Sonny Side of Sports

Big Up For Barney!

Here’s an end of year, Sonny Side of Sports salute for my VOA colleague Paul “Barney” Sisco, who produced my SSOS videos throughout 2010. Barney is a bulldog when it comes to finding video for use in the segments, and it certainly helps that he’s a big sports fan.

If you’ve watched any of my videos – there are a few of you out there, right? – Barney is the guy who tosses me the occasional basketball or soccer ball as I segue into a story on Kobe Bryant or the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Before age and injuries caught up with him, Barney was an avid runner who competed in some of the biggest marathons in the world, including the New York City Marathon.  Barney now enjoys watching his daughter dribble the ball up the court for her high school basketball team.

Happy New Year, Barney!  And Happy New Year to all our VOA blog readers.  Please send me your feedback and comments:  sonny@voanews.com

You can also leave me a voicemail that I might use on a future Sonny Side of Sports radio broadcast.  Dial 1-202-205-9942.  When you hear the VOA identification, press “60.”  And please include your name and where you are calling from.

Funniest Goal Celebration Of 2010

It was a momentous year in international football, with the first World Cup staged in South Africa and goals scored all over the globe. For my $.02, the funniest goal celebration of the year took place in Iceland.

Watch #10 in blue after he scores off a penalty shot. He proceeds to cast out his line, and then reel in a flopping teammate #4. For good measure, the Iceland soccer players even take a picture to capture the moment. Happy Holidays, sports fans!

African Footballer Of The Year Samuel Eto’o

Samuel Eto’o is now being described as the most decorated African football player of all time. During an awards ceremony in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, the 29-year-old Eto’o was crowned African Footballer of the Year for an unprecedented fourth time. The star striker for Inter Milan and “The Indomitable Lions” of Cameroon previously won the award in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

I think Eto’o is a deserving winner, based simply on his success with Inter Milan this year.  He helped the Italian power win the European Champions League title, Italy’s Serie A championship, the Italian Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.  In fact, Eto’o received the African Footballer of the Year award in Cairo only two days after being named the outstanding player at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Veteran soccer analyst Tommy Smyth describes Eto’o as the best pure striker in the game today, with a deadly finishing touch.  Eto’o admits this year’s World Cup in South Africa was a huge disappointment for him and “The Indomitable Lions” of Cameroon.  While Eto’o scored two goals in South Africa, Cameroon lost all three of its group matches and made a quick exit.  It was Eto’o’s third World Cup.  He’s also had much success at the biennial African Nations Cup, and is the all-time leading scorer at the tournament, with 18 goals.  Look for Samuel Eto’o to score more goals for Inter Milan and Cameroon in 2011.

A Sonny Side of Sports salute for Samuel Eto’o, the 2010 African Footballer of the Year.

Presidents Obama and Zuma Show Their Sporty Side

For the first time, I featured two incumbent Presidents in one of my video sports reports.  U.S. President Barack Obama, an avid basketball player and fan, recently honored the National Basketball Association champion Los Angeles Lakers.  President Obama gave special kudos to Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, and mentioned how Kobe even came to a special pick-up basketball game for Mr. Obama’s 49th birthday.

In Johannesburg, South African President Jacob Zuma talked about the legacy of the 2010 World Cup in his country, which marked the first time football’s premier event was staged in Africa.  His comments came at a news conference during which Sepp Blatter, the president of world football’s governing body FIFA, announced a $100 million World Cup Legacy Trust fund for the development of the game in South Africa.

Best U.S. Goal Of 2010: Landon Donovan

U.S. Soccer has named Landon Donovan’s game-winning strike against Algeria at the World Cup in South Africa as the Best Goal of 2010.  The U.S. national soccer team’s all-time leading scorer received the award after a vote by fans from 22 November to 10 December on ussoccer.com.  Check out Donovan’s big goal again:

“When you put it in the context of everything else and what it all meant there was a lot of relief and obviously a lot of excitement,” said Donovan.  “The image I have that will always last is turning my head, looking towards our bench and seeing a bunch of guys sprinting toward the corner. It was pure enjoyment and a really cool moment.”

Landon Donovan had a few more really cool moments in 2010.  He also participated in a series of popular video game commercials with Phoenix Suns basketball star Steve Nash.

Landon Donovan also traveled to Switzerland in early December, as a member of the USA’s 2022 World Cup bid committee.  That trip, though, did not end with the same jubilation as the World Cup victory over Algeria.  Even though the USA was considered a strong contender to win the hosting rights to soccer’s premier event, world football’s governing body, FIFA, awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

Hands On The Wheel, Emil!

My big sports trip this year took place in June and July when I made my first visit to South Africa to cover the World Cup football finals for the Voice of America.  In fact, it was probably the biggest sports trip I’ve made in my 22+ years at VOA, based on the historical significance of the event and because I broadcast to Africa.

I’ll remember the first football World Cup ever staged in Africa on a lot of different levels.

