Bjorn again Borg

It is one of the most unforgettable sights ever on a tennis court: Bjorn Borg holding aloft the Wimbledon Cup.

It is one of the most unforgettable sights ever on a tennis court: Bjorn Borg holding aloft the Wimbledon Cup. For five years, from 1976 to 1980, the blond Swede ruled Wimbledon, claiming his place among the greatest ever players in history. And when he surprised the world by his early retirement from a glittering career that included 11 Grand Slam titles, the 26-year-old Borg was a millionaire many times over. So the world would be stunned now at Borg’s decision to sell off his five Wimbledon trophies for “long-term financial security”. He is also reportedly selling two racquets, including the one he used in his classic victory over John McEnroe in the 1980 final.

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It’s not surprising that two costly divorces and a bankruptcy have become the final straw for Borg, whose mishandling of financial affairs always threatened to assume the same legendary proportions as his backhand. It’s apparently the same old story that’s been told a thousand times before: millionaires going broke. Why is it that movie stars, musicians and athletes all seem so vulnerable at one level to this phenomenon? Maybe it’s because celebrities who come into their money too quickly often have little experience in dealing with such wealth. Michael Jackson, MC Hammer, Mike Tyson, the list goes on.

A number of Indian greats have also tasted such a downfall — although for different reasons. The Indian Hockey Federation treated hockey wizard Roop Singh so pathetically that his family was forced to sell his Olympic gold medals to raise funds for his treatment. This is the irony and tragedy of our times.