Three great champions Andre Agassi, Michael Schumacher and Shane Warne have retired in the year 2006. While I have watched most of the grand-slam semis and finals and most of India-Australia cricket battles, I have not watched F1 at all. However, thanks to my roomie's enthusiasm, I was fortunate to watch Schumi's last race. Lagging behind by one lap to ending the race at 4th position was quite an achievement in a game where a difference of one second is considered pretty big.
Andre Agassi lost in the 3rd round of US Open 2006 and that was his last match. The time when I started to understand and enjoy watching tennis, Stefen Edberg, Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker and Navaratilova were ageing and about to retire. Becker was the favorite owing to his flamboyance. They slowly made way for Agassi, Sampras, Ivanisevic and Graf. I liked Sampras because on his day he was unbeatable and more often than not, it used to be his day. I liked Goran Ivanisevic for what else but his serve. 15-love, 30-love, 40-love, Game Ivanisevic. What else could you say after that? I liked Graf for her finesse. I liked the way she carried herself. I liked Agassi for his unpredictability and his return of serve. You could never say that Agassi has lost the match until the match got completed. How many times he came back to win the match from a position of 2 sets down. I liked the fight between Agassi and Sampras. Their matches were like joy and sorrow together. A point won at the same time was a point lost.
Another stalwart of a different game Shane Warne has retired after the 2006 Ashes. His life, both on and off the field, was full of one thing, turns. He made the art of bowling interesting to watch. He used to expect a wicket every ball. His big turns, his wickets, the joy on his face and the confused look of the batsmen made it all the more interesting. Teams were expected to score more in the overs not bowled by him. It was almost taken for granted that he will take wickets and if not that, he wont concede too many runs.
Now that Agassi and Warne have retired, I feel sad. I grew up watching them play. They were a part of my life for so many years. And now that they are gone, I feel a void, I feel that a part of my childhood and teenage years has died.
One day Sachin will retire too. That surely wont be a happy day of my life.
