Post by Annie on Mar 31, 2006 9:27:20 GMT 3
OK…where to start. Oh yeah after 6 years of waiting I got a picture with Marat…Oh Giselle the things you have been through. I was reading the other day that a fan was an individual "filled with excessive and often unreasonable enthusiasm,” and then it hit me…unreasonable? If I'm a fan of Tennis and specifically of Marat Safin believe me there are reasons…many of those. I became a fan in the summer of 2000 the great year, I have seen the perfection of the US open final and the Drama of broken eyebrow with Philippousis, the thousand broken rackets and, tantrums, wins, losses and the boy that became a man. A lot had to happen in order for me to come; I had to learn to drive, to learn a new unknown language, to move to another country, to find a job to pay for the tickets, and the right time of luck. Well I do believe in luck as the combination of opportunity and preparation, you must have both to have luck, boy I think I got a little yesterday. A fan always prepares for this moment and we usually idealize the athlete we do what is called "fill in the blank" what we don't know we make it up and believe is real…many of us would say he is nice, other that he’s funny, and the majority agrees on perfection, but I don't think I have to fill in the blanks no more, I found out I had the right answers. One cannot know a person with the 30 seconds that I got close, but what I can say is that I had the few seconds of the eternal longing. After everything came in place meaning Job, university, family, money, house, fix the car (cause mine is crap) and a good friend of mine SHAILY!!! somehow this year everything fell into place…Wednesday going 90 miles per hour on 1-95, cause the excitement is just too much, Like usual every time I go to downtown Miami I get lost cause everything in Miami is complicated even the weather…later I got to the tournament and with my luck after parking the car and getting to the box office this guy comes to me and say "how many are you" I say 2..he says "oh here are some tickets for today’s match I'm leaving…" they were pretty close to the court so I said …"ok, thanks" he left and me and my friend were like "what the hell" …I said “oh lets hit the courts and see if we see somebody”…in my head I though "with my luck I won’t get to see anybody" (this is spring break in my university It made it easier but I still have loads of work to do…Thank you teachers you really know how to screw the week) So guess what first court I get I see a crowd and a tall guy with no shirt on and a pony tail…I though " can that be him…no way really can it be this easy" (I like the challenge…and I got one after) I say to my friend " that’s him omg I can’t believe it, right there in my nose? Cool! So I saw him practicing with Peter next to him, for a while I could not believe it…picture taking began and a strategy for when he comes out. I got something for him so the challenge was to give it to him or Peter…mmm. So he comes out not from the door but jumped the fence and he almost tripped. Everybody got on top of him, 7 year old kids were going crazy they torture my toes my tummy and MY PRESENT!!! It looked so neat. Not anymore…It happened in minutes I thought I lost him to the kids when I saw Peter I told him "could you please give this to marat" he said "yeah sure" and put it in his bag…if he got it I don't know I'm still waiting on that one. So I kept asking for an autograph in English and Spanish and I then it dawn on me "I'm a flea like Shakira says" he can't see me…Good thing my friend has not morals she is tall and reached for an autograph and shoved me on his side jump in the front and took a pic from his face and me running behind (see pics) so then I said "marat could you take a picture with me please" he looked at me like saying "where?" I said that one pointing my friend (who I love very much) so he stopped and tried to smile but the sun was on our faces…the worst part is that I forgot to say thanks so now not only I'm a flea but a very rude flea…I kept walking behind him cause he didn't stop he kept walking towards the exit and people came everywhere people suddenly disappeared and I thought that I should have waited to give the present on his hand so I turn back to him and said "MARAT I gave something to your coach make sure u get it" He looked at me (yeah he looked at me) and with very very KIND eyes and low voice said "ok" and nodded, I can't remember he said thanks but with those eyes he said everything. Peter was behind me and my friend (this was very funny) told him "make sure, make sure he gets it" I was like "hay calm he’s the coach don't boss him around" we were laughing after he said "ok, ok I will". So after this I had to sit down have a drink and chill…we saw Moya, Hingis, Lapentti, Malisse (who in Delray signed the back of my ipod, it was funny when I ask him, he looked at it funny and sign it). We saw the night matches and headed to my second house in Miami. Thursday comes, we headed back to beautiful key Biscayne and park and the whole drill, we got late so we didn't see him practice. it was very very hot and me and my friend decided to let bacardi help us with nature, and bacardi was amazing maybe too much…so Philippousis game got postponed it rained like a hurricane was coming, the water was just too much, I was in flips