A-Z of Sport in 2010

I've been deliberating when precisely I should launch my blog towards the end of the year: the start of The Ashes; the day of the BBC Sports Personality show, or the RTE equivalent, perhaps even my Birthday (Boxing Day).  All truly credible dates, but to be honest I didn't get time on any of these days to put anything together, so I've left it to the first day of the New Year to launch.

And what better way to start the new year with a review of the previous one.  There are of course too many events that have taken place in the past 365 days to list everything, so I'm going to review what I think were the most interesting, exciting or indeed rediculous happenings from the sporting world in 2010.... Alphabetically (still working on X, Y & Z)!
Ashes... dare I?  So the Urn is coming back to Blighty after some fabulous batting from the top of the order combined with pinpoint bowling and some very impressive fielding, an inspired change for the fourth Test and a below-average Australian team.  I do however believe that it would be a let down if England can't come back with a series win.
also... Alloa Athletic.  The only Scottish club able to play a match on the weekend before Christmas as Artic conditions hit the sporting calendar across the country.  I do have to question how only three Premier League games were possible compared to seven in the Championship?!  Obviously paying the players too much money to manage a couple of bags of salt.
 
Blackpool. The home of Fish & Chips, the Pepsi Max Big One and Stag/Hen Parties can now boast a Premier League football club.  And perhaps the most maverick, outspoken yet very correct Manager in Ian Holloway.  I wish them well and hope that they manage to avoid relegation in their first season.
also... Bridge-Gate.  John Terry, captain of club and country thought it would be a good idea to have an affair with with his teammate's girlfriend, and then tried to get a gagging order on the newspapers who were due to release the story.  This was followed by further allegations of Ashley Cole going behind the nation's favourite darling Cheryl Cole's back, sending pictures of himself in unassuming positions to various girls, and finally Wayne Rooney completed the trio of England's International muppets to be caught with his trousers down, allegedly sleeping with prostitutes while his wife was pregnant!

Chairmen (and woman) of football clubs across all four English Divisions, who continue to fire Managers at a whim, driven purely by the panic and threat of relegation or not qualifying for a European tournament.  Have none of these so-called business persons noted that the two most successful clubs since the inception of the Premier League are Manchester United and Arsenal - and look how long their managers have been in the seat.
also... it wouldn't be a a review of 2010 without a mention of the Chilean miners, who, thanks to fibre optic technology were able to watch the Chile v Ukraine on a 50 inch projected display whilst being trapped over 2000 feet underground.
 
Delhi 2010. Despite bridges collapsing, stray dogs sleeping in the athletes village and an undulating running track that was completed hours before the first race, organisers and competitors and media alike would more than likely agree that the Games were a success, however it is unfortunate that the Commonwealth Games are becoming less of a priority for athletes as the lull of prize money makes their schedule busier and busier.
 
European Golf.  Overall a fantastic year for European Golf, with three of the four majors being held this side of the Atlantic (ok well Louis Oosthuizen is South African but the European Tour have staked their claim to him) and of course that memorable victory at Celtic Manor in the Ryder Cup.  And for the first time since 1994 (yes, sixteen years ago) a European player in Lee Westwood tops the World Rankings. (see W)
also... Ecclestone, Bernie.  The Formula 1 maestro presided over what would be seen as one of the most exciting seasons in the sport, with the Championship going to the last race.  Unfortunately for Ecclestone he was also attacked and mugged outside his Kensington workplace, leaving him battered and bruised and taken to hospital with £200,000 worth of jewellery taken, including an £11,000 Hublot watch.  Entrepreneurial, and controversial as he is, Ecclestone allowed Hublot to use a photo of his bruised face in an advert with the tagline "See what people will do for a Hublot". 

Formula 1.  A truly exciting season for the sport, which gave us more races in more locations than ever, and took until the final race in Abu Dhabi for Sebastian Vettel to claim his first World Championship.  South Korea hosted its first Grand Prix, and with India joining the fray in 2011 will make the new season 20 races long.  Five drivers had a realistic chance of winning the title; the all-British Mclaren team of Hamilton and Button, both Red Bull drivers Vettel and Webber, and the Ferrari driver Alonso. Unfortunately Michael Schumacher's return to the sport was hindered by an underperforming car, perhaps suggesting that Button's win in 2009 with the Braun car was a one-off?  Two main talking points in the season for me, firstly the way that Red Bull allowed their two drivers go to the wire without an official preference for one of them.  Secondly, quite the opposite from Ferrari, instructing Massa to let Alonso pass him at Hockenheim.  Quite how they escaped punishment I don't know, and it's interesting to see that Team Orders will be now legal in the 2011 season.
also... FIFA - the decisions to award both Russia and Qatar are both wrong for the sport and make a mockery of the bidding process. (see Q) 

