It’s all about Rafael Nadal these days in the men’s game, and the reports range from the sublime to the ridiculous.

First, the sublime: Chris Clarey’s mini-profile of Nadal.

Now, the ridiculous: Check out this headline—NADAL LEGEND GROWS . . . Yeah, right.

Don’t get me wrong, Nadal’s a terrific young player with a future as bright as a newly minted dime. But the guy’s won exactly one Masters Series event, and by the time Grand Slam finals days roll around, he’s at least six time zones removed from the action. Isn’t “legend” a teensy-weensy bit of an overstatement?

Let’s see . . .

*It’s tough being a legend, just ask Jack Kramer, Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver—or Rafael Nadal . . .

Also spotted at last night’s Yankees-Mets World Series game, tennis legend Rafael Nadal . . .

Maria Sharapova, who’s been romantically linked with fellow tennis player and legend Rafael Nadal . . .

In his forthcoming autobiography, tennis legend Rafael Nadal . . .*