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Sporty Sam

I love most sports, but particularly rugby union, rugby league, football, cricket, tennis, athletics, boxing, golf, jai alai, Formula 1 and The Olympic Games. I hate American football and wrestling and will not watch it.
This blog is about the sports I like.

Athletics, Darts and Cricket Honoured
Wednesday, December 18, 2024

These are the sports which provided the top three in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

The live programme on BBC 1 on Tuesday night culminated with the announcement of the winner and the two runners-up, based on viewers votes beforehand and on the night.

 

BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024

The winner was Keely Hodgkinson, the 22-year-old 800-metre runner from Wigan, Greater Manchester, who burst onto our screens this year when she won gold at the Olympic Games in Paris. Four years earlier she took the silver medal in Tokyo beating the British record set by Kelly Holmes 25 years earlier.

 

 

 

The runner-up was Luke Littler, the teenage darts sensation, who came from nowhere - actually from Warrington, where I lived for a quarter of a century - to take the world of professional darts by storm. He is 16 years old!

In third place was Joe Root, the former England cricket captain who has smashed records left, right and centre since being relieved of the responsibilities of skippering the Test side. Root is an old man, turning 34 at the end of this month.

 

In her acceptance speech Keely Hodgkinson said:

“This year has been absolutely incredible for me. I’ve achieved everything I’ve set out to do on the outdoor track which is kind of rare so I’m so grateful to be in this position. Thank you everyone that voted at home, I hope you all loved watching Paris as much as I’ve loved competing in it and I wish you all a wonderful evening.”

 

Keely Hodgkinson

Keely Hodgkinson’s magnificent 2024 culminated in a brilliant 800m gold at the Paris Olympics. She stormed to victory, securing Team GB’s first Olympic track title since Mo Farah’s 5,000m and 10,000m double in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Her flawless performance broke a string of near misses on the global stage and confirmed her status as one of Britain’s greatest ever middle-distance runners. Her win at the Stade de France saw the 22-year-old become only the 10th British woman to win an Olympic track and field gold.

Keely is the first athlete to win Sports Personality since Sir Mo Farah in 2017 and the first female athlete since Dame Kelly Holmes in 2004.

 

Other Award Winners

The Helen Rollason Award was presented to former champion boxer Dr Mark Prince OBE. After a tough start to life, in which he ended up on the streets and involved in street crime and drugs, he turned his fortunes around through boxing and the discipline it brought him, culminating in a world title fight in 1998.

However, tragedy struck when his 15-year-old son Kiyan, who was an aspiring footballer with QPR, was murdered in 2006. Mark battled through the pain and grief to set up the Kiyan Prince Foundation (KPF) to combat knife crime and inspire young lives through boxing, life coaching, and motivational talks. The KPF has impacted over 100,000 children, gained global recognition with campaigns like “Long Live the Prince”, and was awarded naming rights to QPR’s Loftus Road in 2019. Prince’s incredible resolve through adversity and hardship to achieve so much progress on knife crime following his son’s death is a truly remarkably accomplishment.

***

Armand Duplantis was awarded World Sport Star of the Year after the greatest pole vaulter in history enjoyed another record-breaking year. He defended his Olympic title in spectacular style at the Paris Games breaking his own world record, something he managed three times in total in 2024. The man known as “Mondo” also won golds at the World Indoor and European Championships and claimed a fourth consecutive Diamond League title, leaving no doubt about his overwhelming supremacy in the sport.

***

Wigan Warriors took home BBC Sport’s Personality’s Team of the Year. In an all-conquering 2024, Wigan Warriors became the first team in the Super League era to complete the quadruple of World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final.

So the town of Wigan picked up two gongs on Tuesday night: Keely Hodgkinson and Wigan Warriors Rugby League team.

***

Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows were awarded Coach of the Year. The husband-and-wife pair coached Keely Hodgkinson to her sensational Olympic gold in the 800m. Painter and Meadows also coached Georgia Bell to 800m bronze in Paris, as well as Lewis Davey, who took bronze in the men’s 4x400m relay.

***

The BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year was awarded to Luke Littler. Luke shook darts to its core in 2024 with one of the most astonishing breakthrough years the world of sport has ever seen. At just 16-years-old, and ranked a lowly 164th in the world, the prodigy stormed to the PDC World Championship final, smashing records and taking down some of the game’s biggest names along the way. His first major title soon followed at the Premier League of Darts, while his victory at the prestigious Grand Slam of Darts made him just the fourth player in history to win 10 trophies in one season and took his earnings over £1m.

