A Mixed Bag

After the pot Boyler of an opening ceremony, the competitions are in full swing at London. The results haven't followed the script to the T but haven't digressed too much either. While the South Korean men wilted in the archery semis after shattering world records in the ranking rounds, the women justified their status as the top team in the world. Lochte got  better of Phelps in the 400m individual medley while the French pipped the US at the post for the 4X100m freestyle relay. The initial results have given China a head start with the the Asian giant surging ahead in swimming and shooting, the women's 10m pistol and rifle golds going to them. They however had to face reverses in the men's 56 kg weightlifting where North Korea's Om set an Olympic record to stun the favorite Wu Jingbiao. No such problems in the women's 48 kg division where Wang Mingjuan left the others behind comfortably. The British had their own heartbreak when Mark Cavendish couldn't bring home a medal in the cycling road race. The judo spoils were equally distributed with Brazil, North Korea and Georgia bagging one each. Hungary looked to maintain their hold on the fencing after claiming the sabre gold. The US seemed to be on its way to gymnastic glory with both the men and women leading the way in qualifying. Russia looked to be lagging behind with just the solitary gold while Italy surged with archery and fencing golds. If the first two days of jostling are anything to go by, surprises may not be so difficult to find.

The Big Ben Tolls

We are here. The summer games open today with arguably the greatest show on earth. The competition has already kicked off with soccer and we have already had an upset with Spain losing to Japan. Is this an indication of the script that is going to unfold for the three week extravaganza? Lets look at the top five nations on  the medals list from Beijing and see if any of them can be displaced from their exalted status.

China topped their home games with 51 golds and a total of 100 medals. They dominated badminton, table tennis, diving, gymnastics, shooting and weight lifting, a total of 36 golds coming from these disciplines. Can they go on and repeat the feat? Looks unlikely. While the racquet games and diving may still fetch them a handful of podium finishes, they are in for a fight in gymnastics, shooting and weight lifting. China will certainly figure in the top three of the list but probably not on top.

The US are the traditional Olympic power house. They were upset at Beijing and had to settle with the second spot. Though their medal count of 110 was superior to China, they managed only 36 golds and its that hue of metal that counts most. They would look to usurp China's dominance in gymnastics and maintain their stranglehold on swimming and athletics which fetched them 19 golds. Their all round winning abilities should get them fringe medals from a a lot of disciplines and are a good bet to top the table this time around.

Russia have had to play second fiddle after the Soviet Union breaking up. They won 23 golds and a total of 73 medals in 2008 and were placed third in the rankings. They would be looking to go at least one better this time around. Athletics and wrestling are their strong suits and they would look to regain the lost gymnastic glory to pip China for the second post. They may spring a few surprises in the pool as well and improve on their silver showing in weight lifting.

Great Britain and N Ireland are the hosts in London and they would look to maintain their fourth position if not go one better. The bagged 19 golds and and total of 47 medal doing well in cycling and sailing. While they would maintain their supremacy in these two, athletics and boxing may bring them better laurels on the home turf. They wouldn't mind a soccer gold and would look to score medals in more disciplines than they did in China.

Germany rounded off the top 5 in 2008 with 16 golds and a total of 41 medals. They would face stiff competition from Australia to maintain a top five finish. Looking to maintain their position in the water games (canoe) and equestrian, they would want to fend off Australia in the swimming stakes and look to better their tally in shooting and cycling. Whether they are replaced by Australia in this list will depend on how the Aussies make or break their swimming dreams.

I don't expect a big change in the constituents of the top five list in these summer games but there surely will be a churn in terms of positions and the fight will be worth watching.

