Sonny Side of Sports

Rudisha Tops In 2010

It’s been a great year for David Rudisha, Kenya’s first ever winner of the IAAF Male World Athlete of the Year award.  During a memorable one week span in August, the Kenyan twice broke the world record for 800 meters.  In Germany on 22 August, Rudisha clocked 1:41.09.  And in Italy on 29 August, the young star lowered it to 1:41.01.  Check out Rudisha’s world record run in this YouTube video.

The 21-year-old Rudisha is the youngest winner of the IAAF award, and his performances in 2010 promise he’ll be taking home more honors in the years to come.  He was unbeaten in 12 finals this year, and he successfully defended his African title in front of friendly fans in Nairobi.

Rudisha is already thinking about breaking the 800-meter world record again in 2011, but he realizes it will not be easy.  “Next year, I know it’s going to be tough,” says Rudisha, “because the biggest problem is to maintain the same level and since next year we have the world championship (in Daegu, South Korea) – that will be my main focus.  At the same time, I also want to run faster than that, so it is the biggest challenge.”

With the IAAF World Championships in 2011, and the London Olympics in 2012, look for David Rudisha to bring more glory to Kenya, which has perhaps the proudest tradition of any country in middle and long-distance footraces.

World Cup Music & Songs In The Key of Vuvuzela

I recently hosted a World Cup music show that featured artists from Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa and Colombia.  Colombian pop star Shakira had the official FIFA World Cup song with her big hit, “Waka Waka” (This Time For Africa).

Shakira’s tune provided plenty of spirited debate in my office. Some of my colleagues loved it, and some hated it. Before the World Cup even kicked off on 11 June, many South Africans also voiced their opinions about the song. South Africa has a very proud musical tradition, and some South Africans felt a South African singer should have the official World Cup song. When it comes to “official,” though, and a huge sporting event like the World Cup, the lines blur quickly. Coca Cola’s official World Cup song was “Wavin’ Flag” by Somalia-born singer K’Naan.

Thirty-two national football teams waved their flags high at this year’s World Cup in South Africa, and I heard K’naan’s “Wavin’ Flag” both inside and outside the World Cup stadiums.  I also heard the vuvuzela, the long plastic horn that provided the signature sound at this year’s World Cup, and which also featured in my special World Cup music show.  Check out these vuvuzela performers in Cape Town:

I loved the music that surrounded and spiced up this year’s World Cup, and I believe it will go down as one of the most musically memorable World Cups in history. I mean c’mon, who remembers the music at Germany 2006?

More Madiba Magic

World Cup Fan

I was in Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg for the World Cup final 11 July between Spain and the Netherlands.  More than 84,000 fans were in attendance that night, and it seemed like every one of them was blowing a vuvuzela.  I wouldn’t say the match itself, though, was much to toot your horn over.  It was a foul-plagued affair, with the Spaniards finally prevailing, 1-0, on an extra time goal by Andres Iniesta in the 116th minute.

Nelson Mandela

Some of the loudest cheers in the stadium that night took place before the game even kicked off, and they were for the man affectionately known as “Madiba.”  Former South African President Nelson Mandela made a brief appearance, waving to the big crowd from a motorized golf cart.  It was a chilly evening in Johannesburg, and Mr. Mandela, who wore a winter coat, was quickly escorted from the stadium.

A week after the World Cup final, Mr. Mandela celebrated his 92nd birthday, and now, more than four months after football’s biggest event, the former South African President continues to show his passion for soccer, the world’s most popular sport.

Photo Credit: Debbie Yazbek/Nelson Mandela Foundation

The South African icon met this week with the national football teams from the United States and South Africa, who played in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge match in Cape Town.  For USA coach Bob Bradley (seated to the right of Mr. Mandela in photo on left) and the youthful American squad, it was clearly a magical experience to meet “Madiba.”

“Mr. Mandela is one of the most significant and inspirational leaders of our time,” said Coach Bradley, “and to meet him personally is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

SSOS Salute For Perpetua Nkwocha

Perpetua Nkwocha, Photo Credit: MTN/CAF AWARDS Octagon SA © Rajesh Jantilal

Here’s a Sonny Side of Sports salute for Perpetua Nkwocha, the 34-year-old Nigerian striker who scored a record 11 goals at the recent African Women’s Football Championship in South Africa.  In the process, Nkwocha led “The Super Falcons” of Nigeria to another African title, and she broke her own record of nine overall goals during the tournament, set at the 2004 African Women’s Football Championship, which also was held in South Africa.

