Vamos Brigade across the world
by MAC
So that's Rafa's North American hard court swing over for another year - thank God do we hear people say?
It would have been great if he'd managed to add to his already impressive collection of trophies but it was not to be.
No tournament is complete without a vamos brigade member trailing around with their camera to get some special shots and cheering Rafa on from the stands.The US Open was no exception. kellybr did the honours for us and wrote a great blog of her experiences.
Our emotions have swung back and forth between pride in his wins, disappointment in his losses and fear for his health. Scanning through our messageboard you can see all those displayed. Here are just a few of the comments made after his last match that show just how much we care for him.
I am proud of Rafa, considering the way he was during the Jones match I was amazed he got this far. He lost to player who played an amazing match plain and simple. David is a very good player and doesn't really get enough credit. Maybe if Rafa had been fit and healthy he would of won maybe he wouldnt, we will never know. Its not the end of the world if Rafa never wins the USO, it won't make him any less of a truly wonderful player. Angela
Yet again Rafa Nadal shows his class. Think about it. He is injured, but instead of pulling out he plays.
Plays miserably, but hangs in there. Then he begins the wacky space age laser treatments just to get through 2 more rounds.
Then...
He honors his friend by competing to the last point, and finishing the match when he was clearly uncomfortable. He has...
Indured the constant scrutiny of the buffonish American media...last year he took off too much time, this year he played too much...
And he has written his thoughts and answered our questions through it all.
And now we are left with his classy exit line:
"I prefer don't speak about my body right now...He play very good and he beat me"
Yep... Rafa is a class act rudy3
Actually, he reminded me of the protagonist (the Spaniard) in his fave film Gladiator last night, all damaged and doomed and persevering to the last.... Of course, luckily he is still alive, to fight another day Heal well Rafa, we are all pulling for your complete return to fighting form! rotini
As for his "maturity" I'd say he demonstrated plenty in this tournament by showing up, playing through the pain and fighting it out for as long as he was able to carry on. Yes he went down but he never gave up the match. He's a champion and continually inspires the heck out of me. On to Bangkok, spicy shrimp and the next game. lpauly
I feel very proud of his efforts under very difficult circumstances and I am not going to talk about my disappointment. I admire the fact that he stayed out there until the bitter end (how bitter that was for all of us must pale into insignificance compared to how he feels right now) Love him to death as I have since he was 16 years old and hope he will eventually find the right formula ( re coaching , fitness, work life balance etc). to enable him to do it all as we all know he can daisy
I AM PROUD OF HIM. EXTREMELY PROUD OF HIM!But I do want him to be better, BECAUSE I BELIEVE HE CAN! And if he retires from the sport tomorrow, I will love and admire him no less, because he has already given me more from watching him play than anyone else has in the last twenty years.rafita
he give it all, i think nobody can do that, only rafa, ha has more spirit than all the players together. XIQILINOSITA
Sure, I was upset @ 7am in the UK this morning when he lost, but I'm upset for him, not for me!! He owes no-one anything!! He hits that court giving 100% of what he can do at that time, and no-one can ask any more of him!!! woody
And I'm absolutely convinced he'll remain the wonderful player and even more importantly the wonderful person that he is, continuing to bring us joy and make us smile. His personality, family, home, way of life, amount of effort and hard work and dedication have never been in doubt for me. Losing matches is allowed. tuulia
To paraphrase one of angela's posts -
It would have been great if he'd managed to add to his already impressive collection of trophies but it was not to be.
No tournament is complete without a vamos brigade member trailing around with their camera to get some special shots and cheering Rafa on from the stands.The US Open was no exception. kellybr did the honours for us and wrote a great blog of her experiences.
Our emotions have swung back and forth between pride in his wins, disappointment in his losses and fear for his health. Scanning through our messageboard you can see all those displayed. Here are just a few of the comments made after his last match that show just how much we care for him.
I am proud of Rafa, considering the way he was during the Jones match I was amazed he got this far. He lost to player who played an amazing match plain and simple. David is a very good player and doesn't really get enough credit. Maybe if Rafa had been fit and healthy he would of won maybe he wouldnt, we will never know. Its not the end of the world if Rafa never wins the USO, it won't make him any less of a truly wonderful player. Angela
Yet again Rafa Nadal shows his class. Think about it. He is injured, but instead of pulling out he plays.
Plays miserably, but hangs in there. Then he begins the wacky space age laser treatments just to get through 2 more rounds.
Then...
He honors his friend by competing to the last point, and finishing the match when he was clearly uncomfortable. He has...
Indured the constant scrutiny of the buffonish American media...last year he took off too much time, this year he played too much...
And he has written his thoughts and answered our questions through it all.
And now we are left with his classy exit line:
"I prefer don't speak about my body right now...He play very good and he beat me"
Yep... Rafa is a class act rudy3
Actually, he reminded me of the protagonist (the Spaniard) in his fave film Gladiator last night, all damaged and doomed and persevering to the last.... Of course, luckily he is still alive, to fight another day Heal well Rafa, we are all pulling for your complete return to fighting form! rotini
As for his "maturity" I'd say he demonstrated plenty in this tournament by showing up, playing through the pain and fighting it out for as long as he was able to carry on. Yes he went down but he never gave up the match. He's a champion and continually inspires the heck out of me. On to Bangkok, spicy shrimp and the next game. lpauly
I feel very proud of his efforts under very difficult circumstances and I am not going to talk about my disappointment. I admire the fact that he stayed out there until the bitter end (how bitter that was for all of us must pale into insignificance compared to how he feels right now) Love him to death as I have since he was 16 years old and hope he will eventually find the right formula ( re coaching , fitness, work life balance etc). to enable him to do it all as we all know he can daisy
I AM PROUD OF HIM. EXTREMELY PROUD OF HIM!But I do want him to be better, BECAUSE I BELIEVE HE CAN! And if he retires from the sport tomorrow, I will love and admire him no less, because he has already given me more from watching him play than anyone else has in the last twenty years.rafita
he give it all, i think nobody can do that, only rafa, ha has more spirit than all the players together. XIQILINOSITA
Sure, I was upset @ 7am in the UK this morning when he lost, but I'm upset for him, not for me!! He owes no-one anything!! He hits that court giving 100% of what he can do at that time, and no-one can ask any more of him!!! woody
And I'm absolutely convinced he'll remain the wonderful player and even more importantly the wonderful person that he is, continuing to bring us joy and make us smile. His personality, family, home, way of life, amount of effort and hard work and dedication have never been in doubt for me. Losing matches is allowed. tuulia
To paraphrase one of angela's posts -