The sporting world has seen some tumultous changes over the last few months. Long-standing champions have been shown the door and fresh blood has claimed podia across sporting arenas. Some make me happy and some don't, but altogether, this shift of dominance does augur well for the particular sport.
Watching the traditional Ashes rivalry going England's way is might pleasing. Let's be clear, I admire the Aussies for their professional attitude and brilliant skills. However, they have never been adorable winners and, barring Adam Gilchrist, are pretty loathable for their pomposity. They also are bitter losers, as was seen on India's last tour down under. So it was a treat to the eyes to see Ponting losing it big time on the field. The Aussie attack looked pedestrian and made an average English side look like champions in the second test. Save Michael 'Pup' Clark's battling innings, there isn't much that I would applaud them for. While the first two tests have not produced breathtaking cricket (apart from a couple of sessions) the drama on and off the field, and England's win has ensured that the next two tests will be keenly watched and contested. Even in the greater scheme of things, the Aussies are no longer the invincibles they have been over the last fifteen years. South Africa, but for their trademark choking at the final stage of every tournament, look like deserving successors though India is also tipped to have entered the big three.
There isn't a better time to watch tennis than this. While women's tennis is seeing a shift of power from the Russians back to the power packed Williams siblings, the men's circuit is nothing less than legendary. Tennis greats have hailed the current Federer-Nadal rivalry as the best ever. They say every champion has his/her nemesis - Sampras had Agassi while Steffi had Seles. Federer seems to have dug out the mother of all nemeses in the Spanish bull. This rivalry, however, is in complete contrast to the Aussie-English one The champion is as modest as ever, even going to the extent of acknowledging Nadal's greatness by saying, ' I am trying to win whatever I can before he starts winning everything'. Nadal, to his part, has always maintained that Federer is the King of tennis. Although it feels good to see a youngster power his way through to the top, I am always a Federer fan and for once, would like to see this fight go the champion's way. He has surely made the most of Nadal's absence by pocketing the French Open and the Wimbledon and I just can't wait to see Nadal back in action.
Another arena that has seen see-sawing fortunes for the players is motorsport. I understand little of the technical nuances of the sport and contend myself more with the points tally. Ferrari was making the sport so predictable by winning everything under the sun that I was beginnig to give up wathing the sport when out came Lewis Hamilton and his new look Renault Team. Though it couldn't prevent Barichello winning the driver's championship in the season ending race, it did make things interesting for the present season. This time round, its been a brand new Brawn, living its name and teaching the others a lesson or two in driving.
On a concluding thought, and this might be read as far-fetched and unduly patriotic, I am hoping for another upheaval in women's badminton where the Chinese will no longer look unbeatable. Go Saina!
Watching the traditional Ashes rivalry going England's way is might pleasing. Let's be clear, I admire the Aussies for their professional attitude and brilliant skills. However, they have never been adorable winners and, barring Adam Gilchrist, are pretty loathable for their pomposity. They also are bitter losers, as was seen on India's last tour down under. So it was a treat to the eyes to see Ponting losing it big time on the field. The Aussie attack looked pedestrian and made an average English side look like champions in the second test. Save Michael 'Pup' Clark's battling innings, there isn't much that I would applaud them for. While the first two tests have not produced breathtaking cricket (apart from a couple of sessions) the drama on and off the field, and England's win has ensured that the next two tests will be keenly watched and contested. Even in the greater scheme of things, the Aussies are no longer the invincibles they have been over the last fifteen years. South Africa, but for their trademark choking at the final stage of every tournament, look like deserving successors though India is also tipped to have entered the big three.
There isn't a better time to watch tennis than this. While women's tennis is seeing a shift of power from the Russians back to the power packed Williams siblings, the men's circuit is nothing less than legendary. Tennis greats have hailed the current Federer-Nadal rivalry as the best ever. They say every champion has his/her nemesis - Sampras had Agassi while Steffi had Seles. Federer seems to have dug out the mother of all nemeses in the Spanish bull. This rivalry, however, is in complete contrast to the Aussie-English one The champion is as modest as ever, even going to the extent of acknowledging Nadal's greatness by saying, ' I am trying to win whatever I can before he starts winning everything'. Nadal, to his part, has always maintained that Federer is the King of tennis. Although it feels good to see a youngster power his way through to the top, I am always a Federer fan and for once, would like to see this fight go the champion's way. He has surely made the most of Nadal's absence by pocketing the French Open and the Wimbledon and I just can't wait to see Nadal back in action.
Another arena that has seen see-sawing fortunes for the players is motorsport. I understand little of the technical nuances of the sport and contend myself more with the points tally. Ferrari was making the sport so predictable by winning everything under the sun that I was beginnig to give up wathing the sport when out came Lewis Hamilton and his new look Renault Team. Though it couldn't prevent Barichello winning the driver's championship in the season ending race, it did make things interesting for the present season. This time round, its been a brand new Brawn, living its name and teaching the others a lesson or two in driving.
On a concluding thought, and this might be read as far-fetched and unduly patriotic, I am hoping for another upheaval in women's badminton where the Chinese will no longer look unbeatable. Go Saina!
3 comments:
nowadays i feel only tennis is worth watching...even roddick makes a match out of federer...
Actually tennis has been the most predictable.
Federer has made like 20-odd consecutive semis. Nadal, thanks to injury, hasnt quite kept up. Although the rivalry is fascinating.
Era of legends this is for cricket.In 3-4 years there will be no more Tendulkar Dravid Laxman Ponting Murali.I already miss watching Hayden Gilchrist Warne Kumbles. Deliberately exclude Ganguly. Can you imagine a cricket match without these names!
And......the ashes only 40 percent done. I back the aussies to win it.
The cricket has been pretty poor frankly. Compared to 2005/2007 ashes.
Awesome read. keep going.
@ Kau
Guess you shouldn't be discounting the odd occasion when Roddick plays well :) But do try and catch up the upcoming World Badminton Series. I am sure it will be awesome.
@ Chash
Sure, Federer making another final doesn't raise a single eyebrow. I am all for a Nadal comeback later this year. As for the cricketing greats, I guess we will move into an era of too many players and too many teams. Without the constant spotlight on a select few, I am not sure how many of these will go on to become legends.
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