The year 2009 unfolded several ups and downs in the world of sports. As India lost its Twenty20 crown to Pakistan in cricket, it gained the no. 1 position in Test rankings. Sachin became the first batsman to complete 17,000 runs in ODIs. Serena hurled a string of abuses at the line judge and was penalized. But, first the strange story of golfing legend Tiger Woods.
Tiger Woods' Dozen Mistresses
34-year-old Eldrick Tont Woods, better known as Tiger Woods, is among the most successful golfers of all time. Currently the world's no.1 golfer, he was the highest paid professional athlete in 2008 with an earning of $ 110 million from winnings and endorsements.
Woods' secret sex life started to emerge on Thanksgiving night after he totalled his SUV outside his Florida mansion under mysterious circumstances. His wife Elin Nordegren was told by a friend her husband was having an affair. She then roused Woods from an Ambien-enhanced sleep by whacking him with a golf club. At that point, Woods ran out of the home barefoot and tried to drive away. Woods later apologized for his "transgressions" and took an indefinite leave from playing golf.
Woods' nice-guy public image was destroyed by reports he cheated on his spouse with more than a dozen women.
India Becomes World's No.1 In Test Cricket
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On December 6, 2009, millions of Indians celebrated as their team ascended to No.1 ranking in Test cricket. The victory that made it possible was marked by standout performances from the men who have played a crucial role in India's ascent.
Virender Sehwag has scored more runs than any other Indian batsman over the last 25 Tests - played over a two-year period beginning November 2007. His innings of 293 proved pivotal as India fulfilled its destined tryst with the top slot.
Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan have been India's highest wicket-takers during this period. Both picked up six wickets apiece for the match, with Zaheer coming up with a five-wicket haul to polish off the tail and take India to a comfortable win by an innings and 24 runs.
It is only the third time in the last 47 months of Test cricket that India have managed to register two consecutive victories. Yet, the 2-0 win has catapulted them to the top of the world. A far cry from where India were exactly a decade ago: the 3-0 thrashing in Australia in 1999-00 immediately comes to mind, followed by their first ever home series defeat to South Africa in 2000.
In between, there were two drawn series Down Under, a historic series win in Pakistan (2003-04) followed by series victories in West Indies (2006), England (2007) and New Zealand (2009). That India ruled at home too, during this phase, has finally led them to the zenith.
Sachin's Year Of Milestones
The year 2009 marked the completion of 20 years of international cricket for Sachin Tendulkar. On November 15, 1989, Sachin played his first Test match against Pakistan in Karachi at the age of 16 years - the second youngest debutant in the world.
Though Sachin made his maiden Test century, an unbeaten 119, against England at Old Trafford in 1990, becoming the second youngest cricketer to do so at the age of 17 years 112 days, his century as a 19-year old on a lightning fast pitch at the WACA is considered one of the best innings ever to have been played in Australia. Sachin himself ranks that Perth century as one of his best.
In Test matches, Sachin has scored centuries against all the Test-cricket playing nations. He has scored a century in at least one cricket ground of all Test-cricket playing nations, except Zimbabwe.
In ODIs, Sachin has scored centuries against 10 different opponents. He has scored centuries against all cricketing nations that have permanent One Day International status, except Bangladesh.
By the end of 2009, Sachin had scored 88 international centuries (43 in Tests and 45 in ODIs) and is still going strong after 20 years at the top.
Sachin's first century in 2009 was against New Zealand, an unbeaten 163 in the third ODI, as India won by 58 runs.
He hit two centuries in six Tests that India played in 2009. His first century of the year came against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on March 20, 2009 when he scored 160 in the first innings as India won the Test by 10 wickets. This was India's first Test win in New Zealand since the Auckland Test of 1976.
Sachin's second ODI century of 2009 came against Sri Lanka in the final of the Compaq Cup on September 14. Sachin's 133-ball 138 was instrumental in India winning the match by 46 runs as the Master Blaster was adjudged both the Man of the Match and Man of the Series.
On November 5, 2009, Sachin broke two records during his epic 175 in the fifth ODI against Australia in Hyderabad. He became the first batsman to complete 17,000 runs in ODIs when he reached seven in that knock. When he reached 92, Sachin completed 6000 runs on Indian soil. For the record, Sachin hit his 45h ODI century that day off just 81 balls and he is the first batsman to make nine ODI hundreds against one opponent (Australia).
On November 20, 2009, the last day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad, Sachin became the first batsman to score 30,000 runs in international cricket when he scored his 35th run in the second innings. He went on to score his 43rd century, an unbeaten 100, to save the Test on the final day.
Usain Bolt Breaks 9.6 Seconds Barrier
Jamaican Usain Bolt reminded the world why sport captivates and exalts so many people. A roar of disbelief greeted the tall Jamaican in Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium in 2008 after he shattered the world 100 record and became the first person to run under 9.7 seconds.
The wonder was provoked not just by the time but by the manner in which the race was run and won. Bolt made a mockery of the previous world mark and the efforts of his hapless opponents, despite slowing down and glancing to left and right well before the finish.
He set another world record in the 200 final, this time bettering Michael Johnson's 1996 mark which statisticians had predicted would last for 25 years, and added a third when the Jamaicans won the 4x100 relay.
In 2009, again without appearing to extend himself unduly, Bolt went under 9.6 for the 100 and again broke the 200 mark at the Berlin world championships.
Serena Williams Hurls Abuses, Penalized
American tennis star Serena Williams was fined $ 175,000 for her ugly tirade at a line judge at Flushing Meadows during the US Open in 2009.
The International Tennis Federation soon slapped a fine on her. The ITF said any further offence at a grand slam in the next two years would see her suspended from the US Open in 2010, 2011, or 2012. The fine will be reduced to $ 82,500 if she commits no further major offence until 2011.
Serena lost her cool after being foot-faulted during her US Open semi-final defeat at the hands of Kim Clijsters. She unleashed a tirade at the line judge, briefly walked away and then returned for another blast at the line judge.
The incident saw her receiving a point penalty for a second code violation, thus handing the semi-final match to Clijsters 6-4, 7-5. Serena was unrepentant about the incident even during her post-match press conference as well, where she claimed that she did not remember what she had said to the line judge.
Williams was initially fined 10,000 dollars by the US Open organisers for her outburst.
