La Decima - A dream come true

Real Madrid CF had been stuck on 9 Champions League titles for 12 years now - 75% of my lifetime, mind you - and they were itching to get the elusive tenth. The famed Galacticos of the early 2000s had brought home their last. I will not be exaggerating if I said that the current Real Madrid squad is a fresh set of Galacticos - Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Angel di Maria and the likes - assembled with their famed overflowing wealth and boundless desire for more and more cups. (And this is not even counting the recently exited Mesut Ozil and Gonzalo Higuain!)
It was this side which met the intrepid Atletico Madrid in the showpiece at Lisbon. No website or newspaper failed to mention that Atleti's budget was a fifth of Real's and their fan base orders of magnitude less. They don't even have a city to themselves. Yet they had an insane season no one had predicted, beating the big two Spanish sides to the La Liga and of course, making their way to Lisbon ousting Chelsea and Barcelona amongst others. Diego Simeone made the best of his squad most people did not recognise more than two names from.
Real had most of the ball in the final, came distressingly close many times through Ronaldo, Bale, Isco, Benzema, every other team member, coach Carlo Ancelotti's cousin's grandson's best friend, but did not find the net until it was very nearly too late. Diego Godin had sent the other Madrid team ahead in the first half courtesy a rare Casillas error. Real kept Thibaut Courtois and the Atletico defence very busy indeed in the second half and finally Ramos headed in, two minutes from the end of injury time.
Atletico was visibly tired in extra time and crumbled in the second half. Bale's superb header, made possible by di Maria's excellent cut through the defence, opened the gates; Marcelo consolidated it and Ronaldo, not one to miss out on the fun, scored his record 17th CL goal of the season to cap the match.
The all-Spanish final shows that Spain are not out of the World Cup race as yet - despite Atletico keystone Diego Costa's injury. For now, Real will bask in their Decima - but 10 being a nice round number will not stop them gunning for another in the seasons to come.

Comeback week

          It is the week of footballing comebacks! Chelsea and FC Bayern bounced back from deficits in their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal games, the former sneaking in over two legs on away goals,against Paris St Germain, and the latter doing so against Manchester United very quickly indeed, in the second leg at Munich.
          Chelsea was trailing 3-1 after the first leg at Paris - not unlike their Round of 16 game against Napoli back in 2011-12. (They went on to win the second leg 4-1 and eventually the cup itself.) Eden Hazard, this season's undisputed star for them, had secured a valuable away goal for them, though, through a penalty. They were soon to find out just how valuable it was. Substitute Andre Schurrle fired in the first at 32 minutes, to hopeful celebrations from the home crowd. It was his first goal in the competition for Chelsea, unsurprising given his fluctuating form and starts.The team lived in fear of an equaliser for nearly an hour of the game. Possession was nearly equal. Chelsea hit the post twice soon after the break. A second goal looked impending. Blues' manager Mourinho, whose ways are often unfathomable but not that night, took off Frank Lampard, yellow-carded earlier in the game, and brought on striker Demba Ba. It paid off. Ba scored from close range at 87 minutes, cueing wild celebrations from the players. PSG had a chance in injury time, but the script was written. Chelsea had entered the semifinals again and are three good games away from a second star on the shirt.
           But so are Bayern! Their first leg at Manchester tied at 1-1, their away goal would only be useful in the case of a goalless draw. That seemed quite likely in the first half. United's tight, experienced defence meant that even though Bayern enjoyed a majority of the possession, they had no clear-cut chances on goal. The Red Devils were depending on set pieces and counterattacks which were few and far between. Bayern's crosses were wayward and their key man in Robben was playing rather selfishly. In the second half, however, United's aging defence seemed to wear down. Unexpectedly, Patrice Evra scored a stunner on 57 minutes. A Bayern comeback was imperative and their execution was immediate. 22 seconds after the restart, Mario Mandzukic headed into the corner. Moyes's defence was momentarily unwary and the tie was level.
          Bayern's confidence restored, it didn't take long for them to take the lead. Robben's pass was tapped in by Thomas Muller and the Dutchman himself doubled the lead nine minutes later, with a shot after a dribble along the box. Interestingly, all three goals followed defensive lapses by Evra. Bayern seemed content with the scoreline of 3-1, unlike last year where they went after Barcelona relentlessly to earn 3-0 and 4-0 wins.
          The semifinal draw today announced Real Madrid v FC Bayern and Chelsea v Atletico Madrid as the ties. Both promise to be exciting affairs. However, both legs take place on consecutive weeks ten days from now. Three of the four teams are title contenders in their respective countries (the fourth, Bayern, did well to wrap it up quickly!) and high-pressure games in quick succession are bound to fatigue them and diminish their chances of domestic league wins. I hope for better scheduling of European games next season.
           The titular week also features my own comeback! I am posting on this blog after fourteen months and four days. Unsurprisingly, the reason was my class X board examinations. I hope to blog oftener this summer and year.