Making a Hash(im) of it

South Africa lost 2. England lost 20. The English were not able to overhaul the Saffer's total in spite of that. The number 1 ranking now hangs by a thread and if they fall, they would give it up to worthy successors. It is difficult to imagine where KP would have fitted in this South African side had he not changed loyalties. Could he have replaced Kallis? That may sound like the joke of the century. Over 12k runs at 57 and over 275 wickets at 32 are numbers that any specialist batsmen or bowler would give an arm and a leg for. Combine these with over 150 catches, some of them out of this world, and you have a cricketer who stands tall not only amongst his peers, but across history. Amla showed how far he has come from the callow cricketer who was targeted with the perfume ball when he first came onto the scene. He becomes the first SA cricketer to make a test triple ton and one wouldn't bet against him repeating the feat. Such is the calmness in his demeanor and so honed are his skills that one may not miss Rahul Dravid playing cricket. There were no extravagant gestures when he conquered the landmark and that is another small thing where he stands out from most modern batsmen (consistency being the bigger one). With a bowling attack comprising Steyn, Philander and Morkel, the blow hot, blow cold syndrome is much less likely to hit the Proteas. I would predict a prolonged reign for them at the top if they manage to topple the incumbents. Where do the English go from here. For starters, the series is yet to be won and lost and it would be nice if Anderson and company can step it up a little. Whether the Oval thrashing remains a blip or a harbinger of impending long term crisis will depend on how they respond. Onto Leeds and Lords then to decide if we will have a new Test number one.

Great Scott!

How ELSe do you describe the great choke that Adam managed to conjure last night. The claret jug within his grasp once he birdied the 14th with four to play. Bogeying the next three paid put to his chances and he couldn't even sink an eight footer to save a play off on the 18th. There is something about pressure that dents the best of sportsmen and makes them look like ordinary mortals. Ernie would have been pinching himself as lady luck favored him to the hilt. Its two years in a row that the Open has been won by a 40 plus professional. Suddenly it looks like golf is no longer a young man's game. Rory with a plus 8 languished at a 60th tied position. Tiger bogeyed as if the ghosts of the recent past still haven't been exorcised. A vast majority of Golf's popularity today ows it to him for bringing in that sense of adventure to the sport once considered dreary. He seems to be in the hunt for the big titles but just cant get the home runs. Wonder if Jack's majors record will take another golfer to break. Another melt down was that of Snedeker who after leading through so handsomely at the cut just coudn't use his putter. For India, Anirban Lahiri made a hole in one and that has to be the only silver lining in an otherwise forgettable outing for him and Jeev. Ernie remembered his autistic son and Nelson Mandela at the presentation and it seemed the golfing gods had that in their minds as well when they chose the likeable South African over the talented Australian.

The legends

Olympics churn out sporting legends by the bagful. Some because they break through from amongst a sea of mediocrity (think Abhinav Bindra) and some that step up to racism and apartheid ( go Jesse Owens). Then there are some who overcome physical handicap (Oscar Pritorius) and some who blaze a trail (Usain Bolt). However, standing atop the heap of these are people who won and won big for a long time. They are the best decorated Olympic athletes of all time and synonymous with the prime physical and mental prowess of mankind. I talk about men and women who won more than 8 olympic gold medals in their glittering careers.

Numero uno is Micahael Phelps with 14 (a total of 16). Does he really belong to the homo sapiens species or the Pisces? 2012 would be his last games in the pool and one wouldn't count against him bettering the mark beyond surpass able limits.  Swim Michael swim.

Next on the list is Larisa Latynina with 9 (a total of 18). The most decorated Olympian of all time. She dominated the gymnastics for three successive games and was instrumental in establishing the Soviet Union's reign in the discipline. While many remember Comaneci's perfect ten, Larissa outguns her in terms of pure numbers.

Up next is the flying Finn, Paavo Nurmi with 9 (a total of 12). Probably the best long distance runner the games has seen. His career cut short after being barred to compete because he turned professional. His statue adorns the Helsinki Olympic stadium and that is more than deserving.

Mark Spitz with 9 (and a total of 11) comes down the line. In 1972 at Munich, he won seven golds in the pool, all of them in world record times,a feat unlikely to be equaled. Spitz retired at 22 at the height of his achievements. He adorned the default swimming legend tag till Phelps came along.

Carl Lewis with 9 ( and a total of 10) round the list up. Probably the athlete of the 20th century with a stranglehold not just on the 100m, 200m individuals and relays but an accomplished long jumper as well.  The first to run the 100m in sub 10s timings for low altitudes, he still serves as a beacon for generations of sprinters after him.

Will we see another legend emerge in London 2012, one who can break the barriers of pain and standard human capability to enter the above list. Wishful thinking? But then that's what makes legends.

