ESPN put up a piece this morning analyzing Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open semifinals win over Roger Federer, attributing Federer’s 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 loss to everything from inability to consolidate break lead to being bored because the fireworks went on too long. It touches on everything short of “Brooklyn Decker was supposed to stick around and watch but didn’t, and both guys were sorta sad”.

What it doesn’t touch on is that the best moment of Federer/Nadal (“Federal”?) involved neither Federer nor Nadal … at least not directly. That goes to the unnamed ball boy and his amazing Cal-Ripken-Jr.-in-his-prime snag of an errant ball in the above video, courtesy of On The Go Tennis.

The best part is either the roar of the crowd (who are used to excitement, but “tennis excitement”, which is completely different) or the fact that when he makes the catch he goes right back into the ball boy squat with zero theatrics. That’s a kid who knows how to do his job with style.

I don’t know what a domestic T20 match is or what it means to have a 74-run partnership. I don’t even know what a crumpet is (and apparently you have to understand that to understand cricket), but I know this catch is awesome, and that you should see it.

From the YouTube video description:

Bevan Small has become an overnight internet sensation after the little-known New Zealand cricketer took an astounding catch on the boundary in a domestic T20 match.

According to the video and news reports, the cricketer jumped in the air to not just deny Northern Districts’ Brad Wilson a six but also dismiss him by flinging the ball to a teammate before crashing beyond the ropes. His athletic ability broke a vital 74-run partnership.

Small deserves extra credit for completely Jetering it into the ground on the way down. I also love how quickly “awareness” starts to sound like “weenus” when you’re from New Zealand. “Look at the a weenus! LOOK AT THE A’WEENUS!” Also: how many times the guy says “whilst” whilst trying to explain what happened. People should say whilst more often.

Great catch, and great news about that 74-run partnership (?).

[h/t to Fark Sports]

What you need to know:

BB&N Knights vs. St Sebs football game was played at Harvard Coliseum. This catch was the last score of the game for the Knights and allowed them to win (31-28). Caught by Chad Kohler follow me on twitter @ChadBrah

I love the addition of “I filmed this, my Twitter handle has ‘brah’ in it, follow me”. Anyway, what you need to look and listen for:

- 0:07-0:08 – #3 for St. Sebastian’s (how funny is it that you’d abbreviate a saint’s name to call them St. Sebs) contributes almost nothing to the play, lightly shoves the receiver to the ground and starts pumping his fists and going WOO~!.

- 0:09-0:12 – Touchdown is called, and #3 instantly turns into Troy Barnes from ‘Community’. I can’t make out exactly what he’s saying here, but it sounds like “NO, ARE YOU F**KING KIDDING ME, BULLsh*t!” Him turning to the camera and gesturing like he’s upset about missing the Soul Train awards is the best part.

- 0:14-0:20 – It’s probably someone in the crowd making noise, but the way it’s filmed makes it look like the guy who caught the ball is jumping up and down yelling like Howard Dean. I can’t even assign an onomatopoeia to a scream like that. It’s like “YES! YESSSS! WOOOOO” from the mouth of a condor.

- 0:24-0:26 – “That’s why you work hard right there! That’s why you work hard!” Not sure if he’s talking about accidentally catching a touchdown pass, or just walking backwards slowly with your head up and hoping for the best instead of jumping or actively trying to catch the ball.

[h/t Prep Rally]