By Quazi Zulquarnain Islam
The year has ended and as is customary our penchant for labelling returns to haunt us yet again as Rising Star rates the biggest performers in the specific genre of sports this calendar year. You may not agree with the choices or the sports selected but feel free to write in and voice your opinion.
Anyways enough of the small talk. On with the ratings!
Tennis
Maria Sharapova
2005 has proved a fantastic year for the young Siberian who has risen to the top of the female rankings on two separate occasions although she did not capture any of the Grand Slam titles this year. She had semi-final appearances in three Grand Slams of the year bar the French Open where she exited in the last eight. Also, in April 2005, Sharapova was listed by People Magazine, as among the 50 most beautiful celebrities in the world. In June of 2005, Forbes magazine listed Sharapova as the highest-paid female athlete in the world, with annual earnings of $18 million. A significant portion of this amount came from endorsements.
Roger Federer
Far and above almost all the other players on the circuit, Roger Federer has established his credentials as the best male tennis player in the world with some awe-inspiring performances. He discarded the competition when he won the US Open and Wimbledon. He was semi-finalist in the French Open and his march to the Australian Open was only stopped by a scintillating, Marat Safin.
Cricket
Andrew Flintoff
This year Andrew Flintoff finally proved his mettle and established himself as England's greatest allround cricketer since the days of Ian Botham, producing a succession of wholehearted and inspirational performances to lead his team to Ashes glory for the first time since 1987. It was a performance that reverberated around the globe, and propelled Flintoff to the sort of superstar status that his many admirers had always believed was within his grasp, but had often despaired of him ever achieving. He hits 
the ball harder than any English cricketer since Botham, and uses his colossal 6'4" frame to generate speeds in excess of 90mph which, allied to his metronomic accuracy make him one of the most intimidating bowlers in the game.
Mohd. Ashraful
…for every David, there is a Goliath and our very own Mohd. Ashraful proved that ably by taking the aforementioned English bowler and his partners to the cleaners in a display of hitting that is unheard of from players of the country. Dwarfed in size he may be, but the explosive right-hander showed his talent and eye for the big occasion as he tore apart the England and Australian bowling during the Nat West Challenge this year. The young man is one for the future.
Football
Ronaldinho
Is there any doubt at the moment about who is the greatest player in the world? Coaches, players and pundits are all unanimously agreed that the former Gremio and PSG player is by far the best player on the planet. 2005 only strengthened that accolade even further as Ronaldinho set the world alight with his exquisite skills and samba like movements coupled with an élan for the game that is unprecedented for any other potential. The buck teethed superstar has the world at his feet.
Diego Cruciani
Bangladesh's Argentine coach has gained the respect and adoration of the football fans across the country as he has implemented an unparalleled fitness regime and has altogether changed the way that Bangladesh play the game. Inputting a certain Latin flair about the game together with a high tempo of play, Bangladesh have looked a different team of late. The changes have only just begun and who is to say what the future might hold?
Honourable Mentions of the year:
· Fernando Alonso
The Spaniard deserves a mention for his share in the F1 race this year alongside young star Kimi Raikkonen. The Spaniard did sew up his first drivers championship though and looks set to be a star for the future.
· Brian Lara breaking the highest career runs record
· The passing of a legend in George Best
· Australia qualifying for the World Cup
(mails, opinions and rants are all welcome at [email protected] )
