By Shane Thomas
The
world of sport is a space where many great PoC stories can be found.
Here's 10 of the best we saw in 2015:
10)
Marshawn Lynch:
Seattle
Seahawks running back, Marshawn Lynch is a man who finds the NFL
media circus not
to his liking.
Often uncomfortable around journalists, Lynch's propensity to skip
his media obligations has led to him receiving fines in excess
of $130,000.
Lynch was ordered by NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell to speak with
the press during last year's Super Bowl Media Day. Failure to comply
would result in Lynch being fined half a million dollars.
While
Lynch acquiesced, he did so on his terms, responding to all questions
by stating, "I'm
just here so I won't get fined.";
a quote that inspired
memes,
and a t-shirt
slogan.
The phrase struck a chord with anyone who feels unfairly hectored by their
boss. While Lynch was denied
the chance
to win the subsequent Super Bowl for Seattle[1],
he makes the list for speaking up for working people everywhere.
9)
Steph Curry:
To
quote Zach Lowe;
"[Stephen]
Curry has done nothing short of revolutionize what is possible in
basketball... There is no NBA defense that can contain Curry because
there has never been a player like Curry."
The
Golden State Warriors are to basketball what Pep
Guardiola's Barcelona
were to football. A group of small, nimble players, who prized
technique over power. If Golden State are the NBA's Barcelona, then
Curry is their Lionel Messi. An outrageously accurate
shooter,
range matters not to Steph, as it seems he can score
from anywhere.
And
I mean anywhere.
He
won last season's MVP award, led the Warriors to their first
championship
in 40 years, and continued his electric form to help Golden State
start the new campaign winning their first 24 matches in a row - a
new NBA record. Not every budding basketball player wants to be
LeBron James these days.
8)
Nigeria's Troika:
The
first of two mentions of the Women's World Cup. Nigeria had the
misfortune to be drawn in the figurative "Group of Death",
alongside Australia, the USA, and Sweden. An exciting, if
inexperienced Nigerian side were unable to make it to the
competition's knockout stages. But the performance of their attack
against Sweden - in the match of the tournament - gave succour to all
fans of the Super Falcons.
Trailing
2-0, and then 3-2, Nigeria showed incredible resilience to get a 3-3
draw.
The identity of the goalscorers are particularly noteworthy: Ngozi
Okobi; Asisat Oshoala (one of the world's best players); and
Francisca Ordega. Okobi and Ordega are both only 22, while Oshoala is
21. Those three could be at the vanguard of a Nigeria side that can
compete with the best at future tournaments.
7)
Lady Andrade:
When
children first become drawn to sport, they often pretend to emulate
their icons. Especially those who possess gifts beyond your average
athlete. In the world of women's football, the best example of this
is Brazil's Marta.
But in Colombia's Lady Andrade, young kids may have a new (s)hero to
venerate.
Andrade
possesses sublime ball control, which she displayed at the Women's
World Cup to thrilling effect against
England
and the
USA,
while
scoring
in a 2-0 win over France. Andrade is a one-woman highlight
reel,
and could possibly become the first superstar of women's football.
6)
Simone Biles:
At
the 2012 Olympics, Gabby Douglas wowed London, becoming the first
black woman to win individual
all-around Olympic gold in gymnastics.
A year later, fellow American, Simone Biles also made history, taking
the individual
all-around title
at the World Championships.
Biles
retained it in
2014,
and had to defend her title again at this year's World Champs in
Glasgow. She was no longer the new kid, but the established force,
who everyone was looking to beat. And maybe that will happen. But not
in Glasgow, as Biles won
gold again.
She's earned a mammoth ten world titles, a record for an American
female gymnast.
Fitness
permitting, Biles and Douglas will be part of the American team that
goes to the Rio Olympics. A
brilliant
black athlete is great. But two are better.
5)
Allyson Felix:
There's
no more graceful sight in athletics than Allyson Felix. She's already
won eight World Championship golds, and produced her most impressive
performance yet at this year's World Championships, winning the 400
metres. Normally a 200 metre sprinter, her blistering start put her
well ahead, but received wisdom dictated that this was a naive move;
a 200 specialist out of her depth - not recalibrating for the longer
distance - who would run of out gas in the closing stages.
