Ayrton Senna and the World Cup 1994

Brazilian players draw the reverence banner for Senna after winning the 1994 World Cup. via royalgazzatte.com

"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose."

What kind of mentality when you have said that there was in second or third is an achievement? More-over calls the fourth position that was awarded tickets to a European club competition is a superb thing.

Needless to lie to yourself, it feels embarrassed not to be first, right? Because we all know, there is only one winner and one champion, the number one.

As the quote above is indeed his words, being the best is the purpose of living Ayrton Senna da Silva, who was born March 21, 1960, Sao Paulo home.

You are familiar with his name, is not it? He was a Formula 1 (F1) driver, which has three world titles, namely in 1988, 1990, and 1991.

The F1 racing enthusiast in the 1980s until the early 1990s clearly understand exactly how lunge Senna on the track. Even so his tight competition against Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet, and Alain Prost. Rivalry with Prost even was the most famous and hot throughout the history of F1.

Left to right: Senna, Prost, Mansell, Piquet in GP Portugal 1986 via f1-history.deviantart.com

Talk about Senna; then it is difficult to pull off his extraordinary personality. I remembered a column in the newspaper in describing the men who are fans of this club Corinthians.

Everything about Senna, both inside and outside the arena, so interesting to follow. My friend even calls if Senna with all the sayings, deeds, and his life seemed to invite us to think about everything.

Unfortunately, Senna with all the talent, work ethic, and other amazing things died with tragic way.

It was the San Marino GP 1994 at Imola circuit that became a horror story for F1 and the world of all time. The race itself was the third series in the 1994 season racing calendar.

On Saturday (30/4) the riders took to the track to carry out the qualifying session in order for the start position. Everything looks fine at first until then Roland Ratzenberger with his Simtek car were killed in a car's front wing damage that spewed off the track before it struck the parapet at the edge of the track.

That sad event occurred in Villeneuve curve, the third corner at Imola (based on the old circuit layout). Senna, who was in the paddock and watched on live television as he turned away to close it by hand.

His eyes radiate a sense of sad, afraid, and hesitated. When qualifying resumed, Senna did not go down again to the track.

"Senna was really shocked. Throughout his career, he had never met an incident in which a rider was killed on the asphalt. Senna is a person who resigned when it comes to death. He was deeply religious and familiar with it, "explained Professor Sid Watkins, Senna intimate friend who was the head of the FIA Medical Committee ​​(Federation Internationale de lAutomobile) as quoted from newsbank.com.

The weekend, he looked nothing like the usual Senna. His gaze was filled with horror, his expression resigned and almost without a smile, he did not talk much, and he was so angry gestures. Even when entering the cockpit of his Williams-Renault car towards the race that was held right on May 1st, his steps and behavior were different. Eyes were staring away somewhere.

Senna managed to do a perfect start at the same time maintaining a leading position (he managed to occupy pole position after being the fastest in qualifying long before Ratzenberger suffered a fatal accident).

However, an accident that occurred J.J. Lehto and Pedro Lamy after the race started made the safety car was forced out into a track in order to provide time for the officials to clear debris (fragments of the car, etc.) that were on the track.

Ahead of the sixth lap, the safety car went into the pits, and the race was back normally. Senna immediately spurred his car followed by Michael Schumacher driving a Benetton-Ford. Senna kept spurring his car to create a significant gap with Schumacher within less than one second behind.

But the tragedy that feared and haunted Senna took place on lap-7. While leading the race and sped up to 310 km/hour across the Tamburello curve, suddenly the car off the track and struck by a monstrous wall that was the edge of the circuit. His car was destroyed, Senna himself stiff in the cockpit.

Allegedly, the suspension Rod of Williams-Renault that he drove was broken so himself was unable to control the pace of his car even though he had already pushed the brakes so that the speed of his car down to 218 km/h before it crashed the wall. Senna then was rushed to the Maggiore Hospital in Bologna, but unfortunately, his life could not be saved.

Any sorrow surrounds F1 and its loyal fans due to the loss of one of the most heroic racers and genius and loved many fans. Senna's ambition to find his fourth world title were extinct along with the events.

Senna was a figure that makes people (in Brazil) were willing to get up early and watch the Brazilian flag fluttering at the time when their country's in a political crisis. Senna was a representation of a victory for the people of Brazil, said Juca Kfouri, a sports columnist as quoted from theguardian.com.

His death at that time seemed to bring the public into a dimension never before about consciousness. Senna's tragic death truly become a national trauma (in Brazil) and the world because everyone watched on television, he added.

