This is my 50th review and I thought it’d only be fair if it were something close to my heart. So, here I am to take you through my favorite ten sports personalities. Before I start I’d like the readers to note that I only follow 4 sports – soccer, cricket, tennis and F1.If you don’t follow the 4 sports, you may consider not reading what follows:
F1:
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER: He may not be signing off in style with a career 8th title but no one can take away the achievements he has managed to chalk up in his field with 91 wins and 70 odd pole positions. You name it and he’s got it … yes I mean world records hardly any left to broken now that he signs off. With his exhuberant start with Benetton, he went on to turn a crappy Ferrari record to one of absolute awe.
Strengths: determination, persistence, tactical, good in offense, amazing defensive driver, great wet conditions driver.
Weaknesses: impulsively reckless at times
MIKA HAKKINEN: He might be less than a match to Michael when it comes to records although his achievements are pretty respectable indeed! With 20 wins, 30 odd pole positions and 2 championships, he was one man who would always give you a run for your money. I mean I started watching F1 only from ’98 but he was the only genuine, stable threat to Michael for the title in the 9 years I’ve watched F1. A real ‘Flying Finn’ .
Strengths: cool in all situations, excellent offensive driver, excellent overtaking maneuvers
Weaknesses: misuse the corner curves, over exerting the car at times
TENNIS:
PETE SAMPRAS:This man had a very competitive instinct, a true Leo in more ways than one. He didn’t have a perfect game but he negated it with his strong serves and his excellent volleys. In fact he held the record for the first man to serve more than 1000 aces in a season. Coming to the no.1 spot in 1993, he hovered there for an awfully long time dismissing anyone who challenged him. Having won a record 14 grand slam titles and an, he eventually signed off at the 2003 U.S. Open.
Strengths: never lost his cool, huge first and second serves, great volleys, spanking forehand, great competitor
Weaknesses: not the best backhand
JUSTINE HENIN:Only in her mid twenties, she has 5 grand slams to her credit already in the last 4 years.With arguably one of the best single backhands in the game, she’s very versatile in play demolishing her opponents in the manner which is demanded of her be it anything.
Strengths: imposing backhand, great second serve, flexible in play, great stamina and court covering, strong willed
Weaknesses: fatigue gets the better of her at times
SOCCER:
DAVID BECKHAM: I’m one of those who appreciates use of the wings in soccer and very few can match the kind of consistent work David’s done on the right wing for country and club for the last 12 years. His forte has always been his pinpoint crosses, chalking up huge assists every season. He has an unmatched 36 direct assists in international soccer amongst the current crop of players. No doubt his golden years were at United, but even so when people say he’s mediocre in Madrid they oversee that he has managed 25 assists in 3 seasons where even the great Zizou has 35 in 5.His prowess in free kicks remains lethal as ever, however age as seen him wither away over the years.
Strengths: high work rate, great stamina, great dead ball delivery, accurate crosses, alert to possibilities, can play in any position if need be.
Weaknesses: temperament, not the best dribbler
RYAN GIGGS:When we talk of wingers, one can’t condone this individual. One still remembers the golden years of United with Becks on the right wing and Giggs on the left. And between them they used to have 20 – 35 assists every season for a stretch of 5-6 years. In fact, if you count individually, Giggs has had marginally more assists. Great dribbler of the ball as well giving him the option of cutting in when need arises. Football being a team game, he has been rendered impotent on the international front, Wales being fairly weak.
Strengths:very good in attack, good passes, exceptional dribbling
Weaknesses: overdribbles on occasions, not the best finisher.
ZENEDINE ZIDANE:A sportsman to be respected indeed, Zizou is almost inimitable in the centre of the field, with more than exceptional dribbling abilities. He’s all about good ground football, with good passes and a good presence of mind he has been a great playmaker for around almost 2 decades. Especially helpful in midfield, he could be a handful as an extra striker. Having won all possible titles with team and as individual, he’ll always be remembered as one of the greats of all time.
Strengths: innovative, dribbling, passes, good offensive skills, good pressure handler
Weaknesses: not a big help when team’s under attack at the back
CRICKET:
SACHIN TENDULKAR:The man with most records in cricket .Adept to all form of situations, he has 75 centuries overall averaging 56 odd in tests and 45 odd in One Dayers. Pretty handy bowler as well and a most reliable fielder.A good combination of technique and flair, I doubt there’s ever been a more enthusiastic sportsman in the field. Definitely, one of the best batsmen in the world.
Strengths: very innovative, can be flamboyant as well as delicate in shots, partnership breaking bowler, can play in any batting position, can play all forms of bowling well.
Weaknesses: Not the best temperament, flounders under pressure
BRIAN LARA: He’s a truly great batsmen, flamboyance personified .He manufactures shots of his own when he’s out there, capable of tearing apart any attack as a batsman.Might be averaging five less than Sachin in both forms of the game but he hardly ever fails to deliver when it matters the most. Pressure gets the best out of him.Holds the record for the highest innings score, only man to reach 400.
Strengths: lot of flair, very good in pressure situations
Weaknesses: Not the best technique in batting
GLENN McGRATH:This man is the true model of consistency for any sportsman.With an average speed of 130kmph, he keeps banging in the ball in that corridor of uncertainty, getting both plenty of scalps as well as keeping the runs down. Has 850 wickets in all averaging 21 in both versions of cricket and now that an innings averages 6 odd per over he has an economy of 2.5 in tests, and 3.8 in One Dayers per over.That takes some doing!
Strengths: pertinacious, industrious, very good control and consistency
Weaknesses: resorts to bad sledging at times
I am aware that people like Akram, Ponting, Dravid, Federer, Alonso, Henry, Dinho were close to making it but this is my perception of the best ten not including past greats whom I’ve not seen at their best. Hope you enjoyed reading it, it’s a humble request to please rate the review and not the opinion. Opinions will differ on such a vast topic, undeniably. Comments are welcome!