Graham McDowell - what a year for Gmac.  Following the drought that was 2009, the Portrush native claimed two European Tour victories, in The Celtic Manor Wales Open and The Andalucia Valderrama Masters. The highlight of the year however was McDowell's victory in the US Open at Pebble Beach, closely followed I am sure by his holing of the winning putt in the Ryder Cup.  How he came behind AP McCoy, Jessica Ennis and Phil Taylor in the BBC Annual Awards I have no idea.
 
Headbutt.  Seen in some sports, whether legal or not.  But in cycling?  Australian Mark Renshaw was disqualified for head-butting a competitor in the final sprint of the 11th stage of Le Tour, which allow teammate Mark Cavendish to win the stage.  In the overall competition, Lance Armstrong made his comeback but failed to threaten the yellow jersey.  Andy Schleck managed to stay within 8 seconds of Alberto Contador until the 19th stage of twenty, when the Spaniard showed his class in the time-trial to head to the Champs Elysees with a 39 second lead.  Unfortunately, the allegations of drugs continue to surround this event and the sport in general, with Contador himself testing positive but claiming innocence (as generally happens).
also... Harry Rednapp.  Is finally at a club with a decent playing squad, money when it's needed allowing him to show his managerial talent at the highest level.  Spurs scraped into the top-four of the Premier League on the last day of the season, and so far haven't looked back.
 
Irish Softball yet again conceded to Great Britain in both European Tournaments that took place in 2010.  At the ECCS in Slovenia, Dodder & BatPak came second and third behind GB's Chromies team, and in Prague the national team failed to make the final, finishing third behind GB & Czech.  On a personal note playing the tournament in Slovenia was a great experience.  Changes in the administration and coaching staff of the National Team bring renewed hope for 2011 where yet again both the club and national team events will be held in sunny Bulgaria.

Jose Mourinho.  The Special One showed yet again that he is one of, if not the best club manager in world football, by leading Real Madrid to a treble of domestic League and Cup, and the Champions League, during which he defeated his former employees in Chelsea and the top European club of several years, Barcelona, before beating Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final.  And no better venue to achieve his victory than the Bernebeu Stadium, home of his new employees Real Madrid.  But surely Mourinho, who's love for the English game is self-confessed, is waiting for Ferguson to retire at Manchester United?

Kidney, Declan.  The manager of Ireland oversaw a disappointing 2010 Six Nations given the Grand Slam feat of 2009, winning only three times and ending the tournament with a home defeat to fifth place Scotland.  Three defeats in the Southern Hemisphere, including a 66-28 defeat to the All-Blacks preceeded the Autumn internationals that took place in the newly developed Aviva Stadium, and again the home team disappointed by only registering wins against Samoa and Argentina.  Overall five wins from twelve matches is not a good return and better is expected in 2011, with Ireland kicking off their Six Nations in Rome.  There will be no Autumn Internationals this year as the Rugby World Cup takes place in New Zealand, Ireland having been grouped with Australia, Italy, Russia and the USA.

Leeds Carnegie. For so long the yo-yo team of Rugby Union.  Way too good for Division One but not enough stability or money to provide a base and remain in the Guinness (now Aviva) Premiership.  That is until the end of the 2010 season, when Carnegie managed to finish tenth above Sale & Worcester.  A flash in the pan?  Probably, as Leeds have not won a game in the Premiership in the 2010/11 season.

Mazhar Majeed.  So-called agent at the centre of the latest match-fixing allegations in cricket, again involving Pakistan.  Majeed was caught on camera by a News of The World undercover reporter promising to arrange for deliberate no-balls to be bowled at certain times during the Lords' test between England and Pakistan in return for a handsome sum of cash.  Once the allegations surfaced, TV replays showed that two Pakistan bowlers had indeed stepped over the line when it was predicted. Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and a third player, the Pakistan captain Salman Butt were suspended following the game, and during the ICC's investigations of the players a further four players were alleged to be under the control of Majeed.  Ironically Mohammad Amir still collected the Man of the Series Award and a cheque for £4,000 during a very quiet ceremony unusually held indoors in the Long Room at Lords.  I don't particularly agree that if found guilty, the eighteen year old should be wrapped in cotton wool and used as an example to deter other young players falling into the same trap, he should simply be banned from playing all levels of the sport for life!
also... McCoy, Anthony Peter.  Finally a Grand National win!  In his fifteenth attempt McCoy rode Don't Push It home by five lengths, to add to his career victories in the major races.  McCoy's win led to him collecting the BBC SPOTY, despite many claims that he doesn't actually have a personality.

