Invictus

The 2009 Morgan Freeman starer portrayed an intersection of the life of one of the greatest statesmen the world has seen and a sport that is probably dear to his countrymen more than any other. That Madiba chose to wear the Springbok emblem on his heart for the 1995 rugby world cup final said something about his beliefs on building bridges through sport. When South Africa was undergoing a tumultuous time, his one action of endorsing the supposed symbol of white supremacy against popular majority opinion led to the racial integration that made the rainbow nation. His friendship with the captain Pienaar is well documented and he was as surprised as anybody else on seeing the president with that green jersey on the field. The fact that he could forget and forgive the torment of those long years in incarceration to step up and get behind a team that many believed represented all that he had fought for so long is testimony to his grace and poise under pressure. He once famously asked for Don Bradman from his captivity remembering the famous Australian for his support to select the Protea team on a non-racial basis. A number of sporting legends including Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods and Pele have been left star struck meeting the unassuming yet towering personality. His last public appearance the 2010 soccer world cup finals was his way of telling the world that sport unites, brings down walls and joins humanity as no other force in the world. May his legacy last as long as sport itself does. RIP Madiba.

Adelaide is considered one of the more placid surfaces among the Aussie test grounds. Mitch Johnson though doesn't seem to have heard that. He blew away the England batting line up today with a 7-for following up with his devastating spell from the Gabba. You could make the pitch slow but not the air and he has brought back that fear of god in the batsmen that seems missing when you see those 20-20 slog fests. The mustache seems to have worked a charm for him and the Movember has still found a place in December. With the WACA to come, the Poms would be forgiven for wishing to be anywhere else except the cricket down under. 

The much vaunted Indian batting was made to look ordinary on a bouncy Joberg surface. A harsh welcome was expected but what was not is that the batters who sent the ball scurrying all around the park on docile Indian wickets found it difficult to even touch the offerings from an all pace Protea attack. If these are signs of what is to come, Dhoni and his men would be thanking the boardroom squabbles for shortening the tour. Better back at home than taking hidings like those. Guess its just belly and no fire for the Indian cricket squad. 

Gabbatoir bounces back

The Ashes on its return leg couldn't have ignited on a better flame. The Poms could be forgiven for looking shell shocked after having arrived down under with the favorites tag. That Mitch Johnson would turn in a performance reminding one of the Lillee Thomson pomp was unexpected but what trumped alll surprises was the ease with which the English batting folded. Trott looked like he seriously feared mortal damage and KP couldn't manage to set his 100th test on fire. The usually reliable captain Cook could only muster a feeble half century in the second innings. Matt Prior has invariably propped up the English batting in times of need but even he looks like a man wishing not to be in the middle holding the bat. The men from the old blighty bounced back after a similar hiding in India last time they toured but it would take them more than just fortitude to ride through the remaining four tests with the Waca and the MCG providing more chances for Mitch and company to make dents in the already shaken English psyche.

Seb Vettel is on such a winning spree that the others seem to be fighting just for second place. With a record eight consecutive grand prix wins this season and a fourth world championship under his belt, the Red Bull racer is on his way to smash all records in F1 history. His hunger for the chequered flag has left his rivals in a daze and with a strong car and probably only Fernando Alonso to look out for, the German is set for a run on the F1 tracks that would eclipse his compatriot Schumacher in no small measure. The Czechs managed to secure a second consecutive Davis cup win with Novak only managing to get the two singles for Serbia. That Stepanek compared his absence from the doubles akin to a "Ferrari in the garage" is proof enough of the gulf between the tennis prowess of the world number two and his team mates. May be it was out of hope and a chance to provide their ace some much needed rest that the Serbians went out without him but it was no surprise that the decision led to their downfall.

Magnus "Mozart" Carlsen became the undisputed chess world champion at just under 23 years of age. His brand of game is one that can put the dread of losing in his opponents even before the first piece is moved. Vishy lost to the challenger as much off the board as on it. His repertoire of making the long end games look like a walk in the park and not accepting draws has brought in a breath of fresh air in the usually dreary proceedings. Carlsen doesn't look like one who would give up on his throne easily and the onus is now on the others to find a chink in the genius' armor. The king is dead.....long live the new king.

The indispensable Father Time

In a week's time, the clock has reminded us all of our impending fall. Through the retirement of one on the cricket field and the subdued performance of another on the chess board, we have seen our own fallibility at the hands of the ticking seconds. That mortality is a given couldn't have come as a more jolting reminder. One may leave behind a trail of brilliance or be of the overwhelming mundane existence but time, that great leveler strikes us all in equal measure, sooner or later. Sachin Tendulkar might have overstayed his welcome but his retirement from all formats of the game leaves a void that one felt would never materialize. He enjoyed a farewell worthy of a gladiator bidding adieu to his beloved arena and the highest civilian award that the Indian government bestows upon individuals would only have compensated for some of the sense of emptiness. Its debatable if we will see a career spanning 24 years again on the cricket field given the physical demand the sport places on its exponents these days but one thing that is certain is that even if it happens, the revelry is bound to end one day.

Vishy Anand lost two theoretically drawn end games to the challenger Carlsen and twice fell into traps that would have embarrassed him at the peak of his career. While the spirit of competition may burn bright in the soon to be erstwhile world champion, the mind has surely taken a beating after what seems an eternity dodging menacing pawns and knights on the board. Would we see a final flicker of radiance from the embattled warrior or the light would go out silently for the one who deserves the "Bharat Ratna" as much as any body else. One would have wished for him going out with a bang but fairy tale endings are just that, wishful thinking, especially when father time creeps up with his axe so surreptitiously. Here's bidding good bye to the legend and three cheers to the young man from Norway who seems to be well set to rule the world till he faces the master like all his predecessors.

The Davis cup finals are under way and Serbia without the services of Tipsarevic, would rely solely on Novak to make sure they land the coveted title once more. The crucial doubles match has landed in the Czech republic's favor and with Djokovic only playing one of the reverse singles rubbers, it would take a miracle for the Serbs to stop the Czechs from winning back to back titles. The Berdych vs Djoker  match may well be a humdinger and decide the ultimate fate of the tie. The traditional heavy weights like the US and Germany in the team competition are now fighting for lesser spoils while the new world order takes shape in tennis.

