Kersi finishes Vinay Verma’s last column
The encounter between a former champ and a future star will be the highlight of the Championship. And thereby hangs a tale, more poignant than just a tennis tournament.
On March 6 this year, The Roar’s popular and esteemed columnist Vinay Verma had started writing a post on Roger Federer for The Roar.
It would have been his 97th column. But it was not completed. Vinay passed away suddenly with the computer on his lap as he watched the England versus South Africa World Cup cricket match on television.
His son Paul came across this unfinished symphony on Vinay’s laptop last Sunday and e-mailed it to me.
The posthumous post is reproduced below, which includes some Vinayisms. For example, “Andy Murray the Scot, a man free but not independent, much like his country.”
The title gives me goose bumps as it mentions immortality. Perhaps immortality means how one is remembered when one passes away.
Federer, the Genius Engine, Parked in Immortality (by Vinay Verma)
Swiss ace Roger Federer will not win every tennis match he plays in 2011. Rankings and prize money are secondary to him. He is playing only for immortality. He has been the best tennis player on the planet for a decade. He is simply the best there has ever been.
The affection that Laver has for Federer reminds me of what Don Bradman had said about Sachin Tendulkar in a remark to his wife: “He reminds me of myself.”
What then of those that have gone before and those that share the present? Rafael Nadal tortures his body to impossible exertions. He is a great tennis player but not the greatest. Novak Djokovic, is forever doubting he belongs on the same stage, even when he wins against the King. Andy Murray the Scot will always be the bridesmaid, a man free but not independent, much like his country.
Rod Laver, who many consider the greatest, would bow to the imperious Swiss. Laver was the best till Federer came along. The bar has been raised and may never be attained by anyone else.
His last book was titled Quest for Perfection, and this is what keeps the watch ticking. If ever there was a perfect mesh of mind and machinery, Federer is the defining prototype.
— (The end, but not the end)
The title of that piece is from a book called The Genius Engine, which Vinay had read but I have not. Perhaps a Roarer may throw some light.
Federer, ranked no. 3 in the world, said that world no. 1 Nadal will be under loads of mental pressure if he faces Djokovic, to whom Rafa has lost in his last four finals, all coming in Masters Series finals in Indian Wells, Miami and more recently on the clay courts of Madrid and Rome.
But he has to beat Federer first, a daunting task.
Modest and understated, Federer believes that Spanish Nadal is still the favourite to win a sixth French Open title. Federer’s win-loss ratio over Novak Djokovic is 13-9 but he has lost to his younger rival all three times in 2011.
Will Roger, the Genius Engine of Vinay’s description, cause an upset by winning on clay this weekend?
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Thank you all for providing information on tennis grunters. Can you imagine a bowler, say Lee, grunting when delivering an express fast ball to say Pietersen, and the batsman groaning back. Let me make the scenario more colourful: Harbhajan to Symonds! Oh, the headlines in the next day's papers!! With the retirements of McEnroe and 'Nasty' Nastase, tennis has become such a gentleman's (and ladies) game, apart from the grunts and groans.
BennO
Guest
Thomas Muster was a solid grunter around the time of Seles. She was definitely the first excessive grunter (if that's the right description) that I remember.
ANIL VERMA
Guest
Go Federer Go! If he can stop Novak he has it in him this time to sock it to Rafa! Let's see what God has in store for him this time! He must have put a Special Chip in him!
clipper
Guest
Jimmy Conners was one of the first grunters, and there were a few before him, so it has been going on for awhile - though certainly more prevalent now.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
I can hear Federer humming "I am 16 going on my 17th major".
B2
Guest
Let me say he inspired me!
Geoff Lemon
Expert
An unexpected pleasure to suddenly hear the warmth of that very familiar Vinay tone. We've missed him.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Monica Seles wouldn't have been the first grunter, but she was the one who first took it to new heights above the threshold of pain.
B2
Roar Rookie
I am willing to stick my neck out and give Roger a WIN in this one.There is something super natural in this man when it comes to Tennis.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Good morning all you Roarers. Sheek and B2, thanks for your astute observations. B2, I'll certainly keep you in the loop. Plasmodium, you were wrong for once in predicting a win for screaming Sharpova. Talking of grunting and screeching when serving, when did it all start? In 1980s? And were women the first? I can't remember Margaret Court or Evonne Goolagong screaming when they served. Now even some men grunt-serve. Someone should write a book on it titled "Grunting, does it help? The history of hysteria". I find it annoying and I put the TV on mute when Sharpova et al go oooooovvv. Your views, Roarers.
