Fed on a sled
(Because “sleigh” doesn’t rhyme with “Fed”.) While walking around Narnia (Narnia is Greenbelt 5, the Wardrobe is Greenbelt 1), I spotted this ad for espresso machines featuring Roger Federer. The Fed is sleek, elegant, and has good manners, making him an excellent pitchman for upmarket household appliances, hair care and grooming products including shaving razors, cardigans and blazers, man-bags, and yachts. Rafael Nadal also has good manners, but I don’t see him lounging about holding a cup and saucer: his fingers may not fit in the handle, and it would be silly to put him in an ad where you can’t see his thighs. I see Rafa pitching cheeseburgers, chips, sugary drinks, knapsacks, and underwear.
Mike went to Shanghai for the year-end Masters tournament. Rafa did not play because he was injured. According to Mike, Roger in person really has an air of “Peasants, behold your king”, but it suits him and he doesn’t come off as obnoxious. The players look the way they do on television, but larger. Andy Murray is more attractive live than on a screen. Gilles Simon is “cute in that Frenchy-Frenchy way”, whatever that means (Jean-Paul Belmondo? Gerard Depardieu?). Nikolai Davydenko’s retinue look like heavies from central casting. Novak Djokovic, who won the tournament, looks better on TV.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
November 24th, 2008 at 17:45
I saw an episode of Top Gear once and Clarkson was trying to recall a tennis match with Federer playing against… he forgets, and says, “Who was that other player, that ape?” Then he remembers, ‘Nadal!’
November 24th, 2008 at 21:51
Yeah, you would feel Roger’s regal aura when you see him in person, probably because of those deep, piercing brown eyes, and the fact that he is THE Roger Federer. (I saw him twice in Qatar, back when he was the undisputed king, the No.1.)
He was more friendly than his girlfriend Mirka, who seemed snobbish and aloof.
What amazed me was Roger’s simplicity. Unlike Roddick who had an entourage of coach & staff when he played in Qatar Open 2004 (but he was also nice & sweet), Federer was all by himself and his girlfriend only when he played and won the tournament here in 05 & 06. No bodyguard, no personal massage therapist, no coach.
A typical Pinoy who loves labels & porma, I was decked in designer labels whenever I showed up for my shift at the Players’ Lounge of the Qatar Open venue. But then I was humbled by Roger. The King was walking around in used, old trainers; clothed in old, almost faded track suit. I am an OFW, Roger is Roger Federer.
He was always smiling at fans waving at him, and though it was forbidden for us volunteers to have photo sessions with players at the lounge for it might distract or irritate them, Roger was very accommodating and didn’t mind posing for photos with us volunteers. Another volunteer was asking for personal souvenirs – head band, wrist band, whatever (I would have asked for his underwear. Hahaha!) – but Roger apologized because he had nothing left. Smiling sheepishly, he said, “You should have asked me before the match so I could have kept it for you.”
November 24th, 2008 at 22:24
Check-out ERNESTS GULBIS. This one’s the real prince of tennis….
http://www.northcay.wordpress.com
November 24th, 2008 at 23:29
that’s right, the “ape” who won the french open. again. and wimbledon. AND the olympics. oh, yes, and that durn “ape” took the number one ranking straight through the end of the year, as well. who knew it would only take a mere “ape” to beat a king?
November 26th, 2008 at 22:31
I feel compelled to leave a reply in order to correct a factual error in your post “Fed on a Sled.”
Gilles Simon is not “cute” in a “Frenchy-Frenchy way.”
He is adorable in every possible aspect.
November 27th, 2008 at 00:33
i didn’t go to school last week just to go to Macau and watch Roger. didn’t know he’s capable of being funny. haha.