I am a guy who loves watching sports. This weekend had no shortage of drama in four hotly contested NFL football playoff contests in which all went down to the last play of the game. It doesn’t get much more exciting than that for a sports fan. Even if you have little to no interest in sports, I encourage you to stick with me because this is far more than a story about athletics.
Any diehard fan knows that usually we’ll be disappointed by the outcome most seasons. Only one team can win the championship, which means the rest fall short. This weekend my son’s and my favorite teams were playing one another. He lives in Montana while I’m in California, and we were texting about the game throughout. While neither of us is a trash talker, we enjoy discussing strategy. He is a college football coach, so that part is understandable.
This game was a tough pill for me to swallow as it was the first time in eleven years that I thought my team (Green Bay Packers) had an excellent chance to win it all. They led practically the entire game and were seemingly in control. My son is a diehard San Francisco 49ers fan, and he was thrilled when they took their first lead on the final play of the game. I took this one hard because we know these opportunities come few and far between. I know it’s only a game, and there are far more critical things in life. Still, during the moments after the conclusion, it hurts.
Something about competition has always appealed to me, whether it’s a team or individual challenge. That’s why I can become emotionally involved in anything from watching a high school basketball game to an episode of Jeopardy or even a spelling bee.
It’s not like I was ever a star athlete. My sporting career highlight was hitting a home run and pitching a no-hitter in a little league baseball game.
The Olympics begin next week, and much of the appeal for me will come not only from the competition but learning about the personal journeys of the athletes. (You might be interested in reading about one of the athletes I wrote about from the summer Olympics a few months ago.) https://petespringerauthor.wordpress.com/2021/07/27/suni-lee-heart-of-a-champion/)
There are many reasons I love sports, but one of the things I enjoy most is the life lessons they teach us. Another sports story, far under the radar for most fans, also happened this past weekend. Alizé Cornet is a 32-year-old tennis professional from France. Unless you follow tennis closely, there is a good chance that you’ve never heard of her. She is a solid professional tennis player, having compiled a 482-393-win loss record during her career. Her highest career ranking was #11 back in 2009. She has six career titles (no majors) and even defeated tennis star Serena Williams in 2014. She is old by competitive tennis standards as most tennis professionals are on the downside of their careers at her age.
This weekend, Cornet accomplished a personal milestone in the Australian Open, taking place in Melbourne, by reaching the quarterfinals of her first major tournament by defeating former major winner, Simona Halep. The match was an extreme physical test, lasting more than two and a half hours in sweltering 90-degree temperatures. What makes this particularly notable for Cornet is it is the first time in 63 major tournaments she has gone this far, having turned pro at age 16.
If that wasn’t enough to earn my respect, the post-match interview (see below) she had with former tennis player, Jelena Dokic, shows what a personable and sensitive person she is. At first glance, I’m sure many would be surprised that the interviewer, Dokic, was once a star tennis player. She was ranked as high as #4 in the world in 2002 and defeated many top players during her career. Unfortunately, Dokic became famous for her outspoken father and coach, Damir. Her father developed a reputation among tennis circles for being an outspoken bully and became banned from attending his daughter’s matches.
Jelena Dokic detailed much of her alleged physical and mental abuse at the hands of her father in her 2017 autobiography, Unbreakable. Damir Dokic served time in prison on a conviction of causing public danger and for the illegal possession of weapons. Sadly, Jelena has struggled with much of the repercussions of her father’s disgusting behavior. Since retiring in 2014, Jelena has struggled with her weight and has endured many fat-shaming incidents on social media by trolls.
I can’t help but root for Cornet, not only for her perseverance but for the kind of character she exhibited in the post-match interview with Jelena Dokic. Cornet is what sports should be all about—giving one’s all on the court but being a champion off it. Jelena Dokic’s story reminds us that we shouldn’t judge others as we may have no idea what struggles they’re facing.
Please let me know if you can’t see the interview, and I will try another link.
Pete Springer 
I am not a fan of sport, but I do know the Green Bay Packers. How? Because back in the day when I was on a USA tour with one of the rock groups I managed we stopped off at a Green Bay radio station (forget the name – so many over the years – and spent a morning with the two hosts of the early morning show we were booked on to. They were hilarious. They had callers into the show who were pregnant and the two guys running the show had a chart on the wall and they’d plot the due dates of these babies and the sex (of each baby) they thought the baby would be. I think there was a prize sent to the mother of the baby they had correctly predicted to be a boy or girl. We all sat in on the calls, made predictions, and generally got involved with the whole thing. It was a laugh. We got to do all the usual things guest bands did; sign autographs, answer fan questions and chat about music and their latest album, and so on. My memories of Green Bay – you sparked a memory. Thanks.