Senna and Selecao

On one day in spring, exactly in early April, Senna met with the Brazilian national team in Paris, France. At that time, the Selecao team under Carlos Alberto Parreira will make friendship game at the Parc Des Princes Stadium as preparation ahead of the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Senna met us. In that year, Senna wanted to achieve a fourth world title. And also with the Brazilian national team. I still remember when Senna said with full determination that 1994 is our year (Senna and the Brazilian national team), said Leonardo, a former of the Brazilian national team in the 1994 World Cup as reported by chinadaily.com.cn.

After knowing that Senna passed away up to the presence of God Almighty only a few weeks after meeting, clearly makes the whole squad for Brazil overcome with anguish. A friend and role model was gone.

In the eyes of the Brazilian people, Senna has equal status with Pele, the Brazilian sports icon on the field they get into each.

Recognized or not, the rest of the Brazilian squad that went to the 1994 World Cup seedings embrace the fourth world title not only as a booster status as world champion but also the most valuable offerings for tremendous figure like Senna.

As if inspired by the style of racing Senna wild but full calculations, quick and full of determination, Brazil national team had been seen hard to be conquered at the time.

Selecao squad who joined in Group B, advance smoothly to the next round. The three times world champion (at the time) successfully earned two wins, each over Russia and Cameroon as well as a draw with Sweden.

As the winner of group B, Brazil then had to meet with the hosts USA that qualify as one of the best third-ranked teams.

Played at Stanford Stadium and witnessed nearly 82,000 thousand pairs of eyes right on US independence day, Brazil successfully arrested the host through Bebeto goal in the 72nd minute.

The steep road must be met Brazil in the next match because the European deputy and the champion of 1988 European Cup, Netherlands, had been waiting for them in the quarter-finals. The match itself was very exciting.

Selecao managed to lead two goals in advance via Romario and Bebeto before Dennis Bergkamp and Aron Winter equalized for De Oranje. Through a steely determination and passion that continues to flare, Brazil was finally able to steal a victory after Branco struck the winning goal to the Dutch goalkeeper who was escorted by Ed de Goey in the 81st minute.

Qualified for the semi-final phase were making a fourth world championship trophy closer to the hands of Brazil. But Sweden they met in the group stage up to block Brazil to the final step.

But Brazil finally successfully advanced to the finals after a single goal by Romario ten minutes before the game ended to finish the resistance of the team with nickname Blagult that was reinforced by Kenneth Andersson, Thomas Brolin, Roland Nilsson, until Thomas Ravelli at the time.

And as we know, the 1994 World Cup final featuring two polar world football who are both vying for his fourth title at that time, namely Brazil and Italy.

In the final which takes place at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, and witnessed the 94194 audiences, the Selecao had managed to bring home a fourth world title after defeating Gli Azzurri through penalties by a score of 3-2. Roberto Baggio penalty Spurn moment that soar into space obviously won't be timeless.

The Brazilian players celebrated on the pitch post received the trophy from Al Gore, U.S. Vice Presidential candidate. Did not forget; they stretched a banner as a tribute and dedication to a role model at the same time best friend that has been gone.

Senna has been gone for 22 years, but his name will always be remembered as one of the best, as a legend.

Race In Peace.

Kobe Bryant and a pinch of Rivalry Story in One Team

team rivalry

Competition of National Basketball Association or popular with the acronym NBA season 2015/2016 has started the playoffs per Sunday (17/4). There are 16 teams that compete in order to win Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Unfortunately, of the 16 teams, the name of the Los Angeles Lakers did not make the list. Yes, the club winning 16 NBA titles, the second largest after the Boston Celtics, have failed to qualify for the playoffs for only finished the season with a record very badly 17-65.

The bad performance of Lakers itself seemed to be closing a career that does not impress to the legend of the Lakers, Kobe Bryant, who decided to retire once this season ends. Kobe, which strengthens the Lakers since 1996 chose to end his basketball career at the age of 37 years after quite often struggling with injury in recent times.

But Kobe is still Kobe, in his last official game last week (14/4) against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center, he scored 60 points to carry the Lakers won 101-96. Note 60 points itself is the highest scores recorded in a match that could be made NBA player in this season.

The overall appearance of the legend in this season remains classy. Based on statistics from basketball-reference.com, Kobe has statistics 17.6 PPG (points per game), 3.7 RPG (rebounds per game), 2.8 APG (assists per game), 0.9 SPG (steals per game) and 0.2 BPG (block per game ).

This entry was even better than his statistics in the first season and second career in the NBA.

During the 20 years of action on the field, Kobe is known as a tough athlete, smart and very good at keeping the performance. Thanks to it anyway, Kobe could achieve five NBA championship rings together with the Lakers, one time selected as the best player or MVP (Most Valuable Player) NBA, twice elected as the best player of the NBA finals, 18 times selected as All-Star and won the contest Slam dunk in the All-Star game in 1997.

It's classy, ​​right? Not many NBA players could carve such a feat.

