1980 Wimbledon Final--Cokes, smokes, and more

Roy Hobbs · 12-19-2009, 04:12 PM

Taking a trip down memory lane, watching the Borg vs. Mac 1980 classsic at SW19.

Fun to note the cans of Coca-Cola lined up on the back of the umpire's chair, available for players' refreshment.

And check out Borg's wife-to-be smoking a cigarette in the players' box during the first set. Almost as punk rock as Mac Sr.'s Gilligan-inspired hat.

And more noteworthy than the wooden racquets, hair and headbands, Fila and Tacchini might be regular-guy size of the players. These two plus Connors make for three top guys that were around 5'10" and 160 lbs.

How things have changed.

hoodjem · 12-19-2009, 05:25 PM

Marianna Simonescu did smoke alot when she got nervous. I guess it's a European thing.

newmark401 · 12-20-2009, 04:05 AM

Well, that whole era was about to end, more or less, just a few years later. I think Wimbledon 1985, when Kevin annihilated J. McEnroe and Connors in consecutive matches before losing to the hammer blows of Boris Becker in the final - I think that really signalled the end of that era.

For almost twenty years you then had big servers (and volleyers) like Becker, Edberg, Sampras, Ivanisevic and Rafter dominating - or at least power dominating (I know there were baseliners like Wilander, Lendl, Agassi, etc). But I found the whole Sampras era in the men's game very boring.

hoodjem · 12-20-2009, 07:19 AM

Didn't Curren use a wooden Wilson JK PS against Becker in the final (or am I remembering an earlier KC)?

Roy Hobbs · 12-20-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoodjem

Didn't Curren use a wooden Wilson JK PS against Becker in the final (or am I remembering an earlier KC)?

The KC of the 1985 final used a Kneissl against the 17-year-old Becker's Puma. I recall a lot of aces in that match.

Roy Hobbs · 12-20-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newmark401

Well, that whole era was about to end, more or less, just a few years later. I think Wimbledon 1985, when Kevin annihilated J. McEnroe and Connors in consecutive matches before losing to the hammer blows of Boris Becker in the final - I think that really signalled the end of that era.

For almost twenty years you then had big servers (and volleyers) like Becker, Edberg, Sampras, Ivanisevic and Rafter dominating - or at least power dominating (I know there were baseliners like Wilander, Lendl, Agassi, etc). But I found the whole Sampras era in the men's game very boring.

I tend to think of the transition from that earlier era as coinciding with the rise of Lendl, a few years prior to Becker's arrival, and to the move from wood and aluminum to graphite.

I enjoyed Sampras' era and the distinct styles of the different players. Though the s&v guys had similar mentalities, their individual strengths and strokes were fun to watch. I feel the same about the baseliners of the day.

hoodjem · 12-20-2009, 09:08 AM

I feel similarly: relentless serve-and-volley is too quick and relentless baselining too monotonous

Give me all-court play any day!

borg number one · 12-20-2009, 09:27 AM

Ray Hobbs, Borg was 5 ft. 11, 160 lbs., not 5 10.

Roy Hobbs · 12-20-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borg number one

Ray Hobbs, Borg was 5 ft. 11, 160 lbs., not 5 10.

You're correct, but that's why I wrote that they were "around" 5'10" and 160 lbs. Just making the point that they were sub-six-footers and possessed athletic physiques of modest dimensions.

Borg, 5'11", 160 lbs.
Mac, 5'11", 165 lbs.
Jimbo, 5'10", 155 lbs.

Kemitak · 12-20-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newmark401

But I found the whole Sampras era in the men's game very boring.

You're boring.

jimbo333 · 12-20-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borg number one

Ray Hobbs, Borg was 5 ft. 11, 160 lbs., not 5 10.

Well Borg is probably 5'10" by now then!

(We all shrink as we get older

)

12-19-2009, 04:12 PM	#1
Roy Hobbs New User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 84	1980 Wimbledon Final--Cokes, smokes, and more Taking a trip down memory lane, watching the Borg vs. Mac 1980 classsic at SW19. Fun to note the cans of Coca-Cola lined up on the back of the umpire's chair, available for players' refreshment. And check out Borg's wife-to-be smoking a cigarette in the players' box during the first set. Almost as punk rock as Mac Sr.'s Gilligan-inspired hat. And more noteworthy than the wooden racquets, hair and headbands, Fila and Tacchini might be regular-guy size of the players. These two plus Connors make for three top guys that were around 5'10" and 160 lbs. How things have changed.

12-19-2009, 05:25 PM	#2
hoodjem Legend Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bierlandt Posts: 9,957	Marianna Simonescu did smoke alot when she got nervous. I guess it's a European thing. __________________ The smart man thinks he knows a lot; the wise man is aware that he knows little.

12-20-2009, 07:19 AM	#4
hoodjem Legend Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bierlandt Posts: 9,957	Didn't Curren use a wooden Wilson JK PS against Becker in the final (or am I remembering an earlier KC)? __________________ The smart man thinks he knows a lot; the wise man is aware that he knows little.

12-20-2009, 09:08 AM	#7
hoodjem Legend Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bierlandt Posts: 9,957	I feel similarly: relentless serve-and-volley is too quick and relentless baselining too monotonous Give me all-court play any day! __________________ The smart man thinks he knows a lot; the wise man is aware that he knows little.

12-20-2009, 09:27 AM	#8
borg number one Legend Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,042	Ray Hobbs, Borg was 5 ft. 11, 160 lbs., not 5 10. __________________ Borg never pointed to himself. He never even seemed to care if anyone read the advertisements. — Tom Callahan Last edited by borg number one : 12-20-2009 at 09:29 AM.