Probably for the Shakespearean era, Hamlet was that one Prince of Denmark who stood out from the rest. The legendary saga of his immaculately royal stature reflected a sense of pain, insanity, trauma and disbelief that etched its place in the hearts of the few literary purists forever. Likewise, when the modern football era bestowed the Danish land with another Prince oozing with an almost infectious charm and unrivalled calibre, the football-crazy Danish contingent accepted it as a sign of a seismic historic revival. Michael Laudrup’s first few glimpses of genius on the field didn’t just elevate the surrounding hysteria but also opened a door of rather intriguing prospects.

The moment this Dane arrived on the grandest of all stages, he didn’t just assume the weight of expectations but also consumed it to fuel his ambitious strides. So, for many quadrants of Danish football enthusiasts,  it was only fitting that their most capable torch-bearer went on leave his mark of excellence on several generations ahead. A precocious young starlet that left his trail from Brondby to Barcelona with his creative genius and unparalleled equanimity, Michael Laudrup, on a football field, embodied a prodigious artist painting his sumptuous masterpiece.

Hailing from a renowned football family, he already had a lot to prove before he had even touched a football. His predecessors held a marquee identity in Danish football; and it was understandable when he chose to sketch his learning curve in the same Brondby colours that his father and uncle wore for most part of their respective careers. Winning the Danish Player of the Year in the first couple of seasons and already being rumoured to have featured on the wish-list of the European elites, things could have never been more favourable for Michael. Not just the Laudrups, but Danish football on the whole was counting on this gutsy playmaker to exhibit his footballing genius across Europe – and the moment wasn’t too far off his grasp either.

Young Michael could have been straightaway slotted into the all-conquering Liverpool side of the 80s, had there not been any hiccups in the contract negotiation. They wanted him on a long-term contract. Yet, his courage to take the tougher decisions at a tender age by refusing the Merseyside giants and signing for Juventus showed how much he rated himself to succeed in any condition. And when we look back, he lost little in the bargain, having grown under the shadow of the charismatic Michel Platini and being fortunate enough to face then Napoli’s one man army – Diego Maradona.

“Michael had everything except for one thing: he wasn’t selfish enough.” – Michel Platini

He revelled being the pivotal creating element of what was a promising Juve side that was touted to be the producers of the most beautiful football in the league. Although it was a pity that Laudrup could inspire them to no more than one Serie A title in his four year stint, he did learn the value of striving hard to redeem any kind of appreciation out of a team effort – something he could’ve hardly managed in trophy-laden periods at Liverpool.

What missed in his then blooming career was an early taste of winning champagne. Despite a title win with the Turin club, the ambitious side of Laudrup always asked a lot more of himself. Players always talk about how difficult it is to move on from a club and adapt to a new one, yet Laudrup, on the other hand, relished these opportunities. He, unlike most of the players of his generation, timed his career to a limit where footballing interests didn’t mix with the club culture and its inherent sentiments. He believed that his strongest connect was with delightful yet prolific football that would appreciate his skill-set. And Cruyff’s project in the early 90s at Barcelona promised just that!

Johan Cruyff’s attempt to present his seductive version of the game at Barcelona needed an on-field director who could pull the right strings at the most opportunistic moment. He soon realized that he was looking for another Cruyff to run his lavish setup and in Laudrup he found his closest embodiment. Laudrup didn’t just kill games with his polished range of passes but also formed a never-seen-before chemistry with the Catlan attacking juggernaut. If there was any team comparable to clockwork precision in modern football, it was the Barcelona side of the early 90s – and Laudrup was at the heart of what turned out to be a glorious spell for the side. There were few adjectives to describe their rampaging 5-0 rout of Madrid and even fewer when we look back at the club’s first European Cup triumph at Wembley. It was Laudrup’s character, to put his team’s interests ahead of an individual’s, that denied him the amount of credit that he deserved, yet few could argue his influence on what was the Blaugrana’s most potent winning-machine ever.

What Laudrup truly achieved in that stint was that his contributions weren’t just underlined by the number of trophies his side won. In fact, it was always for his sheer ability to switch on his best when the side demanded it.

There were times when in need of a goal in the dying stages of the game, Stoichkov would yell at Laudrup to shed some of his stardust to enliven the arena; and more often than not, the Dane delivered with his trademark aplomb. A shimmy, a close dribble and then what we call in a magician’s lingo, the prestige, Laudrup delivered his version of a spell in the most effortless of manners. He would slip an almost ideally weighted ball past the defenders for the striker to score and taste the glory. For Laudrup on the other hand, a few pats on the back and a deafening roar of approval from the fans were enough to assure himself that he had still got it. Not that he ever craved for the spotlight; it’s just that he never thought he deserved more than the usual credit for what he called his routine on the field.

“From more than hundred goals that I scored I’m sure that over 50 were assisted by Michael. To play with him was extremely easy. We found each other by intuition on the field and found common football language. Look at Ivan Zamorano. Laudrup went there (Real) and Zamorano is a goalscorer. Sometimes I envy Ivan for the passes he receives. Passes on foot after you accelerated.  They make things easy and find the right solutions. For them is simple, for the opponent – unthinkable. Phenomenal! – Hristo Stoichkov, Laudrup’s teammate at Barcelona.

Yet, in what sounds like an almost faultless career, it did have its fair share of nagging issues. Laudrup was a character who knew his job and executed it just fine. Yet, he could never take a word from a critique on a positive note. Even in that incredible spell at Barcelona, when the Dane was rated as the most fearsome orchestrator a side possessed across Europe, he had his share of problems with Cruyff. The Dutch understandably looked to yield more out of the Dane’s abundance of talent, while Michael never welcomed anyone questioning his commitment levels.

And then Cruyff committed the ultimate sin. He kept him out of the Champions League final against AC Milan that ended in a humiliating 4-0 loss for the Catalan side. Yet Laudrup’s demeanor never had a side that would ignite a revolt against his mentor and that was the last time he was known as a Barcelona player. It’s tough to argue the impact of Laudrup’s exclusion on the final result, but it did reflect how dispensable he was from the starting eleven.

“Laudrup was the guy I feared but Cruyff left him out, and that was his mistake.” – Fabio Capello, after watching his AC Milan side dismantle Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League final

He left as a Catalan hero and stayed so forever, even when he went on the play for their rivals at Madrid. While others that went on to cross this forbidden bridge between the two Spanish superpowers have often been labelled as traitors, Laudrup might be the only one player in the history to have been loved across the great Spanish divide. Maybe it was his ignorance towards inept politics in the game, or maybe the world couldn’t have thought to disrespect a romantic that loved the game more than anything else. All and all, he did just enough for the footballing generation to adore his pedigree irrespective of the decisions he made throughout his career – and isn’t that what every footballer dreams to be?

It is rather inexplicable, but he treated his work as a medium to provide those small yet priceless moments of awe and soothing satisfaction to the onlookers. And when you look back at that illustrious career, it’s hard to argue whether he fulfilled his prime motive or not. He won 4 consecutive La Liga titles and a European Cup while playing for the two best clubs in Spain, led his country to a World Cup and the Euros and was rewarded with an ideal farewell from football against the mighty Brazilians at the 1998 World Cup.

Many still believe he was the sole expression of dream-like football, while others argue that his on-field prowess was only a part of his surreal potential.  Yet it’s hard to find his brand of football ever being replicated by a player on the field for generations to come. The deft touches, deceptive feints, well-weighted thread-balls and a knack of scoring stupendous goals – it will certainly take some time before we ever witness a phenomenon close to Laudrup’s genius in the beautiful game.

Let’s put it this way – had football been a form of expression, then Laudrup would sure be labelled as its most articulate ambassador.

When Bubba Watson was looking for this 90-degree hook to land on the green, almost no one could have placed a bet on its execution. It was one of those shots that would come once in a while, on a day when you’re knocking a few on your yards and wonder how illustrious the canvas would have been had the shot been on a crunch day of a Masters. Bubba, in 2012 Masters, didn’t just live that moment but also built his emotional Major triumph on the very foundation of that genius stroke – for once, the fairytale unfolded right in front of his eyes.

Yet, he hasn’t been the only one to have experienced an unforgettable simulation of a dream on the Augusta turf. In 2005, on the 16th hole, Tiger chipped in a jaw-dropping chip-in which is – even for Tiger – a shot that couldn’t be played again by a mortal again. The assumption and the calculations behind the shot which could curtail dream-like tournament runs into vanity, astonishingly worked in Woods’ favour – and how! The dip, pace and the decisive swerve is something that is etched into the memories of every sporting fan that thrives on witnessing brilliance mixed with subtle feel of inevitability about it; another shot that virtually decided that Tiger will wear the famous Green Jacket again.

