events – Rob's blog https://www.topendsports.com/rob from Topend Sports Fri, 05 Apr 2024 23:20:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.6 39014565 Review of the Dirtiest Race in History https://www.topendsports.com/rob/major-events/olympic-games/book-review-dirtiest-race-in-history/ Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:38:22 +0000 http://www.topendsports.com/rob/?p=1018 Book: The Dirtiest Race in HistoryThe title of this book (The Dirtiest Race in History, By Richard Moore) refers to the 1988 Olympic Games 100 m sprint final (see a video of the race). This was perhaps the most thrilling sprint in Olympic history, but within 48 hours the gold medalist Ben Johnson had tested positive for anabolic steroids and the scandal and stories had begun. However, the full story did not begin with this race, but many years earlier.

The book follows the development of the two main combatants, Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson, from when they started sprinting; building a deep rivalry between them that fascinated the athletics world, culminating in the infamous race referred to in the title. The author Richard Moore was able to interview Johnson who gave some interesting insights into that period, but unfortunately Lewis was not available.

In the concluding pages of this book, we are given details of each of the competitors in this infamous race. It may be no surprise that ultimately most of them were tainted by drugs at some point in their career, possibly this is the message the book is trying to make. This may be the story about Ben and Carl, but it also defines the period in athletics history where drug use was widespread, and the fledgling anti-doping program had only started the game of catch-up.

More Info

  • The Dirtiest Race in History by Richard Moore.
  • Inside Track: My Professional Life in Amateur Track and Field, by Carl Lewis and Jeffrey Marx.
  • Speed Trap: The Inside Story of Ben Johnson and the Biggest Scandal in Olympic History, by Charlie Francis and Jeff Coplan.
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Do It Yourself Sporting Tours https://www.topendsports.com/rob/spectators/do-it-yourself-sporting-tours/ Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:33:15 +0000 http://topendsports.com/rob/?p=88 It is becoming popular for sporting fans to get together and fly around the world to support their team. Why pay so much when you can do it yourself for much cheaper? There is a big market for these tour groups and people pay way too much for the privilege.

People pay thousands of dollars to join a cricket tour of India, where you can get by on as little as $10 a day. However, I admit that you do get plenty of extras from joining such a group, for example meeting some of the sports stars, getting priority entry, and having good seats organised/guaranteed. You also don’t have to buy your own travel tickets and organise hotels.

It is fun either way you go, but if you want to save money and make it an adventure, then do it yourself. I may even come along and do the self-guided tour with you! Careful, if you get too many of our mates together it will become one of those tours you are trying to avoid!

Related Pages: About Cricket

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The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live https://www.topendsports.com/rob/major-events/the-100-sporting-events-you-must-see-live/ Mon, 25 May 2009 01:48:29 +0000 http://topendsports.com/rob/?p=155 A new book by Robert Tuchman, who works in Sports promotion and management, is called, The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live: An Insider’s Guide to Creating the Sports Experience of a Lifetime. Tuchman used live appeal as the main criterion for his selection. There is a US bias, which is not surprising considering that many Americans think that they are the center of the sporting universe (which is true in some sports).

I don’t doubt his top four but am not sure that the UNC vs. Duke Basketball Game at Cameron Indoor Stadium deserves top 10 status. I have not seen such a game, so maybe I am not qualified to comment. I have ticked off two of the ten, still quite a way to go. Check out the complete list of 100, and my list.

The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live

Here are the top-10 events you must see, according to Robert Tuchman. What do you think?

1. The Golf Masters
2. FIFA World Cup
3. Super Bowl
4. Summer Olympics
5. Army vs. Navy Football Game
6. New York City Marathon
7. World Series Baseball
8. Winter Olympics
9. Red Sox vs. Yankees at Yankee Stadium
10. UNC vs. Duke Basketball Game at Cameron Indoor Stadium

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