***

Jean Paton from Lymington, Hampshire, was the overall winner of the Unsung Hero award. At 90 years old, Jean is one of the most dedicated volunteers of Salterns Sailing Club in Lymington, Hampshire, where she has contributed for nearly 40 years. As an RYA Dinghy Instructor, she has been a cornerstone of the club’s twice-yearly “Moppy Camps,” inspiring generations of young sailors.

***

Sir Mark Cavendish received the Lifetime Achievement award. The most successful sprinter cyclist of all time was presented with the award for his incredible career and dedication to cycling.

The 39-year-old legend from the Isle of Man, initially planned to retire in 2023, but postponed his farewell to chase a record-breaking 35th stage win at the Tour de France. In a stunning display of determination and skill, the “Manx Missile” claimed victory on stage five in Saint-Vulbas, securing his place in history as the sole holder of the record. This triumph marked the 165th win of his distinguished career and solidified his reputation as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

He twice won the Tour de France green jersey, awarded to the rider with the most points, and boasts a further 17 stage wins in the Giro d’Italia, three in the Vuelta a Espana and he also claimed the road world title in 2011. On the track he won omnium silver at the 2016 Olympics, three madison world titles and a Commonwealth Games gold for the Isle of Man. He was also honoured with a knighthood earlier this year.

 

Endpiece

Once again the BBC put on a great evening of sporting entertainment.

In the absence of Gary Lineker, who was dropped pending the end of his contract with the BBC in 2025, the three female presenters Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott, did a great job.

 

© Sporty Sam

 

Photos:

BBC

Kerry Spicer

Olympics

The Guardian

 

Links:

BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024

England take on Spain in the Final of Eurocopa 24

 

Tags:

800m gold, Alex Scott, BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024, Clare Balding, cricket, Gabby Logan, Isle of ManJoe Root, Keely Hodgkinson, Luke Littler, Mark Cavendish, Mo Farah, Olympic Games in Paris, Paris Olympics, professional darts, Rio de Janeiro, Team GB, Tour de France

 



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BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024
Friday, December 13, 2024

Next Tuesday, 17 December, the six nominees for this prestigious accolade will be presented to the viewing public live on BBC1.

The programme will also contain a review of the sporting year, one which has included The Olympic Games in Paris and UEFA European Championship in Germany.

 

By  Sporty Sam

 

We know that Christmas is nigh, and not just because of all the Christmas items for sale in the shops, municipal Christmas Trees everywhere and all the Christmas-themed films on the telly.

Tomorrow evening, Saturday 14 December, it’s the grand finale of “Strictly Come Dancing” and next Tuesday, 17 December it’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024. Just over a week after that it’s Christmas Day.

 

BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024

The shortlist of six candidates was announced just over a week ago.

Presenters Clare BaldingGabby Logan, and Alex Scott will guide us through a night packed with highlights from 2024’s most exhilarating sporting moments.

Note the absence of Gary Lineker who has been dropped as lead presenter. His contract with the BBC ends in 2025.

The winner’s name gets called live on the evening, based on viewers having cast their votes in the run-up to this finale and also on the night.

 

The shortlist

The shortlist was put together by a panel of sporting royalty and top sporting journalists including Dame Laura KennyAde Adepitan, and sports journalists from the Athletic and PA media, alongside the BBC’s own big sporting legends.

But the real decision lies with the fans, based on their votes.

Who’s got what it takes to take home the trophy? Let’s meet the contenders: four men and two women from six different sports.

 

The nominees are:

Jude Bellingham

The boy wonder taking modern English football to new heights. Jude is English football’s golden boy who lit up the Bernabeu in his debut season with Real Madrid, scoring 23 goals and bagging a Champions League winner’s medal.  

 

 

Keely Hodgkinson

The golden girl of the track. After years of heartbreak, Keely finally struck Olympic gold in the 800m, dominating the track and becoming just the 10th British woman to win athletics gold.

 

 

Luke Littler

The teenage darts sensation. Just 16 years old, fresh from taking his GCSEs, and this darts prodigy has already taken the PDC World Championship by storm – straight from the classroom to centre stage. With over £1m in winnings and records shattered, he is looking like the future of darts.