New Orleans Saints.  I'm not the biggest fan of NFL, but I think everyone who saw the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with the thousands of people sleeping rough in the Louisiana Superdome would be touched by the Saints winning their first ever Super Bowl only four years after those dark days.  A defeat of the Indianapolis Colts by 31-17 in Miami was enough to bring the championship to that franchise for the first time.

Old Trafford.  League One Leeds United took on their old foes in the third round of the FA Cup.  No one really gave Leeds much hope except the 9,000 travelling supporters who had been placed in the very top tier of the stadium, presumably to dim their constant noise, indeed Sir Alex Ferguson was happy to name a rather inexperienced team given the 43 place gap between the two clubs.  Howson's pinpoint long ball from his own half picked out Jermaine Beckford (now at Everton) who rather clumsily controlled the ball, deceiving Wes Brown, and managed toi slide the ball past a hapless Kuzcak.  The rest is history!  Not since 1981 has Leeds won at Old Trafford, and following this victory they enjoyed a thrilling 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane before losing in the replay.  The result kicked off what was a somewhat successful year for the Whites.
also... Octopus, Paul the.  Residing in a German Sea Life Center, Paul became famous for correctly predicting the results of the German teams' matches during the 2010 World Cup, and the result of the final.  Unfortunately Paul gave many people in England false hope when he predicted that the 2018 World Cup would be held there!  Paul died in October, aged 2. 

Phil 'The Power' Taylor.  Another PDC World Championship by defeating the Australian Simon Whitlock in the final a year ago.  His fifteenth victory in this tournament!  The Power also added the Premier League, the UK Open, the World Matchplay, and the European Championship titles in another year of dominating the sport.  Taylor remains the one to beat in the PDC although he will certainly admit that the new breed of younger players are getting closer to reaching his level.  Perhaps his one disappointment of the year came in the new World Cup of Darts tournament where he and James Wade lost to Spain in their first game.
also... Promotion. Finally after three long years of trying Leeds Utd dragged themselves out of the doldrums that is League One (ie Division Three), and now find themselves in the lofty heights of the play-off positions in the Championship

Qatar.  Apparantly promises of air-conditioned stadia are a load of bull.. sorry camel!  Now FIFA are attempting to cover their proverbial behind by moving the timing of the 2022 tournament to January/February, oh and perhaps move some of the games to neighbouring states.  I've no doubt that the money is there to build the stadia and provide the infrastructure but I really do think that playing the Football World Cup in a country that has a population of only 1.7m and that is currently ranked 113 in the world is too far fetched and may blow up in FIFA's overly fed faces.

Rafa Nadal.  Following a lean year in 2009, principally due to the tendinitis that caused his withdrawal from Wimbledon that year, Nadal came back with a bang in 2010.  He claimed three of the four majors, including the first US Open title of his career and a fifth title at Roland Garros, and ended the year ranked World Number 1 ahead of his main rival Roger Federer.  He lost to Federer in the season's finale event, the ATP World Tour Finals in London following a marathon semi-final against Andy Murray.  Federer and Nadal finished the year with an exibition match in aid of the Roger Federer Foundation, which shows the amount of respect both players have for each other.  Nadal is 14/1 to win all four Grand Slam events in 2011, and if his knees hold up then those odds are pretty interesting.

Spain.  Won the 'battle' of the two European finalists in the 2010 FIFA World Cup held for the first time in 2010 on the African continent.  I'm not sure that the tournament will go down as one of the better, with player fatigue, half-empty stadia, a ball with a mind of its own and the constant drone of the vuvuzela (see V) dominating most matches.  France, England and Italy all disappointed in the group stages, with the both of the previous tournament's finalists finishing bottom of their respective groups.  England were deservedly hammered by Germany in the second round, a result that would not have changed had Lampard's valid goal been given.  Uruguay played some cavalier football, and led by Diego Forlan were unlucky to lose 2-3 to Holland in the semi-final.  They were slightly fortunate to have made the semi-final given Ghana's last minute penalty miss in their quarter-final match.  (A goal would have made them the first African team to reach that stage).  And so the final would be between two European nations once again, who gave the world one of the drabbest games of football, the highlights of which would be more suitable in a scene from Karate Kid than on a football pitch.  Spectators had to wait until four minutes before the end of extra time when Iniesta scored the goal that meant Spain would win the trophy for the first time in the history of the event.  The only positive from an English point of view was that the final was refereed by Howard Webb.  Six Spanish players made the All-Star team, fittingly joined by their manager Vicente del Bosque.

