Of sporting events...
4 different events caught my attention over the past few days, from 4 different sports, 4 different stories...
This past weekend, F1 was in the states. I'm not so sure of all the technical stuff, but to cut to the chase,Michelin issued a warnig to their 7 teams that unless a certain corner was slowed, they could not guarantee the safety of the tires.. this led to all 7 teams pulling out of the race and a Ferrari 1-2, the first this season. I'm a ferrari fan, and as much as I'd welcome a 1-2 finish, i'd rather it be a second or even third for schumi if he got it with everyone running and losing a close run against Alonso or Raikkonen. All well and good, a win IS a win, but this win was quite empty to say the least. Imagine if in the end, ferrari wins the constructor's by a 10 or if schumi squeaks the driver's chapionship by a small margin, you can't help but look back at this race, then again, it was the Michelin runner's decision not to run, and develpment, including tires, is part and parcel of the competition. This is even the exact reason why the constructor's championship is so heralded, F1 cars are built from the ground up...
On to the NBA finals. Im not sure exactly about the odds and all, but most of my friends said that the pistons didn't have a shot. 6 games later, we're down to a do or die situation. You have to give it to them, even down 2-0, they fought, and fought hard.. and they're still fighting. Win or Lose, they've definitely put up a very good fight, and fought a very good season.. but needless to say, it would be great if they could make it back to back... Go Pistons!
This one's late, but definitely worth a mention.. Last Sunday (monday here in Manila) Michael Campbell raised the US Open trophy after a long fought 72 holes, coming out as the only golfer not over par. What's so great about this vistory was that Campbell's journey lasted for more than 72 holes. Unlike Woods, Els, Goosen, Singh or Mickelson, he had to work his but through qualfying to earn his slot in this year's event. In fact, save a few New Zealander's, I don't think anyone even expected him to contend, much more win this year. For the unfamiliar, the US open is one of the most democratic golf tournaments in the sense that anyone can qualify and go on to win the tournament, just as Campbell did.Of course there's a way you can bypass such a line, if you won the US Open in the past 10 years, or if you won any other major in the past 5, or if you're in the top 50 in the world... (long list of automatic qualifications). It's quite a tedious process, but at the start of the tournament, Andy North (back to back US Open champion '70 and '71 I think, and NBC's lead analyst) even broke down the field making predictions on who would win. Needless to say, campbell was not among the favourites. I guess the highlight of this open was not just the victor, but the inknowns that have at least flashed in the pan, and by the grace of God would go on to make great names of themselves, take Olin Browne, another qualifier, and before this weekend, practically unknown taking the lead for the second and third round, if only he held on for 18 more holes.. then there's this other qualifier who made it to the first page of the leaderboard (i Just can't remember his name though). He shot a 59 in the second round of qualifying after an 80 something, funny, he didn't pack up only to teach his sons that you shouldn't quit, and he made it. It was a great tournament, and cheers to Mr. Campbell and all the other unknowns with great stories, and great results.
Last night, as I often do, I checked the matchups and saw that Randy Johnson was slated to start against Hideo Nomo, and I figured, this one's in the bag, especially since they're playing in Yankee stadium. It was a big surprise when I checked the score when I got in that the yankees where 5-2 down, Bot of the 4th, Johnson already relieved and Nomo pitching a pretty good game. When I saw that, I knew they could rally, they've come back from worse holes, and rally they did. I got home a few hours ago, and when I checked the scores, they not only rallied, they pounced. 20-11 with a 13 run 8th (and didn't even bat in the 9th).
The Yankees are truly a force to reckon with. Not only can everyone in their lineup hit it out of the park, even their reserves and alternates can. It wasn't Randy Johnson or Arod who led the charge, it was Sheff and Matsui. Not quite their number 1, suffice it to say, that lineup is crazy, everyone's simply great. Not only that, this game proves they have heart. They fought back despite their ace being knocked around so badly, fought back and won.
I know this entry is abit incohesive, I'll probably rewrite it soon.. maybe, i dunno.. o well..
