Sports : life magnified

Pete Sampras was called the tennis kid when he went to college. All he used to do was play tennis. His focus, dedication is unmatched. He would even hide pains/minor cramps he used to suffer during a match because according to him it showed weakness to his opponent. He used to hide emotion so well that John McEnroe even complained about it.

How much time does it take Pete Sampras to get bored of life without tennis? A little more than three years. He downplays his contract to play World Team Tennis, requests not to call it a come back and says:

This is more about just getting myself a little busier and focused on something I used to be good at.

Sampras is also scheduled to play an exhibition match in Houston apart from the WTT matches. He is undecided regarding the future but we may well see him in a commentary role. Sampras says that this is completely different from playing professionally:

But to play at the level I used to play is a whole other animal. I’ve done that, and I know what it takes. Me playing a little tennis this year is something I can control; there isn’t any pressure. I can relax and have a little fun. Coming back is not something that crossed my mind.

It is unlikely that Sampras will make an ATP Tour comeback. A come back would mean a dedication, committment and high level of sacrifice. Add to that getting into top physical and game condition. Add to that putting more effort than ever before because at 34 his body isn’t getting younger.

Also, why would Sampras, who has achieved almost every thing the game has to offer (barring the French Open and I don’t think he would target that if he came back) want to return? If Sampras does make an unlikely return because of his unquenchable desire for the game, I am sure he would do it only if he thinks he can match the best. That would mean another competitive match between Sampras and Federer. A mouth watering prospect but unlikely.

I would be happy to listen to him commentate on the game. He has given so many moments of pleasure to his fans. It would be selfish to ask for more. Any match Sampras plays now (like he will at WTT) is an unexpected bonus treat.

Not since Ray Bright has a specialist left arm orthodox spinner represented Australia at the senior level. Some recent non-specialists to do it include former Australian captain Allan Border and Michael Clarke. Jack McNamara is latest of a rare Australian breed. He has already toured India and Sri Lanka as part of the Australian under-19 team. He speaks about his experiences so far, on playing for Australia and many other aspects in an interview I had with him.

How did you take to cricket? Tell us a bit about your progress to an Australia under-19 cricketer.

My father, like a lot of people who grew up in rural Australia, suscribed to the stereotypically Australian ‘Football in winter, cricket in Summer’ theory, so I guess a bit of that caught onto me. I was always a bit better at cricket, and since we live so close to a park, I ended up heading to train with the Under 12s when I was 7. I bowled medium pace (well, I thought it was quick) until I was 12, when the coach of the U/14 local representative team saw my left arm spinners and told me I’d be a better chance of making the side bowling spin. Since then it’s been a pretty good ride - Victorian U/17s and U/19s, and was fortunate enough to be selected for the Australian side on my performances at the most recent U/19 National Carnival, in combination with my results for the Camberwell Magpies in Melbourne’s Premier Cricket.

Who are your heroes/idols?

Daniel Vettori is probably the guy who I most enjoy watching. I guess being left arm, and having played a number of times - and bowled extremely well - in Australia, means that he’s someone I can watch and learn off, more than a right arm off-spinner. His lines are always pretty good, but its his length that I most enjoy, and his willingness to get hit to take a wicket. That’s something that I think he’s more prepared to do than any other spinner in the world.

Also, Ray Bright - the ex-Australian and Victorian spinner, has been a mentor, of sorts, since I was about 14. He’s involved heavily in Victorian cricket as a selector, but is often there at the youth programs working with us young spinners, taken his own time to conduct a few one-on-one sessions, and has been a great sounding board to bounce ideas off, having so much experience himself.

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