Seeing isn't believing

          Pictures are photoshopped. Audio tapes are doctored. Live pop performances are lip-synced. And, for the past few decades, sport just cannot be believed.
          I say this in the wake of Lance Armstrong's unsurprising revelation and Europol's investigation. Cycling and football, two high-profile sports are what we are talking about, not croquet or kabaddi. Not to say they should be fixed.
          How can an athlete spend his life believing winning and money are more important than hundreds of thousands of sport fans and their trust? Than the spirit of all sport and fair play? People have said this for centuries, but I'll say it again. Sport is about competing and fun, not winning. One person or team will eventually win, but that's not what it's about. The World Cup/Tour de France/Champions League/Test championship are all about enjoying good sport and having a good time. It's not about seeing injection-powered people race away to rob honest people of victory. It's not about seeing people make money by ensuring they see what they bet on.
          People don't land up in bars around the world to see what a money-minded ringleader in Singapore planned. They don't line the streets of France to cheer on people running on a strength other than their own.
           If I were placed second behind a drug-boosted athlete, I'd hate to see him get the media attention, adulation, interviews, gold medal and all that then be awarded first a decade later. In fact, I don't know how those people deal with it.
           It's probably the tip of the iceberg. But still, I hope for a future where conscience creeps back into people's mind.

Master blaster musters his ouster

          We may never know if Sachin chose to retire from ODI cricket of his own accord, or was given a nudge by the selectors who would rather not unceremoniously drop him. I am inclined to think the latter, knowing our selectors. It will probably remain a mystery. Never, however, rule out Mohinder Amarnath squealing ten years later. It will provide Arnab Goswami and Rajdeep Sardesai a field day.
          You can, however be sure of the reactions of the mango people of India. Most are too worried about the agitation in Delhi and its causes, many have switched sides from 'when is he retiring' to 'why is he retiring', some are heartbroken and a few are relieved. Nostalgia is in the air, with most recalling his exploits in the blue shirt between 1998 and 2003. At the time, I was still learning to walk and talk, which means I cannot comment. Sachin has, however, given me many reasons to smile. He has also, in the past year and a half, given me as many reasons to curse.
           As I write, he is playing for Mumbai in the Ranji trophy, giving those not interested in Indo-Pak rivalry something to watch. These may be back to the days when India team players used to face each other in the Ranji trophy, these could also be the days when domestic cricket is the only refuge when you have been kicked out by the national selectors.
           About two-thirds of his ODI centuries have come in winning causes. This should not be surprising. His centuries became a kind of 'unlucky-charm' in the last few years, making a friend of mine wish he never reached 100 of them.
           With the old order of Ganguly, Laxman, Dravid and Sachin having flowed out of ODIs, it is time to find replacements. Rahane is not a bad choice, Kohli has cemented his place, Mukund and Pujara are flying in and out of the team, Robin Bist has been pretty consistent in the Ranji. Our team is rebuilding itself like the Australian team. I wish them all the best. Till then, let Pakistan get some thrills out of hammering our team.
 

All hail, Sebastian Vettel

          It's official. We have a new legend. Maybe I'm jumping to a conclusion, but it will be difficult to forget a man once he has won three successive world championships. He has joined the league of Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher, whom we are not very likely to forget. Ever.
          Meet Vettel. He has survived it all at 25 - being hit by a youngster on the first corner, braved an FIA determined to stifle the making of legends and to keep the tournament competitive, worked his way up the grid, kept pressure at bay to win his maiden championship as a rank outsider... he is no kid. That was proven when, after he won his first race with Toro Rosso, he replied to a question as to whether this was the best moment of his life. I leave it to you to find out what he said.

