Samprasfanz

“Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving.” (Othello, Act II, Scene 3).

Superstar Pete Sampras reigns in an era when the muddled sports world celebrates anti-heroes rather than heroes and exalts personality above character. Strangely, the media act as accomplices in this farce. ESPN’s so-called tribute to Sampras as one of the 50 greatest athletes of the century downplayed his virtues and belabored the “boring” image he has never shed despite its patent falseness.

Boring — compared to what and whom? Mike Tyson, a convicted rapist and ear-biting fighter? Dennis Rodman, a cross-dressing psycho notorious for thuggish playing tactics and going AWOL? Latrell Sprewell, who sued rather than repented after attacking his coach? Europe’s legions of drug-taking cyclists? Or even tennis’ shamelessly boorish John McEnroe? The list of sports’ louts grows, while attention seldom focuses on the good guys.

It’s high time to note “Sweet Pete’s” admirable traits and contributions to society, let alone sports. So, in the spirit of fairness, I offer reasons why we should love, or at least like, sport’s most unsung hero.

1. His oft-stated reverence for the sporting champions of yesteryear, such as Aussies Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and Roy Emerson.

2. He plays his most sublime tennis in Grand Slam finals, where his 12-2 career record (.857 percentage) tops all men players this century.

3. His dry wit. On the late Princess Diana’s fervent rooting for him at Wimbledon, Pete joked, “I think she has a crush on me.” On the recent rash of bonding among longtime American rivals Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and him, Pete quipped, “There is a lot of love in the air.”

4. His exciting style of play, highlighted by his slam-dunk jump overhead, his signature flashy shot. His running forehand and diving volleys are terrific, too.

5. He doesn’t duck his weakest surface, clay, unlike some past and present stars who skipped major tournaments they knew they had little chance of winning.

6. He’s an athlete you can proudly tell your kids to emulate. “If there’s one role model in tennis, it’s Pete Sampras,” said former rival Boris Becker. “He’s behaving perfectly on the court, he’s a nice fellow off the court, and he’s playing great tennis altogether. I think he’s extremely good for the game of tennis.”

7. His straightforward honesty. After trailing 4-6, 2-1 in his 1999 Wimbledon quarterfinal when power-hitting Mark Philippoussis retired with a knee injury, Sampras told the media, “He was beating me.”

8. He cares deeply about his family, whom he phones several times a week, and friends. Pete wept unabashedly on court against Jim Courier at the 1995 Australian open after hearing the news that Tim Gullikson, his coach and confidant, was diagnosed as having four inoperable brain tumors.

9. Unlike some players who know and care little about the pro game, Pete invariably makes insightful and fair-minded comments and proposals.

10. He courageously admits when he is wrong. Confiding that he truly missed the spirit de corps and camaraderie that the American Davis Cup team displayed while beating Britain in April, Pete asked captain Tom Gullikson if he could join the team for its big quarterfinal in July against Australia.

11. He’s a serve and volleyer — on grass and hardcourts — and there aren’t many practitioners of this adventurous but dying art left in men’s tennis.

12. Surprise! Pete has his own jet. Well, OK, he leases a Cessna Citation 10 to get to tournaments. And, in an ironic role reversal, far-flashier archrival Andre Agassi sold his airplane.

13. He is a great-looking, sexy guy, especially when he takes off his shirt during matches, so say women and girls.

14. He respects his fellow players. When Pat Rafter last year said, “Pete is becoming a little bit of a crybaby,” Sampras responded: “Pat is not the type of guy to say that. I’m sure it was something the media egged him on to say…. I know Pat well. He’s a stand-up guy.”

15. Pete has been a frequent and generous giver to worthy charities, such as the American Cancer Society, the Tim and Tom Gullikson Foundation, the Vitas Gerulaitis Youth Foundation, the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS, the ATP Tour Charities program, and the Kids’ Stuff Foundation.

16. His off-court training has given him a fitness level that has enabled him to win marathon matches, even though he suffers from a rare form of anemia that hampers his stamina.

17. Pete’s willingness to talk candidly about both his professional career and his personal life is refreshing and humanizes him. For example, Pete said their time-consuming careers caused his recent break-up with actress Kimberly Williams and confided, “We didn’t do anything wrong.”

18. He nearly always exhibits excellent sportsmanship in matches, and typically limits his disappointment over a dubious line call to a look at the linesman.

19. Instead of “settling” for tons of money and the good life, as Agassi has done intermittently during his career, Pete sets his goals high and consistently works hard to attain them, tieing and breaking a host of all-time records, including Jimmy Connors’ ranking No. 1 for five straight years and Emerson’s 12 career Grand Slam singles titles.

20. Pete has successfully handled the pressure and demands of being No. 1, as few others in the Open Era have — with grace, dignity and modesty.

21. His clean-cut appearance — no earrings, no do rags, no long hair — although he could ditch the baggy, wrinkled, too-long shorts.

22. He is quick to congratulate others when they win a big tournament, as Pete did when he phoned Agassi after his archrival won the 1999 French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

23. Sampras is tennis’ refutation of Leo Durocher’s infamous “Nice guys finish last” line.

THE END

Award-winning tennis writer Paul Fein’s book, Tennis Confidential: Today’s Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies, published by Brassey’s, Inc., was listed No. 1 among tennis books by Amazon.com and BN.com. Information about the book and how to order it can be found atwww.tennisconfidential.com. His second book, You Can Quote Me on That: Greatest Tennis Quips, Insights, and Zingers, was published by Potomac Books, Inc. (formerly Brassey’s, Inc.) in February 2005 and listed No. 1 among tennis books by BN.com. For more information, visit www.tennisquotes.com.