Moments like these, in fact, exactly these, make the quest of achieving the seemingly impossible golfing perfection look like something you’ve always had a shot at, but never on the pragmatic end of your thought process. It requires madmen who would rather take the risks on high stakes than reflect helplessly on the lines of ‘what could have been’; Bubba and Tiger are one of those few ultimate connoisseurs of golfing moments that demand thrilling execution, irrelevant of the challenge that a situation could pose on a golf course.

On Thursday, they would head for another challenge that has been asking for their presence for quite a long time. Bubba wants to prove that his win last year was no one off miracle, while Tiger would be trying to unlock the last door that would cap an unimaginable comeback. The two will have their different set of strategies and approaches to tackle the game; add the likes of Rose, Mickelson, Rory, Oosthuizen and you know it’s never going to be cakewalk. Yet, the sheer intent and the familiarity which the two leads of this Masters plot share ahead of this year’s contest, affirms the fact that one of them could win on Sunday evening.

While Bubba will lean towards his hard hitting irons, Woods will look to keep up with his short game that has been incomparably consistent in his past two outings. By now, everyone on the field realises the fact that the two stalwarts excel in the conditions at Augusta only because they revel on the greens that oozes with familiarity. Bubba shares a bond with Augusta that he’s only been able to express in tears. He respects the traditions, the past winners and has always had that urge to become that character that the onlookers would remember every single time they talk about the Masters. On the other hand, we have Tiger who is still looking for the last stepping stone – a Major – that could exemplify his dominance in the game all over again. On the same green where he conquered his first Major with record breaking score to par, Tiger doesn’t need anyone else to remind how good he can be on his day at Augusta. Also, when we look at his past few wins on the tour that were claimed at Torrey Pines, Bay Hill and Doral, and the sense of ruthlessness that we’ve seen in his game in the past few months, Tiger, by far, is the safest bet for anyone to wear the green jacket for the fifth time this weekend.

It’s also rather startling to see that the two also share similarities in the way they approach their run on the Augusta challenge. Both favour in attacking the Par 5s, restraining from getting too carried away on the tricky front-9 and have had better records than most of the individuals on the field when it comes to setting the pace on the back-9s. When we dissect Bubba’s game at the Masters, and also consider Woods’ indomitable 100% record of winning a Major when he’s assumed the control of the leaderboard ahead of the final round, it’s easy to suggest that the two will look to play the waiting game on the first two days of the Championship. For Tiger, the chasing pack has always been the right place to be in the first couple of rounds as it helps his game shrug off the possible complacency factors to stall his progress on the longer run. Bubba, like Tiger, hasn’t been a believer of early onslaught either. His past four Masters appearances attest the fact that he has developed a liking for a safe start, before going for the extreme risk on the business end of the competition. It wouldn’t be surprising if we see the two edging each other for the whole weekend when it comes to holding on to their leaderboard standings.

The test will be daunting as ever – not that the two need any reminding of that. However, it would be interesting to see whether the two can keep their emotions in check for these four defining days of the competition. Woods may have not been all tears like Bubba on winning the coveted medal before, yet his comeback trail filled with redemption and the will to prove his doubters wrong, would have certainly taken a toll on his mental solitude. The two may bear a set of similar golfing attribute and equally contrasting demeanour, yet the two leads of this year’s festive battleground of Augusta embody a sense of assurance that only few have able to replicate in their performances in the tournament’s gigantic history. Woods and Watson may not have their defining strokes to accompany their winning prospects this time around, yet the dreams of ruling these fabled greens never gets too old for Augusta’s two favourite ambassadors.

Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil smiles at the fans after his career ending defeat during Men’s Singles first round match against Paul-Henri Mathieu of France on day one of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 25, 2008 in Paris, France. (Getty Images)

In the midst of the deafening Brazilian drumbeats, a spectacle where the crowd erupted with a familiar name on their lips for the most part of a fortnight, it was hard to believe that it wasn’t a celebration but an artist at work on a dusty afternoon at Roland Garros.

It was just one of those eventful days in 2001 when thousands of onlookers struggled to believe the fact that their adopted son in the name of Gustavo Kuerten –  or ‘Guga’ as they affectionately call him – was about to be dispatched back to his hometown in Brazil by American Michael Russell, in only the fourth round of the competition. The festive euphoria suddenly dampened, and it was increasingly evident on the faces of the passionate fans around the court, as all of them were hoping for anything but the inevitable.

But of all people, the least amount of anxiety was on that one charming face, reflecting none of the feeling echoing in the silence of the crowd. Kuerten, in his trademark style, dug in deep and drove Russell on a submissive run of 26 ground-strokes to which he would eventually succumb to with sheer helplessness. The roars were back and so was the smile on the Brazilian’s face, as he sketched a memorable comeback win that he capped off by tracing a giant heart on the clay. For Gustavo, unlike anyone else, competitive tennis was just an outcome of passion towards the game and never the other way around.

Kuerten and moments like these with his French zealots could fill a collage of emotions in front of your eyes even before you realized it. If there was ever a portrait that could immortalize the beauty of the spellbinding camaraderie between the fans and the on-court entertainers of the extravagant French Open history, Guga and his legion of passionate folks would exemplify its every element with grace and subtlety.

This file picture taken on June 3, 2001 shows Gustavo Kuerten drawing a heart on the court at the end of his fourth round match against Michael Russell at the French Open. The Brazilian dedicated his win to the fans in the stands. (Getty Images)

“It reminds you of the Brazilian soccer players. They take so much joy, and not just in the winning part of it, but the way it’s done: the flair, passion and creativity.”

- John McEnroe, on Gustavo Kuerten.

It’s rather complicated to figure, yet there would be something strikingly seductive that forged this relationship. Kuerten was probably right when he said, ‘It was love at first sight’ and it’s not that hard to believe the fact that such an endearing character would garner such an incomparable following. Kuerten, to be fair, in his first appearance at Roland Garros, typified an underdog. Being a Brazilian, Guga was always interpreted as a part of a minority; yet his tennis skill-set, conjured with a typical splash of South American aesthetics did appeal the French who had seen nothing like it. They had seen the likes of  Bjorn Bjorg, Jim Courier, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Sergi Bruguera hustling and dictating play off the baseline. But not since Guillermo Vilas had a player emphasized on elegance and improvisation by picking points off the net; Kuerten brought adventurous streak from South America.

Kuerten perhaps, didn’t really realize the magnanimity of the event in his first few appearances on the sacred clay of Paris – and you couldn’t blame him for that considering his tender age. However in 1997, ranked No.66 in the world, Guga stepped out with only one aim in his mind: to better his personal Grand Slam record of two wins. No one gave him a shot to go all the way; even his coach thought it wasn’t actually possible. Yet, the fact that the French connection gradually builds on you, helped the Brazilian, and in no time we saw that transforming into some staggering on-court results.

He went on to beat Thomas Muster, Andrei Medvedev, Kafelnikov and Filip Dewulf, before his date with destiny on a Sunday against the talismanic Bruguera. And before we could react on his accomplishments on his road to the finals, he cruised past Bruguera to become a headliner; an underdog story that everyone wishes for. It may have been a case of ‘right place at the right time’, or maybe with a little bit of luck, he actually did have what it takes to clinch a clay Major at the age of 21. But he made sure that it wasn’t a one-off wonder with 2 more titles to his name by 2001. However, nagging injuries would cut short his career that could have spanned for at least a couple more years.

With a resounding win at the Tour Finals in 2000, where he beat Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi – back-to-back on indoors, pundits around the world were made to change their opinion on Gustavo; and that he had the game to better his record on grass and hard courts. His game had the right amount of stroke-making genius to go with his defensive merits, and had it not been the unfortunate recurrence of injuries that faltered his progress in regular intervals, Guga could have made a mark on all the surfaces. He tried his best to make several well-prepared comebacks to the game; yet, persisting injuries meant we saw Guga chasing the horizon earlier than any other top pros of his generation.

Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil celebrates after winning his third successive French Open at Roland Garros, in Paris, France. (Getty Images)

In France, it’s said that a part of an athlete dies on his retirement. He certainly would have felt so in 2008, when he kissed the clay court goodbye forever. For once, a romantic script at Paris did have an anti-climactic ending. The carnivals at Court Philippe Chartrier have lost its soul forever and no doubt they have a new Mallorcan hero to cheer about; it still feels like an unfair consolation gift that the French will have to deal with forever.

“It was the end of a part of my life and I knew I wouldn’t experience this kind of thing again. But I didn’t really have a choice. My injury (hip) kept me from playing. That’s just the way it is. It was time to find other goals and do something else.”

