Rafa Time

Who plays championship tennis with a watch on their wrist? Rafa Nadal. That's who. World's #2. Check out the French Open for the next fortnight. You'll see a rather nondescript black watch on Rafa's right wrist amidst several other bands. But that's just not any watch, retail it allegedly sells for $500k.

The watch is a Tourbillon RM 027 made in France especially for Rafa. Only 50 will be made. Rafa's Uncle/Coach Tony has one too. It must have been a two for oner deal. It weighs about 4 grams which is about $125k /gram. One gram is equal to 4teaspoons. Light on the wrist but heavy on the wallet.

I don't know about you but this is pretty sick from several viewpoints.

#1. I didn't know that was such a thing as a $500k watch or, more importantly, a market for such lunacy. Silly me.

#2. I thought Rafa was one of the good guys in sports not caught up in the phony jet set world. I was wrong. Conspicuous consumption rules again. Also, check out Rafa's steamy video on YouTube with a seductive caressing Shakira.

#3. Who needs a watch like that for any reason particularly while playing tennis? Does Rafa want to see how long it takes him to serve? And, who are the other 48 idiots who will fork over half a mil for a watch?

#4. Last time I checked, Rafa's home country Spain, is next in line for the EU intensive care unit. Spain has 20% unemployment, second highest in the developed world (South Africa #1), banks failures and skyrocketing debt ratios. I wonder what those out of work Spaniards think of Rafa's half-million dollar timepiece. Heh, Rafa, spare a euro? No, but the time is...

#5. This looks like a public relations disaster for Rafa. Who's his agent, Donald Trump? IMG, figures.

#6. The watch is butt ugly and it's French made. Would you buy anything for $500k or a lot less that is French made and has moving parts? Remember Citroen, now that was a beaut!

#7. Lastly what message are you sending to the world, Rafa, by wearing this extravagance on center court for all to see and for the media to gush over? In my court of public opinion, you have lost me. Disappointment strikes again.

So there you go sports fans another hero surrendering to the material world. Is there any top star out there in the professional sports world who's authentic and humble? Did someone say Steve Stricker?