The reader of this column will allow personal memory. Italy finally won Wimbledon thanks to Jannik Sinner, but two champions had already had them for years, and imagine what he meant for a boy who grew up on bread and tennis to have them as classmates in the press room. Obviously they were not also companions of snacks, even if in reality – especially with Gianni Clerici – going to dinner together was not a rare thing.
In the area of journalists the Italian one has always been the most popular: we are made like this, we are able to be the most nice, and so in the end they all pass beyond. But in this case there were also Gianni And Rinopractically international stars. Rino “lived” in the location on the other side of the row, and despite his grumpy doing a little grumpy, he never failed to help us young people when he needed some encyclopedia data, but above all he knew how to ask for help, when he needed it, especially if the computer blocked, among unrepeatable curses sometimes. Gianni, on the other hand, put himself at the bottom, a little distant: he was almost a habit, because – he said – so he could exchange his impressions with American journalists. He often arrived with his things in a plastic bag, and to the question “how are you?” He often responded “like a poor man”. Vezzi of other times, of unrepeatable people.
Then there were the moments in which he seemed to assist live on their commentary, and it was a wonder. For years they have always accused them of talking badly about Italian tennis, but how could they have done otherwise? The truth, first of all: fortunate as a social fan of social media had not yet arrived.
But, we knew well, that they would have paid their own pocket To live a moment like yesterday. It was a lesson, theirs, which we carry inside. And luckily live it.
For this reason, to Jannik Sinner we steal the possibility of making a dedication. In Rino and Gianni, this is also for you.