However,
this opening gambit was tactically inspired. With the fast finishing
Christine Ohuruogu outside her, Felix immediately put her under
pressure, forcing Ohuruogu to abandon her trusted strategy to try -
and fail - to keep pace with the American.
It
worked to perfection, as Felix ran a stunning time of 49.28
to win.
It was the most destructive and ruthless piece of sporting beauty of
the year.
4)
Mizzou Football:
Sometimes
it's what one does away from the field of play that matters. The
University of Missouri has been a noxious
place
for a prolonged period, with inveterate racist
incidents
peppering campus life. Activists attempted to get university
President Tim Wolfe to intervene, but he dismissed their concerns. So
the Mizzou college football team got involved.
The
players had a simple demand. Wolfe had to resign, or they would
refuse to play, costing the university $1 million in fines. The
football program is worth more to the college than the President, so
Wolfe was forced to leave.
American
college sports - as well as being an oddity for those in other
nations - is a carnival
of exploitation.
Yet as Dave
Zirin
wrote: "There
is no football team without black labor. That means there aren't
million-dollar coaching salaries without black labor. There isn't a
nucleus of campus social life without black labor." The
actions of the Mizzou football team were arguably the most courageous
of any athlete(s) in 2015.
3)
Japan beating South Africa:
The
biggest shock in the history of the Rugby Union World Cup. One could
argue it's the biggest shock in the history of sport. South Africa
are one of the game's global powers, twice World Cup winners, and
arrived at this year's event with a realistic chance of earning a
third triumph. Japan... are none of those things.
This
was meant to be little more than a training exercise for the
Springboks, but Japan gave a remarkable display of forward discipline
and defensive purpose. However, it looked as if they would suffer a
(meritorious) loss as they trailed 32-29 in the match's closing
moments. What happened next was extraordinary.
Given
the chance to tie the game with a last
minute penalty,
Japan risked defeat in order to attempt to score a try, giving them 5
points - instead of 3 - and the win. It was a risk that paid off as
Karne Hesketh scored
the winning try.
The Japanese fans joyful tears were one of the most affirming sights
of the year[2].
2)
Usain Bolt:
As
Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin lined up for 100 metres at the World
Athletics Championships, I grudgingly accepted the inevitability of a
Gatlin gold. Gatlin was ahead for most of the race, but he hadn't
shaken off Bolt. The American's plans of a fast start, and better
technique weren't enough. It was no longer a physical test, but a
mental one.
Gatlin
panicked, overstriding with the finish line in sight. Bolt held his
form, and pipped
Gatlin on the line.
It's said sport doesn't build character, but reveals it. Gatlin
cracked when
under pressure,
while Bolt showed again that he's never outperformed in a big match
situation.
By
the time the 200 metres rolled around, Bolt was fatigued, but Gatlin
was broken. As soon as Gatlin realised Bolt was ahead in the final
100, the race was over. Bolt cruised
to the line
to win his 11th World Championship gold medal, and become the first
man to do the 100/200 double three times.
He
remains the showstopper.
1)
Serena Williams:
At
number one, there can only be one. The
one.
We
can talk about the statistics: 3
Grand Slams;
a second "Serena
Slam";
ending the year as World No 1, again; and a staggering win/loss
record of 53/3.
But
what makes Serena's year so special isn't just her achievements on
the tennis court,
but her actions in returning
to the Indian Wells tournament,
a place which she and sister Venus boycotted for 14 years due to
racist abuse suffered by her and her family in 2001.
Explaining
her reasons in TIME
magazine,
Serena used her return to Indian Wells to raise funds for the Equal
Justice Initiative.
Serena isn't just changing the world of tennis. She using her
influence to help change the world outside it. Actions like this
place her alongside legends like Muhammad
Ali,
Billie
Jean King,
and Vera
Caslavska.
Serena
may not be the greatest yet. But it appears it's only a matter of
time.
This piece was first published on Media Diversified.
"The Greatest Events in Sporting History" is available at https://soundcloud.com/sportshistory and http://www.simplysyndicated.com/shows/sportinghistory/, e-mail us at sportshistoryshow@googlemail.com and you can follow us on Twitter @TGEISH
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