THE sports page has always been a mirror of triumphs, tragedies and transformation.
The year 2005 saw the emergence of two world-beaters from Spain: Fernando Alonso, who became the youngest Formula One World Champion at the time, and Rafael Nadal, who clinched his first French Open title in his debut appearance at Roland Garros.
It was a season of seismic shifts in F1, with 24-year-old Alonso ending Michael Schumacher’s reign of five consecutive titles.
Alonso would go on to secure a second consecutive Drivers’ Championship with Renault in 2006, but a mix of team politics, strategic missteps, and shifting alliances kept him from sustaining dominance. The following two decades in F1 saw a carousel of drivers and manufacturers rise to prominence.
In that span, Schumacher retired, made a comeback with Mercedes, and tragically suffered a life-altering skiing accident in France in 2013.
The sport also weathered scandals: the espionage saga dubbed ‘Spygate,’ the ‘Crashgate’ controversy involving Nelson Piquet Jr.’s deliberate crash under Renault’s orders, and the Abu Dhabi finale in 2021, which sparked global debate over race direction and fairness.
The seven-time world champion’s condition has remained a closely guarded secret, with his family maintaining strict privacy to this day.
McLaren had a tumultuous 2007 season with Alonso and rookie Lewis Hamilton at the helm. Despite their on-track brilliance, the team was found to have benefited from leaked Ferrari data and was excluded from the Constructors’ Championship. Kimi Räikkönen ultimately won the Drivers’ title, and Ferrari reclaimed its place atop the sport.
Big Four Era
RAFAEL NADAL’s breakout in 2005 was the launchpad for a two-decade reign of excellence, particularly on clay. While not dominant in every season, his sustained brilliance earned him 92 ATP titles-including 22 Grand Slams-and the enduring nickname ‘King of Clay.’
The year BusinessMirror was born, Nadal captured 11 titles, including his first major at 19 years old. He later showcased his versatility by completing the career Grand Slam at age 24, winning the US Open in 2010. He also led Spain to five Davis Cup victories and won Olympic gold in singles at the Beijing 2008 Games.
But the past two decades weren’t a solo act.
Tennis was reshaped by the rise of the Big Four-Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Nadal-each of whom held the world No. 1 ranking and elevated the sport to new heights.
The Big Four era was defined by rivalry and respect.
Federer added to his legacy before retiring in 2022. Murray claimed back-to-back Olympic golds in London 2012 and Rio 2016, while Djokovic won the Paris 2024 Olympics and remains the only active member of the quartet. Nadal made his final Grand Slam appearance at Roland Garros 2024, and Murray bowed out at the Paris Games.
3-point revolution
THE NBA has undergone a seismic shift over the past two decades, evolving into a league increasingly dominated by the three-point shot. What was once a strategic afterthought has become the centerpiece of modern offenses.
Arguably, it was the Phoenix Suns who laid the foundation for this transformation. Under head coach Mike D’Antoni, the team embraced a radical philosophy known as the ‘Seven Seconds or Less’ offense, which prioritized pace, spacing, and quick decision-making. This approach paved the way for the trey to become a weapon of choice rather than a luxury.
D’Antoni had the perfect floor general in Steve Nash, a two-time MVP whose precision passing and reliable shooting made the system hum. While the Suns didn’t win a championship during that era, they redefined offensive basketball and planted the seeds of the revolution.
It wasn’t until the rise of the Golden State Warriors that the three-point revolution translated into titles. Led by the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors captured championships in 2015, 2017, and 2018, with Curry’s deep shooting range and Thompson’s catch-and-shoot mastery stretching defenses to their breaking point.
Ray Allen’s clutch perimeter shooting was pivotal in the Miami Heat’s 2012-13 title run, complementing the all-around brilliance of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. Allen’s iconic corner triple in Game 6 of the Finals remains one of the most memorable shots in NBA history.
In 2014, the San Antonio Spurs showcased the power of team-oriented ball movement and perimeter accuracy.
With Patty Mills, Danny Green, and Marco Belinelli as threats from beyond the arc, and legends like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Kawhi Leonard leading the charge, the Spurs shot a blistering 46.6percent from three in their 4-1 Finals win over the Heat.
The revolution keeps on rolling, and teams have increasingly focused on high-volume, perimeter-oriented offense.
The Boston Celtics now launch threes one after the other, and after clinching the 2024 NBA title, they went on to set records for most three-point attempts per game (48.2) and most in a season (3,955)- redefining what modern offense looks like.
This three-point renaissance has spilled into the international game, with national teams in the FIBA World Cup and Olympics-often featuring NBA stars-embracing the long-range strategy. Even traditional big men are stepping out to hit deep shots, transforming the global basketball landscape into a space-and-pace battlefield.
Giant losses
THE sports world bid farewell to many legendary figures whose impact transcended their disciplines.
Football greats Pelé and Diego Maradona, whose artistry and grit on the pitch left an indelible mark on the global game, passed away two years apart-Maradona at 60 in 2020 due to a heart attack following brain surgery, and Pelé at 82 in 2022 after a battle with colon cancer.
But one of the biggest shockers came in 2020, with the tragic loss of basketball icon Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, who at 41 died in a helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
After a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali-widely regarded as the greatest boxer of all time-passed away in 2016. The 74-year-old Ali’s legacy as a fighter, activist, and humanitarian remains unmatched.
Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion and towering figure in the fight for civil rights, passed away at 88 in 2022 due to natural causes.
Symbol of resilience
OLYMPIC centerpiece sports-athletics and swimming-had their superstars shine brightest, with Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt dominating across three consecutive Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016.
Their performances became the gold standard of Olympic excellence.
Bolt bagged the sprint double (100m and 200m) in each edition, and including relay victories, he amassed a total of eight Olympic gold medals. Phelps’ record haul of eight gold medals in a single Olympics (Beijing 2008) still stands. He added four more in London and five in Rio before retiring as the most decorated Olympian of all time.
Not only did the Tokyo Olympics survive the trials of the Covid-19 pandemic, it emerged even grander to become a symbol of resilience.
Postponed by a year, the Tokyo Games finally unfolded in 2021, featuring a record 339 medal events across 33 sports. The expanded program welcomed new disciplines: skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, karate, and the return of baseball/softball.
It was also the year the Philippines broke through to the winners’ circle, with weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz finally clinching gold, after earning bronze in Beijing 2008 and silver in Rio 2016.
Three years later in Paris, the Philippines celebrated two more gold medals, as gymnast Carlos Yulo triumphed in the floor exercise and vault events.