- Gustavo Kuerten, on his last game at Roland Garros.

Even in 2013, ahead of all the French Open hysteria, if you ask any Guga fan, you’ll get only one response: you may have had more dominating champions on the clay haven of France, yet none more captivating than Gustavo Kuerten.

For the Mancunians, this fixture has always been deemed to be one of those scrappy affairs in the league that would always have its share of wobbles to frown upon. However, given the not-so-sweet memories from their last visit at the Stadium of Light, Sir Alex would have warned his side of any kind of complacency ahead of the fixture. A rather tame line-up was understandable from the Scot with the crucial Cup tie awaiting his side in a couple of days’ time, while an already depleted Sunderland unit –  thanks to injuries marring their campaign consistently – reflected a setting for another one-sided affair. O’Neill’s lads predictably were content in gifting possession to the away side and rather wait for the breaks where Johnson, Rose and McLean were handed the responsibility on the wings to create something for the lone forward man Danny Graham.

(Manchester United‘s off the ball movement in the first-half against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light:)

Instead, the home side looked pretty tentative with their exchanges on the breaks and their positioning off the ball let them down throughout the game. Manchester United, with Buttner looking to move inside from the left and Young playing overlaps for Van Persie, who was finding enough space between an inconsistent Bardsley and Bramble, inadvertently proved to exploit the game-breaking chances from the left-wing.

Persie’s ability to assist the wing-play has been a critical pointer in United’s game this season that has seen a seismic change in their off-the-ball movement. Kagawa and Anderson also made the most of the gaps led by an advancing Gardner and the game was overpowered by a tactical onslaught on the left that left O’Neill with few options to comeback until the break. All and all, United were looking for that one breakthrough before they could ease the tempo of the game and the plan couldn’t have been executed in any better way. An away result, a trademark United 1-0 affair did enough to bring a smile on Sir Alex’s face as even he’d know that he might have done just enough to clinch the title where he lost it the last time around.

2. Sunderland add nothing but more misery to their portfolio by sacking Martin O’ Neill

One never has to watch a Martin O’Neill’s side on the field to judge their performances – all you have to do is observe the Northern Irishman’s body language on the touchline. On a more cheerful afternoon at the Stadium of Light, you could hardly take your eye off Neill’s animated demeanour on the touchline. However, on this particular afternoon, all we saw was an image of a livid instructor that never really looked to be a part of the game. He was rather speechless when his side’s defence was stretched and torn apart by some witty attacking display from the travelling side while the forward line did hardly anything noticeable to have caught the manager’s attention.

Moreover, to add further misery, Titus Bramble connected to another stray ball to net another own goal. O’Neill did try to switch things around after the break with the introduction of Seb Larrson and Connor Wickham, yet the damage was done by the visitors who’ve time and time again delivered some unwavering performances in the second half of the season.

No doubt, opposition managers expect the least returns against the Manchester side, yet performances as disorganized and at times, displaying sheer impotence upfront could only worsen O’Neill’s pursuit for a safe haven on the Premier league avenue this season. And when it comes to paying for the unruly stints on the field from a side, it’s always the manager who has to pay a swift price of a knee-jerk reaction from the employers – and Martin O’Neill’s abrupt sacking epitomizes these kinds of unfortunate moments in modern football. Impatience finally got the better of Ellis Short, the American owner of the Black Cats, who after the game and an inevitable result on the basis of club’s recent run, decided to dismiss the Irishman from the managerial duties. Mark Hughes is tipped to be the next appointment to reinvigorate the listless side, yet Premier League history is stuffed with examples where late managerial sackings invariably lead to sheer disappointment.

3. Shinji relished in rare stint as a playmaker

When the line-ups were announced, there weren’t many surprises in the United starting XI to start off with. However, with Ferguson looking to give Shinji Kagawa a playmaking role, it opened an array of creative possibilities ahead of the game. The Scot, impressed with the Japanese finding some form in the recent Premier League games would’ve expected a decent return off the Persie-Kagawa combination, and he wouldn’t have been disappointed at the end of the game.

Kagawa harried and outclassed the home side with his sharp passing and combination play with Ashley Young and Van Persie in the opening phase of the game. In fact, his movement upfront explored further options for United’s attacking end that came close to scoring for more than one occasion in the opening 45 minutes. His close control and the eye for that inventive defence splitting pass tested the Sunderland backline to the limit before he was subbed off – probably to save some ammo for the Cup tie at the Bridge.

4. Wickham’s performance could bring some hope for his struggling side

The Rokerites’ favourite fanzine – A Love Supreme – was recently crying outloud for O’Neill to find a new hero in these moments of crisis for the side. Especially when Steven Fletcher, who has scored a third of Sunderland’s goals this season and Lee Cattermole sidelined with injuries, the Black Cats need a new motivator to steer his side to safety before the insane period of scrappy fixtures and crucial points gets to the nerves of fans and players alike. And in a youngster like Connor Wickham, who eludes any kind of baggage on his shoulders except for his hefty price-tag could be the solution Sunderland have been waiting for.

Yes, he hasn’t really sprinkled his much talked about stardust on the club level and O’Neill has been writing off his promising shifts for the England U-21, calling the youngster’s performances rather insignificant, but he still remains one of the few hopes that could assure safety for the Black Cats. By staying away from the flat atmosphere at the Tyneside and getting some games on a loan spell in Sheffield, Connor’s recent appearances have been reflecting anything but pressure in his game. His raw talent was again on exhibition in the second half against United where his tenacious approach did create a couple of viable openings for the home side.

Now with O’Neill dismissed, if only the new manager could show a little more faith on the boy and start him as a target-man, he could yield a lot more out of the flanks and could eventually feed some chances to Danny Graham, who has yet to make an impact as a Sunderland player.

5. Incomparable for sure, yet Carrick’s finesse exudes the Scholes-esque authority in the midfield

If anyone could give Robin van Persie’s club player of the year honour a run for his money, then it has to be Mr. Consistent – Michael Carrick. If buying the rampaging Dutchman has sharpened the attacking edge of the squad, Carrick’s magnificent run in the red shirt has been vital to restoring order on the field. Of course, the comparisons will be made with the genius of Paul Scholes, as both employ contrasting methods to garner a sense of calmness to the game even on a more tedious and difficult evenings on the turf.

In the second half, when all United had to do was keep the ball and eliminate any possible threat from the home side, Carrick’s influence was resounding as ever. He had more touches on the ball than any other player on the field and passing completion (91% for the game) has been as good as any elite midfielder in Europe this season – which is again an element of United’s game that was synonymous to Scholes for the last few seasons. It’s been no major surprise why Scholesy hasn’t been of much use in the key games this season as you just cannot undermine Carrick’s contributions to the winning run this season.

Tiger Woods reclaimed the world number one ranking for the first time since October 2010 with a closing round of two-under 70 to capture the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. (Getty Images)

On the 15^th, in the final round at Bay Hill, Ricky Fowler showed his first few signs of losing the plot. He was just three shots off the pace set by Tiger and looked to make a contest out of nothing on a Monday afternoon. Yet all he managed was to find the waters twice and ended with a triple bogey.

Tiger Woods on the other hand, unaffected and composed as ever, went on to slip the ball for another birdie on a nerve-wracking back-9. The challenger was shattered while Tiger just strolled past him with nothing but a frozen look and sheer determination on his face. For him, the game isn’t dependent on risks, challenges or the burden of standing up to his own standards – at least when he’s ruling the roost. In his rule book, the game is as simple as it gets: he plays the course, never the opponent. And no matter for how many years we’ve watched this genius pile up the laurels, a reminder to his fans couldn’t have been scripted any better than this moment – the vintage Tiger has surely arrived.

What followed was another title — in what has been a splendid start to the new season — and the World No.1 title after three tormenting years for Tiger. Moments like these, when one’s mind is gushed with irrational sentiments, nostalgia and even a hint of redemption, all Tiger could come up with was a strange and rather bewildering response for the occasion. Woods said that he doesn’t want to be as good as he was in his very prime – he wants to be better than that.

But the question is whether it’s really possible?

Better than a 12-stroke win at the Masters? Or better than his pompous streaks of the early 2000s? His average golfing stint on a tense Sunday afternoon would set the pace for others even with the strongest field up to compete with. He has had moments when he clinched all the four Majors in one go but to better those moments, even on his current run would be a bit too much to ask for.

Tiger, no doubt has had a lot of work done on his new swing with Sean Foley. In fact, a 45-minute crash-course from Steve Stricker – one the best putters in the game – also eased Woods’ worries on the dicey greens.

