Wow, what a summer of sport we are having in this country...a fantastic T20 World Cup, a marvellous Wimbledon fortnight and the prospect of The Open and The Ashes to come!
The Wimbledon Men's Final was yet again a magnificent sporting spectacle and a match where either result would have been a fitting end to a gladiatorial contest.With Federer just edging over the line first, making him the most successful tennis player ever, people inevitably debate not just is he the best tennis player ever but the best sportsman of all time?
In my opinion, in order to be considered the best sportsman of all time you must first be an outstanding sport.Both men yesterday conducted themselves admirably and both would pass that first test. In truth, there will be many sportsmen who would pass the test of sporting excellence but the field would be narrowed down considerably when it comes to the test of their conduct on the field of play and their ability to "win with honour and lose with grace."To be spectacularly good at your sport and show outstanding sportsmanship is a rare combination.
As a young boy, I remember being amazed and impressed by the superb sportsmanship displayed by Wally Grout,(pictured), the Australian wicket-keeper, when he refused to run out an England batsman who had collided with an Aussie bowler and was left stranded on the ground mid-pitch.When the ball came back to Grout to remove the bails he simply returned the ball to the bowler to get on with the game, allowing the batsman to regain his ground. In the heat of an Ashes battle this was truly outstanding.
Another act of wonderful sportsmanship that I remember, although less clearly, was when Jack Nicklaus conceded a tricky put of Tony Jacklin's on the last green of The Ryder Cup, thus enabling the match to be drawn.
With The Ashes about to start and The Open following on closely behind, let's hope that those major sporting events will be remembered for all the right reasons and be an inspiration to the next generation of budding sports stars.
Meanwhile, unless someone can convince me otherwise and for these reasons, the combination of wonderful skills, amazing achievements and excellent sportsmanship, Roger Federer would get my vote as the best sportsman of all time.