Well That Was The Weekend That Was

The death of Michael Jackson notwithstanding . It’d appear the sport’s world carried on in its usual customary way. Jackson’s death became headline news around the world . As is befitting that of a once powerful entertainment icon.

Myself on the other hand, I wasn’t overly concerned with his death. Because despite his many manifestations and the fact that the so called long awaited CD never amounted to much. His death if anything is a god-send to us all. Unfortunately however , we’ll now have to deal with the endless speculation as to the cause of his death. And until the coroner’s office carries out the autopsy , we’ll never really know the true cause of death.

Melanie Oudin (right) of the US shakes hands with Serbia's Jelena Jankovic , having just defeated the Serbian in three sets to make it into the fourth round of the women's singles tournament at Wimbledon. As Sunday was a rest day , play resumes bright and early on Monday morning. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Martha Hutchinson ..............

As Wimbledon proceeds into its second week. We’ve seen the rise of another American female teen sensation in the guise of seventeen year old Melanie Oudin, who defeated the sixth seed and former world #1 Jelana Jankovic 6-7(8-10),7-5,6-2, to make her way into the fourth round at Wimbledon in the women’s singles tournament. For Oudin this is her moment in the sportlight on the sport’s greatest stage. And anything garnered now from hereonin can only be considered a bonus for the young teen.

Serbia's Victor Troicki makes an athletic attempt dive to keep the ball in play and alive in the game against Britain's Andy Murray. Murray would go on to win the match in straight sets 6-2,6-3,6-4 , and make his way into the fourth round at Wimbledon. picture appears courtesy of afp/getty images/ Carl De Souza ..............

And as usual the expected names one’s accustomed to seeing have made it into the second week at Wimbledon. There’ve been one or two surprises and small upsets. But nothing as such that would indeed send a seismic shift across the sport.

Now if anything is we’re liable to see the men separated from the boys. And the girls separated from the women. As those who can legitimately lay claim to the title will now begin to make their presence felt over the ensuing rounds.

Joey Logano speaks with the convened press after his historic win of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH,. Also in pictue is Tony Stewart and his crew chief Greg Zippadelli . picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Marcus Goodridge ...............

And the fans of NASCAR saw history being made when Joey Logano all of nineteen years of age became the sport’s youngest driver to win a Sprint Cup event. Logano won the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 in a rain shortened race at Loudon, New Hampshire.

Though the race wasn’t without its moments . It can be said that with the inclement weather did put somewhat of a damper on a race that many may well have been looking forward to.

Kyle Busch (18) driver of the Interstate Batteries Toyota pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup series race the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 from the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH. picture appears courtesy of getty images/NASCAR / Jerry Markland ..................

For Dale Earnhardt Jr this proved to be something of a respite albeit that he finished outside the top ten with a thirteenth place finish. As to his postseason ambitions of making it to the Chase. His chances seem to be diminishing by the race . And for team boss Rick Hendrick whilst he’s still got implicit faith in Dale Jr, one has to question how much longer that this can really go on. As clearly with each passing moment you can clearly see that a great mistake was made in the letting go of Kyle Busch from the team to incorporate Earnardt within Hendrick Motorsports’ midst. Albeit that Earnhardt Jr may well be deemed of greater value in terms of the corporate brand imaging , popularity and the money that no doubt follows him in endorsements. But the facts are there for all to see ….nothing beats winning. And that’s something that Busch has become accustomed to doing since his departure from Hendricks Motorsports. His successor on the other hand has yet to win a Sprint Cup race for his team.

In baseball the AL East is very much the division we’d all believed it would be . The New York Yankees (43-32) are finding ways to win . Even though they’re having to play catchup with the Boston Red Sox (46-29) who lead their fierce and determined rivals by a mere three games. And slowly making up ground are last season’s winners of the AL pennant and the division the Tampa Bay Rays(42-35).

Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera comes to the mound in the eighth inning of the Subway Series game against the New York Mets played at Citi FIeld in Flushing , New York City, New York. Rivera would go on to record the 500th regular season save of his long and illustrious career in the Yankees' 4-2 triumph of the New York Mets. picture appears courtesy of getty images/Jim McIsaac .............

