2009-04-18T19:49:00.001-07:00

The Legend called Maradona

Former footballer Diego Armando Maradona has been the most valuable part of the FIFA world cup winning team (Argentina) in 1986. Born in 1960, Maradona played in four World Cups and was acclaimed widely for his contribution to the football fraternity. He was voted the best football player of all times in an international internet fan poll in 2000, and received the FIFA award of Player of the century.Maradona has had an eventful career, full of achievements, accolades and controversy too. His football career started at the age of 15 years, in Argentinos Juniors where he made his debut in the Argentina first division. Hereafter, he joined Boca Juniors and led the Argentina youth team to win the world cup in 1979. He joined Barcelona and played in Spain for two seasons after the 1982 world cup. By this time, Maradona had already become a well-known figure. In 1984 he joined Napoli and won two Italian Championships in 1986-87 and 1989-90, one Coppa Italia (1987), one UEFA cup (1989) and one Supercoppa Italiana (1990).

Maradona's successful leadership in the 1986 FIFA world cup tournament not only won Argentina the world cup over West Germany, but also honoured him with the best player award of the tournament –the Golden Ball award. He almost won the world cup single handedly, displaying grace and diligence in his game. He gave the 'goal of the century' in the quarterfinals of the '86 tournament against England. The goal was a spectacular 60-meter weave through six England players. This particular goal is referred to as 'The Cosmic Kite' in Argentina. His share of controversy include more than a year of suspension from playing in the year 1991 after he failed a doping test, once in Italy, and then in USA during the 1994 world cup. After the suspension, he went to Spain to play for Sevilla and then back to Argentina. He took retirement from professional football in 1997. Maradona became a prey to constant drug abuse and suffered mentally and physically constantly. He was a cocaine addict and also suffered from problems related to excessive weight gain. At present, Maradona serves as a television host in Argentina. Maradona will live in the heart of football lovers the world over, for his brilliant contribution to the field of football. His spectacular contribution will remain unique and unforgettable in all times to come.
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The Legend called Larry Bird

Terre Haute - There was a time, though, few people can remember it, when Larry Bird was an unknown “redshirt” practicing every day with the Indiana State University basketball team. Rumor had it that he was good-exceptionally good, in fact. Seasons of mediocrity had soured Indiana State fans, however, and even the few thousand fans who showed up for Sycamore games cynically ignored promises of a superstar.
Halley’s comet appears once, every 76 years-and fortunate persons may see it during their lifetime. Yet they see an astronomical wonder like the comet only once so that when it comes there is a tendency to savor and thrill in it.
Thus has been the career of Larry Bird. His rise to fame has been equally astronomical. And with his fortunes of attention and game, the Sycamore basketball program left the murky waters of “the rest of the pack” and rose to singular prominence on the national scene.
It’s not an everyday story, but it’s a pleasant one to tell. It’s a new variation on that old “rags to riches” story. Once obscure, Indiana State now rides in equal glory with the once-heralded “big three”- Indiana, Purdue and Notre Dame. Larry Bird led the parade.Born in French Lick, Indiana on December 7, 1956, Bird’s first basketball experience was in throwing wads of paper into coffee cans. As he grew and matured, he developed a game with a real ball on a real court aiming at a real basket. Hours of quiet practice began to pay off. As a senior at Springs Valley High School, Bird appeared to reach his peak. He earned a place on the Indiana All-Star team that season and signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Indiana University, however, Bird chose not to stay at Indiana-basketball was not the cause, but his personal incompatibility with the large campus. He returned to French Lick and may have thought then he would never play major college basketball.Coaches Bob King and Bill Hodges were determined to change Bird’s mind and succeeded. Bird was perhaps tired of playing ball in the amateur leagues where his talents clearly exceeded everyone else’s.

