It started with Maria Sharapova in her loss to Mary Pierce last week at the U.S. Open. While she slugged away at every ball hit at her, every time the camera caught her in its lens, there it was. At first, it looked like some Nike embroidery gone bad, then like a piece of tape that blew on to her blouse. But then, at the first close-up, it hit me like a ton of bricks. A discreet black ribbon, pinned above her heart.
In an interview published on MariaWorld.net, Sharapova told us that the idea was hers, and that other Russian women players have since picked it up. "...You know, I came up with the idea last night. I thought, you know, just to show my support for the victims and for the families that were, you know, unfortunately what happened to them. But it was just my decision. You know, some of the other girls in the locker room picked it up, too," said Sharapova.
In remembrance of the over 500 wounded and dead Russian men, women, and children caught in the political play of a handful of Chechen terrorists, Maria and her Russian mates demonstrated their sadness and sympathy outwardly. I wondered, did anyone else notice?
A quick search of the web turned up only one other story, from a Philippines-based website too small to notice. I am sure that someone else must have written about it, but from where I sit, it appears no one has. I am very disappointed with that. While the Open is covered by what seems to be thousands of journalists and writers (a slight exaggeration, but there sure are a lot of people wearing media credentials here), none of them have taken to write about the best side of tennis, its international reach and its ability to bind us all in this fuzzy yellow ball fraternity.
The rise of the Russian women to dominate the upper stratosphere of professional women's tennis has shown us all the heart and determination of a people who, until glasnost, none of us in the "free" world had known. It would have been unthinkable just a decade or so ago to even think of any Russian as not part of the "Evil Empire" so often touted here in the U.S. and abroad. It was almost as if Russians, or Soviets, as they were known then, had little or no heart, were automatons on autopilot, devoid of emotion. Little did we know.
As I sat courtside yesterday, watching Elena Dementieva play an incredible three-set match against world number two Amelie Mauresmo, I noticed her little black ribbon, as well. Elena battled sickness and injury throughout the entire match. Towards the end of the third set, Elena called for her second medical timeout. Looking like she was about to get sick, bent over in pain, it looked like she was on the verge of a victory, but would have to instead retire. With all the heart and soul of a great champion, she emerged from the trainer's visit, and fought valiantly to win the match in a tiebreaker.
Now, I don't know for sure, and I haven't had the opportunity to ask, but I believe her fight and stubbornness to play on no matter what was in no small part related to the ribbon on her chest. A reminder that no matter how bad it was on court, back home and around the world, there are events more significant than her match, and that her suffering was in no way even close to the suffering of the Russian sons and daughters in Beslan.
This 2004 U.S. Open will again be a great one, despite all the world events. Again, it will capture the imagination of many people, young and old, around the globe. Americans will have their greatest hopes alive, as it could clearly be a USA sweep of the men's and women's singles (I'm torn as to whether I want Lindsay Davenport or Jennifer Capriati to win at this time, as well as if I would like either Andre Agassi or Andy Roddick to take home the trophy.) Let us be mindful, though, that it was not too long ago on a September day immediately following the U.S. Open finals that the rest of the world joined us in mourning our losses.
As I finish this, I've just pinned a black ribbon over my heart, and am heading off to work. Thank you, Maria Sharapova, for showing the best side of the great game of tennis. I'm wearing my ribbon, too. I haven't forgotten...
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