          I consider myself lucky to have watched the final race of 2012. Newspapers call it an incident-packed race - I call it a thriller with all elements. Two contenders, home support for one's teammate, rain, accidents, a first-lap setback, safety cars, an unexpected lead for one making up the numbers, bittersweet endings. It had them all.

          The all-powerful FIA considers it its job to ensure the competetiveness of F1 and thereby ensuring that legends are not created. The Schumacher-Ferrari combination was getting too lethal for them to bear, so they changed the tyre rules to counter his mastery over them. Vettel dominated the 2011 season with the blown diffuser, which was subsequently banned. This year, the pioneer Adrian Newey, the man behind Red Bull's and Vettel's speed, introduced the double DRS. I am sure that it will be banned before long.

          But for now, Vettel is the man. Watch him as he adds to his 'youngest to...' records and sets more 'only one to...' ones.

Domestic cricket needs help

          I had gone over to the MAC stadium here on Sunday, to pop in at the Tamil Nadu - Karnataka Ranji Trophy game for a couple of hours. There were about 50-60 people there, who seemed to be spending a lazy Sunday morning rather than watching with interest. There was polite applause for every boundary (there was a six and a few fours) and some good pieces of fielding. The TN twelfth man came over and signed a few autographs for some excitable schoolkids. It seemed like the idyllic setting Ted Corbett keeps describing in his columns - chilled-out cricketers in whites, green grass, sun, quiet, animals (yes, the mandatory dog visited the stadium), it hardly seemed like the cricket-crazy nation we proudly describe ourselves as.
           The Ranji Trophy is no longer the basis of selection, or the dream of youngsters. It is a tournament played for the sake of playing. Players like Robin Bist have been excelling in it for seasons and they are not in the India squad, while it just took an IPL century for Manish Pandey to make the cut. Most don't know last season's winner and can't name six players from their state's squad, but can recite World Cup winners, runners-up and hosts from 1975 and know the India team backwards. Englishmen rooting for Somerset and Yorkshire and Australians proudly supporting Queensland and New South Wales are poles apart from us.
           The villain is the usual, the IPL. Youngsters now dream of winning the IPL with CSK or RCB or KKR after bowling four decent overs, not lifting the Ranji Trophy after sending down twenty hard-fought overs. The thought of Indians bowling to each other does not incite passions like it used to. In T20, a battle between bat and ball, a batsman and a bowler, won't last more than a few balls. (Ever heard anyone say, 'I'm going to watch MI vs KKR because I want to see Narine bowl to Sachin') I find the idea of Zaheer battling it out with Sehwag, for 10 overs more inviting.
           A group of young individuals to popularize the Ranji Trophy and draw fans to the stadium will be a great help to players, fans, India and the game.
           Happy Deepavali.

Poof!

          Poof! That was me blowing the dust off this page. I am indeed writing less and less often, and that has nothing to do with any lack of activity in the sports world. In fact, things are hotting up in various sports, from cricket to cycling to the age-old mudslinging game of Indian politicians, of whom Arvind Kejriwal is the newest.
          One long-awaited reformation which is taking place is the welcoming back of Pakistani cricketers in India. Harmless venues like my own Chennai have been nominated to host the one-day games. Choosing Mumbai or Mohali would be dangerous to all in the picture, so the decision is wise, even if not bold. This despite the fact that last year Pakistan played India in Mohali in a smooth semifinal where Misbah-ul-haq reiterated the fact that however useful he may be otherwise, he manages to goof against India.
          India and Pakistan remind me of neighbours who seldom speak or visit each other, and study the sky and floor tiles when meeting in the lift lobby.
          Even Nike has dumped Lance Armstrong after facing heaps of insurmountable evidence.
          Mark Clattenburg defeated Chelsea 3-2.
          Sachin Tendulkar received the Order of Australia.
          Big names are to use the Ranji Trophy as a warm-up to their test of character, the England series.
          Lionel Messi, as usual, looks the Ballon d'Or favourite. Some people, however talented, (think Manuel Neuer, Didier Drogba) are only making up the numbers. We all know who will win.
          This blog has missed a lot. I hope to cut the deficit next time.
          Till then.