Eight in sight

There is something about grass that the seven time champion relishes. Probably its his footwork that makes him glide on worn courts where others crash and burn. Or may be its that aura of royalty that sits so lightly on his shoulders as it does in the spectator box. Roger Federer may not be his former self on other surfaces but put him on grass and he is a force of nature even in the twilight of his career. The post match remarks lay bare the disappointment that he carried with last year's shock exit. But this year has made amends. Well, almost. The Swiss maestro is in his ninth Wimbledon final. He has won seven of the previous eight having lost out to his nemesis in one. On the other side of the court would be another indomitable former champion in Novak. The new guard has been thwarted, only if temporarily. The Dimitrovs, Kyrgyoses and Raonics of the world will have to wait another year to make an attempt to topple the hegemony of old. Djokovic has been making grand slam finals with the same regularity as Roger used to do in his prime. The hitch however is that the Serb has been on the losing side more often than not and that would rankle. The two always serve up a delicacy and there won't be any let ups on center court come Sunday in probably the biggest tennis match on the tennis calender. A betting man would put his money on the younger contender but with Federer having lost just one game on serve whole tournament, the advantage may be nullified. Would it be a record breaking number eight for the man from Basel? It would certainly be an icing on what has been an already good year with a second set of twins arriving. Maybe the four young Feds will be in presence to see their illustrious father grace the trophy one more time. Amen to that.

There have been stutters and falls on the ladies side of SW19. With Serena getting knocked out early, it was Sharapova's tourney for the taking. But the German Kerber had other ideas. What we have left now is a former champion and an attack minded Canadian to fight for the spoils. Kvitova has the experience to go all the way but Genie Bouchard would have the crowd on her side. Their won't be any dearth of power tennis on show and unless the young and exhilarating Eugenie gets caught in the headlights of big match nerves, we may have a new queen on the lawns of Wimbledon. Its time to sit back and enjoy a couple of humdingers on grassy knolls.

The Maracana awaits its boys. The first set of quarters in Brazil have thrown up a South American and a European contender for the football world cup. Brazil are through against free flowing Columbia and Germany managed to scrape through in a scrappy affair against France. Whether the Ticos can upset the Dutch and the Belgians can get pass Messi would become clear in a night. The tournament that started with a deluge of goals is now turning into a more tactical affair with nettings becoming as rare as Asians in the second round. Most knock out matches have been won on slender margins and that does take the sheen off the marquee event. Whether we will see something special in the home stretch is debatable but what is not is that the home crowd will have their interest perfectly piqued for the semis. Its been an up and down affair and what the neutral would want is for the talented Netherlands to break their unfortunate duck on the world stage.

Get a kick

The cup of joy is back in its spiritual home. Amidst protests and social unrest, the bonhomie of the soccer world cup is succor to the latin American country where "Christ the redeemer" towers above them all. A sea of yellow welcomed the first game and for a brief moment all the anguish and troubles that threatened to derail the greatest show on earth seemed to ebb away. Neymar is to Brazil what probably Ronaldo is to their former colonial rulers. The messiah stood up in style to score a brace, notwithstanding the generosity from the Japanese official. It was a start that most people except the Croats hoped for and in delivering it, the Samba boys made sure that the joy will last a little bit longer. Tiki-taka took a hit from total football with the Dutch slamming a round five against the defending champions. It was a rude wake up call for del Bosque's boys who conquered all before them last time around in Africa. Will the Spanish be able to veer around this setback or fly back home in a hurry is a question that has only a Chilean answer. Who will be crowned in Rio come the 14th of July is certainly debatable especially with no Paul at hand to help out. Will England top all their previous disappointments to double up on Geoff Hurst's 1966 success? Or will it be the perennial favorites in Italy, Germany or Argentina that would have tears of joy when the fat lady sings? If i were a betting man looking for sporting odds, Belgium may be the dark horses to take the cake, thought what would really be a sight for sore eyes is a team from the original continent landing a much awaited triumph.

