2008 has already started with a number of major sporting upsets and you don't have to read the tea leaves to see what's going to happen in the months that follow. This is going to be the year of the underdog!
Everything in life moves in cycles and the signs are ominous that some shocks are waiting in the wings for the so-called favourites all across the sporting world. Look at that grand old dinosaur of British football the FA Cup and where are Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal andLiverpoolthis year? In the Champions League last eight you may suggest but all four are still a long way from picking up the blueriband of European football and they certainly won't be at Wembley. No, they are licking their FA Cup wounds as minnows Barnsley, West Brom, Cardiff City and Portsmouthsavour their moments of glory and hog the centre stage. FA Cup winners Barnsley....ugh!
The glorious uncertainty of competitive sport is one of its greatest attractions and the shocks aren't reserved just for football as rugby and cricket have already discovered in 2008. Wales will win the Six Nations Rugby Championship next weekend and that has to be the biggest shock of the season so far given their record in recent times. Not pretty at Croke Park last weekend but they were singing just as loudly in the pubs of Dublin as in the valleys. After all, it's the result that counts.
And what of cricket?
Unfortunately there are no World Cup opportunities for Ireland and Bangladesh to repeat theirCaribbeangiant-killing exploits of 2007 but just a little further up the ladder winds of change are blowing and the underdogs are barking loudly.Indiatoppled the seemingly invincible Aussies in the Commonwealth ODI Series and outsiders New Zealandbeat high-flying England in their series and then convincingly won the 1st. Test against all odds. What next for Vettori and his Kiwis? On a personal level Jesse Ryder rose from almost obscurity to cult status with some big hitting and is Brendon McCullum the new Adam Gilchrist?
More shocks surely lie on the horizon and without delving too deeply into our 'horror-scopes' can we anticipate more of the same to follow in our local cricket season? If you believe all you read then it has to be yes and it might be worth sticking a fiver on a Glendermott and CIYMS league double. Even better what chances a northern club to win the Irish Senior Cup with the pros on board and upset those red-hot Leinster invincibles?
Too much to ask? Not this year!
Clarence Hiles
Editor