The atmosphere at the stadiums was fantastic, with almost a carnival feel at the venues.  I took this up close and personal photo of an American fan outside Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Sonny at Soccer City Stadium

Seeing former South African President Nelson Mandela on 11 July at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg was also a thrill.  There was a lot of doubt that Mr. Mandela would make an appearance because of his frail health, but he came out before the final between Spain and the Netherlands, waving to the cheering fans who rose out of their seats.

Emil Blows His Vuvuzela

My media seat that night was virtually at the top of the massive stadium, and it seemed like every fan was blowing a vuvuzela, the long plastic horn that provided the signature sound throughout football’s premier event.

My friend Emil also blew his vuvuzela a few times before I left South Africa.  Emil was my main taxi driver in Johannesburg, and we would debate that day’s matches and the teams that were playing well on our way to either Ellis Park or Soccer City.  Occasionally, though, Emil would get a bit carried away with his vuvuzela, and I’d have to remind him, “Hands on the wheel, Emil!”

Serge Ibaka Thunders Into NBA

The National Basketball Association tipped off its 2010-2011 season with a record 84 international players from 38 countries and territories.  The only player from Congo-Brazzaville is Serge Ibaka, a second-year power forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Ibaka was born in the capital, Brazzaville, one of 18 children in a very large basketball-playing family.  His father played for Congo-Brazzaville’s national basketball team, while his mother played for the national basketball team in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which produced eight-time NBA All-Star Dikembe Mutombo.

At six feet, 10 inches (2.08 meters), Ibaka isn’t quite as tall as Mutombo, but he has more quickness and offensive talent.  Check out this flying, one-handed dunk against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the announcer giving “Air Congo” his clearance to take off:

Through 22 games, Ibaka is averaging 10.5 points per game for the Thunder, and 6.5 rebounds.  That’s an improvement over his rookie season numbers of about six points and five rebounds a game.  Like Mutombo, Ibaka is also an excellent shot blocker.  He’s currently averaging more than two blocked shots each game, which puts him among the league leaders.

Last year, the 21-year-old Ibaka became the youngest player in NBA history to have seven blocks in a playoff game, and he did it against the Los Angeles Lakers, who wound up winning their second consecutive league title.

Ibaka says he will continue to work on improving his offensive skills.  I’m sure he’s getting a few tips from Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant, who is only a year older than Ibaka and who last year became the youngest scoring champion in NBA history.  With young talent like Durant and Ibaka, the Thunder could be storming their way to the top of the NBA very soon.

Agbara = Lateef “Power” Kayode

In the Yoruba language, the word for “power” is “agbara,” and, as my friend Nnamdi “Hollywood” Moweta likes to say, Lateef Kayode has raw, undiluted agbara.  So much agbara, in fact, his official nickname is “Power.”  The 27-year-old Nigerian prizefighter is one of the rising stars in the boxing world, and he showed off his agbara once again 3 December, knocking out American Ed “The Georgia Thumper” Perry in the sixth round of their cruiserweight fight in Santa Ynez, California.  Don’t you just love some of the nicknames in pro boxing?  “The Georgia Thumper” is the one who got thumped in this bout.  Kayode’s victory over Perry headlined a Showtime cable television boxing card in California.  Check out Kayode’s agbara in this Showtime promotional video.

 Lateef “Power” Kayode has now won his first 15 fights as a professional, and as a sure sign of that agbara, he’s scored 14 consecutive victories by knockout.  Kayode’s first 10 bouts were fought in the heavyweight division, the top class in boxing, with no upper weight limit.  But, Lateef told Nnamdi he found himself entering the ring against fighters who outweighed him by 40 to 50 pounds.  Lateef’s handlers urged him to move down to the cruiserweight division, where the weight limit is 200 pounds / 90.7 kilograms.

One of Kayode’s handlers is Freddie Roach, the Hall of Fame trainer who also guides Filipino star Manny “The PacMan” Pacquiao.  Roach has been working with Kayode for about two years, and he says it’s only a matter of time before the Nigerian achieves breakout stardom as a world champion.  In Roach’s words, “Lateef has been blessed with a natural gift of power.”

Some Magic On World AIDS Day

It seems hard to believe that it’s been nearly 20 years since Hall of Fame basketball player Earvin “Magic” Johnson announced he had the virus that causes AIDS.

I remember being in the VOA Newsroom when Magic was about to make his announcement on 7 November 1991.  There was so much uncertainty surrounding the Lakers star.  And, after the announcement, I wondered, like a lot of people, how much longer Magic would live.  During his public announcement, Magic said he would dedicate his life to battling the deadly disease.

On World AIDS Day, Magic Johnson seems as vibrant as ever.  His Magic Johnson Foundation promotes AIDS testing and works to give minority communities better access to treatment.

During an appearance earlier this week in Los Angeles, Magic said a lot has changed over the past two decades in how people with AIDS are treated and perceived, and how he himself is viewed by others.  “I haven’t played in 15 to 20 years,” said Magic, “and now when people come up to me it’s never about basketball.  I guess I’ve turned the page on another chapter in my life.”

The book on Magic Johnson is now much about the fight against AIDS, and it’s one I’ll continue to read in the years ahead.