Well, as we approach the end of 2001, we�re going to see a lot of those �Best of� lists. I�m a big sucker for those lists, even though I usually don�t know a lot of what they�re talking about because I don�t follow popular culture all that well, but I am a REALLY big sucker for sports-related end-of-year highlights. In fact, I really look forward to ESPN�s �Best of Sportscenter� and �Games of the Year� special which usually show around Christmas.
So, anyway, with that overly-long intro, I present the first of my �best of� lists for 2001. I�m going to try to make each of these from my own personal perspective, you�ll understand what I mean by seeing my first such �list.�
Best of 2001: Sports
I realize that I follow some sports that barely make a blip on most people�s radar screens. I�m not considering any of the �mainstream� sports that dominate our culture; just the �Jake� sports which no one else care�s about
1) Lance Armstrong wins L�Alpe d�Huez. July 17
It wasn�t enough that he simply won the most prestigious stage in the Tour de France in dominating fashion. It wasn�t enough that he did so in dominating fashion, playing �possum� in the early climbs of the day to trick rival Jan Ulrich�s Telekom team. It wasn�t enough that this seemed to be the official announcement that he was on his way to win his 3rd straight tour.
What made it so great was that it made it �cool� to be patriotic long before anyone could�ve imagined 9/11. The first two years Lance Armstrong won, the French didn�t seem to like him a whole lot. They naturally assumed that someone who only a couple years previously had very nearly died of cancer, and was now winning Tours, must be doped. This was at a time drug scandals rocked the sport, decimating whole teams, but Armstrong remained clear.
But by now, with Armstrong vaulting himself into �effectively� the lead (the only people still ahead of him in total time were flatland sprinters he would eventually easily vanquish in later climbs), and staring down Ullrich as he left him in his dust, the best cyclist in the world was an American, and everyone knew it.
2) Josh Wolfe and Clint Mathis lead US to 3-0-0 start in CONCACAF. March-April
There�s never really any reason to believe the US men will do well in any sort of international tournament. They�ve managed to qualify for the last three cups (they had an automatic berth in 94), but largely because they come from a group which lacks any real power, besides Mexico, and there are three qualifying spots available. It�s tough to ignore the fact that if they had to come out of Europe, they wouldn�t make it.
BUT, it is the nature of international soccer that any side at full strength can pull off some surprising victories, and when the US is at their best, with none of their top players missing due to disciplinary suspensions or injuries, they can take on anyone.
The first of 10 games (home-away vs. 5 other teams) was the home match against Mexico. Beating Mexico in World Cup qualifying for the US is roughly the equivalent of WSU beating UW� even if it�s at home. But midfielder Clint Mathis hooked up with striker Josh Wolfe on a scintillating play in the waning moments of the first half to put our side up 1-0 and a victory suddenly not only looked possible, it looked probable. Wolfe later fed Ernie Stewart for the clinching goal in a 2-0 win, and a great first step towards Japan-Korea 2002.
Wolfe and Mathis were both young, had been college teammates, and seemed to represent the �future� of US men�s soccer. Mathis went on to score the game winner in an improbable 2-1 road victory over Honduras, and Wolfe scored the only point in a 1-0 win vs. Costa Rica. The US was 3-0-0 and in control of the group.
Unfortunately, injuries soon plagued both Wolfe and Mathis, and neither would appear in any of the remaining qualifiers. Not coincidentally, the US limped into their spot in 2002.
3) Michael Schumacher wins Grand Prix of Japan. October 14
He had already clinched the season championship. He had already surpassed Alain Prost on the career victories list. And in the last race of 2001, on the serpentine Suzuka course, he had nothing to drive for except just winning the damn race.
The title essentially was won in the first half of the season, when his Ferrari was clearly the fastest car, and coming in, everyone knew no-one was a faster driver. Over the second half of the season, however, the other top teams narrowed the �equipment� gap, and victories became a little tougher. In fact, at Italy, Ferrari�s home race, he managed no better than fourth, then followed that up with a 2nd at Indianapolis (after two cars ahead of him dropped out in the last 10 laps!) in the second-to-last race. Even though he won the pole in qualifying, it wasn�t unrealistic to suggest he might more or less �mail it in.�
Instead, he simply
Checked Out. By lap 4 he had an 11 second lead, and literally cruised to victory, never letting his lead diminish below 6 seconds, and even then he seemed to be just toying with whoever was unfortunate enough to be in second.
As a race, there were many this year that were much more interesting. This one was processional, just a high-speed parade, the late afternoon October sun glistening off the beautiful red chassis. The whole race was a victory lap on a dominant year.
