Thanks to “nikdom” for picking out this quote from a recent LA Times piece on Oracle CEO/Indian Wells owner/tennis fanatic Larry Ellison:
Ellison, who calls himself a Rafael Nadal “fan boy,” spoke of the dramatic 2009 Australian Open five-set semifinal between Nadal and Fernando Verdasco and of the emotions two days later in the final when Nadal beat Federer, who cried when it was over. Nadal’s graciousness, Ellison said, was a lesson for everyone.
“Rafa was so upset Roger had lost,” Ellison said. “Rafa was really upset, he was almost in tears. As fierce as he is on the court, and no one fights harder than Rafa, he is even a nicer person. Rafa is the kid you want to adopt. Roger seems like a man. Rafa is a big kid.”
Okay, so I agree that Rafa is pretty adorable, but it’s a funny statement for a tournament owner to make. (Also, at 65-years-old Ellison may be a little long in the tooth to call himself a fan boy – how about a fan grandpa?) I imagine him meeting Rafa at a tournament cocktail party, throwing an arm around his broad shoulders and saying something like, “Well of course I could never substitute for your real father, but have you seen my collection of sailboats? It’s all yours. . .” (Snaps his fingers at a lackey behind him,who hands over some paperwork) “Just sign here!”
Roger sounds just a little wary of Papa Ellison:
“Obviously, it’s great for someone to spend so much money on our sport and even more so because it’s a person who obviously does love the sport, loves the game,” Federer said. “It will be interesting to see how much he will be around.“
I, for one, am just happy that Ellison helped keep Indian Wells in Southern California! Ellison’s purchase of the tournament kept Indian Wells from going to the Middle East or Asia (not exactly my backyard.)
Tags: ATP, Indian Wells, Larry Ellison, rafael nadal, roger federer
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One is never too old to be a Rafa fanboy. Or girl. He’s fabulous!
Hey Freaky, thanks for the mention. You do a great job on this site! I have to obsessively check out GTTB like 20 times a day, I can’t help it. I hope you don’t mind me pulling your leg a little sometimes, do you?
i actually think both rog and rafa have this irresistible combo of boyish charm and friendliness, good looks, toughness, heart and fight that they bring on to the court along with tremendous maturity, respect and dignity in their roles as ambassadors for tennis! how lucky are we to have these guys to admire?!
AWW! It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside when I read those kinds of doting comments about Rafa.
Hehe, I love that he openly describes himself as a “Rafa Fanboy”. It kind of reminds me of that american golfer that was haging out with Rafa because he just *had* to meet him, and he was on video gushing about Rafa and going on and on about his awesomeness.
*grins* I’m not complainin’.
I really don’t see anything wrong with his public declaration of love for Rafa. In fact, didn’t the MC during the AO09 ceremony proudly declare that if there was one international athlete the whole of Australia would adopt, it’d be Roger? And that was during a trophy presentation! I guess these guys just can’t hold back the love when it comes to Rafa and Roger.
I second your notion about keeping giving him a thumbs-up for keeping Indian Wells in Cali. While it isn’t exactly MY back-yard, it’s so close to where I live that it may as well be in another country! Are you going to see the tennis live? Will you be there for the HFH2 exho?
But I support ANYTHING that keeps/brings tennis to the US of A. It is NOT a dying art!
“Rafa is the kid you want to adopt.”
I would LOVE to see Rafa’s face if he reads/hears this. I can totally see his left eyebrow going ALLLL the way up and then he’ll let out a “WHOT?”
*laughs* But I can totally see what he means. Rafa is freaking adorable as a human. Can you iamgine if he were in cat or puppy form? He’d make the cutest hyperactive pet!
As for the whole adoption idea, I mean, I’d make a PERFECT candidate for adopting Rafa. Just sign on the dotted line baby and he’s alllll miiiinne.
*coughs*
I’ll take care of him. I promise.