Sports season starts

For this chap sports season starts with the advent of the first F1 Grand Prix race of the year. Today, the first race was held at the Bahrain F1 track. Those blokes are located somewhat closer to a decent time zone, so for the late snoozers over here, the race had to be recorded. Fear not, we have DVR. Technology, technology, tut tut tut. Right, so at 12:30, I parked in front of my puny piece of scrap TV, under the duve and hit play. By Jove, did it play! We had sparks from the word go. No, I didn't blow the trips. Alonso and Michael went for it - their girl friends were somewhere else I suppose. An F1 car is just super for getting and staying in touch with your fast. Why, there is only one seat. The demanding spouse cannot come with even when throwing a tantrum over it.

These chaps were quite in touch with all that mattered. Some of them displayed rather major attachments too. Jenson Button, David Coulthard and rookie, Miko Rosberg all had their moments. Luckless Kimi, whose McClaren rid itself of its rear suspension yesterday during practice, started from right at the back of the grid to finish on the podium in third position. Now, for those in the know, this was an F1 race, a race of notable complexity, not Indy. One doesn't just start in the back row and end up on the podium by bumping a few opponents off the oval. One does not bump and there is no oval. From about 10th position one has to deal with rather major driving talent. But Kimi had what it took. That guy deserves a proper race car, such as a Ferrari or a Renault. McLaren (Kimi's car constructor) needs a revamp, or go and build coaches for royalty. The team does look better this year than last, but horrid reliability bugged them all of last season. It's early days for this season, though.

We had two rookies in the race: Miko Rosberg (famous Keke's son) of Germany and Scott Speed of the US. Herr Rosberg delivered and finished in 8th place - in the points, on his maiden drive, a major achievement held only by a few. Mr Speed still has to shed some attitude and then things might turn better for him, having ended in 13th position. One notion Mr Speed should put in the rubbish bin is that the driver "keeps the team focussed and working together" to quote the young gentelman. Uhm, in F1 that is the task of the team manager, Mr Speed. Your job is to drive the car and give feed-back to the race engineer, now isn't it? Let's get on with it, shall we?

Today leaves no doubt that it is March and not even halfway. The duve is calling. So is the piano. Decisions, decisions.