That Rafael Nadal won the French Open again is no longer a surprise. He may land on the Parisian dirt on crutches and will still be the favorite. What surprised me was the way in which the challenger threw in the towel. Novak started off with a good first set but to his own peril was way below par for the next three. Every year, the Spanish matador and his troops arrive saying that it would be impossible to win and run away with the trophy as if it was a birthday present. One wonders if the Roland Garros can hold the tournament only to declare the runners up. As always, the English grass courts follow the French clay. Wimbledon is little more unpredictable and if Andy wants to do a two pete after exorcising the ghosts last year, he will need more than just Amelie Mauresmo by his side. His form has been patchy and with the top two still going strong, the British may be in for a heart break this time around after last year's copious tears of ecstasy. The strawberries and cream are waiting and with the season already throwing up a new grand slam winner, another one may well be on the SW19 cards.

The hockey world cup in Hague ran on expected lines with the flying Dutchmen slated to taken on the mighty Aussies in the final. I managed to catch some action and the ball control that the men from down under display both in attack and defense is a sight to behold. Traps and tackles that other teams dream of are executed with clock work like precision. It would take the hosts a big slice of fortune to stop the marauding Aussies. While Europe dominates the scene on the astro turf, Asian representation has been reduced to a stage of just making up numbers. Neither of India, S Korea or Malaysia managed to make their presence felt. Its a story of decadence for the erstwhile home of hockey.

CLAYm to history

Two dodgy knees made a reappearance around this time last year. Joints that were out to grab eyeballs if you would forgive my liberty with anatomy. The man who stood on those legs was a legend already but the pinnacle of sport can be as unforgiving as it can be ecstatic. The soft red dirt certainly provided a cushion not forthcoming on the slippery grass or hard plexi. Walking out onto the clay, you could see those eyes twinkling with as much anticipation as a toddler would have after being reunited with his beloved toy. What followed was a season that bagged Rafael Nadal a stupendous eighth Roland Garros title on the heels of almost complete domination of the slow courts. There is certainly no doubt that he qualifies to be the best ever clay courter if not all around. The one blemish that the Mallorcan had to encounter was a loss at the principality of Monte Carlo at the hands of the challenger Novak. Its been a repeat this year of the unpleasant result with the other indomitable Spaniard Ferrer getting the better of an off color Rafa. This could be a good omen if the past is anything to go by and while we are talking about the casino city, betting against the defending champion in Paris in a month's time will take more than a brave man. Getting past him in a best of five setter takes super human abilities, evident in the fact that the matador has been beaten just once since he made his debut on the Parisian dirt. Its certainly gearing up to be a season for rewriting record books.

Its over bar the shouting for the Merseysiders. And i am talking about both Liverpool and Everton. With three games to play, the reds top the table with a handy lead and if they can negotiate Chelsea at home, Steven Gerrard's tears will take some stopping. Its taken some time coming and one just hopes the idiom about the slip between the cup and the lip doesn't choose Rodger's side to illustrate its gravity. Manchester United looked stunned against an inspired Everton side in spite of the latter's former coach being in their wings. The purpose with which the blues attacked the ball showed how much they would like to kick among the big boys in the Champions League. They have a few tricky encounters to settle as well before the fat lady actually sings.

 

Mercedes made it another one two in Shanghai but the surprise package was Fernando Alonso's podium finish. The Ferrari ace has been in the shadow of others the last few seasons and it was welcome to see him back amidst the champagne. While the race itself ran out on expected lines, a certain excited steward handed the chequered flag to Lewis a lap in advance. One just wonders if a red face would have been the only after effect of the zealousness if Nico had over taken Hami in the last lap. With Nicole Scherzinger by his side, it does look like the Briton is well on his way to another world title. Is Jessica Michibata going to be on the Button? Only a few more races would tell.

