The Week of Sports That I Missed

Usain Bolt won the 200 meters at the World Championships in Berlin, shattering his world record time by running a remarcable 19.19. And I missed it.

On Friday, Aug. 14, I began my journey to Idaho’s Sawtooth mountain range, a long 10 hours from my Eugene, Oregon home. I arrived at my destination the following day, pitched a tent at the campground, then after a rocky night’s sleep, began the 11-mile trek to my next destination, a beautiful spot in between the three Baron Lakes. There, I spent the next six days fishing, hiking, and relaxing with the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes.

Without cell-phone service nor Internet connection, I was forced to painfully wonder what was happening in the world of sports during my time in the mountains. As it turns out, I missed a lot.

Usain Bolt won three gold medals at the World Track and Field Championships in Berlin. He shattered the world record mark of 19.30 in the 200m he set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by running a remarkable 19.19. With that time, the flashy Jamaican wasn’t able to flaunt his shoot-’em-up-bang-bang celebration, but once the time was made official, he sported a gleaming smile.

The track and field world was stunned, but upon hearing this, I wasn’t surprised in the least. I am not affluent in the history of track and field, but as far as I am concerned, he’s the best sprinter I have seen since Michael Johnson and his gold shoes lit up the 1990’s.

Interviewed following his race, Bolt, who certainly doesn’t lack confidence, said “I am on my way to becoming a legend.” I have no reason not to agree, but here’s the million-dollar question: Is he clean?

While track’s best athlete was running wild, golf’s best looked to be on his way to his 15th career major victory and fifth victory at the PGA Championship. Tiger Woods led for a majority of the tournament, but stunningly lost his advantage when Y.E. Yang chipped in from 60 feet for eagle on the 14th hole at Hazeltine. It was one of many remarkable shots he made on the back-nine in order to become the first Asian golfer to win a major.

The 37-year old, who was in the PGA Tour’s Qualifying School last year, dethroned Tiger, who was 14-0 previously in a major when entering the final round with a lead. What a fabulous story.

After losing the final two game of their series against the Texas Rangers, the Boston Red Sox throttled the Toronto Blue Jays. On the road for a three-game set at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, they outslugged their division foe in the first contest, 10-9, used home-runs by Jason Bay, David Ortiz, and Victor Martinez and stellar pitching by Clay Buchholz to defeat the eminent Roy Halladay—one of the best pitchers in baseball—then, backed by J.D. Drew’s four hits and ace Josh Beckett’s magnificent eight innings, Boston completed the sweep.

The New York Yankees, whom they were swept by a week prior, were on the horizon. The Yankees, entering their three-game series at Boston’s Fenway Park, held a 6.5 game lead over their arch rival. It was increased to 7.5 after an unbelievable offensive performance. They pounded Red Sox starting pitcher Brad Penny, who will be replaced in the rotation by Tim Wakefield later this week, to the tune of eight runs on ten hits in four innings.

Michael Bowden relieved him. The 22-year-old made his third career appearance and second of the season. He wasn’t much better, allowing seven runs on eight hits in just two innings.

New York finished with 23 hits and won 20-11.

This next story doesn’t deserve much ink, so I’ll give it it’s due. Brett Favre, fresh off a terrible season with the New York Jets, decided not to bask in his millions and relax on a beach for the rest of his days, signing with the Minnesota Vikings.

For the record, he should have retired with the Green Bay Packers. He can’t play anymore, as last season showed, but clearly and understandably doesn’t want to leave the game. I respect Favre; he has the right to play for as long as he wants, but this is getting ridiculous. Even though he is only a shadow of his former self, he still loves the limelight.

ESPN’s SportsCenter obliged and gave him the attention he desires, spending 20 minutes dissecting his first preseason game with Minnesota, a game in which he played only two series and completed one—I repeat, one—pass.

So, Tiger crumbled, Bolt flew, Boston was shellacked, and Favre unretired...again. This was the sports world I was welcomed back too. Even though three of these four top stories were disappointing, I am ecstatic to rejoin society and live under the glow on my computer screen—to write again.