 

Joe Root

Arguably, England’s cricketing GOAT. Former England cricket captain, since being relieved of that responsibility Joe has smashed records left, right, and centre this year, passing Alastair Cook as England’s top Test run-scorer.

 

Dame Sarah Storey

Paralympic royalty. Three decades on from her first gold, Dame Sarah Storey keeps the medals coming. Her double gold in Paris this year cemented her as Britain’s most decorated Paralympian with a staggering 30 medals.

 

Alex Yee

The London-born triathlon star who has sprinted into stardom. Alex sprinted into history with Olympic gold and a world title, showing he’s not just fast – he’s unstoppable. His breathtaking finishes have made him the big name to watch in triathlon.

 

Other awards will be made during the televised broadcast, including

  • World Sport Star of the Year
  • Young Sports Personality of the Year
  • Team of the Year
  • Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Who will make history?

Last year’s winner, Mary Earps, brought women’s football glory to the BBC podium as a member of the English Lionesses national team. 

In 2024 will it be another footballer? Or will a new star rise to the top? Bookies' favourite is Keely Hodgkinson.

Tune in on December 17 to see who takes the crown!

 

 

© Sporty Sam

 

Acknowledgements:

BBC

Euro Weekly News

Google

Marc Menendez-Roche 

 

Photos:

20 Minutos

BBC

Evening Standard

La Liga

Olympics

Runner's World

The Independent

 

Tags:

20 Minutos, Alex Scott, Alex Yee, BBC, BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024, Clare BaldingDame Sarah Storey, Evening Standard, Gabby Logan, Joe Root, Jude Bellingham, Keely Hodgkinson, La Liga, Luke Littler, Marc Menendez-RocheOlympic Games in Paris, Paul Whitelock, Runner's World, Sporty Sam, The Independent, UEFA European Championship in Germany

 

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Last Merseyside Derby Ever …..
Sunday, December 8, 2024

….. at Goodison Park!

 

Yesterday, Storm Darragh permitting, Everton FC and Liverpool FC were due to play their last ever football match at Everton’s home ground, Goodison Park. From next season the “Toffees” will play at their new ground, Everton Stadium.

 

 

 

 

[Image courtesy of Instagram]

 

Where is the new Everton Stadium?

Everton Stadium is at Bramley-Moore Dock in Vauxhall, Liverpool.  

 

The Blues new stadium is located on the banks of the River Mersey, on Liverpool’s world-famous waterfront, and has a capacity of 52,888.

 

 

 

The new Everton Stadium [Photo courtesy of Wikipedia]

 

A brief history of Everton FC

Everton Football Club is a professional association football club based in Liverpool, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Founded in 1878, the club was a founding member of the Football League in 1888 and was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, one of just three clubs to have been a founding member of both leagues.

Everton is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in England, having won twenty-four major trophies: nine league titles, five FA Cups, one European Cup Winners' Cup and nine Charity Shields.

 

    Goodison Park, Liverpool [Photo: Wikipedia]

 

Sporty Sam and Goodison Park

I worked for ten years for Sefton Council’s Education Department based in Bootle. My role as a school adviser, with responsibility for modern foreign languages (MFL) and European Matters, partly entailed organising events and conferences for pupils and teachers.

Goodison Park was one of my regular choices of venue, as they were geared up for hosting large-scale events. The only equivalent space within Sefton was Aintree Racecourse, but they were more expensive and not always available.                                                                                  

Main Conference Room at Goodison Park [CC Events]

 

I had a soft spot for Everton and their stadium. Goodison Park worked very well as a conference space, was easy to get to on public transport and had a large free car park for those who needed to drive there.

In 2001 Liverpool was European City of Culture. The UK was still a member state of the European Union back then so was eligible for funding from the Socrates and Comenius programmes. I made a successful bid for some 80,000 pounds which enabled me to run a number of projects to promote Europe with school pupils and students. For some of the events I used Goodison Park.

 

 

 

 

[Image courtesy of Instagram]

 

What will happen to Goodison Park after Everton FC leave?

Goodison Park is to be knocked down after Everton relocate to Bramley Moore Dock.

Liverpool Council's planning committee has backed the proposals for a second time.

A report to Liverpool Council's planning committee detailed how the club plans, referred to as the Goodison Park Legacy Project, will transform the 3.39-hectare site into a mixed-use development, including housing, commercial space, community/retail uses and open space.