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Thanks for your comment, Jane. I feel like I could host a radio sports talk show because I love to talk sports and I know how to have fun. It’s probably not that different than many of the groups you represented—a lot of showmanship.
I’m inquisitive about how you got into the music business. I’ve got to imagine you have quite a few memorable experiences managing musicians who probably needed a lot of help since many are known for their wild excesses. Rock continues to be and always be my favorite genre of music. My wife and son are more country music fans. At least once a week, my wife comes down and shuts the door to the computer room while I’m listening to rock while I’m typing away. She probably thought I’d eventually grow up, but that has yet to happen. 🤣🤣🤣
I know you primarily write fiction, but I wonder if you’ve ever considered writing a memoir of your days in the music business. I know I would read a book like that because I have to imagine plenty of others like me are curious about what it’s like behind the scenes.
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Pete, I shall reply in detail later. The weather is wild here and I am not sure if we are going to keep the roof on or the power! 100mph winds throughout the UK. If I forget, kick me a few times and remind me. Stay safe and well. xx
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Wonderful post, Pete. Perseverance against all odds is one of the attractions of watching athletic competition. It happens in a variety of ways in Life but sports gives us a chance to see it play out in real time. I give these athletes tons of credit for how they endure.
The same goes for us fans. How do we endure after a tough loss. You can read about it in my next story. I’m struggling with it. Did I mention that I’m a huge Buffalo Bills fan?🥴
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I feel your pain, but I love the future for your team. You’ve been close so many times before, and this year was particularly galling. I think it’s much easier to get over a game where the other team simply outplays mine than losing a nailbiter at the end.
I’m sure we’ll discover some of those stories of perseverance in the Olympics. Besides the competition itself, I like learning the story behind the story for these athletes.
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I agree regarding the stories. As for the Bills, they are such an important part of the Buffalo community and western NY. Until two years ago, their training camp was a five minute walk from my house in the small town where I lived. They moved their camp back to Buffalo (70 miles west). The fan base is great with Bills Mafia and Josh Allen could be mayor if he wanted. I was thinking it would have been a Bills-Packers SB. ‘Wait until next year!’
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I’m not much of a sports fan, but I do enjoy seeing people who are very good at what they do.
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I pretty much root for anyone (sports-related or not) with the perseverance to keep on trying, especially when it would be easier to give up.
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You’re right. I do that, too.
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How inspiring. That interview gives me goosebumps. Your previous blog post on fear seems to lead to this . Those of us who fear trying can then never move on to persevere. both very thought provoking reads.
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I think it’s on my mind because I wish I had been braver when I was younger. We worry far too much about what other people think of us instead of how we see ourselves. I may not meet all my goals, but it’s not going to be because I don’t try. (Oops-double negative, but you get the gist.)
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I totally get it. I grew up in a very small rural town and all decisions were based on what other people would think. It turned me into a rebel in my older years I think as a way to make up for lost time.
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A beautiful share Pete, full of inspiration. Incidentally, I am an NFL girl and OMG every single playoff game went down to the wire and all the underdogs had one. That KC/ Bengal game was unreal!!!! Exciting finales for sure! 🙂
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Even though my team is no longer around, I can’t remember two weekends in a row where every game was exciting. We’ve got a week off now, but no doubt you’re too busy lounging on a beach somewhere, surrounded by pool boys. 😂 I hope you’re having a blast on your vacation, Debby.
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LOl Pete, no sun or rain will prevent me watching the Superbowl. 🙂
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I like to say that I’m not competitive, but when I look deep down inside, I must be. And one way to tell is the way I watch football. I’ve been a 49er fan for 35 years. After the Pats lost their playoff bid (yes, I live in NE now so I have to be a Pats fan too) I was thrilled to see the 49er move on (sorry ’bout that). But my guy doesn’t really like football (I know, really?) so I watch it by myself. And I yell and scream and jump up from the couch and pump my fist – all by myself. Every once in a while my guy comes into the room to make sure I’m alright. So, yeah, I guess I’m pretty competitive. 🙂 (boo hoo about the 49ers now). Excellent post – I liked reading about Cornet.
