Today is the first day of the French Open. It's just qualies this week, but it's still technically the opening. In honor of this, here's a picture of the sculpture of Roland Garros at the front gate of the stadium. Garros was a World War I aviation pioneer after whom the stadium is named.
Does Garros have and actual connection to tennis?
Had to acquaint itself with "the Cloud Kisser " & was sorry to learn that he was captured by the Germans, but escaped & returned to the war, only to be shot down, dying just before his 30tg birthday.
Read that this statue was based on a photo of him in the cockpit, but haven't searched enough, due to eyestrain, to understand the appearance of strings or wires...maybe someone can elucidate.
Thought that the aviator's birthplace might be the connection, but then learned that a wartime friend of Garros, Emile Lesieur, built the stadium & insisted that it be named after Garros.
Background on the statue, its artist, and more biographical information on the tie between the Stadium and Roland Garros.
I’m pretty sure that those strings are a tennis net that he plowed into while rushing the net after his serve, thus tying his legend forever to the sport..,,
May Nadal return next year. -_-
Glad Federer is already gone.
Fuck Djokovic with a covid swab.
Irwin Corey glasses and a Jiffy Pop hat?
I don't get France.
I've been leery of France's "superior culture" since learning of their admiration of Jerry Lewis.
That sculpture is definitely in the uncanny valley, ou bien la vallée de l’étrange.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vallée_de_l%27étrange
Yes, naming a stadium for a hero who fell in an existential war lacks the impressive dignity of, say, FedEx Field, Caesars Superdome, Guaranteed Rate Field, Raymond James Stadium, Paycor Stadium, Lumen Field, Enron Field--oops, Minute Maid Park.
Those Frenchmen.