At the beginning stages of the most recent women’s competition in South Africa, Perpetua told reporter Mark Ouma that she wanted to “get back to her goal scoring,” after a disappointing showing at the 2008 African Championship. 

During that tournament, for the first time ever, Nigeria was not crowned champion, with host Equatorial Guinea taking top honors.  So, it was sweet revenge for Nkwocha and “The Super Falcons” to beat Equatorial Guinea, 4-2, in the final of the 7th African Women’s Football Championship.

When not playing for the Nigerian national team, Nkwocha is based in Sweden with the club Sunnana SK.  I know she’s hoping to score a few more goals at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.  This is the sixth time the Nigerian women have qualified for their sport’s premier event, and they’ll be joined in Germany by Equatorial Guinea, which will be making its debut at a Women’s World Cup.

Howard University Sports Chat

I rode Metro a few stops over to Howard University this afternoon.  My friend and former VOA colleague, “Uncle Ted” Roberts, invited me to speak to some of his students in Howard’s School of Communications.  Ted is a longtime Howard professor who last year retired from the Voice of America after a long and successful stint as one of VOA’s most popular on-air show hosts.

Uncle Ted” always encourages his students to ask questions, and one young man — all of the students were born after 1988, when I started at VOA! — asked me about some of the big advancements I’ve witnessed in newsroom technology over the past two decades.

One development I mentioned was filing text and audio by computer.  When I began at VOA, a lot of our reporters were still filing their audio over the phone, and in regards to the text of their reports, one of my jobs as an entry level News Assistant – sort of the equivalent of a newspaper copy boy – was to transcribe their recorded audio.  Looking back, I learned a lot from those transcription sessions, with reports coming in from all over the world.

The students also asked me about some of my international sports trips.  I told them I enjoyed my first trip to South Africa this year for coverage of the first football World Cup on African soil.  And on that note, I told the students if they can find a media job they really enjoy, stick with it, because the hours in their work day will go by a lot faster.  And I left them with some inspirational words from Hall of Fame boxing trainer Angelo Dundee.  When I asked Angelo why he was still training fighters when he could have retired years ago, he responded, “Because I’m still getting kicks.”

You can leave voicemail for me at 1.202.205.9942.  When you hear the VOA identification, press 60.  And send me your email feedback at sonny@voanews.com

The Truth: Paul Pierce Reaches 20,000 Career Points

Paul Pierce says five years ago, he never would have dreamed of scoring 20,000 career points in a Boston Celtics uniform.  Pierce describes himself as a disgruntled player back then, as the proud National Basketball Association franchise suffered through a rebuilding phase.

The 2006-07 season was especially tough on Pierce and the Celtics, winners of a record 17 NBA titles.  Pierce was hobbled much of the season with a foot injury, and the Celtics limped their way to a record of 24-58, one of the worst seasons in club history.

Pierce persevered, though, and the eight-time NBA All-Star expressed delight when the Celtics acquired fellow All-Stars Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.  In 2008, the Celtics once again won the NBA title, and Pierce was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.

During his 12 years in the NBA, Pierce has hit some of his biggest points when the game was on the line, helping him to earn the title of Boston captain, and the nickname of “The Truth.”  Pierce reached the 20,000 points milestone by excelling once again when the game was on the line.  He scored 12 of his 28 points in overtime in a 105-102 Celtics victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.  What more can I say?  That’s the TRUTH.

Sing It Loud, Manny!

He’s best known as a boxer, but Manny Pacquiao is also an actor, politician and singer.  Oh yeah, the Filipino star loves to sing, and after his fights, he’s been known to check out a local nightclub, get up on stage, and belt out a few tunes.  Pacquiao titled his 2007 album “Pac-Man Punch,” a nod to his nickname and his often devastating power in the ring.

The PacMan is probably the most popular fighter in the world today, and he’ll be back in the ring 13 November when he takes on Mexico’s Antonio Margarito in a super welterweight title bout at Cowboys Stadium near Dallas, Texas.

But, as I mentioned, the PacMan loves to sing.  He took a break from his training for Margarito to sing a duet with American actor Will Ferrell on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! television show.  Imagine that.