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We like what we like—no shame in that. My wife and son both like Nascar—something that has no appeal to me. My wife, Debbie, knew nothing about football when we started dating. (I didn’t marry her for her football knowledge.) 😂 It was the same way for many years until we had a son who wanted to play football. Suddenly, she became interested in the game because of him. For the past 15 years, we’ve cheered on his teams (games he played in or coached), and attended all his local games and now streaming many of the games he’s coaching in from afar. As you can imagine, some of those video streams are great and others are constantly buffering, which adds to the tension when we’re cheering one of his teams on. The most hysterical part of this whole thing for me is that now I occasionally will find her watching a random game that has nothing to do with him or a favorite team. Is this the same woman who didn’t know what a first down was or why they were kicking the ball?🤣
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Hey, we women can learn new tricks!! (And football moves) 😆 🏈
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A beautiful interview from those two girls so inspirational but in such a lovely way…Cheesecake energy made me smile…Thank you for sharing, Pete x
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Yes, I laughed at that too. If I want to surprise my wife in the most pleasant of ways, I’ll pick up a piece of cheesecake for her. Even though I love my sweets, cheesecake is too sugary even for me.
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Yes it can be although I make one with passionfruit and it’s not too sweet as you get that hint of sourness from the passionfruit 🙂 x
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This post is terrific, Pete. It’s character that matters most. Like you, I love watching sports. Last weekend was gripping watching football. I paced, yelled, cheered (my favorite teams did not win), and bit my nails at the final plays. I don’t follow tennis, so thank you for this wonderful story. I never miss the Olympics and the stories that always unfold about the athletes. What is your first winter Olympic memory? Mine is ‘the agony of defeat’, and watching the figure skaters outdoors do compulsory figure eights.
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First Olympic memory? I’m not sure, although I remember “the famous agony of defeat line and video at the start of the old show, Wide World of Sports with Jim McKay. One of the all-time best memories was Al Michaels’s call in the U.S./Russia hockey game, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” I still get chills when I see that.
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What a hockey game! Remember the goalie climbing into the stands to be with his dad? I love Olympic memories, too.
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Yes, I remember that image well. His name was Jim Craig. I’m pretty sure that he never went on to play professional hockey unless it was in a minor league. Talk about a drop the mic moment.
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Oh, yes!! I remember his name now. We went to Lake Placid for a youth hockey tournament years ago, and the sheer majesty of the ski jump is something a photo can’t capture. Best to you, Pete. Hey, we’ll be watching TV together. 🙂
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Great blog Pete, although I am a tennis follower I wasn’t aware of Cornet’s story and she sounds the epitome of the model pro who has made the very best of her talent. And Dokic is inspiring also, someone who had enough strength of character to rise above the negative influence of a destructive parent.
Thanks for sharing their story – and commiserations at the NFL loss!
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I’ve done a little coaching at the youth level, and these helicopter parents think they’re being helpful when they’re really adding a lot of unnecessary stress onto their child. Dokic’s father created such an ugly reputation that he was banned from attending her matches. I imagine that some of her opponents felt she had the same character flaws.
There’s always next year as far as our teams go. I don’t have much of a rooting interest in the teams left, but I’m sure I’ll be watching.
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Thanks for sharing this, Pete. I’m not much of an athlete and don’t watch many sports, but occasionally a competitor will capture my attention regardless of their sport. Usually that’s because of their perseverance and the odds they’ve overcome. Thanks for this wonderful post about Cornet. I’ll be keeping my eye on her. 🙂
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I’ve only seen her play a couple of times, but I admire anyone who sticks with any endeavor. It’s a lesson we can all take heart from.
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It takes a special kind of grit to succeed in a highly competitive world like sports (or the journey to the Olympics in this case). I love that you profile these athletes… I often don’t pay too much mind to someone in the public eye unless I know more about their backstory… and when I know more, I likely become a fan if they’re a good person or their journey to where they are now was a struggle.
My husband’s favourite (and I don’t say that lightly… favourite of ALL TIME) team is the Tennessee Titans (we’re from Ontario Canada lol he is not American but anyway) he is THE biggest fan… and he was CRUSHED… absolutely crushed this weekend… I rarely see him cry (birth of Charlotte being one of those times) but he looked close to it this past weekend (I’m sure he snuck away to the washroom to wipe his tears)!
