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Accentuating the positive in 2002 Posted: Sunday December 29, 2002 12:44 PM
Hello all. Unfortunately, 2003 is starting with the prospect of war, and that is something which truly worries me. But since enough is said about the negative things going on in the world, I would like to end 2002 with a look back at the top positive and heart-warming sports stories of the past year. 1. Lance Armstrong wins the Tour de France for the fourth consecutive time For me, this man is an inspiration to all human beings who have ever been down. Armstrong was close to death a handful of years ago. He did not know if he was going to be able to wake up the next day, much less jump on a bike again. So the fact that he is now winning cycling's toughest event yearly is nothing short of a miracle. I had the honor of interviewing Armstrong a couple of years ago, and he is truly a wonderful man. I hope he goes on to win this competition a record six times. And I hope the people who have the audacity to accuse him of drug use, when he has always tested negative, will be there to see it. 2. Ronaldo returns from career-threatening injuries to win world cup with Brazil
Should he have won the European Footballer of the Year Award? No. Should he have been named the FIFA Player of the Year? Probably not. But the Brazilian striker definitely deserves recognition for putting all of his knee troubles behind him and leading his nation to a record fifth World Cup title. Eight goals in seven games in football's top tournament is an astounding accomplishment, and it is even more so if you consider the fact that he was out of action for more than two seasons. I congratulate Ronaldo for what he achieved after endless hours of physical rehabilitation, and I admire him for never giving up. 3. Serena Williams captures three Grand Slam titles When 2002 started, tennis fans were expecting to see the name Williams engraved on several trophies. But most of them thought it would be Venus who would dominate the WTA Circuit. They were wrong. Serena burst onto the scene after the Australian Open and went on to celebrate victories in Paris, London and New York. Showing tremendous poise and drive, the youngest of the Williams sisters showed what can happen when you have the power, but also patience, to become a great champion. 4. Anaheim Angels win the World Series You are probably thinking, what does a Portuguese guy know about baseball? Well, far from calling myself an expert, I can tell you that I actually enjoy watching the game, especially on television. And I can also say that I watched most of the World Series between the Angels and San Francisco Giants. Devoid of a renowned superstar, Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia was able to build a fantastic team around hard work and self sacrifice. It was truly magical to see the Angels come back from oblivion in Game 6, and then hold on to win their first ever championship in a dramatic Game 7. 5. Mike Tyson's transformation. Life has a lot to do with redemption, and Iron Mike may have finally learned that lesson, having appeared calm and collected in a press conference given at the end of the year. No longer taking himself too seriously, he joked about his former faux pas and misjudged steps. I hope that his apparent transformation is real, because it gives me hope that other misguided people could yet find their way in life. So those are five of the stories I consider to be relevant (in a positive way) from the last year. I just want to pass along one final note in honor of the organizers of the World Cup. It was amazing to be a part of such an event where people of all corners of the world came together for a common love... the love of the game of football. It was indeed a privilege to be a guest in Asia this past summer. I wish everyone luck and love in the new year.
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