The last year had lots of action, in the domain of sports. I will try through this post, to look back at what has been a wonderful year from a sporting perspective, with an unapologetic biased view. A lot of things could be inferred from the year gone by, which I will try to list, in no particular order.
The biggest event of the year, without a shadow of a doubt was the Olympics. The Chinese government's effort to produce a generation of freaks brought them 100 medals. Through, the same time, the Indians effort to produce another generation, of people, produced three times the medals given at Athens. What it also taught us, is a man can beat the 100m WR, by walking the last 10m. Bolting through the first 90 helped. It is tough to understand the hype and hoopla behind Bindra's gold medal performance. After all, all it takes is a jump into the pool. Ask Michael Phelps.
This was also the year of the Spaniards. The Euro Champions, when you talk about individual performances, VAMOS RAFA, comes up foremost. Spaniards one the Davis cup, and also had many individual success firsts, never heard of in the history of Spains. In fact the year was so good for the Spaniards, that a Spaniard who did not win anything, just managed to win over the beautiful Women's French Open Champion, Ana! I never had a reason to hate Fernando Verdasco, now I am glad I do.
While with Verdasco, and ofcourse Ana, lets stay with tennis for a while. The year proved winning grand slams has nothing to do with being the best in world. Ask Jelena. This year taught us that King Federer is proud of winning the doubles gold, where their toughest opponents were two old Indians, who were never a team. Doubles??? However, 2k8, also taught us that Federer is not invincible at Wimbledon, Rafa is, at Roland Garros. Andy Murray has ruined any chance of Djokovic winning any other grand slam by dominating the hard courts. But, 2k8 will always be the year of Rafael Nadal. VAMOS RAFA!
Still with Ana. Oh Verdasco. He reminds me of Fernando, Fernando Alonso. He had a great year, by turning around the horrendous Renault racing team to race contenders. This year also taught, that the class of Kimi, needs a driver 0f Alonso's calibre challenging him, to keep him interested in racing. The year also taught us that the eventual world champion is either color blind, or just plain stupid! I would like to tilt on the latter. Lewis! No idea who sees a tiger in him!!
That brings me to golf, we learnt that Tiger can beat rest of the field, on a wheel chair, when he won the US open with no legs. No wonder, he says he would be embarassed to return to the field now :). Sticking with USA, we also learnt that, KG is delusional. When he barks non decipherable shouts aimed at some one sitting in the roof of every arena, visible to no one else. Also, incredibly, the guy most valuable to a team, with a winning record, is not LeBron, but a guy called Flash. Luckily, NBA does not seem to agree with that definition for the MVP, so the King, has his hands on the trophy! The year also taugt us that Boston still remembers the Beat LA chant from the 80's and Boston still remembers how to win a championship.
Speaking of championships, Manchester United, were crowned champions of the world!!! Ridiculous as that sounds, this will blow you over. They beat some random team from the far east, Japan, after beating another random team in the semi finals! Is this the new definition for farce? However, they were also crowned champions of Europe and England! The second half of the year taught that Liverpool actually knows that a league in England exists, and have finally showed up. Arsene Wegner wants to be the new Jose! Chelsea actually play pleasing football. Manchester United - I have nothing to say. And Hull City has loud fans! Else where, the year also taught us that the Spanish League, is a misnomer. It has just one team.
For no reason, I need to shift focus, to the greatest city in the world. Hyderabad. The biggest sports starlet from the city, and also, of the country, has the letter S, A, I, N and is not Sania. Saina got into the top 10, and apparently, the most promising, and has promptly managed to get herself a few ads. Meanwhile Sania, after her memorable, for whatever reason, 2k8 campaign, managed to become the first Indian woman to earn 1 million US dollars in prize money. If you thought that is unrewarding, how about 1 million, for a 9 over spell! Another dude, to break the mark, was Jeev, with a season to remember! So now you know what sport you should have taken up! 9 overs for a 900,000!! Hyderabad - Nothing about Hyderabad in 2k8, can be complete without talking about the Deccan Chargers!! The IPL introduced a new era into international cricket. Enough has been written about it. But, the absolute brain wave of Lalit Modi, besides - like everything Indian, taking the best from European and American leagues, was to fight all those who opposed cheer leaders for the games. It was the single biggest move and Deccan Chargers benefitted the most. Without a shadow of a doubt, DC had the best cheer leader troop. Nothing else can explain 50,000 people lining up to cheer the home team crash to 7 defeats in the space of a month! Remaining with the Deccan Chargers, Afridi is up for sale folks! Any buyers?