Such is the rivalry now being created between the trio that the drama as it unfolds warrants close scrutiny by the most knowledgeable of all fans. For if anything we’re liable to see the winner of the division become the prohibitive favorite to win the World Series outright.

Rivera is congratulated by Yankees' third base and bench coach Tony Pena after he nothces the Yankees' 4-2 triumph over the Mets at Citi Field , Flushing , New York,. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Jim McIsaac ...............

Of the three teams at present it may well be the Rays and the Red Sox who are playing the best at present. And rthat’d be based on the record of their last ten games respectively. With the Rays going (7-3) to a decidedly more (6-4) by the Red Sox. The Yankees have matched the Rays in that respect but when measured against who’ve they’ve been playing as of late in the moribund Subway Series against a woefully inept New York Mets’ team. You can understand my reasoning for not being too overly impressed with those particular results.

The Yankees have swept their crosstown neighbors in the season series and along the way their legendary closer Mariano Rivera was able to notch up his 500th regular season save in Major League Baseall. Quite an achievement for a player who’s well respected by his peers as well the fans across the game of baseball.

And whilst much of this is going on within the game. Nothing much has really changed by way of the way with which the game’s hierarchy still creates the facade that it’s on the right path as far as its steroid abuse program is concerned. While Manny Ramirez sits out his apparent 50 game suspension he’s still able to participate in games . Albeit that it’s at the minor league level. And as asinine as it appears there’s nothing at all the league can do about it. But then again these are the rules that we’re led to believe that the game has to abide by ? So when is a suspension not a suspension within the realms of Major League Baseball ? That’s something I for one feel that inquiring minds would really like to know.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter presents Brazil's captain Lucio (3) with the Confederations' Cup trophy after the Brazilian team's 3-2 ttriumph over the United States men's soccer team in the finals of the competition played in South Africa. picture appears courtesy of bongarts/ getty images/ Cristof Koepsel .................

Alas, the heartfelt story and dream that has yet to be fulfilled came to an abrupt end. The US men’s soccer team failed when they were asked to try and achieve the impossible. Having pulled off the upset victory over Spain the semi-finals of FIFA’s Confed Cup. The fell to the might of Brazil in a spirited display by the US team.

Clint Dempsey (8) , Charlie Davies (9) center and teammate Sacha Kjelstan of the US team are somewhat despondent after the team's 3-2 loss to Brazil in the Final of FIFA's Confederation Cup tournament held in South Africa. The country will also be the venue for next year's World Cup. picture appears courtesy of bongarts / getty images Cristof Koepsel ....................

The victory might’ve been never been doubt had they been able to hang on to the 2-0 lead they built up in the first half of the game. With millions watching at home and tens of thousands watching in the stands showing support for both teams. It has to be said that we may well have been seeing the beginnings of something new in terms of real support for the men’s national squad. Finally they’re gaining some recognition from the fans and not being merely thought of as an afterthought or side show.

Luis Fabiano (9) of Brazil scores the game tying goal in the finals of FIFA's Confederations Cup game played against the US team at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg , South Africa . picture appears bongarts / getty images/ Cristof Koepsel ..................

Were the US men’s team triumphant over their South American counterparts instead of succumbing to a heartfelt 3-2 loss . Then there might be still some room for thought . And the chance that this team is capable and on the right track of pursuing a legitimate thought that they could be considered a contender for next year’s World Cup.

The game’s showcase event will make a return to South Africa where the World Cup will be staged. However, the team ought to be commended for the spirited fight that they put up against Brazil at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg in front of a sold out crowd.

As to what can be contemplated here at home. Well one can only hope that the support that was forthcoming and shown for the team can be maintained. If only to give the team the full support needed as they pursue their quest of garnering a berth for next year’s World Cup to be held in South Africa. And in order to do that the team will have to become more resolute , poised but above all maintain a level of consistency that has been lacking in their game . And which has led to their demise more often that we care to acknowledge. If anything that has been the thing that has really let the US men’s national team down over the years.

So this was the weekend that was. Well it was most definitely as such as far as the sporting highlights were concerned. Was there anything that you felt as such was worthy of acknowledging as far as the sporting weekend was concerned ?