By David Wiseman
December 9th 2008 @ 2:52am
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The top ten worst sporting performers of 2008
Originally, I took a look at those for whom 2008 was a good year. Now it’s the turn of those who didn’t have the best of years in 2008.
Barry Hall
Barry’s reputation plummeted as quickly as Brent Staker did. He went from poster boy of the league to poster boy for yesterday’s hero. He was rubbed out twice for a total of eight matches and he only managed 41 goals for the year. On his return, he seemed to be confused and rattled like the Australians were at Perth after the Sydney Test.
Andrew Symonds
Speaking of the Sydney Test, Andrew Symonds was right in the middle of it. For a guy who doesn’t like the limelight, Symonds couldn’t find a way to steer clear of the headlines. There was the fallout from the Sydney Test followed by the tribunal hearing. He then found himself on the outer with his teammates when he “went fishing”. The upcoming South African series looks like it will make or break his career.
Alan Lewis
The insurance broker from Cork took over the Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong and the Wallaby’s Test match in Cardiff. He showcased all that is horribly wrong with rugby officiating as he became the star of the show.
Tom Brady
Over the course of 2008, Brady lost not just the Superbowl but the quest for an undefeated season. He then did his knee in the opening quarter of the next season.
Craig Bellamy
The coaching guru couldn’t get either the Melbourne Storm or NSW home. For someone who has set very high standards, this felt like disappointment.
John Terry
He slipped from the penalty spot with the Champions League trophy on the line in a miss which is worth hundreds of millions.
Nick D’Arcy
The swimmer lost his ticket to Beijing and instead found himself in on and off court cases.
Lleyton Hewitt
Could be the beginning of the end for Rusty. It’s the first year he hasn’t won a title and he couldn’t get past the fourth round of a Major. He might only 27, but in tennis terms is he over the hill?
Peter Cech
The Czech goalkeeper didn’t have the best of luck in 2008. He was on duty when Chelsea lost the Champions League final on a penalty shootout. A few weeks later he was responsible for some horrible blunders which saw the Czech Republic eliminated from the Euro 2008.
Greg Bird
With respect to Todd Carney, Alan Didak, Matt Henjak and all the other bad boys, Greg Bird looks to have fallen the farthest. He played for Australia in 2007 and NSW in 2008, and unless something drastic happens, he is unlikely to play representative football again, let alone club football. A loose cannon, it looks like his time is up.
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(7)
LK said | December 9th 2008 @ 7:02am | Report comment
What?? No SBW!?! Got injured, spat the dummy, sold his soul, got injured again….
Paul D said | December 9th 2008 @ 10:29am | Report comment
An interesting list, difficult to contain to 10 this year.
As to your number three loser of 2008, I thought I heard a news report on the radio last week in Sydney that Alan Lewis was to be dropped by the IRB for his performances in Hong Kong and Wales this year. I cannot find any reporting in the press about this.
I did find a website refering to his refereeing standards in the English Club competition in January this year (see http://www.bbc.co.uk), I think Osprey versus Gloucester, that seemed to support the wider view that he is inconsistent in his rulings, even in club rugby.
Hopefully 2008 is the last we will see of him.
Spiro Zavos said | December 9th 2008 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Ricky Stuart’s loss of cool after the Kangaroos World Cup defeat and the defeat itself in the final to the Kiwis has to be leading the pack as the worst performance of 2008.
Adrian Musolino said | December 9th 2008 @ 4:08pm | Report comment
Good list. In the world of motorsport the most disappointing performance came from 2007 F1 world champ Kimi Raikkonen who was overshadowed by teammate Felipe Massa. His title defense never really hit top gear.
Phil Coorey said | December 10th 2008 @ 8:21am | Report comment
Did you watch the Superbowl? It was not Brady who played bad – check out the lack of help he had in front of him and the 4th quarter touchdown he orchestrated was excellent as well.
Half that list is tabloids fodder as well – I was expecting that kind of a list from Alpha.
Let’s have a look at these instead
Adam Scott (again in the majors)
Europe Ryder Cup Team
New York Yankees (missed the playoffs with the highest payroll in baseball – over 200 million)
South Sydneys start to the season
North Qld Cowboys
Brett Lee in India
Hope I don’t seem snarky – I might be reading the ehadline wrong…
David Wiseman said | December 10th 2008 @ 7:01pm | Report comment
LK – SBW may have had a bad year on field but he’s laughing all the way to the bank.
Paul D – Don’t be surprised if does the next World Cup final.
Spiro – Some would say that Stuart was in a no-win situation which he himself alluded to during the tournament. He also had a decent year with the Sharks.
Adrian – Good point.
Phil – Re Brady obviously he played well while he was on the field but I was making the point that he started the year trying to take his team to 19-0 and finished the year on crutches. Re the European Ryder Cup side – they typically don’t do that well away from home – maybe Nick Faldo is a more apt nominee?
Phil Coorey said | December 11th 2008 @ 8:41am | Report comment
David – the last Ryder Cup that the Euro’s lost in the USA was 1999, I thought for the over whelming favourites that they were that they were rubbish. Faldo as captain was a masterstroke – for the Americans.
re: Brady – They were two different seasons as well – but I see your point