2011: The Flashback Calendar Part 2
We take a look at the big sports stories that grabbed the headlines in each month of 2011.
This is part two of our 2011 flashback. For part 1, click here.
Just to recap, in part 1 some of the topics we discussed included how Djokovic threw down the gauntlet at the Australian Open as well as the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl XLV triumph.
We covered India's jubilant world cup campaign in cricket and also addressed the serious political unrest in Bahrain which impacted on the world of Formula One.
Part 2 starts now:
July: Cadel claims Tour de France
Related stories
Cadel Evans wins Tour de France
Tour win proved Evans toughness
Cadel Evans crossed the finishing line at the Tour de France on the 24th of July 2011 to create history by becoming the first ever Australian to win the prestigious race.
The 34-year-old was previously a two-time Tour runner-up but this year he finally got the chance to savour the sweet taste of champagne on the Champs-Elysees. Many observers believe the Tour de France 2011 was one the cleanest in years given the sport's new tougher stance on doping.
If that is the case then Tour organisers must be delighted to have the quirky but likeable Australian as their new champion as the sport's biggest race looks to repair some of its damaged reputation amongst the public.
The BMC Racing team leader showed incredible mental and physical strength to finish ahead of Andy and Frank Schleck of the Leopard Trek team. The Schleks also secured their own bit of history by becoming the first brothers on the Tour podium in Paris.
August: Woe for Bolt, elation for Blake
Related Stories
Blake claims Bolt's sprint crown
False-start rule set for discussion
Bolt: False start was my fault
All eyes were on defending champion and world record holder Usain Bolt for the men's 100 metres at the Athletics World Championship in Daegu, but his bid for another medal was over even before the race got started properly.
Having recorded the fastest time in the heats, Bolt was feeling fairly confident until he saw compatriot Yohan Blake clock 9.95 seconds in the semi-finals.
And it was Blake's slight movement in the final that saw Bolt leave his starting blocks, incurring an immediate disqualification for a false start. With the world record holder out of the race, Blake comfortably eased to the gold medal, finishing 0.16 seconds ahead of American Walter Dix.
While Blake's victory made him the youngest-ever world champion in the 100 metres at just 21 years and 245 days, his win was overshadowed by Bolt's disqualification and talk that the IAAF's rules regarding false starts were overly harsh.
August: England establish test supremacy
Related Stories
England complete series whitewash
Flower likens India rout to Ashes win
Dravid: Tough to explain series fiasco
India had arrived on English shores as ODI world champions and the leading Test nation in the world. They left with their reputation in tatters.
It had all begun in July at Lord's when Zaheer Khan pulled up with a Test injury and like the famed Lord's slope, it was all downhill for the visitors from there.
With their spearhead waylaid and their fabled batsmen misfiring, India were thumped 4-0 in the Test series - a whitewash that harked back to the dark ages of Indian cricket. There was further chastening in store in the one-day series and the Indians left the Isles without a single international win under their belt.
The world had new champions elect in England, an exhilarating team that holds much promise for the years to come. For a battered India, it was back to the drawing board.
September: Tragedy strikes ice hockey fraternity
Ice Hockey suffers "darkest day"
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to be rebuilt
The sporting world was stunned on September 7 when a plane carrying players and coaching staff of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team crashed just moments after takeoff, killing 44 of the 45 on board.
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, who compete in the Kontinental Hockey League, had been on their way to Minsk, Belarus for the opening game of the 2011/12 season, and every player from the main roster and four youth players had been on board.
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin called the crash "an international tragedy" while International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel declared September 7 "the darkest day in the history of our sport".
October: Formula One goes to India
Related stories
Vettel wins first-ever Indian GP
Vettel impressed with Indian debut
Ecclestone relieved by Indian GP success
It must have been a nervy October for Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone. From the outside looking in, it looked as though the inaugural Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit would not be ready in time. He shouldn't have been worried though - F1's first ever race on the sub-continent was a resounding success.
Sure, there were a few teething problems along the way but nothing major to suggest that the Indian Grand Prix can't become one of the all-time great F1 events as by all accounts team bosses and drivers were all suitably impressed. And none more so than reigning F1 champion Sebastian Vettel who raced to victory at the Buddh International Circuit on the 30th of October 2011.
Vettel comfortably beat Jenson Button for the landmark win but it was not the race which left an impression on the German driver - it was the people of India who did.
"For us we sometimes measure happiness in our lives, in our world, by what we have achieved, what we have etcetera," the two-time F1 world champion said.
