Aura of invincibility..

So after the recent India-Aus series, many have started to raise eyebrows of how dominant a force the Oz really are? Has the loss of Langer, McGrath and Warne too big a damage to continue that legacy? May be, May be not, only time will tell.

What is more interesting is the aura of invincibility slowly disappearing from other few dominant forces across the sports spectrum.

Lets take Mr.Roger Federer. Prior to 2008, he was invincible on all surfaces, but clay. Even on clay he had been sublime, but against Nadal. 4 time World Sportsman of the year to back his reputation, he entered 2008 hoping to complete the Golden Slam. That means, all 4 slams and the Olympic Gold medal too.
But, soon things changed after the French Open. FedEx was no longer invincible. He lost his pet grand slam, Wimbledon. He did not win the Olympic gold either.
Finally, as the year nears to an end, he no longer looks the same blow-you-away tennis genius he was a year ago.

For all those Ferrari fans, things have changed dramatically too. From dominating the F1 scene from 2000-2004, they have been quitely over-shadowed by McLaren Mercedes and Renault. Blame it on the exit of Michael Schumacher, but the decline has been noticable. Ferrari won a record 13 races in a season, they have been unable to dominate the sport since that season. Though, they did win the F1 Constructors Championship this year, their dominance is not the same though.

I feel much the same way as Australia(cricket) or Federer look beatable today, the Brazilian football team and Australian Hockey team have undergone a dramatic change in their respective fields and look vulnerable against a quality opponent.

Just goes to show, sooner of later, opponents do catch up to you. Of course, what FedEx did is unimaginable and mostly will remain a record for quite sometime, but he now has his task cut out to win more Grand Slams and silverware.

Becoming a champion is the easier part for legends like FedEx, it is continuing that legacy thats the hard part. For most of us(like me), becoming a champion itself is impossible, so I am spared the harder task of being at that level. So if you are a champion and reading this, it just got harder buddy. To stay up there, you got to work harder, else, you will soon be forgotten.

All said and done, one Mr.Tiger Woods, still continues to dominate like never before. His absence this second half of the year, is already hitting golf as a sport, with declining viewership and sponsorhip, but I am sure, he must be noticing the sudden disappearance of that unbeatable tag from his friends.

Cheers,
Ashley