cause it was hot and now my feet where so drenched…later asking on customer service post a big ass pile of water fell on top of my head, I was freezing all I could do was laugh and everybody around me was laughing as well, they said my face was funny…there was nothing to do but drink with bacardi! Well I was worried about his game because it was pretty late and Philippousis game hasn't even finish plus there were two girls playing after them and then was Safin and Henman. I was decided to see the game up close so while the rain was doing its thing I decided to get me a seat really close for free…I got this guy to be blind for a few seconds thanks to my manners I got it seating right next to the court, yeah!. After drying up the court for 5th time Philippousis and Sanguinety started playing, and they played for five minutes and the rain again, they dried up and started again and then the rain came, one of the ball kids pulled a "marat"…he got the towel which was drying the lines and smash it to the floor as soon as it began to rain again…everybody laughed, stupid rain came and went all night, Philipusis won and he looked awesome, I think he was annoyed by the situation as well until he won. Then the girls came and took FOREVER…it was a good game to watch very entertaining but the waiting was killing me, So much I got my ipod and played music while sleeping you know to gain energy to scream to Marat when he came. Well the blond girl won and I really though His game was going to be postponed for the next day like many other matches but nooo they had to play. It was midnight and by this time I was, wet, cold, tired, annoyed, hungry, drunk, need it to go to the restroom but couldn't cause people came down and I might loose my seat. So I see both of them coming, he looked like he was taking a nap or something I didn't see that he really jump started, Henman won easily…in regular conditions Marat would have won. I still wonder why they played so late, it was past midnight seriously, it wasn't fair to them, they should have let them go when the girls started playing. I of course was with my mojitos and cosmopolitans on top yelled everything that came in my mind, I'm a rude flea so who cares…English, Spanish, Russian, it didn't work. I didn't expected that he was going to loose so easily, he had some good shots but very few, he yelled on occasions in Russian, tried to smash the racket, talked to himself, he was out (I don’t remember the statistics but who cares the purpose of this story is to tell you the other side of the game, I just know his serve wasn’t that effective). So I jumped from my seat and went outside cause I wanted his autograph on a picture, I caught Peter out and I ask him "hey u know where he might come out" he said "Oh he’s going out from underground" I thought "underground in Florida? If u dig here u find water no ground, there are no basements here "I went to him and ask for a pic and asked where is he now he said "he in the locker room" I said "uh can u take me there? He said "no, nobody goes to the locker room”. So middle of the night my shuttle bus is about to leave me but I need to do this. I got to the Valet and saw people waiting, I lost my fear and asked everybody if they knew were they would come out and a mother of some kids said "that door over there". It was confusing at this time, vodka, rum and ideas don't mix…seriously. When I turned I saw a white car with a tall guy with curls putting something in a back seat I was so blind that I asked people "is that him?" they said yeah! Go! The kids that were with me were shy so since I was not because of the bacardi I jumped up front, he had his hair down and a white t-shirt, peter was sitting next to him (underground eh!) at this moment I think peter know I'm a potential stalker (kidding just kidding) I yelled from afar " MARAT, CAN YOU JUST WAIT 5 MINUTES"(AND THE STUPID FLEA FORGOT TO SAY PLASE, BUT I DID THANK HIM..), we waited and he nodded and said come with his hands…the kids and I run to him, he signed my picture and the kids tennis balls and: this is the sad part. His face was sooooo sad it broke my heart, in tiny tiny pieces, we rushed cause I know he was tired and like the first time we meet his eyes said everything…He was so sad and tired, now this is why I hate so much of the experience…I wanted to say something but what, what?
(Stupid bacardi blocked my mind, plus the shock) He was leaving and I yelled…good luck next time! He drove off and I ran with my friend who was so sad as well she said "my god you can see his sad eyes from here" ( she was waiting away) she felt bad, and I felt worst cause I have so many things to say and the time wasn't right, the words didn't come out. We had to run for the shuttle that was the last one, can u imagine me stranded in key Biscayne…it was like 2:30 in the morning and I had a long drive (don't drink and drive). Then in the car it dawn on me I was listening to "walk on" from U2 a song that was inspired by a Nobel peace prize:
Walk on, walk on
What you got they can’t steal it
No they can’t even feel it
Walk on, walk on...
Stay safe tonight
Walk on, walk on
What you've got they can't deny it
Can’t sell it, can’t buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight
Then I thought…how do I say thus without sounding weird…. I should have said something like that.
