Warm greetings once more.
This is usually the time of the year when we reflect on what kind of year it has been. For some it was amazing, for others awful. Whatever year you may have had there is always hope at Christmas time that the next year will bring with it fresh opportunities; a chance to start again and a new dawn .
I was at sixes and sevens at the start of the year after having just gone through a painful break-up. But just as Michael W Smith sings, help was on the way. I am delighted to announce that early in the year I went back to church and started talking to God again after many years of having turned my back on Him. These days when I miss a church service I genuinely feel like I have missed out and if that is the kind of feeling one is going to have then you know you are at the right place.
March was a highlight for me as well. I was out on a story in Soweto when Robin phoned me to tell me that he needed my passport. I was being sent to Abu Dhabi for the Laureus World Sports Awards. Even though I was only in the United Arab Emirates for three days I had the time of my life there. I truly made the most of it. I worked hard during the day and had loads of fun with my new European friends in the evenings. What I especially enjoyed was what happened on the final day of the trip. Zayn and Thuthuka flew to Durban from Dubai and theirs was a morning flight. I hopped in the taxi with them after having less than an hour’s sleep the night before and spent the day touring Dubai. I was even offered a massage by a Filipino lady but declined as I was convinced I would get more than I bargained for. I caught a late afternoon bus back to Abu Dhabi before making my way back to the airport. You will not be surprised to know that I fell asleep on the plane back to Johannesburg before the aircraft even took off.
There were many enjoyable experiences as I managed to visit every single province in South Africa during 2010. There was a fantastic weekend in Durban with Andrew and Michael in October. Every moment a friend of mine was up in Joburg for whatever reason. The parties, the laughs, the quiz night emotions and even my fish tank bursting will all count as moments that made 2010 what it was. Kim, Martin and Razia got married and you can imagine the standout moment at Mart and Razia’s ceremony was when Sipho “Hot Stix” Mabuse sat at the piano and started playing “Burn Out”. What a legendary moment.
However, it all pales into relative insignificance after what happened in June and July; the Fifa World Cup. This was the best month of my life. Often we only realise years later that a particular period was the best in our lives but I knew this was true while I was living through it. It started when my mate Brad phoned me 10 days before the tournament kicked off and invited me to go with him to Argentina-Nigeria. When I told him I already had tickets for that match he said, “Well then why don’t you come with me to the opening game?” As if I had to think about that one.
In the end I saw ten world cup matches at eight stadiums in seven cities. I spent time with most of my friends and family during that month and it was a true blessing. There is no other way to describe it. I must have spent around R15 000 during that month on match tickets, petrol, food, merchandise and who knows what else but I can honestly say that I do not feel like I wasted a single cent.
And now for my annual awards.
Song of the Year: Knaan – Wavin’ Flag. Coca-Cola used this song as their theme tune during the world cup and while Shakira’s Waka Waka grew on me, this was the true anthem of the tournament. It captured the very essence of a global competition that unites supporters and I do not think there was a single person who disliked this track. Any given artist could have released their Piano Man in 2010 and it was never going to compete with Wavin’ Flag.
Film of the Year: I think Inception deserves an honourable mention. Leonardo Di Caprio has done wonders in redeeming himself after those early career stutters Romeo & Juliet and Titanic. In fact Leo has emerged as one of my favourite actors. Even so I am a sucker for the action genre and by extension comic book hero films so my favourite movie of 2010 goes to Iron Man 2.
Quote of the Year: Betty White hosted Saturday Night Live following a Facebook campaign. In the aftermath White ironically exclaimed, “ .“ My mate Martin nearly won this accolade. He produced two pearlers. He went ahead and bought our tickets to the quarter-final in Cape Town that turned out to be Argentina versus Germany. We were both supporting the Argies. When he had the tickets he phoned me and said, “Big game, big seats.” By the time the Germans were 3-0 up he mumbled, “These f*cking Germans” which given its comical value is a contender. I was tempted to give it to Brad for his now legendary, “Well then why don’t you come with me to the opening game?” but while that will live in my heart forever I have to give the quote of the year to someone else. It goes to my colleague and friend Chris Maroleng. During a television interview with AWB Secretary-General André Visagie the debate became heated and Visagie put his hand on Chris and it ushered in a quote and moment that would become a YouTube sensation, “Don’t touch me on my studio.”
Moment of the Year: Sipho Mabuse’s impromptu performance at Martin and Razia’s wedding was special and receives a mention here. I was present when Rik De Voest upset Jarkko Nieminen in five sets. I was also there when Jacques Kallis reached his maiden Test double hundred and then saw Sachin Tendulkar score his 50th Test century the very next day. The opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup at Soccer City is a strong contender as well. The entire June and July would also be. However this one calls for a specific moment and that would have to be in the second half of the opening match of the world cup between South Africa and Mexico. Siphiwe Tshabalala danced down the left wing into the box and hit a sweetly-timed strike into the Mexican ‘keeper’s far post corner. That goal coupled with the insane celebrations that erupted thereafter goes down as my moment of the year. It was as if a bomb had exploded at Soccer City. To try to describe that moment is futile. There are no superlatives that can do it justice.
Sportsman of the Year: Diego Forlan is a strong contender after his magnificent performances at the world cup. However I do not want to give this award to a sportsman based on the strength of one month. Therefore, and not for the first time, I am giving the accolade to Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard won three of the four Grand Slams this year and in so doing completed a Career Grand Slam as well as a Golden Slam, which includes his 2008 Olympic gold medal. My favourite statistic is this: It took Roger Federer 40 Slams to complete the winning of all four. It took Nadal just 26 and even more telling is that Federer has yet to beat Nadal at Roland Garros. Nadal won his first Wimbledon by beating Federer in the final. You can argue that the courts have been slowed down something terrible at the All England Club. You can say that it is impossible to compare eras and therefore impossible to say who is the greatest of all-time. Nadal and Federer have gone toe-to-toe and we have seen the best of both in this era and perhaps most pleasing of all is that we have seen them bring out the best in each other.
Person of the Year: Julian Assange. In a year where media freedom has been threatened in South Africa the Wikileaks founder created an international stir of note. His trial in London had nothing to do with his website as we know. Wikileaks plays to the point that the public has the right to know and seeks to publish confidential documents and information. Assange made the news this year more for the rape accusations against him but his website provided enough news this year to upset American politicians and for him to be my standout newsmaker of 2010.
May you have a blessed Christmas and remember to always do what you can to heal the world.
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