2010 is nearing its final straight. Its been a year that we will never forget in South Africa, a year when our dreams came true and the World came to our shores. We can surely be proud of the magnificent way we hosted the Fifa World Cup, making us an elite country. We have hosted Cricket, Rugby, Golf and Soccer World Cups, the IPL, the Champions League T20, the All African Games and many international swimming events, alongside The Presidents Cup.
But as the sun sets on 2010, it is only fitting that the next few blog posts will focus on the best of 2010. Sure there is a lot of Worse of 2010 too, but I will choose to focus on the good of 2o10. So without further adieu, here is the Jabu list of the Top 10 sporting moments in 2010:
10. Nadal Domination
In January 2010, Rafael Nadal missed the Australian Open due to another frustrating injury that seems so common in Spanish youngsters (See Cesc Fabregas). Roger Federer went to his 16th Major title and many felt that this will be the year that Nadal falls through. Then came the French Open. Nadal dominated the French Open, then went through to win the Wimbledon title he gave up due to injury in 2009. But his ultimate challenge was left. The US Open. For the firsts time in his career he made the US Open coming up against the brilliant Djokovic a man who had beaten him in their previous three meetings. On this day however, the world of tennis watched the pure brilliance of Nadal in a crushing 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2 victory that made him the 7th man to win the Grand Slam. His 9th and definately not last! 9. Lee Anne Pace
The 29 year old South African broke onto the season in a truly magnificent fashion in 2010. She won 5 tournaments during the year including her maiden victory at the Swiss Open in June. She went on to win another 4 titles in the next four months. Ultimately she won the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit and in the process became the first South African to do this in ladies golf. She was also voted players player of the season, which to many professionals is the highest honour to receive. But my personal favourite is the comment from Gary Player (the man whom I share birthdays with!) "I wish she was my daughter," said nine-time major winner Gary Player.
8. Jordy Smith
The 23 year old Surfer from Durban had a year to never forget. He has raked in over R1 million in prize money and won the Billabong Pro at Jeffereys Bay. This led the South African to become the first South African in history to attain the World No 1 ranking. He is the heir apparent to legendary Kelly Slater and could be set for a long reign in World Surfing. He is also know being recognised as having some of the best aerial moves in World Surfing currently. Proudly South African too!7. 278 not out
AB De Villiers is a humble man. He is fast becoming a legendary cricketer with the only blot on his record really being the cd he released. Over the past year De Villiers along with Hashim Amla have been the consistent men for the Proteas. De Villiers has been asked to keep wicket in the Limited overs format of the game and although it is not his preference, he will do it for his team. His focus has however been on improving his batting, which he has done with great success. De Villiers knock against Pakistan was fantastic and may very well have reached 300 had there been more time. He is now the record holder in the truest form of cricket and is only 26. He is also one of only 5 South African to score two double tons!
6. 70-68
Few sporting moments make you sit up and say wow like this one. One may think of the 438 game as one of these, but in terms of tennis, this was as amazing as it gets. On Tuesday afternoon John Isner and Nicolas Mahut took to court no. 18 at the hallowed grass of Wimbledon. Upon taking to the court neither man would ever have thought they would still be playing on Thursday! Yes, Thursday! Play was halted on Tuesday due to bad light with a pretty stock standard situation. 2 sets a piece. However when bad light stopped play again on Wednesday the score was a remarkable 59 all! Top players all stopped to watch at different points and Court 18 became the main attraction. In the end John Isner triumphed 70-68, but the camaraderie shown between the two will never be forgotten. The game broke all sorts of records like longest match, longest set, most games in a set, most aces in a match, consecutive service games held and most points ever scored in a match!
5. F1: 4 in it
Formula 1 has become a farce over recent years becoming nothing more than a precession. However 2010 was different. The change in points and the emergence of Red Bull Racing as a racing force. Lewis Hamilton (2008 Champion), Fernando Alonso (2005,6 Champion), Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel interchanged the lead all season and when it got to the last race of the season, all 4 could still win the title for the first time in history! Vettel won the last race with only Hamilton giving him a proper push as Ferrari blundered to leave Alonso down the field. With all 4 drivers confirmed for next season, it could be better than ever! F1 is back, at last!
4. Commonwealth Games
For those of you that regularly follow the blog, you will know I am a very big fan of the Commonwealth games. The build up was one clouded in controversy, but once the games began they were nothing short of fantastic. South Africa won 12 gold medals and finished 5th in the medals table, but the arrival of Chad le Clos will be something that sticks out in our minds. The other special mention should surely be to the great Natalie du Toit who bowed out of Commonwealth Games competing with 3 gold medals again. What a champion she is!
3. The Ryder Cup
Once again you will know that I think the Ryder Cup is one of the greatest sports spectacles in World Sport. This year was no different. The Europeans went out into an incredible lead, but the Americans did what only the Americans do so well, they dug deep in a last ditch to write a Hollywood script and fought back with incredible desire and left the entire match down to Graeme McDowell and Hunter Mahan. The European (McDowell), who ironically is the reigning US Open Champion, held his nerve to end an epic encounter. Europe win a nail biter!
2. Louis Oosthuizen
As South Africans we have been blessed with an abundance of Major winning golfers (Ernie Els, Gary Player, Trevor Immelman, Retief Goosen and Bobby Locke). But when the Open Championship took place at the Home of Golf in July this year, few would have expected to add the name of Louis Oosthuizen to that esteemed list. The man from Mossel Bay affectionately known as Shrek surprised all and won his first major championship and became the first South African to hold the Claret jug since Ernie Els, his mentor, in 2002. It was a fairytale story fit for his nickname and a victory that will go down in sporting history as one of the greatest ever!
1. Of course its the World Cup 2010
From even before the kickoff at Soccer City on the 11 June (Which I was fortunate enough to be at!), to long after the World stopped watching in July, South Africa was transformed. Yellow could be seen everywhere and the appreciation this country showed in order to host the World Cup will never be beaten. When Tshaba scored in the 55th minute, we celebrated together. When Khune was sent off, we cried together. When Bafana were knocked out, we embraced Baghana. When Suarez cheated we hated him together. But mostly we stood united not as a country, but as a family united by football. The beautiful game had a beautiful impact on our home. There is no doubt in my mind that when you think of the year 2010, you will think of the World Cup and the pure brilliance of the occasion.
What are your thoughts? Did I leave anything out? Leave your comments below!
2010 is ending, but the memories wont.
JABU
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