This past weekend, F1 was in the states. I'm not so sure of all the technical stuff, but to cut to the chase,Michelin issued a warnig to their 7 teams that unless a certain corner was slowed, they could not guarantee the safety of the tires.. this led to all 7 teams pulling out of the race and a Ferrari 1-2, the first this season. I'm a ferrari fan, and as much as I'd welcome a 1-2 finish, i'd rather it be a second or even third for schumi if he got it with everyone running and losing a close run against Alonso or Raikkonen. All well and good, a win IS a win, but this win was quite empty to say the least. Imagine if in the end, ferrari wins the constructor's by a 10 or if schumi squeaks the driver's chapionship by a small margin, you can't help but look back at this race, then again, it was the Michelin runner's decision not to run, and develpment, including tires, is part and parcel of the competition. This is even the exact reason why the constructor's championship is so heralded, F1 cars are built from the ground up...
On to the NBA finals. Im not sure exactly about the odds and all, but most of my friends said that the pistons didn't have a shot. 6 games later, we're down to a do or die situation. You have to give it to them, even down 2-0, they fought, and fought hard.. and they're still fighting. Win or Lose, they've definitely put up a very good fight, and fought a very good season.. but needless to say, it would be great if they could make it back to back... Go Pistons!
This one's late, but definitely worth a mention.. Last Sunday (monday here in Manila) Michael Campbell raised the US Open trophy after a long fought 72 holes, coming out as the only golfer not over par. What's so great about this vistory was that Campbell's journey lasted for more than 72 holes. Unlike Woods, Els, Goosen, Singh or Mickelson, he had to work his but through qualfying to earn his slot in this year's event. In fact, save a few New Zealander's, I don't think anyone even expected him to contend, much more win this year. For the unfamiliar, the US open is one of the most democratic golf tournaments in the sense that anyone can qualify and go on to win the tournament, just as Campbell did.Of course there's a way you can bypass such a line, if you won the US Open in the past 10 years, or if you won any other major in the past 5, or if you're in the top 50 in the world... (long list of automatic qualifications). It's quite a tedious process, but at the start of the tournament, Andy North (back to back US Open champion '70 and '71 I think, and NBC's lead analyst) even broke down the field making predictions on who would win. Needless to say, campbell was not among the favourites. I guess the highlight of this open was not just the victor, but the inknowns that have at least flashed in the pan, and by the grace of God would go on to make great names of themselves, take Olin Browne, another qualifier, and before this weekend, practically unknown taking the lead for the second and third round, if only he held on for 18 more holes.. then there's this other qualifier who made it to the first page of the leaderboard (i Just can't remember his name though). He shot a 59 in the second round of qualifying after an 80 something, funny, he didn't pack up only to teach his sons that you shouldn't quit, and he made it. It was a great tournament, and cheers to Mr. Campbell and all the other unknowns with great stories, and great results.
Last night, as I often do, I checked the matchups and saw that Randy Johnson was slated to start against Hideo Nomo, and I figured, this one's in the bag, especially since they're playing in Yankee stadium. It was a big surprise when I checked the score when I got in that the yankees where 5-2 down, Bot of the 4th, Johnson already relieved and Nomo pitching a pretty good game. When I saw that, I knew they could rally, they've come back from worse holes, and rally they did. I got home a few hours ago, and when I checked the scores, they not only rallied, they pounced. 20-11 with a 13 run 8th (and didn't even bat in the 9th).
The Yankees are truly a force to reckon with. Not only can everyone in their lineup hit it out of the park, even their reserves and alternates can. It wasn't Randy Johnson or Arod who led the charge, it was Sheff and Matsui. Not quite their number 1, suffice it to say, that lineup is crazy, everyone's simply great. Not only that, this game proves they have heart. They fought back despite their ace being knocked around so badly, fought back and won.
I know this entry is abit incohesive, I'll probably rewrite it soon.. maybe, i dunno.. o well..
posted by blurred at 11:09 PM
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