29
Federer is the most aesthetic tennis player, now who’s the Federer in other sports?
13 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
It’s debatable but I believe Roger Federer is the ultimate aesthetic tennis player, the way he moves and flows and strikes the ball, the way he unleashes the one handed backhand, the perfection of the forehand and serve, the way carries himself on the court — no player in history ever played the game as artistically as Roger Federer, in my opinion.
Pete Sampras comes close, but I favor Federer as the more aesthetic.
Now let’s move on to other sports, which players embody and personify the supreme ultimate athlete of each sport?
In basketball, I say it’s Julius Erving. His signature swooping maneuvers to the hoop stand out as the most memorable. The flying leap from the foul line with the ball held up high with one hand is the iconic image of the NBA, at least in my mind. Erving changed the sport and inspired the next wave of flashy flamboyant superstars like Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins. Who could ever forget the Erving slash to the hoop on Laker Mark Landsberger, swooping his arm while somehow hanging in mid-air, dashing under the backboard, to somehow bank a layup from the other side of the basket. You know what play I’m talking about. It was so amazing, it’s hard to describe with words.
Julius Erving, like Roger Federer, represented basketball, better than anyone else.
Baseball is a difficult sport to examine because the flashes of athleticism are brief and limited. Baseball is mastery is expressed in swings of the bat, pitching motions, running and hustle, and quick spontaneous heads up plays like the flip play Derek Jeter made in the World Series…
I really can’t say who personifies baseball the best of all, maybe Jeter. Maybe Pete Rose. Maybe Reggie Jackson at his best. Not A-Rod. Not McGwire.
Football? Walter Payton. Lawrence Taylor. Dick Butkus. Joe Montana.
Hockey? Wayne Gretzky.
Track and field? Usain Bolt.
Boxing? Maybe the young Muhammad Ali. Sugar Ray Leonard.
What do you think?
Derek Jeter · Julius Eeeeeeeerving · Pete Rose · Walter Payton
Bryan · November 30, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Agree Federer is the most aesthetic tennis player. The shots, the natural grace, the dominance.
IMO Jordan was more aesthetic to basketball than Dr J. His technique was perfect and he was a bit more graceful even if Dr J originated some of his moves.
Boxing had Ray Leonard and before him Ray Robinson. The original Sugar Ray is the only guy I ever saw KO an opponent while moving backward, which can only happen with perfect technique and style.
EddietheEagle · November 30, 2013 at 4:01 pm
Undoubtably Woods in golf from a purely sporting point of view. The two, Woods and Federer, were actually all loved up at one point until discretion got the better of Federer after Woods’ philandering emerged into the light of day.
Messi and Ronaldo in football (soccer), perhaps, although that might not mean so much to an American. I’d give Messi the edge although both are head and shoulders above other footballers presently.
Andrew Miller · December 2, 2013 at 11:31 am
Daniela Hantuchova. Wish she won a slam.
Scoop Malinowski · December 2, 2013 at 12:23 pm
She won a few in mixed Andrew.
Andrew Miller · December 2, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Saw her play a US Open with Chanda Rubin (another super solid U.S. player; injury prone). I had thought that I’d never seen a more beautiful player than Sabatini until I saw Hantuchova play – easily the WTA player with the most beautiful game (for me), more so than Henin (despite that beauty of a one-hander). Insulting as it may be, Henin played like an ATP pro (I think), whereas Hantuchova plays like a gazelle (as you can tell, a bit too fragile – that’s been confirmed, she is quick to take offense and renown for being shy among the journalists). Hard for me to remember – players like Federer at top of game are an anomaly.
Scoop Malinowski · December 2, 2013 at 2:06 pm
Hantuchova is definitely a beauty, as pretty as any supermodel, and also good enough at tennis to get to #4 in the world and win multiple mixed doubles majors. Did you see her new calendar just came out? She was a great player for being of such slight physique. I’m sure her lack of physicality is what prevented her from winning singles majors. Great player, just not quite strong enough to go all the way in this era.
Dan Markowitz · December 2, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Wait, hole on, pardner, when you start calling Daniel Hantuchova a great player you’ve gone too far. Aesthetically-pleasing, maybe looks-wise, but she’s another of these two-handed backhand player who does nothing special with the ball.
You’re like Henk calling Jarkko Nieminem a legend.
Andrew Miller · December 2, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Fair enough Dan in terms of results – but Hantuchova is “great” in terms of technique. That backhand isn’t a run of the mill two-hander – it’s got the versatility and angle of Seles’ shot, combined with the fluidity of any beautiful one-hander – if Federer were to hit a two-hander, I’d hope he’d look at hers first – and not just because she’s appealing, but because it’s probably the nicest two-hander in the game (even ahead of Spadea or Kafelnikov, both of who really hit some of the game’s best two handers). In a moment of Scoopness, I’d even call it the most beautiful two-hander in history.
Scoop Malinowski · December 2, 2013 at 6:30 pm
She did something special enough with the ball to get to #4 in the world, winning Indian Wells title and I believe four major mixed titles all with different partners. Hantuchova is certainly far more accomplished than Vince Spadea. Maybe you should do a book about Hantuchova Dan 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · December 2, 2013 at 6:33 pm
That’s a good topic Andrew, who has the most beautiful or aesthetic two hander in women’s tennis history. Seles clubbed you to death, Serena pulverizes, SO did Pierce, Davenport, J Cap – same thing, Hingis was sort of artful. I don’t know, it’s hard to say who had/has the most beautiful two hander. Hantuchova is certainly up there.
Andrew Miller · December 2, 2013 at 7:13 pm
If Dan wrote a Hantuchova book, he’d love women’s tennis. I couldn’t write it, that would be a distracting book to write. I think Matt Cronin is the Hantuchova authority
Scoop Malinowski · December 2, 2013 at 7:17 pm
Actually Sir Richard Evans is the Hantuchova authority, she is one of his all time favorites.
Harold · December 2, 2013 at 7:56 pm
Saw Hantuchova practice a few times at Holiday Park in Ft. Lauderdale when Harold Solomon was coaching her. She was scary thin. She did hit a nice ball . That partnership didn’t last too long