There's no doubt that Federer and other great sports figures are well mannered and handle their success with extraordinary grace. However, if your definition of a-hole includes 1) being ruthlessly competitive and/or 2) believing you are better than your competition (even if that hasn't been convincingly demonstrated), I'd wager many of these figures would fit the bill, Federer included.
Personally, I find 2) unbearably obnoxious, but it's something I'm willing to forgive if they provide evidence in the affirmative, as Federer certainly has. I think we have to permit a certain amount of elitism, because it would be dishonest to expect that these players refrain from acknowledging their positions within the respective pantheons of their sports.
Personally, I find 2) unbearably obnoxious, but it's something I'm willing to forgive if they provide evidence in the affirmative, as Federer certainly has. I think we have to permit a certain amount of elitism, because it would be dishonest to expect that these players refrain from acknowledging their positions within the respective pantheons of their sports.