His par-5 score of 13 under par for the weekend at Bay Hill couldn’t be bettered by the likes of Rose and Fowler, who were playing the best golf of the season. Tiger, in the past few weeks, has been the string-puller from the go. However, the perfectionist that he is, Tiger would know that he still needs to shake off a few numbers before he could actually compete with his own monstrous standards.

Woods holes a putt for eagle at the par 5, 16th hole during the third round of the 2013 Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 23, 2013. (Getty Images)

To be fair, the statement that a consistent Tiger is still a couple of steps ahead than the rest of the field, stills hold a lot of weight. His performances haven’t been straight out of the Tiger manual this season, yet he has racked up 3 wins in his last 5 starts this season. Scores of 69-70-66-70, only reiterate the fact that he was never compelled to switch gears throughout the weekend. He missed 40 percent of the fairways and his approach hits were 2-feet short of the field average, yet he was barely made to grind on his way to the 8^th win on Bay Hill this Monday.

Also, the mapping of his preparatory road to the Masters has been spot on, as winning on his hunting grounds of Torrey Pines, Doral and Bay Hill didn’t really surprise the onlookers either. Tiger is selective about his appearances on the Tour, but he’s well aware how to seize the key moment enroute to the Majors.

When it comes to the Majors and the talk of the greatest of all time, even Jack Nicklaus has admitted that ‘18’ is just an overrated number. Winning as many as him or surpassing the count wouldn’t really matter a lot in changing the overall setting of the sport. However, someone forgot to tell this to Tiger, who for years now has been comparing his trophy cabinet to Nicklaus’. Way back when Tiger was competing for his first world title, he had a list of Nicklaus’ milestones taped in his closet – a subtle reminder of the path that he has sketched for himself.

He probably still looks for a pencil to strike off on every momentous Sunday, and that may only end when the list loses its importance to this genius. And for mortals like us, all we could figure out is that he still has four Major leaps that separate him from his obsession, if there was ever one to spur his ambitions.

Tiger is back?

Of course he is, and that hasn’t been a question for a quite a long time now. Maybe it’s a ringing afterthought that would still need some shrugging off in the upcoming weeks. Yet, for the fans and more so for Tiger, this old-school redemption setting would only conclude in a rather perfect ending when that famous green jacket of Augusta is slipped back on the shoulders of its favourite conqueror.

It isn’t ironic but probably destined that Mourinho’s finest hour with Inter was on the same turf where he would be soon executing his most challenging project. A project where toppling the might of the heavenly Catalans was a bare minimum and clinching the ever eluding la decima an outright necessity. Yet, there is something more about Mourinho’s character that seems to overstep a mark others wouldn’t; something that wiped the stage of hesitation with sheer confidence in accepting this ridiculous task – it was Barcelona.

Perez not only offered him a new pasture to prove his footballing genius but also gave him a chance to land a sucker punch right down on the chin of the Catalan identity. And in his own peculiar way, he did manage to rattle and ultimately destroy the aura of indomitability that Barcelona had maintained for the best of the last five years. By clinching two consecutive El Clasico wins last month, he not only emphasized his staggering progress with the Madrid side but also left the world with another set of blueprints to beat Barcelona. Prolific football has always been divided into two parts – one shaded with technical brilliance and the other devised with purpose and positional discipline – and Mourinho is probably the only identity in football that symbolizes the rise of the latter half. Yet, it’s not a trend that was developed overnight. In presenting the world a dossier of result oriented football and giving the best team in the world consistent headache, Mourinho has had to improvise in the steadiest of fashions.

Managing Real was always a task that demanded a lot of self belief and perseverance from the Portuguese, but being the best in the world leaves you with only few daunting challenges. Madrid, where football predominantly represented the sheer beauty of their glowing culture, Mourinho was to employ a rather pragmatic approach that his predecessors interpreted in their tenure yet failed to have the audacity to implement it. He carried on developing the notes he formulated during his time in Inter on a lethal counter-attacking model that would not only feature his trademark possession retaining methods but will also emphasize on controlling game in patches. Of course, Mourinho had to face cynicism in the opening phase of his campaign yet it was only a matter of time when he got the best out of his Madrid side – a side that possessed a fair share of swagger to match their purposeful football.  He induced a style of football that slowly started to please the Madridistas with bursts of exhilarating moments that the Los Blancos are known for – only this time, achieving the end result was not a flailing option but a priority.

Though Mourinho’s managerial prowess has been solely dependent on three crucial pointers – Player management, coaching adaptability and media management – he would have never foreseen how deep he had to dig in order to motivate his lot for the current season. When the world was expecting another period of Madrid’s indomitable displays on the Spanish front, he was left to fight for his position at the club. On his way to laying a winning foundation for the Blancos, he also took a few decisions that backfired in retaining the support from the players and the media quadrant. He dumped the likes of Ramos, Ozil and Casillas on the bench for the collective good, yet all it signaled was another ludicrously scripted media outrage.

However, few had a mental fortitude of Mourinho as he dealt with every roadblock with a motivation to boost his side. He still had a Champions League agenda that was enough to patch up the dressing room differences and the shut the clatter from the juvenile media quadrants. He knew that this was the job he was hired for. In fact, he, in the current scenario, was the best person to assist any club to European glory. He realized that he didn’t have much to hang on to the job, yet no one could forbid him that one last shot to European glory with the Madridistas.

“My career is always incomplete. Nobody puts pressure on me, because I put pressure on myself.”

– Jose Mourinho, on his Champions League ambitions with Real Madrid

With the League title challenge shelved for the good and the King’s Cup game being no sooner than the latter part of May, the manager couldn’t have wished for a more comfortable route in the European Cup. However, the pressure of this possibly being the last chance to showcase his forte to these demanding set of fans that somehow match his own character might have got to him in the past few months. Two Clasicos in a week, followed by an adventurous European night at the Theatre of Dreams, yet Mourinho lacked his usual exuberance when interacting with the media or on the touchline. No doubt, his preparations were phenomenal, which shows that he learnt a lot from the last season where a couple of showdowns with Barcelona somehow unsettled his European dream against Munich. His players have been playing their part increasingly well too. However, when we’d look at the current season, one might be able to figure another shade to Mou’s personality – restraint.

He did love the idea of competing with Barcelona when he chose the job; he also understood the magnanimity of the European challenge. However, three years down the road on the most ruthless managerial hotseat in the football world, even the Special One is reflecting a sense of vulnerability. Maybe it’s the fear of failure – which is favourable to a certain extent to keep you focussed. Maybe, it’s the anxiety leading to one of the most defining season run-ins of his career; we haven’t seen a more subdued state in Mourinho’s short but extravagant career. But more often than not, the current story line leads to only one ending that pictures the Portuguese ducking the limelight and approaching to the exit doors. Whether it will be capped by another medal in the pocket or a lasting blot in his CV, is what would keep us intrigued for the next few months.

Nostalgia, homecoming and ever-surmounting pressure – the few accentuated elements that would have kept the World No.1’s mind busy as he walked onto the Palm Beach Course to kick off the Florida leg of the PGA season. Although he’s a Florida resident now, Rory would still need to get used to the surroundings that were stacked up with countless McIlroy billboards across the town – something he would have never envisioned coming in last year for the same event. However, times have changed and surroundings for an athlete see a stark change too – especially when you make that all-important stride from the chasing pack to the man in the spotlight. Last year, he left The Honda Classic as the top golfer in the world, beaming with confidence and visions of incredibly adventurous prospects; and now that he’s lived all that, he was back as a different man, albeit with an unchanged goal – victory.

However, critics and fans alike have criticized the Irishman’s every move this season – be it opting to join the ‘Swoosh family’ or failing to deliver like the best player in the world is expected to. And if it wasn’t enough, his latest headlining act would keep him in the spotlight for another few weekends. We’ve always seen better play hitting a roadblock during the early few tourneys of the season and, to be fair, his performances before this weekend could be bracketed as ordinary, yet never close to being ugly.

Missing the cut at Abu Dhabi with the new Nike club range and the ball was always going to be challenging as Rory was messing around with the ‘feel’ of the stroke-play that has been synonymous to his performances for most of his playing career. Even the match-play round against his countryman Lowry was about a startling and almost ingenious comeback on the back-nine that would have left any other golfer packing his bags – and Rory was no different. He took it on his chin and strolled confidently as he practised with Tiger ahead of the Honda Classic. He was well aware that, regardless of his form, this is the place where his familiarity to the conditions would outdo the tension building around his golfing abilities. He always tried to remind himself that it all started here for him – the indefatigable run, the No.1 crown and most of his success in 2011 was down to his ability to hold on to a win at Palm Beach.