But yes, the IPL, has taken cricket into an exciting phase. 2k8 was a particularly good year for cricket with a frightening end for, forget the purists, probably even the generation brought up on t20. A little on that later. The year started off magnifying cultural difference, where a probable Hindi abuse, was thought off as a racist abuse. The Monkey gate was entertaining! But through this year, we learnt, that only two teams are fighting for the top spot, and Australia isn't one of them. Shocking! This year also showed that bowlers can think of alternate career options, with teams chasing scores in the unbelievable realm with effortless ease. Even Bangladesh threatened! But, for good or for bad, atleast for now, the year ended with Test cricket back above one day cricket in popularity, with amazing run chases. The year also witnessed, international cricket matches decided in a best of 1 over!! The golden over, introduced in the match between New Zealand and West Indies, was used to decide the better team. Thankfully, NZL and Windies were those teams. Who cares? The year also saw right handed batsman hitting left handed sixes, Pakistani cricketers in action in IPL, and nothing else, oh, of course the home series in Abu Dhabi. The year saw a prodigious carrom board talent make a name atleast for some time. The year also saw matches held in an environment where an excited Michael Holding, saying "whizzing bullets past the batsman's nose", might no longer be a metaphor. But 2k8 will always be remembered, as the year, Australia, fell, at a pace, that would make cricketers believe in gravity more than ever before.
A lot to look forward to in the coming year. The power struggle for the top of World Cricket, a great tennis rivalry, and an engaging F1 season to look forward to, are just some of the things that come to my mind foremost.
However, for all the great things that happened through 2k8, in the sporting domain, a few natural disasters, a few man made atrocities has drilled in more emphatically than ever before, that at the end of the day, all we are talking about, is just a game.
Wish you a happy new year!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Lets paint it red for next year!!
It has taken a long time, for us to catch up with Lewis, the 2008 World Champion. But, in our defence, it takes time, when the man in question, spends half his time, running from the police for jumping the red signal ( Kimi might sympathize) and the other half, for paying speeding tickets or fines for driving under the influence of alcohol. But the reigning world champion, has been graceful enough to give us sometime, while holidaying in St. Lucia, where the champion wasted no time in getting high.
Here are some excerpts from our conversation with Lewis " I nearly blew it again" Hamilton.
WaG: First of all congratulations on your championship, Lewis.
LH: Yeah thanks. I worked really hard, to lose it again, but then, these days money talks.
WaG: This is with reference to the dramatic last turn overtake of Timo Glock???
LH: Yes, it was a tough race. I worked very hard. I was driving aggressively and on the edge. But I somehow got beaten by a Minardi. But then, Mclaren worked out a behind my back deal with Toyota, the moment Vettel showed me his back. Mclaren agreed to fund the Toyota F1 racing team for the next 5 years. If Toyota are not happy with the progress, I can still have the championship stripped off, when they go public.
WaG: Interesting, the politics of F1. But you still had a great year. Can you explain the Vettel move in the last race from your point of view?
LH: Well, I raced hard, was driving flat out, but at the end of the day, the Minardi was too much for the Mclaren Mercedes to handle. It was a good move, but I thought he pushed me off the racing line a bit and that was not good.
WaG: Ofcourse. What made you interested in racing?
LH: The freedom to drive flat out. That is the biggest thing.
WaG interrupts: Like ramming into the car in front when the red light flashes brighter than ever.
LH: Hehe. Yeah, that was fun. But, ofcourse, that is something I can do on the racing track, and get away with it. Also, blocking cars, going off road and taking others with me, I own the road. However, shifting from the race track to the roads, has been a huge mental adjustment, as can be seen, from the number of tickets I had to pay on the road this season.
WaG: Yes, tough to be an F1 driver. How did you feel, when the idea about Wembley was mooted?
LH: Honestly, I was releived when the idea was called off. If you look through my F1 career, I have never been able to overtake someone without taking him off road, or myself off road. So I thought it would be something very risky for the public and the guy whom I was racing against.
He signs off by saying that he has been working hard this off season, to make out the difference between red and green, and for that, he suggests, they paint Mclaren red next year, and believes that is the only way he can keep the championship, how to keep his car on track without pushing the other one off, as he tries to overtake, or gets overtaken, and hopes for a less eventful 2k9.
Whatever you say about the guy, he won the championship after all, and deserves credit for that. But WaG, cant settle with that, and has to add this - the two best drivers were not even contending for the championship.
Here are some excerpts from our conversation with Lewis " I nearly blew it again" Hamilton.
WaG: First of all congratulations on your championship, Lewis.
LH: Yeah thanks. I worked really hard, to lose it again, but then, these days money talks.
WaG: This is with reference to the dramatic last turn overtake of Timo Glock???
LH: Yes, it was a tough race. I worked very hard. I was driving aggressively and on the edge. But I somehow got beaten by a Minardi. But then, Mclaren worked out a behind my back deal with Toyota, the moment Vettel showed me his back. Mclaren agreed to fund the Toyota F1 racing team for the next 5 years. If Toyota are not happy with the progress, I can still have the championship stripped off, when they go public.
WaG: Interesting, the politics of F1. But you still had a great year. Can you explain the Vettel move in the last race from your point of view?
LH: Well, I raced hard, was driving flat out, but at the end of the day, the Minardi was too much for the Mclaren Mercedes to handle. It was a good move, but I thought he pushed me off the racing line a bit and that was not good.
WaG: Ofcourse. What made you interested in racing?
LH: The freedom to drive flat out. That is the biggest thing.
WaG interrupts: Like ramming into the car in front when the red light flashes brighter than ever.