That “redshirt” year was an important one for ISU Basketball. Coaches began to know both they and Bird had made sound decisions. He wasn’t just good...he was great! Finishing 13-12 that season, King must have wondered what it would have been like with Bird in a game, not just practice.
Patience won out, though. The first night Bird played in Hulman Center was Nov. 27, 1976, against Chicago State. The Sycamores won 81-60. Only 3,000 persons had seen Bird score 31 points. Corrective may claim to have been there that night. In fact, a dropping pin might have raised the only din.
Changes occurred gradually. Bird was pumping in points like Terre Haute fans had not seen in a long time. The attendance grew-not by hundreds, but by thousands. Suddenly, everyone was caught up in “Bird Watching.” In 28 games that year Bird averaged 32.8 points per game and shot 54 percent from the field. The season ended with a heartbreaking loss to the University of Houston in a National Invitation Tournament regional game, 83-82.
In ‘77-78, anticipation was high. Bird was pictured on the cover of “Sports Illustrated’s” college basketball issue. The rest of America was learning about Bird’s legendary performances for Indiana State. It was a year of cover stories and national attention for the 6-9 forward. “The Sporting News” followed suit. So did “Basketball Weekly.” At the season’s end, Bird had repeated his 30-point performances consistently and was named to every conceivable All-America team.

Bird had already been recognized by the media and the professional basketball world. Drafted sixth in the first round of the NBA draft, Bird politely told the Boston Celtics he wanted to finish his degree at Indiana State and play a final season for the Sycamores. The pros respected Bird’s intent and the Celtics watched Bird through the year savoring the thought of him wearing a green uniform.
Bird was a player with marvelous skills. Amazingly, scoring was only one of his talents. Perhaps Bird takes more pride in rebounding, playing hard-nosed defense... or maybe in delivering those bullet, I’m-looking-the-other-way-but-you-better-catch-it passes to a teammate for an easy hoop. If anything, his assists became more glorious then any dunk or steal or blocked shot ever could be. He was sharing glory with everyone else. It was characteristic of Bird’s basketball style.
It all is nearing an end. Those passes, those shots, that defense-the electrifying play of a rare basketball player is ending. College basketball’s Halley’s Comet is ending its flight. Soon it will fade; those who saw it will tell the stories. Larry Bird is a legend in Indiana State athletic history. It was fun for everyone who saw it.On February 28, 2004, Larry Bird’s jersey (along with Duane Klueh’s jersey) was retired in a ceremony at the Hulman Center.

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The Legend called Michael Schumacher

For well over a decade, Michael Schumacher has dominated the world of Formula One like a colossus, claiming one record after another. We present here a detailed biography of this truly great driver, undoubtedly the greatest of his generation, as he begins his 16th year in F1.Michael Schumacher, like many modern day F1 drivers, began racing with karts. His first kart was built by his father, and he drove it at the tender age of four and a half. He received his license to race by the age of twelve and between 1984 and 1987 Michael won several German and European kart championships.From 1988 to 1990 Michael raced in the Formula Ford series and competed in the German championship, which he won in 1990. Thereafter he joined the Mercedes junior racing programme in the World Endurance Championship and won races at the wheel of a Sauber-Mercedes C291.His entry into F1 was at Spa-Francorchamps in 1991 as a last minute replacement for Jordan’s regular driver, who had been sent to prison after spraying mace at a taxicab driver! Michael was an unknown entity in both F1 and Formula 3000 and he had never raced at Spa, having gone around the circuit just once and that, too, on a bicycle! But he told Eddie Jordan that he had a lot of experience of the track and convinced the Irishman to give him the drive. His debut was one of the best ever. He qualified 7th well ahead of his teammate, Andrea de Cesaris, who had 11 years in F1 behind him. However, a clutch failure on the very first lap robbed the motor racing world of what may have been the best ever debut in F1. But the world took notice! Eddie Jordan wanted to sign him on immediately but Michael was advised by Willi Weber, his manager, not to do so because Jordan was expected to switch to uncompetitive Yamaha engines. The Benetton-Ford team signed him on for Monza, the very next race, and for the races thereafter. Michael showed his great talent, finishing the year with 3 points finishes and 13th overall – in a year in which Ayrton Senna won the last of his 3 world titles.