Sunday
Well I had loads of work on Sunday but I said to myself this is probably the last chance I ever have to see him so, pack my bags and left. Like I said I THINK I saw him in south beach, don’t ask what he was doing or where was I…I was too out to remember, I didn’t get close cause this time was really freaky, still I wanted to see if I was right. Got to the game on time and since it was on court one I got seated fairly close, I was alone cause my friend had to attend to a meeting but she was dying to come…who the hell studies on Sunday? Well my usual charm and stalker knowledge of Safin made me friends of the crowd around, they were asking me everything, that’s when it hit me, “damn I know too much”. I was just planning to go there and head back to the apt in Miami because I had too much to do and very little time but everything slightly changed. There were a group of ladies sitting next to me and one of them had her picture taken with him last year, she took the picture and stamped on a guess what? A PILLOWCASE! And I though I was crazy…good to know I’m not alone. She told me she wanted to get the autograph at the end of the game, I told her I was going to be really hard, I asked her “ do you have a plan” she said no and then she ask if I can get his attention and if I could help her, I said sure…see Marat one more time, that can’t hurt can it, I swear I didn’t plan to see him again but I had to help this fan with my knowledge, so I had to sacrifice some of my time for the sake of it. Doubles are really fun; it’s much faster and relaxed. When he came inside the court he was smiling, Philippousis looked good as well, they were talking and women around me went nuts. The game was good but Philippousis and Safin had lots of unforced errors and at the time of breaking the serve Grosean (don’t know how to spell that one) and his buddy were more effective. Safin did everything he could, he also screamed, tried to break the racquet, played football with the tennis ball? At some point the shots were so strong I though he was going to hit the other guys face, seriously…he did and then he smiled. Game over, he left like a bullet and the ladies were kind of loosing hope. I told them I knew were he was going to grab his car which is a place where people like me can not get in. I got to one of the checkpoints and they weren’t going to let me in, I talked to the lady and a little white lie, I do work for a bank but not in the position I said. I told the security I was with private banking and that I just forgot my ticket and that I was leaving so I have to get through to get the shuttle…the lady didn’t believe me so I told her, look I’m just gonna get the shuttle bus and leave, she saw my camera and said “just don’t get me in trouble”, and all this time the two ladies were behind me not knowing what was happening. So we got in, and walked, we saw the shuttles and waited around, minutes passed and then we saw him. He was walking out and saw us, he got back to the desk ( I guess to say, I need a car or something like that) then we started talking to him (again) they took pictures and I took one, there were various signs that said “no photography allowed” and a lady with other security guys came and said “you’re gonna get us in trouble stop it” I was like wow, the players come out here and you can’t even take a pic…next time I’ll bring my drawing kits! So I asked him if that was him on south beach he said very seriously “NO”, then I asked how was the knee, he said “ehh it’s ok”, then I said good luck, then he grabbed the cell phone and was like talking in Spanish because he answered “alo”, but he hung up, he signed the pillow case although I don’t think he realized that it was that…it would’ve been funny to see that. Then when he was leaving to grab the car I said in Spanish, Marat, behave and take care, he said thanks.
Every time I saw him, he was very nice, even though he lost both games, he cared about the fans, what it was very weird at least for me, was that he was very quiet, I barely heard what he said and form a guy who screams so loudly on the courts and demonstrates such passion, when I was close he was shy and very reserved, which is ok, its just the notion you only understand when you get to see somebody close. I also notice that he was very humble and not like other players that can almost run over you. I wish him the best and I just wish I’ll ever get the feedback from what I gave him. Peter was also very nice (although I didn’t get the underground thing) he was cool when I talked to him (and I did it like if I knew him from life je je ). I wish both of them a very happy, healthy and prosperous life. Tips for the fans, (I think I’ll do it next time) rehearse what u wanna say cause every time I got the chance (and I did get various chances) I forgot! Don’t stalk him like I did u may scare him away je je. Let him know we want a interview from fans to fans (like a chat), I was gonna tell him but I forgot!!!
(Stupid bacardi blocked my mind, plus the shock) He was leaving and I yelled…good luck next time! He drove off and I ran with my friend who was so sad as well she said "my god you can see his sad eyes from here" ( she was waiting away) she felt bad, and I felt worst cause I have so many things to say and the time wasn't right, the words didn't come out. We had to run for the shuttle that was the last one, can u imagine me stranded in key Biscayne…it was like 2:30 in the morning and I had a long drive (don't drink and drive). Then in the car it dawn on me I was listening to "walk on" from U2 a song that was inspired by a Nobel peace prize: Walk on, walk on
What you got they can’t steal it
No they can’t even feel it
Walk on, walk on...