 

STOP PRESS: The match was postponed because of adverse weather conditions. A new date will be scheduled in due course.

 

© Sporty Sam

 

Acknowledgements:

Bing

BusinessLive

Wikipedia

 

Photos:

CC Events

Instagram

Wikipedia

www.evertonstadium.com

 

 

Tags:

Aintree Racecourse, association football, Bing, Bootle, Bramley Moore Dock, BusinessLive, Charity Shield, Comenius, commercial space, community/retail use, European City of Culture, European Cup Winners' Cup, European Matters, European Union, Everton, Everton Football Club, Everton Stadium, FA Cup, Football League, Goodison Park, Goodison Park Legacy Project, housing, league title, Liverpool, Liverpool Council's planning committee, Merseyside Derby, mixed-use development, MFL, modern foreign languages, open space, Premier League, school adviser, Sefton, Sefton Council’s Education Department, Socrates, Sporty Sam, Storm Darragh, Toffees, Vauxhall, Wikipedia

 



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England take on Spain in the Final of Eurocopa 24
Friday, July 12, 2024

England against Spain in the Final. That was what I predicted and hoped for at the outset of the tournament over three weeks ago. My two teams. England because I am half-English and lived there for nearly six decades. Spain because  I have been a resident in Andalucia for the last 16 years. Spain is my adopted country.

 

Preamble

As we moved into the semi-finals this week, one of the bookies' favourites, Germany, have gone, beaten by a superior Spain. England are still there having escaped from the round of 16 and the quarter-finals by the skin of their teeth. Defending champions France sneaked into the semis after beating world champions Italy in a penalty shoot-out. The Netherlands have a strong team with many top players from the Premier League, the French Ligue 1 and the Primera Liga in their squad.

 

Semi-finals

On Tuesday Spain beat France by being the better side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: ORBITA Navalmoral

 

On Wednesday England beat the Netherlands in somewhat controversial circumstances.

England dominated the early play yet the Dutch scored a break-away wonder goal in the 8th minute.

Within five minutes England striker Harry Kane, a prolific goalscorer last season for his club Bayern Munich, was fouled in the box as he made a shot at goal. He missed the target but was brutally chopped down by defender Denzel Dumfries. For me it was a clear penalty and a sending-off. The German referee Felix Zwayer inexplicably gave a goal kick, until VAR intervened.

 

 

Harry Kane [Photo: FC Bayern Munich]

 

The VAR official invited the referee to view the pitchside screen. As a result of that the ref awarded a penalty and a yellow card. Anywhere else on the pitch and it would have been a straight red card.

Many so-called "experts", ie former-players-turned-TV-pundits  like Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand, Alan Shearer, Lee Dixon and Jamie Carragher declared it was NOT a penalty.

OK, they are ex-professional footballers who played at the highest level, so you would think they would know what they were talking about.

As for me I have never played football to a high standard, but I am a keen fan of the game and I think I know and understand the laws. IT WAS DEFINITELY A PENALTY and the Dutch defender should have been SENT OFF!

The match continued, Kane scored from the spot and the match became ever more frantic as both sides sought a winning goal.

Finally manager Gareth Southgate took off Kane and Phil Foden and brought on prolific Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins and goal-scoring Wunderkind Cole Palmer from Chelsea.

Watkins scored in the 90th minute to seal a deserved victory for an improved England side. Palmer provided the assist. The goal was a masterpiece of precision.

 

The Final

At 21.00 hours in Berlin on Sunday, my two teams meet in the Final. But who shall I support? I back both teams, so shall have to dress in neutral fashion or in both liveries.

Which team do I want to win? Spain are the better team and have won all their games so far. England have been extremely fortunate to get through to the Final, but are improving.

I like the way Spain have been playing and I live here, yet I am English-born and would really like Gareth Southgate's team to win.

 

Photo: www.marca.com

 

If he leaves out Kane and plays Watkins from the start; if he gives Foden freedom to roam I think England will peak in the Final and surprise the world of football. I predict a 3-1 victory. The Three Lions' name is surely on the cup.

