From The Touchlines

The GOOD – Andre Agassi and Michael Schumacher

The only one of five male players to have won EVERY Grand Slam singles title, American Andre Agassi bade farewell to a tennis career spanning two decades by bowing out in the third round of the US Open earlier this year. Granted, he would have stayed on longer, but age, as well as three niggling injuries were clear signs that his time was up. It was a tearful and emotional farewell at Flushing Meadows, as the 36-year-old was given a deserved standing ovation that said, “Thank you for 20 years of colourful and wonderful tennis”. A befitting end for a sporting hero.

Michael Schumacher needs no introduction. Having been the youngest driver to win the Formula One Championship in the mid-1990s, he went on to capture five more titles to make it a perfect seven. But then came the phenomenal Fernando Alonso, who himself did a double by winning consecutive titles in 2005 and 2006. Throughout his career, the 37-year-old has suffered numerous horrific crashes. Just three months ago, after he had won the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, he announced his retirement from the sport he has held so dearly to his heart for so many years. There was no grand farewell for the fist-pumping German, who, in the penultimate leg in the Suzuka circuit bowed out with engine failure, and Alonso went on to win the race and subsequently, the championship. But nothing, not even defeat, could take away the smile on Schumi’s face. A career simply sensational and scintillating.

DID YOU KNOW?: Michael Schumacher announced his retirement from F1 on Sept 10, 2006, exactly one week after Andre Agassi bade farewell. Agassi announced his retirement on Sept 3.

The BAD - Arsene Wenger vs Alan Pardew

The picture speaks a thousand words.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and former West Ham United manager Alan Pardew had to be restrained in a touchline skirmish during the Arsenal-West Ham fixture at the Emirates Stadium. Pardew had overzealously celebrated after Marlon Harewood had scored a last gasp winner in the 1-0 win over Arsenal. That, apparently, pissed Wenger off. As a result, Wenger was fined SP10,000 and warned over his future conduct.

Hmph, so much for good sportsmanship.

DID YOU KNOW?: Alan Pardew has since been sacked by West Ham, and former Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley roped in to stop the slide at Upton Park.

The UGLY – Zinedine Zidane vs Marco Materazzi and the Italian Serie A match fixing scandal

The first of two contenders for the ugliest sporting moments in 2006.

Italy emerged as the champions of the world when they defeated 1998 champions France on penalties at the World Cup in Germany in July. But the match also saw the shameful exit of one of football’s most prominent personalities. French midfielder Zinedine Zidane was sent off in regulation time after he headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest. Later developments revealed that Materazzi had insulted Zidane’s sister. Both players were punished with fines and bans. Zidane was fined 7,500 Swiss francs ($6,014) and a three-match ban. But since Zidane had announced his retirement from the sport, it was mutually agreed that he would carry out three days of community service. As for Materazzi, he was fined 5,000 Swiss francs ($4,010) and slapped with a two-match ban.

What a bummer. One failed to practise self-control; the other just had to open his big fat mouth and utter those silly remarks.

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Perhaps the next biggest but lowest sporting moment of the year is the Italian Serie A match fixing scandal involving five clubs: Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina. Juve were relegated to the Serie B with a hefty point deduction,  stripped of their 2005/06 scudetto and out of the UEFA Champions League campaign. AC Milan began the 2006/07 season with an eight-point deduction but were eligible to participate in the Champions League. Fiorentina were also thrown out of the Champions League campaign, while Lazio were not allowed to participate in the UEFA Cup. As a result of the scandal, Luciano Moggi (above) stepped down from his position as Juve’s chief managing director and retired from the world of football altogether.

But the most notable of it all was the exit of Juve’s key players from the club: Fabio Cannavaro, Patrick Vieira, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lilian Thuram, just to name a few. However, players like Gianluigi Buffon and Pavel Nedved chose to stick with the club.

DID YOU KNOW?: Despite his retirement, Moggi has been banned from football for five years, and fined 50,000 euros for his involvement in the scandal.