Stay safe tonight
Walk on, walk on
What you've got they can't deny it
Can’t sell it, can’t buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight
Then I thought…how do I say thus without sounding weird…. I should have said something like that.
Sunday
Well I had loads of work on Sunday but I said to myself this is probably the last chance I ever have to see him so, pack my bags and left. Like I said I THINK I saw him in south beach, don’t ask what he was doing or where was I…I was too out to remember, I didn’t get close cause this time was really freaky, still I wanted to see if I was right. Got to the game on time and since it was on court one I got seated fairly close, I was alone cause my friend had to attend to a meeting but she was dying to come…who the hell studies on Sunday? Well my usual charm and stalker knowledge of Safin made me friends of the crowd around, they were asking me everything, that’s when it hit me, “damn I know too much”. I was just planning to go there and head back to the apt in Miami because I had too much to do and very little time but everything slightly changed. There were a group of ladies sitting next to me and one of them had her picture taken with him last year, she took the picture and stamped on a guess what? A PILLOWCASE! And I though I was crazy…good to know I’m not alone. She told me she wanted to get the autograph at the end of the game, I told her I was going to be really hard, I asked her “ do you have a plan” she said no and then she ask if I can get his attention and if I could help her, I said sure…see Marat one more time, that can’t hurt can it, I swear I didn’t plan to see him again but I had to help this fan with my knowledge, so I had to sacrifice some of my time for the sake of it. Doubles are really fun; it’s much faster and relaxed. When he came inside the court he was smiling, Philippousis looked good as well, they were talking and women around me went nuts. The game was good but Philippousis and Safin had lots of unforced errors and at the time of breaking the serve Grosean (don’t know how to spell that one) and his buddy were more effective. Safin did everything he could, he also screamed, tried to break the racquet, played football with the tennis ball? At some point the shots were so strong I though he was going to hit the other guys face, seriously…he did and then he smiled. Game over, he left like a bullet and the ladies were kind of loosing hope. I told them I knew were he was going to grab his car which is a place where people like me can not get in. I got to one of the checkpoints and they weren’t going to let me in, I talked to the lady and a little white lie, I do work for a bank but not in the position I said. I told the security I was with private banking and that I just forgot my ticket and that I was leaving so I have to get through to get the shuttle…the lady didn’t believe me so I told her, look I’m just gonna get the shuttle bus and leave, she saw my camera and said “just don’t get me in trouble”, and all this time the two ladies were behind me not knowing what was happening. So we got in, and walked, we saw the shuttles and waited around, minutes passed and then we saw him. He was walking out and saw us, he got back to the desk ( I guess to say, I need a car or something like that) then we started talking to him (again) they took pictures and I took one, there were various signs that said “no photography allowed” and a lady with other security guys came and said “you’re gonna get us in trouble stop it” I was like wow, the players come out here and you can’t even take a pic…next time I’ll bring my drawing kits! So I asked him if that was him on south beach he said very seriously “NO”, then I asked how was the knee, he said “ehh it’s ok”, then I said good luck, then he grabbed the cell phone and was like talking in Spanish because he answered “alo”, but he hung up, he signed the pillow case although I don’t think he realized that it was that…it would’ve been funny to see that. Then when he was leaving to grab the car I said in Spanish, Marat, behave and take care, he said thanks.
Every time I saw him, he was very nice, even though he lost both games, he cared about the fans, what it was very weird at least for me, was that he was very quiet, I barely heard what he said and form a guy who screams so loudly on the courts and demonstrates such passion, when I was close he was shy and very reserved, which is ok, its just the notion you only understand when you get to see somebody close. I also notice that he was very humble and not like other players that can almost run over you. I wish him the best and I just wish I’ll ever get the feedback from what I gave him. Peter was also very nice (although I didn’t get the underground thing) he was cool when I talked to him (and I did it like if I knew him from life je je ). I wish both of them a very happy, healthy and prosperous life. Tips for the fans, (I think I’ll do it next time) rehearse what u wanna say cause every time I got the chance (and I did get various chances) I forgot! Don’t stalk him like I did u may scare him away je je. Let him know we want a interview from fans to fans (like a chat), I was gonna tell him but I forgot!!!