 

© Sporty Sam

 

Acknowledgements (Photos):

FC Bayern Munich

Julia Flynn

La Razon

Marca.com

ORBITA Navalmoral

Paul Whitelock

Wikipedia

 

Tags:

Alan Shearer, Aston Villa, Bayern Munich, Cole Palmer, Denzel Dumfries, Felix Zwayer, FC Bayern Munich, Gareth Southgate, Gary Lineker, Harry Kane, Jamie Carragher, Julia Flynn, La Razon, Lee Dixon,  Ligue 1, Marca.com, Ollie Watkins, ORBITA Navalmoral, Paul Whitelock, penalty, penalty shoot-out, Phil Foden, Premier League, Primera Liga, Rio Ferdinand, sending-off, Sporty Sam, TV pundit, Three Lions, Wikipedia, wonder goal, Wunderkind

 



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"Hey, Jude" - The EUROS get down to the last four
Sunday, July 7, 2024

After three weeks and 26 matches the 24 teams which qualified for the European Football Championships have been reduced to just four.

After the quarter final matches on Friday and Saturday there are just four teams remaining: England, France, the Netherlands and Spain. The only surprise is that Germany are not there, beaten by the tournament favourites Spain.

 

Semi-Finals

On Tuesday night, France play Spain and England take on the Netherlands for a place in the Final.

My money is on England v. Spain, my two teams.

Spain have been impressive, having won all their games. England have been poor, yet have found a way to win their matches. So, who will win on Tuesday? My head says Spain, but my heart hopes England can pull it off.

 

 

[Photo courtesy of OK Diario]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane [Photo: RTVE.es]                                                             The Spanish Team [Photo: OK Diario]

 

© Sporty Sam

 

Tags:

England, European Football Championship, Euros, France, Germany, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Netherlands, Spain

 

 

 



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Carlos Alcaraz – New Kid on the Tennis Block
Monday, June 10, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz is just 21, but he is already a three-time Grand Slam Tennis champion. He has appeared in three finals and won all three. He is the youngest player to win on the three different surfaces used for Grand Slams, ie hard, clay and grass. He is also the youngest player in the Open Era to be ranked No. 1. What a player!

 

Background

Carlos Alcaraz Garfia was born on 5 May 2003 in El Palmar, Murcia, Spain, to parents Carlos Alcaraz González and Virginia Garfia Escandón. He has three siblings.

Alcaraz started playing tennis at the age of four at the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia, where his father was the tennis academy director, and his grandfather one of the club's founders.

In 2018, Alcaraz moved to Villena to begin training at Juan Carlos Ferreiro’s Equelite JC Ferrero Sport Academy.

 

Professional Career

Following his win at the 2022 US Open, Alcaraz became the youngest man and the first male teenager in the Open Era to top the singles rankings, at 19 years, 4 months, and 6 days old. He is currently World No. 2.

Carlos Alcaraz began his career as a professional tennis player in 2018. At the age of 15, he won three titles on the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour and four on the ATP Challenger Tour. He broke into the top 100 in rankings in May 2021, and ended that year in the top 35 after reaching his first major quarter-final at the US Open.

In March 2022, Alcaraz won his first Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open at the age of 18, and then won his second at the Madrid Open where he defeated Rafael NadalNovak Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev in succession.

In late 2022, Alcaraz won his first major singles title at the US Open, finishing the year as the youngest year-end No. 1 in ATP ranking history.

In 2023, Alcaraz claimed two additional Masters 1000 titles at Indian Wells and Madrid, and earned his second major title at Wimbledon, defeating Novak Djokovic to become the first champion outside of the Big Four since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.

In 2024, he won his third major title at the French Open, becoming the youngest man in history to complete the career Surface Slam.

 

 

2022: Alcaraz at the US Open

Alcaraz entered the 2022 US Open as the No. 3 seed. He reached the fourth round without dropping a set. Next he defeated 15th seed Marin Cilic in five sets before squeezing past Jannik Sinner, saving a match point in the fourth set. The match set the record as the latest finish (at 2:50AM EST) and second longest match (5 hours and 15 minutes) in US Open history.

He defeated Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals for his third consecutive five-set match victory, and beat 5th seed Casper Ruud in the final.

Alcaraz became the youngest No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings at the age of 19 years, 4 months and 6 days, breaking Lleyton Hewitt's record.

 

2023: Wimbledon champion

At the Queen’s Club Championships, he recorded his first title on grass in only his third career grass court tournament, beating Alex de Minaur in the final. The tournament win in London also returned him to the world No. 1 in rankings. 

At the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, as the top seed, Alcaraz reached the final, where, in a monumental match, he defeated Novak Djokovic in five sets, ending Djokovic's run to win a fifth consecutive title, and securing the No. 1 ranking.