LH: Hehe. Yeah, that was fun. But, ofcourse, that is something I can do on the racing track, and get away with it. Also, blocking cars, going off road and taking others with me, I own the road. However, shifting from the race track to the roads, has been a huge mental adjustment, as can be seen, from the number of tickets I had to pay on the road this season.
WaG: Yes, tough to be an F1 driver. How did you feel, when the idea about Wembley was mooted?
LH: Honestly, I was releived when the idea was called off. If you look through my F1 career, I have never been able to overtake someone without taking him off road, or myself off road. So I thought it would be something very risky for the public and the guy whom I was racing against.
He signs off by saying that he has been working hard this off season, to make out the difference between red and green, and for that, he suggests, they paint Mclaren red next year, and believes that is the only way he can keep the championship, how to keep his car on track without pushing the other one off, as he tries to overtake, or gets overtaken, and hopes for a less eventful 2k9.
Whatever you say about the guy, he won the championship after all, and deserves credit for that. But WaG, cant settle with that, and has to add this - the two best drivers were not even contending for the championship.
Uncomplicated Genius
It has been a long time since there has been any activity on this space allocated for random rumblings. But, I have been busy assembling a team and sending them across the world to meet up with the current F 1 Champion , Blew it Hamilton, and homegrown talent ( this was never promised, but this team is in a generous mood this time of the year), the Nawab of Najafgarh, Virender Sehwag holidaying in some god forsaken place, to top off his splendid year.
Excerpts from the really candid Viru conversation:
Wine and Gold: It's been a great year for you, Viru, out of the side, and the brilliant comeback into the team, you must be really satisfied.
Viru: Thanks, yes, it was a tough year before, but then I have always believed in my style of batting, if the ball is there to be hit, I will hit it. This year, luckily, I hit some.
WaG (not the brightest idea I think) : So what did you do, to get back into the form you displayed down under?
Viru: Nothing, if the ball is there to be hit, I just hit the ball. I have always believed in this and I saw no reason to change that.
WaG: Not even after the horrendous last year and a half?
Viru: I felt I was getting out when I was batting well. But in this game you either play or you dont, so I said, if the ball is there to be hit, I will hit it.
WaG: Enlightening, I can't help but notice, that you sit, right next to Gary, if your in the dressing room. What is the reason for that? Some superstition?
Viru: No, nothing like that. I just get frustrated in there, when a ball is there to be hit, and it is left alone. I am not taking any names, but the wall, for example. So i mouth obscenities in Hindi, which Gary really can't understand. That's all.
( and then he mutters - I broke a TV thanks to him, hitting a ball that was there to be hit, watching him bat)
( Looking for the Breaking News scroll!! Damn, where did it go??)
He rounds off advising youngsters playing cricket, to hit the ball if it is there to be hit, after all, you either bat, or you dont. ( Uncomplicated genius) Obviously, if you are still interested to know, there is no bowler, Sehwag fears, because, he has nothing to do with the bowler, as any bowler, has to bowl the ball, and any ball is there to be hit.( Oh yes, after admirable restraint the man said it)
But, the team would like to thank him, for giving his precious time while trying to find a ball that can be hit, and also, for the amazing exhibition of sheer audacity and exhilarating batsmanship, in a year where, he setup the march of this Indian team to the pinnacle.
Keep it up Viru, Pure Genius!
Excerpts from the really candid Viru conversation:
Wine and Gold: It's been a great year for you, Viru, out of the side, and the brilliant comeback into the team, you must be really satisfied.
Viru: Thanks, yes, it was a tough year before, but then I have always believed in my style of batting, if the ball is there to be hit, I will hit it. This year, luckily, I hit some.
WaG (not the brightest idea I think) : So what did you do, to get back into the form you displayed down under?
Viru: Nothing, if the ball is there to be hit, I just hit the ball. I have always believed in this and I saw no reason to change that.
WaG: Not even after the horrendous last year and a half?
Viru: I felt I was getting out when I was batting well. But in this game you either play or you dont, so I said, if the ball is there to be hit, I will hit it.
WaG: Enlightening, I can't help but notice, that you sit, right next to Gary, if your in the dressing room. What is the reason for that? Some superstition?
Viru: No, nothing like that. I just get frustrated in there, when a ball is there to be hit, and it is left alone. I am not taking any names, but the wall, for example. So i mouth obscenities in Hindi, which Gary really can't understand. That's all.
( and then he mutters - I broke a TV thanks to him, hitting a ball that was there to be hit, watching him bat)
( Looking for the Breaking News scroll!! Damn, where did it go??)
He rounds off advising youngsters playing cricket, to hit the ball if it is there to be hit, after all, you either bat, or you dont. ( Uncomplicated genius) Obviously, if you are still interested to know, there is no bowler, Sehwag fears, because, he has nothing to do with the bowler, as any bowler, has to bowl the ball, and any ball is there to be hit.( Oh yes, after admirable restraint the man said it)
But, the team would like to thank him, for giving his precious time while trying to find a ball that can be hit, and also, for the amazing exhibition of sheer audacity and exhilarating batsmanship, in a year where, he setup the march of this Indian team to the pinnacle.
Keep it up Viru, Pure Genius!
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