People who defined 2008 – I

“The real story of Obama’s year is the steady march of seemingly impossible accomplishments: beating the Clinton machine, organizing previously marginal voters, harnessing the new technologies of democratic engagement, shattering fundraising records, turning previously red states blue — and then waking up the day after his victory to reinvent the presidential-transition process in the face of a potentially dangerous vacuum of leadership.” – from the TIME article on ‘Person of the Year 2008′.

The sad victim to Obamania – John McCain never really recovered after incomprehensibly poor selection of a running-mate, who unfortunately for him stole all the limelight in last few days even if for worst of reasons. But what do I care? The whole episode provided enough meat for late night shows – Jon Stewart, Leno, Colbert and the SNL’s Tina Fey phenomena entertained millions among the humdrum of elections.
One word on the Clintons – the bitter rival Hillary Clinton emerged as an influential personality by delivering a composed endorsement speech for Obama and got her dues by being elected the Secretary Of the State. And once people could compare her to Palin, they were thankful that there was some woman out there who knew her geography.

The swimming superstar Phelps was awarded Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year for his 8 golds in Beijing. The happy Jamaican, Bolt became the first man to win 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay events at a single Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984, and the first man in history to set world records in all three at a single Olympics. His name and achievements in sprinting have earned him the media nickname “‘Lightning’ Bolt”. If these two together formed a country, it would stand 8th at 2008 Olympics medals tally.

Bear Stearns was the first major tremor that rocked the heart of Wall St. Ironically, it is the same company that refused to support LTCM’s bailout a decade ago. It was just the beginning. In the year’s most heart-wrenching story, Dick Fuld saw the transition from being the most revered to the most hated CEO on Wall-St. With Lehman gone, Times Sq wouldn’t be same again.

…more to come

who else?