 

2024: French Open champion and Career Surface Slam

Prior to Roland-Garros, Alcaraz experienced a shaky clay season. He withdrew from the Monte-Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open, the latter where he would be defending his title, due to a right forearm injury. In Madrid, where he was also defending champion, Alcaraz lost in the quarter-finals to eventual champion Andrey Rublev. He then withdrew from Rome owing to the forearm injury.

In June, in Paris, he reached the semi-final, where he defeated 2nd seed Jannik Sinner in 5 sets to advance to his first French Open final.

His opponent in the final was 4th seed Alexander Zverev, who took the lead 2 sets to 1. Alcaraz took the fourth set 6-1 and forced a fifth decisive set, which he won 6-2.

At 21, he became the youngest male player in history to win a Grand Slam title on every surface.

 

©  Sporty Sam

 

Acknowledgements:

ATP

Diario de Sevilla

Wikipedia

www.marca.com

 

Tags:

Alexander ZverevAlex de Minaur, ATP Challenger Tour, Barcelona Open, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, Equelite JC Ferrero Sport Academy, Frances Tiafoe, French Open, Grand Slam, Indian Wells, ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour, Jannik Sinner, Juan Carlos Ferreiro,  Lleyton Hewitt, Madrid, Marin Cilic, Masters 1000, Monte-Carlo Masters, Novak Djokovic, Queen’s Club Championships, Rafael Nadal, Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia, Roland-Garros, US Open, Wimbledon, 



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Rafael Nadal
Monday, April 8, 2024

When a young Rafael Nadal burst onto the tennis scene in the early 2000s, he had an instant impact. He was different; he dressed like a pirate, he was surly and he played in a different way. He was good. And he started beating all the great players. I didn’t like him at all, back then.

 

Now 20 years on, it’s a different story.

 

The Early Days

Rafael Nadal, a Spanish tennis player, was born in Manacor, Mallorca in 1986. Despite being a right-hander, his uncle and coach Toni Nadal encouraged him to play left-handed, which the latter argued would give him an advantage against other players, most of whom were right-handed.

Reaching the world No. 2 ranking and winning 16 titles before turning 20, including his first French Open and six Masters events, Nadal became the world No. 1 for the first time in 2008 after defeating Roger Federer (Switzerland) in a historic Wimbledon Final, his first major victory not on clay.

He followed up his win with an Olympic singles gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After defeating Novak Djokovic (Serbia) in the 2010 US Open final, the then-24-year-old Nadal became the youngest man in the Open Era to achieve the Career Grand Slam, and the first man to win majors on three different surfaces (hard, grass and clay) in the same year, known as a Surface Slam.

 

Achievements

Nadal has won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award five times and was the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year in 2011 and 2021. 

Time magazine named Nadal one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.

He is a recipient of the Grand Cross of Royal Order of Sports Merit, Grand Cross of Order of the Second of May, the Grand Cross of Naval Merit and the Medal of the City of Paris.

Representing Spain, he has won two Olympic gold medals, and led the nation to four Davis Cup titles.

Nadal has also opened a tennis academy in Mallorca, and is an active philanthropist.

 

Playing style

“It is important to have true inner humility, not false humility, accepting that it's not always good, bad moments are better tolerated. People sometimes exaggerate this business of humility. It's simply a question of knowing who you are, where you are, and that the world will continue exactly as it is without you.”

Nadal, speaking to the press at the 2008 US Open.

 

As a left-handed player, one of Nadal's main strengths has been his forehand, which he hits with a high degree of topspin. He also regularly places among the Tour leaders in percentage of return games, return points, and break points won.

Nadal generally plays an aggressive, behind-the-baseline game founded on heavy topspin groundstrokes, consistency, speedy footwork and tenacious court coverage, thus making him an aggressive counterpuncher. 

Known for his athleticism and speed around the court, Nadal is an excellent defender who hits well on the run, constructing winning plays from seemingly defensive positions. He also plays very fine dropshots, which work especially well because his heavy topspin often forces opponents to the back of the court.

Nadal employs a semi-western grip forehand, often with a "lasso-whip" follow-through, where his left arm hits through the ball and finishes above his left shoulder – as opposed to a more traditional finish across the body or around his opposite shoulder. Nadal's forehand groundstroke form allows him to hit shots with heavy topspin – more so than many of his contemporaries.