No rookies these knights

Vishy Anand may be defending his title from Moscow at home but the stark difference in Elo ratings between him and the challenger more than makes up for home advantage. Magnus Carlsen hasn't earned the moniker of the "Mozart" of chess for nothing. He was a GM as 14 and has a world record rating higher than that of the erstwhile king Kasparov. That he comes from the Scandinavian region not known for its chess prowess is just another marker to the fact that he is a special talent not made by the system but in spite of it. On the other hand, Anand has been a world champ in all formats of the game and is an established legend of the game. Having kept up with the grueling asks of the 64 squares for so long and having stood up to a number of pretenders, he locks horns with the wonder kid in what is probably the biggest threat to his throne. At the time of logging this, the two have already played out two tame draws. These looked like reconnaissance sorties for the full blown attack to come and both seemed to be wary of getting into uncharted waters early in the match. While Carlsen is credited with bringing in fresh ideas and attitude to chess, Vishy with his experience and adaptability is always game for a challenge. Can the younger man score over the reigning champion? The pundits seem to think so but then the man who defends his crown has gone on to prove them all wrong on more occasions than one. Short games would only help him conserve energy against Magnus who is known to grind his opponents down into making mistakes while he keeps making his methodical moves. If this goes into a tie break, the odds of the title changing hands would go down significantly. Till we know who gets crowned, lets sit back and enjoy the cerebral fight between the king and his successor.

The ATP tour finals are under way and while the two men at the top of the game won all their round robin encounters as expected, the two Swiss knights stand in their way to the finals. This has been a nightmarish year for the master Federer and a sort of break through one for his compatriot Stan Wawrinka. That both have made the semis and face Nadal and Djokovic respectively makes for an intriguing line up. Stan has had a few interesting encounters with the Djoker this year and while he hasn't been able to score, he has run the defending champion close. Roger blew hot and cold in this bid to preserve his record of making the last four of the year end championships every time. He did manage to pull his best game out though to get past the battling Argentine Del Potro. Rafa, however is an altogether different kettle of fish and it would take a miracle for the older man to get through to the finals. Another slug fest between the two top ranked players on the tour is in the offing and it could not get more deserving than that.

What price a Galactico

Finally, everyone has what was desired. Gareth Bale gets to don a Real Madrid jersey, the Spurs are richer by an incredible 100 million Euros and the Bernabeu gets to see him play along side Ronaldo and Neymar. With a shirt bearing the number 11, he would need every bit of the talent and determination that he put on show last season in the BPL to be able to justify his record breaking tag. Whether he is able to break the Champions League hoodoo that has haunted Real since 2002 is something we will have to wait for next year but the La Liga shall tell us whether Real can leave Barca in their wake with their prized acquisition. While Tottenham expressed their displeasure at having to let Bale go, they wouldn't certainly mind the overflowing coffers that can now buy at least three quality players to mount a serious challenge in the league. There will be no Jose this time around in Madrid but another "special one" should grab the eye balls nevertheless.

Another early loss for Federer and the chinks in the armor have started to look more like gaping holes. He used to struggle against two handed backhands but in Tommy Robredo he had an opponent who plies the same trade as him. The former champion again came up short and things are well and truly over for the erstwhile magician. Nadal continues to blaze through on hard courts and is the man to beat. With Novak and Murray in the same half, the title is his for the taking and he is all set to end the year as the number one ahead of Djokovic.  The 17 grand slam title record is now truly under threat and it would probably just take another couple of years before we have a new all time record holder and the matador from Mallorca would be a worthy successor.

Relieving yourself in public looks like a culture thing for the English. First, it was Monty who showed that he is no chicken when it comes to bouncers and then KP, Anderson and Broad followed it up with an Oval sprinkle. That was an answer to nature's call said Swann but it does look like Flower has managed to put in an irksome habit in his players' nature. The final evening of the Ashes ended in controversy when the umpires called it a day (or night) with England in pole position to chase down a sporting challenge set by Clarke. While that was deserved comeuppance for the Poms, they having benefited from dicey light calls earlier in the series, it just highlighted the reluctance on part of the establishment to let go of the old rule book and inject a sense of urgency in the game. If test cricket is to survive, the spectator needs to be given her due and unless the game tries its best to have the players on the pitch and not the dressing room, the stands will keep on becoming emptier.

Do svidaniya

Russia's Luzhniki stadium dazzled after a meek start to the world athletic championships and the athletes holding forte were the usual suspects. While Isinbayeva's vault might have been the sight that the locals yearned for most, it was on the track that two legends reiterated their supremacy in their respective disciplines. Bolt raked in another three golds in the 100, 200 and 4 X 100 m and tied with Carl Lewis, Allyson Felix and Micahel Johnson on the all time list for world championship titles. Add another two silvers and he is the most successful athlete of all time in the competition's 30 year history. All this and he is 26. There is in all probability another Olympics and world championships to be run before he hangs up his golden boots and retires his signature bolt and that should take his legend to heights that may just be out of reach for following mortals. 

Mo Farah made the double double by landing the 5000m and 10000 m titles following up the two golds he won at his home town in London. His late kicks in the home stretch leave his rivals in shock and he has established himself as the force to reckon with in the long distance races. The only thing he needs to topple tfor becoming the greatest British athlete of all time are the world records held by Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele. The signature M (or is it the heart) should make an appearance a few more times on the world stage if the diminutive Mo carries on with a legacy that is already touching dizzying heights.

Rafael Nadal has started the US Open series with a bang and the knee trouble is nowhere in sight. With back to back Masters 1000 titles at the Roger's cup and in Cincy, he is back to number two in the ATP rankings and going on current form, should be the best bet to end the year above Novak at the helm. Federer's experiment with a larger racquet head back fired and although the older weapon got him in contention, he seems lost for good now. Already at number five in the rankings, a further fall seems imminent and one wonders how long can the great take the batterings before calling time. The last grand slam of the year is nigh and it would be the top three that would carry the favorite's tag this time around.

England held the Ashes with a washed out draw at Old Trafford but underlined their supremacy with another thrilling win at Chester-le-Street. With Warner and Rogers giving the Aussies a strong platform to chase down 300, it would have been some redemption for the tourists but the batting again folded much to the chagrin of their supporters. Other than Clarke, there doesn't seem to be too many blokes in the batting order who seem to enjoy being out there in the middle and this performance casts a big doubt on whether the Kangaroos have it in them to wrest back the trophy in the return series come summer down under. The Aussies needed a hero when the series started to be in with a chance but sadly there was none who could impose himself.