Like Tiger has his greens on the tour where he could assume authority, Rory was hoping the same of this setting. And then, when he hit that bizarre stroke into the waters on the eighteenth that marked a horrendous back-nine performance which was approaching a 80-plus round, Rory, in a second or two, aimed to head on for the exit doors. He wasn’t just dejected; it was a moment where frustration, self-doubt and the sheer surprise of letting down his own challenging standard down got the better of him. The cruel realization of the fact that he was playing the worst golf of his life on the same fairways that predominantly scripted the initial steps of his storied career must have got to him. He was the defending champion. He was the identity in the sport that large circles of media expect to fail – not out of malice, but curiosity. They have been scrutinizing his every move to break his mental resolve – which forced many experts to change their opinion about this lad in the past few years. All and all, one could say that an abrupt ending to this homecoming was never on the cards. Moreover, adding an excuse as mundane as a ‘toothache’ would just take it to another level of insanity across the golfing circuit. Yet, in his mind, there were bigger issues that needed answering.

There was his self-belief that took one of its most severe hidings in recent times and then there was his traditional handbook on responsibility of keeping up with the ‘No.1’ tag that will need major revisions. However, in his defence, he couldn’t have ended this one with a frowning face that completed all the holes and yet answering some of the more bizarre questions that would’ve been asked of him. And not many would approve the way of his exit; yet in one of his more vulnerable moments of his career, he could still reassure himself by treating Florida as the place which mirrors his sentiments. He did what he felt was right and that’s trademark Rory, not a champion that lost it once and for all.

Of course, brand McIlroy will take a hit after these events. But he’s now reached a point where the furore caused by these irrelevant events could actually distract the critics off his game. For whatever we have seen of Rory, the most eye-catching facet of his persona has been his distaste for stagnation. No doubt, the Palm Beach that was kind enough to honour him with the title last year only managed to gift him a sour taste in the mouth and a toothache this year, but he could still take satisfaction from the fact that on both the occasions, he got what he asked for. Rory won’t change, not anytime soon. It’s our perception that needs constant tweaking to understand someone like Rory McIlroy.

Those who have been keenly following Indian golf in the past few years would know the importance of a 24-year-old Gaganjeet Bhullar. After winning the World Junior Masters Championship at just 17 years of age, this precocious young talent was always tipped to make a huge impact on the Indian golf circuit. Bhullar has been one of those few golfers from our country who has shown the potential to compete with the best in the world, as he showed with back to back Asian tour titles in late 2012 that helped him break into the top 100 of the world rankings. Only a few golfers (including India’s No.1 Jeev Milkha Singh) have attained this feat, but it’s the age and the amount of talent that he brings on the course that makes you feel increasingly optimistic of his chances to be the next golfing icon of our country. Bhullar recently had a candid talk with Sportskeeda on his form and his short-term objectives. Here are some excerpts from the conversation:

Well, I would say the start has been very positive. I mean, not in terms of overall performances, but when you look into the individual scores in the Louis Philippe Open and Pearls Golf Premier League, they were quite satisfying. I think it has been a great start to the season, and I can smell a lot of success this year. Apart from missing the cut at Abu Dhabi by a whisker, I think I’ve been pretty much in the right zone. As of now, all the preparations are well on track for the upcoming SAIL Open, the Avantha Masters and the Malaysian Open. So, yes, I will definitely look to build on the momentum.

Of course we loved it. As golf is predominantly an individual game, playing in a team format was very exciting. With its resounding success, I really expect the tournament to flourish in the upcoming years in our country. I think we discussed the format thoroughly on paper and it was certainly well received by golf enthusiasts. Although, there’s always a scope for improvement, and I think telecasting a sport like golf needs a completely different set-up. You need a well-equipped team of 100-150 operators to broadcast a golfing event, and I think that trend will be gradually picked up by Indian sports channels.

Definitely! I know I’m on the right highway, and it’s just a matter of time till I improve on my ranking. Actually, I’ve lost a few places on the rankings as there wasn’t much golf happening on the European Tour calendar. No doubt I was in good form in the past few weeks, but none of those tournaments were to improve on my World Ranking points. So, once I put up some good performances, I expect my ranking to rise consistently. All I need is a head start in the next few tournaments, and will certainly look to break into the Top 50 by the end of the season.

Why not! Firstly, let me make this clear that I don’t have any pressure on the back of my mind. I’ve played well on this stage before, so all I want to do is to play my own game. Also, this time the Avantha Masters will be held at Jaypee Greens, which is one of my favourite golf courses in the country. I’ve played some pretty decent rounds of golf on this venue, and I expect myself to deliver.

Well, to be honest, I really don’t have an answer to this question. As you’d have noticed, the common thing between Jeev and me has been that we’ve been playing a lot of tournaments throughout the season – all to gather the right amount of experience and momentum to counter a variety of conditions. I believe in the fact that the more you play, the better you’re going to be. Moreover, it’s about making the most of your purple patch. For example, last September, I felt I was playing really well and that’s why I didn’t lay back for a single week. I played 14 weeks in a row, as I knew that was the right time to gain some crucial World Ranking points and to make a massive jump on the Asian Tour of Merit. So, when I look back to that decision, I would say it was certainly one that paid off.

It has to be my short game. I believe driving and chipping improves gradually when you spend enough time on the tour, but it’s the putting that you can improve throughout your career. Also, the mindset is another important factor, considering it’s always important to build on the starts and convert them into victories – and that’s something you won’t find in any teaching manuals.

You know, some players struggle to keep up with the game on a bad day, while others just move on and take it as just another day when you need to improve – and I tend to fall in the latter half of the players. I don’t depend on a source of motivation to keep me going on the course. Whether is 7 under or 2 over par, I’d still prefer giving my 100 percent every single time I step out to compete.

Of course, it will help, but we need to go step by step. Matching cricket or football in terms of popularity would be just setting unrealistic targets, yet we can aim for it to be as recognized and respected as tennis or badminton in our country. However, when we look at the brighter side, investments are coming in to golf in significant amounts. Indian players on the tour do have sponsorship backups, and more recently, I’ve seen kids choosing golf as a career, people have started reading golf updates in newspapers. And we should be proud of attaining such milestones in our country.

All I can say is that it will take 20-30 years from now for golf to announce itself on the Indian map, but it will eventually happen. I remember 10 years ago, at the airport check-in counters, people wouldn’t even know what golf bags looked like, and now at those very same places, people actually recognize us; even ask for our autographs at times, which is really pleasing.

Well, PGTI has been excellent in bringing new tournaments and also raising new talents that can compete at the highest level. Talking about quality tournaments, we have the Hero Indian Open, which hosts a strong golfing field of all the Asian tour events in the season. So, yes, they have been doing pretty well to improve the golfing scenario of the country.

It will happen. See the prize money of the Indian Open, a few years back, was around $300,000. Now its up to $1.2 million, which is due to a significant surge of investments in the sport – And I believe we can only go forward from here.

Well, I’ve got just one quick answer for this one – It’s the PGA tour! PGA tour is my goal, and the way things are shaping up, I see myself competing with the very best pretty soon.

Well, someone has to take the responsibility! It could be me or it could be anybody else. But there has to be someone to ensure that golf in India is heading on the right path. Obviously, Jeev has provided us youngsters a direction to follow, and I do understand that few years down the line, people will expect a lot out of me to boost the game in our country. Every generation needs a hero, and without the right inspiration, things would cease to improve. So someone has to take the initiative.

It has to be Jyoti Randhawa.

Arnold Palmer.

My first Asian Tour title in Indonesia in 2006.

Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore.

South Africa!

The Augusta Masters.

Haven’t really given it a thought, but it would’ve been Services.

Ha! It’s Gags.

This is a tricky one! Though, I’d go with Rory getting his 5 Majors.

Self motivation, discipline and hard work – without them in your bag, it’s impossible achieve your goals. So keep looking for the right opportunities!

Anglian Medal-Hunt Company (AMHC) seeks to nurture young talent in the arena of Olympic sports and beyond. They look to attain this by facilitating the training, procurement of equipment and international exposure required by the athletes.

Recently, they’ve signed four Indian boxers – Sumit Sangwan, Gaurav Bidhuri, Devendro Singh and Sarjubal Devi – to add to their previous 3 signings that were completed a few weeks ago.

Sportskeeda had chance to discuss various facets of this fascinating initiative to boost India’s prospects on the Olympic front with AMHC CEO, Maneesh Bahuguna. Here are some excerpts from the conversation:

Thinking about implementing something as significant as AMHC, would’ve required a visionary with a pragmatic approach. Where did it all actually start from (The idea of developing a venture as AMHC)?

