Hailing heroes and nailing villains
By Don Riddell, CNN World Sport
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Wilkinson kicked England to victory at the Rugby World Cup.
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LONDON, England -- As another year rolls towards a close, it's time to hail the heroes and nail the villains who made the sporting headlines in 2003.
Heroes
Jonny Wilkinson He might not like it, but every team needs a hero and the fact that he booted over the winning drop goal in the Rugby World Cup final means he's that man. Wilkinson seems somewhat embarrassed by the all the fuss, acknowledging his teammates part in the triumph. But his modesty only enhances his role model status.
Lance Armstrong They made it pretty hard for 'Big Tex' as he went in search of victory number five in the Tour de France. Armstrong was involved in a pile-up on the first stage, forced to ride across a farmer's field and was snared by the handles of a spectator's shopping bag. But he rose above it all to secure his narrowest, but best win so far. And let's not forget the efforts of his former teammate Tyler Hamilton, who rode the entire race with a broken collarbone, finishing an amazing fourth.
Alex Zanardi A hero in every sense of the word, Zanardi lost both legs in a horrific CART accident in Germany two years ago. But in 2003 he ended the nightmare, bravely returning to the track and completing the remaining laps of the race he never finished. With the aid of artificial limbs, Zanardi will race again in touring cars next season.
Annika Sorenstam The Swede became the talk of the sports world when she agreed to take on the men at The Colonial in May. OK, she didn't make the cut, but she proved that she could compete in the male game, and made that point again later in the year when she beat Phil Mickleson and Mark O'Meara in the Skins game in California. Rarely can any golfer have played amid so much pressure and scrutiny as she did in Fort Worth, Texas. Oh, and she also won two more majors, led Europe to victory in the Solheim cup and was inducted into golf's hall of fame.
The whistleblower Sorry I can't provide you with a name here, but the actions of an anonymous athletics coach soon resulted in the naming and shaming of several athletes, including the European sprint champion Dwain Chambers. The drug testers couldn't believe their luck when they opened a package with a syringe full of what we now know as THG. But sadly, it's only gone to show how far behind they are in identifying illegal substances.
Villains
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Warne: Banned for taking a slimming pill.
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Shane Warne As it turns out, Australia didn't need him at the Cricket World Cup in South Africa, but the tournament was robbed of one of the game's greatest talents. Warney's soap-opera lifestyle was almost destined to incorporate a drugs ban at some point, but this one -- for taking a banned diuretic -- spectacularly blew up on the eve of Australia's first game against Pakistan.
Rush Limbaugh ESPN's analyst walked into a landmine when he accused the media of over-rating the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb because he was black. His comments cost him his job, but many fans within the game agreed with him.
Rio Ferdinand The Manchester United and England defender was banned for eight months for failing to provide a drugs test in September. Under the strict application of the rules, he could have been banned for two years. He claims he simply 'forgot' ... do me a favor. When you're a role model to millions and paid thousands of dollars a week, what do you expect for failing to live up to one of your few responsibilities?
Steve Bartman You had to feel sorry for Bartman who became public enemy number one in Chicago for indirectly costing the Cubs victory over the Florida Marlins, and ultimately a place in the World Series. Bartman's attempt to catch a foul ball prevented Moises Alou from snagging it in game six of the National League Championship Series. The Marlins rallied from 3-0 down, went on to win game 7, and then the World Series itself. But you could argue that the Cubs were destined to lose anyway, they were one of three teams bitten by infamous baseball curses in 2003.
Roman Abramovich The Russian billionaire is undoubtedly a hero at Chelsea, but his arrival in British football couldn't have come at a worse time for the game. After years of spiraling costs, and staggering wage demands, things were returning to normal. Then came Abramovich, and in the new climate chairmen began fattening up the price tags.
Don Riddell presents World Sport on CNN International at 0930 GMT, 1230 GMT, 1430 GMT, and 2130 GMT daily (also 0030 GMT at weekends and daily in Asia.)
