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''I just came back to this event to use whatever there is left of a talent''- Shumi (before a carting event in December 09)
Well an article about the finals of Australian Open last year claimed it was the end of Fedex Era and beginning of Rafa's. It brilliantly spotted the ''most poignant rituals in sport: the rare moment of a hand over of ascendancy, the passing of power''.
Its true, no one can rule a sport for too long. Ultimately the body does fall apart and one has to make room for another. Our generation of Legends beg to differ. They just refuse to give up. They refuse to retire and let go.
Federer is number 1 again. The swiss snatched it back from injured Rafa, a comeback nobody thought was possible after being destroyed by Rafa so many times and specially at Australian Open finals last year. Well he has won 15 Grand Slams and who knows how many will he get.
Armstrong, at 38 came back from retirement last year and what a comeback it was. Podium in Tour De France against all odds. There is no doubt he might win his eighth one soon. Afterall if he has beaten the age of dopers he can certainly beat the clean ones of our time.
Even Tendulkar cameback from all injuries and answered his critics by some phenomenal knocks. His hunger for runs just doesn’t seem to fade even after 20 years. He just wants to kill the chances of any Ricky Ponting to even dare look at his records. Those who wanted to challenge his throne came and went but he is still there. At 36 he is still in killing form and will continue to play for many years to come.
Now Schumacher is back on the circuit as though theres something left to be proven. As if 7 championships are not quite enough. At 41, he might not be as quick as he was 3 years back but even if he is 90 percent of what he was, he would be quite a handful for the new kids.
I think its just a matter of time when the Tiger comes back from the Woods. These great ones just don't wanto hang up their boots just yet. Don't you write them off just yet. The Nadals, Alonsos, Pontings of the world can wait on coz the legends are intent on ruling the planet forever.
They won't be passing on the torch just yet ...