You will never walk alone

The kop is buzzing this season. Anfield hasn't had it so good for some years and the Reds have given their fans something to cheer about. With five games to play, Brendan Rodger's team lead the table by a small but important two points. Liverpool have been the perennial under performers in the recent history of the premier league, ironically enough given their free scoring ways. It has been a calendar that has brought back memories of glory days past. Luis Suarez has put his delinquent days behind and his prolific form in front of the goal has put him within striking distance of a record number of goals in a season. He has partnered well with cap Gerrard and is in line to be named the PFA player of the year. The other team in reds however has suffered a decline in fortunes with the departure of their talisman manager. David Moyes hasn't been able to live up to the expectations of the United fans with his team not in the reckoning for the Champions League title this year and fighting to bag a spot in the premier competition the next. In contrast the Blues have made the semis again and are running Liverpool close for the league title. The chosen one certainly has made a difference for the London side. The clash between Liverpool and ManCity tonight would go a long way in determining who would ultimately lift the premiership but the end to the Machester hegemony has certainly added an element of mystique to the EPL. 

Two Spanish, one German and one English team would vie for the Champions League which is a fair summary of the quality of soccer played in the different European leagues. The two Madrid sides in Real and Atletico would want to make in an all Spanish affair in Lisbon. Standing in their way are Bayern and Chelsea respectively. Munich in particular would be looking to justify the favorites tag they carry being the defending champions. They are one of the strongest sides in European football and a match up against Real Madrid is worthy of a final but the draw of lots doesn't always serve up fanciful results.

The formula one season is also under way and there has been a lot of noise about the lack of it with the new hybrid engines not being able to pump adrenaline with their meek sounds. The Mercedes team has done a Red Bull at the start of the season with all three races in  Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain bagged by the UK based outfit. Lewis Hamilton has won two but Nico Rosberg leads the championship race by the virtue of finishing all three races and won one. Force India climbed the podium after an extended lean period. Unless the other teams can get a little more fizz out of their ensembles, its gearing up to be another run away by one team, albeit a different one. One wonders why a changes in specifications leaves such a big gap between constructors making it a wee bit maudlin for the fans.

Augusta had to get the Masters underway without Tiger in a long time. The conditions have not been ideal and previous champions like Mickelson and Angel have had to bite the cut. Bubba Watson leads the way at the time of writing this with a second win in three years well in sight. Unless he has a meltdown akin to Rory, the green jacket should sit on his proud shoulders again. Debutant Jordan Spieth has a good chance to eclipse Woods who won his maiden Masters aged 21 years and three months. Under par scores have been difficult to come by in hot and fast Georgian conditions and a few birdies may seal the fate of the contenders.

Turning the clock back

Two men with their names etched in the history of the games they embellish have staged a rear guard challenge, the naysayers never thought them capable of. Champions are so because they believe in themselves and not the press. Arm chair critics have long written premature obituaries but the last nail in the coffin is not struck till the hand is of their own. To temper the blow of age with a mix of experience and skill is painstakingly difficult if not impossible. To have managed the trick with such aplomb is testimony to the rarefied competence of these legends.

Khanty Mansiysk, Russia is one of the colder places on the face of earth. That it was host to the qualification candidates tourney for the World Chess Championship 2014 would have raised the degrees by a notch. The winner would earn the right to challenge the "Mozart" Carlsen for the title of world champion. With eight of the strongest GMs battling their wits, this was one of the strongest field fighting for the honor. Vishy Anand made it only on the back of being the losing half of the championship match last year. The start of the year at London and Zurich was bleak and the clamor for retirement had gone up a few decibels. He arrived in Russia as the sixth seed and an expectation to finish in the top four. Armenia's proudest son Levon Aronian was considered the strong favorite. The five time world champion was out bar the official announcement. Would Vishy last the grueling 14 rounds of intensive battle or go down meekly as he had against the genius of Magnus in Chennai. If the first round was anything to go by, the Anand of past had resurfaced. He caught the favorite off guard and a facile win with white was all he needed to kick start his fight. What transpired over the next few days is surely going to become part of chess folk lore. While the others in the fray displayed an inconsistency expected of Vishy, he played chess as if free of any burden ending up as the only undefeated man with 3 wins to boot. The oldest man in the challenge, the Madras tiger has once again bared his fangs. Come November, he would get another chance to lock horns with his nemesis to win back the coveted crown. Whether Vishy crosses that final hurdle will only time tell but in getting thus far, he has just put a stamp on what the great Kasporov said " He embarrasses people who ask for his retirement".

