SPORT REVIEW 2011:2011 saw the passing of some charismatic sporting legends, but they left behind incredible memories and many adrenaline-rushing moments
WHO KNOWS for sure what supplies the sporting gene that makes greatness? Those men and women who found glory and inspired others through their deeds: on the golf course, in the ring, on the playing field, in the show ring. Wherever sports people gathered to compete, it was they who invariably enthralled those fortunate to be there in the flesh, or through the medium of newspapers, magazines, television and radio.
In 2011, some of those legendary sports men and women who lived for the adrenaline rush of performing to the optimum left this earth. And, with each of their passing, they left us with memories of their excellence in their chosen fields.
Nobody illuminated golf in Europe like Seve Ballesteros, the charismatic Spaniard who died after a long illness with brain cancer in May. He was 54. Ballesteros was a winner of five Majors – three British Opens and two US Masters – and, in a partnership with Jose Maria Olazabal which became known as the “Spanish Armada”, his participation in the Ryder Cup transformed that particular competition into one of sport’s great showpieces.
The affinity with Ireland was long and enduring. Just as his flamboyant shots from the unlikeliest places enthralled golf fans around Europe, the Spaniard endeared himself to Irish hearts in the manner in which he treated the Irish Open as second in importance only to the British Open in Europe.
Ballesteros won three Irish Opens, the first coming at Royal Dublin in 1983, where he compiled rounds of 67-67-70-67 for a 271 total, which left him two shots clear of runner-up Brian Barnes with Nick Faldo and Brian Marchbank five shots adrift.
His second win over the Royal Dublin links was far more dramatic, as huge galleries lined the famous 18th hole, known as “The Garden”, to watch Ballesteros duel with Bernhard Langer. Ballesteros shot rounds of 70-69-73-66 for a 278 total, which left him level with Langer after 72 holes. Langer shot a final round 63 to get into the play-off, but it was Ballesteros, using his putter like a magic wand, who sank a 45-footer for birdie on the first play-off hole to claim the title.
Ballesteros’s reaction to holing that putt was to engage in a series of fist pumps akin to a boxer belting a punch bag, with gardaí then rushing onto the green to protect him from the crowds who had taken the Spaniard to their hearts as one of their own. His third Irish Open title came at Portmnarnock in 1986 – one of six tournament wins that season as he topped the European Tour money list for a fourth time – where he shot rounds of 70-69-73-66 for a 285 total which left him two strokes clear of runners-up Rodger Davis and Mark McNulty.
Boxing lost one of its favourite sons in November, with the death for former world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier at the age of 67 from liver cancer. Although destined to remain in the shadow of his nemesis Muhammad Ali – who twice beat him in the most memorable trilogy of fights the sport has ever produced – Frazier was a crowd-pleasing fighter whose relentless attack included one of the most savage left hooks in boxing. “I like to hit guys and see their knees tremble,” remarked Frazier, who, at 5ft 11ins generally conceded height advantage to opponents.
Another heavyweight fighter to depart this life was Henry Cooper, who died in May aged 76. Born in London, Cooper was the only man ever to win three Lonsdale belts – each awarded for three successful defences of the British heavyweight title he held for 12 years – but his most celebrated fight took place in June 1963 when he faced Cassius Clay, who had yet to be crowned world champion. At the end of the fourth round, Cooper caught his opponent with his celebrated left hook and became the first man ever to knock down Clay. Clay eventually won the fight and returned three years later as Muhammad Ali – as world champion – and again stopped Cooper in a title fight.
The world of football lost one of its most gifted players with the death in December of Socrates at the age of 57 with an intestinal infection.
The star of the 1982 World Cup finals, Socrates played 60 times for Brazil and scored 22 goals. Although he didn’t win the World Cup, Socrates’ skill and unwavering commitment to “the beautiful game” marked him out as one of the greatest players of his generation.
Gary Speed, the Welsh national team manager, also died in December aged 42. A gifted midfielder, Speed was the second most capped player for Wales but the high point of his career was an eight-year spell with Leeds United including a key role in the team’s First Division title success.
In horse racing, Ginger McCain, the trainer of Red Rum, died in September at the age of 80. The popular English trainer won three Grand Nationals at Aintree with Red Rum and, then, more than a quarter of a century later, took the race for a fourth time with Amberleigh House.
One of Ireland’s finest show-jumpers, Iris Kellett, passed away in March at the age of 85. Having made her international breakthrough as a 22-year-old when winning the Princess Elizabeth Cup at the White City in London in 1948, Kellett became one of the world’s top professional riders. The pinnacle of her career came in 1969 when she won the Championship of Europe in Dublin. Originally from Dublin, she established a world-famous training school at Kill, Co Kildare, and numbered Eddie Macken among her pupils.
Gaelic games saw the passing of Peter McDermott, who was affectionately known as “The Man With The Cap”. He was an All-Ireland winner with Meath, an All-Ireland referee and a pioneer of the International Rules. Martin White, an All-Ireland hurling winner with Kilkenny and the last survivor of the great three-match epic with Cork, which is said to have made hurling a mass spectator sport, passed away at the age of 102. In December, Dr Jim Brosnan, a hugely influential Kerry All-Ireland winner in 1953, ‘55 and ‘59 and a past chairman of the Kerry Co Board, passed away.
