Final gallantry
So farewell, then, to probably the best Wimbledon fortnight ever, certainly the sunniest that I can remember. Andy Roddick now joins Gottfried von Cramm and Ken Rosewall as a three-times-losing finalist, coming within a whisker of winning the greatest trophy in tennis, but turning into a tragic hero instead. Still, unlike the elegant German baron and the great Aussie, Andy might still do it, although I wouldn’t bet on it. But not to worry, Andy old chap, you’ve got by far the prettiest wife of all the players, and you exhibited more fight and good sportsmanship than the rest of the field combined. Roddick should be made an honorary member of the All England Club for bringing some decency to the game. Not once did he or Federer sully the great final with Murray-like boorish histrionics and screams for support, nor did their wives emulate that ghastly Murray woman, who spends her time fist-pumping and shouting, her square mouth wide open as if in a dentist’s chair.
Yes, I might be bitchin’ but it’s summertime and the livin’ is easy. Sir Tom Stoppard turned 72 last week and I ran into him in front of the John Sandoe bookshop. He was about to tell me an interesting story about writers when we were interrupted by fans of his. Never mind. I wanted to talk about Arcadia (which is having a revival at the Duke of York’s) and the references to summer heat in the play, as I had written something about what heat does to young people in this space a month or so before. The reason I bring this up is that I once walked down Broadway with Alan Lerner, the lyricist, and not a single person exiting from the Great White Way’s theatres noticed him. Tennessee Williams was a non-person in El Morocco, as was Oscar Hammerstein, whose daughter Susan I took there with him. This wouldn’t happen in merry old England, or in the land of cheese, I’m sure. Playwrights are recognised and treated with the respect Americans give to billionaire developers.
More articles from: Taki | this section
Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
Advertisement
1 Terry shouldn’t be captain, but that should be Capello’s decision to make - Rod Liddle
2 Snow? What snow? - Rod Liddle
3 JFK: The Nastiest President of the Twentieth Century? - Alex Massie
4 Do we really need to know more about Gary Speed’s death? - Rod Liddle
5 Scottish Labour Embrace the Logic of Independence - Alex Massie
1,700 Unusual Christmas Presents Request Catalogue 01935 815 195 Quote SPEC10 for 10% discount www.presentfinder.co.uk
Pimilco based Florist with online ordering Web: www.olivebranch.net Tel: 020 7630 1868 Fax: 020 7233 8844
62 Shore Road, Warsash, Southampton, SO31 9FT Telephone: 01489 578867 Web site: www.ruffs.co.uk
Apollo Magazine | Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms
Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP
All Articles and Content Copyright ©2012 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved
Gil
July 10th, 2009 11:28am Report this commentTaki, do your regrets that your wild dreams will not come true, include that one about being a German soldier in Paris in WW2? (see last week's column).
Can you reconcile that particular fetish of yours with the German military in WW2 with your quote from Jefferson:' ‘It is the group within society that claims for itself the exclusive right to rule everyone under a special set of laws that permit it to do to others what everyone else is rightly prohibited from doing, namely aggressing against person and property.’?
Danceny Zalatnay
July 15th, 2009 10:04am Report this commentTaki, sorry to ask, but where have you been if the last 20 years? In the naftalin? Eastern bloc countries........ Puhliiiiizzzzzzz
kim hammill
August 7th, 2009 4:05pm Report this commentFabulous article, and long live his brand of positive thinking! Crikey, can't imagine eating all those eclairs in that heat - they must surely have been miniscule! What a hoot!
Back to top