AUSTRALIA LOVES ROD ” THE ROCKET ” LAVER BY SIGRID DRAPER

Written by: on 29th January 2015
IMG_1328
AUSTRALIA LOVES ROD " THE ROCKET " LAVER BY SIGRID DRAPER  |

Australia Loves Laver !

 

July 27, 1998. They were throwing another “Shrimp on the Barbie” and wishing everyone G’Day. Just another day in Australia. Probably also listening to the strains of “Waltzing Matilda” a popular folk song that was considered to be their “unofficial National Anthem”. Crocodile Dundee was wielding his BIG knife and the Kangaroos were happily hopping around to the amusement and delight of the tourists.

 

In Los Angeles , California the L.A. Tennis Tournament was in progress. The Double Grand Slam Hero was giving an interview to ESPN a few blocks away. As Rod Laver was speaking, a strange look crossed his face and it wasn’t long before everyone realized he was suffering a Stroke right in front of them. The tape kept rolling and the entirety of the Stroke was recorded. It was then they realized time was of the essence and they had to get him medical attention!

 

If there is a “lucky” stroke, it was that UCLA Medical Center was only a few blocks away. It was serious, very serious and there was doubt that he would live to see his 60th Birthday on August the 9th. No one was allowed to see him except close family members. The Aussie players upon hearing the news were devastated! They had to find a way to let their “Rocket” know how much they loved him and were praying for him. After many futile attempts at communication, they hit an ACE! Shocked doctors and Nurses couldn’t believe their eyes. They were all standing in the Hall in the front of his room singing in the loudest, off key voices, “Waltzing Matilda”!

 

Rod Laver says he doesn’t remember much of those days. He was in Intensive Care Unit for 13 days and lost 30 pounds. He lost the pounds but not his life! No one knows how he was able to survive this crisis. The Odds were not good and no one wanted to take that bet. I personally believe that his players hit the right note with Waltzing Matilda!

 

Today, Rod is enjoying the Australian Open and when he hears “Waltzing Matilda” and sees the smiles on the Aussie’s faces, he has to know he is loved!

Tennis legend Rod Laver (centre), who holds the record for most singles titles won in the history of tennis (200) sitting in the VIP section of the appropriately named Rod Laver Arena on Australia Day during the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, Melbourne Jan. 26, 2015. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throw another “Shrimp on the Barbie” and G’Day Mate!

 

 

10sballs_com Editors Note : Re: SIGRID Draper . The love of Sigrid’s life wasn’t tennis … but a MAN that loved tennis with every ounce of his being and was “THE Undisputed FATHER of Open Tennis “

Judge Robert J. Kelleher was Sigrid’s life companion. The mighty Judge wanted to marry the beautiful , brilliant , funny SIGRID many times. But it just never happened. So Sigrid’s love of the game came by way of her love of the Judge . She knew or knows everyone in tennis. She is currently working on a book about the GLOBETROTTING lives they shared. Geezer was lucky enough to go to Wimbledon with them often. One year they even had Bunny Austin as a table guest. Wow. How do you top that ? Knowing Gussy Moran and now the man who introduced shorts to tennis at Wimbledon…. Thank you SIGRID .LJ.

Topics: , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.