Like Coach Unlike Pupil

Ivan Lendl once famously described grass as fodder for cows. He won eight slams but non at SW19 and the hint of smile he wore when his ward finally ended Britain's 77 year old wait for a men's singles champion at Wimbledon was one of satisfaction. Andy Murray broke his grand slam duck last year beating Novak at Flushing Meadows in a 5 set thriller. He didn't need to go as far at the hallowed center court. He managed to beat the world number one at his own game and the typically steely nerved Serb succumbed to a sustained onslaught from both wings of the Briton's racquet. Its not often that Nole lets go off a break but the Scot managed to come from behind in the second and third sets and survived some jitters before serving out for the championship. A knighthood now awaits the champion and irrespective of what he does from now on, he has a place in folklore and the rolls of immortals. This also looks like a threat to Djokocvic's reign at the top and though he remains perched comfortable for the moment, the rise of Andy under the stellar guidance of Lendl is an omen of things to come. Murray has reached the finals of the last four grand slams he has played and won two of them. With Federer waning faster than he rose and Nadal continuing to battle his knees, these two men shall continue to provide the edge to the men's game until a worthy successor comes in sight. For the moment, there is none and the sun continues to shine on another rasping rivalry. The US open is not far ahead and its difficult to look past these two as the contenders to that crown.

Sebastian Vettel was another home winner after he survived some tense moments to finish ahead of the Lotus duo of Riakonen and Grosjean. After Hamilton failed to defend his pole position against the marauding Red Bulls, Vettel drove home in the midst of a safety car incident and some fight from the Lotus cars. He has once again slammed the doors for his challengers after offering them a glimpse at Silverstone. He already has another driver's championship in his sights and it would take a miracle if he doesn't cross the checkered flag as winner once again.

The Ashes start this week and England are firmly in the driver's seat to hold onto their crown they deservedly won down under. They play at home against a side weakened with the retirement of Ponting and Hussey and reeling under off field distractions. Some important players like Watson and Warner have been embroiled in disciplinary issues and the captain is nursing a bad back. The Aussie batting  seems like sitting ducks against the likes of Anderson and Swann and the bowling lacks teeth to dislodge the firm of Cook and Trott. With Peterson back in the dressing room, the England squad now holds firepower enough to blow the Kangaroos right out of the park. The forecast is for a one sided drubbing but its in these circumstances that heroes emerge and Australia desperately need one to get them ashore.

Darcis meets Rosol

I remember writing about the shock that Lukas Rosol gave us last year with his second round win against the Roland Garros champion. That match went to five sets and featured troublesome knees. An encore in the first round this year was beyond imagination going by what I had seen the clay boy do in Paris a fortnight ago. Rafa Nadal has never been able to impose his will the same way on the green grass as he does on the red dirt. But becoming the first French Open champion to get dumped out of the first round at Wimbledon since Kuerten met that fate in 1997 is something that the twelve time grand slam champion would want to forget in a hurry. A straight set loss to a journeyman two years his senior would hurt and with the hard courts in the offing, the knees would revolt too. But if there is one person on the tour whose mind rules supreme over his physical ailments, its the great Spaniard. So, don't be surprised if he runs away with the US Open series and lands his thirteenth slam at the Flushing Meadows come August. Till that time though, Fed can rest easy not to face his nemesis in what was shaping up to be a blockbuster quarterfinal. 

Roger has not lost before the quarters in a slam for a decade now and his beloved grass was not going to stall that record. Against the Romanian Hanescu, a facile win was expected and delivered. He is in line to play his conquest in last year's final in this years semis and if things go to plan, the center court would be once again cheering for the Swiss' opponent, a rarity. There were a few more cheers for the old guard as the 2002 champion Hewitt rolled back the years to down Stanislas Wawrinka. The Swiss is a temperamental player and showed that in reaching the quarters at Roland Garros where he met the unbeatable on clay. Lleyton is a passionate player and the way he has kept going in the midst of injuries and middling results is a thing to admire. Another clay court specialist to bite the grass was Sara Errani who fell to Monic Puig, the Puerto Rican who deservedly got a congratulatory tweet from her countryman Ricky Martin. The first day at SW19 brought a few tumbles and a far more run of the mill results. Par for the course I guess.

The Indian cricket team selection committee has generally been a lame duck when it comes to selection. Seniority and not performance has usually been the yard stick for selecting squads and playing elevens. The four tests that India lost to Australia down under where the under-performing batting line up was not disturbed is a case in point. So, when the Sandeep Patil led men chopped off some of the dead wood and infused a little life in the team, the results are there for all to see. Shikhar Dhawan and M. Vijay have done in a couple of tests, what Sehwag and Gambhir did not manage over a couple of years. The slow legs of Zaheer Khan have been well replaced by Bhuvi Kumar and the sparkle that the Indian squad showed in the field  has landed them another limited overs prize. Dhoni now becomes the only captain to have all the ICC prizes under his belt including the ICC T20, ICC world cup, the Champions Trophy and the world test championship mace. That is a resume most would give an arm for and he is certain to finish as India's most successful skipper when he gives way to another man.

Just Superl8tive

If wiggly knees can land you so many trophies, the ATP tour would be flooded with players crying their foot joints out. When Rafa Nadal returned from injury this year and started off in South America on clay, he was supposed to be a contender again. Instead he turned out to be the erstwhile matador and swept all that came his way. There was no sign of hesitation while sliding those knees, nor any indication of rust. All we saw was supreme clay court finesse and execution. In the biggest challenge that he faced against Novak in the semis, he threw the whole bath tub at his dogged opponent every time a kitchen sink was hurled at him. Rafa came out of the 5 setter triumphant and that should have tasted sweet after landing defeat in a similar match in last year's Aussie Open final. Nadal and Nole are currently the top two guys in the men's game and there is very little to separate them, either physically or mentally. Djokovic had made it clear that his focus would be to land a career grand slam this year in Paris but like Federer, he would probably have to wait for the Spanish giant's knees to give away again to capture the three musketeer's cup. Eight titles at the same grand slam is mind boggling but what stretches imagination is that the owner of those titles is just 27 and in all probability end with double digits Roland Garros crowns. A record that will take a life time if not more to break. Tennis racquet wielders like this clay boy don't come often and that the fact that he has bettered his forehand compared to Roger's is something that belies belief. His opponents can only stare and pray when he unleashes one of those beasts from the base line only to land a couple of inches from the court on the other side and kick away like a mad serpent. The top spin, the speed and the accuracy is something that is now stuff of legend. When the Majorca based great hangs his boots, he would probably have overhauled Federer's mark of grand slam titles and can easily lay his claim to be the greatest of all time.

