Column: Jannik Sinner like Boris Becker

There's a lot of talk about "identity figures" these days. This presumably refers to those people in special positions who manage to continue to credibly convey increasingly endangered values. Home is such a concept, difficult to grasp but can be of great importance. Language is part of this, as is its dialectical and highly diverse nuances.

Thomas Müller of FC Bayern, for example, is someone who Bavarians in particular feel particularly represented by. A "local" after all. The same was true of Bastian Schweinsteiger in the land of the flag with the blue and white diamonds. Or further up north, in Hamburg, where the world opens up. That's where Uwe Seeler lived. "Our Uwe." That's what his numerous fans called him. Just as if he always sat down at the table for home-cooked food. A matjes roll perhaps, just as his colleagues are always credited with the white sausage with pretzels, and the roast pork inevitably associated with Bavaria, with a crust that crackles loudly when you bite into it. Because everyone knows: the crust is the most important thing.

Tennis legend Boris Becker. © AFP / JULIEN DE ROSA

But I don't want to digress. There was also "Bobbele," the youngest 17-year-old from Leimen of all time, who propelled us onto the world tennis stage in 1985 with his first of three Wimbledon titles. And he's still active with his "extended arm," which he still relies on, as he tells us in a commercial. Well, one has to get used to the aging process, which hasn't left Boris Becker unscathed either.

But it's nice to see him again and again, with the recognizable mischief gleaming in his eyes. Perhaps he was often underestimated. I met him at the Olympic Games in Paris, when we rode together to the artistic gymnastics competition in the comfortable VIP shuttle. He has the gift of being prominent yet down-to-earth. A role model, without a doubt.

Steffi Graf in the USA Steffi Graf, on the other hand, was rather more aloof, and due to the physical separation from her homeland after the end of her career (she lives in the USA with her husband Andre Agassi), she was unable to fully embrace her role as a universally beloved German heroine. That was never her intention. However, the respect for her achievements remains high, and it's always a joy when she appears in her former homeland.

Lothar Matthäus is also a German sports hero. © APA/afp / RONNY HARTMANN

Now, of course, the name of Lothar Matthäus, Germany's record international player, would almost inevitably come up. A Franconian, and therefore, in a broader sense, also a Bavarian. He's still playing, but despite intense support from the tabloid press, he's nowhere near the popularity of Thomas Müller or Bastian Schweinsteiger. This has nothing to do with his private life and the many headlines outside of sports.

Matthäus comes across as brash and pales in comparison to his colleagues when it comes to the charm that comes with wanting to stand out and still fit in. Success alone doesn't automatically earn you points in the popularity rankings. From this perspective, tennis player Alexander Zverev, for example, should have been at the top of the popularity scale long ago, even though he's never won a Grand Slam tournament. But he is an Olympic champion. But the "identification" factor doesn't hold water, even though he was born in Hamburg and has been playing for Uhlenhorster HC since childhood.

His parents came to Germany from Russia in 1991, making it difficult, if not impossible, for Zverev to achieve the same level of popularity as, say, Boris Becker, whose career inspired an entire nation to pick up a tennis racket. Much like Germany became a cycling nation when Jan Ullrich won the Tour de France, before later becoming a fallen hero.

A home for the heart Sport consistently manages to generate role models, even luminaries like Franz Beckenbauer. Sport continually fills the gaps left by politics with its protagonists. We are proud of their achievements and, for a brief moment in our stressful lives, are transported to a perfect world. This is true elsewhere as well. Maradona in Argentina and Pelè in Brazil have delighted and inspired people, giving them a home for their hearts.

A similar development can be seen in South Tyrol with Jannik Sinner, who, at 23, is already being hailed as a legend. That may be a little early, but a pattern is emerging here too. Look, all you out there, what a small region, indeed what a small country, can accomplish. We, yes, we are world class. We are number one. And we won't let any doping scandals ruin that. And the fact that our Jannik lives in Monte Carlo doesn't affect us either.

Sinner is a perfect role model for his fellow countrymen. And honestly, it's easy to feel a little jealous. This can only be somewhat mitigated by the memory of Becker's heyday, when he, like Sinner, drove his opponents to despair, especially on the fast pitches. And when we felt incredibly proud and represented ourselves perfectly in the world. "We" were all number one, too. Back then.

About the author: Sigi Heinrich The award-winning sports journalist (including the winner of the German Television Award, the Bavarian Sports Award, and a nominee for the prestigious Grimme Prize), author, longtime sports editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, and commentator for Eurosport since 1989, devotes his weekly column to the full range of sports and enjoys exploring unfamiliar territory. Sometimes with a smile, sometimes thoughtfully, sometimes deliberately provocatively. There should be something for everyone.

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Column: Jannik Sinner like Boris Becker

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