In a year when astronaut Mikhail Tyurin teed off into the emptiness of space for what is certain to be the longest golf shot ever made by a human being, normalcy prevailed in almost every sporting event held in the calendar year. Why the mention of the underdog then, you ask? Because in almost all of the mentionable events of the year things had shaped up to be so different. Journalists had been ready, pen poised to write of David slaying Goliath, neutrals the world over had been biting nails in anticipation of upsets that looked on the cards. The setting was perfect for the formulation of stories you could tell your grandchildren.

The only thing that went wrong was that it never materialised.

Football provides the biggest example. Hardly inspiring imagination, Italy, doubtless solid, swept home the World Cup. But it's a script that wouldn't sell movies. Not to take anything away from the Italians but in a perfect world either the much-maligned France team enthused by the marauding Zinedine Zidane, or the German team riding the crest of a wave of nationalism, just sixteen years after reunification, would probably have won the World Cup. If for nothing else then at least to cater for much better stories for your grandchildren. Written off before the tournament both the French and the Germans played well above themselves and captured the fancy of the neutrals. But the Italians crushed both underfoot. While the Germans fell in the final four, Zidane at least looked like he would do something for the underdogs. In a fairy-tale ending, he would probably have scored the winning goal and disappeared into retirement as a national hero. But of course, the actual finale was a long shot from happily ever after. Headbutt and all, Zidane rightfully passed off into footballing folklore (for the wrong reasons), but at the end of the day a river of tears flowed in France and Fabio Cannavaro it was who raised the World Cup into the Berlin night sky. Italy were the champions of the World -- justly even if a little drearily. Zidane ended his career and lost were the sensationalist headlines that would have come with a shock triumph. Normalcy prevailed.

In tennis, despite Rafael Nadal's thorough probing, Roger Federer consolidated his position as head and shoulders above the chasing pack, comfortably tucking away three of the four Grand Slams in his pocket. While Agassi embarked on his farewell season, Nadal looked like he would put up a challenge. He beat the Swiss on the hard courts of Dubai and prevailed in the French Open. It looked like the southpaw had bought his game up another level and he would seriously rival Federer this year. But then the normalcy curse struck. The Swiss master player 17 tournaments in 2006 and reached the final in 16 of them. He lost just five times the whole year -- four of them to Nadal. He ended with three Grand Slams. The Spaniard had just the French to show for his efforts.

Australia continued their unabated domination of world cricket. The much-hyped English are in the process of being annihilated at the Ashes and the men from Down Under also captured the ICC Champions Trophy in India where they crushed a West Indies team that threatened to steal their thunder. People stood up in attention as Chris Gayle's nonchalant hitting propelled the Caribbeans' to what looked likely to be a historic upset. But just when you thought something out of the ordinary was on the cards Glenn McGrath did what he does best and the Australians reconfirmed their status as the best in the world. Anti-climatic, but then normalcy usually is.

In Formula One the world bid bye to the colourful and controversial Michael Schumacher in a season which turned out to be one of the most exciting in years. It was the old guard against the new kid on the block and the youthful Fernando Alonso had to use all his savvy to put off the challenge of the inspired German. For a while it looked like Schumi would bow out in a wave of glory but his heroic, season-long bid to secure an eighth world championship eventually ended in disappointment. The drama started in March when it looked like a sure-thing for defending champion Alonso and Renault. It ended some seven months later with Schumacher's Ferrari parked-up at Suzuka, his car up in smoke, taking the driver's desire for one last entry in the history books with it.

The theme holds consistent throughout almost all other events of the year. Tiger Woods sank to his knees at the British Open and secured his position at golf's pedestal and established himself as perhaps the greatest ever. Valentino Rossi hung back in Nicky Hayden's shadow for most of the year in Superbike only to soar ahead with one race to go. In the fag end of the season, Rossi looked a sure shot to close the deal. No points for guessing what happened next. He won pole in the last race but still managed to fail. Hayden got his win and Rossi was left licking his wounds with Zizou and Schumi. Whatever else He may be, the God of sport is not a dramatist.

But 2006 has been engrossing for far different reasons. The best narratives thrive on tension and the ability to shake the audience out of passivity. And ever since sport has been elevated to the stage of drama, controversy has been the recipe for success. 2006 had more than enough of it.

Too much has already been written of Zidane and his head-butt but cricket had its fair share as well. Darrel Hair and Inzamamul Haq will be two names that will immediately spring to mind. When the Australian umpire accused the Pakistan captain of ball tampering, he merely seemed to reinforce his reputation as a maverick. Inzamam's amazing protest in walking off the pitch and declaring a forfeit however, set off a chain of events that forced the ICC to declare that Hair would no longer officiate in international matches.

Drugs also reared its ugly head. Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif found themselves banned for positive dope tests and even Tour de France winner Floyd Landis found himself stripped of his title after testing positive. Neither was sprinter Justin Gaitlin spared the ugly spotlight as he found himself on the receiving end of an eight-year ban.

But if these are the lowlights there have been enough highlights as well. Shane Warne cut a path into unchartered territory for cricketers as he castled Andrew Strauss to capture his 700th wicket. South Africa did the impossible as well; chasing down the unthinkable target of 434 in a display of outlandish hitting but these were all spots in a largely predictable sporting year.

Any mention of sports in 2006 would be incomplete without the names of the many who have left to the clearing at the end of the path. Freddie Trueman, the fiery English quick passed away and football bid bye to some of its legends. Giacinto Facchetti died as did Tele Santana and the Galloping Major, Ferenc Puskas also passed away completing a poignant year for football.

Truth is that 2006 will perhaps go down in the annals of sporting archives as the year where everything so 'nearly' materialised. Where everyone came 'oh so close' to just fall when the stakes were the highest.

Every time a perfect ending beckoned, someone fell over; every time history seemed in the making, someone slipped as strength prevailed.

In Spain they call it cantado. In English, simply inevitable.

Whichever sides our predictions may have favoured and however different the outcomes may have been, to the superpowers we raise our glasses. As concerns the underdogs, we can only hold them closer to our hearts and hope for a better year to come.