In 1992, which was Michael’s first full year in F1, he continued with the Benetton-Ford and notched up his maiden F1 win at Spa, where it had all begun the year before. With that victory and 7 more podium finishes and 53 points, he was 3rd in the championship behind the champion Nigel Mansell and runner up Ricardo Patrese, but ahead of his team mate Martin Brundle who came 6th and triple world champion Ayrton Senna, who was 4th.He was still with Benetton-Ford in 1993 and, amazingly, was on the podium in all the races he finished – 9 times in all, including a win at Estoril - which got him 52 points in all and ensured that he was 4th in the championship - behind Prost, Senna and Hill.1994, the year in which Ayrton Senna died, Michael was either 1st or 2nd in all the races he finished. In spite of controversial disqualifications, such as the one at Spa, and bans and Nigel Mansell helping Damon Hill, Michael’s 8 wins at Aida, Imola, Interlagos, Hungaroring, Jerez, Magny-Cours, Monaco and Montreal and 2 runner-up slots ensured Michael his 1st Formula One World Driver’s Championship, albeit by a single point. He also notched up 92 points and the first 6 of his record-equaling 65 pole positions. At 25 Michael also became the youngest driver and the only German to wear the crown. The year also saw the first of the controversies involving Michael – his collision with Damon in Australia.In 1995, although Benetton changed their engine suppliers - Ford to Renault - Michael kept his winning streak going. With 9 wins – at Aida, Catalunya, Hockenheim, Interlagos, Magny-Cours, Monaco, Nurburgring, Spa and Suzuka - and 102 points, he retained the World Driver’s Championship by a thumping 30 point lead. In the process he became the youngest double world champion in the history of F1 - a record that is yet to be broken.

1996 saw Michael switching to Ferrari. Ferrari had long been F1’s most celebrated team, but it had last won the championship 16 years before - in 1979. Michael’s presence and perhaps the astounding salary of over $2 million per race seemed to wake the team from its slumber and in spite of having a very poor car under him Michael was able to notch up 3 wins – at Catalunya, Monza and Spa. With 59 points he was 3rd in the championships behind champion Damon Hill and runner-up Jacques Villeneuve. His first team mate at Ferrari was Eddie Irvine who was a distant 10th.In 1997 Michael contended with Jacques Villeneuve for the world title. With 5 wins at Magny-Cours, Monaco, Montreal, Spa and Suzuka, he was very close to winning the title. However, the controversial collision with Jacques at Jerez led to Michael being disqualified for the rest of the season.

1998 saw Mika Hakkinen emerging from the shadow of the controversy at Jerez, where both Jacques Vileneuve and David Coulthard moved over to allow him to take his maiden F1 win. In spite of 6 wins – at Buenos Aires, Hungaroring, Magny-Cours, Montreal, Monza and Silverstone – Michael had to settle for 2nd place in the championship behind Mika Hakkinen. Ferrari, though, claimed a historic 1-2 at Imola that year. The enduring image from the year is Spa, where Michael in blinding rain drove faster than everything on the track in sight, in blinding rain till he collided with David Coulthard - a controversy that hasn’t quite died down.1999 was the year in which Michael should have won his 1st WDC with Ferrari, but although he notched 2 early wins at Imola and Monaco, his missing 6 races after breaking his leg at Silverstone in a crash caused by brake failure, dropped him out of the title contention. When Michael returned to the track for the final 2 races of the year, he came 2nd in both. He could have easily won at Sepang, but helped Eddie Irvine to win the race and thereby kept the Irishman in the hunt for the championship, which Eddie lost by just 2 points. In spite of being out for almost half the season, he was 5th in the driver’s standings, his lowest placing since 1992. Ferrari, thanks to Michael’s performance, won the world constructor’s championship that year after a gap of 17 years.Eddie Irvine left Ferrari at the start of the 2000 season and his place was taken by Brazilian driver, Rubens Barrichello. A record equaling 9 wins - at Imola, Indianapolis, Interlagos, Melbourne, Montreal, Monza, Nurburgring, Sepang and Suzuka - ensured Michael the 1st of his world titles with Ferrari and with Rubens coming in 4th, Ferrari was able to retain the constructor’s title.In 2001 Michael repeated his record equaling 9 wins with victories at Catalunya, Hungaroring, Magny-Cours, Melbourne, Monaco, Nurburgring, Sepang, Spa and Suzuka. He also broke Alain Prost’s record of 51 Grand Prix wins.

