TOP 100 SPORT SITES
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barney Ronay: 2009 was all about the comebacks From legends who should never have gone away to those defying the vicissitudes of time, the comeback has been kingThe sporting year has had a vaguely spectral edge to it, a tendency towards unexpected reanimations and dramatic chain-rattling, plate-flinging visitations by sports people whose careers, it was assumed, had long since passed over to the other side. This has been a year of comebacks, of varying degrees of plausibility. So much so that whatever the reason – unfinished business, or simply the spiralling rewards of just a couple more years hawking about a tarnished greatness – 2009 will be remembered in part for its noises off: the creak of the coffin lid and the scrabbling thrust through the topsoil by the zombie hand of the returning star.This year's comebacks can be ranged into three genres, in descending order of credibility. The first is the comeback by those who should never have gone away in the first place. The most obvious example is Justine Henin, who announced in September that she would be returning to tennis. Henin retired in May 2008 while still the world No1 and at her peak as a spitfire among the rumbling Lancaster Bombers of the women's power game. Henin's initial retreat, aged 25, was brought on by a trying time in her personal life. Her tournament return will be next week's Brisbane International. Only the hardest heart could fail to wish her well.An encouraging example has already been set this year by her fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters, who returned sensationally from two years of maternity leave and shoulder rehab to win the US Open, a feat of world-class coming back that really deserves its own uplifting Hollywood melodrama, perhaps called Grand Slam Mom! and starring a beefed-up RenĂ©e Zellweger grunting in a skintight white one-piece.Also coming back was Floyd Mayweather Jr, who proved once again that a boxing retirement is often no more than a particularly dramatic way of having a short rest. Mayweather looked to be in almost embarrassingly florid health while out-pointing Juan Manuel Márquez in May, 21 months after officially giving up.The year ended with Tiger Woods, perhaps the biggest star in the sporting planetarium, entering his own self‑imposed exile. Woods has promised to return in 2010, as soon as he has sifted the fallout from the revelation that golf's most meticulously dedicated man has a similar unswerving hunger for well-groomed American women who look as though they might be employed to sell jewellery on television, or demonstrate expensive items of fitness equipment. As comebacks go, it should be fairly unignorable.A step down from this, a second tier of more mature returnees also appeared this year. These were the mutton-dressed-as-lamb comebacks, the veteran swingers propped up against the jukebox, holding their stomachs in and hoping the overhead lights are kind. In July the 37-year-old Lance Armstrong rode the Tour De France again, finishing in a fairly amazing third place overall after three years away.Michael Schumacher's first attempt to get back in a formula one car as a fill-in for the injured Felipe Massa was defeated only by his insufficiently superhuman 40-year-old neck muscles. In the last few days the German racing legend has finally been unveiled as the new superannuated face of Mercedes GP, fast-forwarding the burgeoning era of the comeback safely into the new year.Below this, on the final rung of returning giants, we have the car-crash comeback, the vaguely frightening Ancient Mariner comeback, the comeback that reeks of a rather sad but still undying defiance of the vicissitudes of time. Marion Jones, disgraced sprinting star of the Sydney Olympics, is considering a comeback aged 34 as a professional basketball player.Jonah Lomu, more hearteningly, did make a comeback at the same age – and after a brief intermediate career as a body-builder – playing at centre for Marseille Vitrolles deep in the French third division. Further down the scale, 5ft 3in Colombian international striker Antony de Avila, nicknamed "The Smurf", was signed by Colombian league club America de Cali of Colombia, 10 years after announcing his retirement. The Smurf is now 46 years old.Perhaps this 12-monthly boom in comeback has something to do with the imminent end of the decade, a kind of fin de siècle mass midlife crisis. Maybe it's the pinch of the recession. Or simply a generational vogue for career breaks and gap years in an industry where pressure has never been more intense.Either way if 2009 tells us anything about comebacks, it's that we're likely to see a lot more of them in the future. And that there is still something strangely compelling about the sight of these people who once appeared only distantly for the grandstands joining, however briefly, the ranks of the mortals; before taking up their magic staff once again and heading back out there into the rarefied plastic theatre of the track and the ring and the stadium.Justine HeninKim ClijstersFloyd MayweatherTiger WoodsLance ArmstrongMichael SchumacherBarney Ronayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Venter faces charge for referee tirade • RFU applies scrutiny after comments• Criticisms followed defeat by LeicesterThe Rugby Football Union has confirmed it is to investigate whether the Saracens director of rugby, Brendan Venter, should face charges of bringing the game into disrepute for his comments about referees after yesterday's Guinness Premiership match against Leicester.Venter launched an extraordinary attack on the performance of the referee, David Rose, and the standard of officiating in general following his side's 22-15 defeat at Vicarage Road.The former Springbok centre said the "lottery" of referees' decision-making was killing attacking rugby and effectively accused officials of lacking the professionalism of players and coaches.Regarding Rose's performance, Venter was furious with the number of times Saracens were penalised in the second half against Leicester and seemed to imply that the referee had been influenced during the half-time break.Venter also said he had received an apology from the RFU for the performance of the referee Dean Richards in Saracens' defeat by London Irish last weekend.The RFU said Venter's remarks were "highly inappropriate" and said an investigation would be launched.A statement read: "It is the RFU's view that such negative public commentary on the performance of referees, either individually or collectively, and the disclosure of confidential discussions held between the RFU and Mr Venter are highly inappropriate and do not enhance the image of the game."The RFU legal officer will be investigating the matter to decide if there is a case to answer under Rule 5.12 for bringing the game into disrepute and if there is will refer that to the disciplinary officer."In addition this behaviour and those comments are also a clear contravention of the Code of Conduct established between the RFU and Premier Rugby Limited and personally signed by the directors of rugby."The RFU will be working with PRL to ensure that discussions are had with Mr Venter to remind him of his responsibilities under that code of conduct and take appropriate disciplinary action."SaracensLeicester TigersRugby unionGuinness Premiershipguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Julien Dupuy's 24-week ban for gouging reduced by one week Julien Dupuy, the Stade Francais scrum-half, has had his appeal against a 24-week suspension for gouging reduced by just seven days, effectively ending his season. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Nottingham Forest bring reality check to Reading EUPHORIC as their Anfield exploits four days ago may have been, yesterday was a significant reality check for Reading as to where their real priorities lie this season. Caretaker manager Brian McDermott can only pray that this result, from his sixth match in full control, does not influence the decision to grant him full-time responsibility to maintain the club’s Championship status. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Domnina-Shabalin lead after original dance TALLINN, Estonia (AP) -- Ice dancers Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin held their lead at the European Figure Skating Championships with an original dance to Australian aboriginal music that pushed the boundaries of the discipline.... hosted.ap.org |