Tennis players react to the death of Nelson Mandela

7 Comments on Tennis players react to the death of Nelson Mandela

1. “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.” -NM

   love this

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2. John Carlin penned both Rafael Nadal’s and Nelson Mandela’s biographies. In interview John Carlin did in 2011 and published by Marca, this is what he had to say,

   MARCA: You wrote the biography of Nelson Mandela and [also] of Rafael Nadal. What are the parallels between these two figures?

   JOHN CARLIN: ”There are more things that divide them than unite them, but they are two globally known characters who have achieved excellence in their respective fields and have shown tremendous discipline, ambition, rigor and energy that they have invested in achieving their goals. In both books there is also a clearly outstanding epic sports moment, which in the case of Rafa’s is the Wimbledon final in 2008 against Roger Federer. It can be said that there are certain connections between these two characters.”

   Of course, Carlin was not, in any way shape or form, equating Rafa to Mandela, nor am I for that matter by bringing this up at this time. But I think the following Mandela quote captures the essence of what Carling was referring to:

   “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

   This is what draws us Rafans to Rafa, the way he suffers, struggles and gets back again. Not how many slams he has or how many weeks at #1 he has spent or how many players he has dominated in his lifetime. If we were simply attracted to outright success, we would all be Federistas!

   This is why it is fool-hardy to compare Rafa to Fed or anyone else. We really ought to be judged by how well we each travel on our chosen paths.

   RIP Mandela.

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   • ^^Sorry, forgot to post the link to above:

     http://rafaelnadalfans.com/2013/12/06/john-carlin-nelson-mandela-and-nadal-had-discipline-ambition-in-common-autobiography/

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3. lovely read ! great post…many thanks

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4. “According to a recent poll, Roger Federer has the second-best worldwide reputation of any public figure, behind only former South African president Nelson Mandela.”

   http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/blog/busted_racquet/post/roger-federer-is-the-second-%20%20most-respected-man-in-the-world?urn=ten,wp3426

   Now that Mandela’s passed, does it mean Fed is now officially the most respected man on the planet?

   #Shivers

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5. What sacrilege.

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   • ^^^All I can say is, let’s hope CNN, the Beeb et al do not get wind of this poll and its results……………..

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