2025 was a sports annus orribilis

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SPORTS

In her 1992 Christmas message, the late Queen Elizabeth II of England described that year as an ‘annus horribilis’.

‘Annus horribilis’ is Latin for ‘horrible year’, and she felt it had been an especially horrible one for her. Her heir, Prince Charles, had just been separated from everyone’s favourite royal, Princess Diana.

Her other, less loved son, Prince Andrew, had divorced his wife, Sarah; and her only daughter, Princess Anne, had also divorced her cheating husband. On top of that, her home, Windsor Castle, had been damaged by fire.

She really felt it was the year of the pits. Although, of course, it would get much worse. Diana would end up dating an Arab guy and they would both die in a car accident. Charles would marry the woman who caused all his marital problems and who the British tabloids referred to as a ‘battle axe’.

Diana’s kids would grow up, and the younger one, Harry, would marry an American bi-racial TV actress whom the British press hated.

But I feel what Elizabeth Rex felt that cold winter of 1992, for as far as sport in 2025 is concerned, it really has been an annus horribilis.

I had a friend who tried to convince me that men should show emotions more like women, but luckily, I did not buy into that. Men do show all the emotions women do, and at times more so. Only it is not towards women, but sports, where men have been known to express emotions to such an excessive level that anyone close to them can get seriously hurt or damaged as a result.

So it is in that spirit that I empathise with the late Queen, and borrow her phrase – 2025 has been a sports annus horribilis.

BASKETBALL

For as long as anyone has known me, I have been a Los Angeles Lakers fan. A long time ago, I was one of the tallest guys on a basketball court, so of course I played centre. And the greatest centre at that time was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played for the Lakers. I crafted my game around his and even developed a semblance of a sky hook. And then came Magic Johnson and Showtime, and I was sold for life. I like my sports idols to be in-your face dominant, but with flair. And the Lakers fit that to a tee.

Shaquille O’Neal continued that tradition, as did Kobe Bryant. Someone like that always carried the Lakers, till that journeyman called Lebron James suited up in the purple and gold. He had and still has the numbers; you have got to give him that. But the Lakers f lair? Nah. Dude plays like a mechanic, like those boring guys who wear dull green in the East.

But then came Anthony Davis, and he was vintage Lakers, and I believed the good days were back. But unfortunately, AD is hurt more days than he plays, and that unrecognisable Lakers management (who brought in a white boy who had never coached an NBA game) traded him to Dallas. They brought in an import from Slovakia (where is ICE when you need them?) who does get the numbers, but is even more boring to watch than that journeyman mechanic.

Can you believe that it was more exciting to watch last year’s below 500 Lakers than now, when they are near the top of the Western Conference? So, sadly, I don’t watch the NBA anymore. In fact, I find it more exciting to watch Angel Reese play basketball than the Lakers. That is how bad it has gotten. Horribilis.

SOCCER

I have played most major sports up to quite a high level, except football. I had a stint as a left back in primary school, and kept goal a few times for Nigeria House at Budo. But when I discovered basketball and tae-kwon-do, soccer went out of the window. I did watch it, of course, but had no clear favourites. I do remember rooting for SC Villa at Nakivubo at one time, though.

Then, in 1992, Eric Cantona joined Manchester United, Alex Ferguson worked his magic and a year later, they won the English League. This was as in-your-face brilliant as the Lakers, and again, I was sold for life. For the next 20 years, I wagged the finger in everybody’s face. But sadly, that is not happening anymore. Sir Alex retired in 2013, and since then, a progression of journeymen coaches has meant that ‘Glory Glory Man United’ has remained just a song. Last season the team was 15th in the League! So, sadly, I don’t watch soccer anymore, either.

TENNIS

I had never paid much attention to lawn tennis, it was too lily white for me. Till Venus Williams and then Serena, showed up. Ho ho ho, this was even more in-your face brilliance than the Lakers. For 20 years, the sisters tormented the tennis world and brought me plenty of happiness. But then Venus got health problems and Serena retired to have babies.

A succession of black girls have shown up, but have fallen short. Coco Gauff is the latest and brightest prospect, but she does not really have that in-your-face attitude, and one can never be sure whether her brilliance will show up. But she is still young, and she will probably make #1. But until then, I will just watch highlights of her wins, thank you.

FORMULA 1

There are many reasons I support Ferrari, one of them was Michael Schumacher, of course and that in-your-face brilliance. But those glory days are also long gone. Even seven-time champion and the only black F1 driver, Sir Lewis Hamilton, has not brought much luck to the red team. I still watch it, for anything can literally happen in F1. But the season ended on Sunday, with Ferrari fourth in the standings! Real annus horribilis.

You can follow Kabuye on X @KalungiKabuye