Also, I know you don’t watch The Bachelor but I think you mentioned your wife does and you like to heckle her from the sidelines lol (my husband does same lol) but I was watching the first episode of it when the current season began and he mentioned he was from a town called Eureka and in my head I was like… why does that sound soooo familiar?! Then I remembered that PETE is from Eureka!!! hahha (just wanted to tell you that lol)
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Being married to a sports nut (I’m describing myself, not your husband) can’t be easy. I know it’s irrational to put so much importance on the outcome of a game, and yet sometimes I do. If the other team is clearly better, I get over the game almost immediately. When I first started dating my wife, she knew nothing about football or other sports. Because our son played and we attended all his games, she learned the game. I can’t express how hilarious it is when I come home from running errands and find her watching some random game in front of the television.
You’ve got a great memory, Jen. The Bachelor—haha. I like to kid my wife when she’s watching in one of two ways: (1) Teasing her about trading her husband in for a new model. (2) I pretend to be one of the guys, professing my love while giving her a rose. If she shoos me away at that point, then I pretend that my soul is crushed. 🤣 She has to tolerate a lot of nonsense from me.
I think it must be a different Eureka, or our local paper would be writing about it for sure. Our biggest claim to fame is that Sara Bareilles (the singer) is from Eureka.
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Not much for tennis, golf or baseball (used to watch that, long ago in person). Hockey and football are my games. The latter were wild this past weekend. I played outdoor hockey as a kid (outdoors works in winter Minnesota) but not on an organized team.
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I didn’t realize that you lived in Minnesota, John. I have a brother that lives in the small town of Litchfield, Minnesota. It’s about an hour and twenty minutes west of the Twin Cities. I also remember playing hockey on the frozen river back in North Dakota, where I spent part of my childhood. I would have to rate the past weekend of playoff football as good as any I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, it would have been better if my team had won. That comes with the territory when you’re a sports fan.
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Sports of any kind are a good metaphor for life struggles. There are always odds and even the best have to persevere as your story shows.
This is my year for breaking out of my memoir/historical fiction genre in my reading choices. A few months ago I read my first cyber thriller, and now I’m reading a story about 3 minor-league baseball players with challenges, one ending up in a wheelchair. (Empty Seats by Wanda Fischer, a sports writer/enthusiast)
Pilates and hiking are my sports, but I like to watch football when the teams are well matched and the game is up for grabs until the last seconds, like the Super Bowl a year or two ago. BTW, the video came through just fine.
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Of course, it’s better to get out there and do than to sit and watch. Most days, I either go to the gym, walk, or work out in the yard for a bit. It’s gotten to be a bigger challenge with a troublesome back, but the flip side is the mental boost it gives me.
You seem to like many of the same genres as me. Memoirs and historical fiction are two of my favorites.
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My aunt is a big tennis fan, Pete, so I to know a little about the main players. This is a very interesting and uplifting story. Thanks for sharing, Pete, and I’m sorry your team lost.
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Learning to win with dignity and lose with grace is part of any sports fan’s life. When I’m wrapped up in some game, I realize there are far more important things than who wins or loses. It is a metaphor for life and responding when things don’t go our way. Do we sulk, make excuses, or pick ourselves back up, intending to do better next time?
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Yes, that is a good way of looking at it. You could teach some of the parents of the school first teams a few things about being good sportsmen in the bigger sense of the word.
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Thanks for sharing the football story and the tennis video, Pete. I am not a sports fan and watch little of it, but I agree with you about the lessons that can be learned from it.
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I’ll take my inspiration wherever I can get it. For example, I’m not a classical music fan, but I can find a connection in learning that a composer produced great music at an advanced age.
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I agree, Pete. We need all the inspiration we can get. We know we can keep on learning and growing as long as we live. In fact, we need to.
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The football games this weekend were fantastic. The Green Bay game was the biggest upset I think. We’ll see what Rogers decides. I enjoyed the interview. Sports is about much more than winning and losing in spite of the fact that is all many people care about.
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I can’t stand his stance on the vaccine, but I love him as a football player. It makes it hard when somebody on my team has far different views than me. I realize someone’s politics are different than how they play football, but it makes me think differently about him. I’ve listened to him talk about other subjects, and he generally seems like an intelligent guy, so that’s why this is so baffling.
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One thing I’ve learned is: it takes all kinds.
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Alizé Cornet has a right perspective. In competition, sometimes it gets intimated and nervous. But all players are nervous. Win or lose, as she said, “the journey goes on.” I don’t understand football. I watch some tennis.