San Francisco tennis researcher John Yandell used a high-speed video camera and special software to count the average number of revolutions of a tennis ball hit full force by Nadal.

 

 

Yandell concluded:

“The first guys we did were (Pete) Sampras and (Andre) Agassi. They were hitting forehands that in general were spinning about 1,800 to 1,900 revolutions per minute. Federer is hitting with an amazing amount of spin, too, right? 2,700 revolutions per minute. Well, we measured one forehand Nadal hit at 4,900. His average was 3,200.”

 

Going forward

Nadal has suffered periods of injury throughout his career, largely caused by the way he plays, which takes a huge toll on his body.

He is currently injured, in early April 2024. He has withdrawn from several tournaments including the Australian Open and the Monte-Carlo Masters, in the hope that he can get fit for the three remaining Grand Slams, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Whether he gets to play those tournaments or not, 2024 is likely to be his final year of competion.

 

Legacy

“Nadal is, without a doubt, the best athlete in the history of Spain. Spain has to pay him a tribute for many, many years. Nadal is the king of Roland Garros and of world tennis. He has achieved a record that is very difficult to beat.”

— King Felipe VI, on Nadal's legacy after he won his 22nd Grand Slam at the French Open in 2022.

 

Rafa Nadal has won the second-most major men’s singles titles in tennis history (22) behind Djokovich on 24 and ahead of Federer on 20. He has also won the second-most Big titles (59). He appeared in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings consecutively from April 2005 to March 2023 – a record spanning 912 weeks.

He stands alone in the Open Era as the player with the most clay court titles (63), consisting of an all-time record 14 French Open titles, 12 Barcelona Open titles, 11 Monte-Carlo Masters titles, and 10 Italian Open titles.

His 14 French Open titles are a record at any single tournament, and he holds the record for the longest single-surface winning streak in matches (81 on clay) and in sets (50 on clay) in the history of the Open Era.

Nadal's dominance on clay is reflected by his honorific title as the "King of Clay", and he is widely regarded as the greatest clay-court player in history. Nadal is considered by many to be the greatest player in tennis history because of his record and evolution into an all-court champion.

Nadal played an instrumental role in taking Spain to four Davis Cup crowns, and is the winner of two Olympic gold medals.

He is one of two men, along with Agassi, to win the Olympic gold medal as well as the four majors in singles in his career, a feat known as a Career Grand Slam.

He is the only male player in history to complete the Career Grand Slam and win an Olympic gold medal in both singles and doubles. 

He is one of four men in history, along with Roy Emerson (Australia), Rod Laver (Australia) and Novak Djokovic, to complete the double Career Grand Slam in singles.

 

Epilogue

Rafa, you have had a fantastic career. When you first appeared I didn't like you, but that has changed. Now I think you are one of the best things that happened to lawn tennis. And you are a true gentleman. Enjoy your final season and have a great life. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

© Sporty Sam

 

Acknowledgements:

Alamy

El Confidencial

emprendedores

Marca

Paul Whitelock

SportsKeeda

Wikipedia

YouTube

 

Tags:

Agassi, Alamy, Australian Open, Djokovich, El Confidencial, emprendedores, Federer, French Open, Grand Slam, Mallorca, Manacor, Marca, Nadal, Olympic, Paul Whitelock, Rafael Nadal, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, SportsKeeda, Sporty Sam, Toni Nadal, US Open, Wikipedia, Wimbledon, YouTube

 

 



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The FIFA World Cup
Monday, April 1, 2024

The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition between the senior men’s national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The tournament has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 due to the Second World War.

The trophy has been won by eight national teams. Brazil, with five wins, are the only team to have played in every tournament. The other World Cup winners are Germany/West Germany and Italy, with four titles each; Argentina, with three titles; France and Uruguay, each with two titles; and England and Spain, with one title each.

 

My personal experience

The first World Cup I remember watching was in 1966, when I was 16. England won that year, the one and only time they have managed it.

I watched it in 1970, when it was held in Mexico. England were hot favourites, but went out controversially against Germany after Sir Alf Ramsay, the England manager, made some fateful substitutions.

In 1974 I was doing exams for my PGCE so couldn’t watch it much.

1978, I can’t remember. The following World Cups in 1982, 1986, 1990, and 1994 are also a blur.

In 1998 I was at a conference in Liverpool, but managed to find a pub showing the key match involving England and Argentina, when David Beckham was sent off.

