AUTHORS WARNING: Reading this without pushing play will result in long-term consequences - “PLAY”
Welcome to the decade of awesome! The 1980s was a new start for me and it seemed to bring change in just about everything. Gone were the 70’s and the horrible fashions trends, ugly wallpaper, the tail-end trend to be a dirty hippie, and most of all, bell-bottom jeans! I was made for the '80s! To this day, it still represents my favorite decade simply because of what I perceived it represented, which was a positive change.
It may have been my imagination or the desire to escape the rough years of the last decade but the ’80s seem to usher in a disruptive change in everything from fashion to music. Now all of sudden mannerisms and etiquette along with dress codes were gaining importance. The standard uniform included button-down shirts or polos, khaki pants, and most of all, top-sider loafers with no socks! It was the generation of preppy and it couldn’t arrive fast enough for me. I so badly wanted to escape anything that wreaked of the previous decade. All of sudden, nicknames such as Chip, Van, Jock, Muffy, Missy, Buffy, and Tiffy were cool. From the outside looking in, being blessed with a nickname was like gaining entrance into an exclusive club. Outfitting your home in rich mahogany, nautical themes, and hunting memorabilia was standard protocol. It meant you had arrived. It was a home filled with classic portraits of hunting dogs, duck motifs, horses, and wild game. There were piano, ballet, golf, equestrian, sailing, tennis, and French lessons for the kids. No split-level house was complete without a beautiful Golden Retriever, Irish Setter, or Labrador. Winters were spent skiing while the summers were filled with weekends at the club and summer camps.
I’ve been leading up to this in previous posts, but 1980 provided us one of the greatest Wimbledon Finals of all time. Björn Borg defeated John McEnroe 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16–18), 8–6 to win his 5th Wimbledon Championship in a row. I always knew I wanted to be a tennis player but on that particular Saturday in July, the game was permanently woven into the fabric of my being. Everything about that match elevated the game and sparked a new era for tennis. It kicked the decade off with a boom that would see the sport rise to its greatest heights in popularity breeding a new generation, my generation, of players. Soon technology would transform it from the heavy wooden racquets to the sleek and light graphites. On that day, the match played by Borg and McEnroe forever changed the game. In case you missed it, here is a link to a highlight reel of the match.
I wasn’t fortunate enough to belong to any private tennis clubs but looking through those fences I knew I wanted to be a part of them and would do what it took to get there. This meant I had to raise my game to the point where I would be invited to play. I approached the sport with fire and tenacity that still rages today and it was undeniable that I belonged. I would spend hours day-dreaming of how I would play and even more hours pounding a ball against any wall I could find. Tennis was also a bridge back to my dad, who was now living with his new family. He loved the sport almost as much as I did and was a hell of a player with great athletic skills. I was coming of age and able to hit the ball well enough that it created an opportunity for us to spend time together. He was focused on improving his own game but I didn’t care because it meant that I was near him. While he and I have not always seen eye-to-eye, I do have him to thank for introducing me to the sport. Even today, I find myself drifting off into thoughts of being on the court or replaying old matches. This is something I hope I never lose.
There are so many great things about the 1980s and I’m looking forward to sharing my affection and love for everything from movies to music to fashion throughout this journey over the next ten post. As I said, it was a new beginning, one that would prove to be the most favorite decade of my life. So put on your best polo, khakis, and top-siders, because this ride will be totally rad!
12 of 50 - 1980