History in the making

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History in the making

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This weekend sports fans are in for a treat, Celtics Vs Lakers, Big Brown tackling the Triple Crown, Nadal Vs Federer on the clay of Roland Garros and the start of Euro 2008, if that’s your cup of tea.

Wow, seems I’ve misspoken, the term a "treat" is a gross understatement. This weekend will be a historic desert buffet complete with fritters, shortbread, and an almost overwhelming variety of ice-cream.

The historical nature of the Celtics, Lakers in the NBA finals is about as deep as any rivalry in sports and needs absolutely no explanation or "sports guy" sell job to be exciting. It’s Kobe Bryant and Zen Master Phil Jackson against the three headed monster of K.G., Paul Peirce and Ray Allen but really if you understand the significance of this bedrock match-up no amount of name dropping is necessary, you will tune in.

Big Brown, Triple Crown

If you’ve been in a box since the first weekend in May or if you simply find the sport of horseracing a barbaric exhibition of animal cruelty then let me be the first to fill you in. Horseracing’s Triple Crown the most highly coveted award in American thoroughbred racing has undergone a thirty-year drought since last being awarded. Six horses have been turned back on the final leg of the Triple Crown at Belmont Park in New York since the drought began.

Big Brown, a strapping chestnut colt with boat loads of untapped potential and an unbeaten record has already cruised to easy victories in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes and now set his massive cornea on putting to rest the aforementioned thirty-year drought.

Nadal Vs Federer

Rafael Nadal dubbed The King of Clay looks to be the first play since Bjorn Borg in 1981 to capture four French crowns on the clay courts of Roland Garros when he takes on Roger Federer the top-ranked player in the entire universe on Sunday morning.

Federer, the most dominate force in tennis today has been notorious for having one weakness, a clay court match against the King, Rafa Nadal. Nobody in tennis posses a winning record against Swiss-mister Roger Federer, except Nadel on clay. Particularly French clay.

The best clay court assassin in twenty years versus arguably one of the five greatest tennis players of all time, trust me you don’t even need to be a tennis fan to enjoy this one, pull the TV out on the front lawn with a comfy chair and lots of ice, it’s sure to be a match for the ages.

And then there’s Euro 08

I’m sure any coverage in North America on this tournament is overkill and of little interest to anyone without a strong European background, most of whom will turn to foreign-based print for the latest scores, stats and rumours. But what the - - - - lets give it a whirl

Soccer may appear to be nothing more than a slow working sleeping pill not to be accompanied by tea. However, in Europe where people actually care about "footy" tea at halftime to calm ones nerves is common place and when club bragging rights are put to rest in the name of defending the mother land the level of importance catapults. One goal in this tournament can make you a life time toast of the town, don of Lisbon or rex of Rotterdam, likewise one botched kick, missed save or untimely substitution can have a coach or player seeking refuge from their homeland, only returning for brief stints in disguise and by cover of night.

If the high stakes of national pride fails to ignite your inner soccer flame checkout Portuguese international and this years European player of the year Christano Ronaldo, watch this young man with the ball at his feet, still not interested? One word for you . . . incurable.

My cable package cost me around two dollars a day and encompasses all the channels I require to take in all of this weekend major sporting events. For just four dollars I’ll get two minutes of Big Brown’s run for the Triple Crown, Breakfast of champions @ Roland Garros, Kobe & Phil for a Sunday nightcap and a menagerie of top notch European football. I usually feel that I pay way too much for cable and that the cable company is constantly tapping directly into my wallet but this weekend I’m taking it all back, every last dime.

Saturday and Sunday two days of sporting bliss, ladies be warned if you don’t posses a sporting interest please make this the weekend that the ladies and your self get that second dose of box office smash Sex in the City.

Zoltan Black