Yes, it is certainly a long-term concept and does require some bold thinking, as from the investor’s perspective the return on investment is not based on any known numbers. A passion for the sport, the plight of the athletes and a desire to see them excel at the highest platforms of sporting excellence are the real motivators. Having said that, I sincerely believe that there is a lot of commercial value to be unlocked in sporting disciplines outside of cricket, and corporate backing is just a step away.

 The idea behind Anglian Medal Hunt Company is precisely this: to ensure that talent is identified early and supported in every which way so that the athletes have access to facilities that are on par with the best in the world. This kind of unconditional support would go a long way in developing the necessary physical and mental conditioning required to perform under pressure at international events.

I have always been a passionate follower of the India story at the Olympic games, and this time around I started a Facebook page called “Support India At the London Olympics 2012” which was well received, and in addition I got to see most of the Indian participation at the London games, which led  to the conceptualizing of AMHC. For me, the work being done by Olympic Gold Quest was a huge inspiration, and if not for the tremendous support of Geet Sethi, we would not have come so far.

How difficult was it to lure investors in surfacing the initial AMHC plans? Was there any initial skepticism involved in the decision-making?

Sunny and Uday Narang, who are the promoters of the Anglian group of businesses, and Peter Vaz, owner of the Models group (three of our multiple investors), are existing owners of football clubs and understand sports management in India. However, Olympic disciplines were a different story and it did take a bit of convincing. Sunny was rock solid in his support and brought in all the investors. Actually it is incredible that we managed to put it all together in under 3 months.

You have already signed 7 athletes and two coaches in the past few weeks. How is the right talent recognized/selected by AMHC? What are the prime selection pointers before selecting any athlete?

We have a research and analytics team which goes into several metrics which include tangibles like recent performance, rankings, timings, worldwide competition, age, weight, height, combined with intangibles like  an assessment of  the ability to handle adverse conditions under pressure, consistency, etc . I personally oversee this process as we cannot afford to make a mistake here.

What are the various aspects of an athlete’s professional life that AMHC would be able to assist them with? Are we looking AMHC to be a one-stop-centre for assistance for the players?

Nutrition through dietary supplements, off camp coaching, quality kits ,injury insurance, physiotherapy , monthly stipends, annual foreign trip either for training or a competitive event. In short, whatever it takes, and by the way, we have 5 year contracts with these athletes, which is a first. We therefore complement the federations wherever we can.

You have been actively associated with the well revered OGQ initiative that boosted 4 medal winners ahead of the London Games. Considering you both follow a similar set of objectives, we’d like to know what makes AMHC something completely different than OGQ?

Almost similar in style, but there is a significant departure in the business modeling. Whereas OGQ is completely non-profit, in our case, we have a sustainable model of growth based on the marketing potential these sports have and which we intend to tap into.

On the long-term medal aspirations and making our country a force to reckon with at major events like the Olympics and Asian games, are you looking foster young talent from the grass root levels of Indian sports?

Absolutely, you will soon see us signing even 13 -14 year olds.

For most of budding sports enthusiasts, excelling in academics is also becoming equally important as growing as an athlete. Would you be encouraging them to focus on both fronts?

Most of our athletes are training at camps which are being organized by the Sports Authority of India. For school going children, SAI does undertake various programs which help them in pursuing their academics, which we intend to fully support. We believe that education is an important ingredient in developing the personality of these athletes.

Have you been in process of developing training centres for the athletes? Are you looking to focus on particular sports for starters? Or will it be facilitating a variety of sports equipments?

As of now, we are not into developing training centres. Our focus is on promoting individual athletes, which includes providing them with quality equipment but is not restricted to that.

Are we expecting more signings in the upcoming weeks from AMHC?

Yes, it will be an ongoing process, and the focus will be more on younger age groups.

What are the initial markers that you’ll be looking to attain in the next couple of years?

We have the Race Walking World Championships in Moscow, Russia, in August this year where both Basanta Bahadur Rana and K. T. Irfan will compete in the 50 km and 20 km walk respectively. We expect both to improve on their current timings. This will be followed by the Boxing World Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in October where we expect to see all our 4 male boxers in action, and our target would be to reach  the quarter finals at least. This, of course, is contingent on the IOA imbroglio being resolved before that time. 2014 would be an important year with both the Asian and Commonwealth games, and by then we aim for a few podium finishes.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/02/06/interview-with-maneesh-bahuguna-the-driving-force-behind-amhc-the-next-sporting-revolution-of-the-country/feed/ 2 2375176 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/02/02/of-familiar-surroundings-peerless-golfing-and-a-rejuvenated-tiger/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/02/02/of-familiar-surroundings-peerless-golfing-and-a-rejuvenated-tiger/#comments Sat, 02 Feb 2013 13:42:11 +0000 Hardik Vyas http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=1265693

Dire atmosphere, soggy fairways and insensitive winds were in the offing at the Torrey Pines. Yet the day, inspite of everything that could possibly ruin a perfect golf portrait, went a whole lot better with a fist clenching Tiger raising his game to unprecedented levels. But then that’s how golf has been since Woods’ teens when he was on the golfing radar because of his Junior World Championship prowess and it may go on until the day he decides to dump his clubs in the junk forever. Golf enthusiasts may have had a piece of ‘McIlroy mania’ in the doomed period of their most amicable golfing assassin. However, deep inside they’ve still been clinging on to a hope that one fine Sunday on the 18^th hole at Augusta, a beaming drive, followed by another composed putt and a euphoric roar would signal the last few chapters of glory that Tiger might have saved for the naysayers. The landscape at the first PGA event of the year at Torrey Pines may not reflect the aura of the Masters, yet the setting on the 18^th on the final day compels you to deduce significant pointers off it.

Since Day 1 of the PGA opener, the stalwart looked a completely different player from the one that faced an early exit from the gala opener at the Dubai HSBC Championship. Tiger, to be fair, is never the one who’d respond well to scripted fanfare as in the Arab event, where money was splurged more on the player appearances than the prize money itself. He likes to create a bond with the surroundings, read the turf with his most uncluttered sense of weaving strokes out of his creative mental toolbox and places like Torrey Pines, Bay Hill, Firestone and the heavenly Augusta give him that vibe of homecoming – and Tiger, like everyone else, likes to be at home. He’s reiterated the fact that there is no place of hiding or a fear of failure when he performs on the green lawns that reflects a familiarity of the scheme of things. Probably that’s why none would question his ability to turn around his game at his hunting alleys where he’s claimed a third of his 75 PGA titles.

Yet, leaning on the positive numerical advantage to support his supremacy on his favourite golf course doesn’t quite highlight the complete story. With the romping runs past the chasing packs, there have also been some dodgy off days for him on these courses. Like Bay Hill, where he’s won 7 crowns, has also witnessed him end his run 20^th or worse on six occasions. Same with Firestone – 7 wins to show yet the past 2 out of three runs were 37^th or worse – it deduces a fact that like every other great athlete who’d have a signature trick to indicate that he’s back to his fiery best, Tiger has had these clusters of golfing fortresses across the golfing map to use as a performance check. All in all, execution still holds the key for Tiger, although he does find his comfort zone effortlessly on his more prolific driving ranges.

Winning his 4^th Tour event in the past 10 months certainly has restored a fair bit of confidence in the World No.2, yet even he knows that the futile mumbling in the press quadrants won’t be muted until that coveted major silverware duel with Nicklaus is on the run again. Few pros would understand how difficult it is to change your swing in the midst of keeping up with the a competitive tour season and probably none would have gone through a swing change for the fourth time in their career. Tiger has been tightening up his swing with Sean Foley since the 2010 PGA Championship and it will take its toll on his consistency on the course. Not all days will be Tiger-esque and with all energy concentrated on tuning one key attribute, his putting was suffering too. Yet, the fighter that he is, the stalwart spent the past off season sharpening his short-game and the results have been increasingly comparable with the best of Woods. His perseverance drives him to so many ambitious roads on the course of the season that sometimes one forgets that he’s finding his footing back in the golfing arena. Even for a personality that has been in the scrutiny for the past few years, and for a sporting icon who has a visibly shaky emotional side, Tiger does well to hold on to his careerist paths throughout his golfing stint.

We’d still see him get on with his practice routines on a Monday morning even after a triumphant weekend, as he still believes in execution of his game to play that crucial role in his run to retain the top spot in the sport. Most of us golfing enthusiasts, who just haven’t been able to ignore his best years in the past couple of decades, would know that he’s probably not the best golfer on the fairways, yet few could match him on the decisive greens. When it comes to saving pars of a bunker, he’d revolt back with a creative chip. When it’s about putting a 10-footer for a birdie, he’ll make sure it’s glided with his trademark composure – that’s where he has always pulled his recovery strings to perfection. A sign of his survival instincts and an ability to topple the odds stacked against him – and all those moments from his prime were seen in flashes at Torrey Pines.