In 2002 the joint hosts were South Korea and Japan, with Brazil emerging as winners.

2006, in Germany, is a mystery. Italy won.

In 2010, retired and living in Spain, I was interested again. Shame about the appalling decision of the referee in disallowing Frank Lampard’s "goal" against old enemy Germany, who went on to win the game. That tournament was in South Africa and was won by Spain.

I also followed the 2014 tournament closely. My German wife Rita, who claims to hate all sport, watched enthusiastically as Germany thrashed hosts Brazil 7-1 and went on to win the final 1-0 against Argentina.

In 2018 the tournament was held in Russia. England flattered to deceive, yet got to the semi-final, before falling to Croatia, who lost to France in the final.

The 2022 World Cup was postponed to 2023, because of the Covid pandemic. The tournament was held controversially in Dakar. Argentina beat France in the final.

The next World Cup finals will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time a World Cup has been shared by three host nations. The 2026 tournament will be the biggest World Cup ever held, with 48 teams playing 104 matches. Sixty matches will take place in the USA, including all matches from the quarter-finals onward, while Canada and Mexico will host 10 games each.

 

2014 FIFA World Cup – the best ever?

Fans and pundits alike consider this edition of the World Cup to be one of the best ever held.

The  2014 tournament was the 20th FIFA World Cup. It took place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014, after the country was awarded the hosting rights in 2007. It was the second time that Brazil had staged the competition, the first being in 1950 (I missed that one, as I was less than four weeks old!), and the fifth time that it was held in South America.

31 national teams advanced through qualification to join the host nation in the final tournament. A total of 64 matches were played in 12 venues in cities across Brazil.

For the first time at a World Cup finals, match officials used goal-line technology, as well as vanishing spray for free kicks. The country welcomed 1 million visitors from 202 countries.

Spain, the defending champions, were eliminated at the group stage, along with England and Italy. Uruguay were eliminated in the round of 16, and France exited in the quarter-finals. Host nation Brazil were thrashed by Germany 7–1 in the semi-finals and eventually finished in fourth place.

In the 2014 final, Germany defeated Argentina 1–0 after extra time to win the tournament and secure the country's fourth world title, the first after German reunification in 1990.

Germany became the first European team to win a World Cup staged in the Americas, and this result marked the third consecutive title won by a European team, after Italy in 2006 and Spain in 2010.

 

Bits and pieces

Sponsorship

The World Cup attracts major sponsors such as Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Adidas. For these companies and many more, being a sponsor strongly impacts their global brands. Host countries typically experience a multimillion-dollar revenue increase from the month-long event.

The governing body of the sport, FIFA, generated $4.8 billion in revenue from the 2014 tournament, and $6.1 billion from the 2018 tournament.

 

Match balls, mascots, logos and songs

Match balls have been manufactured by Adidas since the 1970 World Cup.

Each FIFA World Cup since 1966 has had its own mascot or logo. World Cup Willie, the mascot for the 1966 competition, was the first. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each tournament also has an official World Cup song, which has been performed by artists ranging from Shakira to Will Smith.

Other songs, such as “Nessun Dorma”, performed by The Three Tenors at four World Cup concerts, have also become identified with the tournament.

The Three Tenors are Spaniards Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras together with Italian Luciano Pavarotti, whose nickname was "Big Lucy".

 

 

 

Coming World Cups

In 2026, the finals will be held in Canada, USA and Mexico.

In 2030 it’s the turn of Morocco, Portugal and Spain and .....

in 2034 it will be Saudi Arabia.

 

I wonder if I’ll still be around for all of them …..?

 

© Sporty Sam

 

Acknowledgements:

Amazon

Paul Whitelock

Pinterest

Sportsnet

The Independent

Wikipedia

worldcupwillie.com

YouTube

 

Tags:

1966, 1970 World Cup, 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2022 World Cup, Adidas, Argentina, "Big Lucy", Brazil, England, Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA World Cup, France, German reunification, Germany, goal-line technology, Independent, Italy, logos, mascots, Match balls, “Nessun Dorma”, official World Cup song, Pinterest, Second World War, Shakira, songs, Spain, Sponsorship, Sportsnet, Sporty Sam, South America, The Three Tenors, Uruguay, vanishing spray, Wikipedia, Will Smith, World Cup, World Cup Willie, YouTube

 



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