The Giles Villenueve circuit presented Sebastian with his 29th career grand prix win. He was third time lucky after losing out from pole position in the last two seasons. Though he holds a comfortable 34 point lead over Alonso, the race is far from over. A mistake or two can bring the Scuderia rider right back in the frame and that is something the German would be wary of. The red bulls should be secretly assured of their dominance now that they have got their wish for better tyres. Fernando limited the damage by finishing runner up ahead of Hamilton. The start of the season promised a nose to nose battle but it seems the defending champions may run away very quickly unless someone else steps up to stop the rampage.

Three pete Robredo

Winning a match coming from two sets down is a mean feat, doing it three times in a row on the Parisian dirt borders on the super human. Tommy Robredo has spent a large part of the last three years on the sidelines with injury. He was one of the Spanish armada who usually made the quarters line up at most big events before misfortune made him dump the racquet and take the sling. He could not have chosen a better stage to announce his come back. Winning in five sets after losing the first two against Sijsling, the crowd darling Monfils and now against Almagro has catapulted him into the lime light once again. He comes up against another fighter in compatriot David Ferrer in the quarters and  the fairly tale would be complete if he manages to go one better. The other parts of the draw have thrown up results as expected barring a few hitches. Rafa lost a set in the first two rounds against unknown opponents but then his top spin relies on heat and the cool climes of the French capital have not helped his kicking ground strokes. Roger had a slump yesterday that is becoming all too frequent only to revive back and make the last eight of another grand slam. Its been almost ten years since he has not made the quarters of a grand slam and his loss would have been apocalyptic for his fans. He plays on to build on that incredible record and faces Tsonga who has been his downfall on more than one occasion. This is probably a tougher quarter than the semi where he is expected to take on the running machine in Ferrer. Jo Wilfred is tough customer and with the crowd on his side should be the favorite in this encounter. On the other side of the draw, Rafa and Nole should face off in the semis and that is one mouth watering clash in the offing. Djokovic easily tamed the rising star in Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian's love interest though is still in the draw defending the title she won last year. Maria is on another collision course with Serena and unless one of the other ladies make an upset, we should see the old rivalry play out on Saturday again. 

A mention for Nico Rosberg who emulated his father in winning the Monaco grand prix. After three successive poles, he finally managed to put behind his tyre woes and win on "home" soil. While Mercedes battle the secret tyre testing charges, this should provide some balm to the beleaguered team. This may also be the start of the German outfit starting make inroads in the Red Bull and Ferrari stronghold on the points ledger. Now only if Hamilton can get his game together. The two red bulls captured the other two podium places and its in this consistency that they manage to go one up over others when the end of the season comes around. 

A dummy's guide to the IPL

I guess most of us would have watched a TV soap at one time or another. Understanding the IPL while drawing parallels to this ubiquitous entity on the box is great way to unravel the mysteries of this cricketing spectacle. So, lets start with some of the things that are glaringly common between the two.

1) Both follow the director's script to the hilt. While it may be a little more difficult to guess the outcome of the IPL, shall you be in the director's clique, the result is a known quantity.

2) The producer's sons (and in laws) run the show and they decide who plays the leading man/lady on a given day. They have a free run to change the rules of the game as they wish, no questions asked. And one who asks them burns in the eternal fire of hell ( ask the Indian cricket league)

3) There is a song and dance routine to keep you entertained and to relax the sinews that reach snapping limits owing to the dreary main performance. Deciding who sings and dances is the sole prerogative of the son in law.

4) And yes, the "strategically" placed advertisement breaks in both allow you to cook your meal, eat it and yearn for another while you wonder why you were watching the telecast in the first place.

5) Occasional appearances from the film fraternity in both are intended to lend a glamor coefficient to the proceedings which descend into soporific drivel in a week's time.

6) The protagonists in both look comatose and constipated but carry on with the show to lend some fat to their bank balances. Some are known to moonlight to earn an extra buck trying to bring along a "spot" of change in the script.

7) The leading men always win. They are generally dressed in garish yellow and would seem to struggle with insurmountable odds only to come out trumps every time. Ok, you do get a twist in the tale at times to make sure you come around for your next dose.

8) You are not surprised when one or more of the entire acting crew is replaced, especially if they belong to small towns like Pune or Kochi. As they say, the show must go on.

9) Before the grand launch of either, you would get somebody you would have seen a hundred time but cant remember the name telling you that unless you tune into the upcoming extravaganza, you stand  a big chance of getting expelled from the homo sapiens class.

10) While you are aware of all of the above 9, you still dump your evening stroll and sit wide eyed in front of the TV to reinforce your beliefs.

We talked about a host of commonalities between the IPL and the TV soap, there are also a few dissimilarities.

1) If you are lucky enough to be called to the shoot of a soap, you would be offered a nice lunch and be probably treated like royalty. If you are unlucky enough to buy an IPL ticket, make sure you carry adult diapers and that is insurance not just against the stadium rest rooms.

2) If the director/producer of the soap talks, you wonder why he doesn't act himself. If the same happens for the IPL, you just saw the best actor of them all perform.

Spain's Gain

It was a fruitful weekend for the country by the Mediterranean Sea. While Fernando Alonso drove his scarlet Ferrari home for a flawless 25 points, Rafa trumped a lesser known Swiss to capture the Madrid Open. At the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona, the home fans were treated to a delightful display by their favorite driver who ended a seven year wait to win his second Spanish grand prix. Kimi managed to cut Vettel's lead at the top to four points but had to settle with second place for a third consecutive race. The Pirelli tyres seem to be becoming the dominant force this season with most drivers not being able to bare their speed fangs for wheel conservation. The Mercedes team locked out the front row in qualifying but were nowhere to be seen after the first round of pit stops. That Nico Rosberg could only manage a sixth position after starting from pole suggests that pit stops and not qualifying are the biggest strategy focus this season. Also that Alonso won starting from below three which no one has done before at this track signals a shift in focus to tactical Sunday racing from furious Saturday qualifying. We will have the street race at Monaco next and the Red Bulls would be itching to get the Spanish disappointment behind them in the city of casinos.

