Monday, June 25, 2007 | 7:19 a.m.
Not to bring down Angel, but ...
Here's a quick history lesson for the TV guys with narrow focus and anybody else who referred to golfer Angel Cabrera's victory in the U.S. Open as the greatest moment in Argentina's sports history, or something to that effect.
Great moment?
Yes.
Greatest moment ever?
Not even close.
Not when you consider there's a little golden trophy called the World Cup that the Argentine national soccer team has won not once, but twice.
Ever hear of Diego Maradona? Or la mano de Dios - the Hand of God? Next to the great Pele of Brazil - and there are those who might switch the order - Maradona is considered the greatest soccer player of all time, a player whose goals were so memorable or outrageous that they were given names.
It was the Hand of God that struck down England's World Cup hopes in the 1986 quarterfinals , although a replay revealed he scored Argentina's first goal with the aid of his hand. But there was no disputing his second goal of the game , which decided the match - Maradona weaved more than half the length of the field, dribbling past five English defenders, to score the winner.
They called that one the Goal of the Century.
In additional to soccer, Argentina has celebrated world champions in auto racing (Juan Manuel Fangio won five Formula One driver's titles), boxing (Carlos Monzon, who held the middleweight boxing title for seven years and defended it a record 14 times) and basketball (Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs).
And then there were Guillermo Vilas (four tennis Grand Slam titles), Gabriela Sabatini (1990 U.S. Open champion) and Roberto DeVicenzo (1967 British Open golf champion).
And now, yes, Angel Cabrera.
So when it comes to great moments in sports, don't cry for them, Argentina. It is a nation of accomplished sportsmen that has enjoyed more than its share.
THIS WEEK'S BEST BET
World Series of Poker, various events, daily, Rio Hotel.
The calm before the World Championship storm (July 6-17) continues with a lot of games named for studs and cities in Nebraska. Oh, and the $50,000 buy-in HORSE tournament (today-Thursday). That's a really big one.
ADMISSION: Free.
ON THE WEB: www.wsop2007.com.
ALSO WORTH A LOOK
Fresno Grizzlies at Las Vegas 51s, Saturday- July 3 , Cashman Field.
If these Triple-A teams disliked each other as much as their big league counterparts (Giants and Dodgers) this series would be worth the price of admission, bobblehead or no bobblehead.
TICKETS: $8-$13.
ON THE WEB: www.ticketmaster.com
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