Excellent post, Pete. I only watch swimming, figure skating, gymnastics, skiing, and a couple other sports during the Olympics.
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Heart and perseverance are such underrated qualities. I think some people give up on their dreams far too easily.
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that was a great video. and speaking of football, the ending to the Chiefs Bills game has to be the greatest finish to a football game I’ve ever seen…
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That was an unbelievable finish. I wasn’t rooting for either team, but I sure enjoyed those last few minutes. As one of the announcers said on the broadcast, it would have made more sense to keep the kickoff in play and burn the clock. Who would have thought that 13 seconds was too much time?
Have you ever seen this play from the Cal/Stanford game from days gone by? The band came out onto the field because they thought the game was over. John Elway was the quarterback of Stanford at the time, and to this day he can’t talk about that play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfIi0uBMNBI
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I do remember that play; I did not know Elway was one of the players. It was such a great finish…
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I don’t really follow tennis, so I was not aware of either Cornet or Dokic. I was quite disturbed to hear of Dokic’s struggles, but she was out there on the court doing a fine job interviewing and praising a past competitor and Cornet gave her much respect as well. That was really nice to see. Sportsmanship is such a big part of the game. And kudos on pitching a no-hitter in a little league game! That is definitely at a competitive level.
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Pretty sad when your glory days are that far back, but I still remember how excited I was. Now they have rules about how many pitches you can throw. That’s a good thing because I remember my elbow being screwed up from throwing so many pitches.
I think good and bad sportsmanship is a learned behavior. I’ve never been a fan of these guys who feel it necessary to trash talk and insult their opponents.
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Hey, some people never have “glory days” in sports – don’t sell yourself short! That was an accomplishment which helped you feel good to move forward in whatever was next in your life. 🙂 And I can’t stand trash talking either, or the theatrics too many football players do after having sacked someone or simply catching a pass.
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I don’t remember who said it but I like the sentiment, “Act like you’ve been there before.” In other words, there is no point in acting like a jerk to show up your opponent.
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Enjoyed your post, Pete. I found myself glued to the tv last weekend watching football and tennis too. Like Ryan I was happy to see the 49ers win, and like you I was happy to see the veteran Cornet gut out a win in the Australian heat. After watching the clip of her post-match interview I’m even happier that she won. What perseverance, humility, and empathy- all qualities of a champion in the game of life.
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It doesn’t get much better as a football fan than last weekend. Four games going down to the wire. I had a bad feeling the whole way when the Packers couldn’t put the 49ers away. I knew the 49ers would be dangerous if they slipped into the playoffs. Samuel and Kittle are two studs.
I would have liked to see all the big three men at the tournament (Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal), but such is life. Amazingly, you could have three guys with 20 majors. I have difficulty reconciling Djokovic and A. Rodger’s stands on the vaccine. For two articulate and seemingly intelligent guys, it’s hard to comprehend.
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I am a huge tennis fan. My dad played at Wimbledon twice and I got to meet a lot of the players. Both these women are survivors and gracious. I am now a follower of Alize!
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I appreciated their kindness and mutual respect toward each other. I feel the same way as you about Cornet. She plays her next match today.
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Too bad that the tennis star used his perseverance to refuse a vaccinate! My husband and I are having a real experience with perseverance with our puppy. At the moment she is more determined to persist in “bad” behavior than we are to persist in “training.!”
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I agree with you about Djokovic. His choice influences others on the fence. The same goes for my team’s quarterback (Aaron Rodgers).
We’ve raised many puppies as we’re lifelong dog owners. The economics of puppy raising get us every time. One of our puppies used to destroy his dog beds.
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So far she seems to favor antique furniture legs.
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It gives the furniture character. 😂
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Great spin on the practice!
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What an inspiring post. I think persevering comes into play with whatever endeavor we attempt. For us writers, there is Perseverance, Patience and Persistence! Thanks for sharing, Pete!
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There are so many life lessons to learn through sports that we can use in our own lives. Even if I don’t care for the sport, I can apply the teachings.
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So very true!
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Good for Alize for persevering. I like watching tennis, but am not interested in any other sports. I always look forward to Wimbledon in June/July.
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Next to the US Open, Wimbledon is my favorite tournament. I like the atmosphere of the US Open at night. One of my Bucket List sports items is to attend a match to experience that.
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I’ve been to Wimbledon a few times, but not in recent years.
