Howdy, everyone. Well, I'm back from Birmingham, and while not exactly fresh as a daisy (my wake-up call was for 4:15 am, and the projected afternoon nap morphed into a longer-than-expected struggle to turn out anESPN column on USA Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe). But I've still got a few minutes before I have to go pick up Cowboy Luke at school. I'm in the habit of bringing him a little present every time I return from a road trip, but today he's getting an unexpected treat, a Star Wars board game, The Battle for Naboo. Is that spoiling the boy, I ask myself?
Last night, I had dinner with a pile of Swiss journalists, including my long-time pal and television commentator, Heinz Gunthardt (see my recent Breakfast with Heinz post) and Rene Stauffer, whose unauthorized biography of Roger Federer is still the definitive text on the Swiss superstar's life.
At dinner, the Swiss guys were a little downcast, at least professionally (personally, they're a pretty easygoing and amenable bunch). And I think it was because each of them felt that this year the Swiss not only had a good chance to win the Birmingham tie vs. the USA, but a reasonable shot at taking the whole shooting match (yes, I am aware of the potential roadblocks). A sense of lost opportunity lingered in the air. although i feel obliged to note that not a single pressman questioned The Mighty Fed's motives, or the legitimacy of his withdrawal. But as one of the lads put it, "Switzerland had a real chance to with the Cup this year, and who knows when that chance comes again, given the impact injuries and other things can have in any given year. . ."
I'll follow this up with some more thoughts on how Federer is perceived in Switzerland these days, his hire of Darren Cahill, and related issues tomorrow. It's nice to be home, although I do kind of miss those cherry blossoms and that warm Alabama breeze.
- Pete