DK

It is Wimbledon season once again and I dread to see these two weeks end like how it had been ending four years in a row: Federer winning it with neither a bang or a whimper. Just plain old-fashioned winning. Federer's consistency is boring. Not because he does not play great, becuase he does, but due to lack of consistent fierce threat on grass. 

Ho-hum.

As of this writing, the Live game is between Andy Roddick and the Thai Danai Udomchoke. If the Thai is any sterner like his compatriot at the greens, Tiger, I'd be rooting for him, I being Asian and a fan of any rising Asian athlete. But since I know that he's just one fodder, for the current greats like Roddick to reach the latter matches, I'd rather root for Roddick - for very good measure: I want Roddick to provide that grass master Federer some consistent competition. And so do I want the Spaniard Nadal and the Russian Safin to give the same. Phillippousis, the other big-serving figure at the current tour would not be a shoo-in to give this Federer the much needed threat. Where is he, anyway?

Sure, if  Federer wins this year, he will match Bjorn Borg's record five consecutive titles in Wimbledon and would catch up to Sampras' record seven wins on the same Club.

But there is a court of difference in the wins of Federer compared to the wins of Sampras and Borg. The two latter champions had very consistent threats to their crowns. Borg had Nastase, Connors & McEnroe. Sampras had The Goran Ivanisevic, Courier, Becker, Agassi and Rafter. These competitors had given either Sampras and Borg hard times in other surfaces and had one their own Grand Slams too.

And who does Federer have? Philippoussis, Roddick and Nadal.

Now I am not saying that Philippoussis, Roddick and Nadal are weenies. They have their share of winning Grand Slams, well, except for the inconsistent and the injury-hounded Phillippousis who could be the next greatest tennis player not to have won any Grand Slam, if he isn't already. It's just that Roddick is also playing inconsistently after winning his only Grand Slam title in Flushing Meadows. But with Jimmy Connors as new coach, he is expected to show some fierce consistency to beat Federer.

And Nadal? For those who just came back from Eris, he is just trying his sprints and volleys in surfaces other than Roland Garros' clay where he lords it over Federer in lifetime matches. Nadal was runner-up to Federer last year in Wimbledon after his first finals there. So Nadal is expected to wind up standing in the other half of the draw in this year's Wimbledon to have a rematch of last year's finals, and hopefully Nadal to show some fierce Federer-beatings to provide the world with some gruesome matches in grass we deserve to see.

Another possible Federer-slayer is Marat Safin, who equals Federer in volleys but even better in serves, but I don't the hey know what's keeping Safin for keeping consistency in making winners instead of unforced errors to finally win matches over Federer. Ah yes, Federer is way too consistent. But Safin is still expected to give Federer some beatings.

Like millions of fans worldwide, I too have my two-cent's worth of acidic issues to tackle. I fiercely want to see some spectacular action from other players other than Federer to give Wimbledon a much needed fire lest it falls down into boredom and ignominy.

Again, this is not to say that I am pulling down Roger Federer. No. What I want is for the other players to give him great tennis so his wins would be worth it. A lot of people, including myself say that Federer's win is like a walk in the park for lack of better opponents. Or worse, that Federer's budding legend is undeserved. This is my point in saying that his wins is nowhere near like the wins of the two other Wimbledon legends Sampras and Borg. I want Federer to really deserve his wins and to really be considered a true Wimbledon legend.

The last truly legendary match ever fought in Wimbledon was in 2001 when Goran Ivanisevic won over Patrick Rafter in the greatest five-sets I have ever seen in Wimbledon.

The finals, years after that were a ho-hum.

I know that there are millions of other nuts like me around the world who have this simultaneous desire and grunt to let either Nadal or Roddick or Safin give a good fight this year so that if ever Federer wins, it will be truly deserved. I know that our collective desires and grunts will cross oceans to reach those who are concerned and possible propel either Nadal, Roddick or Safin to win over Federer. By God, we need a real classic match to be considered truly legendary. We are so hungry for that. This way, there is some real battle before this Wimbledon ends and something to look forward to when the US Open comes and beyond.