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I’ve no real interest in the game you guys call ‘football,’ the one where only two in an army of zillions ever kick the ball, but I follow tennis and have seen both of those players at Wimbledon. They were on outside courts, where you can get very close to the action, and Dokic in particular was spectacular to watch. Alize Cornet is a great example of striving to do one’s best and keeping going, and it is nice to see her earning her reward for that. A lovely interview, and a great post.
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I enjoy women’s tennis as much, if not more than the men’s game. When you get two big servers on the men’s side playing each other, it often comes down to the tiebreaker. Of course, there are some big hitters in the women’s game as well, but I enjoy the strategy and creativity of controlling a point.
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I’ve watched a lot of tennis in my time, and I agree there is often more skill in the women’s game. I’ve always enjoyed watching the game, right back since I was little. My younger daughter was a high ranking junior, supported by the Lawn Tennis Association, and we spent most weekends ferrying her around to tournaments. Then she got injured and her budding career was over – at the age of 12!
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Can you believe that there are guys in the same era with 20 majors? I know Nadal is the only one playing in this tourney, but out of Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal, who do you usually root for?
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I prefer it when someone else wins! Out of those three, definitely Nadal. He has a touch of the rebel fighter about him, and isn’t as arrogant as the other two. It hasn’t posted recently but there’s a lovely parody blog of Federer, which was believed to have been written by a Times journalist. If you’re interested, check out some of the early posts on this: https://pseudofedblog.com/2020/10/
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I tend to root for the underdog, so it would be fine with me if someone else won. It has made for an exciting period since each player has had their stretches of dominance. Each one is liked to different degrees in the United States, though I think Federer usually carries himself with class. I read somewhere that he used to have a bad temper, which seems surprising.
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Nowhere near as bad as some but he’s been fined a few times for swearing on court. I just looked up tennis offences: apparently Alize Cornet once got a warning at the US Open for changing her shirt on court!
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Wonderful story. Both these woman deserve so much respect for their accomplishments.
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You’re right about that. One for overcoming dysfunctional circumstances and the other for striving to meet her goals. I know Cornet is earning lots of money for playing a game, but it would be easy to throw in the towel when you haven’t had the level of success that others have had.
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Two admirable women and athletes! Thanks for sharing their stories!
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I think that I remember you telling me that you’ve never been much into sports, but I don’t see this as a sports story. It takes a lot of courage and perseverance to keep going when one isn’t being “successful.” I wonder what it feels like to be one of the best in the world in anything.
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I bet it feels good!
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So many newsworthy sports stories this past week. My husband loved those four games also (I read my book!). He doesn’t see how the Superbowl can be any better.
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I feel a bit silly when I’m in the middle of it all because it’s not that important in the grand scheme of things. The sun will come up tomorrow, regardless of the outcome of any game.
I don’t follow tennis that closely, but I was struck by how much faith and heart one must have to keep going after so many years. It’s a testament to her belief that she could be successful at an age when most tennis players have or are contemplating retirement.
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I love when she said, “It’s never too late to try again.” A true champ!
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It’s a beautiful attitude and trait to have. I can’t help but think of students I taught who persevered while others wanted to give up (not allowed in my room 😂) at the first hint of difficulty.
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An excellent post, Pete. The interview was moving especially seeing the tears from her supporters.
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I don’t know about you, but I find myself rooting for the older competitors as I’ve gotten older. I suspect that’s a symptom of aging. I still can’t quite find it in my heart to root for Tom Brady, even though he is phenomenal.
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He is a great football player for sure. I don’t like him either. 😁 He still has that Belicheck smell.
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Phew. What a couple of champions. Thanks for that clip Pete. I’m like you, easily absorbed by sport..I’ll be the first to admit I don’t understand the nuances of NFL but I can appreciate a close finish and the heartache. Do you know the John Cleese quote from the film Clockwise? About hope and despair? It perfectly sums up a sports supporter’s pain.
“It’s not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It’s the hope I can’t stand.” ~ Brian Stimpson, Clockwise
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I’m not familiar with the film, but I appreciate the quote. Hope followed by despair—the life of being a sports fan. After we recover from the shock of another year down the tubes. we somehow convince ourselves, “There’s always next year.”🤣 Thanks for the reminder, Geoff.
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This is terrific. Not only was it a weekend for NFL fans that will be remembered for years to come, but I love that you share Cornet’s story as well…great post!
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I follow tennis a bit, and I’m fascinated by the life of a traveling pro and what that must entail. I was struck by Cornet’s sportsmanship and perseverance.
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