AN ODE TO MEN WITH LONG HAIR, WHO WORE HEADBANDS AND SHORT SHORTS, AND PLAYED WITH WOODEN RACQUETS...

I grew up watching tennis in the late 1970's and early 1980's when champions like Bjorn Borg, Guillermo Vilas and John McEnroe ruled the courts. So cool they were with their long hair and headbands, adorned in brands like Fila, Tacchini and Ellesse, and claiming their victories with racquets made of wood. 

Now don't get me wrong,  I love Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal but I do miss the style and swagger of those days gone by. So while your flat screens are tuned to the US Open, this final grand slam tournament of 2012, I leave you with these images of an era when our tennis players were gods among men.

JOHN MCENROE AT WIMBLEDON 1981 (SI VAULT.COM); GUILLERMO VILAS AND BJORN BORG EARLY 1980's; JOHN MCENROE,BJORN BORG AND VITAS GERULAITIS IN CENTRAL PARK IN 1981(AP);  DUNLOP MAXPLY; ILIE NASTASE EARLY 1970's; BJORN BORG AND JOHN MCENROE; BJORN BORG AND JOHN MCENROE AT THE START OF THE 1981 WIMBLEDON MENS SINGLES FINAL