Plays exactly like the NBA living legend, Michael Jordan, also made Kobe often compared to the master. Both are a top-notch shooting guard. Clever on release long distance shots but also experts penetrating into the paint area.

When Jordan became the foundation of the Chicago Bulls, Kobe is the mainstay of the Lakers. Yes, Jordan was the Bulls, Kobe is the Lakers. As simple as that. But the judging who is better between the two is not a simple and easy matter. You should check the statistics both of them to pass judgment.

It is not complete if talks about Kobe but did not mention the name of Shaquille O'Neal. The name of a former teammate Kobe in Lakers, who work together to win three NBA titles in the period 2000-2002. The combination of both became a powerful weapon for Lakers under Phil Jackson's tutelage in flinging rivals.

But, do you know that actually Kobe and Shaq often involved rivalry and did not like each other at the time?

Teammate but did not get along and they could be the NBA champion was a story that really unique, was not it? But in reality, it was.

When they play together, both Kobe and Shaq were often at odds with each other, mock, and criticized each other. Jackson fortunate to be able to control the situation to make them "very get along" on the field. Their dispute even told by Jackson through his book The Last Season: A Team in search of Its Soul.

When in the game, they were always trying to look better than others. Scored more than others to make the action more impressive than others. Do not be surprised also, if rarely high fives or revelry among them. If any, it would have been more based on respect alone.

As often mentioned by media, Kobe did not like Jackson's choice that makes Shaq as the game core of Triangle Offense strategy. On the other hand, Shaq also jealous with the Kobe popularity in the eyes of Lakers fans so sales of the jersey Lakers with the name of Kobe being the most at the time.

Added with their egos that were so looming, this discord was tapered until then Shaq trade-in to the Miami Heat in 2004 and Kobe signed a newer contract with Lakers.

Kobe-Shaq dispute reminds me of some other rivalry involving teammate. Among them was Oliver Kahn-Jens and Lehmann in Football -Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in the arena of Formula 1 (F1).

Who does not know the figure of Kahn and Lehmann, both of them were great goalkeepers of the German national team in the 1990s to the 2000s.

The difference, Kahn and Lehmann had never played in the same club. But do not ask how fiercely they compete for the number one position in the national team goalkeeper.

Teased to each other until criticized mixed with ridicule became a very common thing. This made Uli Hoeness, Bayern Munchen former big boss, hoping to Juergen Klinsmann, coach of the range of 2004-2006, to mediate this personal conflict.

Both have a good ability that makes two of them obviously did not want to lose than others. Unfortunately, the position of goalkeeper in a football game only provides one place. Added with high selfishness, then the dispute was hard to resist.

When Kahn made a mistake, then vigorously Lehmann would immediately attack. Conversely, when Lehmann was doing stupid things, Kahn did not hesitate threw a counterattack.

While it might produce only minor effects, but the dispute itself, ultimately, more result in failure for the German national team. In the 2000 European Cup and the 20014 European Cup, they were ravaged. While in the 2002 World Cup and the 2006 World Cup, Germany still unable to steal the trophy.

While F1 is so famous as the fastest car race in the World, have been born of a great competition involving a great rider who became F1 bigwigs favorite, Alain Frost and public idol, Ayrton Senna.

Both were most talented driver ever in F1. The late 1980s to early 1990s was the era in which Prost-Senna was competing and took turns into a champion of the world.

Rivalry stems from the different teams, in the end, became very hot after Senna joined McLaren in 1988. Prost was the mainstay rider of McLaren since 1984 and has earned two world titles with the English team, namely in 1985 and 1986.

Known as a quality rider, the arrival of Senna at McLaren looked like carrying a time bomb into the team. Because of Prost and Senna was not the kind of rider who is willing to lose. Being the best is their goal.

Teammate rivalry was inevitable for both of them even though only two seasons (1988 and 1989) to defend the same team. In the two seasons also both took turns being the world champion. McLaren himself always come out as the world championship constructor in two seasons.

The Hot competition of Prost-Senna at McLaren reached its peak in 1989, precisely at the Japanese GP. At that time, the Prost-Senna competed for the first post, but both were involved in a collision at the corner of Casio Triangle chicane.

Prost race was over while Senna was able to continue the race to win the race. But unfortunately, in the end, Senna was disqualified from the race. And make the effort chasing Prost in the standings became more impossible.

Efforts appeal was also rejected so make Prost's way into a world champion was more spacious. The reaction of Senna? Clearly furious.

In any sports, the rivalry is very difficult to avoid. Rivalry can create such a bad case of dispute, argument, ridicule and other negative things.

But the rivalry also can raise a healthy competitive spirit that needed by any athlete, growing desire to continue to grow better over time, including with teammates.

Kobe-Shaq, Kahn-Lehmann, and the Prost-Senna has shown us about it. Although everything is not always giving good results for the team.