"But for the people here, it doesn't really matter. They're happy with what they have, even if you compare and they have so little, but they are happy, friendly, helpful and respectful.
"It opens your eyes, it was an inspiration and something you should never forget."
We'll never forget either.
October: St Louis Cardinals take the World Series
Related Stories
Cardinals win the World Series
Cardinals, Rangers go to Game Seven
It was Game 6 of the World Series between St Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers. Leading 3-2 in the seven-match contest, the Texas twice came within a strike of winning the title.
Twice, the Cardinals roared back.
It was a night of high drama at the Busch Stadium - one that will merit its own chapter in any history of Major League Baseball. You didn't have to be a baseball fan to feel the tension, the disbelief and finally the joy that engulfed the home side after David Freese's homer took them to an incredible 10-9 triumph and forced the series into a deciding seventh game.
The Cardinals celebrated as if they had won the title. A day later, they had; with a relatively straightforward 6-2 triumph. For the Cards and their supporters it was a magical night. For the Rangers, it was a second successive World Series defeat, and one that will hurt for a long, long time.
October: New Zealand win the Rugby World Cup
Relates Stories
All Blacks win the Rugby World Cup
McCaw hails historic World Cup triumph
Dagg proud of World Cup success
Just like India and cricket, New Zealand and rugby had for long had an unrequited relationship. In fact, it was even more painful for the tiny island nation - given that they had entered every single World Cup since 1987 as favourites and had emerged empty-handed from every single one.
But finally, on home turf, and in a year in which the country had been rocked by a devastating earthquake - rugby returned the love. Richie McCaw and his men beat Argentina in the quarter-final, Australia in the Trans-Tasman semi-final and France in the final to finally lift the Webb Ellis trophy.
The All Blacks were not imperious, but led by the inspirational McCaw, supported by an incredible defence and egged on by passionate fans, they overcame the absence of star man Dan Carter, his replacement Colin Slade and his replacement Aaron Cruden to ease 24 years of hurt.
November: Federer salvages 2011 season
Related Stories
Federer triumphant at ATP Finals
Federer plays down London triumph
Federer reclaims his mental edge
Federer revels in amazing feeling
Used to being the front-runner for so long, Roger Federer was forced into the shadows by Novak Djokovic's sparkling form in 2011. So much so that the Swiss' tennis obituary had been written time and again - especially after his gut-wrenching losses at Wimbledon and the US Open.
But the greatest players of all time was not about to go quietly. He mounted his own mini run of 17-games unbeaten to win Basel and the Paris Masters before clicking through the gears to take his tally of World Tour Finals to an astonishing six, with a three-set win over Tsonga.
It was a tough year for Federer, one in which he failed to win a single Grand Slam since 2002 - but the way he roared back at the fag end of the season holds promise of more to come in 2012. Now, wouldn't that be awesome?
November: Vettel ends Formula One season on high - again
Related Stories
Vettel seals world title in Suzuka
Vettel hails fantastic title defence
Vettel wins record 15th pole in Brazil
Vettel scoops another top award
As if sewing up the drivers' title in October wasn't enough, Sebastian Vettel helped himself to another slice of history by claiming his 15th pole position of the season at the Brazilian Grand Prix. That was one more than Nigel Mansell had managed in 1992.
It added more sheen to what had already been a sparkling season for the 24-year-old German; one in which he became the youngest-ever double world champion and left every other driver trailing in his wake. It was a measure of his dominance that teammate Mark Webber managed his first win of the season in the last race of the season.
Some may complain about the one-sided nature of this year's contest - especially in light of 2010 when five drivers were in the running for the title until the last race, but Vettel's flawless driving was a joy to watch. At the moment, he owns the sport and his talent must be cherished.
December: Tiger, tiger burning bright
Related Stories
Woods finally ends title drought
Woods: My father would've been proud
Editorial: Tiger out of the Woods
Two years on after his fateful crash and the subsequent unravelling of his career, Woods was in serious doubt of skulking off quietly into the golfing night. With a plethora of golfers from Europe keeping fans riveted, the sport, it seemed, was over Tiger.
But not for nothing is the American considered one of the best players to have taken the greens. After helping his country win the Presidents Cup, Woods stormed back into our consciousness by lifting the Chevron World Challenge. It was not the most glamourous of tournaments, but given his travails over the past 24 months, it represented a big step for the 35-year-old.
With that one win, he became the bookies' favourite for all the majors next year.
"Yeah, I feel pretty good going into next year," he said after lifting the trophy. Ominous words for the rest of the field.