Twitter.  More and more sportsmen and women have taken to Tweeting, giving us ordinary folk an insight into their lives.  A few of them have however perhaps tweeted messages that they wish they hadn't - Kevin Pietersen's tweet to express his dismay at being dropped by England springs to mind.  More on this as the year progresses.
also... Tendulkar, Sachin.   Became the first player to hit fifty test centuries during India's first test against South Africa in December.  Also passed 14,500 career runsin the same match.  A truly remarkable feat from the Little Master.

Usman Khawaja.  The first Muslim cricketer to be picked in an Australian National cricket squad, and looks set to make his debut in the last test of the 2010/11 Ashes in Sydney as a replacement to Ricky Ponting.  Khawaja has a First Class average of over 50, but whether he can step up a level as needed in the fith test remains to be seen.
 
Vancouver.  The twenty-first Winter Olympics were held in the Canadian city of Vancouver.  'Own the Podium' was the home country's rally call to spectators and competitors alike, the idea that home advantage would help the country to top the medal tables.  It worked, Canada topped the table with fourteen Gold medals, although the USA and Germany won more medals in total, the country with the most Golds traditionally tops the table.  However the campaign had its critics, none more so than the British media who, following the death of the Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili during training, accused the organisers of putting competitors' lives in jeopardy by giving preferential treatment to Canadian athletes.  Vancouver also experienced the brutality of global warming, with unexpected warm weather ruining several events through the lack of snow and ice.
also... Vuvuzela.  You know.  That sound in the background of every match in the South Africa World Cup!  Desperately annoying for spectators, but what fun when you get hold of a couple of them as we did when BatPak played in Slovenia.
 
Westwood, Lee.  Ended the year on top of the World Rankings following a successful year of golf.  Winner of the St Jude Classic and the Nedbank Golf Challenge, runner-up in two of the Majors (The Masters & The Open) alongwith the Dubai Desert Classic and the HSBC WGC in Shanghai.  He also played a huge part in the Ryder Cup, bringing 2 1/2 points home for the European Team, but I think more importantly his presence and experience helped the younger members of the team.  Westwood for a major in 2011 - the answer should be Yes! Question is does he have the mental positivity to go that extra distance?
also... West Indies hosted the third Twenty20 World Cup, and did a much better job than when the World Cup was there last.  England played out of their skins throughout the tournament and defeated the old enemy Australia in the final to win their first ever global trophy.  Eoin Morgan for me was the star of the tournament, despite Pietersen being given the award, and has clearly impressed with his style of play in both the short and long format, validated by his selection for the Ashes test squad.  Can he help England repeat victory in this year's ICC World Cup??
 
X
 
Yorkshire Cricket.  So very recently in the doldrums of English cricket, and certainly not meeting the expectations of its die-hard supporters, Yorkshire started the season as favourites for relegation from the County Championship Division 1.  The season ended with Yorkshire finishin third, having taken part in a last game shootout alongside Notts (eventual winners) and Somerset.  They reached the semi-finals of the One Day competition, having topped their group with ten wins from twelve, and there was real hope at Headingley that the club could win it's first silverware since 2002.  However the eventual winners the Even with home advantage at Scarborough, Yorkshire could not get past the eventual winners the Warwickshire Bears.  A mediocre performance in the domestic Twenty20 competition should not take the gloss off what should be seen as a successful season, with Martyn Moxon at the helm and Andrew Gale leading the team which includes current England players Tim Bresnan, Adil Rashid and Ajmal Shazdad, plus some stars of the future in England Lions Jonny Bairstow, Adam Lyth and Gale himself.  The return of Ryan Sidebottom in 2011 can do no harm and brings experience to the bowling line-up, however Jacques Rudolph's decision to return to South Africa could leave a gap in the batting.  This said, expect the White rose to be shining brightly again at the end of the 2011 season.

Z


If you'd like to add to the list, please feel free to leave your comments below.  I'd be interested on your thoughts on any of the events mentioned above, if I've missed anything and of course would love to hear what you're looking forward to and expecting in 2011.


cheers,
Dave