Ryder Cup decided in final singles match
Europe won the Ryder Cup but it wasn’t easy. It was more like a thriller on the golf court if you were to ask U.S and European players. The winner was determined in the final singles match and kept players as well as spectators hearts racing until the end. Since 1991 the Ryder Cup has always been decided before the last round. This year it literally came down to the last few shots.
Holding on to a 1-up lead with three holes to play, with Europe needing his match to reclaim the precious gold trophy, McDowell gently sent his 15-foot putt toward the cup and set off a ground-shaking roar when it dropped for birdie. “The best putt I’ve hit in my life,” McDowell said. One hole later, Mahan was well short on the par-3 17th, flubbed a chip and conceded a par to McDowell that gave Europe the 14½ points it needed to take back the cup.
Even though this year was as close as it can get, by team Europe going away with another win their confidence raises and belief that this is how it will always be sets in. “We’ve won nine of the last 13,” Luke Donald said. “We’re starting to get down to that word ‘dominance.’” The Americans have not won the Ryder Cup away from home since 1993, although this was their best effort since then. For the longest time, it didn’t look as though it would come down to the McDowell and Mahan as it did in the end. The scoreboard turned from blue to red when he knew that it was on him to bring it home.
This pressure cannot be put away easily and dealing with it while making the perfect shot is a whole new story and requires lots of experience. Maybe next year when the Ryder Cup will take place in Medinah this year’s experience will be enough to get the U.S. the long desired victory.
Full Article: ESPN.com
All Blacks win their 4th consecutive Commonwealth Championship
Going into the tournament the team’s confidence was not as strong as one would expect after having won the tournament three consecutive times before. This was because their captain DJ Forbes hurt himself and was out due to a groin injury. Not knowing whether he was going to be able to make it or if he would then how his ability was to perform at his best everyone was stunned upon his return to practice right before the tournament. Forbes, a fitness freak, did not show any signs of pain, hesitation or fear. With their captain back the team flew to Delhi in order to go out to defend their championship trophy. And so they did. Starting off beating Canada 43-7 in the opening games was a clear sign to any competitor that was aiming to stand in their way.
The All-Blacks’ total was impressive mainly because that was a lot of tries in a match that consists of two seven-minute halves. You get behind early in Sevens rugby, there’s not much time to dig out of the hole. If you get behind against the All-Blacks, you usually absorb a beating.
“Some people said it was easier to take New Zealand on first thing in the morning,” Canadian head coach Geraint John said. “I’ll argue that with them now.”
After Canada the games did not look any different. Their final match versus Australia ended 24-17 and granted them their fourth trophy. Maybe in the next Commonwealth games there will be a strong team that can challenge the All Blacks to have to show all they got.
Full article: Times Colonist
Russian women’s team claims World Gymnastics Title
The fight for the World Championship Title came down to the last rotation. China and Russia ending with the floor exercise and the USA on vault. This last round was a thriller on the mats as all vaults were ‘sell executed and Russia and China not letting any team off the hook either and in the end took first and third place. With 0.201 points trailing behind the top score Alicia Sacramone and her team claimed second place “We went out there and did the best we could. Waiting for Russia to finish their floor routines was not what we were planning on having to do, but that’s what it came down to.”
Even though the US team was going out for the title they were proud of their performance and having gone away with a medal at Worlds again. This year’s World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands required all of the girls to show perfection, as any small mistake would cost them valuable points.
For that matter 44.065 on the uneven bars, 43.799 on balance beam, 41.666 in the floor exercise and 45.666 on the vault were not enough for the US team to claim the title. Possibly they will be able to get the gold medal next year, when the championships go to Tokyo in Japan.
Juan Montoya gets confident
Juan Pablo Montoya took off, and this time without any mistakes from him or his team he was able to be the first one to cross the finish line. The Columbian waited for this moment since 2007, 113 races ago, when he won the NASCAR road course at Sonoma. “It’s about time,” Montoya said after celebrating with his crew in Victory Lane. “We’ve lost a lot of them, gave away a lot of them. It gets frustrating, everybody fighting. There’s so many things I have to learn. I still make a lot of mistakes. It’s experience. We’ve just got to learn from it.”
The Target has had a lot of struggles to finally reach it this point. They started to win races, which pushed the moral of the team. For that matter this win is not enough; neither for Montoya nor for crew chief Brian Pattie. It was the first career victory for Pattie, who fought back tears after watching the No. 42 take the checkered flag. “It’s huge,” Pattie said. “I still want to win on an oval. He wants to prove his point. The Brickyard was my fault. Hope this makes up for it. Trophies mean a lot. It’s pretty cool.”