Tony Tannous
Expert
Always missed will be Vinay, was as graceful with the pen as Federer is with the racquet Thanks Kersi
B2
Guest
Thank you Kersi About the book some say : "A spellbinding journey to the frontiers of neuroscienceIn The Genius Engine, acclaimed science editor and writer Kathleen Stein takes an enthralling in-depth look at the PFC, the site of our working memory, impulse control, reason, perception, decision making, and emotional processing-all the things that comprise our human genius.The PFC differs widely among individuals, as much as fingerprints. At its best, the PFC determines how you'll respond to an off-color joke and what makes you grouchy. It's what guides you to comfort a friend in need and discern between sarcasm and irony. It enables you to act today in light of actions that occurred in the past, and predict how to act tomorrow. But an improperly functioning PFC can trigger personality changes, murderous rage, lapses in judgment, and inability to plan or perceive the consequences of one's acts-in sum, the myriad problems facing our society today.The Genius Engine delves deep into the human mind to unravel the mysteries that lie within the prefrontal cortex, the neural territory that defines what it is to be human." Never easy to understand human nature and more difficult to fathom what makes a Genius, also I wonder why it takes us so long to realise.Before you realise it , like a dream the genius is gone. Roger Federer doesn't know himself what there is to achieve now.Maybe that is what is driving him to reach the realms of the unknown and conquer what is not known. A bizzare situation but when you do not know where the end of the road lies you just keep the engine going. The Vinay Verma Award is a very good idea and I would greatly appreciate it if you could keep me in the loop Kersi as I would feel honoured to be assocciated with it.
sheek
Guest
Kersi, Beautifully written, & of course, I had a early preview! Sorry about the late contribution, but I've been out most of the day. To expand on Plasmodium's comments above, The Genius Engine was written by Kathleen Stein & published in 2007. The book researches the part of the brain known as the 'prefrontal cortex', & according to the advertising blurb, it is here where memory, reason, passion, violence & creativity intersect. You know, soon after he passed away, I got copies of most of Vinay's contributions to the Roar. An interesting exercise might be to document his many, wonderful "Vinayisms", as you so cleverly called them. And as I said to you recently - heck, I miss Vinay heaps.....
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Thank you Tristan and fellow Roarers for your appreciation of a fine writer. The Vinay Verma Award will be a fitting tribute.
Titus
Guest
Extremely sad to here about Vinay, I certainly appreciated his contribution to this site. He was a very decent person, and put some of our petty bickering to shame.
Ike
Guest
He really does have help from above... I remember a Wimbledon a few years back (I believe 2007)... A church billboard posted, "God made Roger Federer". Well I believe God made us all... But, I also believe that he made Roger especially for tennis. I can say with almost 100% certainty, there will never be a more beautiful tennis player... Rod Laver is the only other one that comes to mind. I bet Vinay had the same impression, and now he probably has the confirmation from the maker of us all.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Hi Kersi and all Roarers, I'd like to thank you, and Paul, for ensuring Vinay's final work was published. I can still clearly recall the phone conversation where, after somewhat of a chat about the state of the game of cricket, I asked Vinay if he would like to pen a column on Federer and his thoughts on the decline of the once unbeatable champion. His efforts The Award we will proceed with, a celebration of fine writing. Roarers, we need your help identifying the Roar of the Crowd you deem to be the best of the year. We'll take nominations and have a vote towards the end of the year.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Thank you all. mds 1970, I echo your suggestion on a Vinay Verma Roar Award for the Best Post of the Year to be presented in December. Plasmodium, nice to hear from you after a long time. I predict Federer will win despite rather patchy form (by his high standard) this year. He has help from above!
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
I admired Vinay's writing and read with avid interest his posts. He was without a doubt a very intelligent person and will be sadly missed by me and others. Vale Vinay
Plasmodium
Guest
So glad you were able to post Vinay's last column, Kersi. We all miss him. I believe the book he was talking about is by the science journo Kathleen Stein. I think it was published about four years back and covers a variety of neurological functions like perception and impulse etc. Re Roger - may I draw your attention to a very fine piece of sportswriting by the 84-year-old New Yorker art critic Calvin Tomkins? You can access it by Googling Can Roger Federer Keep Winning? It's in the tradition of elegant sports writing a la Herbert Warren Wind. You may already have read it. Vinay probably did. He would have admired it greatly. As for my humble take, I believe Djokovic will defeat Roger and Rafa and take the title. He's so confident, and so he should be with a rifled backhand like that. And nobody's going to get close to Sharapova. She's too powerful right now. Her shot making reminds me of Margaret Court and her screaming reminds me of Jeanette MacDonald.