Usain Bolt
Yes, 2008 was also a great year for Jamaican sprinter and arguably, world's greatest athlete, Usain Bolt. He went to Beijing and just hapened to win three gold medals, the first man to ever win three gold medals in three sprinting events in one Olympics - but, just for good measure he set two world records in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and was a part of a third, running the anchor leg of the victorious 4 X 100 meter relay.
As good of a year 2008 was for the laid-back Jamaican, who didn't beat his competitors so much as destroy them (he reaches speeds in the sprints of about 30 mph), 2009 proved even better as he lowered his world records in the 100 and 200, even further. In fact, if he was not as dominant as he is (he has a tendancy to pull up prior to the finish in order to begin the celebration early - as much as 20 meters before the finish too early), he could challenge the un-thinkable mark of breaking, yes breaking, a nine-second 100 meters. He's only a hal-second away, which, granted, is forever in sprinting terms.
Physiologists and other scientists have been dispatched to answer the question, now being begged, what is the fastest a human could run a 100 meters? The results have varied, but, one thing seems certain: it's as fast as Bolt can run it. Some put it at around 9.3 to 9.4 seconds.
Now, we've all been disappointed before, and, of course, when any human dominates the way Bolt has, the whispers of steroids or other enhnacers invariably pops-up. After all, cheaters, it seems, always seem to be one step of those doing the testing. Bolt has, of course, denounced such talk and denied taking anything that would enhance his performance, going so far as to say what a disgrace it would be to do such a thing. He goes on to mention a previous Jamaican sprinter, caught cheating, who fell into such disrepute and shame after being caught, as to have to move-off the island and take up residency elsewhere. Such is the wrath of the Jamiacan community for any one of their people caught chea,ting. At any rate, so far so good. He's been tested and tested and tested and there has never been a problem. And we hope there never will be.
He's got the charisma to be a superstar on the world stage, not just in his home country - and then there's the name - Usain Bolt - the modifications to personify his athletic achievements seem endless. Of course there's Usain "Lightning" Bolt, which is the most popular and seems almost too easy, but then there's my favorite - "Insane" Bolt - because that's what it is every time this guy runs.
He's so good, that on top of all of it he has crossed-over into the pop-culture world with TIME Magazine naming him a runner-up for TIME's Man-of-the-Year in 2009. And that's in the entire world and from any any field, not just athletics (which is what the rest of world outside of the U.S calls Track and Field). In any event, the sky is the limit for Bolt, and he needs to take advantage of it, for the life span of a sprinter to run at his peak is short. By London in 2012 he will be only in his mid-twenties, so, barring injury, we should see him again in an Olympics. The question will be, could he possibly be approaching an 8.99 hundred meters by that point?
Runner-Up: Derek Jeter
Seriously, who's had a better year than Derek Jeter? Sports Ilustrated's Sportsman-of-the-Year (the first Yankee ever to win that honor), a top three finish for major league baseball's MVP award, another World Series championship (that's #5 for Jeter at this point, and still counting), and he just also happened to pass a guy named Lou Gehrig for the leader in all-time base hits as a Yankee. That's more than Ruth, more than DiMaggio, more than Mantle, more than Berra. The names he has passed seems like saying that Achilles, back in ancient Greece, just passed Zeus, Apollo and Posieden on the all-time greatest powers list.
He's the Iceman, coming through in clutch situations over and over again. Who can forget his game-saving flip against the A's in Oakland back in the 2001 play-off's? Who will ever forget his reckless abandon as he ran, full-bore after a pop-fly in a tight regular season game against the Red Sox in Yankee Stadium, culminating with him crashing, at full speed, into the stands, flying head-over heels into the second row, but holding onto the ball to make the out in a game where he had to come out, but in which the Yankees ultimately prevailed. Or his annoiting as "Mr. November" after his 12:01 homer, also in 2001, in extra-innings to win the game for the Yankees in the Series at home against the Diamondbacks?
Yes, 2009 turned out to be a year to celebrate all things Jeter, and to look forward to what could be. 3000 hits seems in the bag next year, and he'll be the first to do so as a Yankee. Pete Rose's 4000+ all-time hits mark seems duable if he stays healthy and has the desire to chase it down. And, as for more World Championships? Well, every year the Yanks break Spring Training down in Tampa, they head north with the same goal: to win it all, otherwise the year's been a failure. So, that said, we'd expect at least a few more before Jeter's said and done, and this, most respected of all sportsmen (you'd be hard pressed to find anyone with a bad word to say abut him, and you'd never hear his professionalism questioned) hang's it up.
And, when it's over, his next stop, on a sure first ballot, will be Cooperstown, to take his rightful place among the other Yankee immortals. Now, Jeter would be the first to say, he's got a lot to do before any of that is going to take place.
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2010 America's Cup
Coming in February 2010! Follow the developments with us, as the U.S.A. Challenger joins the battle to bring the Cup back to the States from the Defender.
2007 America's Cup; Valencia, Spain:
2010 America's Cup Defender: Société Nautique de Genève:
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Alpine Ascents: Satisfy Your Inner Need to Explorei
Job not enough? Something missing? Done the 'Weekend Warrior' thing and the beer league softball thing and you are left unsatisfied? Need more from life or at the vewry least, one grand adventure? Than look no further: Ever consider mountaineering? Yes, climbing a mountain, but not just any mountain, but rather, one worthy of deeming your final ascent a true summit, rather than just your ordinary making it to the top. Alpine Ascents (www.alpineascents.com) can get you there and make it happen. Sounds exciting to us. Everyone should "summit" at least once in their lives. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Glamour of Formula 1 Racing Comes to Life 
GPTours Want an unforgetable experience that will combine the best elements of travel adn the Sporting Life? Try GP Tours at www.gptours.com for packages to virtually any formula Formula One Grand Prix race event around the globe. Nothing like feeling like a Jet-Setter to give one a sense of confidence.
To find out more about Formula 1, go to www.f1.com and watch 2010 races on SPEEDtv. Check local listings for channel, dates, and times
TOP NEWS:
Michael Schumaker to return to Formula 1 for 2010 campaign! Former World Champion ends three-year retirement to join Mercedes Team
Alonso goes to Ferrari. Already makes appearance at McLaren's year-end party despite still being under contract to Renault until Jan.1
Click hereWorld Champion Jenson Button joins Louis Hamilton at McLaren, making it a team of the last two World Champions. But, who's number one?
USF1 begins operations in Charlotte, NC, with an eye towards testing in 2010, will use English Cosworth engines
2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen to take a break in 2010; will not race. Is this the end for "The Iceman?" Raikkonen says 'no.'
Mercedes buys 2009 world championship team Brawn GP. Will still hold 40% of the McLaren team, but McLaren will re-acquire that interest in 2 yrs.
www.f1.com
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