I think that, sometimes, a broader perspective is needed. Reaching a final in a 128-player tourney is, objectively, a great result. But, so much has revolved around the GOAT race - and the numbers they've put up are so huge - that I think we've lost some perspective.
In the NFL, the SF 49ers improved dramatically this past year, and made it all the way to the Super Bowl, which 30 other teams would have loved to do. But they came a bit short in the 4th quarter, and many are focusing on how they "choked". It's unfortunate.
That's a good point - so often the talking heads on TV, the writers, etc. will steer the story depending on whatever lens they use to look at it.
The summary of the Super Bowl was much too tilted toward the narrative that the 49'ers choked the game away, at least in my opinion. But one of the most repeated mantras in that sport is "defense wins championships" and I think that bore out again in this game. I'm not a fan of either team - just hoping for a decent contest - but I was whooping for the Chiefs when they stepped up in the 4th quarter, stopped the 49'ers, and got the ball back to give their team a chance... and they did it more than once.
No surprise that Patrick Mahomes came away as the MVP, but my trophy would have gone to the entire KC defense.
The GOAT race has indeed eclipsed so many other stories in the tennis world. I routinely wonder what we'll be talking about maybe 10-15 years from now and if we'll still be referring back to this incredible generation of the ATP.
I really enjoyed "Tennis Week" magazine for a few years, but it shut down after it's chief, Gene Scott, passed away. Definitely saw a different perspective in those pages that included stiff criticism of this and that along with coverage of the big winners. A nice alternative to "more of the same", at least for a little while.