2013 was a year Roger Federer would like to forget in a hurry. With back problems and his confidence at a nadir, there were only straws to clutch at for the GOAT. The murmurs of disquiet about the Swiss no longer being able to run with the top men were getting louder. On the wrong side of 30 and with no double handed back hand to lend him that extra power, Roger finally shifted to the larger racquet head he had been experimenting with. A semi-final place at Melbourne that included a win against the redoubtable Djokovic indicated that the maestro may be on his way back up. He had dropped down to 8 in the ATP rankings and even the comers fancied their chances of getting the better of the man once invincible on the tennis courts. A win in Dubai and a final at the BNP Paribas at Indian Wells have rocked him back in the top 4 with a further rise to 3 quite probable. The other challengers in Murray, Del Potro, Ferrer and Berdych have all been marred by inconsistency and the first few months of the season bode well for Roger to increase his tally of slams. Next up on the calender is the clay court season which has been taken on the platter by Rafa for more years than one can remember. The grass at Wimbledon would provide the best chance for the seven time champion to get one back at the doomsayers. A relaxed and aggressive game that he has displayed this season will go a long way in decorating the twilight of his already distinguished career.

Sochi gets hot

The winter Olympics kicked off at the Fisht Olympic stadium amidst as much fanfare as lead up controversies. Threats of toothpaste bombs, a diplomatic face off with old rival USA about the non-descript yogurt, run ins with the LGBT community and an Olympic ring not following the script were all hiccups that Russia endured for its show piece event. The cold that the athletes will square up to would certainly not be a match to what the organizers may have fought in getting the games under way. The opening ceremony did well not to display any jitters and went all out in showcasing the new Russia to the world. The Indian contingent had to take the march past under the Olympic flag owing to the chastised IOA which failed to abide by the IOC charter. Just another indicator of how sport is mired in politics and one upmanship in this country. Traditional power houses like the US, Norway and Russia would fight it out on the icy Caucasus slopes and the slippery skating rinks to establish themselves as the kings and queens of cool. Here is a look at some of the legends who have graced the winter Olympics with their super human feats.

Bjorn Daehlie has 8 gold and 4 silver Olympic medals to his name across various cross county skiing events making him the all time leading champion in winter games history. He is an icon in Norway and his additional exploits at the world championship winning an unprecedented 9 golds make him an undisputed legend in skiing. He runs a successful business these days after retiring prematurely in 2001 following a roller skating accident.

Bjorn's compatriot Ole Einar Bjornden is not far behind with 6 golds and 4 silvers and a bronze. The legendary bi athlete, a sport that combines cross country skiing with shooting is considered to be one of the greatest athletes ever. He is one of only three Olympians to have one 4 golds at the same winter Olympics, sharing the record with Eric Heiden  and - Lydia Skoblikova.

Lyubov Legorova of Russia has 6 golds and 3 silvers and boasts of being the most successful athlete at the 1992 and 1994 winter games. This cross country skier's career ended in ignominy when she was disqualified at the 1997 world ski championships for doping.

Claudi Pechstein from Germany is a speed skating queen with 5 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes. She is the first female winter Olympian to have won medals at 5 consecutive games. A multiple world record holder in skating, she is also the most decorated German athlete in either the summer or winter Olympic games.

Raisa Smetanina from the erstwhile Soviet Union has bagged a total of 10 medals including 4 gold, 5 silver and one bronze. This Nordic cross county skier is the most decorated female athlete in the winter games along side Italian Stefania Belmondo.