 After being on the receiving end at the Monte Carlo masters, the king of clay bounced back with this usual ferocity in Madrid. That Novak and Roger were knocked out surprisingly in the earlier stages of the tournament helped Nadal make mincemeat of the other challengers that came his way. There was never a doubt about who the overwhelming favorite was when Stan Wawrinka faced up against him in the final. The Swiss has a mean back hand but it misfires more often than it forces winners. This win shall certainly boost Nadal's hopes for continuing his reign on the red clay in Paris in a fortnight's time. He may be seeded fifth but there is never a doubt about his ability to demolish the very best when it comes to Roland Garros. The Stangun has never defeated Rafa in nine meetings now and that record will not be weakened some time soon.

While Wigan landed the FA cup defeating Manchester City by a solitary goal, the week belonged to one Alex Ferguson. The Scot hanged up his boots after a managerial career that is stuff of legend. He said good bye to Old Trafford with a win over Swansea and a goal by Rio Ferdinand. With the premier league title already in the bag and David Moyes charged to take over reigns in July, the United coach watched over his team for an incrdible 405th premier league fixture. When Ferguson oversees his last game at West Brom next Sunday, it would bring down the curtains on a special era not just for the red devils, but for all football. Take a bow Sir Alex.

Achtung Baby

Four clubs of two nationalities fought for a spot at Wembley to land the coveted Champions League. The favorites were two teams who fight the El Classico and are probably the most talked about teams in club football. The results though were quite against the odds and it was the Germans who crashed the Spanish party to signal what could be a shift in the soccer power center. You wouldn't bet for both Real Madrid and Barcelona being knocked out of the semis of this prestigious tourney. While Real did show some fight against Dortmund in their home leg, Barca were completely outclassed after conceding four and three goals respectively away and home. May be this is just a blip on the radar for the two mighty squads but it has all the makings of a storm. Real have now lost out at the last four stage three years in a row and the Messi magic seems to be on the wane for their   biggest domestic rivals. With the "special one" likely to give up the reigns, one would only wonder how long before his protege Ronaldo follows suit. There is trouble brewing and one can just hope it blows away for the sake of the premiere club competition of the world still carrying its premier billing.

The 2000 humiliation made the Germans go back to the drawing board and the results have shown. The Bundesliga is one of the few top notch leagues in Europe to have a lower than 25% foreign recruit number. While the English and Spanish leagues strut their stuff with imports from all over the world, the Germans have perfected a system of getting local talent through efficiently. Both Bayern and Borussia showcased that with aplomb to get to the finals. While B. Munich are no strangers to this stage of the competition, their rivals for the grand finale have been a surprise. With a colorful coach in Jurgen Klopp, they have managed to upstage much more fancied rivals including Manchester City. They would again go into the May 26 final as under dogs but with having reached so far, they would do every bit to match Jupp Heynckes' side. With Arjen Robben and Muller firing on all cylinders, Borussia would look to Lewandowski  to recreate the magic that enabled them in beating Real 4-0.

The clinical and efficient German system has reaped big rewards both for their domestic league teams as well as the national side. It remains to be seen if the results can replicate themselves for some years and bring some more silver ware to the soccer crazy nation. Meanwhile, its a mouth watering clash between two attacking sides waiting for us in a couple of weeks at the hallowed stadium in England. Kann das beste team gewinnen.

DaREDevilry

Winning the title at home among chants of "Champions" can be a heady feeling. Though this red devils team has been at the receiving end of some adulation, the latest premier league title should come as a balm after losing out last year on goal difference. With Sir Alex at the helm, they have been a redoubtable force in one of the most competitive leagues in the world and the treble in 2008-09 should still be the crown in his formidable repertoire of wins. They have thirteen premier league titles under the Scot now and when the time comes to hang his managerial boots, Ferguson shall count as the most decorated coach ever. RVP has been the torch bearer this season for them. The former Gunner clinched the title with an incredible hat trick and has taken over the mantle of the chief striker from Rooney. That city cousins Manchester City had to relinquish their title with a few games to play says a lot about the strength that ManU possess. They are a well knit unit with very few egos and one of the few units to win as a team and not because of a couple of talismans. That they have maintained to be on the top and have had long lasting love and support from fans for so long says a lot about they way their manager and owners have handled success. Their focus on the league and the competition they face has meant relatively less success at European level and that is something they would look to correct in the foreseeable future.

Old Trafford was not the only place to witness a red wave last week. Chris Gayle set the IPL alight with his stunts at Bangalore. A century in thirty balls and a 175 not out don't convey the carnage that he dealt to the Pune franchise. He is a towering man who can push most into submission just by his presence but his big hitting made the physical attributes look pale. The only person you would believe capable of getting past these feats is the owner himself. That he takes his cricket the Caribbean way (a gangnam is never too far away) is a dose of freshness in times where profanities at the slightest set back rule roost. He took apart the bowlers in the same carefree manner as he would do a jig with. Extraordinary has never been so cool. He had been an outcast from the WI team because of his outspoken ways but his absence only served to deepen the trough that the WI cricket had got into. Now that he is back and a world title in their bag, lets hope the Caribbeans recapture their glory day.

Of bites, goals and handballs

You would notice a player for getting any one of them in a football match. How do you miss someone who manages all three. Luis Suarez has a litany of controversies lined against his name. He is a special talent in front of the goal but its the other antics that he demonstrates that outshine his deft footwork. His hand ball at the goal line to deny Ghana in the world cup quarters , his racial abuse of Evra and last night the nibble at Ivanovich's arm are some of the stunts that he has managed to pull in full public glare. That he scored an equalizer for the Reds in the dying minutes of stoppage time only highlights the big trench between his footballing and temperamental abilities. He literally handed the second goal to Chelsea only to get that back off his head in the 97th minute. There is something about extra ordinary talents that makes them snap easily. Luis has been named for the PFA award and there would not be many who would grudge him that for his football but there may be an army who would not find him deserving for acting like a cannibal.