Will this momentous 75^th career win prove to be more than a mere milestone for Tiger? Well, only time and Augusta in April will be able to answer those questions, but the signs are filled with optimism. He may be improving all the time in a field that is constantly posing some daunting challenges, yet none around him, not even Tiger himself could discount the fact that at times, even his mediocre stroke-making is too hot to handle for his adversaries.

And that was it! The end of a painstaking legacy that mesmerized the crowd for almost a quarter of a century. People who have been following the WWF/WWE week in week out would know that the show may have been packaged around several undercards and a dazzling main event, but it’s always a character (NOT a face!) that keeps the crowd turn out soaring to bizarre numbers, no matter wher the bandwagon decides to stage one of the most celebrated slug-fests. From the arrogance of Hulk-a-mania, to the anti-hero Rattlesnake days of the Attitude Era, followed by the Evolution and the superfluous Cenation wave – all of them were eye-catching gimmicks that looked special because a workaholic like Shawn Michaels played the role of a survivor and the perennial underdog to perfection. It’s characters like these who’d take all the beatings, cuts, bloodbaths, painful stints on the sidelines, as a part of their duty that makes the show what it’s meant to be – a scorching entertainer!

Michaels, unlike the other superstars that achieved unparallel success in the WWE framework, never had that contagious attitude, or a physique that would make him a straightforward crowd favourite. Yet, it was his charisma and verve to implement theatrics (which are now a benchmark for any upcoming superstar) into his game that made him one of the more complete wrestling packages in the mid-nineties, when the franchisee was going through a turbulent phase of experimentation.

When in need of someone who can pull off unbelievable stunts in the first ever ladder match of the nineties or the back-breaking, relentless contests with Bret Hart in the Ironman matchups, the hammer blows in the Elimination chambers and even pulling off his way through 30-men to a couple of thrilling wins at the Royal Rumble – the plots may have been scripted but none would have that stirring effect on the onlookers or the grip on the viewers at home that had found their way out of sitcoms to a show where hope was everything. The appeal, the grace, the steel which people expect in an underdog to fight his way out of the deepest of pits – Shawn Michaels portrayed them all with an effortless panache about it. Some superstars were made with the glitz and glamour architecture around them; Shawn Michaels just walked towards the ring and the roars from the crowd were enough to exemplify his glory days at the biggest stage the wrestling events could ever provide.

People somehow expected superhuman things of him – that he would survive off every tyrant hour with an effort which could only typify his role of rising up every single time. The reputation he built on the back of so many electric evenings in the ring and some more on the hospital beds made people in the industry feel that with him being the core, the rest would only have to be anything but poor to sway this bunch of crowds. The core of the WWE was always built on the soul of this survivor, at least for the great part of the 90s and the 2000s, yet none had foreseen what would happen when he’d decide to move on and end those animated run of appearance forever.

It did happen after Wrestlemania 26 and to be fair, WWE has been crawling its way through on the back of some mundane creative lines, inefficient lot of growing talent and the Hollywood like appearance of the Rock. Everyone now knows that the Undertaker’s winning streak at Wrestlemania will never end, Vicki Guerrero would never stop screaming to annoy the fans, John Cena is being wasted in bizarre love episodes and the Rock is only up for the ring if his ego and his pockets are taken care of – that’s just how one of the greatest entertainment shows in US in now thriving on. They have the biggest of statures to lure the crowd to the arena but the core ‘wrestling’ is losing its sheen, until someone could actually turn it around.

In talented wrestlers like Daniel Bryan, Ryback and Sheamus, WWE could have had a better future. Instead, the creative heads are swayed away by the entertainment quotient of the show, ultimately making the WWE a failing 3 hour comedy act that uses wrestling as an obligation they need to fulfill. I mean, where are the high-flying maneuvers? The dogged, unrelenting contests and the never ending feuds between the best wrestlers – wasn’t that all an indispensable part of WWE?

It’s not that the show hasn’t seen shocking exits of the superstars, yet none of them decimated the running of the event. Michaels left the arena, but the void has proven to be bigger than what he could have ever envisaged. They say that the ‘show must go on’ but is it possible without its beloved showstopper? Probably not.

Another emphatic win to celebrate, new heroes to go gaga about and the old warhorses seemingly getting blurred in the rear-view mirror – but that’s how it remains until the next game. And mind you, that’s not ruthlessness or hypocrisy up for an exhibition, but an indifferent journey of transition which affects every one adhered to Indian cricket these days. Scaling new benchmarks on one day and getting outplayed on the other, the unofficial national game of the country is now a few footsteps into that tedious travail that lets you contemplate and find your own character. However, for now, all we have is an anchored ship that’s withstanding pressure and is reflecting anything but promise.

With fabled stalwarts leaving the building on a high (most of them!), the prodigious artists have huge boots to fill. What’s more baffling is that the trendsetters of the Indian bandwagon – the likes of Sehwag, Gambhir and Zaheer Khan have all chosen the most unfortunate time to showcase their mortality.

Consecutive away series losses were sensed as worrying issues, but not alarming enough. Come December and we fell flat on our bums on our home turf – unusual, isn’t it? What next? Blame every possible facet of the Indian game. Oh wait! That’s not working. Then lambaste the captain for being defensive with his tactics; so what if he was unorthodox and ‘effective’ when we won! Who cares now? Wait! It’s still not enough. Why not call for some immediate changes now that we have nothing more to lose – and the circus goes on! Surprisingly, this one has no stopping though; just a few commercials and the occasional breaking news interruptions. And if that’s not enough, then be a pretentious spammer on the social media channels and make things go borderline bizarre so that the BCCI would come up with some knee-jerk reactions (read inexplicable squad shuffle) to silence the over-the-top clattering.

However, in the midst of all that, clichés like ‘the game is the real loser’ regain their righteous place as fans of this cricket crazy nation, which is predominantly stuffed with a league of part-time irrational critics, forget what they cherish the most – supporting their beloved national side!

Yet, I’m not saying that all of the issues are made up to boost the TRPs. Problems persists in the Indian side, but there are solutions for them that would take some time to make an impact. When the form of any side is crumbling, one has to point a finger to the leader of the pack to provide reasonable clarifications and MSD has never been undeterred by any of the questions raised. He, to be fair, has been doing what he does best – leading his side by example – yet, a side which is now raised from the foundation level, expects more from him.

Leadership in the modern era of sports has been largely restricted to a facet of motivating by example while the classic prototype of an ideal director is documented by a rather diverse set of attributes. When we compare the likes of Dhoni or Cook to a Lloyd, Chappell, Pataudi or even Cronje for that matter, then the current league of captains fall way short of the primary requirements of being a formidable captain. Great units from the past were defined by their on-field decision makers, who demanded more from the team and assumed a larger share of responsibility for the team’s performance levels. The evaluation pointers for the captain on the field may have not changed much in the past few decades, yet the impression of an individual’s ideas on the collective objective is a thing of past.

Dhoni, by the look of the tasks ahead, is still the best option we have to manage the needed decorum in the side, but he has to realize that spinners are no longer cunning like Kumble to devise a well-knit plan for the game, nor he has the best batting order (at least on paper!) to boast about any more. He will need to talk his way through to ensure that key sub-plots in winning a game are all in place. He remains as the punching bag, a lone warrior for the side but he will also have to become a caring guardian for the youngsters and more of an effervescent motivator for the seasoned campaigners in the unit.

Moreover, the side will now need to focus on the near objectives, as shaping a side would only give us the much needed impetus when we look towards the next World Cup. India needs a constant pool of 20-odd players to deliver for them regularly in the upcoming couple of seasons, if we’re hoping for a steady revival in the way we play. Considering we have another 15 Tests to play until the end of 2014, I’d rather bestow Dhoni with an opportunity to build a team from the scratch – not because he deserves the amount of time but because nobody else has the demeanour to take all the criticism and still reflect unwavering perseverance, day in day out.

The fact that transitions will never have anything to do with redirection as it solely thrives on the motives of collective rejuvenation, is still something every quadrant of the game needs to understand. With the prima donnas and demigods all moving back to their hut after years of sacrifices in delivering the right goods for the country, it’s time we move on from the phase of self-doubt and scepticism to back the laboured efforts of a team that for a change, will only have mortals in it.

