All about the (possible) GOAT.

Well, we have a lot to talk about.
the GOAT?

First, congratulations to Roger Federer for beating Soderling in straight sets to complete his Career Slam and tie Pete Sampras for the most Grand Slams in the Open Era, 14. Perhaps the most entertaining part of the final was the Barcelona soccer fan rushing the court and trying to put a hat on Federer's head.

The only other interesting aspect of the final was waiting to see how nerves would get to Fed. I think that swinging volley that gave Soderling a break point at 5-4 was about as nervous as I've ever seen him. Luckily for Fed, he ran into someone who wasn't even close to ready to win a Slam.

As expected, this now raises the question of, "Is Roger the greatest ever?"

For once I'm actually going to agree with Mary Carillo on this one. Her response was that she was going to save her opinion until Nadal's career was complete. Nadal, if healthy, has a real shot at making a strong case for himself. Unfortunately, that seems to be a huge 'if'.

It came out that Nadal has tendinitis in both knees that has been affecting him physically and mentally over the past few months. I think we all saw something wrong with him at the French. Kudos to Soderling, but lets get real...quite simply, Rafa was about 60%. He is going to undergo treatment and try and defend his Wimbledon title later this month, but honestly, no one knows how bad his knees are right now.

Back to the possible GOAT(Greatest of All Time): Roger is a great guy, great for the sport, and quite a choice for the best ever. However, one French Open win and he is back to his old overconfident and stuck up remarks.

In an article for ESPN (found HERE) Federer was asked about Wimbledon and went on to proclaim himself the favorite because of his new found French Open title and "with all the success I've had." He didn't stop there. He then went on to downplay Nadal's injury, saying that,
" He seemed fine, [from] what I saw, anyway. I've played him so many times, I can tell when he's in pain and when he's not. "

Fed also was quoted saying, "It seems like it's not 100 percent serious, his knee injury."

Let's see, First: Rafa really seems like a faker and an excuse maker. I'm sure that he is just making up an injury that he might have to miss his favorite tournament of the year because of.

Second: "With all the success I've had." Roger, you won a French Open by beating no one. You've lost your number 1 ranking, and have only two titles this year. Not to mention, everyone was declaring you just about dead a few weeks ago. I'm sorry to say, but Federer should have lost twice in that tournament, maybe three times. Haas had him on the brink, Del Potro outplayed him for most of the match, and Acasuso should have won in straight sets. Sure, he battled his way through the draw, and beat everyone that was put in front of him. But in the end, he beat no one. There are the big 4 in tennis, and then everyone else. He beat NO ONE in the top 4. He won the French Open because he was the last man standing who had enough guts to win.

Nadal is still, by a mile, the King of Clay. He was obviously bothered by an injury in the tournament, and didn't look anything like his former self. For Federer to say he is barely injured, is absurd. It is Roger trying to prove to everyone that he won the French Open, and is now the King of tennis. To admit Rafa was a fraction of himself would make everyone say.."Yea Fed won...BUT Rafa was hurt." Say what you will about Rafa, his injury or Federer, but I think any tennis fan in there right mind knew that if that was Nadal on the other side of the net in the final...Fed would still be waiting for his glorious French Open.

14 Grand Slams and a Career Slam is amazing. But let's keep it in perspective here and not jump yourself to the king of the world again. It wasn't too long ago that an over-cocky Federer was turned into an uncontrollable crying beaten man in Australia at the hands of a humble Nadal. Roger had a feeling of invincibility, and then Rafa came along. Rafa, the quiet, humble, Spaniard slowly, but surely wrestled greatness from him one win at a time. Roger, stay humble, because if you don't it's going to come back again to bite you.

One win and he's all of a sudden unbeatable again, and the favorite? It's interesting that Federer would declare himself the favorite going into Wimbledon. Am I Mistaken or is there still a number 2 next to his name. When the draw comes out, if Rafa is in it, Federer will be number 2. The only way on earth Federer is the favorite is if Nadal comes into Wimbledon like he did the French, injured. And until Federer beats Nadal on a big stage, while there both healthy, he will be number 2.

Hopefully Rafa will get healthy enough to play, and defend his title. One thing is for sure, there will certainly be a Swiss superstar quite nervous if the first match of Wimbledon on Centre Court is the defending champion and World Number 1, Rafael Nadal.