The Bahrain grand prix got a repeat winner in Seb Vettel in a relatively uneventful race. With Alonso needing two pit stops to correct a faulty DRS, there were not  many who could challenge the German once he started from the front row. The Red Bull car with its pace was never threatened once it pulled out in front. He has now a comfortable ten point lead from the Finn Kimi who again finished on the podium. With the Spanish grand prix next in the offing, the Scuderia would be hoping that Fernando's luck turns for the better in his home race. FI's Paul Di Resta missed out on the podium by the barest of margins after a great run. Though he would not mind the twelve points, a top three finish would have been sweeter. The strategy to last his tires without an extra pit stop probably costing him a dream finish.

The Monte Carlo masters final served up the delicious pairing of Nadal and Nole fighting for the spoils. The Spaniard was an eight time champion as also defending his title. Rafa is a perennial favorite on his beloved clay and even Novak in his prime can only be considered a second bet against the indefatigable Rafa. The rain delay though helped the world number one come out firing all cylinders and he bagged the first set without much ado. The second however was more closely fought  and with a couple of breaks getting exchanged, it was only the tie breaker that could decide the set. Novak's mental strength helped him break the eleven time grand slam champion's hegemony losing just one point in the breaker. With Roland Garros being a month away, these two look comfortable to have another show down and anything else would sure be a big upset.

Angel 13 for Scott

After he blew a four shot lead last year at the open, victory this year would have been double sweet for the affable Australian. At a rain soaked Augusta, Adam sunk a birdie on the second hole of the play off with 2009 champion Cabrera to land the masters. The roar could have been heard loud and clear in the southern hemisphere where the kangaroos dwell. With compatriot Jason Day falling prey to the pressure of leading the way on Sunday, Scott rode his luck on the par five 13 to force a three way tie. With Woods being penalized a couple of strokes for an incorrect drop, the chances of his ending the major drought were always slim. Adam's win means that all the four majors have now been won by men using anchored putters which are proposed to be banned from 2016. Greg Norman would share a pint with the latest major winner and has piped him for many more. The golfing scene is seeing the major spoils getting shared among the top players and the era of one putter dominating seems past. The Aussies can rejoice though till the next one comes along to confirm or repudiate the great Greg's views.

The Chinese grand prix bowed to red with Alonso driving a flawless race to pip the pole sitting Hamilton. Three ex champions adorned the podium with Lewis and Kimi accompanying the Ferrari based Spaniard to spray the champagne. The first few races point to another open season on the F1 circuit and the Lotus team seems to be the biggest gainer with Raikkonen getting a win and another podium already. The Malaysian outing opened up a new chapter in the Sebastain Vettel story of aggressive driving when he passed Webber against team orders to claim the chequered flag. While its debatable whether the move was warranted, it certainly leaves no love between the two red bulls on the track. Mark's days with the team and with the pinnacle of motorsport seem numbered unless he can pull a rabbit out of the hat this season. The European leg of the season is nigh and that is where the Christian Horner led team tends to break away from other challengers. Waiting to see if the script changes this time around.

The clay season is around on the tennis circuit and with Rafa back to his best, the build up to Roland Garros should be intriguing. With Murray having taken the second spot in the ATP rankings, the semis line up in most of these tourneys will be riveting. Djokovic has made it clear that his aim lies with the only remaining slam he has not won, Nadal would do everything to maintain his hegemony on the red dirt. The duel in last year's final promised a lot but did not live up to the hype. Any bets against a Rafa Nole encore this time around as well?

All country for tennis aces

Davis cup is probably the only event in the tennis calendar where the professional gladiators with rackets play to nationalistic fervor. The best of five format makes for a riveting game and watch with ebbs and flows being a constant feature of matches. While upsets on the ATP tours are a rarity these days, conditions suited to the hosts and partisan support make them much more likelier in the cup. You wouldn't see these competitors hugging and singing like small boys at any other competition. While some stars like Federer are wary of playing for their country, others like Djokovich have carried the flag above their professional dreams. The whole here is bigger than the sum of the parts and a well balanced team like the Czech republic is always a stronger bet than teams with one big star. With four singles and one doubles match to decide the winner, it takes a lot of camaraderie and strategy to land the coveted trophy.

The world group quarters this year featured Canada, Italy, USA, Serbia, Argentina., France, Kazakhstan and the Czech republic. Some of those are the usual suspects at this stage of the competitions while there are others like Spain who are conspicuous by their absence. Canada on the back of some sterling displays from rising star Milos Raonic upset the Spanish giants in the first round and followed it up with another win over the Italians at the quarters stage. They would be up against Serbia in the semis and getting past that obstacle would pose much larger questions for the North Americans than their previous two outings. Serbia has a few world class caps in Novak, Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic. They have been champions in 2010 and are always front runners to reach the latter stages of competition. They got better of traditional power houses USA with the Bryan brothers also losing out on the doubles rubber. France has a strong contingent with Tsonga and Gilles Simone spearheading their campaign. However, with Argentina hosting the tie, the slug fest went the distance. Carlos Berloq pulled off an unlikely upset against Simone to take the South Americans to the last four stage. The defending champions Czech Republic were always the favorites against underdogs Kazakhstan but with the withdrawal of Tomas Berdych, they may have had a hitch or two. They still had a smooth sailing other than losing the doubles match. We are here with the semis line up and my projection would be a Czech versus Serbia finale with Serbia coming out tops.

Drawing a blank

Going into a tailspin is not a prerogative of flying machines. The Australian cricket team demonstrated enough      competence to show the world a good exhibit of a downward spiral, albeit on dust bowls and not in the sky. The sense of panic that the Aussie batters (an honorable mention for Phil Hughes) displayed while facing the Indian tweakers is paralleled probably only by the proverbial rabbits in the headlights. Wonder if homework assignments done properly would have changed the course of the eventual fate. A golden generation with the likes of Ponting, Hussey and Hayden has left in its wake the feeling of haplessness. With Clarke being the only one who seems to have feet against spin (Smith may take a valid offence to that) and the rest getting trigger happy at the slightest option of playing a horizontal bat shot, the immediate future looks bleak. There are two Ashes to be played in quick succession and a betting man wouldn't put his money on this Australian performance. It would be trial by a different kind of fire at the old blighty and the antipodeans can only hope that seam would afford their profligate batsmen a little more leeway than spin did. The bowling looks at par with Pattinson, Siddle and Lyon bowling manfully. They would certainly find it easier in seaming conditions than on cracking surfaces. Unless the Aussie system throws up a few good men with the willow, this seems to be a long haul in mediocrity for the erstwhile giants.

