The legendary Pete Sampras
published: Thursday | August 28, 2003

THE EDITOR, Sir:

JAMAICANS ARE a set of people who have learned to appreciate greatness, regardless if it is one of our own or not. The legendary Pete Sampras is widely acknowledged as the greatest lawn tennis player the world has ever seen. Many Jamaicans have adopted this man as their icon, the perfect role model, the complete gentleman and is the sportsman that can be compared to Courtney Walsh. Sampras not only displayed class on and off the court, but he also displayed mannerism second to none anywhere in the world. The sport of tennis has lost the ideal ambassador and will be hard pressed to find such another master for years to come.

The winner of 14 grand slam singles titles, 64 career titles, in an era when he had to compete with the great Andre Agassi and Boris Becker, can only be described as majestic, marvellous, awesome, magnanimous, magnificent and top of the line. Sampras was not one of those players to show a lot of emotion but his decipline on the court made him a truly great player in the eyes of many.

The reason Sampras is the greatest has nothing to do with fame, it was strictly performance. He had a record that will be hard to match in this lifetime. There are no other sportsmen or women in the history of sports that have been ranked number one for six consecutive years. No other sports personality can boast of a record of seven titles at the same place in eight years. Sampras also had a record of 53 wins to one defeat at one point in time at Wimbledon. Greatness can only be acclaimed by way of consistency, passion, love for what you do, respect for all and acknowledging the performance of your opponents.

Sampras was a model of concentration, an epitome of class, a true professional and a humble fellow. Let me encourage the young aspiring sportsmen and women of this nation to use Sampras as a role model, use the legacy of Sampras to their advantage because they are the lucky ones to have such a great champion in this generation.

I am etc.,

CRAIG C. DAVIS

craig_c23@hotmail.com

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