Montoya feels more comfortable in ovals and believes that the main strategy they need is to go for it. Using their strength speed and holding on until the end of the race he believes that they are on the right track. Leaving all criticism and problems within the team and with Pattie behind he states that they are a team and they are all in it together – no matter if winning or losing.
Cricket: India too strong for Australia
After five wickets and seven balls at hand Australia finished its second to last game in the tour without a win. It has now only one more game remaining but India is simply better in everything they do. On October 20th Youngster Virat Kohli achieved his highest international score and combining his efforts with Suresh Raina’s 71 of 47 balls India beat Australia capitalizing better when they hit out.
Throughout the game the two teams looked as if the outcome could go in either direction as both lost their first innings, then improved and finally created an exciting finale in which Australia got the short end of the stick. Raina showed what he was made off and why he is called one of the world’s best strikers. In addition Kohli never scored below three figures from 112 balls and showed the Australian team that they had to get past him in order to record a win for themselves.
A drawn tour match, two lost Tests and a washed out one-dayer have left Australia with only one more chance of tasting victory in India this year. The final match is scheduled to take place on Sunday in Goa, where showers are forecast for the next six days.
WTA looking to China to foster international growth
This Sunday the tennis season officially ended and once again a number 1 seed was not able to calm her nerves and pull through. Instead the world’s No. 4 Kim Clijsters from Belgium came out on top against Caroline Wozniacki, the current No. 1. The Belgium Clijster won the W.T.A. in three sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 after winning the US Open this year as well.
Clijsters, who won the title in 2002 and 2003, used a powerful forehand and her vast experience to take control of the game. Now that the season is over the W.T.A. is looking how it can boost international growth in order to generate more exposure and find more talent. The direction they are looking is Asia. “It is absolutely amazing what the Beijing government and the China Open are doing for our sport,” W.T.A. chief executive officer, Stacey Allaster said at the Championships in Doha. “They are incredibly ambitious. They have made women’s tennis a priority sport, and that is just simply fantastic for the W.T.A.”
Even though this is a great starting point Allaster acknowledged there was “plenty of education” to do to get more Chinese people excited about tennis, including such basics as how to score a match.
Lee Westwood is golf’s new No. 1
England’s Lee Westwood was able to take the title away from Tiger Woods, who finished the year disappointed and with more losses than wins. Woods expected this change in the rankings, as he did not show his usual performance and dominance this year. “As far as the world ranking is concerned, yes, I’m not ranked No. 1 in the world,” he said Monday. “In order to do that you have to win and I didn’t win this year.”
Even though his ranking changed the first time since 2005 his goal to get back on his winning track is just as strong and apparent as it was before. Currently he is preparing himself for the HSBC Championship in Shanghai, which starts Thursday at Sheshan International. “As far as the emotions go, it is what it is,” Woods said. “To become No. 1 you have to win and win a lot to maintain it. That’s the way it goes.”
Until Woods finds back his old form the rankings are as follows: Westwood is No. 1 followed by Woods, Martin Kaymer, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker. Approaching a few remaining tournaments this year Woods is hoping and playing for a better 2011.
Without arms and legs on his way to compete in Mixed Martial Arts
MMA fighting is something that many people would say you should not get into because it is dangerous, you can get hurt, and if you are not in top shape you might as well just not think about it at all.
Kyle Maynard is in top shape and aware of the physical threats but there is one detail that makes many wonder why he would pick Mixed Martial Arts as his sport to compete in. The reason for this is that Maynard does not have any arms or legs. This young man is 23 years old and has already become a nationally ranked wrestler, ESPN award-winner, motivational speaker and bestselling author. Now his next challenge is to be seen and accepted as anything but “disabled.”
To accomplish this and to further motivate people that do not see a meaning to their lives as they might have lost limbs in war or have been born with restrictions as well as him, he will show in his documentary “A Fighting Chance” just how committed and ready he is to counter all arguments against him.
A summary of the documentary debuting on Monday, November 8th can be read below.
A Fighting Chance – Film Summary:
A Fighting Chance is the vivid character-driven story of Kyle Maynard, a young man born without arms or legs. At 23 years old, Kyle has already become a nationally ranked wrestler, ESPN award-winner, motivational speaker and bestselling author. However, when Kyle seeks an official Mixed Martial Arts match against an able-bodied fighter – a highly controversial and dangerous goal – Kyle has to face even greater challenges in a world that fails to see him anything but “disabled.” Whether fighting in the MA cage or extending his “No Excuses” philosophy to recovering military veterans, Kyle Maynard shows what life can be like when every day is a battle. A Fighting Chance will be aired on Monday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
