Tennis, Anyone? Modern Jedi Warriors

    I was watching the best tennis players in the world back in the 1970s. It has been fun and entertaining, sometimes awe inspiring, to observe the best of the best. Back then there were more Americans at the top of the standings, for sure.

Today in Roland Garros, the clay courts of Paris, Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic in their 59th career match against one another. Jedi versus jedi. Samurai master versus samurai master. I did not see it live, I only tracked periodically on my phone tracker. But I could imagine the drama and the spectacle. I read the ESPN report of it later.

    They are not boxers, they are not as physical as football or basketball players, they are not mixed martial arts fighters or sword wielders, they do not use their tools to unhand their opponent or brain them, but the physical and mental aspects of this game are not to be taken for granted.

Nadal is the king of the clay; he won out this time. The best clay court player of all time. Novak has had periods of world dominance like no other, and as a year younger may prevail in the end. Time will tell. Meanwhile, the Swiss man, Roger Federer turning 41 this summer, is recovering from knee surgery and possibly coming back after the other summer book end grand slam events of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. But former U.S. great John McEnroe thinks that Roger is done.

So maybe we are down to the Spaniard and the Serb.

Yoda, Anakin, Obi Wan, Qui Gon, Rey Skywalker.

Jedi masters, in duels of mastery that show superiority, but not to the death. These games and matches show the superiority of will, cunning, and craft.

If we could learn from such people and things.