Blog: Ace

Winning Ugly

It was Brad Gilbert - Andy Murray's tennis coach - who came up with this expression that summed up how he was able to win as many tennis matches as he could. By his own admittance - he did not have much talent - compared to say John McEnroe but he used what talents he could to the best of his ability. Ho fought - he dug in - he chipped the ball where he knew his more talented opponent didn't like it and he got in the face of the opposition. He made himself into an awkward customer.

And that's possibly what the England Rugby Team have been doing. Ok so they have not got the most talented back line in the world except perhaps for Robinson and Sackey and the pack are getting on a bit - but they are a settled fighting unit now bonded together by a spirit that wants to win together. All the form book says that South Africa will thump England - but then that was the case against Australia.

In football terms Wimbledon famously kept winning in their own ugly way. I have also been reminded that Greece are holders of the European Cup. Scotland are producing perfomances of their life with a team rather than any individual stars. The world of sport is littered with individuals and teams who have won with a modest amount of talent and a bucketload of self belief.

Of course these are the excpetions to the rule. Roger Federer always seems to win beautifully but digs in Ugly when he needs to. Manchester United like to win with style but they have their water carriers around the pitch to do all the mopping up chores for the likes of Ronaldo and Rooney.

Next Saturday the very beautiful Percy Montgomery and the flying Habana will no doubt strut their stuff - but it maybe that at this particular Ball, its the Ugly one who goes home at night with the gliteering prize.

by Ace on 08:22 on 16th October 2007