The dark horses

There would be a few pretenders to the Olympic throne at London. Contenders who will be out to upset the established champions and etch their own name in the history of sports. One of the main reasons the games rank so high on any athlete's career is the opportunity for relatively unknown sportspeople  to spring the surprise on the incumbent kings and queens of the arena. In 2012, foremost of these would be Johan Blake. He has already beaten Usain Bolt at the Worlds and lately at the Jamaican trials. Though these were only dress rehearsals and Bolt presumably had a "slight problem", Blake has served notice enough to be considered a real threat to the world record holder's hegemony in the sprint events. The two should come against each other for both the 100m and 200m dashes and the fight is evenly poised. Ryan Lochte has lived under Micahel Phelp's shadow long enough to know how it feels to be deprived of stardom after having a bevy of Olympic medals to his name.  The 200m free and backstroke may just be the races that put him along side Phelps and Spitz at the head of the American swimming table. Saina Nehwal has been a thorn in the Chinese flesh for some time on the badminton courts. Though she does not boast of a very good record against the two Wangs, its a fear of her that has made the selection of Li Xuerui possible. If Saina fires all cylinders, this may be the year where the Chinese dragon is slayed on the shuttle. Home advantage was in full view for the Chinese gymnasts four years ago but expect the US to upset their applecart in London. The bars and vaults may see new rulers and that surely wouldn't be a case to lament. Anticipating a new set of trend setters that keep the flame burning bright.

Let the games begin

We have surely come a long way since the ancient Greeks toughed it out in their Coliseum. Also some way from the first modern Olympiad at Athens. Man now runs at more than 10m a second and the number is as mind boggling as Usain Bolt's feats are. Beijing was a show of strength and London may be more elegant than in your face. It becomes the first city to hold the summer games for the third time and you cannot grudge that honor to the English capital. Its going to be a gender neutral spectacle for the first time and that means another glass ceiling is broken. Its a melting pot with a gene pool unparalleled for the Olympic contenders are just not prime athletes but also ones with the best mental acumen. Where else could you have breakfast with Federer, lunch with Phelps and dinner with Bolt. Its stuff of dreams and an arena fitting the legends that dot it. China took full toll at its home games last time around and left the traditional sporting super powers in its wake but it remains to be seen if it can replicate the sensational performance in the land of the queen. It is sure to dominate diving, table tennis, badminton but the fringe medals may not come along. Will Yelena Isinbayeva scale the heights that the "orbit" promises? Will Bolt repeat history and the 9.58s mark would be left behind in his run? Will Phelps become the most decorated athlete in the Olympic history? Can Liu Xiang put the Beijing tears behind him? Will the US and Russia regain their sporting pinnacles or the host would spring a surprise on the medals tally? Questions aplenty and that is exactly what makes these games one of the most anticipated in recent times.   It gave me goosebumps that morning when Abhinav Bindra shot down the 10m air rifle gold. A first individual gold for a country of a billion is skewed in terms of ratio but rates as one of the finest moments in the country's history. Expect him and Gagan Narang to be there again this time around. Also, boxers have shown that they can punch above their weight and I won't be surprised to see a couple of medals there. Deepika Kumari is the quintessential Indian achiever and that's the one medal I truly hope to see come along. The hockey wielders have not shown promise of late but then wishful thinking is not unlawful, is it? So, while the grand scheme of things unfolds in the three weeks starting July the 27th, I would be looking at some sub plots that make this congregation a theater of dreams and tears.

Pit Stop

It's been an even season for F1 this year. Multiple winners and the top three separated by not many has been good to see. If Vettel was harboring thoughts of running away with the title a third time, he may have to hold his bulls. Bernie's efforts to standardize technology has shifted the focus from the cars to the men at the wheel quite significantly and one hears less grudges about car pace and downforce. Only if they could make over taking a tad easier. Though the top contenders may have come close, the tailenders are grouped together too. Looks like Red Bull, Lotus, Ferrari and McLaren are still in a different league. I haven't been able to catch a lot of live races this time around but strategies do seem to be playing a bigger role. Pit stops and fuel levels have made and marred and few wins and that is welcome as an additional dimension to the sport which can get dreary at times. I wonder what Schumacher gets out of running these days. He is an absolute legend with achievements unparalleled and it seems all that is getting besmirched by his also ran showings. May be he wants to take Mercdes to the heights he took Ferrari. Easier said than done. He may yet be the phoenix but I wouldn't bet for it. Would be interesting to see who revs it up this season to emerge victorious. Till then let's savor the fight.