NZ are known to punch above their weight (Jesse Ryder would  vouch for that). That they would draw the series against the English with a points win in two of their three matches was beyond imagination. It was probably a touch of complacency on the part of the three lions after their glorious achievements in India but they never expected to be hanging by the ropes like that. The last day of the final test was a testimony to test cricket and the roller coaster of hope, despair, panic, resolution, comedy (take a bow Monty)  and sheer skill was one to behold. Matt Prior has been the best wicket keeper for some time and his efforts to salvage a draw from near defeat is surely going to become part of folklore. The under weights from the trans Tasmanian rivalry performed with a heart that defies the turmoils in their establishment. May be it takes a spot of bother for them to rise and show what the black caps can do. 

The IPL is upon us. The blokes who had no love lost between them on international duty will now don the same shirts and share a dressing room. Ponting and Harbhajan sharing thoughts about verbal strategies is a delightful thought. Money does bring the strongest of characters to dial down and run with the rank and file. If this T20 tourney is of any value to the connoisseur  its the show of how currency turns a world divided by nationalities, ideologies and egos into a melting pot where there are no kings and certainly no subjects.

Cape of good hope

They are the number one team in the world test rankings. They have bowlers who skittle opponents down with a regularity of an experienced chef. They have batsmen who can grind and strike bowlers down in equal measure. They have a captain who speaks less and does more. They have a coach who has an eye for detail and makes the whole much larger than the sum of individual parts. Is there anything that can topple the Proteas from their exalted perch. Not much that strikes the mind. If their was any doubt about bench strength, the coming of a second wave in Kleinveldt and Abbott has quelled that effectively. The batting is in good hands with Amla, De Villiers being the best in the business and Kallis going as strong as ever. The Saffas have corrected a major blip by dominating at home against the Kiwis and Pakistan. They were struggling at home while conquering territory every where else. With a summer of two white washes, they now tread the path of all time great sides. The final frontier though remains surmounting the treacherous subcontinent terrain. They need to win in India, Srilanka and the UAE to be counted in the same league as the erstwhile West Indians and Aussies. They will get the first chance later this year in the sands of the middle east but will have to wait till 2015 to try and finish what has begun as an extra ordianry journey. A year and a half is a long time in most competitive endeavors and the challenge would be to maintain the focus and personnel while a host of T20 bashes intervene.

MSD got his first double in international cricket and the innings was one to remember. Counterattack is the way Dhoni plies his trade the best and his knock conjured up memories of yore. He has the capability to strike a lot more significant blows like these but is subdued most times these days. I guess the crown of captaincy and wicket keeping rests heavy on his shoulders. It may be worthwhile getting Kohli in the saddle and let Dhoni do what he does best. The Aussies have suffered a set back first up but so did the English. There are three more tests to go and one is sure to see a different approach to countering dust bowls and spinners from them. Theirs is a side in transition and this is a high stepping stone. Will they be able to bring a spring to their steps in leapfrogging it?

A Steyn of brilliance

They are a dying breed, fast bowlers are. There was a time when batsmen worried as much about their mortality as run scoring when going out to bat in test matches. Run feasts were exceptional and each team worth its salt had at least two pacers who could strike the fear of gallows in the hearts of batters. You had the the whispering death with his cohorts in Marshal and Roberts and the Aussies wielded Thommo and Lillee with disdain. Waqar and Wasim combined to cut short many a budding batting careers. All that was time reminiscent of the fact that there is no better sight in cricket than a fast bowler hurling a leather sphere to a batsman looking like a new recruit accosted with the job of clearing a minefield. How times have changed. The pitches these days around the world (except probably a couple in the southern hemisphere) have become death beds for aspiring fast bowlers. The dust bowls have turned wannabe marauders into dibbly dobbly medium pacers who ply their craft in line and length looking to contain the batsmen rather than knocking them over. Such a travesty.

That is the sole reason why someone like Dale Steyn offers a wisp of fresh air in the midst of the overwhelming smog of the dead pitches and deader rules. He runs in against all odds and makes sure every batsman earns his stripes. He is not looking to wait and choke his adversary and induce a mistake from him. He is looking to get him out with sheer pace and movement. His prodigious out swingers are a treat for all except the one facing him at the other end of the pitch. A streamlined action puts him in a rare league of fit bowlers in times where breakdowns are getting as common as cold. His rewards for bending his back day in and day out are in the league of greats. At 5 wickets a test, an average under 25 and a strike rate of 40, he makes a top ten great list on any criterion you wish to choose. That he has achieved this when the batsmen have everything going for them is testimony to his art and heart. His is a story of a small town boy practicing the toughest of skills and becoming a great hence. There are not many who savor the idea of facing up to him on dead ball subcontinent pitches, let alone a juicy Wanderers. And that to me is stuff of legend. May his tribe increase.

Bienvenida de nuevo Rafa

The indomitable retriever is back. And what better surface to return on than his beloved clay. While the other three from the big four have been carrying the flag of awe inspiring tennis, the void that Rafa left after Wimbledon last year always rankled. His knees have been a cause for much strife and heartburn (forgive the physiological irreverence) but his style of play would always keep Nadal prone to such debilitating injuries. He has said that it would take some patience for him to get back in groove and one can just hope that time is before he steps upon the red clay of Roland Garros to defend his favorite title. He has dropped out of the top four in the ATP rankings with his compatriot Ferrer taking his place but there are no doubts about where he belongs. His absence may have led to a loss in ranking points but there has been no ebbing in his fan's love and respect. The golden age of tennis was bereft of its most dogged protagonist for a few months and with him being back, the levels of competition should just inch up that much more. Certainly a mouth watering prospect for all tennis aficionados. Nole may have to raise his game just that little wee bit more if he is to complete his career grand slam and continue his all conquering run. Here's wishing the Spanish great an injury free year ahead.

