At the time of year when tennis is becoming increasingly serious, it’s good to know the players still have a sense of humour.
World No.24 Jack Sock, backed by sponsor Babolat, has launched a parody presidential campaign, and is winning votes and hearts left, right, and centre court.
Jack Sock endeared himself to the Australian public with his incredible show of sportsmanship in January at the Hopman Cup, when he encouraged national treasure Lleyton Hewitt to challenge an incorrect line call.
Since then, he’s been back in Oz for the Davis Cup tie, U.S.A versus Australia, and entertained spectators across the country with his killer ground strokes and fighting spirit.
Jack’s campaign officially began earlier this month, when he surprised his 51,000 Twitter followers with an emotive tweet announcing his decision to run for office.
To date, not a single President was a pro tennis player. Let's change that. #SockIn16 https://t.co/aYVD04IOOI pic.twitter.com/wEyXuFe6Lj
— Jack Sock (@JackSock) March 9, 2016
Much to the delight of fans, he also posted a truly poignant campaign video and accompanying campaign website.
The extraordinarily witty clip opens by asserting tennis “needs a leader”. Which, given the turbulence of America’s political landscape at the moment, is probably true. And that leader is unquestionably Jack Sock.
This corn-fed Nebraska boy was, “Born in America’s bread basket, in an actual bread basket,” and has been billing himself on the campaign trail as, “the leader you didn’t know you needed, in the campaign you didn’t know existed”.
Potential supporters can even order a free Super Official Campaign Kit, or S.O.C.K (which can only be described as a stroke of propaganda genius). After all, you’re not truly a candidate until you offer the public a heavily-branded bumper sticker.
You might be wondering why Jack Sock, so wonderfully focussed on tennis, would decide to run for president. Well, let’s face it – tennis players are born leaders. They’re naturally disciplined, necessarily courageous, and admirably deal with disappointment and adversity on a daily basis.
After all, challenges are part of their job description. Not to mention they’re in peak physical condition, which makes them perfect role models for living a healthy lifestyle. When voting for leader of the free (and increasingly sedentary) world, you’d call that a bonus feature.
And it’s not just unparalleled leadership skills this young man is offering. Jack is also one of the most promising up-and-comers on the ATP tour. At the tender age of 23, the world No.24 has already achieved the elite, admirable label of ‘top-25 player’, in arguably the most competitive era in tennis history.
Not only is his serve so powerful you blink and you miss it, he’s also a tenacious baseliner, able to grind his opponents into submission by rallying them into next week.
And let’s not forget his doubles record. With a career high ranking of world No.6, along with Canadian Vasek Pospisil he’s one half of dynamite doubles duo ‘Pospisock’. So needless to say, he’s got some wicked skills at the net. As for his forehand; well, that crushing ground stroke is enough to give you whiplash.
Given his level of talent, it would come as no surprise if he cracked the top 15 by the end of the year, or even the top 10.
Considering all of this, you’d wonder why Jack isn’t already sitting in the Oval Office. Well, there’s just one little catch to this campaign – you can’t actually run for president until you’re 35.
On paper, Jack has a few more years of experience to gain before he can actually take the presidential plunge. But when you’ve got a candidate with, “a forehand that could make a bald eagle cry”, who cares about age?
This bright young man is focussed, determined, and truly passionate about making America great again. After all, tennis brings countless people joy and satisfaction every single day. Incorporating it into the presidency would seem not just a good idea, but an absolute necessity.
Citizens of the United States, if you’re trying in vain to decide between Bernie, Hilary, Ted, or Trump, why not rally against the odds and back Jack? He’s the revolutionary the nation needs, like a much needed break point in the deciding set of a grand slam final.
So, when you head to that voting booth, pen in your hand and heart in your mouth, remember Jack Sock’s sensational slogan, “Let’s rally, America”.
Support America’s finest and vote Sock in ’16!
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