Return Of The King

First things first. Seventeen majors and the number one spot (that also means that Rafa and Nole may see each other in the semis for some time) at 31 are achievements that just pop my eyes. If this doesn't settle the debate about who the GOAT is, nothing else would. I was wrong a second time predicting the final line up ( the first one being the Euro clash) but never knew there is so much fun being wrong. Roger may as well buy that roof on the SW19 off. As soon as the heavens opened up as if calling the master to do his thing, majesty was in full flow. The baseline flicks, the drop volleys and the serves that matched the clattering thunder up above. All this and no sweat, even the partisan center court crowd didn't grudge him what was due. Andy put up the fight one has come to expect of him but it would have needed two of him to down the Swiss last night. He has lost his first four grand slam finals and the only thing that might comfort him is the show his coach put up after losing his first four. The icing on the cake has to be the presence of Roger's twins who may just look back a few years down the line the history they witnessed. Or may be create some of their own. Federer is the crowd's darling in general, not today. Britain has waited more than a life time for a winner and they probably have to wait another year for the emotions to break dam.  Does Fed have any more in him? Also, does Andy have what it takes to get back and keep hunting? The answer to both those questions is an emphatic YES.

20s, 50s and the unlimited

The good doctor that Grace was, even he wouldn't have given a prognosis like this for the game he loved.  It was all leisurely, measured and dare one say gentlemanly till a few eons ago. Scoring behind the wickets was not a form of art and rest days afforded aficionados a meaty bite dissecting performances and making predictions. Over rates were good and the run rate not so. "Limited" overs changed the landscape of cricket in a slew that no other game has probably seen. Limiting the already limited to twenty turned it into the sort of entertainment that one expects of Ethan Hunt's pursuits. The purists are aghast at the dwindling fortunes of the longer version while the junta laps up the shortest form. Fifty over matches have probably run their course and the version in its "end of life" phase. The ICC would deny this as vehemently as it denies BCCI's play in the executive decision making process. I still wonder why production companies pay obscene sums to get rights for one day matches. The TRP ratings are low and the turnstiles at stand still. May be push has come to shove and everyone's busy flogging a dead horse. T20 obviously doesn't offer similar time slots for advertising as the denouement is available in  three hours and the captains don't discuss their mothers in law between overs as they do in the one day game. Test matches have lost perspective except probably for a few hard fought series. Some say the five day game is the epitome of the cricketer's skill. How do you test the skills of a bowler when he practices something in the nets and is asked to do exactly the opposite on the field. Or the batsman who thinks blocking is the way to immortality. Every one wins at home and loses while traveling. Some say the non standard conditions are the spice of the game. I say its a spice that is made to suit the home team's guts, and create havoc with the visiting team's internals. May be its time to relegate the test to Ashes where it still stokes passion. Wonder who gets the kicks scheduling and watching limp draws. Instant gratification isn't here to go away and if that's what evolution has in store for the leather and the willow, amen to that.

Tiki Taka Tick Tock

Sounds like clock work aint it. The Spanish inquisition is over. If you can score four against a team that is traditionally known for its impenetrable defense, not much else would stop you. The La Roja are now part of the the pantheons of greats and they are not yet done. I would not bet against the same bunch turning it on in Brazil come the next big soccer tourney. Spain had four different scorers and one who scored in the last Euro final as well. Goes some way in exemplifying their all round abilities and longevity. De Bosque would not sound a heretic if he were to proclaim his side the greatest ever. So, what do the others do to tackle this armada? For starters strengthen their club competitions with domestic players and not so much with imports. Anyone listening at the BPL?

Roger has been relishing five setters of late. Has lost some and won more. The latest installment against Julien Benneteau was another Houdini act. Julien did run out of steam in the decider but  always managed to keep his nose in front against the Swiss till the best part of the first four. It felt like Fed was a little conservative the first two sets waiting for the Frenchman to self destruct. The game didn't follow that script though and it needed a gear shift from the six time champ to come through. Xavier Malisse was disposed with much more ease and its the Russian journey man Youzhny up next in the last eight. Both play a single hander on the back hand and you wouldn't bet against my bet for this one. Meanwhile, Nole has made serene progress and another semis encounter between the number one and three seeds is on the cards. Only if Roger was on Nadal's half of the draw, this could have been a memorable final. Better early than never.