Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford The Coup, the Poet and the Secret to Winning Wimbledon
Jul 7, 2023
Explore the intriguing life of Leander Starr Jameson, whose bold but disastrous raid inspired Rudyard Kipling's poem 'If.' Delve into the emotional turmoil faced by athletes like Jana Novotna during high-stakes matches, particularly the 1993 Wimbledon final. Discover the chaotic backdrop of Johannesburg's gold rush and the failed invasion led by Jameson during the Boer War. The podcast intertwines themes of resilience, failure, and redemption, highlighting the critical lessons drawn from both sports and politics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Novotna's Choke
- Jana Novotna, despite being the underdog, was leading against Steffi Graf in the 1993 Wimbledon women's final.
- However, a series of unforced errors and a devastating double fault led to one of the most infamous chokes in tennis history.
The Jameson Raid
- Dr. Leander Starr Jameson, the inspiration for Kipling's "If", led the Jameson Raid, a failed coup in South Africa.
- Despite meticulous planning, Jameson's impulsive decisions and disregard for warnings led to the raid's disastrous outcome.
Triumph and Disaster
- Treat triumph and disaster the same to stay focused in sports.
- Outside of sports, analyze disasters to learn and grow.
