I am tennis-obsessed. I admit it. I own it. It's fine. The Tennis Channel is always on at least one TV in my house, I watch old Tivo'd matches when I'm bored (as I'm typing this now, the 2008 FO women's semis are on), I download matches and watch them on my computer, and during tournaments I am in my office with the door closed either following the live score or watching streaming video. It's ridiculous and it is no secret. My friends and co-workers just shrug and laugh and brush it off.
But a funny thing happened on Monday. At least 6 of my co-workers made their way into my office wanting to debrief the Wimbledon Final. And for the first time ever I saw in their eyes what they must see in me all the time. Excitement. Amazement. Sadness that it's over. These are people who never watch tennis but just happened to catch the match and were absolutely enthralled.
So the question on a few people's minds was whether or not as a result of the epic final, tennis would finally make the cover of Sports Illustrated. Mind you, this is a magazine that has refused to give Roger their Sportsman of the Year Award despite his trek towards becoming the GOAT.
But low and behold, SI did put tennis on the cover. And what picture did they decide to put on the cover? Rafa biting the trophy? Rafa collapsed in triumph amid bulb flashes and darkness? Fed sitting sullenly at his chair?
Nope:
WTF? I could have taken that picture from the stands with my little Canon SD600. It's barely in focus.
I guess we tennis fans will have to accept whatever crumbs mainstream American sports media deign to drop for us. But I don't have to like it.
Oh and in case you missed it, yes, that is Anna K on the cover, too. SI just wouldn't be SI without Anna K.