2002 was the first year in which Michael was truly dominant. He won a record 11 races – at A1-Ring, Catalunya, Hockenheim, Imola, Interlagos, Magny-Cours, Melbourne, Montreal, Spa, Silverstone and Suzuka and equaled Fangio’s 5 world titles. By comparison 2003 was a tough one. In spite of winning six races - at the A1-Ring, Catalunya, Imola, Indianapolis, Montreal and Monza – to Kimi Raikkonen’s solitary win at Sepang, with a new points system in place, Michael won the title only by a whisker. A mere 2 points separated him from Kimi at the end of the year, but Michael won his 6th world title and in the process broke Fangio’s record which had stood for 46 years. He also equaled Fangio’s record of winning 4 back to back world titles. However, the chaotic race at Interlagos will be remembered as one of the few in which Michael crashed in rain drenched conditions instead of converting it into a win.2004 was Michael’s most dominant year. He won 12 of the first 13 races in the calendar losing only at Monaco after a controversial collision with Juan Pablo Montoya in the tunnel. He ended the year with a record 13 wins - at Bahrain, Catalunya, Hockenheim, Hungaroring, Imola, Indianapolis, Magny-Cours, Melbourne, Montreal, Nurburgring, Sepang, Silverstone, and Suzuka. Michael won his 7th world title and with 5 titles on the trot broke Fangio’s record of 4 back to back titles - a record that had stood since 1957. He also gave Ferrari its 6th consecutive constructor’s title.2005 was Michael’s worst season in 11 years. Although he was the leading runner on Bridgestones, the new tyre rule, which permitted no change of tyres during a race, made Ferrari uncompetitive in comparison to the Renaults and McLarens. Michael won only one race – at Indianapolis, where the Michelin shod runners, fearing that their tyres would not stand up to the demands of the circuit, pulled into the pits after the warm up lap. That victory ensured that Michael’s record of at least one win every year for 14 years - 1992 to 2005 - remained intact. In spite of having an uncompetitive car Michael managed to come 3rd in the world driver’s standings, far ahead of the nearest Bridgestone runner, his team mate Rubens Barichello, who managed only 8th place.

As a driver Michael has no known weakness, though some say that he has occasional lapses of concentration brought about by boredom when running alone at the head of a race! He is awesome in the rain and is rated along with the late Ayrton Senna as the best there has ever been. No other driver trains as hard and no driver has worked harder for the Ferrari team as Michael has. His relationship is exceptional and he is by far the most popular driver the Ferrari team has ever had. In spite of being the oldest driver currently in Formula One, he shows no signs of slowing down - it is still the younger drivers that have to match his pace.

Michael loves spending time with his wife Corinna and children Gina-Marie and Mick at their home in Switzerland, but his heart lies in motor racing for that is where he reigns. His supreme confidence in himself, his intelligence and natural racing brain, which he has honed to the highest degree, enables him to make split second changes while driving on the limit. He has great technical knowledge and his teams have always benefited from his input. He also knows when to push for it and when to ease off and conserve his tyres and his engine. His 84 wins and 69 fastest laps stand testimony to that. His love for racing in all its forms – he still goes karting for the fun of it – his motivation, dedication, incisiveness and determination are what sets him apart from the rest. So few drivers have been able to combine all these qualities.At 37 Michael Schumacher has no more worlds to conquer, at least not in Formula One. Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most: fastest laps (71), pole positions (66), podium appearances (148), race wins (86) and World Championships (7) among many other various records.If Michael stays on in F1 till end 2007 he will certainly overhaul Ricardo Patrese’s record of 256 race starts. He has a record 7 hat tricks of victories at the same venue, at – Catalunya 2001-2004, Imola 2002-2004, Indianapolis 2003-2005, Melbourne 2000-2002, Montreal 2002-2004, Spa 1995-1997 and Suzuka 2002-2004 as well as the maximum wins at any circuit – 7 each at Magny-Cours 1994-1995, 1997-1998, 2001-2002 and 2004 and Montreal 1994, 1997-1998, 2000, 2002-2004. He and his younger brother Ralf, who has won 6 races, are the only brothers who have won races in F1.The 2006 season saw Rubens Barrichello leaving Ferrari to be replaced by yet another Brazilian, the young Felipe Massa. The start has been good with Michael posting a record equaling pole position at the opening race at Bahrain. He led for much of the race distance and was beaten into 2nd place by Fernando Alonso, who managed to get ahead during the pit stops.At the next race in Malaysia, a problem with pistons required Ferrari to change his engine. Although he qualified 4th, he had to drop 10 places and start 14th on the grid. Michael made progress up the order and managed to come home in 7th place.

