When the Mighty Fall

While the sport of golf is my true passion, I have a great appreciation for all athletes who reach the top of their game through hard work and dedication. One current example of a man who is considered unparalleled in his performance and influence on the game is Roger Federer. Therefore, it was stunning yesterday when he lost in the quarterfinals of the French Open to Robin Soderling. This defeat marks the first time since 2004 that Federer will not be playing in the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament. It really was a shocking moment in the sport of tennis!

We've seen other instances of unexpected victories in sports, such as the New York Giants preventing the New England Patriots from completing a perfect season with a Super Bowl win, Applachian State coming into the Big House and beating the University of Michigan in front of 100,000 stunned fans, or the Miracle on Ice during the Winter Olympics that still brings chills to U.S. hockey fans two decades later.

What about outside the athletic world? What are some examples of people who seemed indestructible but who experienced a startling collapse? Maybe it was an illness to a beloved family member that made you realize even the strongest among us can get sick. Perhaps you admired a leader on a political stage that lost an election in an upset vote or, even worse, met with violence.

In my series of novels that take place at the Prairie Winds Golf Course, I examine the characters that we build up in our lives and how we react when they let us down or simply cannot be the strong personality that we have come to expect. I hope you will check out my books and then let me know if you can relate to the relationships I create.