The ICC women's world cup is under way and the sound bytes that it has generated goes some way to show where the women's game is. While skill and quality surely play a role in the lowly standing that it has, the revenue generation is certainly not any less to blame. With no big money being involved either at the turnstiles, or in the telecast rights, the players get paid poorly and the budget to hype the quadrennial event is even poorer. Its certainly not a profession a good athlete would have in her sights. As long as the monetary aspect of the game doesn't become respectable if not lofty like their male counterparts, women's cricket is destined to dwell in the by-lanes of mediocrity and irrelevance.

Yo-kovic

He can run a tread mill down to ground. He can hit a mean return. And he can do a good Gangnam. Is there anything that Nole cannot do? Last year he played two excruciating matches in the semis and the finals, not to mention against two of the best retrievers and fittest men in tennis and came out on top. If Stan Wawrinka thought he could wear the defending champion out, wishful thinking is what I would call that. Stan outgunned Nole for the first set and a half but once the single handed backhand started misfiring, the tireless legs of Djokovic took him past the finish line. There were cramps but those came only on the Swiss' number two's legs. The Serb doesn't miss much from the racquet and his belief is at a level where nothing can bog him down. Novak is grinding down the big hitting Czeck Berdych as I write this and for all the fire power that the big Berd possesses, an entry to the big four club will remain elusive till he finds another dimension to his game.

A draw which has had Davydenko, Tomic, Raonic, Tsonga and probably Murray and Djokovic is a mine field that would worry any explosives expert. Roger Federer however has the pedigree, experience and class that can defuse all that comes his way. In showing young upstarts Tomic and Raonic who the boss is, he has made a loud statement. That the lion may be a bit old but can still handle the cubs in the pride. In the twilight of his career, the Swiss master has lost none of his touch and his calm is befitting royalty. The game on which he has spanned an incredulous 35 consecutive grand slam quarters is the reason why he still rules the roost at 32. Wonder if any of the current top five blokes can boast of the same 5-7 years down the line.

The women's draw has been highlighted by the demolition acts of the two favorites, Serena and MaSha. Sharapova has lost a total of 9 games in her first five matches and though a bulldozer is not something you would associate with the lithe Russian, her performances have been just like one. Her return game has touched an all time high and the only person in the draw who could stand her is the younger Williams. With the sisters out of the doubles draw, Serena would have all the more motivation to notch up another grand slam. Her form has been imperious and the way she serves would be a good match up for Maria, should the final that is most likely to materialize actually happens. Looking forward to a smouldering weekend.

The Soap Oprah

Blood transfusions, EPO, cortisone.. the skeletons have rolled out of the cupboard and the bones have shattered the myth of miracles. Whatever convinced Lance to come clean on his dalliance with doping certainly came a trifle too late. Probably he had nothing to lose and a clear conscience would have seemed inviting. The cancer survivor who won seven Tour De France titles certainly closed a sordid chapter that he opened himself. This leaves the world short on heroes bereft of one of the most iconic figures to don the sporting landscape. Would he still be a pin up boy for others fighting the dreaded scorpion or a disgrace that needs to be shunned. Armstrong leaves a legacy that will be debated for years to come. Just hope that his story is more a lesson than inspiration to all who loved and hated him in equal measure.

The grand slam of the Asia-Pacific is well under way and there have been no major upsets other than the plucky Laura Robson sending Kvitova packing in the second round. The seeds have had a smooth sailing and that would only help them in the searing Melbourne summer. The match up of Roger and Davydenko presented the epitome of contrasting styles between two contemporaries. Federer, the master of technique, disguise and cat like court coverage versus the hard hitting two handed backhand of Nikolay. That Federer went through in straight sets is testimony to the fact that a goldsmith still calls the shots when it comes to a slugfest with an iron-smith. The other top seeds in Murray, Nole and Ferrer have been nothing short of sublime either and it would probably take a big upset to see one of these not making the final four.

Manchester United have a strong grip on the BPL title with a clear 7 point lead over their neighbors. Sir Alex would not forgive a slip from this position and the tophy looks destined for its favorite home in Manchester. Rooney may be missing spot kicks but has not lost any trust from his team in front of the goal. With RVP in prime form, he may just need to take those a little more carefully. Pep has decided to add his Barca touch to Bayern but  he would not have a certain Messi to replicate the deluge of silver ware that he won with the Spanish giants. Does a coach make the team...we shall see.

All things Aussie

Another sub continent team bit the dust down under. SriLanka were never hot favorites to make the Aussies sweat in their own bastion but a capitulation like the one they suffered wasn't expected either. The Lankan batting is generally filled with batsmen who are flat track bullies. Dilshan, M Jayawardene and Samaraweera all have test averages biased towards innings in sub continent conditions. Even Sangakara couldn't provide the spark he did the last time in Hobart. There were a few glimpses of good batsmanship with Dilshan scoring a ton and Mahela getting a couple of purring half centuries at Sydney but one swallow doesn't make a summer. The Australians on the other hand were clinical after facing a reverse against the Proteas earlier in the summer. Phil Hughes seems to have filled the big void made by Ponting reasonably well and their skipper is in the middle of such a purple patch right now that he fills in for two batsmen. Hussey was consistent as ever in his last series in international cricket. His was a career that bloomed late but his exploits made up for the time lost. He was one of the cricketers you can count upon to deliver more often than not in testing conditions. The sobriquet he earned with his dedication to the game was not ill deserved. The Aussies have now lost two legends in quick succession to father time and it won't be long before they notice this absence. They travel to test India and though the current Indian line up should not be cause for nightmares to them, they would not sleep easy either.

The Australian Open beckons and the memories of last year's men's final still lingers. There would be no Rafa around this time for an encore but the Rod Laver arena should see some interesting tennis nonetheless. Roger has announced that he is fit and eager to compete with the best and with Del Potro getting back into some of his best form, Novak will have a good fight on his hands to make it three titles in a row. With Murray breaking his grand slam duck and Ferrer fighting like a hound, there won't be a dearth of contenders for the crown on the men's side. The women's draw should be open likewise but more because of the fragility of its exponents. Serena, Sharapova, Azarenka, Wozniaki and Kvitove should all be in the mix but a surprise winner would not be considered an upset. Djokovich and Serena start as favorites for me. Let the summer simmer with some exquisite tennis.