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The Legend called Pete Sampras

Pete Sampras was born to his Greek origin parents on August 12, 1971 in Washington D.C. He was 3rd son to his parents. In Pete’s early childhood, his parent’s noticed his passion for tennis. His father took him along with his sister to play tennis. Knowing Pete’s interest, his father appointed a coach who could help Pete improve his performance. It was a new beginning for the tennis legend. As a personality, Pete was very straightforward, sincere and candid on tennis court. Fans liked his direct, easygoing approach. In his career Pete was a kind of player who could handle any type of situation. Pete was very aggressive on tennis court. Solid serve and volley tactics were strength and the hallmark of Pete’s game. His determination to win every game had always been an inspiration and a motivating force among youth. Pete’s instincts and athleticism won him many fans as well as Grand Slam titles in his career. In1988, at the age of 16 Sampras began his career with a struggle for name and fame in the game of his interest. In a Grand Slam tournament, his first victory came at the US Open in 1990, when he defeated Andre Agassi, Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe among others to win. At the age of only 19 years and 28 days, Pete Sampras was the youngest tennis player ever to win the US Open Men's title. From then on, Pete made Centre Court his own and no one could stand in front of him. In his first three years at Wimbledon, Pete Sampras won only one match, losing twice in the first round and once in the second. But he never quit and after that he won Wimbledon title in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. In 1991 Pete won the IBM World Championship and in 1992 played in the team that won the Davis cup. Pete set a new ATP Tour record in 1993 when he became the first player to serve over 1000 aces in a season. In 1994 Pete won Australian Open. This made him first player to win three Grand Slam tournaments in a row in 25 years. He finished with the tour's ranking of "Number One" every year since 1993 and equalized the record of John McEnroe and Jimmy Conners. Pete displayed great staying power whenever he entered the court. That was a big part of his appeal.

In the 1992 Olympics, Pete reached the 3rd round of the singles competition. He won gold medal at the 1987 US in men's singles. Olympic Festival and USCO named Pete Athlete of the Month for July 1995. He nominated third in 1994 and 1995 in the USOC's voting for Athlete of the Year. He was remembered for his good all-round game and a strong competitive instinct. To the date Pete holds the record for the most wins in Grand Slam men's singles events, having won a total of 14 (7 Wimbledon, 5 US Open, and 2 Australian Open), from 1993 to 1998 Sampras led the world tennis rankings for six consecutive years. In his career Sampras was nearly invincible in the game on grass courts at Wimbledon and was uncomfortable on Clay court. Winning at clay courts was a big hurdle for him, his only real weakness was on clay court, where the slow surface tended to negate his natural attacking serve-and-volley game, and he never progressed beyond the semi-final stage at the French Open. His positive attitude during play and cautious handling of the press led critics to bemoan his lack of charisma, but his natural talent and work ethic meant that Sampras was always able to let his results speak for him. Now after Pete’s retirement from Tennis, the only thing missing from his resume is a victory on the French Open clay court. Even after retirement Pete realizes that without a victory on clay court, he might not be regarded as No. 1 all-time, no matter how many Grand Slam titles he has won. Sampras married on 30th September 2001 with American actress Bridgette Wilson. Sampras will always be remembered for several extraordinary skills like accurate and powerful first serve, a second serve just as powerful as his first, a running forehand (a forehand hit on the run) phenomenal net game, one-handed backhand. This legend had a very simple game strategy. When serving, he was a "serve-and-volleyer": served it hard, forcing a bad return, and then ran up to hit the ball on the volley for an easy putaway. When at the receiver’s end (the other player served the ball), he employed a "chip-and-charge" strategy: just chipped back the return and ran up to the net, waited for a volley. These strategies were best on "fast" surfaces like concrete and grass but were weak on "slow" surfaces like clay. As a result, he dominated Wimbledon and never won even a Single French Open Title.