Anglian Medal-Hunt Company (AMHC) seeks to nurture young talent in the arena of Olympic sports and beyond. AMHC will do this by facilitating the training, procurement of equipment and international exposure required by the athletes. AMHC will follow strict criteria for selection of medal-worthy athletes. Once selected, the athletes will be trained by our highly credible network of coaches, mentors, physiotherapists and mental conditioners. The entire expenses borne for this purpose will be met by AMHC on a case to case basis.

AMHC recently announced their three new signings – Shiv Thapa (Bantamweight boxer), KT Irfan (Walker), Basanta Bahadur Rana (Walker) – all three of them participated for Team India at the London Olympics in 2012.

AMHC are associated with the revered initiative ‘Olympic Gold Quest’, who played a crucial role in assisting all the four medal winners in the London Olympics. OGQ will be one of the training partners of AMHC, which will only help the budding sporting talent in the country.

Team AMHC  
Maneesh Bahuguna, CEO
Sharat Prakash, Executive Director
Vaibhav Puri, Director Operations
Amit Khemka, Legal Advisor
Vinay I. Desai and Iyengar Srinivasan Jagannathan – Research and Analysis

Anglian Medal-Hunt Company has one clear objective; to see Indian athletes winning medals at all important sporting events, be it the Asian Games or the Olympics.

For this purpose, Anglian are willing to take a giant leap of faith in our fantastic young talent and guide them in all aspects of their career from training, international exposure, sponsorships to all other aspects of their professional life. AMHC aims to be a one stop agency to cater to all aspects of our athletes’ careers, leaving them entirely dedicated in their objective – to make the nation proud by being the best amongst the world.

To know more about this inspirational initiative, you can visit their website: http://www.anglianmedalhunt.com/

Or visit their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AnglianMedalHunt

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/01/13/anglian-medal-hunt-to-develop-future-olympic-prospects-signed-first-3-athletes/feed/ 1 11553 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/01/08/lionel-messi-wins-the-2013-ballon-d-or-award/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/01/08/lionel-messi-wins-the-2013-ballon-d-or-award/#comments Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:59:01 +0000 Hardik Vyas http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=1163206

Lionel Messi has won his fourth consecutive Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi became the first player to win four Ballon d’ Or titles as he beat his teammate Andres Iniesta and his nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo to the finish line in Zurich.

He finished 2011-2012 season with an unrivalled goal tally of 73 goals which led many to even call him the best player to have ever played the game. He ended the 2012 calendar year with a record-breaking tally of 91 goals which provided a tremendous boost to his hopes of reclaiming of this individual honour.

The Argentine also scored 14 goals in the last Champions League campaign for Barcelona and even went on to score five goals in a single game against Bayer Leverkusen.

After winning the prestigious trophy, Messi thanked his Catalan teammates for their immense contributions that led him to achieve another individual honour.

Meanwhile, Vicente del Bosque win the FIFA Coach of the Year award for leading the Spanish side to their second consecutive Euro Championship win in 2012.

More to follow…

Even in a rare trophy-less calendar year for United, there was plenty of drama, excitement and unforgettable comebacks to savor for the United fans. Revisit some of those best moments here:

Goalkeepers usually assume the responsibility to organize his defence but for someone like Iker Casillas it comes naturally. The Real Madrid and Spain captain was at the helm of a successful year as his club finally got their hands on the La Liga trophy while his national side made history with consecutive European Championship victories. His goalkeeping abilities have been second to none and this has been the case for some years now. He is aura reflects unrivalled authority and it takes a lot of efforts out of his opposition to get the ball past this talisman.

Philipp Lahm enjoyed another stellar period with the Bavarians and his national side at the Euros. His consistency as a full back is astounding as he keeps on getting better with the age.

Vincent Kompany had has had an indomitable period in the top tier of the English league where his reliant stature does half the work for City at the back. Giorgio Chiellini was another rock solid presence at the back for the invincible from Turin and his Italian national side which reached the finals of the European Championship. The Italian is a perfect mix of an effervescent technique and an enduring physique which makes him one heck of a central defender.

Leighton Baines has had an extraordinary year as the left-back of the Everton side. The English full back has been highly efficient with his well measured crosses on his frequent forward runs as well as with his defensive duties. His performances could change the course of the game as his better days has almost guaranteed in Everton collecting points in the past one year.

Choosing only three midfielders out of the host of options was always going to be a tough task. Yet there wasn’t much to ponder in picking Andrea Pirlo and Andres Iniesta in the side. While the Italian has been the heartbeat of the record-breaking Juventus and the resurgent national side, Iniesta’s crafty performances would leave you speechless at times in the past year. Pirlo’s ability to hold up the play and the knack of dictating terms to the opposition probably has no replacement in the current footballing world. It’s the luxury that Juventus used to full-effect in their memorable Serie A run.

The third choice was a close call between Mario Gotze and Yaya Toure which the latter won due to his sheer impact on the English game. His rampaging forward runs and the stability he provided in the midfield engine was crucial in Manchester City’s first league win in 44 years.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao – you just can’t go past these three names while picking the right forwards even if you want to. These menacing attackers from the Spanish league have been nothing short of a nightmare for the opposition defenders and never mind the records as they prefer to break them every other weekend. While the Argentine had his most prolific calendar year in terms of goals scoring, the Portuguese went on to play his best football to lead his team to a La Liga title and surging his national side up to the semi-finals of the Euros. The Columbian, on the other hand, wasn’t way too behind in the comparison as he racked up the highest number of goals in his side’s victorious Europa League campaign. All three picked up their dazzling scoring rate again in August where they left it last season as their respective clubs would believe in winning more silverware on the back of their menacing talisman.

Substitutes: Gianluigi Buffon, Mats Hummels, Blaise Matuidi, Mario Gotze, Thomas Muller, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robin van Persie.

Make sure you don’t forget to vote for your ‘best goalkeeper of the year’ at the end!

There may never be a better ‘keeper or a leader to have played for the Spanish national side and Real Madrid. For his club and country for almost a decade now, Iker Casillas has been a symbol of reliance and inspiration. Iker had another fascinating year as he helped his club to La Liga glory, snatching away the title from the mighty Catalans. He was equally successful in the Euros for the Spanish side that created history after winning three consecutive major championships in the span of 4 years. It has been intriguing to see how this iconic player in front of the goal could manage so many prolific years in the game and the best thing about him is that there’s been no major dip in his performances over the years to raise any doubts on his stature.

The veteran Italian ‘keeper enjoyed a spectacular year of football for his club and country on the back of some solid performances between the posts. His composure paid dividends as Juventus enjoyed a glorious unbeaten league season and went on to stretch that run to 49 league games. His saves and his experience in organizing the defensive unit were an advantage for his national side, with the Italians ending as the runners-up in Euro 2012.

The German goalkeeper has been an indispensable part of Bayern Munich as well as his national side. His performance in the Champions League campaign last season helped his side reach the finals, where again, the shot-stopper fought valiantly in the penalty shoot-outs, which was a treat to watch for every football fan. Moreover, on a grander stage of European Championships, Neuer again came to the fore, acting as an indefatigable wall for the German side. The extreme confidence he possesses was visible when he of all players in the Munich squad, decided to take a penalty and score in the all important shoot-out of the Champions League final.

Cech embodies that relentless approach that lifted his Chelsea side to the Champions League triumph this year. At the beginning of 2012, there were doubts over his ability to deliver consistent performances for the Blues and Cech made sure that he answered them on the right occasions. He almost single-handedly kept his side in the competition against the likes of Napoli and Barcelona to ensure a spot in the final – a stage where he proved his mettle in front of the world. His penalty save to keep Robben from scoring in the extra-time and then putting up a heroic performance in the shoot-out will be forever etched in the memories of every Chelsea fan.

The English ‘keeper has been ever so reliant for Manchester City and his national side over the past calendar year. Hart was again the best of the Premier League shot stoppers and he’s now a formidable source of inspiration for City. There have been countless number of games where his saves kept his side in contention for the league title. City’s first league title in 44 years was achieved after Hart’s significant contributions over that last couple of seasons.

On loan from Chelsea at Atletico Madrid, Courtois has been learning the tricks of the trade and even making a name for himself in the La Liga. This highly rated academy product from Genk has been deemed as one of the hottest goalkeeping prospects in the game. His shot stopping skill-set along with his much famed reflexes have been on display as the ‘keeper is already having some decent games in the league as well as on the European stage. Courtois, in pure goalkeeping aspects, has been the best ‘keeper in the Spanish league, while his composure was also merited with a Europa League winners’ medal this season. Chelsea should be wary of the interest from other big European clubs in their young talisman as his performances certainly signal that greater things are still to come from this Belgian prodigy.

Now, VOTE for the ‘goalkeeper of the year’ here: