SUSO

Sports 'personality' 2009

"I still have a dream of being Olympic Champion"

Throughout his career Hackney born Phillips ‘Olaosebikan’ Idowu has been accused of inconsistency and failing to fulfil his potential. In 2009, in landing the Gold Medal at the World Athletics Championships, he put an end to that debate. But the journey to gold has been fraught with obstacles that have only been overcome through a steely determination ... a determination often masked by his taste for fashion and the flamboyant.  And that's fundamentally what sets the elite apart ... not their talent but their unrelenting appetite to make something of their gifts in the face of daily adversity.

This is a man who has made it to the top from humble beginnings in a facility deprived London borough. A man who has had more than his share of injury and competition disappointment along the way. A man who for some years lived in the shadow of the nation’s squeaky clean favourite son. A man that, when asked to step up and become Jonathan Edwards successor, was criticised repeatedly for fashion over substance as he missed out tiem and again on the big title.

But ultimately this is a man who, in his relentless pursuit of his ultimate goal, has triumphed and in doing so with some style and no shortage of colour. On top of it all, when you ask around, Phillips has been able to do it all and remain a genuinely 'top bloke', respectful of fellow competitors, unassuming with us mere mortals, relevant and inspiring to the next sporting generation.  So when we talk Sports ‘Personality’ at the weekend, let’s look beyond simple sporting achievement and reflect upon the backdrop against which a titles were achieved and the sense of style with which they were delivered. Viewed as such Phillips is right up there in the reckoning. He gets my vote.

All great victories need a credible challenge, a worthy vanquished, and at the 2009 Berlin Championships, in Nelson Evora there was just that.  "Bring on 2012." - his words not mine.
 

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Categories Sport Tags Endeavour Fashion Media

By Juan on 4/12/09

Lego & The Matrix

"There is no spoon ... for these Lego creators anyway."

Lego is god's gift to the creative mind.  The Matrix? ... everyone's inspiration.  Put them together, and after 440hrs toil (...just in time for the film's 10th anniversary release), what have we got?.  Checkit :

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Categories Fun Tags Art culture Film Design Fun

By Juan on 3/12/09

Double Tour To Arabesque

"Breakdancer, wannabee footballer, premier ballet dancer ... meet Cuba's Carlos Acosta."

The Cuban Revolution some 50 years ago brought with it a much improved state healthcare and education system.  But it also brought Fidel Castro's ambition to see Cuba loved and respected for it's cultural richness.  To some (ok me...)  that means fat cigars and strong mojitos but to others that means dance, particularly ballet.  To Carlos Acosta, an aspiring male ballet dancer, that meant opportunity.

Carlos Acosta was the eleventh and youngest son of a cuban truck driver.  There was very little to go around but like most kids he found contentment in sport and music - he loved his football and he could break dance with the best of them.  However, aged 13 his father recognised the dance talent that lay within and sent him away to a residential ballet school to keep him focused and off the streets.  Football and ballet are the most natural compliment so unsurprisingly there were plenty of times when Carlos rebelled and came home.  But his father was always there to send him back.  Tough love some might say, but his father would ultimately prove right in his actions.

At 16 something clicked.  Carlos became acutely aware of his ability, his calling and subsequently his innate and growing love of ballet.  Embracing and harnessing his talent he won the Prix de Lausanne at 17, and then joined The English National Ballet at 18 quickly rising through the ranks to dance the most principal roles. Now he is one of the most sought after guest stars at the Royal Ballet, Houston Ballet and many other prestigious companies.

He is credited for his outstanding technique and strength (the man has hang time that even Mr Jordan would die for!)  and his acting skills are seen as versatile and strong (check this out for an impromptu performance caught on an audience camera) . 

There are plenty of classical fireworks from Mr Acosta, but In ’Tocororo’ many have said that we see a different side to Carlos; we discover where he comes from, his Cuban roots. When he goes off to the Afro-Cuban beat, and really gets down and loose, you get a sense of that teenage street dancer bustin' out his moves in the 40 degree heat in downtown Havanna.  It has been said, that at this point, for the ladies in the audience the temperature invariably goes up a few degrees in any theatre (....whatever...). 

For his story of determination from the man himself check out the video below.

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Categories Tags Art culture Dance Music Drama

By Juan on 1/12/09