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| 28 Dec 2002 |
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Sportsman of the Year On Saturday June 8th 2002 Lennox Lewis turned in the boxing performance of the year, and perhaps the best heavyweight performance of the last 5 years. For just as he had done against David Tua 18 months before, Lewis cut through all the hype and concentrated on giving his "hardman" opponent - and the rest of the world - a lesson in boxing. This was an immaculate performance from Lewis, who had Tyson on the end of his jab for the whole 8 rounds. In fact as early as Round 4 the whole thing began to look almost a mismatch, with Lewis totally dominating the challenger with his persistent jabs and big rights. By the end, it wasn't pretty. Tyson was in trouble with both eyes, and his face was a mess; and by the time he was finally counted out in the 8th, he had taken 193 punches in 23 minutes (Lewis had taken only 49, and not many good ones). Lewis had beaten him up. Of Iron Mike, at least it can be said that he's still tough: I remember some crashing rights that would have put paid to a lot of other heavyweights, and Lewis himself admitted afterwards to being shocked that Tyson was still in the game at all after some of the punches that he (Lewis) had landed. But the night was Lewis's. He is now indisputably the best heavyweight on the planet, and if even American commentators (a notoriously partisan crew) now admit he's a great, then be assured that he is. British sportsman of the year. Without a doubt. |
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Deaths Last Year 2002 saw the deaths of two senior members of the Royal Family. In February Princess Margaret died at the age of 71, and 7 weeks later the Queen Mother died at the age of 101. Among the entertainers and broadcasters who didn't make it were:
Here's a bit of Richard Harris for you: Paper Chase, the B-side of Harris's 1970 hit MacArthur Park. You'll need the free software RealOne Player to hear it, but be careful to click on the link that says Free Realone Player (they'll try to guide you towards a free trial of an expensive version) and then make sure you download the free, basic version rather than the Turbo they want to sell you. Click here to hear "Paper Chase".
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And finally... Letter of the year comes from Mr Tony Killeen of Bristol. Writing in The Times in October, he said:
Thanks, Tony. But whatever their faults I've got to point out they've got a very nice seasonal animation on their website. It's like you're looking out of a train window, and it's very good. In fact the only thing a wee bit unrealistic is that the train's moving. |
| ART AWARD |
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I've got to admit
to having a thing about Tracey Emin. I think she is an
incredibly sexy
woman - and according to her work Everyone I Have Ever Slept With
1963-1994, there are at least another 102 men who would agree
with me. She must get this year's award for cheek: asked to design a Christmas tree for Tate Britain, she bought a tree, sent it to charity The Lighthouse Trust, and installed in the Tate a canvas inviting people to contribute £10 to the charity, the £10 to include a raffle ticket for one of her works. And you thought you worked hard for a living? |
| RUSSIAN NEWS |
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 Nice one
this week from Vladimir Putin. When the
President of Russia speaks, then minor officials jump.On a radio phone-in, 11-year-old Natasha Bogoryova told Mr Putin that the Birobidzhan council had put up a tacky, artificial New Year tree instead of a real one. The President was not impressed, and suggested that the Regional Governor might reconsider the decision. Surprise, surprise. Next day, local officials ordered that a 22-metre fir be flown into the town by transport helicopter and raised in the centre of the city. In Russia, memories run deep of gulags and salt mines for incompetent officials! |
 Happy
New Year to the Moscow Police, who have announced that over
the New Year they will not be throwing vodka casualties into the
cells, but instead will be taking the altogether more sensible step of taking them home. Nice to read of a
police force which aims to serve the people rather than just
intimidate them. |
| THE BRITISH POLICE |
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 Used
to be that you'd read articles about the Soviet Police and their
rewards for informers. Well we're learning fast, with £500
being offered to shop suspected drink-drivers, and the awful
Commander Cressida Dick asking the public to report anyone using
language which might offend people's religious beliefs (including
the beliefs of latter-day Pharisees, presumably. What
would the reward be - 30 pieces of silver?).Let's suppose, then, that the message is heeded, and no-one drives with so much as a wine-gum in them. Will that please the Police? Not according to a spokesman for the Surrey force, as he announced a drop in people caught for drink-driving: One downside to this is that there are likely to be more pedestrians on the street having consumed alcohol. Wouldn't you just love to stick this guy's head down the nearest bog? |
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| ARACHNOWOTSIT |
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Even worse is a recent proliferation of Eccentric Spider Experts. On a species of jumping spider that has been discovered in London, Michael Milner of the Natural History Museum said: They are very friendly, very inquisitive creatures. They tilt over and look at you. And you're meant to think that's cute? God help us all. Think I'll emigrate to Murmansk. Friendly police, no continental spiders... |
Hate
to end the year on such a note, but apparently the warmer weather
we're getting is allowing some continental spiders and other
creatures to live in more northerly parts of Europe.