from the column "Heart Felt"
by Cyrus H. Merchant, Bombay Times
Tuesday, September 2, 2003
Two men, one in the lap of victory and one in what appeared to be the
final lap of Life, dominated our mindspace last week. Paes and Pete
showed in public scrutiny, the inestimable power of being true to
yourself.
An international icon, Sampras took his curtain call in New York and
raised the bar of authentic living all around the world; Leander
took, also what threatened to be a curtain call in Orlando, and
brought a large part of India to its knees in prayer.
You had to watch Pete's farewell at Flushing Meadows, a grand goodbye
to a player who decided to put up his shoes at a time when their step
could still root other seeds to the ground. A tribute offered not
just for the game he played with fourteen Grand Slams and seven
Wimbledon titles, but for the way he played it. That perhaps is why
last Monday he received a ten-minute standing ovation. For that and
for the fact that not beset by greed to be more rich, more famous,
Pete said goodbye to what a million men would give anything to have,
saying enough is enough and letting the world know that he wanted to
enjoy his Life with his two great loves; his wife and son.
The great risk, the great first step, the great decision of
conviction is the only bridge of flames to cross; on the other side
is pure joy because you are finally being who you are while the world
has anyway turned its fickle gaze. The Washington Post wrote, 'the
only place any of us is likely to see him is walking his baby in the
park" and Pete could never take this walk for himself or those he
loves the most if he didn't throw out the world's "expectation and
definition of happiness" and bravely reach out for his own. You can
never be happy or make even the ones you want to most see happy if
you are not happy leading the Life you want.
"We learnt what Life is all about, how fragile it is and how we must
treasure it," an emotionally relieved Mahima (Leander's girlfriend)
said in two interviews from hospital.
"It happened so suddenly, it changed everything for us. What's the
point of having everything if we are unhappy without the one we love
the most? We prayed day and all night and the moment we got this
clearance, it changed Life instantly, we vowed never to waste time
and more importantly, never to waste Life."
Leander, toughie-aggressive Paes, broke down and wept and loyal
friend Martina wept and that huge ball of fire that descends when
Life is threatened,miraculouslylifted, leaving behind people relieved
to have been blessed with a second chance at living.
Paes and Pete showed that nothing comes close to Life than living it
the way you want. An ovation and a lesion brought home the truth
that we are so, so, so far away from being really happy and really
true to ourselves despite all that we know.
Some irony here! It took two great sportsmen to show the world that
the best way to win at Life is without playing games.