Monday, December 26, 2005

2005

2005, its almost over and looking back, clouded by the visions of the future, it wasn't bad at all.Nowhere in the vicinity of bad.The first new formula one champion after a considerably long time, a thrilling Champions league final, Federers supremacy almost being threatened and a lot other "nice" things.

It also saw democratic processes being initiated in two war ravaged countries - Iraq and Afghanistan, which is a fantastic achievement.Amid attacks and threats of violence, people went to polls after decades of nonsecular rule and now there is hope, which is more than what the people in the respective countries ever had just a couple of years ago.Saddam Hussein being captured and brought to trial, now who would have thought of that.

Nature stamped its authority as the supreme giver, with earthquakes and hurricanes closely followed by the year of the Tsunami, Nature gave a wake up call to be respected, maybe its been enough.Terry Schiavo's death doesn't end the Man Vs Nature debate, and in many ways its hardly begun.I still think the removal of her life support system was "inhuman" and against basic human rights, if the creator wanted us to decide on death he might as well have given us a knob.Evolution might have conjured up such a biological sub-system.

One event, that probably gets my vote as the "Event of the year" was the withdrawal of troops from Gaza.Controversial, yes, as i vividly remember a Jewish woman, in tears, saying "For the first time in Jewish history, Jews have driven Jews out of their holy home".Regardless a comprehensive victory for peace efforts in the middle east.Wounded memories can never be the guide to a peaceful future.Terrorists meanwhile took centre stage during the London and Jordan bombings.The end to terrorism is not in sight, and the threat only seems to increase.The threat to terrorism is Globalisation, and the more we are able to subjugate economic borders and barriers between different classes of people, the more we'll feel safer.

Just like a new formula one champ, people also got a brand new, conservative , Pope, Joseph Ratzinger of Germany and a new CM in Bihar.The latter, especially, holds a lot of promise and isn't the usual run of the mill Bihari politician.If Bihar, UP, and MP clock good growth rates, the aim of a 10 % growth rate won't look unrealistic rather unambitious.

Apart from all the above mentioned changes, things were pretty much the same.Tiger woods captured (yet) another Masters and added to his tally with a British Open as well.Cricket saw the Australians tormented by one Freddie Flintoff, and the Ashes shifting continents for the first time in 16 years.Though cynics will argue that it was the absence of Glen Mcgrath that shifted the Balance, the trophy knows where its going to stay for a year.India saw the emergence of a team with actual sporting character and mental toughness and the future only looks bright, except for the unnecessary presence of a former captain.I would do injustice to a certain 19 year old, Aftab Ahmed if i don't mention his heroics when Bangladesh defeated Australia.He scored only 20 odd, but he kept his head to win a match against by and far the best team in the world.Magnificient achievement.

Ah, the champions league final..half time Liverpool 0 - 3 Milan.There was only one place the title was going, and then the struggle of one man,the stirring deeds and indefatigable spirit of one individual inspired the other 10 and in 15 minutes of absolute madness the meanest defence in Europe conceded 3 goals, and suddenly the scousers were chanting "We're gonna win 4-3" and they did.Football never had it so good.I hope i get to see another Final as this one in my lifetime.

In league football is got as boring as it never did, Romans Chelsea ate everything in its way to win last season and look good again.My beloved Manchester United look lost yet again and my brother Galacticos look the same in Spain, so no ones really in sight of bragging rights.Barca look superb but will they be consistent enough to get glory in Europe, or will they fall to the all conquering Bianconeri.Juventus have looked every bit the Italian mafia in their 15 odd wins this season, especially against inter, they defend ruthlessly and more than
attacking the opponent work on creating opportunities for attacking.

Who will rise upto the challenge of stopping Federer on Grass ?Going from this years experiences no one will, hes above the rest by a good couple of notches.He does everything else that anyone else does, only does it better.Lets hope that some star may rise, and there'll actually will be competition at Wimbledon.Raikkonen crashing out while in the lead, and Alonso chasing him down till the end, and taking the chequered flag, that's been the story of F1 this year.Single minded determination and perseverance paying it off for the Spaniard and we saw a new F1 champion.

One country that has had it pretty good this year, apart from England is NZ.The All Blacks, for me the sporting phenomenon of the year, the Bledisloe Cup, the Tri-Nations, the Grand Slam and the mauling of the Lions showed that Graham Henry's side were a class above the rest, and the now legendary tackle on Brian O'Driscoll by Umaga and Keven Mealamu, the new haka and the emergence of Dan Carter as an All Black legend and it is easy to see why 2005 was a year of redemption for the All Blacks.The men from league just pip the men from union as their victory was totally unexpected in the Tri-Nations and that 24-0 mauling of the Aussies, that'll live long, really long.Even bigger was the triumph of Michael Campbell at the US open, forced to qualify for the tournament, Campbell produced a masterful display of composed golf to clinch the trophy and hero-like status both in New Zealand and around the world.And just to prove it wasn't a fluke, he then went off to win the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth and he'll never have to buy a drink in NZ ever again.

And then, the man who's done it year after year, critics, opponents withstanding , the 7th Tour De France title for Lance Armstrong, his domination of perhaps the toughest sporting event is undeniable.There was little doubt that Armstrong was going to retire on a high, fastest in the time trials, strongest in the mountains and the captain of the fastest team, he duly destroyed his rivals on the streets of France.The lingering cloud of doping still hovers above Armstrong but his talent has never been in doubt.

I can almost see it now, 2006, the year of the the FIFA world cup, the biggest gratification of them all and the Winter Olympics at Torino, along with the rest of the usual happenings.Its bound to be a cracker of a game.

1 comment:

poonam said...

barring sports and more sports news, i enjoyed this post, except that i disagree terry schiavo's death was inhuman. but as they say, each to his own. :)