Late Night Dinners with Andre

Well this may have been the last late night supper with Andre. It’s 1-1 in the fifth at this point and I am still not sure which way this ones gonna fall. Damn it, Andre! He just clipped the tape to go down 0-15 in the third game. Ah wait–an Ace to back it up! They’re going to the replay, now. Baghdatis challenged (yes they can do that in tennis now), but it stays! By the time I finished those sentences Andre has gotten up 40-15 and should be back on serve.

Wait a second, let me not worry about the match at hand for a moment and talk about the big picture here (as Andre wins the third game and this match has officially moved into possible ABSOLUTE CLASSIC mode). Nights like tonight are what make Andre one of the great American athletes of all time. I said it. And I meant it. I have Andre on a very short list (Ali, Bird, Montana) of guys who really made you believe. They weren’t necessarily the BEST athletes (well Ali was a damn good athlete but forget about that for now), but they were the guys who made you feel alive every time you watched them. Andre has been part of some of the best sports moments I have ever witnessed (as he instantly drops the fourth game and we’re at 2-2). He mastered the art of late night US open matches. He mastered the clay in Paris. One time, in Australia, he even mastered Pete Sampras.

Speaking of Pete. You son of a gun. Had it not been for Pistol Pete (aka carpet chest), Andre would have had at least four more slams. And the fact is, Sampras was the dominant player of the generation. He was not, however, the most memorable player of the generation. Andre had flair, man. He had energy. He was the rebel, the bad ass and then later the struggling underdog. In his final chapter he has become the graceful legend. His intensity and passion only matched by his constant class and modesty.

Andre needs this. He’s up 40-30 in a pivotal 9th game Another long point that this time Andre loses. His foreign opponent (the aforementioned Baghdaits) just hit the deck in pain, suffering from apparent cramps. When I say foreign, I really mean it in this case. He is in Andre’s house. I’ve been able to see Andre in Flushing before. It’s up there. It’s Favre at Lambeau–without the picks.

Back to deuce now–make that add Baghdatis–and it’s 12:20 am. This is Andre time. And for maybe the last time. He just forced another deuce and Baghdatis seems visibly wobbled. Andre should be able to finish this kid. Yes!! Add-Agassi!!

Andre is 15 years this kid’s senior and he SHOULD finish him off right here. I’ve seen him pull off crazier things–so many times. This time, though, Andre sees the end. This is the first time Andre has been playing with the knowledge that it’s the last time (Deuce number 7).

It could and should have been the end at this time last year (Deuce number 8–Jeeeezus), Andre caught some breaks and worked some magic last year and found himself in the final as a 3 to 1 underdog against the most dominant player since Sampras, Roger Federer. Federer may or may not go down as the most dominant player ever, but he is certainly the most dominant now, and last year would have necessitated a Rocky-Drago-like upset.

Ok Andre is up 0-30 and 5-4. This should be it. This guy is basically handicapped. Damn it Andre!! 15-30.

Anyways, Andre couldn’t beat Federer last year. Everyone knew he couldn’t. Him winning a set impressed me quite a bit.

Wait match point!!!! It’s now 12:29 am! ANDRE TIME! Wow a 124 mph serve from the now handicapped foreigner– Deuce–make that add Baghdatis. And Baghdatis wins the game–five all.

This is all part of Andre’s allure, though. He creates drama. He’s not just good at being good. He’s good at being bad. He’s actually amazing at being bad.

(Andre breezes through on serve for 6-5 in the fifth set! Ok this is entering full on classic mode. Andre walks back out to an insane crowd in what could be his last game of professional tennis. USA sent Mcenroe down to courtside and he’s knee deep in the muck like Anderson Cooper in Biloxi. This is good.)

Do you know what I mean, though? When Andre is struggling, you’re struggling. You can relate to the feeling of “I just know I’m gonna mess up” and so you do, and so he does. Eventually, though, he beats it. He beats his own head and he usually beats a younger, more qualified opponent. Tonight the victim is a very game and very good, Marcos Baghdatis

Back to right now. Andre just returned a serve he had no business returning down an add and now has match point as opposed to 5th set tie break. Crowd is on their feet. Great return…great forehand….HE WINS! Andre wins another classic!! “Another for the ages” is blaring through the Rosenberg attic. Ah, one last great late night with Andre. Thank you so much. It’s been quite a run. Can we get one more, maybe??