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SPORTS UPDATE: Americas’ Cup
GENEVA: Cow bells clanged and champagne flowed on Sunday as Swiss boat Alinghi won sailing’s Americas’ Cup for a European nation — and a landlocked one at that — for the first time.
Hundreds of Alinghi fans packed the Societe Nautique de Geneve yacht club to watch the televised race against Team New Zealand in the Hauraki Gulf off Auckland, even though it started after midnight and finished before dawn Swiss time.
Fans clad in Alinghi shirts and caps and blasting foghorns screamed the name of local biotech billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli’s boat.
“We had hoped for this since the start. Since the beginning we saw that the chances were on our side. We are now living a unique moment,” he said. “I just want to say bravo, again, bravo!”
Other fans among the club’s well-heeled members were ecstatic.
Most Swiss were still sleeping when Alinghi crossed the finish line 45 seconds ahead of Team New Zealand. The race has failed to fire the imagination of many Swiss who prefer to follow the fortunes of skiers than sailors, but the win was top news on Swiss radio and television aired a special show on the historic victory. The Swiss Post Office said it would print a special commemorative stamp to mark the event.
Ironically, Switzerland will not host the Cup’s defense. Under the race rules the regatta must be held at sea, so the landlocked country is looking for a port in another country, probably on the Mediterranean, to defend the Cup. Naples, Barcelona, Palma de Majorca, and Saint Tropez are possible venues. Cascais, just outside of Lisbon, is a serious Atlantic Ocean alternative.—Reuters
Woods pulls out!
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CARLSBAD (California): World number one Tiger Woods has decided not to attend next week’s Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates, saying he will return in 2004. Woods, who won the final of the WGC World Match Play Championship on Sunday, said earlier in the week that his decision would be based on the current international tensions in the Middle East.“Although I originally intended to play this week, I have reluctantly decided to postpone my appearance until the 15th event is staged next year,” Woods told reporters. “I don’t think it would be wise for me to go over there at this particular time. I want to go. I want to play in that tournament. I had a great time the last time I went two years ago. But going overseas in this particular year, right now, especially in that part of the world, is a little tough for me.”
“While we are disappointed with Tiger’s decision to withdraw from the 2003 Dubai Desert Classic, we are delighted he has immediately confirmed his participation for next year,” said Mohamed Ali Alabbar, chairman of the tournament’s executive committee in a statement.
Losing Tiger from this week’s line-up will be disappointing to his many fans in the UAE. But they would be pleased to know that he already has committed himself to next year’ tournament.
Meanwhile, world number two Ernie Els said he would return to defend his title in Dubai. Els has won four of the five medal play events he has entered this year but he was eliminated in the opening round of the World Match Play Championship this week.—Reuters
No cup for us
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Our team is full of strange inviduals. Sadly this does not make them, collectively, a team. It makes them a mob. A mob that indulges in brawls. Recently a heated argument between Pakistan vice captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan during a friedly game of soccer resulted in an ugly brawl. The argument took place in front of some bystanders who were surprised at what had transpired. After the clash, Inzamam left for the hotel. It was announced that he just wasn’t feeling well.Speaking of not feeling well, our entire country has been saddened by our losing all chances of winning the World Cup. Judging from our performace over the year, it was quite evident anyway that we wouldn’t make it in this tournament. Still the public was in denial. But now after our being defeated by India follwed by the match which was washed out, everyone has had to accept reality. Cheer up people, there is always the next World Cup to look forward to.
Ouch!
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Remember last week’s picture of World Heavyweight Champion John Ruiz with those dummy chickens? The picture was taken before the fight between Ruiz and Roy Jones Jr that was on for March 1.Well kids, it seems like Ruiz was just boasting. He lost big time! See for yourself.
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