From the shadow of a giant

Stan Wawrinka's maiden grand slam title would have brought a smile to many faces, none more than that of Roger Federer. As much as the 17 time slam champion would have celebrated a compatriot's achievement, the fact that Rafa Nadal was halted in his march towards the all time record would have made the semi final loss a little more bearable. Stan was the overwhelming underdog coming into the final but the way he blasted his more fancied opponent off the court in the first set signalled the possibility of a long fight. As the world number one has shown time and again, you don't say die till the last point is done and dusted. But this was not the everyday Nadal, this was a wounded champion fighting his spasmed back as much as a fired up Swiss on the other side of the net. A medical time out in the second set drew some jeers but it was soon clear that those were misplaced. With no serve and ability to go after the balls in the same way as he usually does, Rafa brought out a rear guard action to net the third set. However, it was too good to last and without his precious lunges, the number one seed was left a spectator to Wawrinka's high octane tennis. It was all over in just over two hours and if there is more heart ache left for the Spanish giant in Melbourne, it will take a strong cardioid to take it. I am sure that the matador will be back next year to have another go at a double career grand slam but with every passing year and the mileage that his body runs up, there won't be too many opportunities left.

The "Stanimal" won the Chennai open at the start of the year but not many thought it was a harbinger of bigger things to come. His one handed backhand has fired like a Stan gun and with a new found confidence under Magnus Norman, the now number 3 in the world has truly emerged from the shadow of his more celebrated country man. The soft spoken Wawrinka defeated the number one and number two seeds at Melbourne and now promises to bear the Swiss flag that Federer has flown high for so long. Will he be able to make this breakthrough count and be able to do bigger things in the season? As long as his back hand remains the redoubtable force it was in the last two weeks, he will be a contender come the second weekend in the slams to follow. So, now we go to the Roland Garros, the red dirt that is owned by the losing finalist to see if the king's rule continues.

Li Na had it third time lucky after getting better of the pint sized Slovakian Cibulkova. Having not had to play anybody from the top ten in the whole tournament, the draw did seem kind to the Chinese number one but then you make your own luck. Her ground strokes and the killer back hand down the line took her to a second grand slam title. Li is one of the more liked players on the WTA tour with her candid interviews and cheerful personality. She has mad the most of her abilities in the twilight of her career and there may still be a slam or two left in her before she hangs up her racket. As for the others in the draw, it was an opportunity missed with the heavy weights like Serena and Sharapova falling by the wayside early, particularly so for Agnieska Radwanska. It has been a thriller of a start to the tennis season and one can just look forward to more riveting action in the coming months.

Labors of the walk

Its the umpire's decision everyone says. When you nick it, you stand your ground till the man in the coat shows the dreaded finger. Just another way of tempting fate when you know your time is up. Or to average out the lemons that have come your way in the course of having to go when the willow touched leather but you were declared having your leg before the wicket. As in a match, so over a career, most cricketers struggle to call it a day. Hanging onto one's exploits that keep playing on sports channels to fill telecast gaps and reminds them of past glories is more the rule than the exception. It rarely matters if there is a talent waiting in the wings to fill those boots and has checked all boxes that need be to take over. Emptying one's slot for someone else is as foreign to most as are the pitches where they graft out their years of dusk. Two of the most important batting positions in the Indian test line up have shown what imbecility it was to hanker at the retirement of the purported legends. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli have gone on to show that stars always shine brighter than comet tails. It took two long years for an Indian number four to score a test century and the onus for the long wait squarely lies on some shoulders that should have stopped wobbling some time back. Gerontocracy is a word that was the highlight of Indian cricket till some sense prevailed. Instead of letting go at an opportune time and allowing the new guard plant their foot properly in home matches, the end came at the close of the home season leaving the green horns tackle pitches of the same color. Not that the replacements have run aground. They have just serenely taken on the job at hand and shown the world, how a walk well timed  can benefit everybody including the reputation of the walker. 

