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It was a super Sunday for international sports as a medley of events from around the world jostled for prime time attention.
In the process a remarkable streak came to an end (Lewis Hamilton’s nine successive podium finishes), an agonising jinx continued (Sergio Garcia missing his maiden major title yet again, see my colleague Patrick’s column), the intricacies and intrigue of Test cricket heightened (England vs India at Lord’s), and the soccer saga headed towards a thrilling climax at the Asian Cup.
The Tour de France fever, on the other hand, is also peaking as the yellow jersey changed hands again.
The superlative performances at the European Grand Prix and the British Open matched the suspense and high drama witnessed at the first Test and the Asian Cup quarter-finals.
If the hair-rising overtaking manoeuvre by Fernando Alonso on Felipe Massa at turn five with five laps to go was the defining moment at Nurburgring, Garcia’s 10-footer putt which lipped out a the last hole at Carnoustie was heartbreaking.
That one Spaniard was victorious and the other vanquished (by Padraig Harrington) heightened the drama. Rafael Nadal, yet another Spaniard, made up for it later in the day by winning his sixth title of the year in Berlin.
Rain was a vital factor at Lord’s too. But Kevin Pietersen, like Alonso, made the most of it to score a thrilling century to leave the first Test between England and India on a knife’s edge.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, moved into the semi-finals of the Asian Cup by the skin of their teeth with a narrow victory over Uzbekistan.
South Korea’s victory over Iran, just like Japan’s over Australia, was more thrilling as it was decided in a penalty shootout.
Iraq, by contrast, were comfortable winners over Vietnam, and the war-torn nation are now my favourites for the trophy.
Despite such top class heroics upfront, I was tempted to crane my neck constantly to keep tab on one man in particular, and that was Hamilton.
The high-speed and spectacular crash on Saturday was scary enough though the Briton emerged unscathed.
The downpour and the ensuing chaotic scenes after the first four laps of the race on Sunday compounded my fears, but thankfully the rookie driver had an incident free race.
Though Hamilton managed to move up just one place after having started 10th on the grid, the manner in which he tackled the race was reassuring.
The streak of an unprecedented nine podiums may be over, but he still looks promising to achieve much more before the end of the season.
But for some macabre reason I feared for his career after the crash on Saturday. It happened at a crucial and career-making moment for Hamilton. And sporting history is littered with instances of such untimely incidents destroying what could have been illustrious careers.
Take West Indian cricketer Lawrence Rowe for example, though I admit in a different context. Like Hamilton, Rowe arrived on the scene with a bang – a unique double century and century on debut – and soon had the world at his feet – averaging over 70 after his first three series; which should compare favourably with Hamilton’s three podium finishes in his first three races.
But a series of mysterious incidents traumatised Rowe, affected his career, and eventually destroyed it.
A batsman with supreme talent was reduced to tatters as hayfever and headaches coupled with problems with his eyesight took its toll.
Later he was diagnosed to have teryginum, a disease involving vision-blurring growths, and an allergy for grass.
Though Rowe soldiered on, he could never recapture his former prodigious touch. He later led a rebel tour to South Africa before disappearing from the scene completely.
Nari Contractor of India in the 60s and Australian David Hookes in the late 70s were another couple of immensely talented batsmen who could not recover from setbacks (both physical and psychological) suffered at the height of their careers.
Both were epitome of courage, persevering, and marked for greatness.
But both their careers were cruelly cut short.
Contractor was struck on the skull by a short-pitched delivery by Charlie Griffith during a tour match in the West Indies in 1962, while Hookes’ jaw was shattered by an Andy Roberts bouncer in 1977.
Contractor and Hookes never recovered psychologically though physically they made comeback bids that proved futile.
Hookes recalled his career in his autobiography aptly titled Hookesy.
“I have much to be modest about,” he wrote at the start. “I suspect history will judge me harshly as a batsman because of my modest record in 23 Tests and I can’t complain about that.”
Hamilton’s case is far removed from the above. And on Sunday, the new Formula One sensation gave no cause for worry. But the sooner he gets back on the winning track the better for him, and for Formula One.
By Vijay Mruthyunjaya
vmruthyunjaya@gmail.com
