in attitude. Or Michael Russell and Muggsy Bogues.
Steve · December 7, 2011 at 6:32 pm
James Blake – Brett Favre (unnecessary risks)
Scoop Malinowski · December 7, 2011 at 11:41 pm
Yeah, I’m not familiar with Phil Hellmuth, just know he is a pro poker player on ESPN? Djokovic has the showman qualities of Ali but not the politically controversial. I equate his impressions to the Ali shuffle, also his comedic personality reminds of Ali’s interviews and clowning antics. And right now Djokovic is the greatest tennis player and could be on his way to perhaps becoming the GOAT. Fish and Eli is a sharp one, I do Biofiles for the Giants and some of the players say Eli is the funniest Giant and I know Fish is renowned for his sense of humor among the Americans. Also they have understated, mellow personalities away from the battle but are both tenacious competitors. Good one Dan. Iron Mike Russell and Muggsy B is spot on too.
Dan Markowitz · December 8, 2011 at 3:49 am
Djoko is basically a boring player, though, wouldn’t you say? I know Mats Wilander said the worst possible scenario would be a Djoko v. Djoko match. Ali, pre-Vietnam War induction days was a flurry of activity, verbal and footwork and his jab was considered the fastest in heavyweight ranks. After he came back, he never was the same, IMO. I know his biggest fights and victories were after he came back–the three Frazier fights and George Foreman, but he was much slower and bigger.
Maybe beating Liston, who was considered unbeatable before Clay touched him up twice, was actually his biggest win. Amazing, how Ali was never afraid of the big bully fighters like Liston, Frazier and Foreman. That’s why I couldn’t see him losing to Lennox Lewis or Klitscho or Tyson if both were in his primes. Those guys don’t seem to have had the bravado or skill of Ali.
Djoko and Ali, I guess Djoko has his incessant ball dribbling and Ali had the rope-a-dope.
Steve · December 8, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Hellmuth & Mac go on very similar rants when losing. Nearly identical rants. Also, neither one plays in the modern style.
Steve · December 25, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Allen Iverson – Rios