As always New Year Eve seems to be an anti-climax for many of us, particularly since the planning tends to start months in advance and never quite manifests in reality. The situation is usually made worse as you
look through your twitter Timeline and see that other people are living it up in Lewisham Dubai, while you watch back to back programmes on the Best and Worst of 2012.

But rest assured that anti-climactic events are not only reserved for the 1st January, in fact it is a recurring theme since the beginning of time. So I bring you a list of events and people who undermined greatness either with intent, mistake, stupidity, complacency or simply being caught out as a cheat.

6. The midget in Chapter 9 undermining R Kelly’s Trapped In The Closet series

There comes a time in one’s life when a brother has to call it quit while he’s ahead; this surely should have been time. Some argue that Kels should’ve stopped at 1, others a few more episodes in, but there can be no doubt that he went overboard with the introduction of the ‘midget’. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are plenty accounts of infidelity of this nature but in the context of this particular story? Negro please.

I’d like to think the thought process behind this chapter was more than “Hmm what rhymes with Bridget and Kitchen?” but I can’t see past it. Best part of the video/track nonetheless is the repetition of midget juxtaposed with the seriousness of the tone. Not even Tyler Perry could emulate this.

5. Nani selfishly sabotaging Ronaldo’s moment of greatness

From Cockblockin’ 101

“This is what we call the attempted interception:

When another dude wants to capitalise on your hard work and muscle in to get the tap in which is in total violation of the Man Code” – Don Kwelu

At a time when Spain were untouchable, Ronaldo had one moment of greatness where he could turn them into mere mortals but in comes Michael Jackson’s pre-Bad album tribute act to get involved.

4. Michael Johnson’s suspicious hamstring vs Donavan Bailey

When you’re young you support the winners, Michael Johnson had 2 gold medals and owned a pair of gold shoes so naturally I was rooting for him for this champion versus champion race to see who was the fastest runner in the world. This was all until 1:11….the lies! the deceit! A brother conveniently pulls a hammy when he’s getting his ass whooped. Get outta here! Dignity in sport was never restored again until the emergence of a Jamaican Bobsleigh Team

3. Nas’ Ether verse undermining Jay-Z’s epic Renegade verse

December 4, 2001 will forever go down as one of the greatest moments in Hip-Hop history. After an attempt to assassinate Nas‘ rap career with the Takeover diss record earlier in the year, Jay-Z was looking to celebrate his 31st Birthday as the King of New York. Little did he know that Nas had other plans, with releasing Ether to the world. Rumour has it that Jay-Z’s label mates tried to keep the radio on mute for the entire day. Ether did exactly what Nas had intended “BURN”. One of the most quoted lyrics from the diss record still remains the “Eminem murdered you on your own S**t” line.

Although many of us felt that was the case, it wasn’t until Nas made it public on Ether that we all agreed in unison. Eleven years on and I decided to listen to Renegade and come to realise that lyrically it was a masterpiece, that may never receive the level of appreciation it is due for the simple fact that it was one of the most outstanding digs from Ether.

 

EXTRACTS FROM VERSE ONE:

Motherfu***rs - say that I’m foolish I only talk about jewels (bling bling)
Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim through it?
See I’m influenced by the ghetto you ruined
That same dude you gave nothin, I made somethin doin
what I do through and through and
I give you the news – with a twist it’s just his ghetto point-of-view
The renegade; you been afraid
I penetrate pop culture, bring ‘em a lot closer to the block where they
pop toasters, and they live with they moms
Got dropped roasters, from botched robberies nig**z crotched over
Mommy’s knocked up cause she wasn’t watched over
Knocked down by some clown when child support knocked
No he’s not around – now how that sound to ya, jot it down
I bring it through the ghetto without ridin ’round
hidin down duckin strays from frustrated youths stuck in they ways

EXTRACTS FROM VERSE TWO:

I had to hustle, my back to the wall, ashy knuckles
Pockets filled with a lot of lint, not a cent
Gotta vent, lot of innocent of lives lost on the project bench
Whatchu hollerin? Gotta pay rent, bring dollars in
By the bodega, iron under my coat, feelin braver
Doo-rag wrappin my waves up, pockets full of hope
Do not step to me – I’m awkward, I box leftier often
My pops left me an orphan, my momma wasn’t home
Could not stress to me I wasn’t grown; ‘specially on nights
I brought somethin home to quiet the stomach rumblings
My demeanor – thirty years my senior
My childhood didn’t mean much, only raisin green up

These epic lyrics will forever be undermined by a set of seven words from Ether. *BBM Cover face*

2. Maradona handball vs England undermined his earlier goal [well at least in England]

Arguably the greatest World Cup goal ever scored would forever be tainted by the handball that followed. For many people outside the English shores the handball still remains irrelevant, for the fair play English we will forever remember Diego Maradona as a cheat. *Reads John Terry’s Biography*

1. Rocky 5 shegged [failed] Rocky 4′ s legacy

What do you do when you have just released the highest grossing sports film of all time and arguably the best addition to the Rocky series? Thats it you follow it up with a shambolic 5th addition with a storyline that would make the writer of Nollywood classic “Beyonce: The Presidents daughter” weep in shame.

There you have it. 6 Tragic Moments in History Which Undermined Greatness. Ladies and Gents what moments can you think of that underminded greatness, doesn’t matter how big or small, let them be known.

The Yak

*Our first event of 2013 YOU’VE GOT GAME is back on February 7th! Comedy, Games, Entertainment and Networking all under one roof. It was sellout event last time so make sure you get your tickets in advance. CLICK HERE (after you leave a comment)*