The first grand slam of the year in the Aussie open in upon us. The slam of the Asia Pacific is usually played in temperatures that are not high just because of the exponents' game. The big four on the men's side has been shrunk to the big three but it would take a courageous betting man to put his money on anything else than a final between the top two seeds. While Roger is no longer a favorite and would play with a larger racket head that should be more forgiving on his mishits, his presence always lends that grace to the proceedings. With three former greats in Lendl, Edberg and Becker making their way into the coaching staff of top guys, they should renew their erstwhile on court rivalry from the stands. Serena Williams would be an odds on favorite to get past Vica Azarenka to inch closer to the all time record. Would Novak make it four in a row. The chances are good but the man who stands in his way will make sure, it takes more than just sweat from the world number two to get there.

For them who made '13 toll

As we bid adieu to 2013, its time to take sporting stock. Athletes who set their arenas on fire with their performances and left in their wake a legacy that would be remembered as special. The year didn't boast of a major tournament but wasn't bereft of drama by any means. With the world athletic championships to two versions of the Ashes, there was enough on the plate to keep the enthusiast engrossed. So, while we anticipate the biggest show on the planet in the soccer world cup in its adopted home of Brazil next year, here is a flashback from the year bygone.

Andy Murray's knighthood would have been secured after landing the coveted Wimbledon trophy in what was a spectacular year for Great Britain. Mo Farah followed up his Olympic show with a stellar world championships with a 5000 and 10000 m double to secure legendary status on the field. That Usain Bolt won the 100, 200 and 4X100 m titles again was expected but it seems he did it on a platter. There aren't many chasing him down and a repeat in Rio is not unfathomable.

Rafael Nadal returned to his beloved tennis courts after a long hiatus forced by his aching knees but what a comeback it was. He blazed through the field winning two grand slams in his favorite French and not so favorite US Open. That nobody else except the indefatigable Novak was able to stem the Spaniard's game was proof enough that the matador is back to his deadly best and Roger's record of most grand slams is within sights. Twas a poor year for the erstwhile magician Federer with no grand slam final appearances and his record of consecutive slam appearance brought to a grinding halt, Whether he has it in him to make one final stand will be clear in a month's time at the hard courts of Melbourne park. Serena Williams dominated the women's tour and looks good to extend her hegemony.

The Ashes were fought over twice in a year and the home teams scored. The Aussies completed a fourth victory at the MCG today with a lackluster performance from the Poms that bordered on the pathetic. While the Aussies did give a fight to the English earlier this year, the return series has been all one way traffic. Would the Barmy army be spared the humiliation of a 5-0 white wash at Sydney? We will know in a week's time. Its time for a change in the English cricket setup and my guess would be that Andy Flower would be the first sacrifice at the altar. The best all rounder to have played the game in Jacques Kallis said goodbye to the test arena with a stoic yet characteristic century.

Sir Alex Ferguson went out on a high with the red devils winning the English premier league again. His successor Moyes has found it difficult to maintain a similar drive and focus with the team languishing in the pecking order till the year end. Real Madrid bagged another Galactico in the form of Bale but Barca kept snapping at their heels. Among such big hoopla for the English and Spanish giants, it was Bayern Munich that landed the Champions League to show case the often disregarded efficiency of German soccer.

While Tiger Woods took the perch again in the golfing world, it was time for some deserving first time major champions. Adam Scott, Justin Rose and Jason Dufner all bagged their first majors in what was an open golfing season. With Phil Mickelson wining the Open Championship for his fifth major, Tiger's wait for extending his major wins will have to wait another year.

Sebastian Vettel left everyone gobsmacked with a season of incredible driving winning his fourth driver's title in a row. He won the title with so much to spare that he wouldn't have had to race the final four races. That he broke Schumacher's record for the most wins in a season was just icing on the cake. He also helped the Red Bulls win a third constructor's title and going by his performance, there is still so much more to come.

While the above were news makers for the right reasons, there were others who made the headlines for all the wrong ones. Lance Armstrong admitted to his doping regime and that certainly took all the sheen off his great wins. Boston suffered bombings at its marathon and the ugly face of today's world showed itself on the sporting field as well. While the blips were few, the champions shone bright. Here's gearing up for a stupendous 2014. 

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.