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Looking ahead to the year 2008
published: Sunday | December 30, 2007
Tony Becca
IN ANOTHER two days, the year 2007 will be history, the year 2008 will be with us and, as good as the one on the way out was, as the clock ticks away, members of the sports fraternity hope and pray that the one to come will be even better - probably as good as any has ever been.
Played well
During the year that is fast closing, Jamaica played well, and, in some cases, with the exception of sports like football, table tennis and men's hockey, brilliantly.
In football, Jamaica, as reflected by its FIFA ranking which dropped to a record low of 103 after some really disappointing performances, slipped badly.
In table tennis, Jamaica continued to mark time with performances that for a number of years have been an embarrassment - especially so when compared to the days of the 1950s, the 1960s, the 1970s and the 1980s.
In men's hockey, Jamaica's performances were a far cry from those of the 1970s.
In comparison to football, table tennis and men's hockey, most of the other sports, including cricket and women's hockey, did quite well, and some, and particularly so netball and track and field, were brilliant.
Although they did not win or finish second at the World Championships, the netball girls, who lost to defending champions New Zealand in a close and exciting semi-final contest and who clipped England in a tight match, maintained their number three position.
Despite the failure of Asafa Powell to win the 100 metres gold medal at the World Athletic Championships, Jamaica, led by Veronica Campbell and Maurice Smith, was magnificent while finishing only behind the United States, Russia and Kenya in the total medal tally.
On top of all that, Powell recovered from the disappointment of the World Championships to lower his world record, to confirm his title as the fastest man alive and to leave his countrymen praying and believing that 2008 will be his year.
Interesting times ahead
With the West Indies Cricket Board set to look at the P. J. Patterson report and the possibility of a change in the structure of the board, and with the Jamaica Cricket Association set to introduce a semi-pro league, some interesting times are ahead.
The year 2008, however, is an Olympic year, it is also the year in which the hunt for places in the football World Cup finals is scheduled to get under way and, like it or not, regardless of what else is happening, probably even the West Indies at home to Sri Lanka and then to Australia, the Olympics and the World Cup qualifiers will be the main attractions for the people, with the majority of them hoping and praying that Powell will win the 100 metres gold medal and a place among the country's athletes best of all time.
Looking at this year's performance in both sports, the track and field ambassadors appear to have a better chance of winning medals, even gold medals, at the Olympic Games than the football reps have of getting to South Africa in 2010 - and it appears that it will be tougher for three reasons.
Reason number one is the strength of the teams in the region, reason number two is the poor standard of play of the local-based players and reason number three is that it may be more difficult than it was leading up to 1998 to get the overseas pros released for matches - at least for all the matches that Jamaica may need them.
With the go-getter, the convincing Captain Horace Burrell and Rene 'Jesus Saves' Simoes leading the way, however, anything is possible and Jamaicans, apparently, not only believe that any thing is possible but also, with Burrell and Simoes around, that everything is highly possible if not on the cards.
2008 Could be better
Last year was wonderful.
Next year, however, could be better and, on top of everything else, even if others like Campbell and Sherone Simpson win gold medals, it would be better if Powell wins the gold, if Smith wins the decathlon and if the Reggae Boyz play the type of football and set the stage for the trip to South Africa in 2010.
published: Sunday | December 30, 2007
Tony Becca
IN ANOTHER two days, the year 2007 will be history, the year 2008 will be with us and, as good as the one on the way out was, as the clock ticks away, members of the sports fraternity hope and pray that the one to come will be even better - probably as good as any has ever been.
Played well
During the year that is fast closing, Jamaica played well, and, in some cases, with the exception of sports like football, table tennis and men's hockey, brilliantly.
In football, Jamaica, as reflected by its FIFA ranking which dropped to a record low of 103 after some really disappointing performances, slipped badly.
In table tennis, Jamaica continued to mark time with performances that for a number of years have been an embarrassment - especially so when compared to the days of the 1950s, the 1960s, the 1970s and the 1980s.
In men's hockey, Jamaica's performances were a far cry from those of the 1970s.
In comparison to football, table tennis and men's hockey, most of the other sports, including cricket and women's hockey, did quite well, and some, and particularly so netball and track and field, were brilliant.
Although they did not win or finish second at the World Championships, the netball girls, who lost to defending champions New Zealand in a close and exciting semi-final contest and who clipped England in a tight match, maintained their number three position.
Despite the failure of Asafa Powell to win the 100 metres gold medal at the World Athletic Championships, Jamaica, led by Veronica Campbell and Maurice Smith, was magnificent while finishing only behind the United States, Russia and Kenya in the total medal tally.
On top of all that, Powell recovered from the disappointment of the World Championships to lower his world record, to confirm his title as the fastest man alive and to leave his countrymen praying and believing that 2008 will be his year.
Interesting times ahead
With the West Indies Cricket Board set to look at the P. J. Patterson report and the possibility of a change in the structure of the board, and with the Jamaica Cricket Association set to introduce a semi-pro league, some interesting times are ahead.
The year 2008, however, is an Olympic year, it is also the year in which the hunt for places in the football World Cup finals is scheduled to get under way and, like it or not, regardless of what else is happening, probably even the West Indies at home to Sri Lanka and then to Australia, the Olympics and the World Cup qualifiers will be the main attractions for the people, with the majority of them hoping and praying that Powell will win the 100 metres gold medal and a place among the country's athletes best of all time.
Looking at this year's performance in both sports, the track and field ambassadors appear to have a better chance of winning medals, even gold medals, at the Olympic Games than the football reps have of getting to South Africa in 2010 - and it appears that it will be tougher for three reasons.
Reason number one is the strength of the teams in the region, reason number two is the poor standard of play of the local-based players and reason number three is that it may be more difficult than it was leading up to 1998 to get the overseas pros released for matches - at least for all the matches that Jamaica may need them.
With the go-getter, the convincing Captain Horace Burrell and Rene 'Jesus Saves' Simoes leading the way, however, anything is possible and Jamaicans, apparently, not only believe that any thing is possible but also, with Burrell and Simoes around, that everything is highly possible if not on the cards.
2008 Could be better
Last year was wonderful.
Next year, however, could be better and, on top of everything else, even if others like Campbell and Sherone Simpson win gold medals, it would be better if Powell wins the gold, if Smith wins the decathlon and if the Reggae Boyz play the type of football and set the stage for the trip to South Africa in 2010.