Posted on 01/24/2009 3:10:14 PM PST by WesternCulture
I remember being a 10 year old "patriot" wondering whatever happened to Swedish tennis after McEnroe defeated Borg.
Then came Wilander.
Then came Edberg.
By today, I no longer conceive of my "tiny" Sweden as a nation that, for divine reasons, forever will dispose of magnificent tennis players.
Today, Sweden sooner is the foremost breeding ground of UN careerists and suchlike people found on this planet.
But despite undeniable, widespread PC idiocy, there's something I still feel is right about our little Viking nation.
Ambition.
If you decide to confront this challenge, I say:
Go, Stefan Edberg!
Oops, I forgot posting the very article:D
(Blame Bush!)
Well, here it is:
“Swedish tennis legend Mats Wilander, current coach of the country’s Davis Cup team, is hoping fellow tennis great Stefan Edberg will be willing to make a comeback to help the squad overcome a spate of injuries.
“On a fast indoor court, Israel’s second ranked player couldn’t touch him,” Wilander said of the 43-year-old former Wimbledon champion to the Aftonbladet newspaper.
With so many of Sweden’s top players injured, Wilander reckons Edberg could easily be considered the second-best player in Sweden at the moment.
Edberg recently made his debut on the veteran tennis circuit and also plays squash at an elite level, so there’s little question about his physical condition.
Nevertheless, Edberg remains doubtful about the prospect of joining Sweden for its upcoming Davis Cup match against Israel in March.
“It’s very, very, very unlikely,” said Edberg to the Sydsvenskan newspaper, adding there are several other players who would likely get the nod ahead of him.
Wilander acknowledges that chances are slim that the former world number-one would grace the court in Malmö to help his fellow countrymen defeat Israel, but remains hopeful nonetheless.
“If he calls and says he’s interested, well then yeah, I’m really interested,” he told Aftonbladet.”
I remember Stefan!
On of the HOTTEST to ever play the game.
Go Edberg!
- Great to experience that there actually are Americans who associate Sweden with other things than IKEA meatballs and overly safe cars:D
By the way, I visited India back in 2002. One evening, I got rather bored and went down the corner and purchased a bottle of cheap Indian “scotch”. Arriving at the conclusion I wasn't Indian (from my looks), the owner of the store asked me what country I came from and upon hearing I was a native of exotic Sweden he burst out:
- SWEDEN, THE NATION OF EDBERG!!
Borg is the 2nd best I ever saw — second only to Rod Laver himself. Only God could return Laver’s serve.
“Borg is the 2nd best I ever saw — second only to Rod Laver himself. Only God could return Laver’s serve.”
- Laver definitely is worthy of being considered a legend.
What a sportsman!
I sure admire Borg, but to me as a Swede, there are even greater yellow-and-blue heroes in the domain of athletic/sport achievements.
Sorry for bringing up something way off topic, but I’d say my nation too seldom gives recognition to this guy (no professional football/soccer player has scored more league goals than Henrik Larsson):
http://www.gordoneverett.com/LarssonHeaderComp.wmv
Anyhow, back to tennis. You might enjoy this:
http://se.youtube.com/watch?v=31IYa7VsZYg&feature=PlayList&p=82A796A114017646&playnext=1&index=5
Cheers from Gothenburg, Sweden (most humble city throughout all of Europe)
Some of us actually do realize there is more to this world than just the USA.
In fact I consider myself lucky to have spent most of my childhood in another country. I missed the Carter years!
I loved Edberg and Becker. And Stefi Graff. She is my all time favorite player.
Thanks! That's the home of my grandfather (x9 removed) before he sailed for America.
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